Tuesday, May 22, 2007 – 7:00 PM
Roy Morrisette Alumni Room – Exeter High School
Members Present: Sally Oxnard, Kris Magnusson, Lucy Cushman, Ray
Trueman,
Kim Casey, Patty Lovejoy, Townley Chisholm, Tomasen Carey,
Barbara RigordaEva and John Atsalis
Members Absent: All present
Administration: Arthur Hanson, Richard Wendell, Victor Sokul, Tom O’Malley and Bill Perkins
1. CALL TO ORDER: Chair Oxnard called the meeting to order at 6:38 PM followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Board members introduced themselves.
2. ANNOUNCEMENTS/PUBLIC INPUT: Chair announced that the May 8th public input portion of the board meeting had no audio and this has been corrected. Jim Johnson – asked if we are still auditing the Internet history log files and would it be possible to view. Superintendent noted we are auditing the files and he can contact Assistant Superintendent Dr. Kossakoski at the SAU Office. Jim Johnson also asked if the UNH Survey open-ended comments (Townley arrived 6:40 PM) will be released? Chair responded that the comments will not be released individually, but will be pooled and released by the board when they are discussed at the next meeting. It is a board decision to release the comments in summary format.
3. CHAIR’S REPORT
3.1 EHS Student Representative Report – John Atsalis: Had agenda item 3.2 report first, John reviewed activities at EHS and Chair Oxnard, on behalf of board, presented John with a certificate of recognition for his two years of service as one of the student representatives to the board.
3.2 Adult Ed Year End Report – Leslie Haslam: Shared the following information on Adult Education program: Adult Ed Basic Education/GED/ESL Program Enrollment 2006-2007 and Diploma Program Enrollment 2006-2007. Explained that in 1994 Exeter Adult Ed Program became a GED testing center; there is a misconception that the GED diploma program it is a “quick” way to get through high school; the GED is “normed” through high school seniors; Mobile Health van comes to program once a month which is extremely helpful for many of their students; and currently wrapping up grant collaboration with NH Community Technical College and Dover Adult Ed to help improve programming that assists students in making a better transition to college; looking forward to move to Tuck Learning Campus at the end of the school year (Tomasen arrived at 6:59 PM); John Atsalis arrived. Invited all board members to attend Adult Ed graduation on June 7 at 7:30 PM at the Talbot Gym.
3.3 Transitioning Reports
3.3.1 Cooperative Middle School: Mr. O’Malley discussed and shared handouts (see Attachment #1 pdf) on summary of transition activities done at CMS, reminding board that they transition students both into CMS from the elementary schools and out to Exeter High, Alternative Ed or GBeCS; sees this as on-going process, not just something that begins in February and ends in June. He also noted use of AlertNow at CMS; accessing NWEA data from elementary schools; opportunities for 8th graders to shadow at GBeCS and visit with both EHS and SST; early release days for teachers at CMS; he will bring the form that incoming parents fill out for the board to see; parent conferences and why CMS does not have them was discussed; Mr. O’Malley will bring the GPA data, RIT scores and NWEA data to future meeting to share. It was noted that the Testing Subcommittee score meeting is tomorrow, but will not have NWEA scores yet as that window is still open. He will share GPA data with Townley.
3.3.2 Exeter High School: Mr. Sokul discussed and shared information (see Attachment #2 & #3 pdfs) on Personalization Committee at EHS and Current Outline of 8th-9th Grade Transition Program. EHS Spanish teacher Kathy Bean and EHS English teacher Melissa Burdette were present to further discuss the handouts. Ms. Bean expounded on status of freshmen advisories at EHS and thoughts on changes necessary to make such a program effective. She also shared current freshman practices used by EHS guidance counselors. Ms. Burdette expounded on personalization activities occurring at EHS for students and staff. They had not considered more personalization for parents and staff since the staff meets during the day, but she would give that recommendation to Mr. Sokul for his input. Mr. Sokul explained work he is doing with Coach Ball on EHS Core Academy and how it will relate to freshmen transition. Discussion followed on transition process for SPED students and those who have chosen to attend GBeCS when have freshman day; transition from mixed ability grouping at CMS to leveling at EHS and what parents are told; incoming curriculum coordinator at EHS; and looking at data collected this summer on the transition from CMS to EHS and getting that data to board in fall. Motion by Ms. Magnuson, seconded by Mr. Chisholm that until the effectiveness of mixed ability grouping at CMS is fully evaluated by the board, the board continues to support the policy of grouping by ability at EHS and current practices of leveled classes. Discussion followed. With no further discussion Chair Oxnard called for a vote: 7-2 (Cushman, Casey).
