Revised Great Bay eLearning Charter School Minutes
January 19, 2006 – 4:30 PM
Great Bay eLearning Charter School
PRESENT:
Lucy Cushman, Roy Morrisette, Linda Henderson, Sara Baer-Sinnott, Peter
Stackhouse,
Ben Hillyard and Kent Chamberlin
ABSENT: Tom Wisbey, Andrew Weeks and Sara Baer-Sinnott
ADMINISTRATION: Arthur L. Hanson, Nathan Lunney, Steve Kossakoski and Cheryl McDonough
OTHERS: Kristianne Johnston and Jess Boyd
VISITORS: John McDonough and John Parenteau – GBeCS Students Co-Presidents
1. CALL TO ORDER: Chair Morrisette called the meeting to order at 4:35 PM.
1.1 Introductions: Everyone present introduced themselves.
2. NON-PUBLIC SESSION: None
3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
3.1 November 17, 2005: Motion by Ben Hillyard, seconded by Peter Stackhouse and unanimously voted with no discussion to accept the November 17, 2005 minutes as presented.
4. VISITORS: None
5. BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL
5.1 Financial Report – Nathan Lunney, Treasurer: Reported
that the SAU staff is working on compiling all the details from the six months
of last year into a useable format of expenditures made by GBeCS from the grant
start up funds and the additional Governor’s funds; financially doing well
today; have been able to use our monies to date as start up and have reached
our limit with start up (anything being done for the first time); beginning a
new grade allows you to access your start-up funds; Per agenda item 5.2, Nathan
explained that trustees need to have a very real conversation with the
administration concerning what we do when the grant dollars end as there are
financial obligations that will be challenging as we go forward; may want to
tap into conversations other charter schools are having and how they are going
about trying to raise monies for their schools since it does not look like
legislation is going to find us a solution in the short term; let Nathan know
if you have any questions or desires to see financial details to date.
Steve went ahead and spoke to agenda item 7.2 explaining that when grant funds
run out, we are going to be concerned with personnel costs. He sees the school
being in better shape regarding supply or hardware costs, so it is not as if we
will have to fund everything. Question of Steve if the school is going to look
at taking “outside” students. Superintendent noted that now the front burner
issue with regionalizing is first with the EHS alternative ed program, even
though there have been conversations about this possibility of regionalizing
GBeCS.
5.2 Grant Money – Steve: See agenda item 5.1. Steve also spoke to the visioning grant ERCSD has just received to look at forming a Virtual Charter School.
6. GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE: None at this time.
7. SUPERINTENDENT'S/ADMINISTRATION’S REPORT
7.1 Enrollment Report/Registration for SY 2006-07 – Steve: Currently have 73 students.
7.2 Committee to Discuss Foundation Money – Steve: At this point, have only had Sara volunteer to work with us and have not gone much further; issue in looking for grant funds, other than federal funds, is that he is finding there are not many grants out there for our purposes; can put in as much time for a $2000 grant as a $100,000 grant; the references Michael Sentence made last year of possible sources for money have proven to be dead ends. With begin looking into grants with Sara and administration to see what we can begin doing. No questions.
7.3 Teaching Principal/Teaching Staff Report –
Cheryl McDonough & Staff: Students John McDonough and John Parenteau
were present to report on activities they are currently working on at the
school; early release this week since this is exam week at school; flex time
during the school day; MLK, Jr. Day speaker at EHS; student dance this Friday
in Annex cafe; coming up on one year anniversary for the school; and current
field trips (America’s Stonehenge in Salem; Lowell Mills; American
Revolutionary Museum). Questions and discussion on how they at GBeCS are
perceived by their friends at EHS; if school is good now, how can we make it
better.
Jess Boyd – update on science unit they are
working on; Shawn could not be present; Kristi discussed math units being
worked on; Cheryl passed out a rubric that is part of World Fair project and
Winter Exhibition and is in place of a final exam; Linda questioned how we are
measuring our students in comparison of the regular EHS students – using NWEA and
also measuring individual student’s growth; looking at possibly giving juniors
PSAT here next year; hope for all to take SAT tests; Cheryl does open response
every day in terms of giving finals to the students; discussion followed on
taking traditional finals versus project based finals; Linda concerned that
freshmen in college are faced with taking finals and wants to make sure
students are prepared for taking finals; in math, Kristi gives “opportunities”
not tests and Cheryl noted that is not how we assess them even though they are
technically being tested; do practice all the skills needed to take finals, but
would not technically give a final exam. Additionally there is the anecdotal
part of discussion with staff on tracking the students and who is progressing
and who is not. Linda noted that we need the hard reality that we are
successful with our students as we are not going to fund this school on bake
sales. Will have NWEA results by next meeting. George McMann who assists as a
substitute when needed was sorry he could not be present to meet everyone.
