Tuesday, May 8 – 7:00 PM
Roy Morrisette Alumni Room – Exeter High School
PRESENT: Sally Oxnard, Kris Magnusson, Ray Trueman, Lucy Cushman, Patty Lovejoy,
Townley Chisholm, Kim Casey, Barbara RigordaEva and John Atsalis
ABSENT: Tomasen Carey
ADMINISTRATION: Arthur Hanson and Nathan Lunney
1. CALL TO ORDER: Chair Oxnard called the meeting to order at 7:13 PM followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Board members introduced themselves.
2. ANNOUNCEMENTS/PUBLIC INPUT: Carol Hazekamp spoke to letter she received in the mail regarding A/P courses and her feelings on the issue. Antje Bourdages asked for clarification on what the requirements are for a school to offer an A/P course. Chair Oxnard explained that the board has asked the superintendent to present a proposal for A/P calculus to be considered for the 2008-2009 school year. Course proposals are acted on at the January budget session when the board reviews course proposals and makes decisions at that time.
3. CHAIR’S REPORT
3.1 Personnel, Policy & Communications
3.1.1
Teacher Communications Audit – UNH Survey Center: Director of the UNH
Survey Center Dr. Andrew Smith presented the results of the Teacher
Communications Audit that was given to teachers in February 2007 (see
Attachment #1 pdf). He reviewed how questions were developed by the school
district and that the same questions were used in 2005, 2006 and 2007; the
schools involved in the audit were Exeter High School, Cooperative Middle School,
Seacoast School of Technology (SST), Alternative Ed and Great Bay eLearning
Charter School (GBeCS) – noting results of smaller schools (SST, Alternative Ed
and GBeCS) were combined in his report; current survey response rate was 90%;
overall ratings in communication were moderate with few changes seen between
2005, 2006 and 2007; teachers at alternative schools were more likely to be
satisfied with communications than larger schools; overall communication grade
was a B-. Dr. Smith noted the UNH Center could assist the board in designing
changes in the survey that could be beneficial; best response rates occur when
a survey is given in the manner the last survey was administered – at a faculty
meeting; response rates can become problematic unless administered correctly;
with students, you could give the survey during school, but need to be
proctored; parents are best done via an email manner with a lot of advertising
that it is occurring and follow-up with multiple emails to those who did not
respond is very important. At a later date, Dr. Smith can discuss ways to
follow-up with parents who do not respond. A mixed mode approach with parents
is the best way (emailing survey, mailing survey, etc.); surveys need to be
short and to the point and you need to be very certain you can do something
with the results you get, i.e., do not ask a question that will result in
answers you cannot act upon; does not feel you can ask any “one” question as
you need to “tease” out the information you seek by asking several questions
that are specific to subject matter you are seeking responses on; he has
numerous survey models that are available for review. Chair Oxnard noted
that this special survey committee has discussed continuing to meet to provide
better questions so the survey could receive more specific feedback even though
it may not allow us to continue an “apples to apples” comparison. The ERCSD
Special Survey Committee will meet again on May 30th at 6:30 PM at the SAU
Office. Dr. Smith further noted that research shows that the “ease” of the
survey directly relates to the response you receive; money in a survey works
quite well since it “guilts” people into responding; often happiest and most
angry people are your best responders; you do not want to hear the “good”
stories, but the areas you want to “fix”- where the problems are. The board
thanked Dr. Smith for the Center’s work and his appearance and report at the
meeting. EEA President Wendy McArthur-Keith spoke that teachers were pleased
the survey was given and to have the opportunity to share their thoughts and
that the EEA could assist with the process – using a staff meeting time to take
the survey and having union reps only deliver the survey to UNH to ensure
confidentiality. Teachers would like to have more input/meetings with
administration and they look forward to meeting with board to share their
thoughts. On Friday, May 25th 7:00
AM breakfast at CMS for board members,
teachers, etc., to chat. Superintendent is still a waiting date/time for Exeter High School to
hold their meeting/breakfast.
