Stratham School Board Minutes

Wednesday, February 9, 2005 – 6:30 PM

Stratham Memorial School

 

Members Present:  Katherine McDonnell, Bob O’Sullivan, John Hazekamp and Mark Poirier
                                                                                                           

Administration: Tom Fosher – Principal; Katherine Nichol - Assistant Principal; Meg Driscoll and Mary Ellen Palmer - Co-Directors of Special Services; Arthur Hanson - Superintendent of Schools.

 

1.  CALL TO ORDER:  Chair O’Sullivan called the meeting to order at 6:31 PM.

 

2.  NON-PUBLIC SESSION:  At 6:36 PM, on a motion by J. Hazekamp, seconded by M. Poirier and unanimously voted by roll call vote to enter non-public session under RSA 91-A:3II. a. 

 

      At 7:14 PM, the board resumed public session.

 

3.   APPROVAL OF MINUTES:  On a motion by M. Poirier, second by J. Hazekamp, the board unanimously voted to approve the minutes of January 5, January 12 and January 26, 2005.

 

4.   VISITORS - None

 

5.   SUPERINTENDENT/ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT REPORT: The superintendent reported on the selection of the new high school principal, the new high school project, the meetings of SAU Administration to examine the feasibility of starting a SAU Pre-School in the fall of 2005 and an SAU Charter Pre-School in the fall of 2006, the Great Bay elearning Charter School and the Cooperative Parent Surveys.

 

6.  GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE - None

 

7.   BOARD REPORTS/POLICY

7.1  Legislative Update: Mrs. McDonnell reported on several legislative bills.

7.2 Joint Chairs Meeting: Mr. O’Sullivan discussed the conversation from the last SAU Chair’s meeting regarding the concept of the SAU to purchase, in bulk, oil and utilities.  On a motion by M. Poirier, seconded by K. McDonnell, the board voted unanimously to join with the other SAU Schools with this endeavor.

7.3  Review of the Policies: Mrs. McDonnell read an update from Patty Lovejoy, who chairs the SAU Policy Committee, regarding the status of the SAU common policy endeavor.  Seven new policies were discussed (IHAE, EBCA, EBCA-R, JICK-R, JLCB-R, JLF) along with seventeen revised policies (JH, JHB, JH-R2, JHC, JLIA, EBCB, EBCB-R, EBCC, EBCD, IGD, IHBG, JICD,JICK, JICH, JLC, JLCB, JLCB-R).

 

8.   CURRICULUM

8.1  Kindergarten Survey Results: Mr. Fosher reviewed the results of the Kindergarten Survey. and also discussed “Write Traits”.

8.2  Write Traits In-House Support: Mr. Fosher discussed the Write Traits.

 

 

9.   SMS ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM

9.1  School Activities: Mrs. Nichol discussed past and upcoming student activities for SMS staff and students.

9.2  Special Education Update: Ms. Palmer discussed the number of SPED referrals and the SPED hearings for the reauthorization of IDEA that are being held throughout the state.

 

10.  EMPLOYEES

10.1   Sabbatical Leave Recommendation: On a motion by M. Poirier, seconded by K. McDonnell and unanimously voted to grant a sabbatical leave to Cathy Wansart during the 2^nd semester of the 2005 – 2006.

 

11.  BUILDING AND GROUNDS: Mr. Fosher updated the board on the status of building and grounds and also discussed the recommendations from the SAU Safety Committee and the State of NH’s Public Safety Labor Committee.

 

12.  PUPIL RELATED MATTERS

12.1   Spelling Bee: An update was given on the Spelling Bee.

 

13.  OLD BUSINESS: None

 

14.  NEW BUSINESS: None

 

15.  BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL: None

 

16.  CLOSING STATEMENTS: Recognition was given to Mr. Hazekamp for his years of service to the board and SAU.

 

17.  NEXT SCHOOL BOARD MEETING: Wednesday, March 9, 2005 – 6:30 PM.  Mr. O’Sullivan announced that the March 9, 2005 School Board Meeting will be the board’s annual organization meeting and Interim Superintendent Raudonis will chair the meeting until a board member is elected chair.

     

18.  ADJOURNMENT: On a motion by K. McDonnell, seconded by J. Hazekamp and unanimously voted to adjourn at 8:32 PM.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Arthur L. Hanson

Superintendent of Schools