Cheryl spoke to enormous efforts by parents group. Report card system on
computer has been used three times and have had conferences with parents for
each progress report. Have 5-6 applications for next semester. Report card is
still narrative. English and Social Studies, as well as upcoming activities,
were updated by Cheryl. Discussion of possible long term growth potential
while maintaining small learning communities. Kent had to leave at 5:41 PM.
7.4 2006-07 Calendar – Skip: Even though we discussed this the last time, the SES In-Service day has been decided for March 16th not the 13th as we had hoped. Sally will send out updated calendar.
7.5 Facilities Report – Skip: Spoke to Facilities Committee deciding that GBeCS and other entities will remain in the Annex next year and will have access to bio tech room in science wing of EHS and additional rooms if needed; Jess, Leslie Haslam and Brian Wazlaw will meet in future to make sure GBeCS and Adult Ed have what is needed for their science classes. Will be able to use gym and café; biggest challenger will be scheduling of the facility for everyone that is staying; plan is for GBeCS to stay in Annex next year and over the course of the year get EHS renovated so GBeCS and other entities from Annex can move into old EHS at conclusion of 06-07 school year. Nathan spoke to transportation for next year and that we will be all set; Lucy had to leave at 5:49 PM.
8. EMPLOYEES
8.1 Nomination/Resignation of Professional Staff/Trustee: Skip reported that Dr. Weeks’ son has returned to EHS and Dr. Weeks will be resigning as a trustee. It was decided that Cheryl will be given an outline of trustee responsibilities (Steve and Superintendent will put together) and Cheryl will survey the parents to see who may be interested in being a trustee. Nathan left meeting. Motion by Peter Stackhouse, seconded by Linda Henderson and unanimously voted with no further discussion (5-0) to accept with regrets the resignation of Dr. Andrew Weeks. Motion by Linda Henderson, seconded by Ben Hillyard and unanimously voted with no further discussion to do an invitation to GBeCS parents regarding the open trustee spot while also listing the trustee responsibilities in the invitation..
8.2 Staffing for 2006-2007 – Steve: Explained that staffing is still status quo; was asked if doing anything with Title I aide since we have an 8 hour weekly allotment for that position; response was that we do not have a candidate yet.
9. BOARD REPORTS/ POLICY
9.1 Review of Policies: This is a first reading for the following policies and if you have any thoughts or questions on any of these policies, please let Sally know: BDD – Board Superintendent Relationship; BGF – Suspension of Policies; JC – Petty Cash Accounts; DM – Cash in School Buildings; GBCD-R – School Employee Background Investigation; GCQC – Resignation of Professional Staff; IJNDB – Technology Integration; JICK-R – Investigation of Harassment Complaint; JIH – Student Searches and JIH-R – Student Searches.
10. CURRICULUM: Cheryl spoke about the robot that the Technology instructor, Judy Graham is working on with students.
11. BUILDING AND GROUNDS: None at this time.
12. PUPIL RELATED MATTERS: None at this time.
13. OLD BUSINESS: None at this time.
14. NEW BUSINESS: None at this time.
15. ADJOURNMENT: Motion by Linda Henderson, seconded by Ben Hillyard and unanimously trustee voted without further discussion to adjourn at 5:56 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Sally Boyd, Secretary
RIGHT TO KNOW LAW
NON-PUBLIC SESSIONS
PROPER ENTRY INTO A NON-PUBLIC SESSION
(1) A motion must be made on the record in open session, which must state the specific statutory exemption which is relied upon as foundation for the non-public session;
2) The vote on any such motion must be by roll call;
(3) The vote on any such motion shall require the affirmative vote of the majority of school board members present.
ALLOWABLE REASONS FOR A NON-PUBLIC SESSION [RSA 91-A:3 ll.(a)-(f)]
The following matters may be considered or acted upon in non-public session:
(a) Dismissal, promotion or compensation of any public employee or the disciplining of such employee, or the investigation of any charges against such public employee, unless the employee affected requests an open meeting;
(b) The hiring of any person as a public employee
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(d) Consideration of the acquisition, sale or lease of property which, if discussed in public, would likely benefit a party or parties whose interests are adverse to those of the general community;
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SUCH MINUTES WILL IDENTIFY PERSONS ATTENDING NON-PUBLIC SESSIONS AND A GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF ANY TOPICS DISCUSSED.
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