Brentwood School Board Meeting Minutes
Monday, November 19, 2007
Swasey Central School
The Brentwood School Board met on Monday, November 19, 2007, at the Swasey Central School, Brentwood, New Hampshire.
PRESENT: Anne Marie Chesno (Chairperson), Elizabeth Faria, Tim Hannan, Virginia Knutson (Vice Chairperson), Gary Whitmarsh, School Board Members; Jerry Frew, Assistant Superintendent; Joan Ostrowski, Principal; Janet Hart, Assistant Principal.
ALSO PRESENT:
Cathy Blaisdell, Amy Gentile, Chris Nickola, Robert Schroeder.
CALL TO ORDER
Ms. Chesno opened the meeting at 6:05 p.m.
All stood for the Pledge of Allegiance.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting of October 15, 2007, public session, were reviewed. Ms. Faria pointed out a typo on page three, and moved to accept the minutes; Mr. Whitmarsh seconded, and the vote was unanimous.
The nonpublic session minutes were accepted, as presented, on a motion by Ms. Faria; seconded by Ms. Knutson and voted unanimously.
REPORT FROM THE CHAIR
Board Member Queries
Ms. Chesno said that she was contacted by Lynn Austin who said she was thrilled with the results of the energy study and that she suggested that an article about the study be in the Brentwood Newsletter. Ms. Chesno asked Mr. Frew to prepare the article. She said she was contacted by a parent asking when the next board meeting was, so there may be parents present this evening.
Ms. Chesno asked each board member if he or she has received a contact from members of the community.
Ms. Knutson said that persons at the town office who, when talking about Brentwood’s tax rate not being able to be set, said, “you school people” were responsible. Ms. Knutson wanted it on record that it was not the Brentwood School District, but another district in the SAU, that held up the setting of Brentwood’s tax rate.
Mr. Hannan said he encountered Chris Nickola while shopping and they discussed the kindergarten issue. He said he also had a conversation with Don Petterson about education.
Ms. Faria said that she had no contacts.
There was a brief discussion about making copies of the energy report available to the public. The energy report will be put on the website.
Mr. Whitmarsh said he had a conversation with Richard Calantino when he was running for the state representative seat.
Future Agenda Items
The budget process will be on the next agenda.
Superintendent Search
Ms. Chesno said that on Monday the committee will choose those they wished to interview. The interviews will be during the first week in December.
Program Assessment Goal
Ms. Chesno explained that each school board will be evaluating a program and reporting their results to the Joint Board at its May meeting.
Kindergarten Feasibility Study Committee
The board discussed gauging community support for a full day kindergarten program. In January or February a flyer will be sent out asking for volunteers to serve on a committee for this purpose. There was discussion of the eleven districts in New Hampshire still without kindergarten and the 2009 implementation of a state mandate for, at lease, a half day kindergarten program in all districts.
Brentwood Newsletter Articles
An article on the budget will be run in January.
Board Goals Review
Ms. Chesno reviewed, with the board, the board’s goals. The budget process presentation is in February.
REPORT FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Greening of the School
Janet Hart distributed her finding on the greening processes used in schools. She said the goal of this report was to make a commitment. She explained that light greening is making changes that do not cost a great deal, and that dark greening is making costly changes to the facility. She said that Mr. Wendell reported that Waste Management will be taking our paper and in addition our plastic, and spoke of the students’ recycling. Mr. Schroeder spoke of the benefits. Ms. Hart explained the pillar construction of the energy conservation report. Pillars 1 – 4 include light greening. Swasey uses nontoxic cleaning materials; the water filters are changed every three months, and the school nurse monitors and consults the Materials Safety Data Source. She said that Swasey is ahead of the curve. She explained that pillar 3 is green and healthy spaces, and that includes healthy food in the lunch program, which the new cafeteria lunch program is providing. In the cafeteria, most of the Styrofoam has been eliminated. It was explained that students are involved in working with nature and gardening.
Ms. Chesno suggested that this report be displayed on poster board and placing it in the gymnasium for the March meeting. Mr. Hannan volunteered to do this and will supply easels for poster displays.
It was suggested to chart and post the energy report as well.
Ms. Ostrowski reviewed her written report with the board. As of this Monday, 419 students are enrolled.
She said she had a question from parents about criminal record checks for volunteers. There is a policy but it is being reworked. There was discussion of the financial impact to the district if paying for the volunteers’ checks. The policy will be rewritten for next year. Ms. Ostrowski will come back to the board with information.
Homework will be discussed next month.
The principal reported on the upcoming happenings and events through December 11.
Preliminary Budget Report
Mr. Frew distributed the Financial Statement dated November 19, 2007, and reviewed it with the board. He said that we are still in good shape, but more encumbering will need to be made. Sales are up in the hot lunch program. He said that Tim Harrington, Food Service Director, will be coming to the board to put in place the meal card system. Mr. Frew explained the adequacy funds from the state and that this year there is an increase of approximately $410,000 which means a tax rate decrease. The rate was $20.72, and is now $20.42. The town’s portion increased 67 cents per thousand. He explained the 15% contingence, $49,000, which will cover things such as the occupancy sensing controls in offices and classrooms. Ms. Chesno said that she would like to know from Mr. Lunney the financial impact. There was a discussion of the handouts.
CORRESPONDENCE NOTED
There was none.
NEW BUSINESS
There was a discussion of the School District Moderator.
OLD BUSINESS
Budget Committee Presentation
The request for full day kindergarten was discussed. Ms. Chesno said to launch the feasibility study to gauge community interest, an article should be run January 4th, and the study conducted from June to January to complete the study. She said that space for the program is the biggest issue.
Ms. Ostrowski distributed the projected enrollments, a budget spreadsheet, and a second spreadsheet with her comments on line items. She said this budget includes two fulltime kindergarten teachers with salaries in this budget, teacher salaries do not include increases, support staff increases are in steps but not percentages, 5% for SAU Office has been added. Put back in are computers that were removed last year and library books that were removed last year. Preschool will need to be discussed. Ms. Chesno asked that Pat Dowey get the board some national data on statistics. The school board stipends were discussed, and will be removed. Ms. Chesno said that Mr. Lunney said that the benefit section is pretty accurate. It was felt that this was a fair budget. Questions on special education transportation will be answered at the December meeting. This budget does not include supplies at 52 cents per day. On December 10th the board will meet at 6:00, and the budget meeting will be at 7:30 p.m. Ms. Chesno asked to have a cover sheet prepared for the budget listing what is contained and what has been restored.
The Joint Chairs meeting is December 4th to review the budget, which will be presented on December 17th to the Joint Board.
SIGNING OF MANIFESTS
The board reviewed and signed the manifest. It was requested to have a way for board members to review the manifest earlier in the meeting.
Ms. Chesno thanked the public for attending the meeting.
NONPUBLIC SESSION
Ms. Chesno called for the board to enter nonpublic session. Mr. Hannan so moved; seconded by Ms. Faria. The board entered nonpublic session to discuss negotiations at 7:52 p.m., under RSA 91A:3II [e] on a unanimous roll call vote. The board returned to public session at 8:11 p.m.
ADJOURNMENT
On a motion by Ms. Faria; seconded by Mr. Hannan, the meeting adjourned at 8:12 p.m.
Submitted by
Mary Lou Clinton-Stevens
Minutes of the school board are unofficial until accepted at a subsequent meeting of the school board.