APPROVED
NEWFIELDS SCHOOL BOARD
February 5, 2007 — 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: Michael Price
2.1 Mr. Army made a motion to enter into non-public session under Chapter 91A:3II, c,
at 7:15 p.m.. Seconded by Ms. Trueman Role call vote: All in favor.
Present: Board Members: Jan Trueman, Joe Army, Carolyn Bellisio
Administration: Steve Kossakoski, Dennis Dobe
Topic of discussion: Potential impact of 2008-2009 projected enrollment on professional staffing.
Motion
to leave non-public session made by Joe Army. Seconded by Jan Trueman. Role
call vote: All in favor.
3. Approval of Minutes
3.1 January 8, 2007 Board Meeting -- Mrs. Trueman makes motion to accept the minutes as written. Ms. Bellisio seconds. All in favor.
3.2 January 8, 2007 Budget Workshop -- Mrs. Trueman makes motion to accept the minutes as written. Ms. Bellisio seconds. All in favor.
3.3 January 8, 2007 Budget Hearing – Mrs. Trueman motioned to amend to correct the spelling of a participant’s name (Les Case), second by Ms. Bellisio.
3.4 January 8, 2007 Board Meeting -- Mrs. Trueman makes motion to accept the minutes as written. Ms. Bellisio
seconds. All in favor.
4 Visitors
4.1 There was no visitor comment
made.
5 Business and Financial
5.1 Monthly Financial Report
Mrs. Doane stated that the Newfields School District had $287,141.34 cash on hand at the end of January. Additionally, Mrs. Doane noted that the management of the School District’s trust accounts had been given over to the MBIA and was now earning 4.97% interest. Maggie reported the following fund balances: Maintenance Account--$7,334.36, Parking Lot--$6,704.67. Lastly, Mrs. Doane stated that there may be a Newfields citizen interested in serving as School Board Treasurer (Lisa Buxton). It was anticipated that Mrs. Buxton might attend later in the Board meeting.
5.2 Default Budget Calculation Update
Nathan Lunney and Dr. Kosakoski discovered a misstated figure on the default calculation spreadsheet (not carried over correctly from last year—typographical error) and that last year’s charter school tuition should be omitted from this year’s calculation. The original default figure for 2007-2008 was $28,584, the corrected default figure for the coming year is $13,003.
5.3 Preparation for Deliberative Session
Dr. Kossakoski shared the
Deliberative Session packet with the board, highlighting key components to
share with Deliberative Session attendees. Joe Army will attend the Town
Deliberative Hearing which is scheduled for Wednesday, February 7. There were
several questions of Dr. Kossakoski by the Board regarding Deliberative Session
procedures and protocols. Sue McKinnon was nominated to serve as the School
District Clerk/Secretary for the School District Deliberative Session. Joe
Army made a motion to accept Mrs. McKinnon as the School District
Clerk/Secretary. Second by Jan Trueman. All in favor.
6 Curriculum
No curriculum report was given.
7 Superintendent / Assistant Superintendent Report
7.1 SAU Update
An EKES Budget Hearing will be held on 2/6, and an SMS Budget Hearing will be held on 2/7. The KES Deliberative Session will be on 2/7, and the Exeter Coop Deliberative Session will be on 2/8. The SCS Deliberative Session will be on 2/10.
7.2 Enrollment Update
Dr. Kossakoski reported that NES
had 166 students as of February, 2007. There was also some discussion about
the teacher contract negotiations process and its history at NES.
8 Principal’s Report
8.1 Fall NECAP Results
Mr Dobe reported that NES students performed well on the Fall 2006 NECAP Assessment. NES student performance was above the State average on all tests and at all grade levels. However, the NES Staff intends to help prepare students more for the testing experience in the coming year so that students will do an even better job showing what they know and are able to do on the 2007 NECAP Assessment. School Board member Joe Army extended a commendation to the staff of NES for their quality efforts that resulted in strong student performance on the Fall 2006 NECAP Assessment.
