January 13, 2003

In Attendance:

Board Members: Michael Grant, Jan Trueman, Mark Bouzianis

Administration: Steve Kossakoski, Arthur Hanson, Chet Lee

Board Officers: Robin Gray, Maggie Doane

Visitors: Sean Sennott, Laurie Conley, Sarah Kalil, Dawn Higley, Sheila Lane, Jackie

Horgan, Barbara Eastman

1. Call to Order – The meeting was called to order at 5:35 p.m.

2. Non-public Session – Called at 5:56. Roll call vote. All ayes. Board discussed interim principal position. Mike Grant motioned to leave non-public at 6:25pm. Jan Trueman second. All in favor. Jan Truman motioned to go into non-public at 6:26pm, Mike Grant second. Roll call vote. All ayes. The board discussed a student issue. Mark Bouzianis motioned to leave non-public at 6:30pm. Mike Grant second. All in favor. Jan Trueman motioned to go into non-public session at 6:31pm. Mike Grant second. Roll call vote. All ayes. The board discussed a negotiation issue. Mike Grant motioned to leave non-public at 6:35pm. Jan Trueman second. All in favor.

3. Approval Of The Minutes- Mark Bouzianis made a motion to accept the minutes from December 9, 2002. Jan Trueman second. All in favor.

4. Visitors- Laurie Conley suggested to the board that they need to send out some information about the issue with the principal. There needs to be some sort of communication. The board agreed, and stated that there is not much that the board can say about the situation. Mike Grant stated that the school board does not have all the information about the issue because then it could not be impartial. Sean Sennott stated that he does not have a child in the school and that he has concerns about the leadership of the school. Mr. Sennott stated that the school has potential and that he has deep respect for the teachers. Steve Kossakoski stated that if anyone has comments, good or bad, to please put it in writing and send it to the SAU office. Chet Lee is not here for a long period of time. He was just filling in until a replacement can be found, if needed.

5. Business And Financial –

5.1 Monthly financial report-The cash on hand as of 12/31/02 was 313,108.30. The school building fund is 4,715.01 as of 12/31/02. The school building maintenance fund is 1,781.25 as of 12/31/02

5.2 Lunch Program- There an audit of the books of the lunch program scheduled. The auditors will check the books, record keeping and accounting. Jan Trueman motioned to have the books audited. Mark Bouzianis second. All in favor.

5.3 2003-2004 Teachers’ Contract- Jan Trueman motioned to ratify the Teachers contract. Mark Bouzianis second. All in favor. The performance based system needs to be suspended for 2 reasons. 1^st reason is because there is an interim principal in place and it would not be fair to the teachers or the principal for the evaluation process. 2^nd reason is because the teacher’s salaries are falling behind other teacher salaries. An adjustment needs to be made. An average teacher salary increase will be 7%. The teachers at the lower end of the pay scale will get an 8%-9% pay increase while the teachers at the higher end of the scale will get about a 2% increase. The teachers are satisfied with this adjustment. A visitor asked how long Chet Lee will be here and what happens if the school needs another principal to finish out the school year. Steve Kossakoski stated that Chet Lee is only here for a short stay and the school board and SAU are looking for someone to take his place and to possibly stay the rest of the school year, if needed. Steve Kossakoski stated that the SAU will do what is right for the kids and the school. Jan Trueman motioned to ratify the teachers contract. Mark Bouzianis second. All in favor.

6. Curriculum/Principal’s Report

6.1 School Activities- Chet Lee stated that there is now an emergency contact list in place. It was never implemented before. It has been reviewed by all staff, the police department and the fire department.

6.2 Differentiated instruction project-Chet Lee stated that on December 4^th Dr. Cohen made a presentation about the differentiated instruction project. It was well received by the staff and Dr. Cohen will make further presentations on February 5^th and March 19^th.

6.3 Everyday Math pilot- Chet Lee stated that Everyday Math is now being taught in grade 2. Next year in will be taught in Grades k-3. Grades 4 & 5 will remain with the current math and the following year it will be introduced to Grades 4 & 5. All staff members will have formal training in May 2003 and then possibly offer parent training at a later date.

On January 20^th the school will celebrate diversity. There will be Native American Indians dancing and singing and well as students from PEA. There will also be books read about MLK and crafts from Japan and India.

The D.A.R.E. program will start again on January 21, 2003. Art Reed will teach the 5^th graders twice a week for 8 weeks. The children will miss one science class and activity period.

Superintendent/Assistant Superintendent Report

6.4 SAU update- The High School building committee continues to meet every Monday morning from 7am-9am. Steve Kossakoski reported the approximate budget increase for the surrounding towns: Stratham 6%, Exeter 3%, Kensington & East Kingston 10%, and Newfields 5%.

7. General Correspondence- none

8. Personnel-

8.1 Interim principal position-non-public session

9. Building and Grounds

Chet Lee stated that the stairs leading to the basement were dangerous and collapsing. He called Ray Buxton and he fixed the problem for under $200.00.

Chet Lee stated that there is a water problem in a sink drain between the 2^nd & 4^th grade classes. He will call and get estimates to repair. Simplex checked the sprinkler system and everything is working fine. There is a need to order replacements heads.

10. Pupil Related Matters- none

11. Board Reports/ Policy

The board decided to review policies 11.1.1- 11.1.10 at next months meeting.

12. Old Business-none

13. New Business- Barbara Eastman addressed the board on why there was an aide in the

Kindergarten class when there are only 8 children in the morning and 7 children in the

afternoon classes. The board stated that the aide was hired before they knew the actual

size of the classes. Barbara Eastman stated that it is a waste of money to have an aide

with so few children in the classes. The board stated that the issue was raised before

and they thought it had been addressed. The board will evaluate the situation and see

if there is a need for the aide.

. 15. Next Meeting- February 17, 2003 at 5:30 pm.

Non-public session- Jan Trueman motioned to go into non-public session at 7:51pm. Mark

Bouzianis second. All in favor. The board discussed a pupil related issue. Jan

Trueman motion to leave non-public session at 7:58 pm. Mark Bouzianis second.

All in favor.

14. Adjournment- Jan Trueman motioned to adjourn at 6:34pm. Mark Bouzianis second. All

in favor.

Respectfully submitted,

Robin Gray