Present:   Donna Chale, Edna Comstock, Susan Allison, Barbara Hammond, Sue Leiter, Eileen Broderick, Sylvia K. Norton, Peg Becksvoort, Pam Goucher, Teri Caouette, Jeff Small, Kelley McDaniel, Joyce Lucas.

President Teri Caouette called the meeting to order at 9:25 A.M.  She read a letter from Peg Becksvoort's superintendent in which he offered his support for her in her roles as Certification Chair and State Board of Education representative. The letter gave Peggy permission to attend state meetings. The board discussed sending letters to the administrators of all MASL board members.

Treasurer’s Report

• Pam Goucher handed out copies of the balance sheet.  She pointed out the board conferences line and asked for clarification. Sylvia clarified that it was two people for two conferences, one mid-winter and one annual. 
• Pam stated that she needs a better "paper trail" for scholarships going toward conferences, workshops, and courses.  She mentioned that it seemed that fewer were taking courses, based on scholarship applications.  She also mentioned that as a board we need to look at income from the CD & the auction, as figures are down some this year.  Pam will try to forecast how long that CD income will last.  Sylvia suggested looking at income over a two-year period.  She asked us to think about how scholarship money should be used. Teri made a motion to accept the treasurer's report.  The motion was seconded and carried.

• The minutes of the January 7^th meeting were accepted as amended.

Conference update

• Jeff Small stated that a conference meeting would follow the board meeting. The committee will discuss shirts with logos, and programs. 
• Naomi Caldwell will be the keynote speaker. She is Native American and a dynamic speaker. Her program should draw in LD2 people.  
• Edna urged that we push people to do programs. 
• Jeff expressed concern that we are running short of time with the next meeting not being until March.
• Sylvia relayed that Linda Williams is willing to do a program.  Jeff will send an invitation to her.  She also noted that we will need a place-holder for panel discussions.
• Edna offered to send program forms to MELIBS. School/Public cooperation would draw both sides. Discussed a rolling schedule as apposed to exclusive times.
• The following ideas were mentioned for conference programs:  pet shows, Abbe Museum, and Meg Scheid from National Park Service who brings Passamaquody lesson plans and visuals such as pelts.

• Eileen discussed her concern about the "production of media" strand being left out.  The only focus on media production is in C: "writing, or using mixed-media to show results of your research."  She stated that the analysis portion was fine but production was not.  She also stated that the drafts do not indicate that research will be included in other content areas. 
• Pam mentioned the MLR web page shows things in all caps that are linked to definitions.  Could use these links to indicate where library research is applicable.
• Sylvia spoke about teacher responsibility in regards to the learning results.  The concern is that teachers feel it is one more thing to do.  Sylvia will contact Betty Manchester about meeting with content area people.  Would like to meet following the April MASL meeting.
• PAM stated that the Social Studies portion of MLR does have a research piece.
• Eileen added that the MLR are intentionally written at a level that parents and students can understand them.
• Sylvia noted the need to put the schedule for the next two meetings on the agenda.
• Eileen asked that the board look at the ELA strands and give comments and that we encourage other librarians to give feedback also.  She mentioned specifically the media production issue. There is a survey on the Learning Results website. 

Sylvia’s Corner

·      EPS (Essential programs and Services) Sylvia pointed out that the funding ratio for EPS is 1 to 800 for professional staff and 1 to 400 for ed. techs. About half of Maine schools spend over, and half spend under their EPS. It is a funding model, not a staffing model. Some interpretations are severely impacting library staff which was not the intent. Peggy moved that the state board liaison begin the process to address the EPS issue for library staff.  Approved.

Innovative and adaptor grants

• Kelly spoke about the timeline for innovative and adaptor grant applications and stated that the current timeline is not working. She would like applications in July or August so that they would have more time to write the proposal as apposed to spring.  She asked if it would make sense to have both due at the same time or make adaptor grants due shortly after the conference presentation on the subject. Susan suggested that we ask on the application, "where did you hear about this grant?"  Sue Leiter moved that innovative grant applications be submitted by July 31^st and the adaptor grant submitted one month after the conference.  This was seconded by Eileen.  The motion carried.

