SCHOOL BOARD AGENDA
June 3, 2008
YMCA
Present: Gene White, Jane Fortson, Karen Cota, Ed Jacod, Phyllis Peterson, Winston Wright, Doug Lyman, William Felton, Susan Oerman, James Carnie, Kristin Goodenough and Robert Smith. Absent: Tim Aho and Colline Dreyfuss..
Also Present: K. Dassau, Superintendent, D. Hodgdon, Assistant Superintendent and Katie Chambers, Business Manager. Principals: J. Smith, B.Pickering, L. Sutton, K. Craig, B. Tatro and K. Carter.
The Keene Sentinel recorded the meeting. G. White read the mission statement.
1. Kaestle Boos Presentation: Cancelled tonight. Rescheduled for June 17, 2008.
2. AGENDA: MOTION: J. Fortson MOVED to accept the May 20, 2008 Board Meeting Minutes as presented. SECOND: S. Oerman. VOTE: 9.802/0/1.114/4.084 Motion passes. MOTION: S. Oerman MOVED to accept the two non-public meeting minutes as presented. SECOND: D. Lyman. VOTE: 9.802/0/1.114/4.084. Motion passes.
3. STUDENT GOVERNMENT REPORT: Mia Huslander and J. Hannanan reported the Student Government met with the administration to discuss the 2008-2009 school year. They discussed climate and the environment, the appearance of the classrooms and hallways. They discussed passes and respect between students. At a future meeting they would be discussing food in the classroom and parking. (K. Cota arrives) the next meeting would be scheduled in the fall.
4. CORRESPONDENCE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS: K. Dassau welcomed everyone to the Craig Dining hall. K. Craig explained that the hall was named after her husband for his years of service to the Cheshire YMCA.
B. Pickering informed the Board that he had received a letter from Allyson’s orchard. The letter explained how wonderful and well behaved the students were the night of their prom. The letter also said that Allyson’ Orchard enjoyed working with the staff and students to prepare for the prom. Three hundred and fifty students attended.
MRHS Destination Imagination finished 15 out of 40 teams globally. Congratulations.
The Lacrosse Team, which had started out as a club team finished with one of their best years. They ended in the semi-finals with an 11-3 record. Congratulations.
The softball and baseball teams will be starting the playoff season soon.
May Student of the Month is Natalie Novak and the Most Improved Students is Amanda Fradette.
J. Smith commented that the school had asked Allyson’s Orchard for years to host the prom and they finally agreed.
The NH Fish and Game once again sent a letter to the school commending the students that participated in the stocking of the Alaskan Salmon.
J.Smith passed out the end of the year calendar to the Board.
MC2
would be holding recognition night at
5. Public Comments: D. Starrett of Roxbury asked the Board to allow the children attending Wells Memorial in Harrisville to continue.
Dr. Kaplan commented that when a Committee votes the vote needs to be supported by a unified front.
6. NEW BUSINESS:
1.
Budget Transfers (2): MOTION: D.Lyman MOVED to
accept the transfer in the amount of $44,200.00 for the
2.
Anticipated Surplus: D. Lyman explained
that the Finance Committee discussed this issue for hours. Some of the items
they wish to finance through the surplus are textbooks, safety items, lunch
room benches, chemical and gas storage, replace the roof older than 1900 and
topping the oil tanks. MOTION: D. Lyman MOVED to accept the recommendation of the Finance Committee to use
$568,489.00 from the anticipated surplus 2007/08 to finance the list of
recommendations marked from the Administration Proposals for Use of Anticipated
2007/08 Surplus Sheet. SECOND: S.
Oerman. DISCUSSION: B. Tatro
explained that the computer room at
7.
OLD BUSINESS:
1.
Default Budget: It was explained that the
major items not in the Default Budget sheet was included in the Board packets.
