BRENTWOOD SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
Monday, June 13, 2005, 6:30 p.m.
Swasey Central School
Members Present: Anne Marie Chesno, Chair; Tim Hannan; and, Virginia Knutson.
Administration Present: Jerry Frew, Assistant Superintendent; Joan Ostrowski, Principal
Others Present: Jim Berlo, Parent; Jim Johnson, Parent; Elyse and Heather Seeley, Parent
and student; Richard and Hannah Woodfield, Parent and Student; Heather
Carley, Parent; Kate Belavich and Margie Darmody, Playground Committee; Molly Supple, Parent; Ed Oddo, Assistant Operations Manager; Nathan Lunney, Assistant Business Manager; Kathleen Desmarais, Mary Johnson, Mary Wills, Paula Rushia, and Kim Woods, Swasey School Teachers; and, John Deming, Reporter for the Atlantic News
1. The signing of Manifests began at 6:30 p.m.
J. Berlo announced that he was taping the meeting.
2. Chair Chesno called the meeting to order at 6:40 p.m.
Everyone joined in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.
3. Approval of Minutes
MOTION – T. Hannan moved that the Brentwood School Board accept the minutes of the May 9, 2005 meeting as written; V. Knutson seconded. Vote – Unanimous.
MOTION – V. Knutson moved that the Brentwood School Board accept the minutes of the May 9, 2005 non-public session as written; T. Hannan seconded.
Vote – Unanimous.
4. Visitor Discussion
Teachers P. Rushia and K. Woods explained to the Board that they had been accepted to attend the weeklong ‘Thinking Strategies’ Institute (Mosaic of Thought) in Denver, CO. This addresses reading comprehension strategies that expand and support the training for the approach to literacy at Swasey. The main focus is on specific thinking processes that readers use to comprehend text. Mrs. Woods talked about steps that have been taken in the area of literacy at Swasey. The registration fee is $1350. Both teachers are committed to paying their own expenses for plane fare, motel, and food. Board Member T. Hannan asked some questions about how these teachers will share the information with the Swasey staff. Both teachers are committed to working with all remaining staff to share information and strategies. They will collaborate with the Principal to make this happen. Board Member V. Knutson supported the excellence of the conference. The Board consensus is that the registration fees should be covered under the appropriate line of the 04-05 budget.
Parent J. Berlo asked if the construction fund from the building project that has $140,000 remaining in it was a capital reserve fund. It is not. Its purpose is to finish open punch items that remained at the end of the project. Three options were discussed: 1) Close the account and return the money to the Town to offset taxes, 2) Close the account after encumbering funds to finish projects; or, 3) Roll the money into a capital fund for future projects.
5. Report from the Principal
Principal Ostrowski presented the following information regarding projected enrollment for 05-06:
| K | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Total | |
|
Projected 2005-2006 |
38 |
55 |
79 |
75 |
60 |
63 |
370 |
|
Projected Classrooms |
2 |
4 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
3 |
22 |
|
Projected Average Student/Teacher Ratio |
19:1 |
13.8:1 |
15.8:1 |
18.75:1 |
20:1 |
21:1 |
|
|
Actual for August 2005 |
61 |
53 |
74 |
75 |
57 |
61 |
381 |
|
Actual Classrooms for August 05 |
4 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
3 |
3 |
21 |
|
Student/Teacher Ratio |
15.25:1 |
17.66:1 |
18.5:1 |
18.75:1 |
19:1 |
20.3:1 |
|
|
Actual Classroom Teachers |
1.5 |
4 |
4 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
18.5 |
After discussion, the Board concurred with the Principal’s proposal to hire aides to work in primary classrooms with more than 20 students. If numbers go higher, Principal Ostrowski will request a special summer Board meeting.
The Principal recommended moving forward with the switch from Styrofoam and disposable products to using plastic trays and bowls as well as metal tableware for student lunches. The Board approved this recommendation on the condition that the needed dishwasher can be purchased with the funds remaining in the lunch program line item for 04-05. Student Heather Seeley received donations of $750 towards the purchase of the plastic ware which will be matched by her father’s company. She also received a commitment for 100 sets of tableware to be donated. The Board acknowledged that this pilot program would need to be reviewed in June 06 to evaluate its success and impact on the lunch program expenditures and revenues.
MOTION: T. Hannan moved to authorize the hiring of aides if a classroom at 1st or 2nd grade reaches a student population of 20+ students. V. Knutson, seconded.
Vote: Unanimous
Principal Ostrowski shared a letter that will be sent to 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade parents in the June 14th Wednesday folder regarding the NWEA results. The District average was well above the norm group average at all three grade levels. Board Member Knutson requested that information about the performance of all SAU districts be shared with Board members as soon as it is available. Assistant Superintendent Frew reminded Board Member Knutson that this was not the purpose or intent of the assessment.
6. Report from the Central Office Administration
Assistant Operations Manager E. Oddo provided information regarding estimates to complete the projects as requested by the school board. He answered questions regarding the retaining wall, removal of the stones on the fields, and the security system/access for the building doors.
Assistant Business Director N. Lunney talked about closing out the project at the end of this year; all money not encumbered would be returned to the Town to offset taxes.
