Brentwood School Board Meeting Minutes
February 12, 2007
The Brentwood School Board met on Monday, February 12, 2007, 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: Thirteen residents.
CALL TO ORDER
Ms. Chesno called the meeting to order at 6:02 p.m.
All stood for the Pledge of Allegiance.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Ms. Chesno distributed marked-up copies of minutes of January 29th and January 31st.
She called for approval of the minutes of January 29th. Mr. Hannan so moved; seconded by Ms. Knutson. After discussion, the minutes were accepted, as amended, on a vote of four in favor, with Ms. Faria abstaining.
Ms. Chesno called for approval of the minutes of January 31st. Ms. Knutson so moved; seconded by Mr. Hannan, to accept the minutes, as amended. The vote was unanimous.
The minutes of the January 31st nonpublic session were reviewed, and unanimously accepted on a motion by Mr. Hannan; seconded by Mr. Johnson.
Ms. Chesno called for approval of the minutes of February 5th. Ms. Faria so moved; seconded by Mr. Johnson. The vote was unanimous.
REPORT FROM THE CHAIR
Communications Plan Around Budget – Set Public Hearing / Petition Warrant Articles
Chairperson Chesno produced a handout from the Hampton PTA which the board could use as a model for its agenda for presentation of its budget. After discussion of Saturday’s meeting and the data handouts that were available, the board discussed avenues for the dissemination of budget data and facts. The annual meeting is March 10th and the public hearing on the budget must be before February 23rd. The date for the informational meeting was discussed and set for March 5th at 7:00 p.m. from 7:00 to 9:00 with child care provided. Ms. Chesno will create posters and get them to Mr. Hannan for mounting; Ms. Ostrowski will prepare information flyers; Ms. Faria will disseminate to the library, town hall, Lindy’s, and Bessy’s. Mr. Johnson will create multiple PowerPoint presentations; Ms. Knutson will prepare information flyers and send to Exeter Newsletter, Brentwood Newsletter, and Carriage Town News. Mr. Hannan suggested plans for letters and articles for the Brentwood Newsletter. There will be a mass mailing of the informational flyer and a mass mailer of informational postcards to each household in Brentwood. Mr. Hannan will prepare a statement from the board on its position on SB2 for the Brentwood Newsletter, which he will first send to the board members for their input. The Public Hearing on the budget was set for February 20th, 6:00 to 6:30 p.m.
REPORT FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Ms. Ostrowski submitted her written report and highlighted that the total enrollment was 406 students.
She mentioned the Special Education Onsite conducted January 30 and 31. The major focus at the school was on the transition of children / families from Community Early Intervention programming into the preschool program and from preschool into kindergarten.
Ms. Ostrowski’s written report listed upcoming school activities through March 14.
Ms. Ostrowski asked for direction from the board regarding the development of a document describing the additions and deletions that would be made if the 2007/2008 school budget proposal was recommended at 4.72%.
The board discussed the budget and the differences from today’s budget up to the 4.72%, and from today’s budget up to 6.6%. Ms. Ostrowski asked for direction on the computer teachers. The consensus was to keep the same philosophy used for the 6.6% budget to prepare the 4.72% budget. Discussed also was the SLC bus and the NHSBA dues for membership. A special meeting of the board will be posted following the public Hearing on February 20, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. to review the budget.
REPORT FROM THE CENTRAL OFFICE ADMINISTRATION
Financial Report
Mr. Frew distributed the Financial Report with projected fund balance, which the board reviewed.
Policies
Policies: IHBBA, Limited English Proficiency Instruction; KB, Title I Parent Involvement in Education, and LEB, Advanced College Placement, were reviewed. These policies, for public review, are available in the schools, at the SAU Office, and on the website. These policies are all mandated by law. The will be brought forward for a second reading.
Random Act of Kindness
Mr. Frew announced the Random Act of Kindness recipient this quarter is Sheila Lane. There will be a ceremony. Sheila was selected from thirty nominees. Ed Pease was the first quarter recipient. Ms. Chesno asked Mr. Frew to prepared a letter from the school board to Sheila and prepare a letter from the Joint Board for her to sign.
Warrant Articles
Mr. Frew said that the warrants need to be signed by the board.
OLD / NEW BUSINESS
There was none.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Carol LaPlant was recognized and said that she would like to see the specials, i.e. music, be eliminated long before computers. There was discussion of music being beneficial to students learning mathematics. It was said that computer instruction is not going to be eliminated, it will be taught by the classroom teachers.
Tracie May was recognized and suggested a variance page be available showing the actual figures.
Energy use was discussed and the board was asked about looking into solar energy as part of a plan of action.
A question about reimbursement for special education expenses was asked, and is there someone who is working on that?
Discussing the 6.6% and the 4.7% budgets, it was suggested that data be prepared showing how much taxpayers will pay, and what they will get for their dollars.
There was discussion of the ESOL position, and how other school districts configure it. Mr. Frew cautioned that using paraprofessions in oversight situations does not always work.
There were questions of the kindergarten numbers, Impact Fees, and giving back money to the town. Ms. Chesno gave a brief history of impact fees.
Ms. Chesno introduced Gary Whitmarsh who has declared for the open seat on the school board.
Ms. Chesno thanked those who were present for their input.
The board members were thanked for their extra work on the budget. There was applause.
WARRANT ARTICLES
The school board members signed the meeting and the voting warrants. Mr. Frew explained that the warrants would be posted, meeting the school board’s legal obligation.
FINANCIAL REPORT
The school board members signed the manifest.
NONPUBLIC SESSION
At 8:04 p.m., Ms. Faria moved to enter nonpublic session under RSA 91-A:3 II [c] to discuss a school board / personnel issue.
The board returned to public session at 8:19 p.m.
It was announced that Monday is the Joint Board meeting. The superintendent subcommittee will discuss the results of the evaluation, and will talk about the effectiveness of the tool used for that evaluation, and about keeping on the evaluation committee, or transferring its responsibilities to the Joint Chairs
ADJOURNMENT
Mr. Johnson moved to adjourn; seconded by Mr. Hannan. All were in favor, and the meeting adjourned at 8:25 p.m.
Submitted by
Mary Lou Clinton-Stevens
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