BRENTWOOD SCHOOL BOARD MEETING

Monday, December 12, 2005, 6:30 p.m.

Swasey Central School

 

Members Present:    Anne Marie Chesno, Chair; John Hayes, Vice-Chair; Tim Hannan; Mike Johnson, and Virginia Knutson.

 

Administration Present:      Jerry Frew, Assistant Superintendent; Joan Ostrowski, Principal

 

Others Present:        Terry and Jim Berlo, Parents/Community Members; Jim Johnson, Parent/ Community Member; Erin Cox-Slosberg, Parent/Community Member;  Bob Mantegari, Parent/Community Member; Teresa and Mike Kirby, Parents/Community Members; Mary Johnson and Mary Wills, Swasey Professional Staff Members

 

1.    The signing of Manifests began at 6:30 p.m.

 

2.    Chair Chesno called the meeting to order at 6:44 p.m.

Everyone joined in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. 

 

Visitor J. Berlo asked to tape record the meeting. The School Board also tape-recorded the meeting.

 

3.    Non-public session

The Board did not enter into non-public session.

 

4. Approval of Minutes

 

MOTION – J. Hayes moved that the Brentwood School Board accept the minutes of the November 14, 2005 meeting as written; V. Knutson, seconded.   Vote – Unanimous.

 

MOTION – J. Hayes moved that the Brentwood School Board accept the minutes of the Non-Public Session of the November 14, 2005 meeting as written.  V. Knutson, seconded. 

Vote – Unanimous

 

5.    Report from the Chair

Chair Chesno asked Assistant Superintendent Frew to post the School Board goals on the website.  He will also make sure that all Board members receive a final copy of these.

Chair Chesno reminded the Board that on Monday, December 19th, they would be splitting up to attend two different meetings.  Vice Chair Hayes and Board Members Johnson, and Knutson will attend the Joint Boards’ meeting while Chair Chesno and Board Member Hannan will attend the Brentwood Budget Committee meeting.

Chair Chesno highlighted the topics that were discussed at the Joint Chairs’ meeting in November:  Fall in-service and early release days; the 06-07 calendar; the flu/EEE protocols that are being developed and will be presented at Joint Boards’ on December 19th; the first draft of the SAU proposed budget; and, ideas for future use of Exeter High School and the Annex including the transition of the SAU offices to the Exeter High School space in 07-08.

Chair Chesno will forward a survey from the Squamscott Y.M.C.A. asking about community needs.  The Squamscott Y.M.C.A hopes to purchase the Annex for future programming.  Chair Chesno noted that the Superintendent will present a proposal for programs/entities to be housed in the current high school after the move to the new high school building. 

Clarification was offered as to the N.C.L.B. requirements for highly qualified teacher (H.Q.T.) status. Assistant Superintendent Frew explained that all teachers who meet the following criteria are consider highly qualified by both the federal government and the state:

Chair Chesno recognized Principal Ostrowski as being a finalist for 2006 Elementary Principal of the Year.  She noted that this is quite an honor.

Principal Ostrowski provided the School Board with a draft 06-07 budget proposal that reflects a 12.6% increase over the 05-06 budget.  Some areas rose in cost are special education, benefits, school operations (utilities), and bussing.  Principal Ostrowski provided information about the specific cost of a classroom.  The Board asked Principal Ostrowski to remove the one proposed new classroom and a few other items reducing the overall budget increase by approximately 2%.  The revised budget will be ready to take to the Brentwood Budget Committee on Monday, December 19th.

 

6.    Report from the Principal

Principal Ostrowski reported current enrollment as having increased by one for a total student population of 393.  Two additional students have registered to begin in January 2006.   

Principal Ostrowski shared that the Rockingham County Woodland Owners Association, Chapter of the New Hampshire Timberland Owners Association honored 4th grade teacher Robert Schroeder on December 8th.  He was given their Education Award which recognizes outstanding efforts in educating about forests and natural resources.  He was recognized for his efforts in the following areas:

·         Creating and repairing the nature trail behind the school;

·         Incorporating the local environment into his lessons;

·         Leading hikes to a swamp following the stream that begins near the school; and,

·         Participating in the Forest Watch Program and taking his students to U.N.H. to meet Forest Watch scientists.

The Forest Watch Program studies the health of white pines in New England and involves elementary students in collecting and processing data relating to air pollution damage in forest stands.  He is to be commended for his efforts and congratulated on receiving this award.

      An update on the Pilot Activity Program was also provided.  Her report is available on the SCS website under the Principal section.

 

7.    Report from the Central Office Administration

Assistant Superintendent Frew provided Board members with a current financial report.    The revenues that are retuned to the Town each year and the continued difficulty of explaining this process effectively were discussed.  The School District has to raise funds to cover every cent that may be spent as part of their budget.  Even though some of this is recouped as revenues through tuition, Medicare, and other sources, these funds are returned directly to the Town to offset taxes rather than to the School District to reduce the budget.

