APPROVED 1-10-07

MINUTES

STRATHAM SCHOOL BOARD

Saturday, December 16, 2006 – 9:30 AM

STRATHAM MEMORIAL SCHOOL

 

 

BOARD PRESENT:  Bob O’Sullivan, Luke Breton, Kate Adler, John Hazekamp

 

ADMINISTRATION PRESENT:  Tom Fosher, Steve Gagnon, Margaret Driscoll, Mary Ellen Palmer, Nathan Lunney

 

 

1.       CALL TO ORDER – The meeting was called to order by Chair O’Sullivan at 9:39AM.

 

2.       VISITORS – Mr. O’Sullivan recognized Mary Jo Spencer to speak to the board.  (Earlier this week Mrs. Spencer resigned her position as Technology Coordinator at SMS and subsequently asked to rescind that resignation.)  Mrs. Spencer presented a written statement to the board and offered comments explaining her perspective on the matter of her resignation.  Comment and anecdotes in support of Mrs. Spencer’s request were shared by: Donna Maher, SMS teacher; Philip Maher, Stratham citizen; Janice Tierney, SMS teacher; Suzette Miller, SMS teacher; Cathy Wansart, SMS teacher; Donna Lee, SMS teacher; Tricia Maher, Stratham citizen; Peggy Brooks, SMS paraprofessional.

 

3.       NON-PUBLIC SESSION – On a motion by John Hazekamp, seconded by Kate Adler, the board unanimously voted through a roll call vote to enter non-public session at 10:01 AM under Chapter 91-A:3, II (a & c).

 

The board returned to public session at 10:47 AM.

 

4.       EMPLOYEES

4.1      Resignation – The board announced that they have accepted the resignation of Mary Jo Spencer effective January 8, 2007.

 

5.       NEW BUSINESS

5.1      Board Member Resignation – The board received a letter of resignation effective December 31, 2006 from board member Kate Adler.  Her letter reflects competing time commitments that make it difficult for her to serve the board as she would prefer.  The board discussed that the vacancy will, as a result, be open for election as a two-year position this March.

 

On a motion by John Hazekamp , seconded by Luke Breton, the board unanimously voted to appoint Katherine McDonnell to fill the vacancy effective January 1, 2007.

 

5.2      Visioning – John Hazekamp asked the board about considering a visioning effort to consider a variety of matters related to schooling of Stratham students into the future.  He will clarify and report to the board with additional information for this discussion.

 

6.       BUDGET DEVELOPMENT – Nathan presented to the board a revised proposed budget that reflected the impact of a 4.1% increase in staffing as a result of the November 2006 CPI release which showed a 2.1% increase.

 

On a motion by John Hazekamp, seconded by Luke Breton, the board unanimously voted to reduce the budget to reflect a $50,000 budget on line 11-2225-110.

 

The board was supportive of the revised budget as the document to take forward to the FAC.

 

7.       NEXT SCHOOL BOARD MEETING:         The board asked Nathan to post the January 3, 2007 meeting with Financial Advisory Committee as a full board meeting in case members want to attend.

Financial Advisory Committee Meeting – Wed., January 3, 2007 at 6:30PM

Regular Board Meeting – Wed., January 10, 2007 at 6:30PM

 

8.       ADJOURNMENT – On a motion by Luke Breton, seconded by John Hazekamp, the board voted unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 11:24 AM.

 

Respectfully submitted:

 

Nathan Lunney, CFO