Attending:  Lorie Zientara, Francie Aley, Gretchen Asam, Joyce Lucas, Nancy Grant,  Pam Goucher, Donna Chale, Teri Caouette, Barbara Hammond, Marilyn Joyce, Sylvia, Norton,  Karen Miliano, Toni Buzzeo, Kelley McDaniel, Edna Comstock, Peg Becksvoort, Sue Leiter.

President Teri Caouette called the meeting to order, welcomed everyone and asked Board members and visitors to introduce themselves.

Secretary's Report

The minutes from the November meeting were accepted as amended and Teri noted that Executive Secretary, Edna Comstock, would be taking the minutes for this meeting because MASL still does not have a permanent secretary.  Teri then encouraged visiting MASL members not already on the Board to consider taking on the job.

Treasurer's report

Pam presented both the December and January reports.  Pam then shared some of her concerns and updates for the budget based on her work since November.  There was discussion of whether or not to increase the amounts for MASL’s Awards from $500 to 750.  Several options proposed.  Nancy Grant proposed changing the LMS to $1000 and keeping Administrator of the Year at $500.  This motion was seconded by Francie Aley.  During the discussion Kelly McDaniels suggested that we should also increase the Administrator Award.   After more discussion the motion carried with two dissentions.

Pam continued sharing budget items.    There was discussion of travel expenses and how to cope with variations in distance, sudden price changes, etc.  Budget line 16 was changed from AASL Director to Conference.  Pam proposed tying meal expenses to the State per diem rate and then made a motion to accept budget as presented.  This motion was seconded by Gretchen Asam.  Motion carried.

Board vacancies

Teri announced the MASL positions that need to be filled:  Web Manager, Standards, State Board, Facilities, Legislative, State Board, Reading Literacy, Support Staff, Secretary.  A suggestion was made to consider combining the State Board position with MASL’s Legislative position.    There was also discussion of MASL’s certification person taking on this role.  Agreeing to accept this assignment if her school gives permission for her to attend, Certification Chair, Peggy Becksvort requested that a request from MASL be drafted to take to her Principal.  Teri and Sylvia agreed to prepare the letter and Teri appointed Peggy as joint Certification Chair and State Board of Education representative.

Peggy Becksvoort then made a suggestion that Dorothy Hall-Riddle, a colleague of hers, be encouraged to become involved with MASL.  Teri agreed to contact Dorothy and  invite her to participate.   Marilyn Joyce agreed to be appointed as Reading Literacy chairperson.

Logo Request

Teri then brought to the Board a request from First Vice President Jeff Small who was unable to be at the Board meeting.  Jeff's proposal asked that MASL consider having its logo prepared for use as an embroidered emblem that could be used to brand and identify MASL Board members at Association and other events.  Jeff's proposal did not specify the items to be embroidered asking instead that he be given permission to have the prep work done so that when specific items were available the embroidered emblem could be added.  After discussion a motion was made to give Jeff the necessary permission.  The motion was seconded and after some further discussion the motion carried.  Teri will direct Jeff to do the prep work and come back to the Board with specific request to use the embroidered logo.

Katrina Relief 

There was discussion of what MASL actually voted to do at its annual meeting in October and how the Board should proceed to complete the commitment made at the annual meeting.  After some discussion it was agreed that the President would appoint a committee to find a school that MASL could direct its Project Katrina gift to. 

Spring Conference

Teri called for suggestions for the MASL Spring Conference.    It was noted that the Web post conference included a commitment to a spring event sharing web ideas.   Francie   Aley offered her school as a possible site and May 6^th was settled on as a possible date if Francie’s site was available.  The format would be a one day conference themed around what makes a good web page including: designing, how to get a page up, and using web pages to teach.  Nancy Grant and Lorie Zientara offered to help prepare the program.     Donna Chale, Second Vice-President, will coordinate.

