Stratham School Board Meeting
February 7, 2007

 

On Wednesday, February 7, 2007, the Stratham School Board met at the Stratham Memorial School.

 

PRESENT:  School Board Members: Luke Breton, Jim Dubela, John Hazekamp, Kathleen McDonnell, Bob O’Sullivan (Chairperson); Nathan Lunney, CFO; Tom Fosher, Principal, Steve Gagnon, Assistant Principal; Mary Ellen Palmer, Margaret Driscoll, Directors of Special Services.

 

1.  CALL TO ORDER – Mr. O’Sullivan called the meeting to order at 8:29 p.m.

 

2.  NONPUBLIC SESSION

     None.

 

3.  APPROVAL OF MINUTES

      3.1  For review were the minutes of January 3rd, January 10th, public and nonpublic, and the

             minutes of January 24th.  Mr. Dubela moved; seconded by Mr. Breton, to accept the

            minutes.

            

            Mr. Hazekamp handed out his suggested corrections to the minutes of January

            10th.  Chairperson O’Sullivan asked for a copy of this handout, which was given to the

             recording secretary, which read: (sic) January 10, 2007 MINUTES edits...

 

Sentence 2 reads: One change was suggested...

Change to: Two changes were suggested...

and Include at the end of the sentence: and #2 Visitors — replace the “????, SMS paraprofessional.” with the words “Peggy Brooks, SMS paraprofessional.”

 

In addition, Include: “Two changes were suggested for the minutes from December 6, 2006, Formating 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, in 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.”

            4. VISITORS

Include:  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.

 

            6. BOARD REPORTS / POLICY

6.3      Space Needs Update —

Paragraph 2 / after sentence 3:

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 CMS, in the next couple of years, may be expanded 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 being 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 avoiding the cost of a middle school expansions-and-asked, “Is this a good reason to 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 from the report, with Fact 2, related to grade school kids failing “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, relate 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 asked 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. It was Mr. O’Sullivan asked if this conversation was about pulling out of the SAU? Mr. Lunney was asked Mr. Brenton asked about costs? and Mr. Lunney explained that Stratham is responsible for...

 

Paragraph 3:

 

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.

 

After 5th paragraph, add --

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 he would investigate and get back to the Board.

 

The minutes of January 3rd, January 24th and the nonpublic minutes of January 10 were

accepted, as presented.

 

The minutes of the public meeting of January 10th were accepted with the changes.

 

4.  VISITORS

      None.

 

5.  GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE – To make public, Mr. Lunney read into the record, correspondence sent to the full board and administration, (Emails) from Chairperson O’Sullivan:  Monday, January 22nd   RE:  SMS Vision Committee and his using his authority as Chair to describe the SMS Vision Committee composition, in lieu of a policy, and asking Principal Fosher to select an administrator and a member of the teaching staff to serve on the SMS Vision Committee;  Tuesday, January 25th  RE:  three people who have expressed interest to serve on visioning committee, Travis Thompson, Joe Kenick, III, and Tony Baldasaro;  Tuesday, January 30th  RE: Draft of the SMS Vision Committee charge, Mr. O’Sullivan wanting to see a finished charge adopted at the meeting on February 7th, with appointments of committee members; Wednesday, February 7th,  RE: The report of the school board requesting edits.  

 

      Also read into the record was an Email from John Hazekamp to the school board and administrators, Nathan Lunney and Tom Fosher RE: SMS Vision Committee Volunteers; his concerns on the space needs brochure; the Stratham Vision vs. the SMS Vision; middle school expansion; the “Tough Choices,” and the need for a new educational system; and choosing Strathamites who are willing to serve on the committee.

 

6.  BOARD REPORTS / POLICY

 

      6.1  Capital Improvement Update

             Chairperson O’Sullivan reviewed the CIP for the board, depreciation of building

             technology, fire suppression system 2009/2010, the town advocating piping to the

             municipal ponds.  He will talk to Bob McAlpine.  Mr. Lunney said that if a survey is

             necessary, there is money in the year’s budget.

