Exeter Region Cooperative School Board Meeting Agenda

Tuesday, January 23, 2007 PM

Exeter High School – Roy Morrisette Alumni Room

 

Present:  Greg Kann, Lucy Cushman, Ray Trueman, Kris Magnusson, Patty Lovejoy,
 Townley Chisholm, Robin Scott, Sally Oxnard and Kim Casey

 

Absent: All present

 

Administration: Arthur L. Hanson, Nathan Lunney, Tom O’Malley and Victor Sokul

 

1.0     CALL TO ORDER/PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:  Chair Kann called the meeting to order at
 7:05 PM followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.  Board members introduced themselves.

 

2.0     ANNOUNCEMENTS/PUBLIC INPUT: Liz Faria questioned the “rigor coach” listed on agenda item 5.0 and commended the board and CMS administration on the math focus group and wondered what was being done to address the other subjects in question at CMS. 

 

3.0         CHAIR’S REPORT

3.1   ERCSD Deliberative Session - February 8, 2007 - Talbot Gymnasium – Board Meeting (before and after if needed) - Room 116: Chair reminded board and viewing audience about the ERCSD Deliberative Session information.

3.2   EHS Student Representative Reports: John Atsalis and Hannah Caporello gave reports on activities at EHS.  Robin Scott arrived. 

3.3   Exeter Area General Federation of Women’s Club’ Project – Jayne Veilleux and
Vicki Geis: Vicki Geis spoke to the math and science conference, “Expanding Your Horizons” that the Exeter Area General Federation of Women’s Club sponsors to introduce 6th, 7th and 8th grade girls to opportunities in these fields (see Attachment #1 pdf).  Registration brochure going to all math and science teachers in the school and it can be faxed or mailed back to the organizers.  No board action needed.

3.3  Personnel, Policy and Communications

3.3.1  Conversation with Dr. Todd DeMitchell, University of New Hampshire, regarding
gathering and interpreting of information (such as surveys) and National Standards for Evaluations of Educational Programs, Projects and Materials: Superintendent introduced Dr. DeMitchell who is present to discuss and/or assist the board with means to interpret data and program evaluation.  Superintendent turned the program over to Dr. DeMitchell and thanked him for presenting this evening (see Attachment #2 pdf – Todd A DeMitchell Curriculum Vitae – 18 pages). 

 

Dr. DeMitchell reviewed and discussed his agenda (see Attachment #3 pdf) and the following topics: Research vs. Evaluation (see Attachment #4 pdf), Standards for Evaluations of Educational Programs, Projects and Materials (see Attachment #5 pdf), Program Evaluation Description (see Attachment #6 pdf), Defensible Purposes for Conducting an Evaluation (see Attachment #7 pdf), Evaluation Problems to be Avoided (see Attachments #8 pdf and #9 pdf). (Kim Casey arrived 7:38)   Questions and answers followed with Dr. DeMitchell and board members.  Superintendent stressed to board that it is time to hire a consultant to help us make some evaluative decisions because we now have a “he said she said” situation that is not working with the board doing the evaluation.  The consultant would help the board define and write the RFP so the board could find an entity to evaluate current grouping at CMS.  Chair Kann thanked Dr. DeMitchell and reiterated that the board has two issues they are facing – survey and curriculum.  He also shared Dr. Hanson’s view that we need to look for an outside consultant to come in to write an RFP for another consultant for what we want and maybe superintendent could assist us with this.  Discussion followed on doing communications audit for the third year because that is an endeavor that the board committed to do.

3.3.2  Second Reading of Policies - BEDG – Minutes; IHBH – Extended Learning
Opportunities; JICDD – Student Discipline Out-of-School Actions and JICK – Pupil Safety and Violence Prevention: Ms. Lovejoy noted that these polices have all been approved and were accidentally brought forward again.  No action needed.

