Exeter Region Cooperative School Board Meeting Minutes
MEMBERS PRESENT: Kim Casey, Patty Lovejoy, Ralph Adler, Lucy Cushman,
Linda
Henderson, Roy Morrisette, Greg Kann and
Robin Scott
MEMBERS ABSENT: Ray Trueman
ADMINISTRATION: Arthur L. Hanson, Walter Pierce, Gary Heald, Richard Wendell
and Tom O’Malley
1. CALL TO ORDER/PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Chair Casey called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
2. ANNOUNCEMENTS/PUBLIC INPUT: No public comments.
3. CHAIR’S REPORT
3.1 Issue Committee Lists and Meeting Dates: Kim reviewed the committee assignment list and the meetings scheduled for 2004-05. SST Governance Board showed Kim
3.2 School Board Goals: Kim reviewed the purpose and time commitment involved for the board and administration in developing the 2004-05 school board goals. These goals are posted on the SAU Website. Patty asked the board to add two Finance Committee dates to their listing: November 16th and December 16th.
4. SUPERINTENDENT/ADMINISTRATION REPORT
4.1 Summer Activities: Superintendent reviewed the summer training schedule at SPDC: differentiated instruction; Linux; SPED training for paraprofessionals and the continued Intel training for teacher is on-going. Reminded the board that tomorrow, Wednesday, August 11th, several attorneys will be at the SAU Office at 4:00 PM to speak on contract negotiations and is open to anyone who wants to attend. The presentation should last 60-90 minutes and having the attorneys speak on this was an initiative brought forward from the SAU Chairs.
4.2 Maintenance Projects – Dick Wendell: Dick Wendell spoke of the many projects he has been overseeing this summer; announced that head groundkeeper Frank Huerta has resigned after being with the district for 20 years; housekeeping is being completed at all the schools; gave an update on CMS Room 131 being renovated to increase the space usage; Exeter Seahawks’ concession stand is about 2/3 completed; Court Street has been sold and as of today, one half of the building has been demolished; reviewed the progress of the Annex renovation for housing the Great Bay eLearning Charter School (GBeCS); reviewed his work with the outlying districts; discussed food service program and the Point of Sales system that is up and running at both CMS and EHS; credited Denise Bill, Phil Gay and Ed Otto and the entire maintenance and housekeeping crew for all their efforts and hard work. With the loss of Court Street, Greg asked if there were any additional space to consider for student parking and Dick noted that he has been in touch with Natalie Perry to brainstorm possible locations. To date there are no solutions for this. Superintendent thanked Dick for all the work he and his department does all year long, but especially for their efforts in the summer time to meet all the needs.
4.3 Great Bay eLearning Charter School: Superintendent noted the Annex is being renovated for the school and with Dick’s contacts have been able to get that work done. Hope it will be done by the end of August/first of September. Trustees are meeting August 26th and will hold their meeting there. This fall will be the recruitment of students with open houses held for parents, students and community to get an idea of what the school has to offer. Roy Morrisette is chair and Lucy Cushman and Linda Henderson are the ERCSD board representatives.
4.4 Administrative Retreat: Will be held at Portsmouth Elks Club next Tuesday and Wednesday, August 17th and 18th and superintendent reviewed the agenda for those two days.
4.5
Principals’ Reports: Superintendent explained SST Principal Nancy Pierce
is present tonight to give a year-end report along with some of their
initiatives for this year. Nancy presented a power point presentation with
some background history; governance representation; programs and initiatives;
enrollment numbers; their website (www.seacoastTech.com)
and the future of SST. Nancy also shared that this year is the 25 year of
existence for the program and that she will soon be inviting the board to share
in their 25th anniversary celebration in the next couple of weeks.
CMS Principal Tom O’Malley thanked Dick Wendell for all his maintenance work at
CMS, noting that even though the school is seven years old, it still looks
new. Tom reviewed summer activities at CMS. EHS Principal Gary Heald introduced
the board to Stephanie Haas, an EHS senior and regular All “A” Luncheon
attendee who assists Betsy Wilson with video taping the board meetings.
Stephanie explained the summer theater program at CMS she was involved with and
the upcoming performances at CMS on August 20th and 21st
in the Meehan Auditorium and hoped the board could attend. Gary reviewed summer
activities; full staff in place for fall; enrollment shows an increase of 59
new students and that is about 30 over the normal increase and may require some
additions in various disciplines or let the class sizes increase; will keep the
board abreast of the situation; dates: Notice of Rights and Procedures will go
home first of next week; EHS administrative retreat the 15th and 16th
just before the SAU administrative retreat; sport practices are beginning
tomorrow; Positive Start, orientation at EHS for new students grades 10th
– 12th will be on August 26th from 9:00 to 1:00 PM at
Annex Gym.
