ROCKPORT — The Camden-Rockport School Board (K-8) convenes this evening at the Rockport Elementary School for a meeting that had been scheduled for Feb. 11 but was postponed due to lack of a quorum. The agenda includes an update about the new middle school construction progress, as well as the latest efforts to bring the Mary E. Taylor building into the project, and a proposal to create a new administrative position: a communications and development director for the Five Town CSD and School Administrative District 28.

The latter reflects the hope of the superintendent’s office to hire somebody to: “shape, manage and drive the implementation of a successful fundraising strategy to support organizational and project development needs,” and to “improve the communities’ understanding of the school district through varied and effective communication and to bring revenue to the district through a variety of fundraising means.”

See below for the complete job description. 

In the board’s packet for this evening’s meeting, which will be recorded and posted at the district’s youTube channel: youtube.com/channel/UCrruYqHteIar_8DQCGn9LEA/videos, Superintendent Maria Libby reported that the fundraising effort to offset some of the financial cuts to the $32 million new school project, have been challenging.

“The professional fundraiser option did not work out and part-time, administrative help for the effort has been secured,” she wrote in her monthly report. “The strategy has been to secure private asks and corporate donations upfront and then to sell theater seats during a fundraising event for most of the remainder. A fundraising brochure is in the final stages of editing and will soon be available. Sarah offered to help facilitate the fundraising efforts. A donation of $25,000 was recently made and is earmarked for the Jesse Salisbury art installation.”

Libby said she had been: “actively making asks on behalf of the Fundraising Committee that have yielded donations of $38,500. The committee as a whole has raised $80,500. The goal is $510,000.
Work on moveable equipment is the next big project for the district team and will begin fairly soon. Oak Point is the only firm that responded to the RFP for this work, so we have added an amendment to their original contract. The money for this was budgeted in the construction project.”

The job description for the part-time position follows:

Five Town CSD and MSAD #28 are two integrally connected innovative school districts that pride themselves on nurturing an incredible array of opportunities for its 1400 students, including top-notch teachers, project-based learning, internships, an innovation center, diverse course offerings, intercultural travel, competitive and varied athletic teams, a robust arts program, and dedicated professionals at every level of the organization.

SKILLS/QUALIFICATIONS/EXPERIENCE:

Bachelor’s degree in related field.
Strong writing and editing skills
Experience and expertise in visual media production
Capacity to manage multiple projects simultaneously
Excellent computer skills. Regular use of Word, Excel, WordPress, Photoshop and design/

layout software
Experience with website and newsletter production and message development
Grant writing success
Proven ability to take initiative, requiring minimal supervision
Strong interpersonal skills and sense of humor.
At least 3-5 years of communications/publications and grant writing experience, and REPORTS TO: Superintendent of Schools

JOB GOAL: To improve the communities’ understanding of the school district through varied and effective communication and to bring revenue to the district through a variety of fundraising means.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

The Communications & Development Director is a part-time professional position whose purpose is to direct and manage the districts’ public relations, communications, and fundraising efforts. Compensation is commensurate with experience. The position works in collaboration with the Superintendent and the board of directors and is supervised and evaluated by the Superintendent. On-going educational and professional development opportunities will be provided.

RESPONSIBILITIES
Communications - shape, manage and drive the implementation of an effective outreach and communication campaign to educate the community and cultivate support, including:
1. Create, write, edit and produce press releases, publications, videos, electronic posts, and printed materials, including annual reports.
Specific coursework or equivalent experiences in communications, public relations and marketing desired.

Develop and implement cost-effective and proactive outreach strategies to communicate with a range of constituencies through printed and electronic media, using photos, words, graphic design, narrative, and/or video.
Increase transparency and understanding by informing and educating our community about the inner workings of education, the philosophy, vision, and mission of the districts, and the programming we offer students.
Develop and manage proactive communication about district events and issues.
Update and maintain districts’ website and social media.
Take photos of campus events when possible.
This position will be the creative architect of most external communication for the school districts.

DEVELOPMENT – shape, manage and drive the implementation of a successful fundraising strategy to support organizational and project development needs, including:

Direct the creation of an annual appeal
Identify, cultivate, recruit, and organize annual appeal leaders and volunteers
Establish recognition, acknowledgements, and incentives for donors and volunteers
Explore and be familiar with federal, state and private grant funding opportunities that further promote the core mission of the districtPrepare and submit grant application materials for potential funding streams

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Ability to read, reason, and understand policies and procedures and related information and to follow verbal or demonstrated instructions
Physical ability to perform all necessary upper and lower body movements
Ability to hear, see, and speak

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT: EVALUATION:
Salary commensurate with experience. Half-time salaried position. Flexible hours based on a 230-day contract.

The full meeting agenda follows:

MSAD 28
SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
Monday, February 11, 2019
CAMDEN ROCKPORT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ATRIUM7:00 P.M.

AGENDA
Call to Order
Adjustments to the Agenda
Public Comment on Items not on the Agenda
Recognition
Notification of Resignations
Approval of the January 19, 2019 Regular Meeting Minutes
Nominations (Note: Executive Sessions are possible for nominations - 1 MRSA § 405(6)A)
a) Stipend Nominations

CRMS Building Project Update — Mary Beth Van Keuren
2019 – 20 Budget Presentation
2019 – 20 School Calendars Approval
Strategic Plan Implementation Update
MET Project Update
Concept Approval of New Position: Part-time Communications and Development Director
School Board Chair’s Report – Matt Dailey
Superintendent’s Report – Maria Libby
Administrative Reports

a) Debra McIntyre, Assistant Superintendent
b) Jaime Stone, CRMS Principal
c) Chris Walker-Spencer, CRES Principal
d) Valerie Mattes, Director of Student Special Services
Ad Hoc Committee Reports
a) CRMS Building Committee — Met February 4, Minutes attached b) Fundraising Committee Update
• Money Raised to Date
• Upcoming Events
Standing Committee Reports
a) Curriculum — Has not met
b) Finance — Met January 16, Minutes attached

Meets prior to School Board Meeting on February 11
Position
Nominee
Points

Bonus

Amount

CRMS Theatrical Tech Director Craig Ouellette
16
0%
$1,190.08

c) Personnel — Has not met
d) Policy — Met January 28, Minutes attached. Next meeting will be March 25 from

3:30 to 4:00 p.m.

First Reads
ACA – Gender Neutral Language
ADA – School District Goals and Objectives
BDA – Board Organizational Meeting
BEA – School Board use of Electronic Mail
CRES Facilities Use Form
BEDH – Public Participation at Board Meetings
EFE – Competitive Food Sales
IKE – Promotion, Retention, and Acceleration of Students JJIF – Management of Concussion and Other Head Injuries Concussion Management Protocol
JL – Student Wellness
JCLB – Immunizations of Students
JLDB – Student Intervention Teams Policy

Review
BCB – Board Member Conflict of Interest

19. Future Agenda Items 20. Adjourn

To watch past meetings, subscribe the MSAD #28 District YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrruYqHteIar_8DQCGn9LEA/videos