 

5.0     SUPERINTENDENT/ADMINISTRATION REPORT  

5.1  EHS Principal's Report: Mr. Sokul has additional information on the A/P courses per the board’s request which was passed out (see Attachment #10 pdf) and discussed: first parent advisory group meeting; EHS being asked by NHIAA to host Class I Soccer finals October 2007; reminded board to get to him possible community member’s names for following parent groups at EHS - parent advisory group; group to work on school’s mission statement; and group to work on an attendance policy.  He will send out copies of handbook for next fall to superintendent so he can forward to board; weighted grade statement is in parent/student handbook and will also put it in the EHS school profile.

5.2  CMS Principals’ Report – Rigor Coach: Superintendent spoke to background of the request coming forward that is not for a rigor coach, but a “challenge coach”.  Mr. Brown, veteran 8th grade CMS English teacher took a one half sabbatical this year and has returned and would be an ideal candidate for this position of working with teachers/students/department heads/curriculum person and with high scoring students to create challenging and meaningful instruction.  Mr. Brown would work under direction and with Mr. Baldasaro, Ms. Whitmore and Ms. Merrill.  Mr. Brown and Mr. Baldasaro discussed the position, current substitute in place, funding of position and shared concept of challenge coach in either a homogeneous or heterogeneously grouped classroom. Robin left at 9:15 PM.  Their proposal was shared with the board (see Attachment #11 pdf).  Superintendent noted he would bring back an assessment at the summer retreat to the board on Mr. Brown’s portfolio so board could possibly recommend continuing the position it if it was successful.  For now, the recommendation is for just the second half of this year.  Motion by Ms. Lovejoy with a second by Ms. Casey to allow Mr. Brown to fill this challenge coach role for the second half of this year.  Discussion followed.  With no further discussion, Chair Kann called for a vote: unanimous.

5.3  Nominations and Resignations: None at this time.

 

6.0     SAU 16 COMMITTEE REPORTS

6.1  SAU 16 Technology Committee – Greg Kann – next meeting January 26th:

6.2  SST Committee - Kim Casey – next meeting January 29th: Had successful meeting with legislators in Concord and working toward a positive outcome for the renovation.

6.3  SAU 16 Policy Committee - Patty Lovejoy – January 22nd meeting: Met last night and there will be more required policies coming forward.  Committee is re-visiting the Wellness Policy within next couple of months as they have found it needs some tweaking.

6.4  SAU 16 Chairs' Meeting - Greg Kann – next meeting February 14th

6.5  GBeCS Trustees Meeting – Lucy Cushman – next meeting February 15th

6.6  Special Survey Committee – Sally Oxnard - next meeting January 31st: Meeting will occur tomorrow night at 7:00 PM and not on 1/31.

 

7.0     UNFINISHED BUSINESS: None at this time.

 

8.0     NEW BUSINESS: Chair Kann – toured EHS with students for first time last Friday and was impressive with students; Dr. Oxnard – Citizens Petition Warrant Article asked for clarification on what their role would be – it is not an advisory committee as the committee would have statutory powers.  Ms. Magnusson – wondered if had voting machine cost yet – to which Chair noted we did not.

 

9.0     APPROVAL OF MINUTES

9.1  January 6, 2007 – Budget Work Session: Motion by Ms. Cushman, seconded by Ms. Lovejoy and unanimously voted with no discussion to accept the January 6, 2007 Budget Work Session minutes as presented.

9.2  January 11, 2007 Public Hearing on FY 2008 ERCSD Budget/Warrant Articles: Motion by Ms. Lovejoy, seconded by Ms. Casey and unanimously voted with no discussion to accept the Public Hearing on FY 2007 ERCSD Budget/Warrant Articles as presented.

9.3  January 11, 2007 Board Meeting: Motion by Ms. Cushman, seconded by Chair Kann and unanimously voted with no discussion to accept the January 11, 2007 minutes as presented.

9.4  January 11, 2007 Non-Public Minutes: Motion by Ms. Lovejoy, seconded by Ms. Cushman and unanimously voted with no discussion to accept the January 11, 2007 Non-Public Minutes as presented.

 

10.0   NON-PUBLIC SESSION: none

 

11.0      ADJOURNMENT: Motion by Ms. Casey, seconded by Ms. Cushman and unanimously voted to adjourn at 9:35 PM.

 

Respectfully submitted, 

Sally Boyd, Secretary