NOT APPROVED
NEWFIELDS SCHOOL BOARD
March 10th, 2008 — 5:30PM
NEWFIELDS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
In Attendance: Carolyn Bellisio, Joe Army
Administration: Nathan Lunney, Dennis Dobe
Treasurer: Maggie Doane
Secretary: Dennis Dobe
Visitors: Mary August, Ed Oddo, Tracy Birmingham, Kim Crisp
3.1 February 5, 2008 Deliberative Session (Approved as written: Motion – Carolyn
Bellisio, Second – Joe Army; Unanimous)
3.2 February 11, 2008 Board Meeting (Approved as written: Motion— Carolyn Bellisio,
Second—Joe Army; Unanimous)
4. Visitors
4.1 Mary August – Newfields Community Egg Hunt
Mrs. August explained that her family could no longer host the annual Newfields
Community Egg Hunt, and inquired as to whether the Newfields School District would be
interested assuming coordination of the event on school grounds. The School Board
indicated that they would be inclined to allow the event to be held on school grounds, but
would not be interested in assuming any role in coordinating the event. Mr. Dobe
mentioned that he had spoken to the Newfields Parent Teacher Organization about taking on
this project for the community, and that they took no action regarding the opportunity.
Further, Mr. Dobe indicated that the school should not take an active part in the holiday
celebration, and suggested that Mrs. August contact the Newfields Youth Athletic
Association who might have an interest in coordinating this town-wide recreational event
and host it on NYAA grounds which would be more suitable for an egg hunt (Newfields
Town Playground and Athletic Fields) rather than the school grounds which are very limited
(NES building and lawns immediately adjacent to the building and traffic loop).
4.2 Ed Oddo – SimplexGrinnell ‘Inspection Plus’ Program & Trust Fund Proposal
Mr. Oddo presented the new ‘Inspection Plus’ fire alarm and sprinkler system agreement with SimplexGrinnel. Ed briefly outlined the program and how it will benefit the school. Mr. Oddo then discussed the roof work proposal that he has received from a familiar roof contractor, and was then asked by the school board to obtain multiple bids and present them at the April board meeting, if possible.
4.3 Tracy Birmingham & Kim Crisp – These parents of incoming kindergarten students participated in the discussion of programming options being proposed for the coming year which may effect the NES kindergarten program offering.
5. Business and Financial
5.1 Monthly Financial Report
School District Treasurer, Maggie Doane, reported the following fund balances to the school board: the Newfields School District had $393,972.01 cash on hand at the end of February, Maintenance -- $3,968.22, and Parking Lot Planning -- $7,038.75. There was also some discussion between Mr. Doane, the school board and school administration over an appropriate orientation program for the incoming Newfields School District Treasurer. Mrs. Offered to act as the School District Treasurer’s ‘Second’. Carolyn Bellisio made a motion to make Maggie Doane the new School District Treasurer’s ‘Second’, removing Jan Trueman from that position (Joe Army – Second; All in Favor). Mrs. Doane also shared some interest that she has heard in town that the full results of Mrs. Trueman’s Parking Lot Survey be made public. The school board informally agreed that the results should be made public.
5.2 Update on Grants and Trusts
Mr. Dobe and Mr. Nathan Lunney indicated to the Board that the financial statements related to NES grants and trusts had not yet been generated due to turnover in key accounting staff at the Central Office. It is expected that those reports will be ready for presentation to the school board during the April School Board meeting. Mr. Dobe informed the Board that he had authored and sent a letter to Dr. Thomas Hackett outlining the enrichment programming offered at NES over the last several years related to the study of William Shakespeare and the dramatic arts (documenting a solid commitment to enrichment programming at NES in the dramatic arts over an extended period of time).
6. Curriculum
6.1 SAU 16 Teacher Inservice Day: March 11, 2008
Dennis Dobe shared an announcement outlining professional development activities developed and offered by the SAU for the morning of the March 11th Teacher Inservice Day. Dennis further explained that the NES staff would participate in a luncheon at Kensington Elementary School with colleagues from KES and East Kingston Elementary School. Following the informal networking opportunity, NES teachers would participate in their final writing instruction book study group meeting or participate in specialized training and/or projects approved by the NES building principal. Mr. Army expressed a concern regarding his knowledge that a number of Newfields families had left town for family outings on the March 11th ‘no school day’ and would likely not be in town to participate in town elections and voting on the Newfields Town and School District warrants. Joe suggested that this situation should be avoided in the future. The school administrators shared Mr. Army’s concern, explained why SAU 16 schools were closed on March 11th, and indicated that the situation would not occur in the coming year.