 

      6.2 Legislative Update

            Ms. McDonnell will update the board at the next meeting.

 

      6.3  The Stratham Memorial School Vision Committee Charge and Membership. 

              The board reviewed the handout, “Stratham Memorial School Vision Committee Charge,”

               and Chairperson O’Sullivan read the charge:

 

Stratham Memorial School, as of the 2006/07 school year, has run out of room for the current educational mission of the program.  The Stratham School Board has authorized a vision committee to provide guidance to the board for both future programming requirements as well as the resultant space requirements.  As the building is approaching its twentieth anniversary we want a new twenty year view of what educational challenges may face as well as community needs for our younger children.

 

The committee should approach its charge not assuming this to be a building committee.  We may find either the current building is sufficient for our future requirements and/or that there are additional facilities in Stratham that could meet the vision.  The key starts with the programs/offerings that the committee identifies as meeting the needs of the Stratham community.

 

Presently SMS serves children starting at age three and educates children through the fifth grade.  Children in sixth grade and beyond are served presently by the Cooperative School District.  Consideration by the committee for these older children is not encouraged under this charge owing to the substantial penalty costs Stratham residents would incur in restructuring the current Cooperative agreement.

 

The committee should take into account the tax implications and property value impacts to the community for any recommendations.  User fee programs are part of the charge.

 

The SMS vision Committee should target Fall 2007 to make their presentation to the board with recommendation for consideration.”

 

Mr. Hazecamp gave a brief overview and mentioned the backup data that he has requested from the CFO.  Board members and administrators commented on the charge giving their input, and expressing their concerns.  Residents also spoke to their recommendations.  After discussion, the following changes were made to the document: twenty year view changed to “ten year view,” as meeting the needs of “students at SMS;” target date changed to “Spring of 2008.” This document will be available for the March 9th meeting.  The document was accepted on a motion by Mr. Breton; seconded by Ms. McDonnell, and voted unanimously.  It was mentioned that meetings of this committee will be opened to the public, and will be posted as subcommittee meetings.

 

Chairperson O’Sullivan, appointed board member representatives to serve on the committee: Mr. Hazekamp and Ms. McDonnell, and he asked for the board member and administration appointments, which were: Tony Baldassaro, Lisa Calandra, Joe Kinick, Robert Parker, Doug Scamman, Travis Thompson, and Jeff Wilson.  Mr. Hazekamp had no appointments, and Principal Fosher said will report his appointments soon.

 

Space Needs Brochure and Letter to Planning Board

Mr. Lunney handed out the space needs brochure, “GROWTH AT STRATHAM MEMORIAL SCHOOL; Annual Building Use Analysis,” dated February 2007.  He said that the edits were included in the letter to the Planning Board.  Mr. Hazekamp made a motion to move forward; seconded by Ms. Donnell.  A recommendation was made from the floor to scratch the word “Annual” from the name of the document, and the board agreed.  Mr. Lunney inquired as to: how many to print? – 500 -- (with 200 available for town meeting, and some left at the town hall and town library); and, what color? – blue.  The vote was unanimous.

 

    

     6. 4  Joint Chairs Meeting

             Mr. Lunney noted that the Joint Chairs will meet on February 15.

 

     6. 5  Policy Update

       There was none

 

7.  CURRICULUM

None.

 

8.  SUPERINTENDENT / ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT REPORT

      8.1  SAU Update

 

              Mr. Lunney reported that the Cooperative School Board will meet on Thursday, February

              8, 2007, at 6:30 p.m. at the Tuck Learning Center, followed by the Deliberative Session     at 7:00 p.m. in the Talbot Gymnasium.

 

              He reported that, after his review of the minutes from this school year, there are no sealed

              minutes to be unsealed.

 

              On March 9th, at 7:00 p.m. will be the Stratham School District Annual Meeting.  The next

  meeting on March 14, 2007 will be the organizational meeting.

