APPROVED

NEWFIELDS SCHOOL BOARD

January 12th , 2008 — 10:00AM

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 – 10:11AM by Joe Army
  2. Non-Public Session  (The School Board did not enter into a non-public session.)
  3. Approval of Minutes

3.1  December 10th, 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 $395,250.33 cash on hand at the end of December.  Mrs. Doane also reported the following account balances:  Maintenance -- $3,953.40, Parking Lot Planning -- $7,012.37.

6.      Curriculum

6.1  Mid-Year Literacy Assessments

Dennis Dobe reported to the Board that mid-year literacy assessments are underway.  All First Graders have had the DiBELS administered and will soon have the DRA administered, while students in Grades 3-5 are taking the Benchmark Assessment.

7.   Superintendent / Assistant Superintendent Report

     7.1 SAU Update  (No report given.)

        7.2 Enrollment Update

              Nathan Lunney reported that the current NES enrollment increased to 164 students since

               last month.

8.      Principal’s Report

     8.1  SAU 16 Superintendent Candidate Visits to NES

            Mr. Dobe reported that candidates for the position of SAU 16 Superintendent of Schools

       visited the district on Monday, January 7th.  Candidates visited NES and the other SAU 16

       schools in the morning, and attended four interview/forums in the afternoon and evening. 

       NES had good representation in the administrative and teacher forums with the candidates.

8.2    School-wide Enrichment Program

Mr. Dobe briefed the Board on upcoming school-wide enrichment program activities.  The program for the year is nearly set, but a couple of dates are yet to be determined.

8.3    NES ‘Escape to Italy’ Enrichment Benefit Auction

The date for this year’s enrichment auction and spaghetti dinner has been set for Saturday, March 29th.  Preparations for the auction have already begun.

8.4    School Activities

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

       Quarter #2 Report Cards going out on 1/25, the NES Spelling Bee on 1/30 beginning at

       9AM, and the Incoming Kindergarten Parent Information Night held on 1/31 at 7PM.

9.      General Correspondence  

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

10.  Personnel

11.  Building and Grounds

11.1    Building Use Requests

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

11.2    Facility & Grounds

                Mr. Dobe reported that recent facility projects included: a significant amount of snow

                clearing off our road and walkways, snow clearing off our school roof (over Mrs.

                Bzdafka’s room), and the installation of new electrical outlets in our MPR, kitchen and

                the 3MB & 3JB classrooms.

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

13.  Board Reports / Policy

       13.1  SAU 16 Superintendent Search Update

  Mrs. Bellisio shared information about the progress and some upcoming activities that the   

  SAU 16 Superintendent Search Committee has planned.  There were four candidates

  who toured the SAU’s schools and participated in forums on January 7th.  The Search

  Committee will narrow the pool of candidates and conduct visitations of the candidates’

  home districts.  The Committee will conduct final interviews on January 28th.

       13.2  Policies – The Schooll Board tabled the following policies to the February meeting.

                13.2.1.  IHBF  Homebound Instruction  (First Reading)

                13.2.2.  JRA  Student Records and Access (Third Reading)

14.  Old Business

        There were a few matters of old business discussed by the Board to include a ‘thank you’

         letter to be written to the Gajewski family for a donation made to the school, the corrected

         version of the emergency call list used by Newmarket Dispatch (indicating Mr. Price as the

         first to be called during evening/weekend/holiday hours if the building is left unsecured or if

         the fire panel is activated), a check written for a school-related purchase not being processed

         in a timely manner, and further discussion of a town communication newsletter to inform the

         Newfields community about upcoming school district meetings and votes.

15.  New Business

       There were a few matters of new business discussed by the Board to include the need to have

       the NES Capital Improvement Plan on hand for the Deliberative Hearing.

16.  Next Meeting

       16.1  Board Meeting:  February 11th, 2008, at 5:30PM.

17.  Adjournment – 10:58AM

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

       favor.