Exeter Region Cooperative School Board Meeting Minutes

July 30, 2005

SST Culinary Arts Dining Room

8:00 AM

 

Present:          Patty Lovejoy, Robin Scott, Lucy Cushman, Greg Kann, Kim Casey,

                        Roy Morrisette, Sally Oxnard, Ray Trueman and Kris Magnusson

 

Absent:           N/A

 

Administration:          Skip Hanson, Walter Pierce, Nathan Lunney, Tom O’Malley,

                                    Victor Sokul and Peter Stackhouse

 

 

1.   CALL TO ORDER/PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Chair Lovejoy called the meeting to order at 8:06 AM followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

2.  ANNOUNCEMENTS/PUBLIC INPUT: None

 

3.  CHAIR’S REPORT

3.1   Introduction of the Meeting: Patty reviewed the day’s agenda noting there was a large amount of information to be discussed today.

 

4.   PUBLIC RELATIONS FIRM UPDATE – Mark Bodi:  Mark reported to the board that his firm is half way through their communications audit and is assuming that everyone present received the “draft” results of the teacher survey.  Additionally, the SAU 16 Website audit is not complete and recommendations will be forthcoming.  Mark reviewed and discussed the results of the survey, reminding everyone that the results are still in “draft” form, as is the final communications audit for the board. 

 

5.   LINDEN STREET RE-USE PROPOSAL

5.1  LSRU Committee Recommendations – Linda Henderson: Patty reviewed the background of Linda’s recommendations from the Linden Street Re-Use Committee and the upcoming decisions that will need to be made.  Linda explained the direction and work of the Linden Street Re-Use Committee and the LSRE Steering Committee and how they came to their recommendations regarding the Annex.

·         Every town was represented on the committee along with a cross-section of public and private sector representation and some experts to assist the committee.

·         Direct and indirect abutters were surveyed with what they would like to see done with the total high school site.

·         Appraisal was done which was tricky given the past usage of the site (school) and the possible future usages of the site (residential, commercial, etc.).

·         Couple of public meetings were held and also a number of meeting that specifically invited selectmen, recreational directors, etc.

·         Committee found that there is a unique Exeter sensitivity since property is physically located in town of Exeter, which is important, even though all six towns own a portion.

·         Lot of time spent talking to Exeter Planning Board; ERCSD Facilities Committee; SAU Administration; SAU Chairs; Exeter principals, SST Governance, etc.

·         June 2004 total site property appraisal was between $1-2 million (this assumed all the buildings on the site - EHS, SST and the Annex -  would have been demolished) and noted a lot of zoning challenges, etc.

·         Reviewed NESDEC projections, which showed youth population was not growing to such a degree that school district needed to hold onto whole property for educational purposes.

·         Research showed that the existing EHS was an ideal location for SST especially with the upcoming renovations money from the state.

·         LSRU Committee recommended: keep EHS proper, SST, fields and dispose of Annex.

 

Motion by Sally Oxnard, seconded by Kim Casey to accept the recommendations of the Linden Street Re-Use Committee and to thank the committee for all their dedication and hard work.  Discussion on this presentation being taped for public and concern that whether or not the map delineations of A, B and C that accompanied the one sheet recommendations from LSRU Committee were final boundaries of the parcels to keep or sell.  Superintendent noted that a presentation on LSRU Committee findings could be put on Channel 22.  Additionally, it was explained that that line boundaries on the aforementioned map could be moved by the Facilities Committee if they decide that this breakdown is not the best for school district use, i.e., the boundaries at this point do not have to be final.  The board voted 8-1 (Magnusson) in favor of the motion.

 

5.2  Squamscott Community Commons – Carol Aten: Patty noted this is a presentation of one potential use of Parcel C (Annex).  Carol explained that Squamscott Community Commons is a 501-C non-profit organization and she was hired as the project manager/consultant to get the project from a vision to a reality.  With her today are facility team members Rob McGregor, Mark Moeller, and Chris Davies.  Don Briselden, who is not present, is also a part of the facilities team. Carol presented a Power Point presentation (Attachment #1-separate document PDF) explaining the various organizations interested in being housed at the Commons and the what the benefits of having these various community oriented groups under one roof would be for the SAU 16 and surrounding towns/communities, as well as for the possible future tenants of the old high school (SST, Alternative Ed, GBeCS, etc.).  A question and answer session followed with Carol and committee.

 

6.   Superintendent/Administration Report: The goals listed below were included in the board packets along with the school 2004-2005 school based goals and the 2004-2005 SAU goals.

