Brentwood School Board Minutes

May 12, 2008

Swasey Central School

 

The Brentwood School Board met on Monday, May 12, 2008, at the Swasey Central School, Brentwood, New Hampshire.

 

PRESENT: Anne Marie Chesno, Elizabeth Faria, Charles Gargaly, Peter Reed, School Board Members; Jerry Frew, Assistant Superintendent; Joan Ostrowski, Principal; Ed Oddo, Assistant Maintenance Director.

 

ALSO PRESENT:  Donna Benshemer, Julie Procter, Rebecca Foss, Mary Wills, Michael Morgan, Carol Pipinias, Dianne VanderMale, Kathy Desmarais, Kathy Carson, Kim Woods, Amy Wilson, Sheila Lane, Mary Johnson.

 

CALL TO ORDER

The meeting was opened at 6:00 p.m.

 

All stood for the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

NONPUBLIC

Ms. Chesno said that a nonpublic session can be called at anytime during the meeting.

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

The minutes of the April 14, 2008, meeting of the board were reviewed.  Minor changes were suggested.  The minutes were accepted, as amended on a motion by Mr. Gargaly; seconded by Mr. Reed and voted unanimously.

 

VISITORS

Mike Morgan, Superintendent Elect, was introduced.

 

(Ms. Faria arrived at 6:01 p.m.)

 

Schools Out Program

Rebecca Foss, from the YMCA’s Schools Out program was recognized and she updated the board on the program’s activities, saying that the end of the year looks good.

 

Brentwood Teachers Association

Carol Pipinias was recognized and spoke of the letter written by the BTA to the school board relative to the reduction in parent conferencing days.  She spoke of the importance of this conferencing time with parents; that teachers have made an honest effort to communicate with the parents; that the teachers do progress reporting on their own time, and the additional time the teachers put into this effort.  With the reduction in days there is not enough time to relate to parents, and that 98% of the parents do take the opportunity to conference.  She spoke of the negative comments made by a member of the board about the value of conferencing at the last meeting.  She requested that the board reconsider taking away the half day in the spring and in the fall.  Ms. Faria explained that no one felt conferences weren’t valuable, the board’s concern was with the number of early release days for students. 

 

Ms. Chesno said it was never the intention to devalue conferencing.  The challenge to the board has been, and is, the number of days on the calendar without instruction, and that the board looked at a number of different options around the conferencing days, in-service day, and early release time, before making this decision.  Parents have complained about the lack of continued instruction; that in April, on the calendar, there is only one full week of school, and in November there are only eleven days of instruction.

 

In discussing early release days, a teacher pointed out that on early release days the time is modified and only one hour and fifteen minutes is lost.  It was asked if the early release issue was teacher contact time or parent inconvenience.  Ms. Chesno felt it was the loss of instruction time that was at issue.

 

A teacher commented that because of the reduction in professional development time on this school year’s calendar, the Swasey teachers lost out on valuable SAU technology training that the other districts had, and that the board should think carefully before eliminating the professional development time.  There was discussion.

 

Ms. Chesno spoke of the advantage of Superintendent Elect Morgan hearing this discussion.  Brentwood has taken a leadership role in reducing the number of days students have off from school.  She proposed that the teachers come up with alternatives for the board to consider.  The board discussed submission of Brentwood’s calendar to the state.  Ms. Chesno thanked the teachers for their input.

 

Mr. Gargaly moved; seconded by Mr. Reed, to amend the calendar back to where it had been.  There was further discussion.  The vote was unanimous.

 

Ms. Chesno invited the teachers to e-mail their alternatives for the 2008 / 2009 calendar to the board before the next meeting, which is June 9^th.

 

Update on Projects

Mr. Oddo updated the board on the projects ongoing, reporting that they did sign with PSNH, and they did get two returns on the bid but are waiting for one more.  The price of the security options on the front door will be in the area of $300.  They are working on the security film for the windows.  He was asked to update again at the June meeting, and during the summer, through Mr. Frew.

 

Mr. Oddo explained, while installing the swing set, they struck water, and Chief Robinson came to their aid in fixing the problem.  He conveyed his personal thanks to the Chief.

 

REPORT FROM THE CENTRAL OFFICE

Financial Report

Mr. Frew distributed the financial report and said that it is unchanged from last month.  Mr. Frew explained the lines that showed a savings.

 

School Lunch Program

Mr. Frew explained that Tim Harrington sends regrets for not being able to attend this meeting, as planned.  He reported that Tim is monitoring the escalating cost of groceries.  At the end of last April, 1,700 lunches had been served, and this April, the lunch count was 3,400 lunches (an increase of 106.9%).  Tim is still working with Assistant Director, Tammy Heath, who continues to learn the operations.  The breakfast program has been approved by the state for next school year.  The price of lunch was discussed, with the possibility of an increase being necessary.  The benefits of installing the student nutrition and POS (point of sale) application, WinSNAP™, were discussed.

Tim will be at the June meeting.

 

School Board Goals 2008 / 2009

Mr. Frew said that at the SAU Joint School Board meeting on Monday, May 19^th, at 7:00 p.m., the goals for 2008 / 2009 will be approved.

