APPROVED 2-7-07
Stratham School Board Meeting
Wednesday January 10, 2007
Stratham Memorial School
The Stratham School Board met on Wednesday, January 10, 2007, at the Stratham Memorial School, Stratham, New Hampshire.
BOARD PRESENT: Bob O’Sullivan, Luke Breton, John Hazekamp, Katherine McDonnell.
ABSENT: Jim Dubela.
ADMINISTRATION PRESENT: Tom Fosher, Margaret Driscoll, Mary Ellen Palmer, Nathan Lunney,
Skip Hanson.
1. CALL TO ORDER – The meeting was called to order by Chairperson O’Sullivan at 5:58 p.m.
2. NONPUBLIC SESSION – On a motion by Mr. Hazekamp; seconded by Mr. Breton,
the board unanimously voted, through a roll call vote, to enter nonpublic session at
6:00 p.m. under Chapter 91-A:3, II (a and c). The board returned to public session
at 6:35 p.m.
3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
3.1-4 On a motion by Mr. Breton, seconded by Mr. Hazekamp, the board voted to approve
the public and nonpublic minutes of the November, 8, 2006, the budget workshop of
November 16, 2006, the public and nonpublic minutes of December 6, 2006, and the
public and nonpublic session of December 16, 2006. Two changes were suggested to
the minutes of December 16th, # 6 budget development – replace the word “change”
with the word “reduce” to read, “reduce the budget to reflect. . .” and #2 Visitors –
replace the “????, SMS paraprofessional” with the words “Peggy Brooks, SMS
paraprofessional.” Two changes were suggested for the minutes from December 6,
2006: formatting minutes referencing numbering from the corresponding agenda items
with notation of Hand-Outs from each meeting; and under Board Reports / Space Needs
Update / first sentence reads: Mr. O’Sullivan, Mr. Hazekamp’s absence…a copy of the
flyer was sent to the Selectmen. Change to …a copy of the flyer will be sent to the
Selectmen. The vote was unanimous.
4. VISITORS – The Chairperson welcomed the visitors who were present. Mr. Hazekamp inquired about the format of the December 6, 2006 minutes for the meeting he missed to which Mr. Lunney introduced Mary Lou Clinton-Stevens and elaborated on the Board’s need for a secretary.
5. GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE – None.
6. BOARD REPORTS / POLICY
6.1 Capital Improvement update – Mr. O’Sullivan updated the board that there is continuing
discussion that the building is not fully sprinkled and there is serious consideration of moving
forward with installation of sprinklers. This is being discussed with the Fire Chief and SMS
maintenance staff. There was discussion. This will be revisited.
6.2 Legislative update – Mr. O’Sullivan reported that Katherine has agreed to do
legislative updating. She will have a report next month.
Nate Lunney explained the impact on each of SAU 16’s districts if the education equity
figures, recently published by the state, are applied. He explained the formula used,
and said if these figures are implemented, Stratham would lose. There was discussion.
Mr. O’Sullivan spoke about the change in legislation dealing with SAU reorganizations and that
the state may be declaring a moratorium on these reorganizations.
6.3 Space Needs update – Mr. Hazekamp, reviewed the Space Needs brochure and asked for the
changes to the brochures that were suggested at the last school board meeting and, asked if this
had gone to the selectmen. It had not; he asked for a change to the minutes to reflect that. Data
for changes was discussed. Mr. Lunney said that he would get the data and make those
changes in the brochure. Chairperson O’Sullivan said that he would like to have this wrapped up.