·      This year we will have 2 innovative and 2 adaptive grant presentations.  Adaptor grant people will present and do a poster session.  Teri suggested that we talk with Edna and Jeff about the programming schedule to not have conflicts with other school library programs. 

·      Peg experienced people not sticking to their time limit before her during poster sessions.  She expressed that we need either a longer time period or have fewer people in poster sessions.  Could MASL put something in Maine Memo? 

• Kelly asked if we would have heard from affiliate assembly to put on grant applications that we received June 26_.   Kelly asked if it was possible to have grant applications at the MASL table or in the packets of stuff given out at conference?  Is there some kind of logo or sticker?
• Sylvia stated that if we continue to do commendations, the ASL executive committeewill look at and send a letter in June or July. 

• Peg suggested offering a sticker that says something such as MASL grant winner.

Edna agreed and said that we need to promote everything, which might include a   picture of the person and a write-up about winners of these grants. 

• Kelly suggested that the award be given at the banquet instead of at a board meeting. Edna explained that at one time there were too many awards, some for outside groups, but that it is not the case now.  It was agreed that these grant awards would be given at the awards dinner and ceremony.
• Sue Leitner stated that she likes the idea of grant applications being put in conference packets and awards being given at the banquet.  Sue also mentioned that there was a traditional newsletter some years ago but MASL decided to go with just the website.  She expressed concern about getting people to do programs.  She suggested that we discuss going back to the paper version at the next meeting.
• Teri explained how things change at the last minute and there is a flurry 2 weeks prior of changes.

Sue Allison

·      Discussed dues for president & executive secretary being paid by MASL. 

Edna suggested offering life memberships.  Will not pay MASL dues for president. MASL pays for national dues for president and vice president.  

• Sue stated that the MSBA committee would like our mailing list (email). There was a consensus that we do not want to give out our mailing lists.  Also, suggests that the MSBA committee post to MELIBS for those who want to be on their list.  MASL needs to develop a policy on this and include it on the MASL form.  Peg noted that MSBA has someone from each area (MASL, etc.). 
• Sue discussed the need for a membership chairperson who records and promotes membership.  The motion was made and seconded that Edna take over record keeping functions for MASL.  The motion carried.

Spring Conference

• Donna Chale discussed the location of the conference on the first Saturday in May.  There will be construction in Boothbay.  We need to look for something near the highway.  Two possibilities mentioned were Messalonskee H.S. or JH and Bangor.  Nancy will do a review of websites.  Fran’s session will cover how to use websites as teaching tools.  Someone will cover technical aspects.  The group is discussing whether to separate by grade, etc. 

AASL report

• Terri and Sylvia had a wonderful time at conference. Terri went to affiliate assembly.  She handed out several booklets and brochures to the committee:  School Libraries Work, Intellectual Freedom and the School Library Media Center Q & A brochure, a flyer on Library Legislative Day, and an article from School Library Journal called Say the Right Thing: Winning Strategies for Talking to the Press which included a sample form letter for the campaign to save America’s libraries. Teri also attended a workshop on how to react to situations. They learned about programs in different parts of country.  One workshop discussed the 65% solution.  This is a conservative group that wants to cut costs in schools and have said that .60 of every dollar will go toward direct classroom instruction. They classify school librarians as support staff.  ALA is going to work to fight this.  Sylvia stated that we need someone on the board as legislative chair. Need someone from MASL to go to DC for library delegation day.  Teri will talk to Gary about sending a delegate on May 1st.  Eileen and Peg are considering it. 

• The next agenda will include board vacancies: web master, legislative chair, etc.
• AASL meeting Oct. 13-15  "Assessing School libraries."
• A motion was made to move the March 4th meeting to March 11th.  The motion was seconded and carried.
• Kelly made a motion that the April meeting be moved to April 8^th.  Peggy seconded the motion and the motion carried.
• Kelly announced that the Intellectual Freedom Committee has workshops on April 4, 5, 6th.  She asked for funding---half from MLA and half from MASL. It was agreed that MASL needs to represent school issues.  It was moved and seconded that MASL pay 45.00/day to cover the cost of a substitute for Kelly to attend the workshops.  Also that a letter be sent to her superintendent.  The motion was accepted