The priorities are 1, 2, 3, 4, 6a, 7a, 7b, 7c. Discussion about purchasing a refrigerator for the Swasey lunch program was tabled. Principal Ostrowski will request that an SAU Food Service Consultant evaluate the existing facility. Two years down the road there will be additional discussion about using the vacated high school to store bulk items.
The prioritized items without the canopy would cost $21,785. Board Member T. Hannan asked about guarantees for the seed; there are none. Board Member Hannan asked about replacing the missing siding on the school building and the Annex; Assistant Operations Manager E. Oddo stated that this will be corrected. All items scheduled to be addressed can be taken from the building project funds. The Board has authorized this work to be completed over the summer prior to the beginning of the 05-06 school year.
State aid/funding and the impact of potential changes to the Brentwood School District were discussed. The Board would like to ‘close the books’ on the building project and roll the non-interest money into the general funds. This amounts to $45,700 kindergarten aid, $12,500 interest, and the balance of the building fund $84,000 for a total of $142,200. Only the $84,000 can be considered by the School Board as possible encumbrances. There are also unanticipated revenues of approximately $14,500 that will be returned to the Town to offset taxes.
MOTION: T. Hannan made a motion to close the books on the building project fund as of June 30, 2005. V. Knutson seconded. Vote: Unanimous
Chair Chesno will address the Budget Committee and Selectmen in the fall to explain the revenues returned to offset taxes.
Assistant Business Manager N. Lunney addressed impact fees in response to a letter received by the School in May.
Chair Chesno has copies of checks made out to the Brentwood School District. The Brentwood community set impact fees at multiple levels. The School Board might be required to request the impact fee money on an annual basis. This is the first time that the School District has received any funds. This money is to be spent only to offset debt service and must be accounted for this purpose. Impact fees are only intended to offset capital costs. The District must verify that there are capital costs larger than the impact fee revenue. The $62,000 is less than the Brentwood interest on capital costs. This is revenue that will offset the fall tax rate.
7. Report from the Chair
There is a Joint Chairs meeting on June 15th. Chair Chesno has suggested that the Board discuss the possibilities of moving the Board meetings to the 3rd Monday of the month next year.
Chair Chesno reviewed highlights from the recent Joint Boards and Joint Chairs meetings. Minutes can be found on the SAU website.
A committee will be formed in the fall to look at the high school curriculum/visioning. They are currently reviewing models of high school reform. There is also an Adolescent Health Committee.
There was an accident on the Swasey playground during P.E. a couple of weeks ago. The Swasey staff handled it appropriately. The child is all right.
The next Brentwood Newsletter will be issued over the summer. The deadline for the July/August issue is June 29th. Board Member T. Hannan will write an article regarding summer work, programming, and the work completed on the building and grounds. Principal Ostrowski will provide Board Member Hannan with information about summer tutoring and Math Camp. He will mention switching to plastic trays over the Styrofoam currently used. It will also be noted that the next Board meeting will be September 12, 2005.
Chair Chesno noted that there was a commitment to meet with the teachers to discuss extracurricular activities. V. Knutson is interested in helping with this. Chair Chesno asked that a teacher be included. Principal noted that it is important to set an hourly amount, building usage procedures, and expectations to allow programming to progress.
8. Old/New Business
Playground Committee Request
Playground Committee Chair K. Belavich gave the School Board a report on the fundraising that has taken place for the playground project. The Committee is requesting up to $8,800 to finish the project after raising the remaining amount for the $34,465 program. Assistant Operations Manager E. Oddo has worked with the playground committee to review the site. Gary Raymond, Brentwood resident, excavated the site for the playground. Kate noted that there has been a great deal of ‘in kind’ service and donation. Board Member Knutson noted that the School Board had not provided any support for any playground purchase or installation. Chair Chesno clarified that the Board’s support indicates that there will be no more fundraising for a future playgrounds without approaching the School Board in advance.
MOTION: V. Knutson moved to give the Playground Committee up to $8,768.35 to complete phase II of the playground project. T. Hannan seconded. Vote: Unanimous.
Extended Kindergarten Request
Parent M. Supple expressed concerns about the length of the kindergarten day. Her emphasis was on specials. Principal Ostrowski clarified that the current day is not shorter than in the past. Some special time was removed to provide for more instructional time. Chair Chesno noted that three years ago, the Board had a goals to explore a preschool and extended day kindergarten. These were removed as goals for several reasons. The Board and administration are empathetic to an extended day but there is not an easy solution. Principal Ostrowski will look at possible extension for recess/play in the fall as she develops the schedule. If something can be done, she will incorporate it into the schedule. The School Board reviewed the building project proposals that were defeated. The Board has and continues to investigate ways to add time to the school day, enrichment programs, and other initiatives.
MOTION: T. Hannan made a motion to encumber up to $40,000 to cover playground (this included the previous motion for the playground), maintenance and grounds summer work, and staff development. V. Knutson seconded. Vote: Unanimous
MOTION: V. Knutson made a motion to encumber $5,000 towards the purchase of supplies for the 05-06 school year. T. Hannan seconded. Vote: Unanimous
9. Correspondence Noted
The Board received an invitation to the 5th Grade Celebration on June 20th.
10.Adjournment
MOTION – V. Knutson moved that the Brentwood School Board Meeting adjourn at 10:05 p.m.; T. Hannan seconded. Vote - Unanimous.