Not Approved
Newfields School Board Meeting – Minutes
ARTICLE 1. April 11, 2005
In Attendance:
Board Members: Jan Trueman, Mark Bouzianis, Carolyn Bellisio Kelly
Administration: Steve Kossakoski, Dennis Dobe
Board Officers: Maggie Doane
Visitors: Michael Woodworth, Barbara Clark, Marianne Klemarczyk, and Chris Golden
1. Call To Order – The meeting was called to order at 5:38pm. Mark Bouzianis made a
Motion for Jan Trueman to be the Chairman of the Board, Carolyn Bellisio Kelly
seconded. All in favor
1.1 NES Clerk/Board Secretary – Jan Trueman nominated Maggie Doane for
Clerk/Treasurer, Mark Bouzianis seconded. All in favor
3.1 February 8, 2005 Deliberative Session – Mark Bouzianis made motion to
approve, Carolyn Bellisio Kelly seconded. All in favor.
3.2 February 14, 2005 School Board Minutes – There is an amendment to these
minutes. In section 10.1 under Personnel last line should be added, “there will be no change of assignments based on the engagement of Mr. Bennett and Ms Halpern.” Mark Bouzianis made a motion to approve, Jan Trueman seconded. All in favor.
3.3 March 14, 2005 School Board Minutes – Mark Bouzianis make motion to
approve, Carolyn Bellisio Kelly seconded. All in favor.
he was a big supporter of the NYAA and was thrilled to see the new grass growing. But, there seems to be a misconception between the School Board and the NYAA Board. First of all that there is an easement between the two parties and he wanted to help define the relationship between them. Jan Trueman stated that the original $500 was for spring clean up, spraying for poison ivy and bees. Furthermore no one from NYAA sent a letter explaining the increase, just a bill. She stated that there needs to be a clear understanding as to what the money is to be used for. It is intended for what was stated above and during school time only, not before school opens in the Fall or after it closes in June. Jan volunteered to put into writing what the expectations are from the Board to the NYAA.
5.1 Monthly Financial Report – Maggie Doane reported that cash on hand at end of
March is $215,128.77, the Maintenance Fund has $11,925.12, and that the
Building Fund has $8,825.74.
5.2 04-05 Budget Status – Steve Kossakoski reported there were a number of issues which brought last months Equity Fund balance to near zero. Dennis Dobe, Peggy Meyers, and Donna Minutelli work on the budget changing encumbered line items, checking into a Grant for Special Education Salary, and a return of some insurance which was being covered 100% by Newfields and should have been shared with other towns. All total, the Equity balance on June 30, 2005 should be more in line with last years and showing a balance of around $38,000.
5.3 Letters to Trustees - Steve Kossakoski said that one letter to the Trustees had been drafted requesting the closing of the Building Fund from the warrant article as of June 30, 2005. He said that we should wait on drafting the second letter to the Trustees for the door closures until we had a bill.
5.4 Elected Auditor’s Position – After some discussion it was decided to put into a Warrant article next year to eliminate the internal auditor’s position as it is not necessary now that the books are audited by an accounting firm.
5.5 Seacoast Charter School Payment – The Charter School law has been in effect in its present form for the last couple of years but, it is only recently that it has effected NES. A bill has been received totaling $8,851 for the school year 2004-05. Steve explained that the board has one of three options; pay the bill on the next manifest, pay the bill after the May board meeting, or apply to the State Dept of Education for Emergency Appropriation. The ideal solution would be for the State to pay the Charter Schools directly for the $3,390 per student and reduce NES’ amount received by that amount. There is a bill in the House now proposing this be a direct bill to the State. Carolyn Bellisio Kelly made a motion to go with option 2, pay after May, seconded by Mark Bouzianis. All in favor.
5.6 Enrollment Waiver for Seacoast Charter School – A letter was received from the
Seacoast Charter School asking the board to bend the 10% rule for one student. Right now only 10% of a class can be entered into a Charter School and that school to be reimbursed by the district for each student. Mark Bouzianis made a motion to not bend the rule as it affects both budget and staffing for the year, seconded by Carolyn Bellisio Kelly. All in favor.
5.7 Non-resident tuition update - Steve notified the board that there is a Trial on the merits recovering outstanding tuition in the courthouse on May 5, 2005 at 8:30 am.
5.8 Activity Account Balance Acceptance – Steve reported that in January 2005 the Auditors went over the Student Activity accounts and found that there was an error on their part made to the Activity Account. They have corrected the errors. Carolyn Bellisio Kelly made a motion to accept the changes to the Summary of the Activity Account, seconded by Mark Bouzianis. All in favor
6. Curriculum - None
7. Superintendent/Assistant Supt. Report –
7.1 SAU Updates – Steve gave directions to the location for the new High School and
suggested that the Board go by and see the progress but be sure and go during the
day as it is gated after construction hours.
