MINUTES

STRATHAM SCHOOL BOARD

Monday, August 7, 2006 – 6:30 PM

STRATHAM MEMORIAL SCHOOL

 

 

BOARD PRESENT:  Bob O’Sullivan, John Hazekamp, Luke Breton, Jim Dubela

 

ADMINISTRATION PRESENT:  Tom Fosher, Nathan Lunney

 

 

1.       CALL TO ORDER – The meeting was called to order by Chair O’Sullivan at 6:38PM.

 

2.       NON-PUBLIC SESSION – None.

 

3.       APPROVAL OF MINUTES – On a motion by John Hazekamp, seconded by Luke Breton, the board voted unanimously (3-0) with no further discussion to approve the public and non-public minutes of the June 14, 2006 meeting.

 

4.       VISITORS – None.

 

5.       GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE – Bob O’Sullivan shared reports published by the NHSBA for other board members to review and consider.  There was discussion about the legislative updates and salary analysis completed by NHSBA in those reports.

 

6.       BUILDING AND GROUNDS

6.1      Modular Classroom Project

6.1.1     Update – Nathan took the board members out to the side of the building and reviewed verbally and visually the progress and plan for the modular classroom project.

6.1.2     Presentation to Planning Board – The board is scheduled to present to the Stratham Planning Board on Wednesday night, August 16th.  Nathan was asked to post a board meeting for that night in case there are more than two board members in attendance.  Nathan, Tom, Bob, and John are expected to participate in the presentation that night.  Beals Associates will support the effort that evening.

6.2      Update on Summer Projects – Nathan updated the

 

7.       BOARD REPORTS / POLICY

7.1      Capital Improvement update – There was discussion about potential upgrades to the fire suppression system in the building.

7.2      Legislative update – None.

7.3      Space Needs update – Principal Fosher updated the board that a new state mandate has directed that English Language Learning must have its own dedicated space.  This created an additional space needs challenge that is being accommodated for next year.

7.4      Joint Chairs meeting – None.

7.5      Policy update – Luke reported that he will be attending a policy workshop in Concord on August 24th presented by the NHSBA.  He updated the board that SMS policies are still not updated on the website, but shared that the project is continuing and the web should be updated this month.  The board also discussed that we should refrain from adopting a policy on the same night we amend it.  In the future we will wait for a final amended version before voting final adoption.

 

8.       CURRICULUM

8.1      Literacy – Principal Fosher updated the board on summer efforts supported by Title II federal funds to advance our professional development in literacy.

 

9.       SUPERINTENDENT / ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT REPORT

9.1      SAU Update – Nathan reported on the progress in opening the new Exeter High School.  It has been a busy summer especially in dealing with the impact of the recent hailstorm on the SAU 16 schools.

 

10.    SMS ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM

10.1   Opening of School – The board discussed the conflicts surrounding the first day of the year, August 24th.  The SAU has scheduled a system-wide meeting that morning at the new EHS to review, among other things, harassment training.  The board is eager to have staff attend, but the first day is contractually obligated to a meeting between board and staff as well as a dedicated time for the STA.  Tom reminded the board that we have also schedule Sitton Spelling training in support of our literacy goals.  He offered a plan to attempt to provide a schedule that provides for all commitments.  The board reviewed that plan which calls for the board to meet with the staff on Friday, August 25th.  Bob will be unavailable that day, so the board reviewed the topics for discussion that day and Luke will present in his place.  Tom reminded the board that there will be no school on Monday, August 28th and students start on Tuesday, August 29th.

10.2   School Goals – Tom shared with the board the goals for SMS for this new school year.  He briefly reviewed the following six goals:

1)       To improve student performance in the areas of Reading, Writing, and Literacy;

2)       To develop a more effective Schoolwide Enrichment Model with an emphasis on Type II/III activities;

3)       To evaluate the way in which we meet the needs of all children in our classrooms;

4)       To infuse technology into the curriculum in order to enhance student performance;

5)       To encourage teachers to maintain flexibility in the development of the master schedule over the course of the school year;

6)       To provide a positive school environment in which all members demonstrate respect for all and age-appropriate social skills.

10.3   Enrollment – Tom handed out a summary of student enrollment dated today.  The board reviewed the

 

11.    EMPLOYEES

11.1   Nominations – Nathan offered the nomination of Mary Lou O’Connor to the board to fill the new computer educator teaching position.  On a motion by John Hazekamp, seconded by Luke Breton, the board voted unanimously (3-0) to approve the nomination as presented.

 

12.    PUPIL RELATED MATTERS – None.

 

13.    OLD BUSINESS – None.

 

14.    NEW BUSINESS

14.1   Board Goals – The board reviewed its goals from last year.  One of the continuing board goals has been to measure the incremental effectiveness of the investment in extended day kindergarten.  The challenge of assessing data has been complicated by major changes in the assessment tools available.  The program has been well received but there does not seem to be the means to assess this program quantitatively.  The board discussed closing that as a goal.  Another board goal was the establishment of a series of after-school programs targeted at serving needs and wants in the community.  Tom reported that we had a very successful launch of some well subscribed programs.  It will continue to grow as an endeavor.  The board discussed changing the goal to fostering continued the growth of after-school programming.  Another goal was the exploration and accommodation of the new statewide minimum standards.  The board discussed maintaining that as a goal.  Another goal was to continue to review growth of Stratham with respect to space needs.  This is certainly a continuing priority of the board.  The final goal from last year was the consideration of NCLB for its impact on Stratham.  Our focus on AYP leads that as an important goal.

 

Based upon the conversation, the board offered for consideration these goals for the 2006-07 year:

1)       Continue to review growth in Stratham with respect to space needs at SMS;

2)       Address the impact of No Child Left Behind and Adequate Yearly Progress on SMS;

3)       Continue to foster and support tuition-based after-school programming at SMS;

4)       Investigate and accommodate the new DOE minimum standards at SMS;

5)       Explore and implement cost-saving efforts as appropriate to restrain budget growth at SMS.

 

15.    BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL

15.1   FY 2004-05 Audited Financial Statements – Nathan shared the final audit statements for FY 2004-05 and invited the board to review and return any questions at future meetings.

15.2   Update on FY 2005-06 End-of-Year – Nathan updated the board that the final fund balance is expected (although still unaudited) to be approximately $150,000 driven by unanticipated revenues of about $100k and budget surplus of about $50k.  More information will be shared following the audit.

 

16.    CLOSING STATEMENTS – None.

 

17.    NEXT SCHOOL BOARD MEETING – Planning Board, Wednesday, August 16, 2006 at 6:00PM; SMS Opening, Friday, August 25, 2006 at 8:30AM, Board Meeting, Wednesday, September 13, 2006 at 6:30PM.

 

18.    ADJOURNMENT – On a motion by John Hazekamp, seconded by Luke Breton, the board voted unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 9:48 PM.

 

Respectfully submitted, 

Nathan Lunney, CFO