Tuesday, May 10, 2005 – 7:00 PM
CMS Library
PRESENT: Patty Lovejoy, Robin Scott, Greg Kann, Roy Morrisette,
Lucy Cushman,
Ray Trueman, Kris Magnusson and Sally Oxnard
ABSENT: Kim Casey
ADMINISTRATION:
Arthur Hanson, Nathan Lunney, Gary Heald, Tom O’Malley and
Dick Wendell
1. CALL TO ORDER: Chair Lovejoy called the meeting to order at 7:03 PM followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and introduction of board members.
2. ANNOUNCEMENTS/PUBLIC INPUT: Bob Greene, Stratham resident, sent Chair Lovejoy an email and noted he had not heard back from her. He is interested in an update on the formal evaluation on the changes at CMS. Chair Lovejoy responded that she did email Mr. Greene back and will re-send her email and noted what her response had been. Also noted that the Fall 2004 NWEA results will be shared at the next Curriculum and Philosophy Committee meeting on May 24, 2005 at 7:00 PM at the SAU Office.
3. CHAIR’S REPORT
3.1 Recognition of CMS Chamber Choir and EHS Wrestlers: Board recognition certificates were presented to Andrew Dawkins and Henry Giang, EHS Senior Co-Captains of Wrestling for qualifying at the New Englands and to Head Wrestling Coach Bob Brown and Assistant Wrestling Coach Roy Morrisette. CMS 8th Grade Chorus, along with their director, Dr. Inzenga, were awarded certificates by Chair Lovejoy for their accomplishments at the Festival of Choirs in Chicago and sang two songs for the board.
3.2 Student Board Representatives’ Report: No representatives present.
3.3 SAU Joint School Board Meeting – May 16, 2005: Patty reminded the board of the meeting date and time.
3.4 ERCSD Retreat Date: Patty explained the date is Saturday, July 30, 2005 and the meeting begins at 8:00 AM.
3.5 Channel 22 New High School Update: Explained this presentation has been updated and is now running on Channel 22. Next update will be in September 2005.
4. SUPERINTENDENT/ADMINISTRATION REPORT
4.1 Adult Education Update – Leslie Haslam: Superintendent introduced Leslie Haslam, Exeter Adult Education Director and noted that June 7, 2005 at 7:30 PM at Talbot Gym is the graduation date this year for her program. Leslie handed out enrollment statistics for Adult Basic Education /GED/ESL Program Enrollment 2004-2005 and Diploma Program Enrollment 2004-2005 and discussed the programs and funding issues facing Adult Ed.
4.2 Principals’ Reports: Mr. O’Malley introduced Diane Sawyer, Math teacher who shared CMS enrichment day activities. Mr. Heald reported on activities at EHS and discussed May 18th early release activities that will be centered around Breaking Ranks II. Any board member interested in attending presentations on May 18th should contact EHS Administrative Assistant Lisa Healey at 775-8407 so you can be placed on one of three groups the staff will be broken into for the presentations.
4.3 Nominations and Resignations: Superintendent would recommend the board accept the resignation of EHS Science teacher Tara Mack at the end of this school year. Motion by Roy Morrisette, seconded by Robin Scott and unanimously board voted, with regrets, to accept the resignation of EHS teacher Tara Mack at the end of the 2004-2005 school year.
4.4 Title I Allocation of Funds: Superintendent noted we are a Title I Cooperative School District and need to make a motion to join the cooperative agreement for allocation of these funds. Motion by Roy Morrisette and seconded by Sally Oxnard that the board joins the Title I Cooperative Agreement for allocation of funds. Discussion on what these monies are used for. Board voted unanimously in favor of the motion.
4.5 Appointment of ERCSD Clerk and Treasurer: Superintendent explained that appointment of ERCSD Clerk Sue Bendroth is an annual appointment and that ERCSD Treasurer Bob Boyd may be appointed for up to five years. Motion by Roy Morrisette, seconded by Kris Magnusson and unanimously voted to re-appoint Sue Bendroth as ERCSD Clerk for a one year term. Motion by Roy Morrisette, seconded by Robin Scott and unanimously voted to re-appoint Bob Boyd as ERCSD Treasurer for five years.