3.4 Cooperative School Board Retreat, June 12, 2007 – Dr.
Oxnard: Retreat will begin at
3:30 PM and John Atsalis will be present just to introduce the new member. Board
members were given a form to fill out and return to Sally Boyd regarding their
food order for that evening. Tomorrow Sally Boyd will email a list of all
upcoming dates to all board members.
3.5 Superintendent’s Search Public Forums, May 31 & June 5, 2007 – Townley Chisholm:
May 31st at 7:00 PM at EHS Roy Morrisette Alumni Room and June 5th at 7:00 PM at CMS Library.
4. SUPERINTENDENT/ADMINISTRATION REPORT
4.1 Title 1 Funds, Cooperative Agreement: Superintendent explained that SAU 16 serves as the fiscal agent for the Title I, Part A funds for the towns of Brentwood, East Kingston, Exeter, ERCSD, Stratham and would ask board to authorize SAU 16 to serve in this capacity for us. Motion by Ms. Lovejoy, seconded by Ms. Casey and unanimously board voted to authorize SAU 16 to serve as the fiscal agent for the Title I, Part A funds for the ERCSD.
4.1 Nominations and Resignations: Superintendent would recommend the board accept the following resignations Marigen Delgadillo EHS World Languages; Alissa Krauss, EHS Special Ed and nominations: Kathryn Burdette, EHS English; Ryan Hale, EHS English; William Hayes, EHS Math (leave of absence for one year); and Kyle Reynolds, EHS English. Motion by Ms. Lovejoy, seconded by Ms. Casey and unanimously voted with no discussion to accept the following nominations - Kathryn Burdette, EHS English; Ryan Hale, EHS English; William Hayes, EHS Math (leave of absence for one year); and Kyle Reynolds, EHS English. Motion by Ms. Lovejoy, seconded by Ms. Casey and unanimously voted with regrets and no discussion to accept the following resignations - Marigen Delgadillo EHS World Languages and Alissa Krauss, EHS Special Ed.
Mr.
O’Malley requested the board permission for CMS Alternative Ed Program
(Mr. Mazzone) to take their annual trip to White
Mountains for two nights as they have
done for last several springs. Motion by Mr. Chisholm, seconded by Ms.
Lovejoy and unanimously voted with no discussion to approve the CMS Alternative
Ed Program two night trip to White
Mountains.
5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – May 8, 2007 Board Meeting: Correction by Chair Oxnard under agenda item 3.3.1 to change “…was designed after Columbine…” to “…was designed before Columbine…” Motion by Ms. Lovejoy, seconded by Ms. Casey and unanimously voted with no further discussion to accept the amended May 8, 2007 board minutes as presented.
6. NEW BUSINESS: Question from Ms. Carey on what policy states that there is a specific timeframe for a teacher to respond to a parent? Superintendent will get that information for her. Second question from Ms. Carey on if there is a policy that when a child is slipping academically, parents are notified before the marking period occurs and a poor grade comes home? Superintendent spoke to the PowerSchool program that when set up at CMS will allow parents to check their grades daily, which Coop schools hope to have in place by beginning of school year. Discussion on Grade Reporting Task Force Recommendations versus guidelines that was discussed at SAU Joint Board meeting on 5/21/07. Board consensus to continue this discussion at June 12th retreat.
7. OLD BUSINESS: Wendy MacArthur-Keith spoke that teachers would like board to understand that PowerSchool is a huge learning curve for them and are asking board to be patient. She also presented a Home Ec/Consumer Science presentation (see Attachments #4, #5 and #6) and discussed cost of bus that would travel back and forth three times at $195 x 180 = $35,100; room at EHS available for Dr. Atwood’s class and he does not need any additional equipment; she has spoken to SPED and would not infringe on their space with a kitchen that could include SPED students; room needs refrigerators, stoves and cabinets and if work with staff and feel could be adapted; noted she is extremely supportive of SST; wants other students to be able to take Home Ec and not exclude them due to the bus situation; proposed that whole program would move over to new high school so you would not have to add another bus that would have to go three times a day. Board consensus that they would like a proposal from Dr. Hanson at our June 12th meeting to determine what will be done going forward with Home Ec/Consumer Science. Ms. Cushman noted that she was quoted out of context in the newspaper regarding the discussion at the last board meeting on having an SRO at CMS and she would wants to clarify that the police think there are probably some issues at the school that could be address, not something she personally knows about the school.
8. NON-PUBLIC SESSION: Motion by Ms. Casey, seconded by Ms. Lovejoy to go into non-public under RSA 91-A: 3II, (a) at 9:27 PM. Roll call vote all board members voting in affirmative
9. ADJOURNMENT: Motion by Ms. Casey, seconded by Ms. Lovejoy and unanimously voted to adjourn at 10:41 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Sally S. Boyd, Secretary