7.2 Enrollment Updates – We are up two students; one in the 4th grade and one in the 5th.
8. 8.1 Technology implementation - Dennis Dobe reported that the teachers in the 3, 4&
5 grades attended training for the operating system Lenox. This system offers more
opportunities in instruction. Most of all the computers will run Windows and
Lenox. Computers are made and have been delivered. There will always be a
computer lab plus the new clusters in the classrooms. Dennis thanked Jim Catch for
excellent job he did as our tech and welcomed Peggy McCallister to our school as
new representative.
8.2 Enrichment news – The NES Auction was a huge success even though they had to
postpone it for bad weather. The spaghetti sauce contest was won by Anne Sterritt. Ceramic artist Rob Rossel came last week and worked with the 5th graders
on throwing a pot. Also, the 5th graders went to a play in Portsmouth to see a Shakespearean play. Two students from NES were in the play and did an excellent job. On May 5th the Hampstead Players are coming here to work with our students.
Lastly, the 5th graders left this morning for Sargent Camp.
8.3 School Activities –On the next two Wednesdays there will be early release for
teachers and parents to have conferences.
8.4 Spring Assessment –The Gates McGinty Reading Test will administered to the 1st.
and 2nd graders on April 14 to April 21. NWEA Measures of Academic Progress will be given the 3rd, 4th, & 5th graders on May 9 to 13. This test addresses Reading,
Language and Math. The results will be available after all testing is completed.
8.5 Class Placement Process - This is a process still in discussion. The sending
teachers will meet with the receiving teachers, principal and special ed teachers to
discuss class placement and the critical placement procedure. Parents will be
consulted and letters will go out by the close of this year.
Visitor, Michael Woodworth asked the question if teachers had enough time to
teach all their lessons with all the training that is going on. Dennis Dobe answered
that “we are doing more of curriculum now than in the same amount of time in the
past.” Mark Bouzianis stated that he felt the teachers viewed the training as a
benefit to their teaching. Carolyn Bellisio Kelly said that she would like to see an
outline of the curriculum. Steve stated that it was all on the website.
9. General Correspondence –None
10. Personnel – None
11. Building and Grounds –
11.1 Maintenance: The board asked Dennis to ask Ed Oddo to get more bids from
door closure companies. He reported that the company who submitted the original
bid was the lowest. As to the asbestos abatement, two companies are necessary,
Lead Source and A&E Flooring. This will be a late June into the summer project.
11.2 Parking Lot Planning – Mark Bouzianis stated that there has not been any
discussion since the town meeting. Ed Oddo is talking with the DOT on a permit. Steve to ask Ed to do a site review and report back to the board on what is on the
properties such as gas and oil tanks which will need removing.
12. Pupil Related Matters –
12.1 Tsunami Relief Donation –Dennis Dobe read a letter of thank you from the
Tsunami Relief and showed a plaque they sent which will go into the case.
13. Board Reports –
13.1 SAU Chairs meeting - The next meeting is on April 20th.
13.2 Newfields Policy Manual – Carolyn Bellisio Kelly will replace Mike Grant on the
SAU Policy Committee as our representative.
First reading: The Board asked for clarification on 13.2.7. Steve answered that
part of legislation has been on the books for some years.
13.3 Third reading: Mark Bouzianis made a motion to approve all of the policies listed
below except 13.3.9 JH. Carolyn Bellisio Kelly seconded. All in favor. This policy was tabled until Carolyn could bring it to the SAU Committee.
13.3.1 GBGA Staff Health
13.3.2 GBJ Personnel Records
13.3.3 GBJ-R Resignation of Instructional Staff Member
13.3.4 GCQC Resignation of Instructional Staff Member
13.3.5 GCQE Retirement of Professional Staff Member
13.3.6 JEB Age of Entrance
13.3.7 JFAA Admission of Resident Students
13.3.8 JGAB Admission/Attendance of Non-Resident Students
13.3.10 JHC Student Release Precautions
13.4 Fifth Reading: Mark Bouzianis made motion to approve. Seconded by Carolyn
Bellisio Kelly. All in favor.
14. Old Business – Jan Trueman asked if Mike Grant had turned in his key. Dennis to
check and will give it to Carolyn Bellisio Kelly. Art Reed, Police Chief, needs to know
who to call in case of emergency. Mark Bouzianis to be called first, then Carolyn
Bellisio Kelly, then Jan Trueman. Mark Bouzianis will ask Art Reed if he will accept
a key to the school for emergencies.
15. None
16. Next board meeting – Monday May 9, 2005 at 5:30 pm.
17. Adjournment – The meeting was adjourned at 7:50 pm. Mark Bouzianis made motion to
adjourn, seconded by Carolyn Bellisio Kelly. All in favor.
Respectfully submitted,
Maggie Doane