APPROVED
NEWFIELDS SCHOOL BOARD
May 12th, 2008 — 5:30PM
NEWFIELDS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
In Attendance: Carolyn Bellisio, Joe Army, Michael Price
Administration: Nathan Lunney, Dennis Dobe
Treasurer: Pam Muller
Secretary: Dennis Dobe
Visitors: None
3.1 April 14, 2008 School Board Meeting -- The minutes were approved as amended (Motion by Carolyn Bellisio, Second by Michael Price, All in Favor).
3.2 April 24th, 2008 Kindergarten Program Public Hearing
The minutes were approved as written (Motion by Carolyn Bellisio, Second by Michael Price, All in Favor).
4. Visitors
5. Business and Financial
5.1 Monthly Financial Report
School District Treasurer, Pamela Muller, reported the following fund balances to the school board: the Newfields School District had $458,487.65 cash on hand at the end of March, Maintenance -- $3,998.15, and Parking Lot Planning -- $7,091.80.
5.2 Update on Grants and Trusts
Mr. Nathan Lunney reported on the anticipated fund balance at the close of this school year. Mr. Lunney indicated that he anticipated approximately $30,000-$35,000 in unused funds at the close of the school year.
6. Curriculum
6.1 NCLB – Adequate Yearly Progress
Principal Dennis Dobe reported to the Board that Newfields Elementary School had made Adequate Yearly Progress for 2006-2007. NES students performed very well on this year’s NECAP assessment, and all groups and grade levels made AYP in all subjects tested.
6.2 Extended Day Kindergarten Planning
Mr. Dobe shared information on the steps being taken to prepare for introducing EDK at
NES in the Fall of 2008. Some of these preparations include: naming the second
kindergarten teacher (Casey Hamilton), holding a Kindergarten Open House (5/15),
Kindergarten Screening (5/21), visiting kindergarten programs at Exeter and Stratham,
holding a series of team meetings between next year’s kindergarten teachers, registering for
teacher training over the summer months, and making budget/purchasing decisions to
properly outfit a second kindergarten classroom.
7. Superintendent / Assistant Superintendent Report
7.1 SAU Update
Nathan Lunney informed the Board about the upcoming reception for retiring
Superintendent of Schools, Arthur Hanson, on Monday, May 19, from 4-6pm. The
reception will be followed by the May Joint School Boards meeting at 7pm. During this
meeting, the finalists for the Assistant Superintendent position vacated by Dr. Stephen
Kossakoski will be introduced. There was some discussion about Joint School Board
meetings and Joint Chairs meetings as well.
7.2 Enrollment Update
Nathan Lunney reported that the current NES enrollment has remained stable at 164
students since last month.
7.3 Temporary Authority to Hire in the Board’s Absence
Mr. Lunney requested authority to hire staff over the summer weeks when the Newfields
School Board is not in session. That authority was granted by the Board (Motion by Carolyn
Bellisio, Second by Michael Price, All in Favor).
7.4 NH Retirement System Election
Nathan proposed that the School Board elect to participate in the NHRS system for NES staff
members as outlined in the Negotiated Agreement between the Newfields School Board and
the Newfields Staff Association, 2008-2010 (Motion – Michael Price, Second – Carolyn
Bellisio, Unanimous.)
8. Principal’s Report
8.1 School Activities
Mr. Dobe informed the Board about upcoming and recent NES activities to include:
continued Spring Testing, additional field trips, ongoing archery program for grades 4 & 5, Spring bus evacuation drills (5/6), NPTO Family Luau (5/10), Incoming Grade 1 Parent Information Night (5/29), and the NES Spring Concert (5/27).
9. General Correspondence
10. Personnel
10.1 Leave of Absence Requests
The School Board accepted leave of absence requests made by Mrs. Bromley and Mrs. Coon
for early in the 2008-2009 school year. (Motion – Michael Price, Second – Carolyn Bellisio,
Unanimous.)
10.2 Staff Resignation
Reluctantly, the School Board accepted NES Art Teacher Hannah Pasquale’s letter of
resignation. Mrs. Pasquale will be contracted as a Humantities Teacher at the Great Bay
eLearning Charter School beginning July 1, 2008. (Motion – Michael Price, Second –
Carolyn Bellisio, Unanimous.)
11. Building and Grounds
11.1 Building Use Requests
The Newfields Christian Fellowship Church will hold a bake sale at NES on Saturday, June 14th, to benefit the Gray family.
11.2 Facility & Grounds Update
Mr. Dobe reported that recent work was performed by Simplex-Grinnell to test and service the school’s fire panel and sprinkler systems. Dennis also briefed the Board on repair work recently completed by Dowling Corporation on the A/C unit that services the NES computer lab. Finally, Mr. Dobe indicated that, as discussed at a previous school board meeting, he would pursue a contract with a pest management company (Modern Pest Services) to address recent pest problems within the school building.
11.3 NYAA Adjacent Lot Inquiry
Mr. Dobe shared an email he recently received from an Executive Board member of the
NYAA, inquiring about the possibility of developing the school district’s adjacent lots as a
parking lot under NYAA ownership. The School Board was interested in the proposal, but
had eight questions/concerns that they asked the NYAA to address with the School Board at
its next meeting on Monday, June 9th, at 5:30pm. Dennis was directed to share the Boards
questions with the NYAA and invite them to the Board’s June meeting.
12. Pupil-Related Matters
13. Board Reports / Policy – Tabled until the June School Board Meeting.
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
17.1 Board Meeting: June 9th, 2008, at 5:30PM.
17. Adjournment – 7:04PM
Ms. Bellisio made a motion to adjourn the school board meeting, second by Mr. Price. All in
favor.