3.1.2
First and Second Readings of Policies – Ms. Lovejoy: Ms. Lovejoy spoke
to the policies coming forward for a second reading noting she has not received
any questions or communications from any board members. Motion by Ms.
Lovejoy, seconded by Ms. Cushman and unanimously board voted with no discussion
to accept the following policies for a second reading and board approval: BG
– Board Policy Development; EGA – Appropriate and Acceptable Computer, Network and
Internet Use; KDC – Website Publishing Policy; EGAD – Copyright Compliance;
EHAA – Computer Security, E-Mail, and Internet Communications. Ms.
Lovejoy explained that the following policies are coming forward for a first
reading and please get any questions or thoughts you have on these policies so
she can share it with the Policy Committee: JLCH -Do Not Resuscitate and
KDC-R – Website Publishing. These policies are a result of the new minimum
standards and more will be forthcoming.
3.1.3 2008 NHSBA Resolutions – Dr. Oxnard:
Information was in board packets regarding this and Chair is asking if board
has any proposed resolutions which need to be submitted by July 9th; noted that
to date, the board has not submitted any resolutions, but have had a board
member attend as a delegate. Board members are to get back to chair if they
have any resolutions they would like to submit.
3.2 Curriculum & Philosophy
3.2.1 Adult Education – Year End Review – Leslie Haslem: - defer to next meeting.
3.3 Facilities
3.3.1 Security & Evacuation Plans:
EHS Assistant Principal Jim Daley and EHS SRO Officer Dan D’Amato were present
to discuss. Mr. Daley noted that a copy of the evacuation plan has been handed
to each board member and the document is confidential as it contains security
information that is not for public dissemination. Both Mr. Daley and Office
D’Amato discussed security/evacuation at EHS. Officer D’Amato spoke to use of
camera systems and how it has assisted with criminal activity in and around the
building; very proactive on having drills and lockdowns to ensure continual
feedback; superintendent spoke to need to increasing some camera coverage in
parking lots should there be any budget surplus. He will look into the cost of
the additional cameras and get back to the board on those figures.
Assistant CMS Principals Mr. Perkins and Mr. LeSage were present to discuss
security at the Cooperative Middle School; very similar internal evacuation
procedures as EHS; building safety issues are very different since the school
was designed after before Columbine; front door entrance security
will be addressed this summer; CMS does not have student driving traffic as an
issue; superintendent reported recent conversations with Stratham Police
Department regarding possible SRO (school resource officer) at CMS and if that
is adopted as a goal at the board retreat, the position will certainly be
considered. Discussion followed on differences in SRO at CMS versus EHS; the
Plan B security update at CMS that will require a main door all visitors will
have to enter to access the building and in the future, may need to consider
cameras on the building to see those entering the school prior to accessing the
main door. Question if classroom doors lock on the inside or outside and Mr.
Perkins and Mr. LeSage responded they would not be opposed to having those
locks changed to the inside of the door. Point made that traffic controllers
at CMS are stipend positions in the teacher contracts.
3.3.2 SAU Move to Tuck Learning Campus –
Superintendent: Renovation is ahead of schedule and looks like we can begin
the move the first week in June and will be completed by the end of June;
during April vacation week, the IT Department and SPDC moved to TLC; no
questions from board.
3.4 Finance
3.4.1 Monthly Financial Report – Nathan Lunney: Mr. Lunney reviewed the Summary of Trust Funds information (yellow sheet in packet - view pdf) and the Monthly Financial Statement (pink sheet - view pdf) any questions let him know; budget does not reflect payouts for retiring teachers that will be substantial going forward; no real significant differences from last month’s statement, but next month will be a projected financial report with possible surpluses noted that board may want to consider using on SAU renovation costs so you limit the amount you remove from the Maintenance Trust Fund; noted that if retrofitting the CMS locks is expensive, board could consider doing project over a couple of years.