 

               Mr. Lunney reported that he and Mr. Frew met with a representative of the Seacoast

               Interfaith Hospitality Network, which is a group of local faith communities which

               supply housing for 3 to 5 families with children on a week-to-week, rotating basis.  The

               Stratham Community Church is part of this group.  Issues around the potential of

               students were discussed.

                 

9. SMS ADMINISTRATIAVE TEAM

    9.1  School Activities 

 

9.2    Special Education - The Directors reported, for the month of January, that the total coded

        students were 83, and the number referred were five, and the number coded were 10.

 

10.  EMPLOYEES

       10.1  Chairperson O’Sullivan read a letter form Cynthia McPherson, Speech and Language

    Pathologist, requesting a general leave of absence for the 2007/2008 school year,

    and her anticipated returning to her position for 2008/2009.  The leave was granted on

    a motion by Mr. Breton; seconded by Ms. McDonnell, and voted unanimously.

 

11.  BUILDING AND GROUNDS

        None.

 

12.  PUPIL RELATED MATTERS

       Mr. Fosher reminded the board of the spelling bee to be held on February 15th at 6:30 p.m. at

       the school and said he is still requesting volunteers.

 

       On February 14th there will be Spirit Day, and on Friday of that week will be Reading Across

       America, and on February 23rd. students would commemorate Dr. Souse.

 

13.  OLD BUSINESS

        Principal Fosher reported on a building use request he received from the Irish Step

        Dancing Studio in the community to use the school for their performance.  There was

        discussion of the process in place for granting building use requests.

 

 

14.  NEW BUSINESS

       14.1  Mr. Hazekamp made a motion to have an analysis prepared, by the SAU, with

                figures indicating the cost(s) involved with withdrawing from the COOP; seconded

                by Mr. Breton, and voted unanimously.  Mr. Breton asked when the figures would be

                available; Mr. Lunney said next week.   Chairperson O’Sullivan asked Mr. Lunney to

                apprise the COOP Board of the Stratham School Board’s request of this analysis.

 

        14.2  Mr. Hazekamp asked about the mention of a new Vice Principal, which was referred to

                 earlier in the meeting.  It was explained that Steve Gagnon is returning to the

                 classroom.

 

        14.3  Mr. Hazekamp shared an information flyer he prepared announcing the availability of a

                 DVD he produced of the meeting of the Financial Advisory Committee.

 

        14.4  Mr. Hazekamp, referencing the Vision Committee, said he will not be able to commit a

                 lot of time to it.  Mr. Breton advocated for Mr. Hazekamp to sit on this committee.  Ms.

                 McDonnell suggested, perhaps, starting the process in April when there would be more

                 time.

 

        14.5  Mr. Breton, mentioning special education spending, said that the community wants

                 validation of these expenditures  He said that he has brought up, to the superintendent

                 of  school, the conducting of an audit from an outside source, with input from the staff. 

                 He has given the superintendent the contact information of an individual who he has

                 contacted.  After discussion, Mr. Breton moved, seconded by Mr. Hazekamp; to ask

                 the staff to get together with the office of the superintendent with their input on

                 such an audit.  The vote was unanimous.

 

15.  BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL

       15.1  Signing of Warrants:  Mr. Lunney asked for the board members to sign, for validation, the

                warrants prepared for posting, and to be voted upon on March 9th.

 

       15.2  Acceptance of Proposed Budget:  Mr. Dubela moved to accept the budget proposed

                for 2007 / 2008, as amended, in the amount of $9,298,610; seconded by Mr. Breton,

                and voted unanimously.

 

16.  CLOSING STATEMENTS

       There were none.

 

17.  NEXT SCHOOL BOARD MEETING 

       School District Meeting, Friday, March 9, 2007, at 7:00 p.m.

 

18.  ADJOURNMENT

       There being no further business, Mr. Hazekamp moved to adjourn; seconded by Mr.

        Dubela, and the meeting adjourned at 10:01 p.m. 

 

 

Submitted by: 

Mary Lou Clinton-Stevens

 

Minutes of the school board are unofficial until accepted at a subsequent meeting of the school board.