APPROVED
NEWFIELDS SCHOOL BOARD
May 14, 2007 — 5:30PM
NEWFIELDS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
In Attendance: Carolyn Bellisio, Michael Price
Administration: Steve Kossakoski, Dennis Dobe
Treasurer: N/A
Secretary: Dennis Dobe
Visitors: Jan Trueman, Ed Oddo, Pam Abbott
At the beginning of this school board meeting, it was shared that the Newfields School Board Chairman (Joe Army) would not be in attendance this evening. In Mr. Army’s place, Ms. Carolyn Bellisio served as the Acting School Board Chairman for this school board meeting.
3.1 April 9, 2007 Board Meeting (Approved with corrections: Motion— Michael Price,
Second—Carolyn Bellisio; Unanimous)
4. Visitors
4.1 Pam Abbott
Mrs. Abbott shared information with the Board regarding two trust funds set up for school use. The Ida Green Trust was set up to promote activities to support temperance in Newfields. Mrs. Abbott indicated that the trust generates about $100 per year that the school could use to promote healthy lifestyles and the avoidance of drug and alcohol abuse. The second fund that Mrs. Abbott presented was the Maureen Hackett Shakespeare and Dramatic Arts Trust which yields approximately $650 a year. This fund was established to memorialize and promote the work of Maureen Hackett at Newfields Elementary School. Mrs. Hackett offered a Shakespeare enrichment program to NES 5th Graders for many years. The School Board and Mrs. Abbott discussed several possibilities for appropriate use of the funds, and how to access them. The School Board will consider adding this account to the 2008-2009 School Budget.
4.2 Ed Oddo
A. NES Capital Improvement Plan – Mr. Oddo presented his updates CIP to the Board, followed by discussion. Matters that garnered the attention were proposed replacement of classroom door-locks (for security reasons, especially in the event of a school lock-down), as well as additional padding on the multi-purpose room walls and resurfacing the MPR floor (to increase safety during P.E. classes and NYAA Basketball programs).
B. Summer Projects – A list of suggested summer facility improvement projects is in development and will be presented to the Board for their consideration during the June 11th School Board Meeting.
C. Parking Lot Project – Mr. Dobe presented and update on the proposal by a volunteer group of Newfields residents to construct a simple parking lot on the Janeway-Monahan properties. There was a meeting held recently of several principals in this project, during which it was determined that: A. test pits would be dug on the site at the end of June to determine the depth of the loam cover to a quality gravel bed which would provide the foundation for the proposed parking lot, and B. there would be costs associated with the project which would need to be borne by the Newfields School District. There were several suggestions that came out of the ensuing discussion, as follows. Dr. Kossakoski suggested that the volunteer group develop an article for the 2008 School District Warrant that would outline their parking lot proposal and the costs associated. Mr. Price suggested the possibility of developing and administering a community-wide survey to assess the town’s interest and concerns about the construction of a new school parking lot. Also mentioned by the Board were suggestions that the volunteer construction group submit a proposal for their project at the end of the summer, and that representatives of the group should attend an upcoming School Board Meeting to discuss matters related to the building project. Visitor Mrs. Jan Trueman stated that the properties adjacent to the school were an eyesore and potentially unsafe, she suggested that the School Board may wish to consider putting a small amount of funding aside for cleaning up the site some more over the summer months. The group discussed what they believed would be needed to improve safety of the site. Ms. Bellisio suggested that the School Board create a sub-committee (involving several community members, project volunteers, and professional contractors) to study options for the construction of a rudimentary parking lot at the rear of the Monaghan-Janeway properties. Mr. Oddo was asked to obtain some preliminary figures for the expense of cleaning the site for possible future construction, and making it safer in the interime. Mr. Oddo will develop/obtain two proposals. At the June School Board Meeting, the Board will further discuss the formation of a committee to study and recommend options for the future of the NES new parking lot project.
5. Business and Financial
5.1 Monthly Financial Report
On behalf of School District Treasurer Maggie Doane, Dr. Kossakoski stated that the Newfields School District had $376,387.17 cash on hand at the end of April. Additionally, Steve reported the following fund balances: Maintenance Account--$7,433.03, Parking Lot--$6,794.88. In response to the request that Mr. Army made last month for the language that governs how the parking lot fund may be expended, Dr. Kossakoski brought the necessary documentation, and the Board discussed the possibility of ending the Parking Lot Account.
5.2 2007-2008 Health Insurance Rate
Dr. Kossakoski informed the Board that the health insurance rate for the coming year
would be 8.6% BELOW the rate paid last year. This decrease in the health insurance rate is expected to save the school district approximately $15,000 next year.
6. Curriculum
6.1 Everyday Math Third Edition Update – As per the recommendation of the SAU 16 Math Committee and the NES teaching staff, NES will move ahead with acquiring necessary materials and conducting necessary training to properly implement the EDM 3e program beginning in the Fall of 2007.
6.2 Summer Teacher Training – Mr. Dobe reported that NES teachers will be busy with training over the summer again this year. Some of the prime opportunities are the 3rd Annual SAU 16 Small School Teacher’s Academy hosted at East Kingston Elementary School on June 19th & 20th, SAU 16 School Portfolio Institute on June 22nd, and the SAU 16 Data Retreat on August 13th.
