STRATHAM SCHOOL BOARD MINUTES
Wednesday, April 13, 2005, 6:30PM
STRATHAM MEMORIAL SCHOOL
PRESENT: Mark Poirier, Luke Breton, Jim Dubela, Katherine McDonnell, Bob O’Sullivan
ABSENT: None
ADMINISTRATION: Arthur L. Hanson, Tom Fosher, Joey Nichol, Meg Driscoll and Mary Ellen Palmer
1 . CALL TO ORDER: Chair Poirier called the meeting to order at 6:30 PM followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
2 . NON-PUBLIC SESSION: Deferred to the end of the meeting.
3 . APPROVAL OF MINUTES
3.1 March 9, 2005: On a motion by Bob O’Sullivan, seconded by Luke Breton and unanimously voted with no further discussion to approve all motions made at the March 9, 2005 meeting since the new board members had not taken the oath of office. Motion by Bob O’Sullivan, seconded by Luke Breton and unanimously voted with no further discussion to approve the minutes of March 9, 2005.
4 . VISITORS: Vicky Avery discussed the Heritage Commission and John Hazekamp and Luke Pickett queried the board and administration about testing. Also there was a question of having the agenda and minutes on the Website and the Superintendent noted he would discuss this with Kathy Weise.
5 . GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE: Nothing at this time.
6 . BOARD REPORTS/ POLICY
6.1 Legislative update: Nothing at this time.
6.2 Joint Chairs Meeting: Superintendent reminded the board that the next Joint Chair’s meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 20, 2005 at 5:00 PM at the SAU Office. Mark Poirier said he does not have the past two chairs minutes and the superintendent noted we would send them to him.
6.3
First reading
of Policies: The following policies had a first reading: IHAE, EBCA, EBCA-R,
JICK-R, JLCB-R, JLF, and JRA.
6.4
Second Reading of Policies: Motion by Bob O’Sullivan, seconded by Katherine McDonnell and
unanimously voted with no further discussion to approve the following policies:
JH, JHB, JH-R2, JHC, JLIA, EBCB, EBCB-R, EBCC, EBCD, IGD, IHBG, JICD, JICK,
JICH, JLC, and JLCB.
7 . CURRICULUM
7.1
Curriculum
Cycles: Tom issued an SAU 16 Curriculum Cycle and explained the curriculum
revision process. Jim Dubela asked what the process was to replace curriculum,
i.e., EveryDay Math. It was explained that EveryDay Math is a program and what
the Curriculum Committee does is look at areas in the program that may need
supplementary support, rather than to replace the program. The NWEA test was
discussed and at the SAU Joint Chairs meeting it will be determined whether we
release the scores of all SAU schools together.
7.2
Sally Grimes
(Reading): Tom reported on the reading workshop that Sally Grimes presented and
how well the workshop was received.
7.3
Variety Show
(H.O.T. Schools): By all accounts, a great success.
8 . SUPERINTENDENT/ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT REPORT
8.1 SAU Update: The superintendent
updated the board on health conditions of Ray Raudonis and the fact that he
will not be returning to the Stratham Board. Also discussed the new school
board orientation and that the SAU will be looking for a date when we can
present the orientation to the board members that could not attend. The SAU
Joint Board meeting is Monday, May 16, 2005 with the tour of the new high
school preceding the meeting with the start time to be announced.
8.2 SPARK Research Study: Tammy
Martin, a Research Assistant at the University of NH and Chair of the New
Hampshire Healthy Communities, discussed with the board the high levels of
arsenic found in ground water in New Hampshire and Maine. Exeter and Stratham
have been identified as potential candidates for a five-year research study.
There has been a correlation determined between academic achievement of
students and arsenic. Tammy is requesting that people involved in the study
(which is completely voluntary) have use of the SMS. On a motion by Bob
O’Sullivan, seconded by Katherine McDonnell and unanimously voted with no
further discussion to make SMS available for the Sparks study.
9 . SMS ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM
9.1
School
activities: Mrs. Nichols covered a variety of activities that will take place
at SMS for the remainder of April and for the month of May.
9.2
Special
Education update: Mary Ellen Palmer gave an update on the number of referrals
and students that had been evaluated during the past month. Also discussed was
the summer reading program.
9.3 Enrollment update: Tom indicated that approximately 85 students are enrolled in kindergarten for the 2005-2006 school year.
10 . EMPLOYEES
10.1
Nomination of
Professional Staff: 10.2 was discussed before 10.1. On a motion by Luke
Breton, seconded by Katherine McDonnell and unanimously voted with no further
discussion to accept the 2005-2006 SMS Professional Staff Nominations as
presented (see Attachment #1).
10.2
Leave of
absence: On a motion by Bob O’Sullivan, seconded by Jim Dubela and
unanimously voted with no further discussion to approve the second year of a
leave of absence for Cathy Wahl.
11 . BUILDING AND GROUND
11.1 Preschool playground: Tom indicated that the new playground is up and ready to go and that the remainder of the old equipment will be removed by Bell & Flynn in the near future.
