Great Bay eLearning Charter School Agenda
April 24, 2008 – 4:30 PM
Tuck Learning Campus, 2nd Floor, Room 216
Present: Roy Morrisette, Patty Lovejoy, Kent Chamberlin, Patty Lovejoy, Ben
Hillyard,
Bill Perkins and Anne Sloan
Absent: Sara Baer-Sinnott and Lucy Cushman
Administration: Arthur Hanson, Steve Kossakoski, Peter Stackhouse, Cheryl McDonough and Nathan Lunney
Guest: Mike Morgan, George McKinney, Eric Feldborg, Veronica Brooks and Shawn Bodi
1. CALL TO ORDER: Chair Morrisette called the meeting to order at 4:33 PM followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
1.1 Introductions: Chair introduced the Superintendent-Elect Mike Morgan who is present to meet everyone.
2. NON-PUBLIC SESSION: None at this time
3. APPOINTMENT OF NEW TRUSTEE: Chair explained that Trustee Linda Henderson has notified us that she is resigning from the board due to travel commitments and the Chair would like to nominate Lucy Cushman. Mrs. Cushman has been a trustee as an ERCSD board representative, but is no longer on the board is looking for board approval for Mrs. Cushman to take Mrs. Henderson’s seat. Tomasen Carey from the ERCSD board has noted she would be willing to become the second board representative to the trustees. At this time, the only parent representative we have is Anne Sloan so we are still looking for another parent. Motion by Patty Lovejoy, seconded by Kent Chamberlin and unanimously board voted to accept the resignation with regret of Linda Henderson and to send her a letter thanking her for her services and to accept the nomination of Lucy Cushman to take her seat. Motion by Patty Lovejoy, seconded by Bill Perkins and unanimously board voted to accept the nomination of Tomasen Carey as the second representative from the board. Mrs. McDonough noted she will solicit GBeCS parents for a second parent representative and bring back the names to the trustees.
4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
3.1 January 17, 2008: Motion by Patty Lovejoy, seconded by Anne Sloan and unanimously board voted to accept the January 17, 2008 minutes as presented.
5. VISITORS
6. BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL
6.1 Proposed 2008-2009 Budget – Nathan Lunney: Mr. Lunney passed out a draft budget for 2008-2009 (see Attachment #1A – Balance Sheet / Equity Statement and Revenue and Expense Report; Attachment #1B – Budget Worksheet 2008-2009 3 sheets dated 3/24/08; Attachment #1C – School Budget/Costs 07-08) and reviewed each of the sheets. He noted that GBeCS is a public school established under charter law, but from a financial perspective, the school is more like a business concern when compared to the public schools around us. Based on enrollment, $3706/student is how state is currently supporting the school. He also explained that it would be a trustee decision to invest our money in a better return basis as we go forward with a more defined budget. The 9.25% increase in the overall budget is based on the number of students for next year being 120 versus the 97 the school currently has. Administrators are getting the same increase as the ERCSD administrators - 4.1%. After discussion, trustees noted they would like GBeCS to be set up separately from ERCSD for next year. Mr. Lunney explained that Attachment #1C is mostly food for thought explaining cost per student. It was noted that transportation or SPED costs (except field trips, or shuttles for activities at EHS) are not included in the budget because in a charter school, the host school must provide the transportation and SPED services. After discussion, the trustees requested that an estimate of the transportation costs per student be brought forward for a more accurate cost per pupil. The transportation of the 8th grade students for next year is still to be reviewed.
7. GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE: None at this time
8. SUPERINTENDENT'S/ADMINISTRATION’S REPORT
8.1 “ED”ies Nomination – Peter Stackhouse/Cheryl McDonough: Mrs. McDonough shared that the school is one of two finalists’ secondary schools in NH being considered for the state’s Excellence in Education Awards, referred to as the “ED”ies. Have not heard from the committee, but will keep the trustees apprised.
8.2 Additional Grades and Staffing – Skip Hanson: Superintendent noted initial charter application was grades for 8, 9 and 10, but in first year of program, we knew students wanted to continue and so we went back to state board to get grades 11 and 12 added to the charter. Now that we have 31-32 graduating, administration feels it is time to add the 8th grade. Administration reported that they have 16 confirmed 8th graders and about 30 have shadowed at the school. The administration has worked on a new four by four block schedule and plan on segregating the building somewhat for the upper and lower schools. This would only require and additional one half time teacher, which they have indicated in their budget. Superintendent would recommend the trustees allow the 8th graders to come forward. The school would have a team of teachers for the 8th and 9the graders and a team for the 10th through 12th grade students, which would mean reorienting how we currently teach. Fourteen of the sixteen confirmed 8th graders are from CMS or home schooled in ERCSD. It was noted that the trustees at their January 17, 2008 meeting approved adding the 8th grade curriculum. Each grade at GBeCS could take up to 34 students.
8.3 Principals’
Report – Cheryl McDonough/Peter Stackhouse: Mrs. McDonough introduced staff members present. Mr. Stackhouse shared
enrollment projects from current to 08-09 and it was noted that the school
usually receives most of their applications between April and August. With regards to any new seniors, they do not
encourage, but would accept in a “need to have” situation. Shared latest
information on schools the seniors have applied to and those where they have
been accepted, noting they have a 100% acceptance rate for their seniors and
that EHS receives about 72-74%
acceptances. Mr. Stackhouse discussed conversations he
has had with Dr. Kossakoski and Mr. Tirone regarding transitioning the
GBeCS World Languages to VLACS which
offers Spanish 1 or 2, Latin 1 and
Mandarin Chinese and have added Spanish at middle school level. Senior activity information was shared: May 10th yard
sale; May 30 to June 1st is senior class trip to Kennedy Compound in Bridgeton ME owned by a
senior’s family; June 9th is senior prom at Stone Church in Newmarket; and June 11th is graduation.
Mr. Stackhouse shared a faculty proposal that was initiated in January that has
to do with possibly modifying next year’s schedule to have a couple of early release days be changed to become full professional development time for staff. This is being requested because the staff spends a
large amount of time on Exhibition Nights, meetings with
parents and doing narrative report cards
which can be up to 15-20 pages in length. This would need approval for next year. Motion by Patty Lovejoy, seconded by Kent Chamberlin
and unanimously voted with no further discussion to allow, as long as it fits
within the NH frameworks, two to three professional development days for GBeCS
staff versus five (5) early release days for school year 2008-09.
8.4 GBeCS Policies – Second Reading: With no questions from the trustees on the policies brought forward for a second reading, Motion by Bill Perkins, seconded by Patty Lovejoy and unanimously board voted with no discussion to approve as presented the following policies: EGAD Copyright Compliance; EHAA - Computer Security, E-Mail and Internet Communications; GBGBA - Use of Automated External Defibrillators; GCB - Professional Staff Contracts; IMG - Animals in School; JLCH - Do Not Resuscitate Orders; KDC - Website Publishing Policy; and KDC-R Website Publishing Policy.
9. EMPLOYEES: English teacher Veronica Brooks has recently had her first book published and because of this, she has requested to go half time next year. Veronica will be looking for someone to fill her other half time position and this does not change funding as school will just have two half time teachers. Administration will bring that candidate to trustees to approve when name comes forward.
10. BOARD REPORTS: None at this time
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 – Next meeting is June 19, 2008: Motion by Patty Lovejoy, seconded by Bill Perkins and unanimously voted with no discussion to adjourn at 5:55 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Sally S. Boyd, Secretary