SAU Joint Chairs Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, September 3, 2008 – 5:00 PM
SAU Conference Room – Tuck Learning Campus
Present: Townley Chisholm, Anne Marie Chesno, Patty Lovejoy, Dave Miller, Cheryl Camacho, Kate Miller, Mike Price, Bruce Scamman
Administration: Mike Morgan, Paul Flynn, Nathan Lunney, Walter Pierce, Dick Wendell
Visitors: Mike Morrison – Municipal Pest Management, Kathy McNeill; Ken Berkenbush - Exeter Assistant Fire Chief
1. Opening of the Meeting – Chair Chesno: Vice Chair Chisholm opened the meeting at 5:00 PM.
2. Triple E and West Nile Virus Spraying Update – Dick Wendell: Dick explained that he has invited Mike Morrison, Owner of Municipal Pest Management who we use for some of our spraying, to attend the meeting so he can update everyone on spraying, etc. Dick reported that today there was an EEE discovery in East Barnstead of an emu bitten by the same type of mosquito that would bite a human. To date, Kensington and Newfields have had West Nile issues. He also noted that no spraying is done while children are in school. Discussed various companies doing spraying in the SAU towns and that Coach Ball is on board with whatever decision the SAU decides regarding athletic practices/events. Mike has spoken to Nashua South Superintendent (playing EHS Friday night) and the UNH entomologist regarding whether or not to reschedule Friday’s game. The feeling is to do what is safe and that a decision will be made on Thursday regarding whether or not to move Friday’s game to Saturday afternoon. Dick would recommend we go forward with practices with combination of synthetic and regular spraying available to athletes, and if we have a night game, make bug spray available. To date, only one barrier application has been done at EHS and each application has about a three week life. Dick had planned on spraying again tomorrow. Patty reported that she just heard on NPR that Newfields had also found EEE. Mike will call the NH Department of Health tomorrow for their input. Ken Berkenbush has spoken to the NH State Veterinarian and he recommends minimizing your exposure and to keep in mind that if you are under lights, you will be attracting bugs. Also you can be affected in the middle of the day since the barrier spray only prevents the mosquitoes from coming in and the wind and UV light from the sun can compromise the effect. He further noted that the mosquito traps in Exeter have been running very low until this week and now the traps are packed. This is when the EEE mosquitoes come out. You are only talking a few games and once it drops below 50 degrees the mosquitoes get hypothermic and cannot fly. Consensus by the Chairs to postpone the game until Saturday afternoon at 1:30 PM and Dick will talk to Bert Bourgeois (the Seahawks) about their practices/games since they use the TLC fields. Bruce asked for an assessment of what is happening at the elementary schools and Dick noted that every school/town in SAU has been treated. Mike Morrison arrived. He noted that Exeter does have a history of EEE with four different species in one trap at one time. In the 50’s to low 60’s, mosquitoes are not active, but high humidity and temps in 60’s or above promotes their activities. Aside from barrier spraying, Mike Morrison would recommend also treating the rough areas and any swale areas around the fields that should also be sprayed, as well as mowing or cutting down those areas as that will also help. Dick will contact Coach Ball this evening. Dick, Mike Morrison and Ken Berkenbush left at 5:30 PM. Mike Morgan will evaluate the situation in 3-4 weeks.
Superintendent’s Report – Mike Morgan
3.1 SAU 16 Joint Board Goals 2008-2009: Bruce feels we should focus on bottom four goals as he sees goals one through five as goals we have had for quite a while. He also questioned if the Strategic Plan should be a goal. Discussion followed on how we define what our “footprint” is in goal #8. Nathan noted he will be able to take the 2007-08 consumables (oil, electricity, gas, etc.) and compare them to 2008-09 (Kathy McNeill left at 5:43 PM, Anne Marie arrived 5:54 PM). Discussion continued on looking at combining the goals that dealt with professional development and re-wording some of the other goals, ending with a final draft to bring to the September 22nd Joint Board meeting (see Attachment #1 pdf). Regarding strategic planning, the Chairs decided to have it as a discussion item prior to the goal discussion so if the Joint Board wants to add it as a goal, they can when they discuss the revised Draft Goals (Attachment #1). Nathan left 6:25 PM.
3.2 Assistant Superintendent Position Update:
Mike noted that the proposal he is making at the September 22nd SAU
Joint Board meeting is to nominate Tony Baldasaro, effective
January 1, 2009 to be the new Assistant Superintendent. Walter will take the Brentwood
Board for the entire year and Mike will take the East Kingston Board for the entire
year and Tony will transition to take charge of those boards as of July 1, 2009.
