Stratham School Board Public Hearing
February 7, 2007

 

On Wednesday, February 7, 2007, the Stratham School Board conducted a Public Hearing on its budget proposed for FY 2007 / 2008, 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.

 

There were, also, (approximately) twenty-five residents present.

 

1.  CALL TO ORDER – The Public Hearing was opened, by Chairperson O’Sullivan, at 6:00 p.m.

 

2.  PRESENTATION OF THE PROPOSED FY 2007 / 2008 BUDGET

     Explanation of the budget:  Mr. Lunney thanked those in the audience for attending.  He said that he and the board would present, with the help of a five page overhead, the detailed documentation of the budget, which is proposed for the next Fiscal Year, and that their presentation would be an explanation of the current adopted budget ($8,814,193), an explanation of the 2007/2008 Proposed Budget ($9,298,610, which reflects a 5.5% percentage change), and a detailed explanation of the changes to the line items, increases and reductions.  He and the board went on to explain the remaining debt service, and the tax impact, including projected revenues, with a proposed increase in tax impact of 55 cents for educating the elementary aged children of Stratham.

 

     Handouts were available: a facsimile of the overhead, and a budget worksheet listing the line

     items and their differences.

 

     SMS Presentation:  Principal Fosher gave a brief presentation, with the help of a slide presentation, of pictures illuminating the utilization of the school’s spaces, and the learning that was happening. (View Presentation pdf)

 

      He explained that Stratham Memorial School was an exemplary school because of the staff.  He referenced the school's philosophy, “One who learns from one who is learning is drinking from a running stream,” and used the analogy that those learning at SMS are drinking from a “fire hose.”  He explained a picture slide demonstration of the school’s programs, and the enthusiasm for learning of the students, and he explained the social, behavioral, and academic connections. The miniature server farm being utilized at the school was explained, as well as the NECAP testing, and the five key components of the curriculum.

 

      Special Education:  Mary Ellen Palmer and Margaret Driscoll, Directors of Special

      Education, presented the budget section devoted to special education.  They described the

      federal and state special education mandates under which a school district must operate,

      and the increases to the budget over the last fiscal year, which reflects a 9% increase.

      They fielded questions from the audience.

 

      Mr. Lunney then reviewed the articles that will appear on the warrant, to be voted upon

      at the Annual School District Meeting scheduled for Friday, March 9, 2007, at 7:00 p.m.

 

      The board fielded questions and comments for the audience.

 

3.  ADJOURNMENT

     The Public Hearing was closed at 8:14 p.m.

 

Submitted by: Mary Lou Clinton-Stevens