4.6
Nominations and Resignations: Gary is beginning his 6th year at EHS and
his 40th year in education and discussed various scenarios that have
made him realize that there are still some things he would like to do outside
education and now would be a good time to move in another direction. With
that, he would like to formally announce to the board that effective June 30,
2005, he will be resigning as principal at EHS. Kim, on behalf of the board,
thanked Gary for his years of service to the school and the ERCS District and noted
it is with great sadness we accept your resignation and appreciate all you have
given to the school in the last six years. Greg, Lucy and Linda reiterated their
appreciation to Gary for stepping in to assist when we were looking for a
principal; for establishing accountability at EHS; appreciate that he is giving
the board a full year to find a qualified candidate and the year the new person
will have in the building shows that Gary practices what he preaches; and that
the board is mindful of the many tough decisions you have had to make and we
thank you.
Superintendent would recommend the board accept the nominations and
resignations that were in your board packet along with the nomination of Katie
Jentes as Volleyball Coach at EHS. Motion by Roy Morrisette, seconded by
Patty Lovejoy to move the nominations (CMS: Tara Evans - Science and
Janet Fleck - Music; EHS: Kathy Newcomb – Guidance; Katie Jentes – Volleyball
Coach) and resignations as listed (CMS: Daniel Stowell – English;
Benjamin Clapp – Ropes Course; Elizabeth Moran – Reading; Paul Whitmore –
Reading; Esther Asbell – Guidance; Jill Lowrey – Reading; Kelly Watson –
English; Diane Perry – Spanish; Dana Marino – Interpreter; Ann Grenier –
Science; Catherine Hammon – fulltime Music; Jennifer Ramsay – fulltime Music;
Bradley Trottier – Social Studies; Meredith Leavitt – Science; Debra Kemsley –
Math and EHS: Kathy Newcomb – Assistant Principal; David Hyvari – Math; Tania
Knox – Science; Jerry Gittlein – Math (.4); Jennifer Guerra – Chemistry; and
Ellen Cooke – Guidance Counselor) and with no further discussion the
motion was unanimously board voted.
Motion by Greg Kann, seconded by Patty Lovejoy and unanimously board voted with
no further discussion to accept with great regret and thanks for all his
service over the last size year the resignation of Gary Heald as Principal of
EHS effective June 30, 2005.
5. COMMITTEE REPORTS
5.1 Personnel, Policy and Communication: Chair Adler reviewed the agenda items from the meeting of August 2, 2004: parent request on non-residency and committee is recommending the denial of the request to be discussed in Non-Public session; possible expulsion of a student; EHS personnel change on Mr. Heald; balance was issue of communications – not a single issue, but something that needs to be considered on several levels. The committee discussed the development of possible broad board policies on communications; the future of communications and the committee hopes to bring more specific plans to September board meeting.
5.2 Facilities: Chair Cushman reported: board had an earlier special meeting to discuss renovations to CMS room 131; tonight Walter updated the committee on the new high school; great progress on fields; detention ponds in; foundation fairly complete and steel due next week; will see building rise next month; planning a bus tour for SAU Joint Board prior to the Joint Board meeting on September 20th; talked about GMP (Guaranteed Maximum Price) which is close to being signed by Chair Casey; report by Linda on Linden Street Re-Use that she will share in her committee report; next meeting is September 14th at 6:00 PM.
5.3 Curriculum and Philosophy: Chair Henderson reported: June 22nd was last meeting and the committee met with the administration and reviewed the curriculum and philosophy goals; have decided not to meet in August; would like administration to get more settled into this school year before coming back and reporting to the committee; next meeting is 9/28 at 7:00 PM at SAU Office.
5.4 Finance: Chair Lovejoy reviewed the agenda items from the August 4th meeting (see Attachment #1). Budget workshop will be on Saturday, January 8, 2005Technology: no meeting.
5.5 Transportation: no meeting.
5.6 SAU Chairs: no meeting.
5.7 SST: Will meet Monday, August 16th.
5.8 Linden Street Reuse Committee: Last met in June to look at appraisals received from four scenarios on the property. Bottom line for the development of the property is $1-2 million dollars and it is the committee’s thoughts at this point in time, economically and educationally, that SST should remain where it is and the district should remain ownership of the main high school and need to look at remainder of grounds and annex property. No final decision has been made, but this is the direction the committee is looking at right now. Steering Committee will meet in next couple of weeks to come forward with a recommendation from the full committee. More specifics to come.