 

REPORT FROM THE CHAIR

Joint Chairs Meeting

Ms. Chesno reported on the meeting of the Joint Chairs.  The Stratham School Board’s request to form a subcommittee to study the SAU budgeting and governances was brought before the Chairs, and the Chairs suggested Stratham come back with one of their issues to be considered.  She said Stratham withdrew its motion, and opted to take this up in-district. 

 

The SAU is adding a goal, that she read for the board, to include the entire Joint Board in the budgeting process, and Mr. Lunney will spend more time with those involved in the process.

 

Dr. Hanson’s retirement reception will be May 19^th from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.  Tickets are $15.  The festivities will begin at 5:00 p.m.  Paul Flynn will speak for the Central Office; Tom O’Malley for the principals, and she will highlight Dr. Hanson’s legacy.  In lieu of gifts, his designated charity is Nothing But Nets.net.

 

Ms. Chesno said that attendance at the Joint Board meeting is very important.

 

Ms. Chesno said the Pat Dowey attended and spoke to the Chairs about the increase in Autism and the necessity for programming, and discussed an SAU-wide program.  There are four districts with no need.  Ms. Dowey explained the logistics and that there are not a lot of options.  Out–of-district programs could be as much s $85,000 and do not include transportation.  The obligation is from age three to twenty-one.  It was suggested that Ms. Dowey form a committee with all the districts represented to look at the issue as a whole.  She said it is a very complicated issue, but that Ms. Dowey is working on it.

 

She reported that the Cooperative Middle School was the recipient of an “ED’ie award as Middle School of the Year.

 

The work on SST is 70% complete, and the funding was 90% state aid.

 

Ms. Chesno said that Dr. Hanson has asked that laptops be provided for school board members to allow them to receive their necessary data electronically and eliminate paper waste.  This will go before the Joint Board.  The Brentwood Board expressed it strong opposition to this proposal.

 

Board Member Queries

Ms. Chesno asked each board member if he or she received contact from members of the community.  Ms. Faria had three contacts. She was asked what depth the mulch should be on the playground; it is adequate.  She was asked what the school’s response must be to an emergency, such as a student breaking an arm; the parent(s) are contacted, the student is stabilized, an ambulance called if necessary.  She was asked when the Joint Chairs got fiduciary responsibility, and is it legal?  Mr. Frew said it is legal, and was granted by a unanimous vote of the Joint Board in May of 2000.  The Chairs make decisions on encumbrances, but the budget goes to the entire Joint Board for acceptance.

 

No other board member had been contacted.

 

REPORT FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Preschool

Ms. Ostrowski distributed her written report.  Attached was, Preschool Information and Proposal for the2008 / 2009 School Year.  She said that seven children currently qualify for a three-year old program (speech and language identification).  She said that currently families of “Play Pals” pay $25 per week for the program.  She is suggesting a reasonable increase in tuition for next year.  She asked the board to review the proposal for discussion at next month’s meeting.

 

NWEAs

Ms. Ostrowski said it is her recommendation that the administration of NWEA MAPS be discontinued at all grade levels, The data gained from this assessment does not warrant the cost, the drain on administrative and instructional time, or the stress on students.  Mr. Frew said that all elementary principals were asked to come back with a united proposal for CMS to determine well balanced teams of students.  This issue was tabled until the next meeting.

 

Professional Positions

Ms. Ostrowski said that she is currently interviewing for a fulltime speech and language pathologist, a halftime occupational therapist, and a physical therapist, 40%.  She said that since time is of-the-essence, and it would be helpful if the board would allow the administration to proceed with hiring in the intervening time between school board meetings.  Mr. Gargaly so moved; seconded by Ms. Faria and voted unanimously.

 

Ms. Ostrowski reported that the Swasey Central School did achieve Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP).  There was applause.

 

On June 18^th will be the fifth grade celebration at 6:30 p.m. in the gymnasium.

 

Ms. Ostrowski referred to the upcoming events, through June 20th, listed in her report. 

 

CORRESPONDENCE NOTED

The letter from the teachers was noted. 

 

NEW BUSINESS

Permission to Hire

Done earlier.

 

SAU as Fiscal Agent

Mr. Frew said that a vote of the board is necessary to authorize the SAU as Fiscal Agent for Grant Authority.  There was discussion of the elimination of Title funding, and what can be encumbered.  Ms. Faria moved to authorize the SAU as Fiscal Agent for Grant Authority; seconded by Mr. Reed, and voted unanimously. 

 

OLD BUSINESS

Open Board Seat

Ms. Chesno thanked Ms. Faria for the article on the open school board seat.  There was a brief discussion of the benefits of having a parent serve on the board.

 

PUBLIC COMMENT

There was none.

 

SIGNING OF MANIFEST

The board reviewed and signed the manifest.

 

ADJOURNMENT

On a motion by Mr. Gargaly; seconded by Mr. Reed, the board adjourned at 7:53 p.m.  The vote was unanimous. 

 

 

Submitted by

Mary Lou Clinton-Stevens

 

 

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