The Board reviewed the items with questions on the Mt. Caesar Special Education
teacher not being recommended by the Finance Committee. MOTION: D. Lyman MOVED to
accept the Default Budget proposal as presented and recommended by the Finance
Committee in the amount of $558,867.00 for the adjustments. With the
understanding that these are transfers from line items. SECOND: P. Peterson. DISCUSSION:
K. Chambers explained that some of the items are pending. When they come in
they would be taken from other line items. The tech support items would come
from the 2007-2008 budget with the remainder coming from the last two pages of
the proposal. B. Tatro commented that she had asked for a special education
teacher. They are not making AYP and the caseload is heavy. J. Fortson
commented that the Finance Committee would like to see a clearer plan at
D.
Mousette asked if the Board was going to accept his proposal. MOTION: J. Fortson MOVED to accept D. Mousette’s proposal as presented in the packet.
To combine grades 5 and 6 for the 2008-2009 school year and transfer the grade
3 students from Sullivan to Gilsum. SECOND: S. Oerman. DISCUSSION: D. Mousette explained that they would combine the class
for the 2008-2009 school year but keep the amount in the budget. He explained
that there are 18 students if they left it would be 8 or 9 students per class.
K. Craig commented in support of multi-aged classrooms. She has multi-aged
classrooms at Emerson and they make AYP. J. Carnie commented on the plan but
asked how you could legally leave the funds in the budget and asks for it back
in the following year. He felt that there is a legal problem. Educationally it
is the right thing to do. K.Chambers commented that DRA said that it was okay.
B. Tatro commented that she could use the funds for this coming school year and
then return them to D. Mousette. J. Carnie questioned the way K. Chambers asked
DRA. K.Chambers explained that the Budget Committee has created the proposed
positions and put them in the default. It is their call. K. Dassau commented
that these were positions that have gone through the Budget Committee and the
Default Committee. VOTE: 9.795/2.300/0.247/
2.658. Motion passes. K. Goodenough
commented that it is unfair to single out
2. Skills Tutor: K. Dassau explained that it is not a program that anyone within the administrators is pursuing at this time.
8. CURRICULUM REPORT:
1. NEASC Update: J.Smith commented on the master schedule with the NEASC concerns and the 2- year template.
2. AYP Report: D. Hodgdon reported that the District evaluation and the School Improvement Plan are due shortly. He explained the work that is scheduled for the summer. He had been asked about the consequences if we do not make AYP after year two. He said that he would like to share those at a future meeting. With each year the consequences are more sever.
9. SCHOOL BOARD COMMITTEE
REPORTS:
1. Community Relations Committee: K. Goodenough reported that the Be True To Your School Committee is going with a full group of kids. Letters would be going out to the public and a press release as well. They are looking for a resource to help revamp the School Board web site. They are looking at ways to get positive information out to the public. J. Smith has received a donation of $200.00 from a parent. E. Jacod would like a monthly report on the donations.
2.
Facilities
Committee: K. Cota reported that the Facilities Committee met on May 28,
2008. They received a Projects Report from Brett. The report was given to the
Finance Committee. The Master key System, Access Control System, Magnetic Door
Holders and the Fire Alarm Activation and the upgrade of 3 sets of double doors
have been released from the Facilities. These items would not be affected by
the future building projects. The Board received copies for the bids for the
MS/HS gym floor, bleachers and the roof replacement for Wilcox. MOTION: K. Cota. MOVED to accept the bid from
3.
Finance
Committee: D. Lyman thanked the staff for the rationale and information to
get the work done on the default budget. It was greatly appreciated.
4. Policy Committee: S. Oerman reported that the Committee met on June 2, 2008. They reviewed Policy GCRD Tutoring for pay, Policy IHB Class size and would be revisiting these again once questions are answered. They reviewed Policy BEDC Quorum/voting. They were advised by Attorney Moran to leave the seat vacant until the next general election. The Committee reviewed Policy BDE Committees. The Committee would like a Statement of Purpose from the individual committees. They would then incorporated them into the policy and bring it back to the Board for review. The next meeting is on June 16, 2008 at 5:30 PM.