4.6 Board Attendance to EHS Graduation: Superintendent discussed EHS graduation procedures and board members attending event; consensus by board that only board chair would partake in graduation ceremonies; if board members are going to attend the ceremonies they need to notify Sally with how many will be in their party. Graduation is June 17th 5:00 PM.
4.7 Channel 22 – Newfields: Superintendent noted Ray has helped get Newfields Selectpersons to sign a Memorandum of Understanding and now Sam Bruno is securing signatures from Exeter Selectpersons so Newfields will be able to access Channel 22.
Superintendent explained the SchoolMatch press release that has been sent to the newspapers regarding the selection of CMS and EHS for the 2005 Fourteenth Annual School System What Parents Want Award.
5. COMMITTEE REPORTS
5.1 Personnel, Policy and Communication: Chair Scott reviewed/discussed the agenda items from the May 4, 2005 meeting: interview of three public relations firms; requests for EHS foreign exchange students; additional early release day for EHS/CMS – determined it had to occur in a week that did not already have an early release day; change of June meeting time and location – to 6:00 PM at SST Culinary Arts; correspondence received by board chair that required no further action and SchoolMatch press release. Chair needs motion from board giving authority to PP&C to select one of PR firms and to have authority to spend up to $5000 on a communications audit from one of these firms. Discussion followed that there was no formal charge from the board on what the firms were to address; no RFP given from any of those firms and Patty noted why she felt that was not done. Further discussion on possible parameters to be considered on the firm we select; that the communications audit will also deal with our communications at CMS as well as EHS. Suggested that the board have a presentation on all the various philosophical ways to design the new school. Motion by Roy Morrisette, seconded by Robin Scott and board voted 7 in favor 1 abstain (Trueman) authorize PP&C committee to select from one of the three PR firms and to spend up to $5000 for a communications audit. Motion by Roy Morrisette, second by Greg Kann and unanimously board voted to accept the EHS foreign exchange student from Thailand for the 2005-2006 school year. Motion by Roy Morrisette, second by Greg Kann and unanimously board voted to accept the EHS foreign exchange student from Spain for the 2005-2006 school year as long as all required paperwork has been received by EHS by August 15, 2005.
5.2 Facilities: Chair Cushman meeting tonight concentrated solely on items for new high school: color schemes and room numbering; Walter doing field trip to look at furniture and equipment; first phase of technology bid completed; on budget, but are into our contingency fund since steel is up and a/c cost more than expected; schedule is challenged by the weather; goal that all site work, possibly excluding tennis courts, will be finished before first snow fall next winter. Discussed meeting agenda with abutters; agreed on plan for berms and tree planting that will occur this planting season; Patty and Lucy did a walk through this morning.
5.3 Curriculum and Philosophy: Chair Morrisette noted copies of minutes are in front of everyone and reviewed agenda items: EHS course offerings/class sizes; student schedules at CMS and course offerings in foreign language, art, music and math levels; AYP plan and curriculum cycle explanation. Next meeting is 5/24 at 7:00 PM.
5.4 Finance: Chair Lovejoy reported on May 5th meeting: state building aid; fund balance projections; reviewed trust funds; financial issues with new high school; state aid for education for next year; next meeting June 1st at 5:00 PM. Kris detailed more of the contingency fund breakdown.
5.5 Technology: Board representative Greg Kann noted the committee met on 5/19 and talked about Open Source and video streaming.
5.6 SAU Chairs: Chair Lovejoy reported on the agenda items: SAU Adolescent Health Committee; HR update on insurance costs; technology – Open Source and video streaming; SAU Joint Board meets next Monday; curriculum wide assessment update at that meeting; NWEA; and next meeting tomorrow night 5/11/05.