The School Board addressed two letters that had been received regarding bus stop locations in a neighborhood.  Both concerned parents were present at the meeting to answer questions.  The discussion included information about current stops, the ages and number of children at each home, and the construction vehicles that travel through the neighborhood.  These parents have followed process by contacting Nat Perry (the SAU transportation contact), Assistant Superintendent Frew, and finally the Board.  When asked, Assistant Superintendent Frew stated that Nat Perry feels the current stops are safe but will honor the Board’s decision.   Assistant Superintendent Frew was directed to instruct Nat Perry to add one more stop on Longmeadow to accommodate the children.  Visitor E. Cox-Slosberg suggested that this be at #31 so that it is within two houses of every child, but the Board stated that the decision for the stop placement should be Nat Perry’s best judgment.

Chair Chesno will sign a letter, drafted by Assistant Superintendent Frew at the Board’s request, regarding any town plans to address EEE concerns in the spring of 2006.  The letter will be mailed on December 13th.

Chair Chesno asked Assistant Superintendent Frew to update the School Board regarding the work that the SAU Music Curriculum Committee had completed.  After a great deal of research, this Committee has made a recommendation that the SAU create a teaching position that would float to all of the elementary schools to offer instruction.  The cost to Brentwood for 06-07 would be approximately $7,000.  Currently there are many models in the SAU elementary schools for offering the opportunity for instrumental music lessons; some for a fee and some during the school day.  Concerns about the loss of instructional time, for a program offered during the school day, were expressed by both Chair Chesno and Board Member Knutson.  Chair Chesno shared the Music Committee’s report which included a comparison to other major school districts and a chart that suggested more Stratham and Exeter students are active in instrumental music at the high school level than students from the other towns.  Principal Ostrowski noted that both Stratham and Exeter have more students than the other four elementary schools and she suggested that percentages would be a better consideration.  Chair Chesno stated that this proposal will be presented to Joint Chairs soon. She made this information available to the Board members’ consideration now because it would be a budget issue. 

 

8.    Old/New Business

      Several Board members expressed concern about the number of early dismissals and in-service days during the first months of school.  Assistant Superintendent Frew took an action to determine if approval of the school calendar is a statute item and when the approval had to be made.  At the Joint Boards’ meeting, Board Member Knutson will offer the Brentwood School Board to work with the SAU Central Office on alternative schedules and options for in-service and early dismissal days for future school years.

 

9. Public Comment

       Visitor M. Kirby expressed concern that two-minutes may not be enough time to voice an opinion.  He commented on the fees that are being charged for the before and after school Pilot Activities Program. He suggested that volunteers should offer the activities at no cost to families.  Chair Chesno thanked him for his comments and stated that Public Comment was limited to two minutes per person due to a full agenda.  She reminded visitors that concerns can be put in writing and submitted to the Principal or Assistant Superintendent at least seven days prior to a Board meeting so that they could be placed on the agenda for full discussion.

            Chair Chesno reiterated that the Pilot Activities Program was initially based on the Exeter model; however when applying this model, the high number of students involved in Jump Rope Club was not taken into consideration.   Although many positive comments were received, when asked about the cost of Jump Rope Club by five parents, the Principal went back and refigured the costs for the entire program, based on the assumption that the maximum allowed number of students would in fact participate in the activity.  Chair Chesno acknowledged that, in the past, some programming was ‘free’ because people volunteered; however the Board was informed several months ago that staff is no longer willing to volunteer in this capacity.  The Board feels it is right to compensate staff and is grateful to for their willingness to offer these opportunities to Swasey children.  Principal Ostrowski pointed out that charging a fee for some activities provided by staff has been a practice at Swasey in the past.  Specifically, up until three years ago, several programs were offered through Swasey by staff members that charged parents and used the profits for other purposes. Chair Chesno reiterated that the Board did not want this to be a business and was concerned about the amount of the Principal’s and office staff’s time that may be necessary to manage the Pilot model.  The Pilot is not a school budget item and must be self supporting.  There are scholarships for anyone who can not afford to attend.  Visitor J. Johnson asked where money for scholarships comes from.   Principal Ostrowski explained that Life Touch gives the school a percentage of the profits that are a result of the student picture program (this is provided to all schools by all school photo companies).  This money goes into the Student Activity fund and is used, among other things, to help children, who may not otherwise be able to afford to,  participate in school activities.

            Visitor J. Berlo asked when the parent and student survey results from the survey completed in the spring of 2005 would be available.  The Board members noted that they had received a copy of the results, without the comment section, at the September Board meeting as part of the Principal’s Report (this was recorded in that month’s meeting minutes).  Visitor J. Berlo asked when the results would be available to the public.  Assistant Superintendent Frew stated the SAU will release the results when the comments are compiled and attached.   Visitor J. Johnson asked for a copy of the student survey.  Principal Ostrowski will try to locate one for him.

            Visitor J. Berlo asked about the science and social studies competencies mentioned earlier by Chair Chesno.  It was clarified that these competencies are currently in draft form and reflect proposed grade level expectations in these areas; they are not a form of assessment.

 

10.Correspondence Noted

      None noted.

 

11.Adjournment

 

MOTION – J. Hayes moved that the Brentwood School Board Meeting adjourn at 8:48 p.m.; M. Johnson, seconded.   Vote - Unanimous.