SAU #16 JOINT SCHOOL BOARD MEETING MINUTES

Monday, December 19, 2005 – 7:00 PM

Seacoast School of Technology – Culinary Arts Dining Room

  

EXETER:                               Kathy McNeill, Carl Stevens, John Maxwell and Kate Miller (7:32 PM) and

                                                     Jean Tucker (7:44 PM)

ERCSD:                                 Robin Scott, Greg Kann, Kris Magnuson, Kim Casey, Lucy Cushman

  and Patty Lovejoy

BRENTWOOD:                   John Hayes, Virginia Knutson and Michael Johnson  

KENSINGTON:                    Alice Mower and Cheryl Camacho

E. KINGSTON:                     Stacy Penna and Dick Poelaert

NEWFIELDS:                       Jan Trueman and Carolyn Bellisio

STRATHAM:                       Bob O’Sullivan, Jim Dubela and Luke Breton (7:32 PM)
                                                  

ADMINISTRATION:          Arthur Hanson, Paul Flynn, Jerry Frew, Steve Kossakoski, Nathan Lunney and Walter Pierce

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:

EXETER:                                All Present

ERCSD:                                  Sally Oxnard and Ray Trueman

BRENTWOOD:                    Tim Hannan and Anne Marie Chesno

KENSINGTON:                     Dana Donovan

E. KINGSTON:                      Dave Miller

NEWFIELDS:                        Mark Bouzianis

STRATHAM:                       Katherine O’Donnell and Mark Poirier

 

 1.      CALL TO ORDER/PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Chair Poelaert called the meeting to order at 7:08 PM followed by Pledge of Allegiance.

 

2.      ANNOUNCEMENTS/PUBLIC INPUT: None.

 

3.      CHAIR’S REPORT

3.1  Introduction of all SAU 16 Joint School Board Members – Dick Poelaert: Chair asked the board and administration to introduce themselves.

3.2  Approval of 2006-2007 Proposed Budget – Skip Hanson: The superintendent asked if anyone had any questions of the SAU budget that Nathan had just presented in the Public Hearing (see Attachments #1-3 in the Public Hearing minutes).  There were no questions.  Motion by Greg Kann, seconded by Robin Scott and unanimously board voted with no opposition and with no further discussion to approve the 2006-2007 SAU Budget of $5,152,232.00.  Nathan left meeting.

3.3  2006 - 2007 Proposed Calendar – Dick Poelaert/Skip Hanson:  Superintendent noted the calendar was in your packet and explained that the basis of the calendar comes from the sending schools at SST.  Reviewed the calendar with the early release and in-service dates.  Discussed the request to UNH to have the SES (Seacoast Educational Services) in-service day in March on the 13th because that is a voting day in some of the SST districts and those districts do not have school on that day since the school is where the voting takes place.  If we cannot move the in-service to March 13th, students from sending districts at SST who do not have school will still plan to bus their students to SST.   Discussion on feedback from principals having the reduced number of early releases on next year’s calendar compared to this years (seven last year versus five this year.  It was explained that principals/boards can increase the number of early release days if they want.  Virginia commended Jerry Frew who worked very hard to change the calendar since the Brentwood board was quite concerned with the number of lost school time from this year’s calendar.  She thanked him for all his hard work and that it was most appreciated.  Motion by Kim Casey, seconded by Kris Magnusson and unanimously board voted with no opposition or further discussion to accept the proposed 2006-2007 SAU 16 Calendar (see Attachment #1 pdf) awaiting final determination of the March SES In-Service Day (13th or 16th).  (Note: As of 12/22/05 SAU Office received notice that the SES In-Service Day will be March 16, 2006).

3.4  Approval of September 19, 2005 Minutes – Dick Poelaert: Motion by Lucy Cushman, seconded by Robin Scott and unanimously board voted with no opposition and no further discussion to approve the September 19, 2005 board minutes (see Attachment #2).

 

4.      SUPERINTENT/ADMINISTRATION REPORTS

4.1   SAU 16 Influenza Epidemic/Pandemic Prevention and Response Plan – Skip Hanson: The SAU Chairs directed the SAU Administration to do some work on an influenza plan and Jerry discovered a plan from the Shaker Region School District that was enclosed in your board packet.  The plan was so thorough that we contacted the Shaker District Superintendent and received permission to use the same plan, which was authored by their middle school nurse.  Superintendent has for the board’s comments/thoughts.  If board agrees with this plan, we will try to put this in newsletters going home, post on Website, etc., but looking for your feedback.  Board consensus that this was an excellent plan (see Attachment #3 pdf for final copy  SAU 16 Influenza Epidemic/Pandemic Prevention and Response Plan).  Superintendent explained that we can link the plan on the Website to the NH Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the New Hampshire Office of Emergency Management (OEM) so parents could find additional information as it become available from appropriate sources.  It was suggested that the plan might include information on students sneezing or coughing into their sleeve to help reduce the spread of germs.  Superintendent asked the board to share with the central office any other ideas they may have of disseminating the plan to parents.

Superintendent reviewed that the SAU Administration is still working on the mosquito EEE virus plan and have heard back from majority of towns who have talked to their local officials.  Should have all information in place to present to joint chairs at February meeting so can implement for spring and fall to various towns.

