Maine Academy of Natural Sciences
Minutes
MeANS' Board Meeting
Date and Time
Thursday June 11, 2026 at 4:30 PM
Location
Maine Academy of Natural Sciences
13 Easler Road
Hinckley, ME 04944
Directors Present
A. Perkins, D. Gram, E. Pariser, G. Bazakas, M. Callan, M. Harris, M. Oben (remote), N. Findlan
Directors Absent
G. Lichterfeld, W. King
Guests Present
A. Boudreau, A. Hyde, Danni Best, Grace Hilmer, P. Henyan, R. Anthony
I. Opening Items
A.
Call the Meeting to Order
B.
Record Attendance
C.
Additions/Adjustments to the Agenda
D.
Public Comment
Patty Duffy - Potential Board Member is here. Took a tour of campus today as well.
E.
Staff/Student Presentation - Carpenter's Boat Shop/Trip
Danni Best and Zack Korbet (11th grade student)
-3 years ago Danni and Jeff met the owners of the boat shop at the Common Ground Fair.
-Students have stayed overnight and made a Toboggan, apple boxes, and bee hives; (the bee hives this year.)
-The bee hives are for Mason bees - solitary bees - to have homes.
-Awesome experience/connections.
-Our students then have a day where they teach what they learn to the area Montessori kids.
-Kids get to hang out with other kids who they normally would not be with/socialize with.
-Also a great connection with Montessori school and families.
II. Consent Agenda (Action requested by approval of Consent Agenda)
A.
Approval of Meeting Minutes from May 7th, 2026 Board Meeting
B.
Approval of Committee Reports
III. Action Items
A.
New Board Member Appointments SY 2026-27
-A couple of non-voting members want to join the board and be on committees.
-Kyle and Kathleen - Mary nominating them.
B.
Appointment of Board Committee Chairs SY 2026-27
No changes!
C.
Appointment of Board Officers
D.
Adoption of SY 2026-27 School Calendars
E.
Adoption of SY 2026-27 Board Meeting Calendar
F.
Approval of SY 2026-27 Budget
Presented last meeting.
G.
First Reading of HR Policies 200.09-300
H.
Second Reading/Approval of HR Policies 100.1-200.08
I.
Approval of Resolution relative to Policy 200.08
J.
Q3 Financial Update
-Doing well - Several areas performing favorably to budget.
-Utilities are still high/need to address.
-Cash levels have maintained.
K.
Maine’s Bell-to-Bell Personal Electronic Device Policy
-Need policy by 8/1 - We need a motion to accept by unanimous consent/first a motion to waive first reading.
IV. Information Sharing
A.
HOS Report
-We start Summer Intensives on Tuesday - July break, graduations, then final week of school.
-Past two months...
-Some of our best assessment results.
-Final project phase of the school year - many classes working on their final projects.
-Marketing ourselves more - Have done a couple of local Farmer's Markets/trying to partner with 92 Moose to do some enrollment ads/KJ newspaper ads. Ryan also went to the Maine B to B Expo. recently and networked with other non-profits.
-We have gotten a few grants/surpassed our grant donations for this year.
-We just hired a new Custodian. We are in the process of hiring two new Threshold Teachers and 1 Campus ELA Teacher./2 staff members leaving at the end of the year.
-Continuing enrollment efforts.
-Summer Intensive Showcase = 6/26 at 11:00AM.
-Summer Celebration = 6/27 from 12:00PM-3:00PM.
-Graduations = 7/10 (T) at 6:00PM/7/17 (C) at 6:00PM.
-Final Project Showcase = 7/23 - Time TBD.
B.
Update on Potential Board Members
C.
Update on Charter Renewal
-Great check in.
-We have to decide when our first Public Hearing is - evening?
-Meeting later in August with Board.
None.