AASL Affiliate Assembly

Marilyn Joyce, AASL rep., called for commendations and recommendations and concerns to take to AASL Affiliate Assembly.    Marilyn shared a form that could be used to write them up.  Kelley McDaniel suggested that MASL’s Grant Program be written up for a commendation.  Marilyn then shared info (Sylvia too) about the 65% solution.  The basic problem being that NCES does not count SLMS as educational staff.  Sylvia shared the resolution that AASL is drafting.  It was noted that NCES classifies SLMS as support staff.  Marilyn will bring more info from ALA Midwinter to the Board in February.  Marilyn also shared that she has accepted an appointment to AASL's Research and Statistics Committee.  She noted that Keith Curry Lance is also on this committee.  There was a discussion of research in the school library area including problems with statistical analysis.  Kelley asked about other examples of commendations.  Marilyn noted that rograms not persons should be commended.   The standards document was suggested as an example.

Sylvia's Corner

Sylvia explained her course in Public Administration and the consequest research she needs assistance with.  She is looking at library staffing in schools with the expectation that she will have a picture of what is going on around the State when the project is complete.  The project has an April due date and every school will get a packet with data from MEDEMS along with the SLMS job description.  She asked Nancy Grant to email  the support staff descriptions to her so that they could also be included in the packet.  Sylvia noted that the packet includes the MASL Rubric and that she had skimmed all 15 state studies.  She is trying to determine if a well staffed school library program is effective as measured against State data.    Sylvia asked for feedback on the packet materials noting that she needs things she can code.  Toni suggested the IP2.  (What Maine says school librarians are doing.  Based on our standards???)  Teri, Donna and others made suggestions.    Sylvia will send the form to the Board electronically for further critiquing.  Sylvia shared her letter and asked for comments on its content.  She also noted that MDOE will allow her to use their stationery which will make the study more official.

Certification

Sylvia shared that she had met with Nancy Ibarguin and discovered Nancy had been out with an injury.  They reviewed of the language problem from last year and the last minute fix we got.   Sylvia noted that she found the old form in August rather than expected changes and later found another form.  She discovered on meeting with Nancy that it was the State’s problem andthat we have same format.  She delineated the specifics of the changes. 

"Maine does not have an approved library degree program.  The USC program is approved to be given in Maine but is not a Maine approved program.  This bumps those seeking initial certification down one of two pathways.  Bachelors, 36 hours of graduate study, pass content area assessment in your area. Or if you have Library degree taking the ETS test (for new certification only) and 'Principles Of Learning & Teaching.'    USC grads are covered under an interstate agreement which allows them to avoid the 'Principals of Learning & Teaching' piece.  It's like being certified in another state.   The third path is for those with a bachelors in teaching, 36 hours graduate study in library science, then take the Library test in one of the areas K-8, 9-12.  Conditional certificates with 2 pathways:  36 hours & LS and  do other pieces.  6 hours LS if teacher and other pieces."

Sylvia will send out the URL.

EPS discussion

Sylvia talked to Jim Rier about it.  It is a funding formula not a prescriptive staffing pattern.  We need to keep our constituents informed that its about a pool of dollars not lets get rid of positions, and that this funding model only includes salaries not bennies, etc.  Sylvia pointed out that there are more than 160 districts in Maine and that more than 100 of them are under their threshold.  So no administrator should be able to say we are overstaffed because of EPS.    They are continuing to gather data about what is out there.  Summer changes may be impacted by Sylvia's study.  There was a reference to the possibility that the State Board person may be able to use the data in her interactions with the State Board of Education.  We may need a campaign to educate legislators, community. 

Maine Learning Results

Nancy Grant pointed out the need to look at the MLR.  The document no longer has an H research option.  Now it’s C and F.  Social Studies may have an A research component.  Others shared significant changes.  All the changes can be obtained at this URL: (Some one promised to supply this).     

Other Business

It was noted that the SATs are being given on April 1^st.  with all schools responsible for getting their students to the appropriate SAT site.  High Schools are not using MEAs this year.  (Noted that SAT’s are tough on lower level kids. Additional comments on stupidness of using SATs.)

Kelley had a question about the grants program and asked that the grants timeline be on the February agenda.  She also noted a problem with mailing grant checks in December.

Teri shared a card from Tamara Blesh thanking MASL for the flowers we sent her.

Edna made a brief conference report in Jeff’s absence and invited anyone interested to stay for a short meeting with Lynn Lowell regarding bringing elements of Maine's Native American culture requirement into the annual conference.

Joyce Lucas volunteered to assume the secretary’s position and was duly appointed by Teri.

Meeting adjourned at 12:30pm

Edna M. Comstock

Secretary Pro Tem