BRENTWOOD SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
Monday, March 13, 2006, 6:30 p.m.
Swasey Central School
Members Present: Anne Marie Chesno, Chair; John Hayes, Vice-Chair; Tim Hannan; and Virginia Knutson
Administration Present: Jerry Frew, Assistant Superintendent; Joan Ostrowski, Principal
Others Present: Kristina Wagnitz, Y.M.C.A. (left at 7:20); Robert Gilbert, Wayne St. Hillaire, Victor Schmalzer and Dave Menter, Selectmen (all left at 7:20); Kathy St. Hillaire, Community Member (left at 7:20); Liz Faria, Parent/Community Member (left at 7:30); Lisa Zack-Swasey and Laney Sweet, Swasey Professional Staff Members
1. The signing of Manifests began at 6:30 p.m.
2. Chair Chesno called the meeting to order at 6:43 p.m.
Everyone joined in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.
3. Non-public session
The Board did not enter into non-public session.
4. Approval of Minutes
MOTION – V. Knutson moved that the Brentwood School Board accept the minutes of the February 13, 2006 meeting as written. J. Hayes seconded. Vote – Unanimous.
MOTION – V. Knutson moved that the Brentwood School Board accept the minutes of the Non-Public Session of the February 13, 2006 meeting as written. T. Hannan seconded.
Vote – Unanimous.
5. Y.M.C.A. Report
Kristina Wagnitz from the Y.M.C.A. was present to report on the School’s Out before- and after-school program. She noted that the program had a rocky start with changes in site directors and many substitutes. Approximately six weeks ago, the Y.M.C.A. hired a new site director who is doing a solid job even as she is learning. The hope is that she will continue next year. The program serves between 25 and 30 students each day.
Ms. Wagnitz shared the Y.M.C.A.’s plan for the future. Rather than depending on newspaper ads, the Y.M.C.A. is now advertising on the internet. They have found that the respondees are of a much higher caliber. The program supervisor was also new this year, which added to the inconsistency and difficulties.
Chair Chesno noted that the Y.M.C.A has been providing this programming for several years. It is clear from the ups and downs that the site director makes all of the difference between the program running smoothly and problems surfacing. The Y.M.C.A. will come to the Board each October, February, and June to report on the program.
6. Building Use Fees
The Brentwood Selectman wrote a letter to the School Board expressing concern about the building use fee that has recently been instituted for weekend or off-hour use and its impact on the Brentwood Recreation Program. Chair Chesno explained that this was a difficult decision for the Board. She reviewed the weekend damage to the building that occurred during the most recent basketball season. The Board is sensitive to the fact that this is a public building supported by tax dollars but is also cognizant of the potential on the school budget. The budget would need to be increased to cover weekend custodial coverage if groups are not charged for use. Chair Chesno explained that a custodian provides a presence to secure the building and to fix problems that arise during usage. The Board is also a concerned about building security as a building key is being passed from coach to coach. Since a custodian lives in town, keys are more closely monitored. It is the Board’s understanding that the BRC person is not the person who is opening and securing the building as initially agreed. The Board is open to suggestions from the Selectmen but noted that the charges are consistent with what the other elementary schools do. The high school and middle school have custodial staff working on the weekends due to the high number of school sponsored sports and other activities.
Selectman St. Hillaire understands the Board’s logic but noted that the school building is a town facility. The BRC has, for the past three years, paid for one hour of clean-up each weekend that they utilize the building. Selectman Schmalzer does not feel that the BRC should have the extra expense involved in having a custodian present when not needed. Kathy St. Hillaire clarified that one coach opens the doors and one coach closes the doors.
The Selectman suggested and agreed that the BRC would be responsible for any damage incurred during the time that the BRC is using the building. The BRC will hold the teams responsible. Selectmen also suggested that a monitor be assigned to watch bathrooms and the lobby to ensure that children are doing what they should be doing if they are outside of the gymnasium. Children should be kept in the gymnasium unless they need to use the bathroom. Board Member Hayes noted that the custodian is protective of the school while a volunteer may be protective of the BRC and not want to take responsibility for identifying damage.
Assistant Superintendent Frew will have the keying system reviewed to insure that any key handed out to the BRC only opens the front doors and does not allow access to any other building area. The doors are checked each weekend night by a custodian. Principal Ostrowski will ask the custodian and the Brentwood police to notify her if a door is found unsecured.