Chairperson O’Sullivan discussed the Visioning Summit of SMS. Mr. Hazekamp explained the
space needs history and of trying to get the brochure complete for several months. He thanked Dr. Hanson for attending the meeting and thanked the concerned community members for attending. He noted that his informal emailed invite to this meeting also included Stratham Co-op School Board members as well as Stratham town administrators, none of whom were present. He spoke of the visioning that he proposed, and a Stratham Visioning Committee for input from the community, and to be connected to the community. Hearing concerns over the size and cost of SAU 16, he asked,” Is our SAU serving us well?’ He said there are concerns around the modular classrooms, and the possible need for expanding our building and that the CMS, in the next few years, will be expanding thus affecting the budgets of towns SAU-wide. He spoke of zoning issues around the Voc. Tech., and asked, “Is it a viable option?” He mentioned how education is delivered to kids, and the concerns that are being voiced within the community about the lack of challenge to our grade 6 to 8 children at the middle school and asked, “Are there other options?” Could the Stratham School District avoid the cost of a middle school expansion by pulling grades 6 through 8 out of the Cooperative?” He quoted a report, “Tough Choices or Tough Times,” saying it would be a good starting-off point for discussion. He mentioned that there were 11 key points within the report, with Fact 2, related to “tolerating an enormous amount of waste in the system, failing our students in the early years when the cost of doing the job right would be relatively low.” And Fact 5, related to “failing to motivate most of our students to take tough courses and work hard, thus missing one of the most important drivers of success in the best-performing nations.” He encouraged obtaining the report from the National Center of Education and the Economy. He said to get the community involved, and it is worthwhile looking into where Stratham is going with educating its kids, and that it is time for the community to investigate all options. Mr. O’Sullivan asked if this conversation was about pulling out of the SAU? Mr. Breton asked about costs and Mr. Lunney explained that Stratham is responsible for 25% of the Cooperative, and for the life of the debt that exists, Stratham would continue to contribute. Mr. Hazekamp said that he has received emails from concerned citizens, and read one of them. Chairperson O’Sullivan said he believed it would be useful to have a board appointed committee to supply the community’s thoughts on the vision for SMS with concrete facts. The charge to this committee would be to think outside of the box, and to report back to the board with its recommendations and guidance on an SMS Vision. He asked for a motion. He encouraged the board to look at the report. Mr. Lunney will supply copies.
Principal Fosher expressed concern on not having received these particular concerns from citizens, and from being excluded from the discussion. Mr. Hazekamp pointed out that Mr. Fosher had been included in the circulation list of the invite email that had been circulated and that both Chair O’Sullivan and Superintendent Hanson were made aware of the email prior to its being circulated.
Nathan Merrill asked to be recognized and said that this visioning is a good thing, and he
suggested taking the divorce from SAU 16 out of it; it would be less contentious. He suggested
advertising to attract a broad based coalition from across the community.
Ms. McDonnell moved; seconded by Mr. Breton, and voted in the affirmative, to empanel a
board appointed committee to sample the community’s thoughts on the vision for SMS
and to report back to the board, next board year. The vote was unanimous. Chairperson O’Sullivan asked that board members be prepared, at the next board meeting, to put forward names of citizens to serve on this committee. He asked Mr. Lunney, to send to the members of the board, the policy on “Board Appointed Committees.” Dr. Hanson spoke of the scope of the community challenge; Mr. Breton suggested adding in discussion of the citizens' thoughts on getting value for their dollars.
In soliciting citizen involvement, Mr. Hazekamp asked Dr. Hanson about the feasibility of using the mass phone messaging capabilities of the SAU to contact Stratham parents. Dr. Hanson said that he would investigate and get back to the Board.
There was a discussion with Lisa Calandra, who was in attendance, and who said that she was at this meeting because of an email she received. She said that people in the community should be informed. On a question of classroom overcrowding, Chairperson O’Sullivan explained that it now has to do with the way education is being delivered. He spoke about “ubiquitous computing” in the regular classroom, and estimated that Stratham has (approximately) 400 computers and (approximately) 600 students, and he spoke of the federal regulations, segregated space, and the state requirement for square footage, and that the district has to act proactively, not reactively on these state requirements on space needs and square footage.
6.4 Mr. O’Sullivan reported that the Joint Chairs did not meeting in December, and that he is
planning to attend their next meeting.
6.5 Mr. Breton reported that the policy committee did not meet in December, and at the next policy
meeting Evaluation of Instructional Programs will be presented. This will require staff report to
the board on an annual basis, and will assist in allocating resources.
Mr. Fosher reported that grade four students will be taking part in NEAEP testing on January 25th. He reported on the Guided Reading Program.
8. SUPERINTENDENT / ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT REPORT
8.1 SAU Update – Dr. Hanson reported that the Joint Board will meet on February 19th in the
Roy Morrissette Alumni Room at the high school. The Cooperative School Board will meet
on January 11, 2007, after the public hearing on the budget, which is up 3.84%.
He reported on the move of the SAU Office to the Tuck Learning Campus (the old
high school), and that the Cooperative is working with the SAU addressing life safety issues.
There will be a warrant article on the Cooperative ballot to approve renovations for the
Seacoast School of Technology. That project will have no tax impact on Cooperative voters.
He reported that we are close to submitting the application for Virtual Charter School. He
said that Dr. Kossakoski is doing the research, and that the State of Florida is very active in
this area and that Dr. Kossakoski is using that initiative as a model. The submission of a five
year plan is part of the application. This will provide opportunities for our high school
students.
Mr. Lunney reported that it is annual reporting time. He requested a report from the chair,
and one from the administration for printing in February. These reports can be emailed to
him.
