CAMDEN — When the school board that oversees Camden Hills Regional High School convenes tonight for its first meeting of 2013, it will review a series of policy changes, including its own philosophy of education statement. At the same meeting, the board will take into account the changing nature of tobacco use, and its prohibition on campus; will hear about obesity; consider the results of a parent satisfaction survey; and by meeting's end, will go behind closed doors to discuss a personnel issue.

The meeting begins at 7 p.m. at the Bus Barn on Lions Lane in Camden. There is no preceding finance committee meeting.

Chairman of the Board is now Gretchen Richards, of Rockport, who succeeds Robert Lawson, former chairman. Lawson has accepted employment that requires him to travel three weeks every month and subsequently is unable to fulfill board obligations. He resigned the board Dec. 31. Marcia Dietrich, also of Rockport, has been elected vice chairman. At December's board meeting, Superintendent Elaine Nutter commended Lawson for his contributions to both the Five Town CSD Board of Directors, which governs Camden Hills Regional High School, and the Camden-Rockport School Board, which governs School Administrative District 28, grades K-8.

Camden is seeking a new Five Town CSD board member to fill Lawson's seat, until June 2015. Those interested are asked to send a letter expressing interest and reasons for wanting to serve, plus information about relevant experience, to the Camden Select Board. The Select Board hopes to fill the seat at its Jan. 8 meeting. The Five Town CSD Board of Directors comprises volunteer citizens from Appleton, Camden, Hope, Lincolnville and Rockport to serve for three-year commitments.

At this evening's meeting, the school board will hear from Janis Hogan, school nurse, who will talk about childhood obesity.

The board will also hear a request from Jill Cote, Spanish teacher and chairman of the high school's World Language Department. Cote is proposing a student exchange program with the American School in Las Palmas, Spain, in the Canary Islands. If approved, the exchange would occur in 2014 in Feburary, with students from Las Palmas visiting Maine for two weeks. Host families would provide room and board.

"In return our students will be slated to visit their same host student/families in April at the American School in Las Palmas," wrote Cote, in her proposal. "One week will be our April break to reduce the time away from class instruction. A possible guided study time could be provided while abroad. My hope is that you will see this as a much more affordable, authentic means of visiting a foreign country versus the ACIS trips I have led in the past. The host family immersion opportunity provides direct contact to the language and the culture. The students benefit from a connection that can be fostered prior to visitation and perhaps become a lifelong friendship. I have traveled throughout Spain and am confident that I can represent our school and students in the most prestigious manner. Again I would hope you will consider granting a small group of students this unique opportunity to enrich the rigorous Spanish curriculum that our districts provide K-12."

 In other business, the board will review a list of policy changes and amendments, as proposed by the board's Policy Committee. Among the changes, alterations to the school's educational philosophy and mission. The proposed philosophy is that the Five Town CSD "shall serve as the basis for the educational program of the district. The adoption of programs, the employment, evaluation and improvement of personnel, the allocation of finances and the establishment of priorities shall be based on the Philosophy. The school will develop a mission statement that the Board will approve and adopt. The district shall conduct a review of the Philosophy and its implementation annually."

The existing philosophy and mission is: "We are a community of learners: developing character, skills, and intellectual capacity inspiring love of learning supporting individual growth and responsibility enjoying the process and each other. Learners in our community are students, staff members, family members, business people, residents, and anyone else who participates in the life of the Five Town CSD."

Other proposed changes include new language governing job descriptions of administrators, registrar and secretary, as well as policy amendments, including tobacco products rules. Whereas the policy formerly prohibited tobacco use on buses and school grounds, that has been expanded to include "tobacco-related devices and imitation tobacco products electronic cigarettes."

Other policies coming before the board this evening include that which prescribes the board's legal status, ethical and responsible behavior, board member code of ethics, employee use of private vehicles during school hours, and bullying and harrassment.