The Board has agreed to exclude the BRC from the requirement of a custodian’s presence for weekend use of the building and the BRC will continue to pay for one hour of cleanup after weekend use. This decision will be reviewed in a year.
7. Report from the Chair
Chair Chesno noted that the Board has met their 2005-2006 school year goal of developing an educationally and fiscally responsible budget to present at the School District meeting. Articles to the newsletter continue in accordance with another of their goals. The next newsletter article will include a request for citizens to send in letters stating their interest in being on the about to be formed Facilities Committee. The Board will develop a charter for this Committee. The Board briefly discussed some ideas for the charter: a possible survey of community residents to see what they would like to have for facilities; how many transitions children may have from school to school; interaction within the school between the children in different grades; and, how many classes at each grade level. The Board will have a conversation with the new Committee members once they are identified, probably at the June Board meeting.
Board Member Hannan will write the next Brentwood Newsletter article. Board Member Knutson suggested that the May article focus should be “Meet Your Board Members”. It is important for the community to know how committed the Board members are to community service. There could be a format that everyone follows to provide consistent information.
There is a Joint Chairs meeting on March 15, 2006. Board Member Hannan would like to see a defined process for evaluating the Superintendents. It might be helpful to provide School Board members with the superintendents’ annual goals. The Joint Board could use this information as a guideline to determine progress. Chair Chesno will bring this request to the Superintendent. Chair Chesno would like to see the Superintendent have more of a presence in the SAU, possibly through articles that appear in several of the local newspapers.
Assistant Superintendent Frew suggested that, in the future, the Board should take an action at a Board meeting to accept or reject their Board salaries.
Board Member Hannan suggested that the Board write a letter to the Selectmen to invite a representative to attend School Board meetings in order to enhance communication.
Board Member Hannan will go to the polls to count votes on March 14th.
8. Report from the Principal
Principal Ostrowski reported on enrollment noting that one new preschooler has enrolled and one 2nd grader moved. The registrations for kindergarten for 2006-2007 stand at 54 with more each day.
Principal Ostrowski will be posting positions for a 4th grade teacher and noting that one second grade classroom will move to 1st grade for the 2006-2007 school year. The reading specialist position will be posted for one year to cover a family leave.
Building access was discussed. Professional staff will have weekend access with the following conditions:
· This will be only during daylight hours.
· At least two people will need to be in the building at all times. The last two will need to coordinate leaving together and the first two arriving together.
· The entry keypads will be used for access.
· Staff will need to ensure that outside doors are secured at all times – both while they are in the building and when leaving.
· Staff will need to ensure that all windows are secured when leaving.
· Staff may bring adult family members with them to help out if needed. Staff will need to get the Principal’s permission to bring children during off hours.
This procedure will be reviewed in six months
Principal Ostrowski reported that a basketball backboard was damaged over February vacation. This will be replaced with funds that have been raised and are in an account for this purpose.
A list of upcoming school events was provided. The Principal’s full report can be accessed on the school website under the Principal tab.
9. Report from the Central Office Administration
Assistant Superintendent Frew distributed the monthly financial report and highlighted areas of interest.
The Board completed the second reading of the BIE - Board Member Indemnification and JH – Attendance, Tardiness and Truancy policies. JICH is being reconsidered by the Policy Committee.
Motion – T. Hannan moved that the Board approve policies BIE and JHH as written. J. Hayes seconded. Vote - Unanimous
John Hayes let Board know that the Policy Committee spent a meeting reviewing JICH. The revised version will go back to the Wellness Committee and then it will go to public forum for discussion.
10.Old/New Business
NECAP results should be released on March 21st. Results will be sent to parents as soon as the Principal receives guidelines on how to do this. The workshops focusing on understanding the reports do not take place until the end of the month and into April.
Board Member Knutson felt really good about the community effort to support the Mazur family at the District meeting. This type of opportunity will not happen if the Town becomes an SB2 town. Chair Chesno commented that Derry Cooperative has a Charter that determines the number of people who must show up at a Deliberative Session in order to change warrant articles. If Brentwood becomes SB2, Chair Chesno will research this further. Principal Ostrowski alerted the Board to the fact that the four schools that traditionally go to Sargent Camp together are rapidly outgrowing the facility. She will come back to the Board with more information.
9. Public Comment
There was no public comment.
10.Correspondence Noted
None noted.
11.Adjournment
MOTION – J. Hayes moved that the Brentwood School Board Meeting adjourn at 8:32 p.m. T. Hannan seconded. Vote - Unanimous.