5.10 NCLB Committee: no meeting
5.11 SAU 16 Policy Committee: Patty noted no meeting, but the following policies need to come forward for second reading/approval since no changes made to them. Motion by Patty Lovejoy, seconded by Greg Kann and unanimously board voted with no further discussion to accept the following ERCSD policies: JEB - Age of Entrance; JFAA - Admission of Resident Students; JFAC - Change of School or Assignment; JHC - Student Release Precautions; JICD - Student Conduct, Discipline and Due Process; JICE - Student Publications; JKA - Corporal Punishment; JKB - Detention of Students; JKD - Student Suspensions; JKE - Long-Term Suspension or Student Expulsion; JLIA - Supervision of Students; and JQ - Care of School Property by Students.
6. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
6.1 June 15, 2004 - Board Meeting: Motion by Patty Lovejoy, seconded by Greg Kann, and unanimously board voted with no further discussion to accept the June 15, 2004 board minutes as presented.
6.2 July 19, 2004 – Special Board Meeting: Motion by Patty Lovejoy, seconded by Greg Kann, and unanimously board voted with no further discussion to accept the July 19, 2004 board minutes as presented
7. NON-PUBLIC SESSION: Motion by Patty Lovejoy,
seconded by Robin Scott to go into non-public per RSA 91-A:3 II.(a,b,c,d,e,f)
91-A:311, a. at
8:36 PM. Roll call vote with all voting in the affirmative. Roy noted he
would not be able to attend non-public session. Meeting will adjourn at the
end of Non-Public.
8. ADJOURNMENT: The board came out of non-public session at 9:22 PM. On a motion by Linda Henderson, seconded by Lucy Cushman and unanimously board voted to adjourn the meeting at 9:23 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Sally S. Boyd, Secretary
ERCSD 8-10-04 Attachment #1
ERCSD Finance Committee Meeting
August 4, 2004 – 5:00 PM
SAU Office
MEMBERS PRESENT: Patty Lovejoy
ADMINISTRATION PRESENT: Walter Pierce, Nathan Lunney
Chair opened the meeting at 5:20 PM. The following agenda items were discussed.
1. Review of FY 2003-04 Ending: Nathan reported on the closing of FY 2003-04. There are a handful of closing entries yet to be made. The auditors are expected on August 30th. The appropriations surplus will be dedicated to reclassifications of project expenses as previously discussed. The revenue surplus will contribute to a fund balance of approximately $700k. That balance will fund the two warrant articles approved in March and return nearly $500,000 to offset taxes. There was conversation about how the $35,000 non-lapsing appropriation for Guinea Road improvements would be handled. The Town of Exeter did not pass its warrant article for that project, but the ERCSD article was approved and non-lapsing. Nathan and Walter will research and update the committee in September.
2. Trust Account Fund Balances Update: Nathan reviewed the June 30th statement of trust balances. The final statement needs to be updated to show the approved appropriations from the Maintenance Trust for $19,500 as well as from the Special Education Trust for $100,000. Additionally, The anticipated transfers of $100,000 into both Maintenance and Special Education Trusts after July 1st will also be added.
3. Budget Development for FY 2005-06: The annual meeting timeline was reviewed. A March 8, 2005 election day will be preceded by a February 10th Deliberative Session and a January 13th Public Hearing. A packet of information was provided that included the primary working documents used in the budget development process last year with the Budget Committee. It was suggested that similar tools be assembled for use in this year’s process.
Nathan introduced a list of meetings and topics based on last year as a suggestion for the schedule this year. Budget development will be an agenda item for Finance beginning with the October 6th meeting. Two additional meetings will be scheduled for Tuesday, November 16th and Thursday, December 16th. Building Principals will be invited to present to the committee on Nov. 16th and Directors of Operations and Special Education will join the committee on Dec. 1st. It was discussed that budget development should be a very open process this year and that public notice will be important. The Jan. 5th meeting will offer opportunity for final preparation prior to the full Board Workshop scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 8th.
4. EHS Building Project – GMP (Guaranteed Maximum Price): Walter reviewed the status of work toward a final GMP for the high school project. He presented a budget summary and discussed projected expenses against original budget estimates. Walter will offer additional information and update at the upcoming Facilities Committee meeting.
5. Next Meeting Date: The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, September 1, 2004 at 5:00pm at the SAU Office.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:25 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Nathan Lunney