MINUTES
STRATHAM SCHOOL BOARD
Wednesday, June 14, 2006 6:30 PM
STRATHAM MEMORIAL SCHOOL
BOARD PRESENT: Bob OSullivan, John Hazekamp, Kate Adler, Luke Breton, Jim Dubela
ADMINISTRATION PRESENT: Tom Fosher, Meg Driscoll, Mary Ellen Palmer, Nathan Lunney, Skip Hanson
1. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by Chair OSullivan at 6:30PM.
2. NON-PUBLIC SESSION None.
3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
3.1 May 10, 2006 On a motion by Luke Breton, seconded by Jim Dubela, the board voted unanimously (5-0) with no further discussion to approve the minutes of the May 10, 2006 meeting.
3.2 May 24, 2006 On a motion by Jim Dubela, seconded by John Hazekamp, the board voted unanimously (5-0) with no further discussion to approve the minutes of the March 24, 2006 meeting.
4. VISITORS None.
5. GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE None.
6. BOARD REPORTS / POLICY
6.1 Capital Improvement update None.
6.2 Legislative update Nathan reviewed HB1362 and HB76 as they will impact video and audio recording on buses and the funding of charter schools respectively.
6.3 Space Needs update John Hazekamp offered a brief update on his continued efforts to collect and synthesize data. Nathan provided John with NESDEC enrollment projection data and Principal Fosher provided building use information from a previous board meeting.
6.4 Joint Chairs meeting None.
6.5 Policy update Policies for 2nd Reading and Adoption
6.5.1 JLCF Wellness, Nutrition and Physical Activity Policy Luke Breton summarized the discussion and revisions as a result of the recent SAU Policy Committee meeting. On a motion by Luke Breton, seconded by John Hazekamp, the board voted unanimously (5-0) with no further discussion to adopt the policy.
6.5.2 EEAJ Video and Audio Recording on School Buses Nathan reviewed briefly this policy. On a motion by John Hazekamp, seconded by Luke Breton, the board voted unanimously (5-0) with no further discussion to adopt the policy.
6.5.3 Policy Posting to the Web Luke updated the board that our recent policy progress has not been making its way to the SAU website for SMS. We are aware now of the problem and will work in the upcoming weeks to ensure that approved policies do get cleaned up and posted to the web.
Superintendent Hanson joined the meeting at 6:40PM to participate in the non-public evaluation of Principal Fosher.
7. CURRICULUM
7.1 Adequate Yearly Progress Principal Fosher and Mary Ellen Palmer updated the board on Adequate Yearly Progress at SMS. There has been recent communication from the NH Dept of Education suggesting that the DOE will suspend appeals of AYP designation pending resolution of a change in measurement parameters acceptable to the US DOE. They reported that there does not appear to be grounds otherwise for an appeal of the designation of SMS to that list. There was measurable discussion with the board.
8. SUPERINTENDENT / ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT REPORT
8.1 SAU Update Nathan asked the board to identify a member to represent Stratham on the SAU Superintendent Evaluation Committee for the coming year. John Hazekamp was appointed to serve in that role. Nathan asked and was reminded that Luke Breton is the Stratham representative to the SAU Transportation committee.
8.2 Evaluation of Principal The chair reminded the board and public that the evaluation will be completed tonight in non-public session at the end of the meeting.
9. SMS ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM
9.1 School Activities Tom shared information about a series of upcoming activities at SMS.
Tomorrow night, June 15th at 6:30 is the 5th Grade Celebration in the cafeteria
Friday, June 16th at 2:30 is the 5th Grade Procession to end their SMS experience
Monday, June 19th will be filled with staff training and proactive work for next year
Field Day was cancelled last week for the first time in memory but there are a number of
activities happening to replace that experience
9.2 Special Education Meg and Mary Ellen reviewed the report that was included in the packet. They noted that the preschool population that began in August at 11 students has nearly doubled to 21 students. We have screened around 30 preschool students this year which is very significant. Meg reminded the board that the preschool population really is breaching the capacity of the SMS preschool program. Skip described the continued initiative at the SAU level to establish a regional developmental preschool to serve the needs of the smaller SAU 16 elementary districts as well as overflow needs of Exeter and Stratham.