12 . PUPIL RELATED MATTERS: None at this time.
13 .
OLD BUSINESS:
Discussion about the After School Activities Program that begin in October
2005. It will be a tuition based program for children and be consumer driven.
14 . NEW BUSINESS: The superintendent mentioned that the SAU surveys for grades 3, 4 and 5 and all staff will be administered during the first part of May. The information should be compiled by September-October 2005.
15 . BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL
15.1
Financial
Update: Nathan Lunney will be present at the May 11, 2005 board meeting to review in detail the financial statements.
16 .
CLOSING
STATEMENTS: The superintendent mentioned that Audrey Eastman, Director of Food
Services for Exeter and the Cooperative School Districts is retiring at the
conclusion of this school year. He also noted that no recruitment will take
place of any existing personnel in the SAU and the advertising for this
position will be in the newspapers shortly.
17 . NEXT SCHOOL BOARD MEETING: 6:30PM, Wednesday, May 11, 2005
18 .
NON-PUBLIC
SESSION: On a motion by Bob O’Sullivan, seconded by Luke Breton and
unanimously board voted with no further discussion at 8:23 PM to go into
Non-Public Session under RSA 91-A:3 II.a. All board members voted affirmative
in the roll call vote.
19 . ADJOURNMENT: After coming out of Non-Public Session, on a motion by Bob O’Sullivan, seconded by Katherine McDonnell unanimously board voted with no discussion to adjourn at 8:30 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Arthur L. Hanson
Superintendent of Schools
STRATHAM SCHOOL BOARD
1. Date of non-public session: Wednesday, April 13, 2005
2. Statutory basis for non-public session -- RSA 91-A:3. Circle one: a
a. Dismissal, promotion, compensation, discipline, or investigation of any public employee; or
b. Hiring of any person as a public employee; or
c. Discussion of matters which would likely adversely affect the reputation of a person who is not a member of this board; or
d. Consideration of acquisition, sale, or lease of property which, if discussed in public, would likely benefit an adverse party; or
e. Consideration or negotiation of pending written claims or litigation.
2. Time non-public session commenced: 8:24 PM
3. Brief description of subject matter discussed: SMS’s contributions to two employees’ retirement benefit.
4. Decision made in non-public session: Motion by Bob O’Sullivan, seconded by Jim Dubela and unanimously voted with no further discussion to contribute up to $25,000.00 to the board’s portion of retirement contribution to Mary Ellen Palmer and Meg Driscoll.
Motion made by: Bob O’Sullivan
Seconded by: Jim Dubela
Vote -- In Favor: 5 (five)
Against: 0 (none)
5. Circle one: a
a. These minutes will not be sealed.
b. Only if 2/3 of members present determine that divulgence of these minutes would likely adversely affect the reputation of a person who is not a member of this board; or that divulgence of these minutes would render proposed action ineffective; a vote, was taken to seal these minutes.
6. Roll call vote to go out of non-public session:
Board Member Name Yes No Absent
Mark Poirier X
Jim Dubela X
Katherine McDonnell X
Luke Breton X
Bob O’Sullivan X
7. Adjournment of Non-Public Session: On a motion by Bob O’Sullivan, seconded by Katherine McDonnell and unanimously voted (5-0) to go out of Non-Public Session at 8:29 PM.
Arthur L. Hanson – Superintendent April 13, 2005
Member Taking Minutes Date
2005-2006 SMS PROFESSIONAL STAFF NOMINATIONS Attachment #1
1. Susan Adler 48. Carol Stringham
2. Diane Atherton 49. Kristen Sullivan
3. June August 50. Janis Tierney
4. Laura Batchelder 51 . Carol Tuveson
5. Tere Bowen-Irish 52. Cathy Wansart
6. Jessica Caldwell 53. Cathy Warner
7. Laurie Caporello 54. Lucinda Wigode
8. R. Melody (Phinney) Chartier
9. Tracey Christilles
10. Jennifer Clare
11. Deborah Craig
12. Judith Dunnan
13. Judith Eitler
14. Jacqueline Ellis
15. Debra Fennessy
16. J. Stephen Gagnon
17. Christine Gaudet
18. Charlene Gelineau
19. Connie Gilman
20. Juliet Blanchette-Goyette
21. Diane Griffith
22. Nancy Guilbert
23. Karen Hadfield
24. Gwen (Davis) Hale
25. Gary Harrison
26. Cathy Henson
27. Mary Ann Jenness
28. Katy Langhorst
29. Bruce Larson
30. Donna Lee
31. Anne Leonard
32. Cindy Lewald-Ratta
33. Judy Lewis
34. Cheryl MacLean-Smith
35. Donna Maher
36. Cynthia McPherson
37. Sue Ann Megan
38. Suzette Miller
39. Laurie Moreno
40. Linda Morrison
41. Laurie Noyes-Hand
42. Lynn Parsons
43. Karen Pinsonnault
44. Patricia Robinson
45. Patricia Schulz
46. Kerry (Donahue) Silvester
47. Frank Spencer