6.2 NES Kindergarten Program Study, 2008-2009
Mr. Dobe shared a chart that he developed outlining several options that the Board may wish
to consider regarding a possible shift in NES kindergarten programming for the 2008-2009
academic year. The chart indicated several advantages and disadvantages for each option as
well as anticipated costs for each option. The school board had many questions for Mr.
Dobe and meeting visitors Ms. Birmingham and Mrs. Crisp also participated in the
discussion. School Board Chairman Joe Army and the rest of the Board developed a list of
ten information requests related to this project that they wish to hear about during the April
School Board meeting. Mr. Dobe indicated that he would have the information ready for the
Board at that time.
7. Superintendent / Assistant Superintendent Report
7.1 SAU Update
Nathan Lunney revisited the subject of the New Hampshire School Boards Association
invitation to join their lawsuit regarding the IRS ruling relative to the NH Retirement
System medical subsidy. Carolyn Bellisio made a motion that ‘The Newfields School
District join the NH Local Government Center lawsuit and expend a sum of $ 142.48 to join
its Part I, 28-a litigation.” (Joe Army – Second; All in Favor)
7.2 Enrollment Update
Nathan Lunney reported that the current NES enrollment has remained stable at 164
students since last month.
8. Principal’s Report
8.1 Newfields Parent Teacher Organization Gifts
Mr. Dobe informed the Board of recent generous gifts given to NES for use with its students.
The NPTO purchased a significant amount of playground toys such as balls, cones, and jump
ropes to be used by NES students during recesses and All-School Play in the upcoming Spring
and Fall seasons. Also, the NPTO purchased new audio-visual technology for the school for
use in enhancing classroom instruction. This gift included three small-footprint A/V
presentation carts, three large wall-mounted projection screens, two DLP LCD projectors, and
two Hi-Fi multi-media audio systems. Mr. Dobe indicated that the school is very grateful, and
delighted to add these items to their instructional technology inventory. Mr. Army requested
that a letter be sent to convey the school board’s appreciation for the NPTO’s generous support
of our school system.
8.2 School Activities
Mr. Dobe informed the Board about upcoming and recent NES activities to include:
Read Across America Week activities (3/3-3/7) to include the NPTO Green Eggs & Ham Luncheon (3/3) and the NES Literary Character Parade(3/5), SAU 16 Teacher Inservice Day on 3/11, the UNH Drama Department’s performance of Aesop’s Fables on 3/12, the Sargent Camp Parent Information Night Meeting held at Brentwood’s Swasey Central School on 3/12, three more enrichment Programs (Jeff Danger, Science Ranger – 3/19, Shakespeare for Kids III – 3/20, and PSU’s performance of ‘Let Your Light Shine’ – 3/26). Mr. Dobe also informed the Board of the DARE Program Luncheon for 5th Graders to be held on 3/19. A reminder and an invitation was also extended to the Board for them to attend the NES ‘Escape to Italy’ Enrichment Benefit Auction on 2/29.
9. General Correspondence
There were no correspondence items for the School Board this month.
10. Personnel
10.1 Anticipated Leave Request
Mr. Dobe informed the Board of an anticipated maternity leave request that would run
through the beginning of the coming school year.
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. Ed Oddo addressed this material in section 4.2 above.
12. Pupil-Related Matters
12.1 Seacoast Region Spelling Bee Results
Mr. Dobe informed the Board that NES Spelling Bee Champion, Maggie Stark
from Mrs. DuPont’s Grade 5 Class, placed 8th overall at the recent Seacoast Region
Spelling Bee held in Portsmouth, NH. Mr. Dobe added that all of the region’s school
champions, representing school grade levels from K-8 competed in this event, and Maggie’s
8th place finish was a great accomplishment for our school and community. Mr. Army asked
Mr. Dobe to send a letter to Maggie to congratulate her on her success.
13. Board Reports / Policy
13.1 Policies – The School Board tabled the following policies to the April meeting.
13.1.1. IHBF Homebound Instruction (Third Reading)
13.1.2. JRA Student Records and Access (Final Reading)
14. Old Business -- There were a no matters of old business discussed by the Board this evening.
15. New Business -- There were a no matters of new business discussed by the Board this evening.
16. Next Meeting
16.1 Board Meeting: April 11th, 2008, at 5:30PM.
17. Adjournment – 7:20PM
Ms. Bellisio made a motion to adjourn the school board meeting, second by Mr. Army. All in
favor.