APPROVED
NEWFIELDS SCHOOL BOARD
October 17, 2006 — 5:30PM
NEWFIELDS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
In Attendance: Carolyn Bellisio, Jan Trueman, Joe Army
Administration: Steve Kossakoski, Dennis Dobe
Treasurer: Maggie Doane
Secretary: Dennis Dobe
Visitors: Ed Oddo
2.1 The School Board did not go into non-public session.
3.1 September 11, 2006
Mrs. Trueman makes motion to accept the minutes as written. Ms. Bellisio seconds. All in favor.
4.1 Mr. Ed Oddo, Revised Parking Lot Proposal
Mr. Oddo shared preliminary plans developed by the Appledore Engineering Company for a possible parking lot to be built on school district property cleared in June 2006 for that purpose. There was considerable discussion of the preliminary plan, possible uses, improvements and considerations. Early estimates suggest that the parking lot under this plan could cost approximately $150,000. Mr. Oddo indicated that he would need funds from the school board for Appledore to continue to develop the plan, after which, Mr. Oddo could begin getting bids for the project. Discussion also involved whether or not to propose to bond for the project or attempt to fund the project in one year as a warrant article. Mr. Army suggests:
1. Mr. Oddo get a more detailed plan from the engineers with more refined financial numbers.
2. School Administration develop the range of financing options and an estimate of tax impact for the town (what will the taxpayer’s bill be for this project?)
3. School Administration will research the amount of the last parking lot proposal and what the vote was on that warrant article.
The School Board agreed they would be in a better position to make related project
decisions after this information was shared at the next School Board Meeting.
5.1 Monthly Financial Report
Mrs. Doane stated that the Newfields School District had $111,981.68 cash on hand at the end of September. The NES Building account has $7,201.93 in funds. The Parking Lot Account has $6,583.65 in funds.
5.2 07-08 Budget Calendar
Dr. Kossakoski reviewed the proposed Budget Calendar for the 2007-2008 School Budget Process, and answered related questions posed by the School Board. Joe Army made a motion to accept the 2007-2008 Budget Calendar as proposed. Jan Trueman offered a second. All in favor.
6.1 NECAP Administration
Mr. Dobe reported that the NECAP Administration for 2006 had been completed. Grade 3-5 students took subtests in Reading and Mathematics. Grade 5 took additional subtests in writing. Test results for the the NECAP should be received in mid-winter. A report to the School Board will follow.
7.1 SAU Update
Dr. Kossakoski informed the Board of the upcoming SAU 16 Policy Committee Meeting scheduled for October 24th at 7:00PM. He also reported that there would be an SAU School Board Chairpersons meeting scheduled for October 18th. Dr. Kossakoski announced that he has filed an application to the State Department of Education for a statewide distance learning charter school. Also, SAU 16 was awarded another RUSS Grant for telemedicine and distance learning. Our grant will focus once again on distance learning with a neighboring state, Vermont in this case.
7.2 Enrollment Update
Dr. Kossakoski reported that NES had 168 students as of October 13th, 2006.
8.1 Automated External Defibrillator and CPR/AED Training
Mr Dobe shared plans for the purchase of an AED for Newfields Elementary School. Though plans for a company representative to visit the school to demonstrated the device and answer questions have fallen through twice, the school will look to make a purchase in the very near future. AED/CPR raining for NES staff and other persons in the NYAA and greater Newfields community will be offered by Newfields Fire Department Lieutenant Christine Wilson. Dates for theses training opportunities are to be determined after the AED has been acquired.
8.2 School Activities
Mr. Dobe shared information on several recent and future school activities to include fire and bus evacuation drills, safety presentations, and an upcoming trip to EHS for a Children’s Theater production of ‘James and the Giant Peach’ (10/20). The NES School Volunteer Committee has been awarded the ‘Blue Ribbon Achievement Award’ by the New Hampshire Partners in Education once again. Mr. Dobe and representatives of the committee and the NPTO attended the award presentation event on the morning of October 16th. The award is given to recognize excellence in school volunteer programming.
9.1 Letter by NES Guidance Counselor Elaine McLean
Mrs. McLean’s letter will be discussed during the Budget Workshop Meeting immediately following tonight’s School Board Meeting.