Student Board Representative Report – John Atsalis reported on activities at EHS.
4. SUPERINTENDENT/ADMINISTRATION REPORT
4.1 Nominations and Resignations: Superintendent would recommend the board accept the resignation of CMS Science teacher Meredith Lovett (relocating) and one year leave of absences (child rearing) for two EHS teachers Ashley Norris and Amy Lantang. Motion by Ms. Lovejoy, seconded by Ms. Casey and unanimously voted with no discussion to accept the resignation with regret of Meredith Lovett and the two one year leave of absences for Ashley Norris and Amy Lantaigne.
5. SAU 16/ERCSD COMMITTEE REPORTS
5.1 SAU 16 Technology Committee – Met May 4, 2007: Superintendent reviewed agenda items from the meeting: identified work to do this summer; discussion on IT standards and Digital Portfolio.
5.2 SAU 16 Chairs Meeting – Next meeting May 16, 2007 – 5:00 PM: no report
5.3 SST Governing Board – Next Meeting May 7, 2007: met yesterday and Ms. Casey reported on two meetings, Governance Board and Building Committee, where goals were reviewed for 2006-2007, school calendar and the Building Committee members received a copy of renovation schedule, site layout and discussed DES issues. Next meeting is June 4th.
5.4 Great Bay eLearning Charter School – Next meeting May 17, 2007: no report
5.5 SAU 16 Superintendent Search Committee – Met May 2, 2007: Mr. Chisholm shared that the committee would like each board’s members to send their thoughts to the following questions to him so he can share them with the committee: what characteristics, background and experience would you want a new superintendent to have and to come up with two to three areas of concern you would want the new superintendent to address early in his/her tenure. Mr. Chisholm will email the board these questions to remind them to get back to him with this information. Also, at the May SAU Joint Board meeting, board members need to be prepared to discuss that if the initial superintendent search does not produce a desirable candidate, will board members want to find a one year interim superintendent or re-open the search if needed. The May SAU Joint Board meeting is May 21st at 7:00 PM at EHS Roy Morrisette Room.
6. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
6.1 April 17, 2007 – Board Meeting: Motion by Ms. Lovejoy, seconded by Ms. Casey and unanimously voted with no discussion to accept the April 17, 2007 minutes as presented.
7. OLD BUSINESS: Ms. RigordaEva asked for clarification on A/P calculus being offered at GBeCS and if students at EHS could take the course at GBeCS. Superintendent discussed the scheduling difficulties that would most likely preclude EHS students going to GBeCS to take the course, but noted other possible options. Ms. Magnusson inquired about the goal completion document being referred to at the goal setting session. She also questioned the goal of analyzing how have we done with mixed ability grouping at CMS and would like to see the data, comparative trend analysis as she feels should be priority for goal setting session. She would suggest surveying parents of 8th graders so the teachers so will have information in the fall. Superintendent responded that the board would need to identify at the goal setting what information they want. Question from Mr. Chisholm about when the fall to spring NWEA data will be available. Superintendent will check with Mr. Baldasaro on the data. Also, question on status of space available in EHS for a kitchen area that would need to be retrofitted if there is going to be any surplus money. Kitchen area in SPED area as well as space near dramatics has been reviewed for possible kitchen. Mr. Trueman asked the status on the audit for the new high school bond. Mr. Lunney noted the budget on the project is still open and once closed out will go forward with the audit. There is about $500,000 left from bond.
8. NEW BUSINESS - None at this time.
7. NON-PUBLIC SESSION: Motion by Ms. Lovejoy, seconded by Ms. Casey to go into Non-Public Session under RSA 91-A:3 II.(c) at 9:32 PM. Roll call vote with all members answering in the affirmative.
8. ADJOURNMENT: Motion by Ms. Casey, seconded by Ms. Lovejoy and unanimously voted with no discussion to adjourn at 9:56 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Sally Boyd, Secretary