 

4.2   Curriculum and Assessment  – Jerry Frew: Spoke about assessment testing that has taken place this fall and that he has gathered feedback from teachers, etc.  Will be reviewing the impact of the testing.  Shared some of the common logistical concerns with the physical test, as well as the length of time needed for testing.  Explained that Commissioner Tracy has been very willing to listen to our concerns.  NWEA was optional this fall and only the Coop did the testing, but all elementary have agreed to have spring NWEA testing.  Will re-evaluate if Coop will do fall testing again.  Due to NECAP testing, backed off curriculum work teachers were going to be doing, but now are back on task.  Reviewed progress of various SAU committees (see Attachment #4 pdf).  Discussion followed on MathScapes, writing prompts, NWEA testing in fall.

 

4.3   Technology and Research – Steve Kossakoski:

Ø      On-Line Presence - Reported on the on-line presence of all SAU 16 teachers who assign homework; early January will put an announcement about this availability of the on-line presence on the SAU Website so all parents know they can access homework.

Ø      Technology Plan – Continue to work on plan as it expires June 30th; will bring the plan to you in May for approval.

Ø      Open source software - CD at your seat is the open source software CD you are welcome to download.

Ø      New Student Information System - Selected a new student information system, PowerSchool, and discussed how and why selected.  Hope to have the system in place September 2006 with all schools initially being able to utilize it for attendance.  Discussed some of the many capabilities of the software.  Cost is about $150,000 district-wide then will have about a $20,000 total yearly maintenance cost.  Hoping to access some grant funds, keeping it cost neutral so we do not have to put any of this cost into the 2006-2007 budget.  Have asked that any new incoming software be compatible with PowerSchool, such as new SPED software - CASE-e and same for any new software that  food service, nurses, etc., would purchase.  Lucy left meeting 8:18 PM.  Steve noted that if he does not come up with grant sources, may delay the system until have the monies in place and would also hope that they could spread the initial cost of the system over a period of time.

Ø      Virtual Charter School - With support of the Cooperative board, he and the superintendent have applied for a Visioning Grant to establish a statewide Virtual Charter School that would allow learning on-line.  With a grant you need to have a target audience, and the school would target talented, motivated or gifted students.  This would allow students to access additional AP classes or to take classes in areas where their needs were not being met in a traditional classroom, etc. In talks with Kathy Newcomb at EHS, feel this kind of school may even assist students from dropping out.  Numerous questions were asked of Steve regarding the school and he explained that the Visioning Grant will give the SAU administration (and the to-be-determined focus groups) an opportunity to discuss these types of questions as part of the process of designing this virtual school.  Discussion and questions continued.  Steve explained that we should know either just before Christmas or in early January 2006 if we have received the grant.  Will probably target the high school population , but at this time, the concept is open-ended in terms of just middle, high or elementary students.

Ø      RUS Grant – Shared information on being awarded the RUS Grant; ERCSD would be receiving about $500,000.  Once the video conferencing equipment is in, will be happy to do a demo for folks.  Will allow us to share resources for professional development.

 

4.4  Human Resources – Paul Flynn: Gave an update on the status of the teacher and paraprofessional contract negotiations.  Reviewed status of HQT and how it recently related to elementary teachers; reviewed health benefit vendors; CPI of Boston/Brockton/Nashua area came in at 3.3%; and spoke to 30+ year people retiring in the various districts.

4.5  New High School Project Update – Walter Pierce: Walter shared several different groups of pictures illustrating the various states of progress at the new high school  He explained that the pictures came from the SAU Website.

 

5.   COMMITTEE REPORTS

5.1   SAU Policy Committee – Patty Lovejoy: Updated the board on where the committee is and what their next steps are – NCLB requirements along with Minimum Standards will require changes in some of our policies; will be bringing forward a new Wellness policy from the work done by the SAU Adolescent Health Committee that will be addressing food in our schools, physical education for students, etc.  Question about possibly having a policy on compensation for cars (mileage rate reimbursement) and Paul explained that currently some of the teacher agreements address that figure in their contracts.

 

5.2  NCLB Committee – Jerry Frew: Reported that the Federal DOE have made a determination that ten states will be allowed to use student growth or gains results to measure AYP.  It is yet to be determined if NH will be one of the ten states.

 

5.3  Adolescent Health Committee – Sally Oxnard:  Since Sally was unable to be present, Jerry spoke to the committee’s work in his curriculum presentation.  Patty also spoke to status of the draft policy the committee has been working on under her SAU Policy Committee Report.

 

5.4  SAU Transportation Committee – Nathan Lunney: Kathy McNeill read the following update for Nathan since he was unable to stay:

·         Finalizing terms for Extension Year (6th year) of contract with First Student for regular student transportation; waiting for final language in writing

·         All districts have included appropriate amounts in proposed budgets

·         Increases through 5 years of original contract were about 3.5% each year

·         Current fuel excess cost clause says:

- First Student owns up to $2.00 per gallon

      - SAU 16 owns excess cost per gallon beyond $2.00

      - Total costs this year anticipated to top $40,000 SAU-wide

·         Extension year will have cost increase of about 5%

·         New fuel clause says:

- First Student owns up to $2.30 per gallon

      - SAU 16 owns excess cost between $2.30 and $2.50 per gallon

      - First Student owns any additional excess beyond $2.50 per gallon

·         Terms of extension year include:

- Allows for age of buses to be not more than 6 years instead of 5 years

      - Provides pay increases for drivers consistent with original contract

      - Generally, all other terms are consistent

 

6.      UNFINISHED BUSINESS: None at this time.

 

7.      NON-PUBLIC SESSION: None.

 

8.    ADJOURNMENT: Motion by Greg Kann, seconded by Bob O’Sullivan and unanimously board voted with no dissention or discussion to adjourn the meeting at

9:10 PM.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Sally Boyd, Secretary