BRENTWOOD SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
Monday, October 16, 2006, 6:00 p.m.
Swasey Central School
Members Present: Anne Marie Chesno, Chair; Virginia Knutson, Vice-Chair; Elizabeth Faria; and, Tim Hannan
Administration Present: Jerry Frew, Assistant Superintendent; Joan Ostrowski, Principal; Nathan Lunney, Chief Financial Officer
Others Present: Ed Oddo, SAU Assistant Maintenance Director; Ann Bell, Cathy Blaisdell, Cindy Buckels, Amy Danusis, Barbara Heatherton, Pat Hosker, Sheila Lane, Gennie Rowe, Paula Rushia, Deannah Wallace, Amy Wilson, and, Kim Woods, Swasey Staff Members; Elyse Seeley and Margie Darmody, Former Playground Committee Members; Laurie Nigro, Steve Floyd, and Jim Johnson, Swasey Parents; Charles Gargaly, Jo Gargaly, and Jim Berlo, Brentwood Residents
1. Chair Chesno called the meeting to order at 6:07 p.m.
Everyone joined in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.
2. Non-public session
MOTION – Board Member Hannan moved that the Board enter into non-public session at 8:18 p.m. in accordance with RSA 91-A: 3 II (c). Board Member Knutson seconded. Vote: A. Chesno, yes; V. Knutson, yes; E. Faria, yes; and T. Hannan, yes. Motion carries.
MOTION – Board Member Hannan moved that the Board adjourn from non-public session at 8:34 p.m. in accordance with RSA 91-A:3II (c); Board Member Faria seconded. Vote: A. Chesno, yes; V. Knutson, yes; E. Faria, yes; T. Hannan, yes. Motion carries.
4. Approval of Minutes
MOTION – Board Member Knutson moved that the Brentwood School Board accept the minutes of the September 11, 2006 meeting as written. Board Member Faria seconded. Vote – 3 Yes, 1 Abstention. Motion carries.
MOTION – Board Member Knutson moved that the Brentwood School Board accept the non-public minutes of the September 11, 2006 meeting as written; Board Member Faria seconded. Vote – 3 Yes, 1 Abstention. Motion carries.
5. Report from the Chair
Chair Chesno proposed that future Board meetings begin at 6:00 p.m. and that, if after fifteen (15) minutes there is not a quorum, the meeting will be cancelled. Board members agreed. Board meetings will remain on the second Monday of the month; if the second Monday is a holiday, the meeting will move to the third Monday of the month. If a Board member will not be present, s/he should notify the Board Chair in advance.
Board Member Hannan asked to be replaced as the Board representative to the Brentwood Budget Committee. He has served in this position for four years and the time demands have become difficult. After discussion, Board Member Hannan agreed to continue as the representative with the possibility that Board Member Faria will replace him once the SAU Transportation Committee has completed its charge.
Charles Gargaly, former School Board and Building Committee member, made a presentation to the School Board. See the Appendix (pdf) to these minutes for a complete copy. This information provided history to the current Board and will be helpful as the Facilities Committee moves forward this school year. Chair Chesno explained that originally the Board presented the Town with a $10,000,000 and a $7,000,000 project proposal. When both were voted down, Brentwood resident Butch Whitehouse made a motion at the 2001 Annual Meeting asking the Board to present a third, lower proposal. The result was that the Board came forth with a $6,200,000 proposal which was approved by the voters. Chair Chesno thanked Mr. Gargaly for his presentation. The Board discussed the current infrastructure of the school and how that may affect future expansion. Even though the Board has complete plans for expansion, building codes and changes in systems could affect any future construction.
Former Playground Committee member Elyse Seeley provided the Board with information regarding the Pirate Ship Playground sign. Chair Chesno recapped that the Board understood that the project was complete when they provided just under $9,000 towards the project in June 2005. Ms. Seeley explained that the Playground Committee had promised that large donors would be recognized on a sign posted on the playground. She presented copies of the WalMart grant submittals showing that this money was to provide mulch, landscaping, and signage. She also brought the sign to the meeting.
MOTION – Board Member Faria moved to approve the payment for the installation of the playground sign from the WalMart grant money and to use the remainder of the funds to reimburse M. Darmody for funds fronted for playground related matters. V. Knutson seconded. Vote – Unanimous. Motion carries.
Board Chair Chesno reminded Board members that she sent a letter addressing school security to all families. Further discussion on this topic took place under the Central Office Administration portion of the meeting.
6. Report from the Central Office Administration
Assistant Maintenance Director Oddo reported on options (everything from a duress button at the front desk to video cameras) for monitoring and/or securing the front doors that could be installed at the school. Modifications to the front door system will require approximately a month wait time for installation. A Town resident, with extensive security experience, has offered to walk through the building to identify enhancements. He will do a walk-through in November. The Board decided it would be prudent to install a panic button as soon as possible and to consider other options when more information is available.