9.1 – 3 Principal Fosher reported that the winter concert would be tomorrow evening at 7:00
p.m. January 19th will end the second marking term. He reported on preschool, and on
February 25th will be the spelling Bee, at 6:30. Fifty-one kids have signed up. He ask
for volunteers. He reported on the reading program and the dialogue with the staff.
9.4 Special Education – The Directors, Margaret Driscoll, Mary Ellen Palmer, reported that there
were four referrals, three early elementary and a couple from private schools.
They spoke about the five year program approval, which is upcoming. There will be a
visiting team of outside educators, there will be a series of interviews, observations from the
outside team, and interviews of families. This will be a two day process. Parent satisfaction
surveys have gone out to parents through the SAU. The culminating list of
recommendation from the committee will be shared with the board.
Mr. Fosher spoke of the ongoing training on reading instruction, and requests he will bring to
the board for staff to attend training sessions. The board’s policy states that anything over
$1,000 needs the approval of the board.
He said that the review of the goals is being conducted.
10.1 Resignation – Mr. Fosher shared with the board a letter from a professional staff member requesting, according to the contract, a leave of absence a medical family illness.
10.2 Sabbatical Request – Mr. Fosher shared a request from Bruce Larson to take part in the
Christa McAuliffe Sabbatical Program. It was explained that the McAuliffe Program includes
a full school year salary, plus FICA, paid directly to the winner’s school district for
disbursement to the winner, and that the winner’s school district would be responsible to
supply health care benefits. If Mr. Larson is selected, he would have the support of the
school board.
Mr. Fosher reported that there has been some vandalism at SMS - graffiti had been painted including on the bus loop sign. The police were notified. The fencing has been installed in the preschool playground; there was difficulty with the freezer, and the compressor had to be lifted 2’ off the ground.
Mr. Fosher told of the fundraising effort for the new playground at Stevens Field; there is a two week window of opportunity to help with that effort.
Mr. O’Sullivan asked about technology support. The Principal said that he met with Dr. Kossakoski and support is coming. The job description is being looked at, as is expertise with the Mac instruction, as well as upkeep of the website.
13 OLD BUSINESS – None
14. NEW BUSINESS – None
15. BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL
15.1 Final Comments on Proposed 2007 / 2008 Budget: Mr. Lunney distributed the questions
for the Stratham School Board from the Stratham Budget Advisory Committee. He
reviewed each question with the board members:
1) Recent hires and where they are on the pay scale; (spreadsheets); Mr. Lunney and Mr.
Fosher will put this in narrative form.
2) Line items have increased due to grants that have expired, are new grants being
applied for? It was explained that there are components of many grants that are
driven by criteria that Stratham does not meet. In answer to a question, Mr. Lunney
explained who, in the SAU, keeps track of grants and looks for additional grant money.
3) Modulars: Current cost of these classrooms; Share the contract; Future of modulars:
Mr. Lunney responded: Purchased from Schiavi; cost was spread over three years in a
lease-to-own agreement; total this year is $39,647;
4) Electricity: how much spent to date; helpful to know where budget stands midyear.
5) Special Education questions: What can be cut; are aides fully utilized;
combining services for children; who has final say in out-of-district placements;
benefit to include special education in the board’s presentation at district meeting;
6) Questions were answered about the car lease: total lease cost; to whom registered;
property and liability insurance; leased from whom; when lease is concluded;
7) The laptop for enrichment? This has been scrapped;
8) The cost for SAU services for the past 5 years. Mr. Lunney had listed the percentages
and the dollar amounts.
9) Mr. Lunney answered why the charter school tuition was dropped: the law was
changed, effective this year, so we need not send money to the charter school for
next year. There was further discussion.
There was discussion of the public hearing and it was requested to present the
percentage of special education kids to dispel the rumor that Stratham has a high
percentage; Mr. Lunney said that he had revenue projections and he would share these
with the board; there was a discussion of the possible surge in retirements because of
the insurance subside. Adoption of the budget was discussed, and the meeting dates
listed.
16. CLOSING STATEMENTS
17. NEXT SCHOOL BOARD MEETING: Financial Advisory Committee on Wednesday, January 24, 2007, at 6:30 p.m.
18. NONPUBLIC SESSION: At 9:18 p.m., on a motion by Mr. Hazekamp; seconded by Mr.
Breton the board moved into nonpublic session under Chapter 91-A:3, II [c]. The
board returned to public session at 10:30 p.m.
19. ADJOURNMENT: At 10:30 p.m. on a motion by Mr. Hazekamp; seconded by Mr.
Breton, and voted unanimously, the board adjourned.
Submitted by Mary Lou Clinton-Stevens
|