5. Budget Committee: W. Lechlider, Chair of the Budget committee reported that the Budget committee met on May 27, 2008. Each member spoke about the feelings of the voters in the individual towns. The Committee discussed the budget, a middle school and renovations to the high school and contracts and what they were willing to support. Only discussion; no movement. He had hoped to hear from Kaestle Boos with a dollar amount. The Committee had voted to support the teacher’s contracts in Gilsum but did not vote either way on the special meeting. At the May 27, 2008 meeting the Budget Committee voted to support the special meeting. The next meeting is on June 24, 2008 at 7:00 PM at Emerson.
6.
7. Education Committee: J. Carnie reported that the Committee met on Friday at 8:30 AM. They had a discussion on clarifying their role. There was a good deal of discussion for an attempt to get direction. They reviewed the priority checklist from the NEASC, which items are most important and how to deal with those. Administrators, the Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent and C. Kahn attended the meeting. The next meeting is on June 13, 2008 at 8:30 AM. K.Cota asked for the agenda and minutes of the meeting. J. Carnie said that there was no agenda for the reported meeting but the minutes were approved.
10. Action on the Manifest: MOTION: S. Oerman MOVED to accept the manifest in the amount of $1,264,000.00. SECOND: D. Lyman. VOTE: 12.342/0/0/2.658. Motion passes.
11. Superintendent’s Report: K. Dassau gave an update for the Special Meeting hearing that is on June 12, 2008. The School Board has moved forward and has been challenged by Fitzwilliam and Sullivan. You are their elected officials who support this special meeting.
MOTION: R. Smith MOVED to accept the resignation of Erin Stoud from MC2. SECOND: J. Fortson. VOTE: 10.207/0/1.021/3.772. Motion passes. (P. Peterson missing from
vote.) MOTION: R. Smith MOVED to
accept the resignation of Susan Romano. SECOND:
J. Fortson. VOTE: 8.939/0.247/2.042/3.772.
Motion passes. MOTION: R.Smith MOVED to accept the retirement of
Judith Casey as of June 30, 2008. SECOND:
J. Fortson. VOTE: 12.342/0/0/2.658.
Motion passes. MOTION: R. Smith MOVED to accept the retirement of June
Donegan as of June 30, 2008. SECOND: J.
Fortson. VOTE: 11.321/0/1.021/2.658.
Motion passes. MOTION: W. Felton MOVED to rescind the intention of Liz
Colby to retire. SECOND: R. Smith. VOTE: 7.695/0/3.468/3.837. Motion passes. (K. Goodenough did not
vote). K Cota asked if the Board is expected to attend the hearing. K. Dassau explained that preliminary
hearing is on June 12, 2008. It is a public meeting. K. Dassau read resignations
12. BOARD CHAIR REPORT:
13. SETTING NEXT MEETING AGENDA:
1.
Kaestle Boos Presentation.
14. SECOND PUBLIC COMMENTS: L. Sutton invited the Board to the 8th grade graduation on June 19, 2008. She reported that two students laid the wreath on the tomb of the Unknown Soldier. She reported that there are 30 students being inducted into the National Junior Honor Society.
15. Non-Public Session: MOTION: R. Smith MOVED to enter non-public session under RSA 91-A:3 II (b)
Nominations. SECOND: S. Oerman. Roll call vote: E. Jacod, W. Wright, P.
Peterson, J. Carnie, K. Cota, K. Goodenough, W. Felton, R. Smith, J. Fortson,
G. White, D. Lyman and S. Oerman. 12.045/0/0/2.095. Motion
passes. (K. Cota leaves).
16.
Non-public Session: MOTION: R. Smith MOVED to enter non-public session under RSA 91-A:3 II (e)
Litigations: SECOND: S. Oerman. Roll call vote: E. Jacod, W. Wright, P.
Peterson, J. Carnie, K. Goodenough, W. Felton, R. Smith, J. Fortson, G. White,
D. Lyman and S. Oerman. Motion passes.
17. Adjournment: MOTION:
Respectfully submitted,
Laura L. Aivaliotis
MRSD Recording Secretary
.
.