8.2 School Activities
Mr. Dobe shared information on
several recent and future school activities to include the NES Deliberative
Session (2/6), Sargent Camp Representative Visit (2/7), NES Spelling Bee (2/7),
Incoming Kindergarten Parent Information Night (2/8), Enrichment Auction
Meeting (2/13), NPTO Sweetheart Dance (2/17), NPTO February Meeting (2/19),
NAEP Assessment for 4th Graders (2/20), NES Child Find Screenings
(2/21), Black History Month Presentations by Deborah Chaze (2/21), NES Hobby
Night and NPTO Edible Art Contest (2/21), Quarter #3 Progress Reports (2/23),
and the February Red Cross Blood Drive (2/26).
9 General Correspondence
There was no correspondence
received by the Board.
10 Personnel
10.1 Maternity Leave Update
Mrs. Coon gave birth to a daughter on January 13.
10.2 Enrollment and Staffing Projection for 2007-2008
Based on current enrollment and
demographic data, the current staffing pattern at NES will be carried into next
year. However, student enrollment numbers do indicate that a possible reduction
in staffing levels may be appropriate in the future. The NES school
administration and school board will monitor the situation closely.
11 Building and Grounds
11.1 Building Use Requests
Mr. Dobe indicated that there were no new building use requests for the Board to consider.
11.2 Playground Supervision—Review of Procedures
Mr. Dobe shared details on playground
recess supervision during the school day. Information on the decision making
process regarding when to hold outdoor recess, and when to stay inside for
recess was shared. Also, Mr. Dobe described how decisions are made regarding
what activities are allowed during recess, and where children can play on the
NES/NYAA playspace area (and in what situations).
12 Pupil-Related Matters
12.1 Bassmaster CastingKids Competition Results
NES Fourth Grader Cameron Sterritt
recently won the Rockingham County Regional Bassmaster CastingKids Fishing
Competition. Cameron will represent our region in the state competition. Joe
Army wished for the Board to acknowledge and congratulate Master Sterritt on
his recent accomplishment in being named the Seacoast Region Bassmaster CastingKids
Champion.
13 Board Reports / Policy
13.1 Joint Board Chairs Meeting
The January Joint Board Chairs Meeting was cancelled. Their next meeting will be on 2/14. Mrs. Bellisio informed the Board about recent progress of the SAU 16 Superintendent Evaluation Committee. The Committee will be tabulating results of the recent Superintendent Evaluation Survey Instrument, and will be sharing those results at the next SAU 16 Joint Board meeting (2/19).
13.2 Communication and Public Outreach Plan
The Board discussed sending a school board newsletter to Newfields townspeople after the Deliberative Session to help inform citizens on upcoming school district voting matters.
13.3 Transportation Committee Update
There have been no Transportation Committee meetings since the last NES School Board meeting.
13.4 SAU 16 Policy Committee Update
Joe Army commended Superintendent Skip Hanson for his work integrating the suggestions made by the Newfields School Board on several of the proposed SAU 16 / NES policies. Mr. Army believed that several of the policies that were discussed by the Newfields School Board were now ready for Board action.
13.5 Policies: Second Reading
13.5.1 EH Data Management—Mr. Army made a motion to accept EH, seconded by Mrs. Trueman, All in Favor.
13.5.2 GBEB Staff Conduct—Mr. Army made a motion to accept GBEB, seconded by Mrs. Trueman, All in Favor.
13.5.3 GBEBB Employee-Student Relations—Mr. Army made a motion to accept GBEBB, seconded by Mrs. Trueman, All in Favor.
13.5.4 JKAA Use of Physical Restraint – Mr. Army led discussion of this proposed policy. The Board elected to table this policy to the March meeting.
13.5.5 IHBAB Special Education Evaluations—Mr. Army made a motion to accept IHBAB, seconded by Mrs. Trueman, All in Favor.
13.6 Policies: First Reading -- There was no Board action on any of the following proposed policies.
13.6.1 IHBBA Limited English Proficiency Instruction
13.6.2 KB Title I Parent Involvement in Education
13.6.3 LEB Advanced
College Placement
14 Old Business
14.4 Automated External Defibrillator
There was no discussion on this
agenda item.
15 New Business
There was no new
business discussed by the School Board.
16 Next Meeting
16.1 Deliberative Session, February 6, 2007, 7:00PM
16.2 Board Meeting: March 5, at 5:30PM
Adjournment – 7:36PM
Mrs. Trueman made a motion to adjourn the school board meeting, second by Mr. Army, all in favor.