APPROVED 6-13-07
Stratham School Board Minutes
Wednesday March 14, 2007
Stratham Memorial School
On Wednesday, March 14, 2007, the Stratham School Board met at the Stratham Memorial School.
PRESENT: School Board Members: Luke Breton, Jim Dubela, John Hazekamp, Katherine McDonnell, Bruce Scamman; Nate Lunney, CFO; Tom Fosher, Principal; Steve Gagnon, Assistant Principal; Mary Ellen Palmer, Margaret Driscoll, Directors.
1. CALL TO ORDER – Mr. Lunney, in the absence of a chairperson, and as the
superintendent’s designee, opened the meeting at 6:34 p.m.
2. NONPUBLIC SESSION
Mr. Lunney reminded that a nonpublic session can be called at any time during the meeting
according to RSA 91-A:3, II.
3. OATH OF OFFICE / ELECTION OF OFFICERS
Mr. Lunney said that under RSA 92, the Oath of Office for the School District Officers is administered. Mr. Dubela administered the swearing-in of Mr. Scamman, and Ms. McDonnell, who assumed their seats on the school board.
Mr. Lunney reported that David Emanuel was elected moderator, and Edward Geppner was elected treasurer for the next three years, and that they will be sworn-in.
Mr. Lunney then called for nominations for a chairperson for the ensuing year. Mr. Hazekamp asked to hear from the board members what positions they would be interested in. Mr. Breton said if called to serve as chairperson, he would comply. Ms. McDonnell said she would be willing to serve as vice chair; Mr. Scamman said that, since he was new to the school board, he had not planned to serve at this time but, if asked, he would be willing to serve in any capacity; Mr. Dubela said he had no plans to be chair or vice chair, but would be willing to serve if asked.
Ms. McDonnell placed into nomination the name of Luke Breton as chairperson for the ensuing year; seconded by Mr. Hazekamp. There were no other nominations, and nominations were closed. The vote was unanimous.
Mr. Breton assumed the chair and called for nominations for vice chairperson. Mr. Dubela nominated Mr. Hazekamp for the position. Mr. Hazekamp declined the nomination.
Mr. Dubela nominated Katherine McDonnell as vice chairperson for the ensuing year; seconded by Mr. Scamman, and voted unanimously.
4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Mr. Breton called for acceptance of the minutes of February 7, 2007. Ms. McDonnell asked
for a correction to her name, as did Mr. Hazekamp. Mr. Hazekamp asked if the January
minutes were posted on the website. He then made a motion to table acceptance of
these minutes until the corrected January minutes are posted on the website;
seconded by Ms. McDonnell.
5. VISITORS
The chairperson recognized Mr. and Mrs. Kantipudi. Their son, attending a private kindergarten program this year, will miss the first grade cutoff date for next school year and they respectfully, requested that the school board waive its policy for entrance into first grade. The chairperson welcomed the Kantipudis and said that they will be pleased with the education at SMS. He recommended that the request be denied because of past practice. Mr. Dubela asked about the child’s progress and Mr. Kantipudi said that the private school recommends that his son progress into first grade. The history was that there have not been many requests of this type but, when there was, the board adhered to its policy. A lengthy discussion ensued with board members commenting: suggestion of skipping a grade; looking at what works best for the child, and advocating for a waiver to the policy with the rationale that the student has done well and is recommended for first grade. Mr. Hazekamp asked for a recommendation from the administration. Ms. Driscoll spoke of the social / emotional piece being most important and the subjectivity of the issues. Mr. Dubela moved that the school board waive the policy; seconded by Mr. Hazekamp. The motion failed with two opposed and Mr. Scamman abstaining.
6. GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE
None.
7. BOARD REPORTS / POLICY
7.1 Capital Improvement Update
Chairperson Breton, updating Mr. Scamman and the board, said that at the last meeting
there was discussion about the fire suppression system and the town advocating piping to the municipal ponds for sprinkling the building to happen in 2009/2010.
7.2 Legislative Update
Ms. McDonnell said that the House Education Committee is considering House Bill 678, which would revise the special education monitoring process, and that NHSBA is opposed. Ms. Driscoll explained that this revision would put in place punitive monitoring and corrective action procedures that would require school districts to pay for corrective actions, such as implant, replacement, and maintenance of medical devises, at cost to the school districts.
Mr. Lunney gave a brief overall of each of the action items listed on the NHSBA weekly “Legislative Bulletin,” and he gave the New Hampshire School Board Association website, www.nhsba.org, if the board wished to visit the site for these weekly updates.
7.3 Space Needs Update
Mr. Hazekamp said he looks at space needs as a work in progress. The chairperson
asked about the letter to the planning board; Mr. Hazekamp said he has not yet
received a response.
7. 3.1 SMS Vision Committee
Mr. Hazekamp nominated Rogers Johnson and Jon Tymann. Mr. Breton added Mark
Poirier to his nominations. Mr. Fosher has come forward to serve on the committee.
There were no objections from the board having a nonresident serve. Mr. Fosher
said that Laura Batchelder will also serve. Meeting dates were discussed, and it was
agreed they will meet in April with the date to be announced.
7.4 Joint Chairs Meeting.
Mr. Lunney said that the next meeting of the Joint Chairs will be April 18th.
