MINUTES

STRATHAM SCHOOL BOARD

Monday, August 15, 2005

STRATHAM MEMORIAL SCHOOL

 

BOARD PRESENT:  Mark Poirier, Katherine McDonnell, Bob O’Sullivan, Luke Breton, Jim Dubela

 

ADMINISTRATION PRESENT:  Tom Fosher, Meg Driscoll, Mary Ellen Palmer, Nathan Lunney

 

 

1.       CALL TO ORDER – The meeting was called to order by Chair Poirier at 6:35PM

 

2.       NON-PUBLIC SESSION – may be called at any time in accordance with RSA Chapter 91-A:3, II (a, b, c, d, e) – Deferred until the end of the meeting.

 

3.       APPROVAL OF MINUTES – None

 

4.       VISITORS – Visitors present chose not to speak.

 

5.       GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE – None

 

6.       BOARD REPORTS / POLICY

6.1      Legislative update – Katherine McDonnell asked Nathan to update the Board on state education funding.  Nathan distributed a spreadsheet detailing the Educational Equity Grants which replace Adequate Education Grants in the new law.  He described the impact across SAU 16 including the loss of $214,832 for the Town of Stratham (Elem - $99,688 / Coop - $115,144).

 

6.2      Joint Chairs meeting – There has not been a meeting on which to report.  The Stratham Board restated its agreement to a September 24th Joint Board Retreat under consideration.  Nathan handed out information on the NH Right-to-Know Law that was requested at the most recent Joint Board meeting.

 

6.3      Policy Update

6.3.1    JFAB Admission/Attendance of Non-Resident Students – Nathan explained that this was not really a policy matter, rather an update that two outstanding non-resident tuition matters remain from last school year.  Two families, both now resident in Stratham, were inadvertently not invoiced for tuition prior to occupancy.  The Board directed Nathan to have the invoices sent.

 

7.       CURRICULUM

7.1      August 25th – Tom Fosher described the schedule for the inservice day.  The Board is invited to join the staff that morning for the opening day program, a time to meet and greet the teachers, followed by a noon cookout.

 

8.       SUPERINTENDENT / ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT REPORT

8.1      SAU Update – Nathan reported that the High School project continues on schedule and on budget.  Board members may join Walter Pierce for regular tours on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 7:30AM.  Please call the SAU to schedule.  The Cooperative District has hired a new Food Service Director.  Jeanne Pierce begins on July 15th.  The Seacoast Charter School will continue at Stratham Community Church.  The tuition impact for 5 students is expected to be $17,500.  The SAU reports there was a strong applicant pool this year, especially in math and science.  Negotiations continue with First Student on a sixth extension year for the bus contract.  New routes have been posted for this year.  Emily Quirk of the Exeter News-Letter announced that a bus routes supplement would be published on August 23rd.

 

8.2      2005-2006 Goals

8.2.1    SAU Goals – Goals will be presented and discussed at the September SAU Joint Board meeting.

 

8.2.2    Board Goals – The Board reviewed continuing and new goals.  The Board agreed to the following goals for this year:  1) Continue to review growth of Stratham with respect to space needs at SMS; 2) Maintain an understanding of the No Child Left Behind law; 3) Compile and employ data in assessment of the Extended Day Kindergarten program; 4) Develop a tuition-based after-school program focused on academic areas; and 5) Investigate the new state DOE Minimum Standards.  It was noted with respect to Goal #1 that Katherine will attend Planning Board.

 

8.2.3    School Goals – Tom reviewed the following SMS Goals for the year:  1) Professional staff will establish online or technology presence; 2) Maintain focus on Literacy with emphasis on Writing and Reading; 3) Foster collegiality amongst all staff; and 4) Finalize Progress Reports formatting.

 

9.       SMS ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM

9.1      School Activities – Tom noted a number of events upcoming at SMS.  New student/parent orientation on August 23rd at 10:00 AM.  The bullying program will begin around the 1st of October.  The NECAP testing will begin around the 8th of October.  NWEA testing will happen in the Spring of 2006.  Curriculum Night is scheduled for September 22nd.

 

9.2      Opening of School – Tom reported that there have been 30 newly enrolled students since the closing of school.  There was discussion about the number of students in each grade and the average class sizes as a result of this influx of students.

 

10.    EMPLOYEES – Tom reviewed the successes of summer interviewing and hiring.  Many well known staff were hired to fill vacancies.

 

11.    BUILDING AND GROUNDS

11.1   Summer Maintenance – Tom reported that the three year carpet project is finished, including the library.  More visitor parking has been earmarked to assist this year.  And all parent pick-up is being moved to the side of the building for safer and more efficient traffic flow.

 

12.    PUPIL RELATED MATTERS – SMS is still waiting on Charter School student notifications to identify for sure those students who are transferring.  Meg Driscoll and Mary Ellen Palmer commented on the reauthorization of IDEA.  The new law is effective July 1, 2005 but details are still being clarified.  Currently there is a comment period, after which the Federal Register should publish revised regulations based upon the law by January 1, 2006.  Following that, it should take New Hampshire another six months to revise state regulations.

 

13.    OLD BUSINESS

13.1   Sealed Minutes – Nathan is working on identifying old minutes that should be unsealed.  Luke Breton expressed his conviction that a policy of annual review should be adopted to avoid this process in the future.  It is expected that the SAU Policy Committee will take action this year on this matter.

 

14.    NEW BUSINESS – None

 

15.    BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL

15.1   GASB 34 – Nathan reported that the district did achieve compliance with GASB 34 for the FY 2003-04.  The auditor is still putting finishing touches on the audited financial statements.  When they are available, Nathan will distribute to the Board.

 

15.2   Year End Financials – Nathan shared unaudited year end financial information.  The district finished the year with a fund balance of about $94,000.  Approximately $34k of that was due to unanticipated revenues and $60k came from unexpended appropriations.

 

16.    CLOSING STATEMENTS – None

 

On a motion by Luke Breton, second by Bob O’Sullivan, the board unanimously voted through a roll call vote to enter non-public session at 8:29 PM under Chapter 91-A:3, II (e).

17.    NEXT SCHOOL BOARD MEETING:         6:30PM, Wednesday, October 12, 2005

 

18.    ADJOURNMENT - On a motion by Katherine McDonnell, second by Luke Breton the board voted unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 8:40 PM.