10. EMPLOYEES
10.1 Nominations Nathan offered two nominations to the board to fill classroom teaching positions: Jennifer Hackett for Grade 1 and Rebecca Audet for Grade 3. On a motion by Kate Adler, seconded by Jim Dubela, the board voted unanimously (5-0) to approve the nominations as presented.
11. BUILDING AND GROUNDS
11.1 Energy Conservation Analysis Nathan brought the board up to date on the discussion and research surrounding the proposal by Siemens. We have completed a competitive bid process for the bulb and ballast replacement project which was only a portion of the original Siemens plan but is that portion which secures the most substantial rebate from Unitil. Siemens has also provided, at our urging, an alternative proposal to provide for that lighting upgrade to include the rough-up of those elements that are most cost effective if we complete them now while we are doing the bulb/ballast work. The final recommendation is this third alternative option from Siemens. The cost will be $106,970 less about $40,000 in rebate. Nathan recommended that the board consider this as a $70,000 encumbrance at year end.
11.2 Playground Meg updated the board on the analysis of the playground with respect to accessibility. Our playground is compliant but there were suggestions both for adding some apparatus to be most appropriate for all students and for upgrading pathways for improved access. The proposed encumbrance is $3,500.
11.3 Modular Classroom Nathan updated the board on the progress with the modular classroom effort. He has secured modular quotations and is clarifying additional setup costs. Nathan asked the board for authority to award a contract within policy and budget constraints in order to have the facility in place and available in advance of the start of school. On a motion by Luke Breton, seconded by Kate Adler, the board voted unanimously (5-0) to grant Nathan that authority.
12. PUPIL RELATED MATTERS None.
13. OLD BUSINESS None.
14. NEW BUSINESS
14.1 Authority to Hire On a motion by Jim Dubela, seconded by Luke Breton, the board voted unanimously (5-0) to grant Nathan the authority to hire and approve expenditures over the summer.
14.2 Summer Use of Outdoor Facilities Principal Fosher asked the board how it felt about summer use of the fields by Stratham and/or SAU 16 student programs. The instance of note is an Ultimate Frisbee program being established for SAU 16 area students. Because of liability concerns and potential scheduling conflicts with the Stratham Rec, the board directed Tom to make his own best judgment in such matters.
14.3 Conference Request A conference request of greater than $1,000 has been received from a member of faculty. Tom alerted the board that this $1,400 request is from a speech pathologist to attend their professional association conference in Florida. The board approved that request.
15. BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL
15.1 GASB 34 Nathan distributed the audited financial statements for Stratham School District for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2004. This is the final report of the first year that Stratham has complied fully with the standards of GASB Statement 34. The report is presented tonight to provide the board an opportunity to review the results of that compliance effort. The audited statements for FY 2004-05 will be available this fall and compliance is continuing through FY 2005-06 and forward.
15.2 End of year encumbrances Nathan reported to the board that the projected fund balance will be approximately $130,000. He additionally noted that there will be approximately $50,000 of unanticipated revenues that will be added to the fund balance to reduce next year taxes. Nathan reviewed, with help from Tom, Meg, and Mary Ellen, the proposed encumbrances previously discussed and a number of new items. On a motion by Luke Breton, seconded by John Hazekamp, the board voted unanimously (5-0) to encumber up to $120,000 from the fund balance for the following purposes: 1) Siemens energy project; 2) roof inspection/repairs; 3) domestic hot water piping upgrade; 4) outlets in classrooms; 5) Special Ed needs (classroom a/c unit, refrigerator, floor chair, acoustical ceiling tiles, hearing aid equipment, playground equipment, 504 student accommodation equipment); 6) heating fuel.
16. CLOSING STATEMENTS None.
17. NON-PUBLIC SESSION On a motion by Luke Breton, second by Kate Adler, the board unanimously voted through a roll call vote to enter non-public session at 8:48 PM under Chapter 91-A:3, II (a).
18. NEXT SCHOOL BOARD MEETING Wednesday, August 9, 2006 at 6:30PM
19. ADJOURNMENT On a motion by John Hazekamp, seconded by Luke Breton, the board voted unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 9:53 PM.
Respectfully submitted:
Nathan Lunney, Assistant Business Administrator