Mini-PAC Meeting, June 2, 2004

Mini-PAC Meeting w/ Joe Siddiqui (MSSM Acting Director as of June 8) June 2, 2004 Limestone (with updated info as of June 13)

Present: Joe Siddiqui, Terrie Frisbie, Alice Chartrand

Alice and Terrie welcomed Joe to his new role. He expressed a desire for everyone to start fresh this fall. His teaching role will be limited by his administrative duties, in fact he may not teach this fall. He encourages parental help at recruiting prospective students.

Joe is of "two minds" re zero tolerance. He's not sure that it is wise to have one rule for alcohol and a separate rule for drugs as they are both illegal for our students to have. Terrie and Alice expressed concern that adolescence involves a certain degree of developmental testing and experimentation that requires firm handling but not measures that would throw a student out of school at the first offense.

Deborah McGann (Biology, Chemistry) will be the new Faculty Representative to the MSSM Board. It may be difficult for both Joe and Deborah to attend the July 9th Board Meeting if it is in Augusta as they are both working on the MSSM Summer Camp, so he is requesting that the Board Chair move the meeting to Limestone.

Parents expressed support for Gabrielle Berube, as outgoing student senate president, being included on the Executive Search Committee and asked Joe to support this as well at the board level if his opinion is asked for. We pointed out that the candidates will likely be interviewed in the summer and therefore natural chances to meet students informally will be few. Also, the parents and students need to see evidence of respect for students' input now in order to boost morale and faith in upcoming positive changes.

A Residential Coordinator was to replace the old Dean of Student Life position. After realizing that the title "Coordinator" is not as attractive as it could be to potential candidates the position has been renamed "Head of Residential Life". The HRL will have authority to handle disciplinary problems, will report directly to the Executive Director, and will live in the residence hall. Two candidates have been interviewed and have visited with students and staff. They are hoping for additional candidates as well.

Terrie and Alice asked that once the new HRL is hired a process of input into changing dorm life be developed eg a forum or ad hoc committee w/ parents and students contributing. Particular attention needs to be placed on some form of self governance/discipline. Suggestion made to survey students periodically to assess progress. Some examples of a residency hall philosophy and learning program from Kents Hill were given to Joe, as were the results of the January Communications Workshop and narrative responses to the survey.

Suggestion made that the school consider opening up one or more guest houses to parents for a small donation when they are up volunteering, to enable more participation of more parents and to serve as a welcoming gesture. Discussed the need to build mutual respect among students, staff and parents. Parents expressed the need to be reassured that residential issues will be handled appropriately and consistently when the HRL is not on duty.

Joe plans to make sure that we have an improved Host Family Program next fall. He will get back to Alice and Dale Gordon about how we can work on this quickly. A lawyer is consulting on a new volunteer form. The Host FamilyProgram is a strong reassurance for prospective parent

Plans for Move-In Day will include an MSSMPG table. We'll work with Mrs. Bowker to see what new ideas the staff has planned for a MSSM community program on that day, to include students, staff and parents. It would potentially include dinner and a speaker. Terrie and Alice had volunteered to organize a parent social/potluck. The MSSMPG needs access to the parent mailing list, preferably including email, in early August to be most effective in planning a membership drive for Move In Day. We will need to participate in the school mailing in mid summer also

Addendum FYI:
The Search Committee for Executive Director of MSSM has been formed. Its members are:


Mike Edgecomb, upcoming Board Chair
Dave Peterson, Board Treasurer
Cathy Bowker, Dean of Academic Life
David Brown, faculty MSSM
Deb McGann, new faculty representative to Board
David Haines, parent, MSSMPG representative
Paula Haddow, present Board Chair, past Chair Academic/Residential Life
Peg Copelin, Chair Personnel