STRATHAM SCHOOL BOARD MINUTES

Wednesday, March 9, 2005
Stratham Memorial School

 

Members Present: Mark Poirier, Katherine McDonnell, Jim Dubela, Luke Breton

Administration: Tom Fosher, Principal, Katherine Nichol, Assistant Principal, Meg Driscoll and Mary Ellen Palmer, Co-Directors of Special Services, Ray Raudonis, Interim Assistant Superintendent

 

1.        Mr. Raudonis called the meeting to order at 6:34 PM.

1.1. Ms. McDonnell nominated Mr. Poirier to be chairman.  Seconded by Mr. Dubela.  Motion carried 4-0.

1.2. Mr. Breton nominated Ms. McDonnell as Vice Chair.  Seconded by Mr. Dubela.  Motion carried 4-0.

2.        NON-PUBLIC SESSION:

3.        APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Motion by Ms. McDonnell to accept the minutes of February 9, 2005.  Seconded by Mr. Breton.   Motion carried 4-0.

4.        VISITORS – None

5.        GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE: None

6.        BOARD REPORTS/POLICY

6.1.   Ms. McDonnell provided an update regarding legislation concerning education funding.  Discussion followed regarding the various plans currently being entertained and proposed by the legislature.  More clarity should come within the month.

6.2.  Joint Chairs Mtg.: No February meeting held.

6.3. Review of the Policies: Postponed to April meeting

7.        CURRICULUM

7.1. Mr. Fosher reported the SMS Spelling Bee Champion.  He will be competing on March 13 in the regional meet.

7.2. NWEA testing (second round) will be from May 9 – 27 in the computer lab.  This affects students in grades 3-5.

7.3. Title I.  SMS is looking at using some of the Title I funding for a summer program for 20-30 students who may benefit from additional reading instruction.  The program would be for Title I eligible students and selected students moving from kindergarten to grade 1.  The program would begin on July 11th through July 28th for three or four days weekly for about three hours daily.  Program costs would be about $3,400 from the total Title I Grant.

7.4. SES Day.  March 18th professional development day at UNH for all staff.  The programs are varied and will affect all levels of staff including paraprofessionals.  Paraprofessionals will also have opportunities for training programs at SMS.

7.5. Kindergarten visitation process being re-examined for productivity and benefit.  Considering replacing home visits with three days of small group programs at SMS.  This would include children and parents participating in touring the school, meeting the staff, riding the school bus, eating lunch, etc.  This would give children and parents a low anxiety way of being introduced.

8.        SUPERINTENDENT/ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT REPORT

8.1. SAU Update:  Mr. Raudonis apprised the board of a variety of SAU activities including the Seacoast In-Service Day, high school construction progress, professional development and new board member orientation.
 

9.        SMS ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM:

9.1. Ms. Nichol described the successful winter carnival program, after-school snowshoeing ($ from the Deb Greenberg fund), good first day of kindergarten, recorder show, Concord field trips to the Statehouse, more writing training, a skating trip, the volunteer appreciation day, teams competing in Destination Imagination, two anti-bullying presentations, variety show rehearsals and program.

9.2. Ms. Palmer updated the board on SPED referrals and SPED enrollments and referred to the monthly spreadsheets that explained the status.  Ms. Driscoll explained special education identification and Section 504 programs available for students.
 

10.     EMPLOYEES

10.1.   Evaluations: Mr. Fosher described the staff evaluation model and mentioned that the process is coming to a close with staff nominations to occur at the April meeting.  He also described the different process for evaluating the performance of paraprofessionals.

11.     BUILDING AND GROUNDS:

11.1.   We have received the final quotation for the remaining carpet replacement.  The estimate was for about $11,000 to finish the work which includes carpeting for small offices and, in June, the library.

12.     PUPIL RELATED MATTERS: None

13.     OLD BUSINESS: None.

14.     NEW BUSINESS: None

15.     BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL: Next meeting

16.     CLOSING STATEMENTS: None

At 7:40 the Board moved into non-public session under the provisions of RSA 91A:3II, (a).  Moved by Ms. McDonnell, seconded by Mr. Dubela.  Roll call: Katherine McDonnell, yes, Jim Dubela, yes, Luke Breton, yes, Mark Poirier, yes.  After a brief discussion of the February 9, 2005 non-public session, the board returned to public session at 7:45.  Motion by Ms. McDonnell, seconded by Mr. Dubela.  Motion passed 4-0.

Mr. Breton moved and seconded by Ms. McDonnell to amend the numbering of items in the February 9, 2005 minutes.  Motion carried 4-0.

Ms. McDonnell moved and seconded by Mr. Dubela to add a computer for home use to the minutes of  February 9, 2005 describing benefits accruing to Mr. Fosher in his next contract.  Motion carried 4-0.

Ms. McDonnell moved and seconded by Mr. Dubela to unseal the non-public session minutes of February 9, 2005.  Motion carried 4-0.

Ms. McDonnell moved and seconded by Mr. Breton to accept the resignation of Kathryn Nichol with sincere best wishes for future success.  Motion carried 4-0.

Mr. Dubela moved and seconded by Mr. Breton to ratify all board actions taken during the February 9, 2005 non-public session.  Motion carried 4-0.

17.     NEXT SCHOOL BOARD MEETING: 6:30PM, Wednesday, April 13, 2005

18.     ADJOURNMENT: Ms. McDonnell made a motion to adjourn at 7:56 PM.  Seconded by Mr. Dubela.  Motion carried 4-0.
 
Respectfully submitted: Ray Raudonis