7.5 Policy Update
Mr. Breton said there were no policies for review, and that there will be discussion of
policy ILA, Curriculum Assessment, at the next policy meeting.
Mr. Hazekamp mentioned, referencing readiness testing, that perhaps the policy
committee could look at the appropriateness of that.
8. CURRICULUM
Mr. Fosher reported on the in-service for paraprofessionals and teachers that is taking
place this Friday at UNH. It is a biennial event conducted by SES.
9. SUPERINTENDENT / ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT REPORT
9.1 SAU Update
Mr. Lunney handed out information on the NHSBA’s board member orientation for new
and current board members. He said that the SAU will have an orientation as
well; April 5th at 7:00 p.m. at the SAU Office.
Mr. Lunney reported on annual meeting activities around the warrant articles, in the
districts: the school board budget passed in each district; in Newfields, funding for a
parking lot failed; there was an SB2 initiative on the warrant in East Kingston and
Brentwood, and each failed; in Brentwood the annual meeting lasted for 4 ½
hours, with seven separate votes on the budget which resulted in support for the school
board’s proposed budget, which had a reduction in staff; in Stratham, the two acre
parcel did pass; the SST bond did pass at the Cooperative.
Mr. Lunney distributed, and reviewed with the board, the “Role of the School Board.”
10. SMS ADMINISTRATIAVE TEAM
10.1 School Activities
Mr. Fosher reported that the blood drive would be on March 21st, and the variety show
would be on April 5th and 6th. On April 20th the students would be involved in Jump
Rope for Hearts, and that the fifth grade will be traveling to the Portsmouth Music Hall,
and the fourth grade to Lowell Mills.
10.2 Special Education
Ms. Driscoll reviewed the state’s performance plan with twenty data points to focus
the work in special education, with feedback from the DOE. She gave an update on
the special education audit, which brought in an outside group to look at Stratham’s
programs. There will be a report at the next meeting. At Mr. Dubela’s request, Ms.
Driscoll reviewed the SPED monthly report handout.
11. EMPLOYEES
Mr. Fosher reported that the classified ad was placed for the Assistant Principal’s
position; the cutoff date is March 30th , and that nine applications have, so far, been
received. Interviews for the position will be scheduled soon.
There was a brief discussion of the selection process and the makeup of the selection
committee. Mr. Fosher said that he will serve on the committee, as well as Mr. Gagnon, a
parent, and staff members, including a paraprofessional. Volunteers will be solicited. The
process is expected to be complete by April 15.
12. BUILDING AND GROUNDS
Mr. Fosher said that he wanted to make the board aware that requests for the use of the
school building are greater than before, and he mentioned the nature of some of the
requests: after school care, dance academy, boy scouts, athletic teams, and that Mr.
Larson, enrichment coordinator, is interested in summer programming at the school.
13. PUPIL RELATED MATTERS
Mr. Fosher reported on the results of the State Spelling Bee, and that Eric Jordan was the
runner-up, who will move on to the Manchester meet.
Mr. Fosher spoke of the growth in enrollment. The school year began with 618 students
and they are now at 636, with six more students expected by April vacation.
14. OLD BUSINESS
None
15. NEW BUSINESS
Mr. Fosher said that Mr. O’Sullivan will be publicly recognized at an upcoming school
function for his work on the school board.
16. BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL
Mr. Lunney spoke of the rolling fund balance and changes to the facility, i.e. placing
compressors outside of the building. He will report further on this.
Mr. Lunney distributed a Financial Summary for the current school year and reviewed an
estimate of costs anticipated between now and June 30.
Mr. Scamman had questions on the manifest and the process used. Mr. Lunney gave a
brief overview of the purchasing process and how payments were made to vendors.
Mr. Lunney gave a brief explanation of the education funding for 05/06 and 06/07, and what
Stratham stands to gain.
17. NONPUBLIC SESSION
Mr. Hazekamp moved to enter nonpublic session under RSA 91-A:3, II [c]; seconded
by Ms. McDonnell, and on a unanimous roll call vote, the board entered nonpublic
session at 9:10 p.m. The board returned to public session at 9:25 p.m.
The board had a brief discussion on public presentations and the need to be mutually
supportive. A discussion of topics that need to be reserved for nonpublic session was also
conducted.
18. COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS
|
The Board appointed Luke Breton and Bruce Scamman to the negotiating committee.
The visioning committee will consists of board members Luke Breton and John Hazekamp.
Katherine McDonnell shall serve as the board’s representative to the superintendent search committee.
Jim Dubela will serve on the policy committee.
Bruce Scamman will serve as the board's liaison to the local government to improve town government and board communications.
The legislative representative position will not be staffed but rather, as suggested by Ms. McDonnell, the board will be Emailed legislative updates prior to each meeting to form the basis of a discussion surrounding legislative affairs.
The previous board position of NCLB representative will be left unstaffed due to the high work load anticipated this year.
Jim Dubela will be the board's representative on the policy committee. |
John Hazekamp left the meeting at 10:00 p.m.
19. CLOSING STATEMENTS
None.
20. NEXT SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
The next meeting of the board will be April 11, 2007, at 6:30 p.m.
21. ADJOURNMENT
Mr. Dubela moved to adjourn; seconded by Ms. McDonnell, and the meeting
adjourned at 10:10 p.m.
|
Submitted by:
Mary Lou Clinton-Stevens
|
.