10.1 Food Service Worker Training
Mr. Dobe shared information with the Board regarding food sanitation training that the NES food service workers undertook earlier in the day (10/17). After successful completion of the course (ServeSafe) and passing the course exam (90 questions), our food service workers will receive a handsome certificate of completion and exceed the NH School Approval Standards for school food service personnel food sanitation training. This was the last requirement for NES to complete to be removed from ‘Conditional School Approval’ status and be awarded full ‘School Approval’ status.
11.1 Building Use Requests
A request filed by Sharon Moore to hold a ‘Blingo’ Tournament to benefit the Leuklemia and Lymphoma Society in the NES MPR was discussed and approved by Ms. Bellisio, School Board Chariperson.
11.2 Playground
Mr. Dobe and Dr. Kossakoski discussed the NES Playground / NYAA Lease Agreement and its requirements for insuring, inspecting, and maintaining the playground. Mr. Dobe indicated that he has already added playground maintenance funds to the 2007-2008 school budget.
13.1 Joint Board Chairs Meeting
The Joint Board Chairs Meeting will be held on October 18th.
13.2 Communication and Public Outreach Plan
Ms. Bellisio discussed ways in which the school and school board reaches out to the greater Newfields community. She asked about how the outreach program was conducted in the past. Carolyn Bellisio outlined a possible plan for public outreach:
1. Newfields School Board should publish a newsletter 2-3 times a year and mail it to all Newfields households. The publications should include information on a variety of subjects beyond dollars and cents information for the budget hearings and budget voting.
2. The Newfields School Board should attempt to have school-related information included in other community publications such as the Friends of the Library newsletter and the community news published by local churches.
3. Find other methods of reaching out to the public to inform them of School Board activities and meetings and encourage the public to attend and participate.
13.3Transportation Committee Update
Mrs. Trueman announced that the SAU 16 Transportation Committee has met two times so far this year. In the first meeting, the committee: A. received an overview of their charge, B. received and reviewed a copy of the existing pupil transportation agreement, and C. developed and discussed the RFP for the new transportation agreement. In the second meeting the committee discussed some possible changes to the new agreement to include such items as: A. two students to a seat, B. door-to-door service versus designated bus stops, C. possible installation of seatbelts, related issues, and how to have the public vote upon the measure, D. shortening of bus routes to minimize student time on the buses, E. Acquiring a fleet of new buses with an 8-10 year working life, F. Block bid for field trips, and G. fuel adjustments and other inflationary measures. Another meeting will be held during the week of 10/23, and then on two more dates in November. The major presentation on the proposals will be given at the Joint Board Meeting held in December. Jan Trueman reported that the companies involved in the bid process are: Laidlaw (out of Portsmouth), First Student (out of Exeter), and another company out of Goffstown (Goffstown Truck and bus Lines).
13.4 SAU 16 Policy Committee Update
Joe Army gave a report of from the recent Policy Committee Meeting. He presented the Newfields School Board suggestions regarding the proposed SAU 16 Health and Nutrition Policy. Those suggestions were not accepted by the Policy Committee. Discussion ensued regarding possible modifications and/or edits to the policy that the Newfields School Board could endorse. The edits will be entered in a new proposal that the Board will consider during the November meeting. Discussion of the proposed Bus Audio/Video Policy followed and went well. There were some small changes to the policy that were agreed to by the committee. Most of the discussion revolved around the length of time the videotapes should be held before erasure, the form parents will need to complete to view the tapes, and how these parent requests will be handled. The School Discipline for Out-of-School Activities Policy generated a great deal of discussion amongst the Newfields School Board Members. The Board members discussed the intention of the policy as well as other aspects of it. The Board will discuss this policy during further meetings. The Extended Learning Opportunities Policy generated minimal discussion.
13.5-13.6-13.7 Policy readings were tabled to the November meeting.
14.1 Automated External Defibrillator
The purchasing and training process for our school’s new AEd was discussed under the Principal’s Report.
16.1 Board Meeting: November 13th, 2006, at 5:30PM
Mrs. Trueman made a motion to adjourn the school board meeting, second by Mr. Army, all in favor.