STRATHAM SCHOOL BOARD
Wednesday, May 11, 2005, 6:30PM
STRATHAM MEMORIAL SCHOOL
PRESENT: Mark Poirier, Katherine McDonnell, Luke Breton and Jim Dubela
ABSENT: Bob O’Sullivan
ADMINISTRATION: Arthur L. Hanson, Tom Fosher, Joey Nichol, Mary Ellen Palmer, Nathan Lunney and Meg Driscoll
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: The chair announced there would be a non-public at the end of the meeting.
3 . APPROVAL OF MINUTES
3.1 April 13, 2005: Motion by Luke Breton, seconded by Jim Dubela and unanimously voted with no further discussion to approve the minutes of April 13, 2005.
4 . VISITORS: Donna Maher and Kristen Sullivan issued invitations for the board to attend their Leslie College Masters Degree celebration. The board offered their congratulations for their accomplishments.
5 . GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE: Tom received a letter thanking SMS for their contribution to “National Youth Service Day”.
6 . BOARD REPORTS/ POLICY
6.1 Legislative update: Tom discussed that the legislature did not make kindergarten mandatory.
6.2 Joint Chairs meeting: Superintendent mentioned that there will be a bus tour of the new high school on Monday, May 16th at 5:30 PM before the SAU Joint Board meeting. He also noted that the SAU Compensation has met on two different occasions.
6.3 Second reading of Policies: IHAE, EBCA, EBCA-R, JICK-R, JLCB-R, JLF, and JRA. Luke Breton noted several typos in the proposed policies and after this made a motion that the policies move to the final reading at the next board meeting with the suggested changes, seconded by Katherine McDonnell and unanimously board voted with no further discussion. Luke Breton will take over Katherine’s position on the SAU Policy Committee and it was noted that all policies will be placed electronically on the SAU Website and board members will not received approved policy books for that reason.
7 . CURRICULUM
7.1 NWEA update: Tom and Mark discussed the NWEA and Tom gave an explanation of the DesCartes Framework
7.2 Reading information: Tom also updated the board on the follow-up of the Sally Grimes Reading Workshop and discussed how the administration and staff will continue with some of her recommendations, by looking at various types of assessments and building off other aspects of the workshop. He felt that it was too expensive to continue to have her consult with SMS.
7.3 Kindergarten Orientation: Tom referenced that they had well over 100 parents attending the orientation and the school is planning for approximately 100 kindergarten students for next year.
7.4 Staff/Student surveys (School portfolio): Tom and Skip mentioned that the surveys have been issued to parents and the returns are beginning to come in and the staff and students will be taking the survey shortly. It was mentioned that this is an initiative as part of our SAU School Portfolio.
8 . SUPERINTENDENT/ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT REPORT
8.1 SAU Update: Superintendent noted that we are in the process of hiring of new staff and the pool of candidates continues to be excellent. The high school is closely monitoring 30-35 students who are on the “bubble” for graduation.
8.2 Title I Allocation of funds: Motion by Katherine McDonnell, seconded by Jim Dubela and unanimously board voted with no further discussion to approve $18,870.99 for Stratham’s 2005-2006 Title I Allocation.
9 . SMS ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM
9.1 School activities: Joey covered a variety of school activities that will take place at SMS for the remainder of the school year. She noted the incredible work that is done by the volunteers.
9.2 Paraprofessional evaluations: Tom explained that the evaluations of the paraprofessional0s are on-going and that evaluation rubric is consistent across the SAU. Luke Breton queried as to the “highly qualified” status of the paraprofessionals and it was mentioned they are working diligently to this end.
9.3 After school programming: Tom discussed some of the after school programming activities that will begin next fall after the October assessments.
9.4 Encumbrances: Tom said he did not have a formal list of encumbrances to issue and would do so at the June meeting. Some of the items he mentioned were the upgrade of the sound system, cafeteria tables, a new kiln in the art room, professional development for summer work, new clocks, charter school tuition of $22,000 for the Seacoast Charter School and rehabbing some smaller rooms for SPED instruction.
9.5 Special Education update: Two referrals, four evaluations and 12% of students at SMS are identified SPED and this percentage equals the state and national percentages.
9.6 Enrollment update: 652 students with four additional students to enroll before the end of the school year.
10 . EMPLOYEES: Ms Robinson was identified as a “Teacher of the Year” through the “Scholars Program” and on a motion by Luke Breton, seconded by Jim Dubela the board unanimously voted to cover her round trip air fare to Washington DC for the ceremony.
11 . BUILDING AND GROUNDS
11.1 Curbing: Eighty five percent of the new curbing is complete and everyone is in agreement that it looks terrific.
11.2 Broken windows: Two windows were broken and Tom believes both to be accidents.
11.3 Office carpeting: Carpeted the small offices in the administration area and the next room to be carpeted will be the library. Tom also reported on a small brush fire that took place on Friday, May 6th after school.
12 . PUPIL RELATED MATTERS: No report.
13 . OLD BUSINESS: No report.
14 . NEW BUSINESS: No report.
15 . BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL: This item was moved to first on the agenda. Nathan gave a complete overview of the projected fund equity and financial summaries. Nathan gave an update of the Governor’s Funding Plan and what the loss of funding would be to Stratham and other SAU 16 towns. He discussed how this would not effect the 2005-2006 budget, as the budget as been approved by the voters, but it would effect the tax rate. He also requested that the board encumber monies to assist with the Government Accounting Standards Board Audit. Nathan guaranteed that the audit would be done by June 30, 2005 and the board requested he further check out the consultant services of MRI.
16 . CLOSING STATEMENTS: No report.
17 . NEXT SCHOOL BOARD MEETING: 6:30PM, Wednesday, June 8, 2005
Non-Public: On a motion by Katherine McDonnell, seconded by Luke Breton and unanimously voted by roll call to enter into non-public session at 8:35 PM under RSA 91-A:3 II.(a).
18 . ADJOURNMENT: On a motion by Luke Breton, seconded by Katherine McDonnell, the board unanimously voted to adjourn at 9:01 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Arthur L. Hanson
Superintendent
STRATHAM SCHOOL BOARD
1. Date of non-public session: Wednesday, May 11, 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: 8:35 PM
3. Brief description of subject matter discussed: Administrator’s compensation.
4. Decision made in non-public session: Motion by Luke Breton, seconded by Jim Dubela and unanimously voted with no further discussion to approve the contracts as presented for Mary Ellen Palmer and Meg Driscoll.
Motion made by: Luke Breton
Seconded by: Jim Dubela
Vote -- In Favor: 4(four)
Against: 0 (none)
Decision made in non-public session: Motion by Katherine McDonnell, seconded by Luke Breton and unanimously voted with no further discussion to approve the contract as presented for Tom Fosher.
Motion made by: Katherine McDonnell
Seconded by: Luke Breton
Vote -- In Favor: 4(four)
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 Jim Dubela, seconded by Katherine McDonnell and unanimously voted (4-0) to go out of Non-Public Session at 9:00 PM.
Arthur L. Hanson – Superintendent May 11, 2005
Member Taking Minutes Date