Minutes of March 7
Minutes of March 7
President Bill Brillant called the meeting to order promptly at 07:15, ringing the bell and leading us in the Pledge of Allegiance. He than called upon Bob Beaumont for the Invocation. While informally welcoming guest speaker Brad Smith, Superintendent of MSAD #75, and acknowledging that Brad Smith is leading the initial planning to build a new High School for the District Bill told Brad, that he, Bill, was part of the first class of students to go Grade 7 – 12 in the present High School building and knows first hand some of the deficiencies of the open plan layout of that building.
Prez. Bill then called upon Club Sheriff Bill Gillespie for Happy / Sad dollars. Bill G started it of with a happy dollar for being a week closer to opening day of the baseball season. Both Bob Davis and Joel Merry had happy dollars for having Brad Smith as our guest. Bob Beaumont had a happy dollar for being with grandkids over the weekend. Ron McLaughlin delivered dire predictions for the Red Sox this season. Cliff Hodges had happy dollars for nice weather and being outdoors with his children over the weekend. Fred had happy dollars for several recent Bruins wins.
Under Announcements Prez. Bill announced that there will be a no-host social get together of members of all 5 local clubs at Joshua’s Tavern, 123 Maine Street, Brunswick on Thursday evening, March 31. Time 5 to 7 PM. Please plan on coming for some social time with fellow club members as well as with fellow local Rotarians.
Bob Davis then formally introduced Brad Smith, Superintendent of MSAD #75 for about three years now, stating how fortunate the community is having Brad as a follow on to the now retired Mike Wilhelm as great superintendent’s.
Brad gave a very interesting presentation, starting out by talking about the very good joint Middle School – High School production of the show Annie over the past weekend , commenting not so much on the production qualities but rather on the numbers of students involved in all aspects of the production and how statistically it has been established that involved students are much less likely to engage in inappropriate behavior.
Brad then went on to describe how the State Department of Ed requires all students / school staff take a self evaluation survey every several years regarding the mental health issues and substance abuse behaviors of grade 5 through 12 and that he had just received the results of the most recent survey. MASD is slightly better than most districts in most areas, below average in a few. Statewide 31% of students are judged to have some mental health issues. Brad then related to process of issuing suspensions and expulsions. Principals may suspend for up to 10 days, suspensions beyond 10 days or expulsions require action by the School Board and he explained that he spends time with any student recommended for a long suspension or expulsion and that invariably there are domestic problems at home or significant mental health issues with those students and that recognizing and treating mental health and home domestic problems are major tasks for school staff, at all schools throughout the District, for students to be successful.
Brad gave a very short update on the HS project. Essentially the original configuration of the existing school as roughly square make the building impractical to modernize into traditional classrooms with natural light and ventilation. Parents were also adamant about not having students in portable classrooms during construction of the new school. While the existing HS site has plenty of acreage wetlands and other geographical features restrict the area for siting a new HS building to the existing athletic field and student parking area. That will be the site of he new school with the site of the existing school reconfigured to athletic fields following opening of the new school.
Great presentation.
Submitted: Tom
Minutes of March 7
President Bill Brillant called the meeting to order promptly at 07:15, ringing the bell and leading us in the Pledge of Allegiance. He than called upon Bob Beaumont for the Invocation. While informally welcoming guest speaker Brad Smith, Superintendent of MSAD #75, and acknowledging that Brad Smith is leading the initial planning to build a new High School for the District Bill told Brad, that he, Bill, was part of the first class of students to go Grade 7 – 12 in the present High School building and knows first hand some of the deficiencies of the open plan layout of that building.
Prez. Bill then called upon Club Sheriff Bill Gillespie for Happy / Sad dollars. Bill G started it of with a happy dollar for being a week closer to opening day of the baseball season. Both Bob Davis and Joel Merry had happy dollars for having Brad Smith as our guest. Bob Beaumont had a happy dollar for being with grandkids over the weekend. Ron McLaughlin delivered dire predictions for the Red Sox this season. Cliff Hodges had happy dollars for nice weather and being outdoors with his children over the weekend. Fred had happy dollars for several recent Bruins wins.
Under Announcements Prez. Bill announced that there will be a no-host social get together of members of all 5 local clubs at Joshua’s Tavern, 123 Maine Street, Brunswick on Thursday evening, March 31. Time 5 to 7 PM. Please plan on coming for some social time with fellow club members as well as with fellow local Rotarians.
Bob Davis then formally introduced Brad Smith, Superintendent of MSAD #75 for about three years now, stating how fortunate the community is having Brad as a follow on to the now retired Mike Wilhelm as great superintendent’s.
Brad gave a very interesting presentation, starting out by talking about the very good joint Middle School – High School production of the show Annie over the past weekend , commenting not so much on the production qualities but rather on the numbers of students involved in all aspects of the production and how statistically it has been established that involved students are much less likely to engage in inappropriate behavior.
Brad then went on to describe how the State Department of Ed requires all students / school staff take a self evaluation survey every several years regarding the mental health issues and substance abuse behaviors of grade 5 through 12 and that he had just received the results of the most recent survey. MASD is slightly better than most districts in most areas, below average in a few. Statewide 31% of students are judged to have some mental health issues. Brad then related to process of issuing suspensions and expulsions. Principals may suspend for up to 10 days, suspensions beyond 10 days or expulsions require action by the School Board and he explained that he spends time with any student recommended for a long suspension or expulsion and that invariably there are domestic problems at home or significant mental health issues with those students and that recognizing and treating mental health and home domestic problems are major tasks for school staff, at all schools throughout the District, for students to be successful.
Brad gave a very short update on the HS project. Essentially the original configuration of the existing school as roughly square make the building impractical to modernize into traditional classrooms with natural light and ventilation. Parents were also adamant about not having students in portable classrooms during construction of the new school. While the existing HS site has plenty of acreage wetlands and other geographical features restrict the area for siting a new HS building to the existing athletic field and student parking area. That will be the site of he new school with the site of the existing school reconfigured to athletic fields following opening of the new school.
Great presentation.
Submitted: Tom