MINUTES
STRATHAM SCHOOL BOARD
Wednesday, November 8, 2006 6:00 PM
STRATHAM MEMORIAL SCHOOL
BOARD PRESENT: Bob OSullivan, Luke Breton, John Hazekamp, Jim Dubela
ADMINISTRATION PRESENT: Tom Fosher, Margaret Driscoll, Nathan Lunney, Skip Hanson
1. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by Chair OSullivan at 6:02PM.
2. NON-PUBLIC SESSION On a motion by Luke Breton, seconded by Jim Dubela, the board unanimously voted through a roll call vote to enter non-public session at 6:03 PM under Chapter 91-A:3, II (c & d).
John Hazekamp joined the non-public session at 6:20 PM. The board returned to public session at 6:40 PM.
3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
3.1 On a motion by Luke Breton, seconded by John Hazekamp, the board voted unanimously with no further discussion to approve the public minutes of the October 11, 2006 meeting.
3.2 On a motion by Luke Breton, seconded by Jim Dubela, the board voted unanimously with no further discussion to approve the non-public minutes of the October 11, 2006 meeting.
4. VISITORS Beth Petit approached the board and asked to enter non-public session to discuss a matter.
5. NON-PUBLIC SESSION On a motion by Luke Breton, seconded by Jim Dubela, the board unanimously voted through a roll call vote to enter non-public session at 6:43 PM under Chapter 91-A:3, II (c).
The board returned to public session at 7:19 PM. Superintendent Hanson left the meeting.
6. GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE Principal Fosher is in receipt of a letter concerning drop off time at SMS.
7. BOARD REPORTS / POLICY
7.1 Capital Improvement update Bob updated the board that Bob McAlpine is working to collect budget figures to address some capital needs in the upcoming budget cycle.
7.2 Legislative update No report.
7.3 Space Needs update John shared the revised draft of the Space Needs brochure. The staff and board will forward additional revision suggestions to John. The board reviewed again the revised letter to the Planning Board. These documents will be sent together to that board. The SAU will take responsibility for reproduction of the brochure (initial 1000 copies) for distribution to families through the school and within the community.
7.4 Joint Chairs meeting Nathan shared that a significant topic of conversation at the last Joint Chairs meeting was the move of the SAU to the old high school building. Nathan shared the details.
7.5 Policy update
7.5.1 Policies for Consideration
7.5.1.1 EHB-R Records Retention Schedule Tabled for additional review.
7.5.1.2 IHBAB Special Education Evaluations On a motion by Luke Breton, seconded by John Hazekamp, the board voted unanimously after discussion to adopt the policy as amended to strike the last line of policy and correct Law References.
7.5.1.3 IKA Grading System On a motion by Luke Breton, seconded by John Hazekamp, the board voted unanimously after discussion to adopt the policy.
7.5.1.4 IKE Promotion and Retention of Students On a motion by Luke Breton, seconded by Jim Dubela, the board voted unanimously after discussion to adopt the policy.
7.5.1.5 JFABD Admission of Homeless Students On a motion by Luke Breton, seconded by John Hazekamp, the board voted unanimously after discussion to adopt the policy.
7.5.1.6 JFABD-R Residency: Homeless Children and Youth Tabled for additional review.
7.5.1.7 JJF Student Activities Fund Management Tabled for additional review.
8. CURRICULUM
8.1 Wellness Tom shared with the board that the Wellness Policy is being implemented with success at SMS. He reported on the changes that were begun at SMS at the start of the last school year and the continued steps that have been taken into this school year. It has been a positive initiative here at SMS.
9. SUPERINTENDENT / ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT REPORT
9.1 SAU Update
9.1.1 Arsenic Study Nathan reported that the arsenic project is rising to the whole-SAU level for ongoing discussion. The concerns expressed by the SMS administration are being echoed by other districts in the SAU. Nathan expects that the Superintendent will be working with all SAU 16 districts to identify common concerns and seek any possible resolution with the project team. He expects to report back to the board about the possibility of accommodating the survey at SMS.
9.1.2 Homeless Students Nathan update the board about the impact of homeless students on SMS. Stratham Community Church is home to the Seacoast Interfaith Hospitality Network. This group hosts homeless families in support of their efforts to reestablish. The unforeseen impact to SMS is that if families choose to keep their students at their original school, that district and the host district where they are living temporarily must split the costs for transportation. There is presently a student attending Bow Elementary that is living homeless here in Stratham. Those costs for transportation can be exorbitant. The board asked Nathan to invite the Network to join them for a future meeting to explore these unpredictable costs and the impact of the Network on the SMS budget.
10. SMS ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM
10.1 Professional Employees Evaluation Packet Tom offered the board a copy of the most recent SMS Professional Employee Development and Evaluation Packet. This is the prevailing document guiding our annual evaluation. He suggested that this document will help serve as a baseline for some of the conversation in upcoming negotiations.
10.2 School Activities Tom shared news of SMS activities with the board. Nurse Judy will be sharing more information about the Wellness Policy at SMS to the PTO next Tuesday. Tufts University is back on Monday Nov. 13th to work further on literacy. Book Fair will be back after Thanksgiving. Movie night last Friday night brought around 150 kids were in attendance more coming up. Geography Bee is Dec. 13th.
10.3 Special Education No report.
11. EMPLOYEES None.
12. BUILDING AND GROUNDS
12.1 Security Tom reported on security measures taken recently. Updates have been issued about evacuation procedures. There has been continued discussion of cameras, buzzer systems, etc. for regular entrance control to the school. The board discussed possibilities with Tom. Tom also updated the board on a recent accident in the SMS parking lot. This situation was the referenced in the correspondence mentioned previously in the meeting. He reviewed steps that are being considered and taken to help improve safety in the lots and help manage traffic flows.
13. PUPIL RELATED MATTERS
13.1 Enrollment The board was reminded that the enrollment report was included this month in the board packet.
13.2 Cross Country Tom also reminded the board that SMS had a very successful cross country season.
14. OLD BUSINESS
14.1 Budget Timeline Nathan was reminded to update the Budget Timeline to include the dates for Candidate Filing for School Board elections.
14.2 Superintendent Evaluation Committee John reported on the first meeting of this committee.
15. NEW BUSINESS
15.1 SAU Transportation Committee Jim reported on the status of the SAU request for proposal for student bussing for a new multi-year contract. Nathan and the board discussed some of the details from the anticipated new contract.
16. BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL
16.1 2006-07 Budget Timeline for Annual Meeting 2007 The board reviewed and revised the timeline of meetings moving forward. A new timeline will be provided at the upcoming budget workshop.
16.2 Budget Binder Tom walked the board through the materials currently included in the new budget binder.
17. CLOSING STATEMENTS None.
18. NON-PUBLIC SESSION On a motion by Luke Breton, seconded by Jim Dubela, the board unanimously voted through a roll call vote to enter non-public session at 9:36 PM under Chapter 91-A:3, II (a).
The board returned to public session at 9:54 PM.
19. NEXT SCHOOL BOARD MEETING: Budget Session Thursday, November 16, 2006 at 6:00PM
Budget Session Wednesday, December 6, 2006 at 5:00PM
Regular Board Meeting Wed., December 6, 2006 at 6:30PM
20. ADJOURNMENT On a motion by Luke Breton, seconded by Jim Dubela, the board voted unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 10:04 PM.
Respectfully submitted:
Nathan Lunney, CFO