6.3 Spring Assessments – Dennis informed the board that the standardized assessments
administered in Spring 2007 were well underway. First and Second Graders have
completed the Gates-MacGinitie Test of Reading. Students in Grades 3-5 are in the process of taking the NWEA Measures of Academic Progress in reading, math, and language usage. Fourth and Fifth Graders will also be taking test of science competencies. All NWEA testing will be completed at NES on or before May 25th. Our Fourth Graders will also be participating in the NECAP Science Pilot Assessment during the week of May 21st.
7. Superintendent / Assistant Superintendent Report
7.1 SAU Update – Dr. Kossakoski shared some pertinent dates with the School Board:
SAU 16 Joint Chairs meeting on May 16 at 7pm—SAU, SAU Joint Board meeting on May 21 at 7PM—EHS, and EHS Graduation on June 15.
7.2 Enrollment Update – Dr. Kossakoski reported that NES added one student over the past
month, bringing our enrollment to 167 students.
7.3 Superintendent Search Update – Steve reported that there was a survey sent out via email by the search committee chair to all SAU 16 school board members. Anne Marie Chesno would like our responses back by May 21.
8. Principal’s Report
8.1 School Activities –
Mr. Dobe shared information on future school activities to include
the upcoming Grade 5 Celebration on June 12. Carolyn Bellisio will attend, representing the school board.
9. General Correspondence
9.1 New Hampshire School Boards Association, 2007 Delegate Assembly -- There was brief discussion of a set of NHSBA resolutions for the coming year. The resolution document will be discussed further at an upcoming school board meeting.
9.2 Staff Letter – The school board discussed a letter submitted by a member of the NES staff.
9.3 Update on Right to Know Request – The school board received information from Dr. Kossakoski regarding a possible request for information.
10. Personnel
10.1 Professional Staff Resignation -- Dr.Kossakoski notified the Board that Jill Leveille, Grades 3-5 Special Education teacher and Case Manager has resigned her position at NES effective the end of the school year. The school board voted to accept Mrs. Leveille’s resignation (Motion – Michael Price, Second – Carolyn Bellisio, All in Favor).
10.2 Summer Staffing – Mr. Dobe informed the board that all hiring necessary to run our Extended Year Programming had been completed, and that he was pleased with the quality of the staff secured for the programs.
10.3 Approval of Principal’s Contract – The board elected to grant Mr. Dobe the salary proposed in the 2007-2008 Newfields School District Budget (Motion – Michael Price, Second – Carolyn Bellisio, All in Favor).
11. Building and Grounds
11.1Building Use Requests –
11.1.1 General Requests – There were no general building use requests.
11.1.2 Request by Town of Newfields – Mr. Dobe reported that the Newfields Board of Selectmen had inquired about use of school facilities for meetings, polling, and other needs. The Newfields School Board indicated that the Newfields town offices would be welcome to use school facilities (as departments have done in the past). Interested public officials should contact the school office to check for facility availability and to complete the necessary building use request form.
11.2 Parking Lot Volunteer Project Status -- Outlined in 4.2.C above.
11.3 Project ‘Curb Appeal’ -- Specifics of the school administration’s proposal will be
presented during the June school board meeting.
11.4 Summer Building and Maintenance Projects -- Specifics of the school
administration’s proposal will be presented during the June school board meeting.
12. Pupil-Related Matters
12.1 Requests (2) for Waiver of policy JEB: Age of Entrance -- Dr. Kossakoski presented
two letters from families petitioning to have the school board waive the age of Entrance policy for their children. In each case, the children miss the establish cut-off date for attendance by days or weeks. After reviewing each case, the school board elected to waive the Age of Entrance for the two children in question (Motion – Michael Price, Second – Carolyn Bellisio, All in Favor).
13. Board Reports / Policy
13.1 Joint Board Chairs Meeting -- The next Joint Board Chairs Meeting will be on 5/21.
13.2 Communication and Public Outreach Plan -- This item was tabled by the Board.
13.3 SAU 16 Policy Committee Update -- There was no policy Committee Update given.
13.4 Policies: First Reading (The policies below were moved to ‘Second Reading’ for next
month.)
13.4.1 JRA Student records and Access
13.4.2 KF Use of School Facilities
13.5 Policies: Second Reading
13.5.1 JLCH Do Not Resuscitate -- The Board took no action on this policy, move to
Third Reading for June meeting.
14. Old Business (There was no discussion of Old Business.)
15. New Business
15.1 School Board Committee Assignments -- The following committee assignments were made.
15.1.1 Transportation -- This committee has been disbanded since its work to
negotiate a new transportation contract was concluded.
15.1.2 Policy Committee -- Michael Price
15.1.3 Superintendent Evaluation -- Carolyn Bellisio
15.1.4 Teacher Negotiations – All Newfields School Board members will participate on this committee.
16. Next Meeting
16.1 Board Meeting: June 11, at 5:30PM
17. Adjournment – 7:39PM
Mr. Price made a motion to adjourn the school board meeting, second by Ms. Bellisio, all in favor.