5.7 SST: Superintendent noted meeting is Monday night and Roy reported on 25th Anniversary Celebration.
5.8 NCLB: Board representative Morrisette noted no meeting to date.
5.9 Great Bay eLearning Charter School: Chair Morrisette reported that going well, although challenging; enrollment 48; applications for freshman class coming in and should be able to meet maximum enrollment for next year.
5.10 SAU Policy Committee - Second Reading: Met May 9th; more policies coming to board next month; change to policy BEDG – Minutes to add “subcommittee meetings to be covered with secretary or secretary designee and to keep all actions of board and subcommittee meetings.” No motion because Sally has not seen policies EHB-R – Local Records Retention Schedule; GBCD – Background Investigation and Criminal Records Check; GBCD-R – School Employee Background Investigation, Including A Criminal History Records Check; JFA-R – Residency: Homeless Children and Youth; and JFABD – Admission of Homeless Students
7. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – April 12, 2005 Board Meeting: Amendment by Sally to the minutes under 2. Announcements that a communications firm is to help us better communicate with the public. As an example, during the next school year, we will need to determine how the new Exeter High will be set up. The building was designed to have the flexibility to accommodate different options, i.e., by department or in smaller learning communities. We want to ensure that all voices are heard and considered in this process. Motion by Roy Morrisette, seconded by Robin Scott and unanimously voted with no further discussion to accept the minutes of April 12, 2005 as amended.
8. NON-PUBLIC SESSION: Chair noted the board needed to go into non-public session under RSA 91-A:3 II.(a,c). Motion by Roy Morrisette, seconded by Robin Scott to go into Non-Public Session under RSA 91-A:3 II.(a,c) at 9:04 PM. Roll call vote taken with all voting in affirmative.
9. ADJOURNMENT: Motion by Lucy Cushman, seconded by Sally Oxnard and unanimously voted to adjourn at 9:56 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Sally Boyd, Secretary
EXETER REGION COOPERATIVE SCHOOL BOARD
1. Date of non-public session: Tuesday, May 10, 2005
2. Statutory basis for non-public session -- RSA 91-A:3. Circle one: a,c
a. Dismissal, promotion, compensation, discipline, or investigation of any public employee; or
b. Hiring of any person as a public employee; or
c. Discussion of matters which would likely adversely affect the reputation of a person who is not a member of this board; or
d. Consideration of acquisition, sale, or lease of property which, if discussed in public, would likely benefit an adverse party; or
e. Consideration or negotiation of pending written claims or litigation.
2. Time non-public session commenced: 9:10 PM
3. Brief description of subject matter discussed: Salaries for the ERCSD administrators.
4. Decision made in non-public session: Motion by Lucy Cushman, seconded by Roy Morrisette and voted (7 in favor 1 abstain Magnusson) in favor of accepting the superintendent’s recommendation for salaries for the ERCSD administrators (see attachment).
Motion made by: Lucy Cushman
Seconded by: Roy Morrisette
Vote -- In Favor: 7 Abstain: ___1 (Magnusson)
Against: 0
Decision made in non-public session: Superintendent discussed the teacher harassment case and the board accepted his conclusion to the investigation.
5. Circle one: a
a. These minutes will not be sealed.
b. Only if 2/3 of members present determine that divulgence of these minutes would likely adversely affect the reputation of a person who is not a member of this board; or that divulgence of these minutes would render proposed action ineffective; a vote, was taken to seal these minutes.
6. Roll call vote to go out of non-public session:
Board Member Name Yes No Absent
Kim Casey X
Greg Kann X
Lucy Cushman ______ X
Roy Morrisette ______ X
Sally Oxnard X
Robin Scott X
Ray Trueman X
Patty Lovejoy X
____________Kris Magnusson X
7. Adjournment of Non-Public Session: On a motion by Lucy Cushman, seconded by Sally Oxnard and unanimously voted (8-0) to go out of Non-Public Session at 9:56 PM.
Arthur L. Hanson – Superintendent May 10, 2005
Member Taking Minutes Date