The plan is that Tony will be paid two days a week during the fall with money
from the Assistant Superintendent’s position and three days a week he will be
paid from the Coop as he will be at CMS. As soon as possible, Mike will bring on a curriculum
person to work with Tony to make as seamless as possible the transition, given
all the work Tony is involved in with the Professional Learning Community,
NECAP, his mentoring piece, etc. The person Mike would bring in is Marcy Dovholuk
who has a lot of experience with curriculum and her salary would be paid by Coop.
Marcy’s salary would be less money and the job is prorated and would cost an
additional $2000 for Coop and save
$65-70,000 for SAU. Would like to make this a formal recommendation at the
September 22nd Joint Board meeting. Discussion followed on making
the position effective July 1st. Patty asked that Mike make the
cost of Tony’s position at the Coop not have the Coop owing any additional
monies. Question if the responsibilities/oversight would remain same as they
are now. Mike noted, no, as they will review strengths of each person and the new
titles would just be Assistant Superintendents (no curriculum/assessment or
technology and research). Mike was asked why he decided to fill Jerry’s
position. Mike responded that this was based on the fact that the Cooperative Middle School
is designated SINI and he sees, with the current State expectations, all schools
becoming SINI and will need key people in place to address upcoming curriculum
needs. Part of the budget issues going forward will be to see how we can help the
districts at the SAU level. He will be working with Nathan to give a different
“view” to some of those budget concerns, but a different set of eyes helps.
Mike feels Walter will retire at year end and he will have one less SAU administrative
person and he does not want to lose the Assistant Superintendent position.
Chair Chesno noted she will personally challenge the position in the SAU Central
Office at the Joint Boards’ meeting. Mike noted that the position is only a
six month position and Tony, as well as his replacement, could be out of a job
in June and both individuals are aware of this. Patty wanted to make sure that
both people know that both position could end and Mike assured her they did.
If the positions ended, Tony could come back if Mike wanted him to. Specifics
on the salary/benefit package for Tony were discussed. Mike explained that he is
very concerned about increase in retirement rate and thinks the 5.8% listed on
the sheet he handed out should be 6.81%. Asking for chairs’ support for the
9/22 meeting. Majority of boards felt their boards would support. It was noted
that there will probably be a weighted vote on the issue at the board meeting.
3.3 Discussion of SAU Strategic Plan: Mike explained that the Coop Board has invited the other boards to join in on this, which will be a very detailed process and passed out some samples of strategic plans from other schools. He estimates the time commitment from boards to participate in a strategic plan would be 2-4 hours/per person per month for two years’ time. He would suggest he would like to be the facilitator, noting to hire an outside facilitator could cost from $25,000-30,000. Feels the process will involve 150 people. This would be an SAU Joint Board Strategic Plan to discuss everything from curriculum to governance and would need commitment from boards to go forward. Chair Chesno asked Mike to bring forward to the 9/22 meeting more details of what this would involve.
3.4 Draft of Entry Plan – Mike Morgan: This was emailed to the full SAU Joint Board and if you any advice or thoughts, please let him know, especially if there are items you do not feel he should be doing.
3. HR Report – Paul Flynn: Quick report on CMS 8th grade science teacher, Angela Bertram who is at Mass General in very critical condition.
4. CFO Update – Nathan Lunney (had left meeting)
5.1 403-(b) Plan Document: Mike explained that Nathan will be sending this plan to the SAU Joint Board for approval at 9/22 meeting
5.2 SAU Financial Report: Chair Chesno noted that even though it is early in the budget, if you have any questions of Nathan’s report, to please email him (see Attachment #2 pdf).
5. Technology and Research – Laura Nelson / Mike Morgan
6.1 SPDC Director Position Update: Mike reported that Laura has hired a new director who should start within the next two weeks and her name is Jennifer Middaugh. Jennifer does understand that this is a grant funded position and she is going to have to have a marketing plan to make the facility self sufficient. Chair Chesno noted the importance going forward that this is a self support facility.
6. Status of SAU Pre-School – Mike Morgan: Pat Dowey emailed you the report (see Attachment #3 pdf) and in it she explains nothing has happened since last meeting with her. Kate Miller passed out an article on preschool and how early education for children is the silver bullet for making successful students. Chair Chesno is looking for feedback from attendees to this year’s SAU Pre-School held at Swasey Central, noting most of the attendees were from Brentwood and Exeter.
7. Agenda Items for Joint Board Meeting, September 22, 2008
8.1. Meeting to be held at Stratham Memorial at 7:00 PM with school tour at 6:30 PM
8.2. Packets will be sent electronically to board members as a pdf file
8.3. Additional items: Chair requested a one page brief list of the Joint Chairs responsibilities and what has been delegated to them from the SAU Joint Board
8. From the Floor: No items
9. Adjournment: Meeting adjourned at 7:12 PM
Respectfully submitted,
Sally Boyd