Central Office reported on the status of the summer projects and fund balance. The money to replace the back-ordered outside speakers has been encumbered and the remainder of the summer projects are completed. Approximately $1,700 is left over from these projects which will be returned to the town to offset taxes.
SAU 16 Chief Financial Officer Nathan Lunney presented the financial report to the Board.
The Board completed the second reading of the Wellness Policy Appendices JLCF-R.
MOTION – Board Member Hannan moved to accept the appendices to the Wellness, Nutrition, and Physical Activity Policy JLCF-R, Board Member Knutson seconded.
Vote - 3 yes, 1 abstention. Motion carries.
Assistant Superintendent Frew asked the Board members if they would be willing to change the starting time of the March 10th Annual School District Meeting. The Board opted to keep the starting time of the meeting at 9:00 a.m.
Assistant Superintendent Frew proposed a budget timeline: A rough draft presented to the Board at the November meeting for discussion; a revised and more complete draft to be presented to the Board in December; and a final draft to be presented to the Board in January following an initial presentation to the Brentwood Budget Committee in late December. A final proposal is presented to the Brentwood Budget Committee in mid-January.
7. Report from the Principal
Principal Ostrowski reported that although students are still entering and leaving the school, enrollment is remaining steady at 402 children.
The Artist-in-Residence program resulting from the grant proposal that was written by former art teacher Kriss Bouchard and Principal Ostrowski and approved by the New Hampshire State council of the Arts is underway; all students in kindergarten through 5th grade have created tiles which are currently drying. These will be glazed by the children in late November, fired, and installed on the outside front entrance wall in the spring to create a mural. There was a very successful Community Night facilitated by current art teacher, Crystal Buswell, and former art teacher, Kriss Bouchard, this month.
The 2006-07 School Activities Program is underway. Teachers Sheila Lane and Jody MacBride coached 27 4th and 5th graders as they practiced twice a week and participated in three cross-country meets hosted by East Kingston Elementary School. This was a great experience for everyone involved. Mrs. Lane is facilitating two additional activity program offerings this fall. The first is a three-week specialty class for 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders focusing on Double Dutch. The second will be the Jump Rope Club open to all students. Other staff members will assist Sheila with the Jump Rope Club. Information and the necessary paperwork for these will be going home shortly.
The Swasey 3rd and 4th graders have completed the NECAP assessment for this school year. The 5th graders are taking it this week. The NECAP assesses how well the students have mastered the grade level expectations for the previous school year. Because of this, Swasey is credited with the results for the students tested in 6th grade as well.
8. Old/New Business
The Board considered the request for a complete audit of the past Swasey renovation project that was presented at the previous meeting by Brentwood Resident Jim Berlo. This was a bonded project not a budgetary project and there was a surplus once the project was completed. The project cost $6,132,679.91. At the end, $125,701 (approximately $67,000 in unspent appropriations and $58,000 of unanticipated kindergarten aid and interest earnings) was returned to the Brentwood taxpayers. Chief Financial Office Lunney quoted from independent audits completed during the years that the building project was in process, specifically the June 2005 report. Chief Financial Office Lunney stated that these were good audits, thorough and performed on site, looking at all aspects of school inventory and spending.
Visitor Jim Johnson stated that he feels there is a need for a final disposition about the project. Chief Financial Office Lunney noted that the available audits provide this information while Chair Chesno stated that another audit would not look at specifications but would provide only a financial accounting. Board Member Faria noted that all of the audit reports are public information; it was suggested that Mr. Johnson could, in writing, request and pay for copies of the audits. Chief Financial Office Lunney explained that money was retained for a period of time to allow the Board to address the punch list items that were not completed by the construction company.
After discussion, Board Members Hannan and Faria stated that they feel an audit of the project has already been done and that pursuing an additional independent audit would be a total waste of taxpayer money. Board Member Knutson concurred. There will not be another audit of this project. Board Member Hannan noted that he kept the Brentwood Budget Committee informed about the project and the punch list items.
9. Public Comment
Visitor Jo Gargaly commended the Board on the wonderful job that they have and are doing and stated that she is happy about how the Board stays on top of how the money is spent and appreciates their efforts.
Visitor Johnson stated that he is a resident of Brentwood and deserves to have his questions answered.
10. Correspondence Noted
None noted.
11. Adjournment
MOTION – Board Member Knutson moved that the Brentwood School Board Meeting adjourn at 8:35 p.m.; Board Member Faria seconded. Vote – Unanimous