TO THE BRENTWOOD SCHOOL DISTRICT

              BRENTWOOD, NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

The Brentwood School Board met on Monday, December 11, 2006, at the Swasey Central School, Brentwood, New Hampshire.

 

PRESENT:  Anne Marie Chesno (Chairperson), Elizabeth Faria, Tim Hannan, Michael Johnson, Virginia Knutson (Vice Chairperson), School Board Members; Jerry Frew, Assistant Superintendent; Joan Ostrowski, Principal.

 

ALSO PRESENT:  Ed Oddo, SAU Assistant Maintenance Director; Cecelia Hart, Food Service Manager.

 

CALL TO ORDER

In Chairperson Chesno’s absence, Vice Chairperson Knutson called the meeting to order at 6:04 p.m.

 

All stood for the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

Mr. Frew introduced Mary Lou Clinton-Stevens, who will be recording the minutes of the school board meeting.

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Ms. Knutson called for acceptance of the minutes of November 13, public and nonpublic sessions.  Changes were suggested.  Mr. Hannan moved to accept the minutes; seconded by Mr. Johnson and voted unanimously.

 

REPORT FROM THE CHAIR

Deferred until Ms. Chesno’s arrival.

 

REPORT FROM THE CENTRAL OFFICE ADMINISTRATION

Financial Report

Mr. Frew distributed the most recent financial statement, and questions regarding encumbrances and expenditures were answered. (Ms. Faria arrived at 6:09 p.m.)

 

Policies

Policies were reviewed:

On a second reading:  BEDG - Minutes (Revised); JLCF - Wellness, Nutrition and Physical Activity (Revised); JICK - Pupil Safety and Violence Prevention (Revised); IHBH - Extended Learning Opportunities; JICDD - Student Discipline Out-of-School Actions.  The acceptance of the policies, on a second reading, with revisions, was moved by Mr. Johnson; seconded by Mr. Hannan.  The vote was unanimous.

 

On a first reading:  BBBC - Board Member or District Officer Resignation (Revised); EH - Data Management (Revised); GBEB - Staff Conduct (Revised); GBEBB - Employee-Student Relations (Revised); IHBAB - Special Education Evaluations (Revised).  The acceptance of the policies, on a first reading, with revisions, was moved by Mr. Johnson; seconded by Mr. Hannan.  The vote was unanimous.

 

Recording Secretary -- Ms. Faria asked about having a secretary record the board meeting minutes.  Mr. Frew said that there had been a secretary in place until a few years ago, and that the position was advertised without response.  Ms. Clinton-Stevens expressed an interest in the position.  It is a budgeted position.

 

REPORT FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Principal Ostrowski updated enrollment reporting that enrollment is back up to 403 students

 

Second graders performed for senior citizens at the fire hall, and performing for parents the next morning.

 

December 22nd will be the family skate.  In answer to a question about alternative activities for students, Ms. Ostrowski said there was no alternative activity to skating.

 

(Chairperson Chesno arrived at 6:20 p.m.)

 

REPORT FROM THE CHAIR

Chairperson Chesno reported that the meeting of the Joint Board will be December 18th, at which a calendar for next year will be reviewed.  Also to be discussed is the evaluation instrument for the superintendent.  The document will be handed out at the meeting.

 

Security Audit – An expert did walk through the facility, and there will be a report for the board’s review and discussion at the next meeting.  She spoke briefly about the shift in culture in schools and finding a balance between the safety mechanisms that need to be in place and maintaining the comfort of a rural elementary school.

 

SAU Office -- Reported, also, was that the move of the SAU office to the old high school is delayed.  The renovations underway will bring the building up to the current code.  The Cooperative funding issues are being worked through.

 

Budget Hearing -- Mr. Frew reported that the SAU budget hearing will be on December 18th at 6:00 p.m. followed by the meeting of the SAU 16 School Board.  The budget was Emailed to the board members.

 

Ms. Faria asked about federal funding; IDEA.  Mr. Frew explained that the SAU is the fiscal agent for all grant monies, and that this will be explained in the overview of the budget.

 

Superintendent Evaluation Document

Ms. Faria reported on the superintendent evaluation document.  The data was reviewed and the committee tried to keep the document short and efficient.  She discussed input from the other school boards.  The plan is to have the document accepted at the Joint Board meeting and at the January meeting of the boards, have individual board members complete a form.  The goal is to have board members, principals, and SAU Office staff have input.  Teachers will be added the second year.  The evaluation committee is going to compile the results.  The superintendent will be responsible for a self-evaluation.  Several members from the board will present the results to the superintendent.  In discussing areas not relevant to board members, Mr. Hannan suggested a N/A box.  Mr. Johnson asked about scoring.  Kate Miller, who chairs the committee, advised, if you don’t have 70% confidence in the question, don’t answer it.

 

Transportation Committee – Ms. Faria reported that bus transportation bids have been received from three transporters: First Student, Laidlaw, and GTA.  She discussed with the board the percentages, the cost adjustments, she explaining the differences, the fuel clause, and the committee's recommendation. 

 

She said that the committee is not recommending seat belts, at this time, but is recommending the establishment of a broad based committee made up of drivers, parents, and school board members to study the issue and report to the SAU 16 Board.  There are no state or national guidelines for seatbelts, and the cost for installing on buses would be exorbitant. 

 

Newsletter -- The chairperson asked for articles for the newsletter.

 

Ms. Chesno asked Mr. Frew about the meeting with Mr. Lunney and asked for a report to be Emailed to her.

 

Budget Information -- Principal Ostrowski spoke to her budget preparation, and handed out a budget work sheet as well as a second handout explaining the changes.  She explained the budget lines she was responsible for.  There was a lengthy discussion detailing staffing, programs, increases, and the potential to decrease some lines.  The board discussed the presentation of the budget to the BudCom, and to the community.  It was suggested that this presentation could be a newsletter article.  The budget should be ready for the BudCom before the holidays.

 

PUBLIC COMMENT

Cecelia Hart, speaking of the refrigerator ordered, reported that it was shipped, but arrived damaged, and needed to be returned.  Delivery of a replacement won’t be for six weeks, so she is supplying a refrigerator until the replacement is delivered.

 

OLD/NEW BUSINESS

Facilities Exploration Committee – Mr. Johnson reported that the committee is looking at the facility, looking at the charter, and will meet next month.

 

CORRESPONDENCE

There was none.

 

NONPUBLIC SESSION

Ms. Faria moved that the board enter nonpublic session, under RSA 91-A:3 [c], to discuss a student matter; seconded by Mr. Hannan.  The board entered nonpublic session, at 7:55 p.m., on a unanimous roll call vote.  The board came out of nonpublic session at 8:05 p.m.

 

SIGNING OF MANIFEST

The manifest was reviewed, and signed by the board.

 

ADJOURNMENT

Mr. Hannan moved that the Brentwood School Board meeting adjourn at 8:10 p.m.; seconded by Ms. Faria and voted unanimously.

 

Minutes of the school board are unofficial until accepted at a subsequent meeting of the school board.

 

December 11, 2006, minutes created by Mary Lou Clinton-Stevens.