APPROVED

 

NEWFIELDS SCHOOL BOARD

December 10th, 2007 — 5:30PM

NEWFIELDS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

 

In Attendance:                          Carolyn Bellisio, Joe Army, Michael Price

Administration:                          Nathan Lunney, Dennis Dobe

Treasurer:                                 Maggie Doane

Secretary:                                 Dennis Dobe

Visitors:                                    None

 

  1. Call to Order – 5:52PM by Joe Army
  2. Non-Public Session  (The School Board did not enter into a non-public session.)
  3. Approval of Minutes

3.1  November 19th, 2007 Board Meeting  (Approved as amended:  Motion— Carolyn Bellisio, Second—Michael Price; Unanimous)

4.   Visitors – There were no visitors in attendance for this School Board meeting..

      5.  Business and Financial

5.1 Monthly Financial Report

School District Treasurer, Maggie Doane, stated that the Newfields School District had $368,237.39 cash on hand at the end of November.  Mrs. Doane also reported the following account balances:  Maintenance -- $3,941.91 (recent withdrawal of $14,500 for classroom window replacement project completed over the summer)m Parking Lot Planning -- $6,992.01.

5.2  Citizens Bank Collateralization Letter

Mrs. Doane shared a letter from Citizens Bank with the Board outlining their collateralization plans.  The letter was handed over to Nathan Lunney.

5.3  Additional School District Signatory

The School Board and Mrs. Doane discussed the need for an additional school district signatory who could fill associated responsibilities in the absence of Mrs. Doane.  The Board appointed Nathan Lunney as an additional signatory for the Newfields School District.  (Motion by Michael Price, Second by Carolyn Bellisio, All in Favor)

6.      Curriculum

6.1  SAU 16 Literacy Committee Update

Dennis Dobe reported to the Board on recent activity of the SAU 16 Literacy Committee to include attendance in the ‘Follow the Child Leadership Institute’ over the summer and the development of a ‘Post Action Plan’ (the committee is up to date on their proposed activities to this point in the school year).  The SAU 16 Literacy Committee is comprised of three subcommittees:  Literacy Assessment Committee (develops literacy assessment and rubrics for SAU 16 teachers to use in their instruction), NECAP Committee (studies NECAP results for SAU 16 student performance in the area of literacy and makes recommendations to teachers for improving student test performance), and the Best Practices Committee (studies best practices for teaching literacy and makes recommendation to the district teachers, plans literacy-related professional development for teachers and assistants).

6.2  SAU 16 Mathematics Committee Update

Mr. Dobe shared recent activity of the SAU 16 Math Committee with the Board to include information covered during the committee’s December 5th meeting (discussed Everyday Math Third Edition implementation across the SAU, possible development of a common assessment [mid-year and/or end-of-year], the need for students to continue to work with open-ended test item responses, and updates on math curriculum and program related activities at CMS, EHS, & SST).

7.   Superintendent / Assistant Superintendent Report

      7.1 SAU Update

 Nathan Lunney shared information with the Board on the development of the SAU 16 budget for 2008-2009 (the proposed budget will increase by 3.25% over last year’s numbers).  There will be a public hearing on the SAU’s proposed budget on December 17th at 6:30 at EHS. 

        7.2 Enrollment Update

              Nathan Lunney  reported that the current NES enrollment has remained static and holds at

              at 163 students.

8.      Principal’s Report

     8.1  Celebrating Holidays at School

            Mr. Dobe issued a statement regarding the school administration’s position on the

            celebration of holidays at school.  He stated that the school shows no preference or

            discrimination with regards to holidays at school.

8.2    School Security Update

Mr. Dobe briefed the Board on activities conducted to ensure the proper safety of students and staff in the event of an emergency at school.  Mr. Dobe visited several classes to discuss ‘Lock-Down’ procedures, then conducted a lock-down drill on the morning of November 30th.  The drill went as planned.

8.2    School Activities

       Mr. Dobe informed the Board about upcoming and recent NES activities to include:

       the annual Thanksgiving Feast held on November 20th, the Teacher Inservice Early

       Release held on the afternoon of December 5th, the NES Holiday Concert to be held on

       December 11th at 7PM, and the American Red Cross Blood Drive scheduled for December

       26th from 2-7PM..

9.      General Correspondence  

There were no correspondence items for the School Board this month.

10.  Personnel

Mr. Dobe reported that Mrs. Regan returned from her maternity leave on Monday, December 10th, and that she has made a very graceful transition back into the classroom.  Also, with Mrs. Regan’s return, Mrs. Haskell will assume her Grades 4 & 5 Instructional Assistant position for the balance of the school year.  With Mrs. Haskell returning to her original position, long-term substitute teacher Deborah Ambrose concluded her work for the Newfields School District on Friday, December 7th.

11.   Building and Grounds

11.1    Building Use Requests

There were no building use requests for the Board to review.

11.2    Facility & Grounds

         The School Board discussed the results of the School Grounds Improvement Committee led

       by Jan Trueman.  The results were not favorable for initiating a warrant article to construct a

       parking lot on the school district’s adjacent properties.  Mr. Dobe reported that the NYAA

       basketball program is now using the MPR during the evenings and on the weekends.  Recent

       facility and grounds work completed includes: heating system repair in the new addition, floor

       cleaning machine maintenance, and exterior lighting repair.

12.  Pupil-Related Matters – There were no pupil-related matters discussed.

13.  Board Reports / Policy

       13.1  SAU 16 Superintendent Search Update

  Mr. Lunney and Mrs. Bellisio shared information about the progress and some upcoming 

  activities that the SAU 16 Superintendent Search Committee has planned.  There will be 8

  candidates interviewed.  That candidate pool will be winnowed down to 2-3 candidates

  who will then tour the SAU’s schools and participate in an open forum on January 7th.

14.  Old Business – There was no old business discussed by the Board.

15.  New Business

       15.1  Vacant School District Officer Postions

                 the School Board discussed the need to fill school district officer positions that will be

                 open in the near future.  The Board wishes to discontinue the School District Auditor

                 position since the district contracts with a professional auditor firm for that purpose.  The

                district will need to fill School District Treasurer, School District Clerk, and one School

                Board position in the next school district election.

16.  Next Meeting

16.1  Board Meeting:  January 12th, immediately following the Public Hearing on the

         Newfields School District budget which will begin at 9AM.

17.  Adjournment – 6:58PM

       Ms. Bellisio made a motion to adjourn the school board meeting, second by Mr. Price.  All in

       favor.  The Board then conducted a budget workshop meeting with the Newfields School

       District Budget Committee.