6.1   2003-2004 Review of Goals: Patty explained why these were included for today’s meeting.  See Attachment #2.

6.2   2004–2005 Review of Goals: See Attachment #3.

6.3  2005-2006 On-going School Based Goals: Individual committees will take a look at these goals to determine what specific goals from previous years will go forward.

 

7.   2004-2005 REPORT FROM ERCSD COMMITTEE CHAIRS: In the interest of time this was deferred to the committees.

       

8.   2005-2006 Committee Assignments & Election of COMMITTEE Chairs – Patty Lovejoy: The following committee chairs for 2005-2006 were elected by the appropriate committee members:  Motion by Kim Casey, seconded by Sally Oxnard and unanimously committee voted 3-0 to elect Lucy Cushman as chair of the Facilities Committee.  Motion by Greg Kann, seconded by Ray Trueman and unanimously committee voted 3-0 to elect Kris Magnusson as chair of the Personnel, Policy and Communications Committee.  Motion by Roy Morrisette, seconded by Kim Casey and unanimously committee voted 3-0 to elect Sally Oxnard as chair of the Curriculum and Philosophy Committee.  Motion by Kris Magnusson, seconded by Robin Scott and unanimously committee voted 3-0 to elect Greg Kann as chair of the Finance Committee.  See Attachment #4 for the ERCSD Committee List.  The following are the days and time for the committee meetings:

      Curriculum and Philosophy: first meeting will be August 30th and after that the committee will meet the 3rd Tuesday of the of month at 7:00 PM at the SAU Office.

      PP&C :  first meeting will be August 24th at 7:00 PM and the committee will meet the 4th Wednesday of the month at 7:00 PM at the SAU Office.

      Finance: Committee will meet the first Tuesday of the month at 5:00 PM.

      Facilities: first meeting will be Tuesday, 8/2 at 6:00 PM at SAU Office, but all other meetings will be at 6:00 PM prior to the regularly scheduled board meeting at CMS Library.  

 

9.     PERCENTAGES OF STUDENTS GOING ON TO POST SECONDARY – Patty Lovejoy:  Patty reported on the percentages of students going onto post secondary education.  See Attachment #5.  She explained that two of this year’s top 10 students are taking a year off even though they were accepted at very prestigious colleges.  It was noted that when you have a higher number in the graduating class, that can cause drop out numbers to decrease.  She also explained that we have a lower number going onto secondary education and for some reason, the number of boys that go to four year colleges versus the number of girls going to four year colleges is always lower.  

 

10:25 – 10:40 BREAK

 

10.  SETTING OF GOALS FOR 2005-2006 – Greg/Patty: Greg gave a brief presentation on Smart Goal setting.  Patty would like to be able to present all committee goals by October 2005.  Since PP&C and Curriculum and Philosophy do not have overlapping members, they met to work on their goals for 2005-2006.  The goals will be finalized in the committee meetings in August and September to be presented to the full board in October.

 

11:30 – WORKING LUNCH

 

11.  EHS REVIEW COMMITTEE:  See Attachment #6 for the draft of the committee as presented by Principal Victor Sokul.  Would ask for the board’s comments on how he will move EHS from current location to a new location and what we want it to look like.  Reviewed the information on his draft and noted he will give a monthly update to the board on this committee.  Also noted that one of the charges of the committee is that everything they do is research based.  The first meeting will probably be organizational so all community member will most likely not be in place.  Victor will do a “committee description” and then get feedback from the board.

     

12. 2005-2006 FINANCES

12.1  Educational Funding/Transportation – Nathan: Possible 3-3 ½ % increase in tuition costs (see Attachment #7 pdf – separate document); updated everyone that when we next negotiate with a bus carrier (winter 2006-07), we will undertake this venture noting that we will ask for bids with and without seatbelts from each vendor.  Also explained that the impact of charter school, Alternative Ed and SST students being at old high school site will also be included in bus negotiations.

12.2   Teacher/Support Staff Contract Negotiations – Patty:  Patty reported that teacher/support staff contract negotiations would begin in August and the team will consist of Patty, Greg and Roy.

 

13.  NON-PUBLIC SESSION: Motion by Kim Casey, seconded by Greg Kann and unanimous roll call vote to go into non-public session at 1:02 PM under RSA 91-A:3 II.(c).   

 

14.  ADJOURNMENT:  Motion by Kim Casey, seconded by Robin Scott and unanimously voted to adjourn at 1:26 PM.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Sally Boyd, Secretary