STRATHAM SCHOOL BOARD MINUTES
STRATHAM, NEW HAMPSHIRE
March 5, 2008
On Wednesday, March 5, 2008, The Stratham School Board met at the Stratham Memorial School.
PRESENT: Luke Breton (Chairperson), Jim Dubela, John Hazekamp, Bruce Scamman; School Board Members; Arthur Hanson, Superintendent of Schools; Tom Fosher, Principal.
ABSENT: Katherine McDonnell.
ALSO PRESENT: Approximately, six visitors.
1. CALL TO ORDER / PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mr. Breton opened the meeting at 6:38 p.m. All stood for the Pledge of Allegiance.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Mr. Breton called for acceptance of the minutes of the Public Hearing held on February 6,
2008. After review, all were in agreement and the minutes will stand as written.
Mr. Breton called for acceptance of the minutes of the regular meeting of February 6, 2008.
Mr. Hazekamp suggested changes under BOARD REPORTS, Visioning Committee – and
suggested replace the wording there with, “February 4, 2008: Mr. Hazekamp reported that
the committee held a thoroughly, in-depth discussion about where it was headed now that
preliminary background information about Stratham Memorial School had been completed.
There was concern expressed about being able to complete the committee’s charge by the
May 2008 deadline, but Mr. Hazekamp felt the matter would be solidified within the next
couple of meetings. Individual committee members have taken responsibility for different
areas needing further consideration in order to understand the school’s space needs and
present a vision of the future for SMS. Mr. Breton noted that he was able to reschedule the
demographics presentation by Peter Francese (formerly January ‘08) to the March meeting.
It was suggested that board members might want to read the book co-authored by Mr.
Francese, Communities and Consequences. Mr. Hazekamp went on to remind the board
that video DVD recordings of all the SMS Vision Committee meetings are available to the
community through the Wiggin Memorial Library.” All were in agreement and the
minutes will stand, with Mr. Hazekamp’s amendments.
3. VISITORS
A visitor asked the status of the audit, since there is no auditor’s letter in the report. Mr.
Scamman said that Mr. Lunney explained that the CPA is working on the audit, and the
hope is to have the audit letter by Friday. Mr. Breton said that it will be posted as soon as it
is available.
4. GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE
Dr. Hanson said that they continue to be in contact with the DOT about moving the
sign. Mr. Scamman mentioned the new sign for the Municipal Center. Mr. Scamman said
that it is the location of the sign that is the issue, and suggested talking with the DOT and
following their lead.
5. BOARD REPORTS / POLICIES
5.1, 2, 4, and 5 Board Goals Update
The board reviewed the status of its goals for 2007/2008:
The task is complete and the agreement is to be presented at the Annual School District
Meeting on Friday night.
Complete is the committee’s review of the existing programs including extended day
kindergarten, SPED, and related arts, and the resulting space impact. Mr. Breton said
that Peter Francese spoke at the last meeting about his book and film, Communities and
Consequences. Further action will be to examine the scheduling options, update the
demographic data, and compile this information to make recommendations
to the school board.
Completed is the creation of a budget for 2008/09 with an increase of 3.17%; the lowest among SAU 16 school districts. Action to be taken: complete and implement the suggested changes to the Fiscal Accounting and Reporting policy to ensure a report on encumbrances. Mr. Breton said that he had Dr. Hanson include in the premeeting packets, for the board’s review, the policy DI, Fiscal Accounting and Reporting. This policy is currently with the policy committee. Mr. Scamman expressed the opinion that the audit not being completed is the fault of the school board, and that the board needs a list, or calendar, of responsibilities and deadlines to keep it on task. Dr. Hanson mentioned the extenuating circumstances that set the process back. Mr. Hazekamp made a motion to put the circumstances in writing; seconded by Mr. Scamman. Dr. Hanson said that Mr. Lunney will have something in writing at the school district meeting. The vote was unanimous. Mr. Hazekamp asked to have this on the next agenda.
4. REVIEW THE DISTRICT’S CURRENT PRACTICES AND POLICIES REGARDING
SCHOOL-WIDE STANDARDIZED ASSESSMENTS
The task of moving the NWEAs, for grades 3 and 4, to the winter months to alleviate the
time and space constraints as seen in the spring, has been completed. Left to be done
is completing and implementing policy IL, Evaluation of Instructional Programs. The
policy was reviewed.
The board reviewed a Suggested Five Year Capital Improvement/Maintenance Plan.
Action to be taken: complete a capital improvement program that funds required
maintenance, bring the building to current fire codes, and fund a capital improvement
plan. Preliminary engineering is to be updated and the board will need to apply for
Building Aid. Mr. Breton said that the next board has decisions to make and that tasks
laid out year-by-year will involve the fire chief, maintenance, and improvement funding.
He spoke of the important work of the Vision Committee. Mr. Dubela suggested a
further break down between maintenance and capital improvements. The funding for
the sprinklers system, $425,000 should be put over two budget cycles.
STAFF
This task is complete. The board improved communication with the FAC by including
them in the process earlier. The SAU staff provided more information on school
websites including attachments, agendas and minutes. The board included a selectman
of the FAC to improve communication with the town government. A Common
Concerns Committee was created to improve communications between the
board/administration and the employees.
5.3 Review of District Meeting Expectations and Procedures
Mr. Fosher’s presentation will come earlier in the meeting.
Article 1 – After discussion, Mr. Hazekamp offered to move the article; Mr. Dubela will
second, and they will speak to the article.
Article 2 – After discussion, Mr. Scamman will move the article; Mr. Hazekamp will
second, and Mr. Breton will speak to the article, as will Mr. Scamman.
Mr. Dubela had concerns with the audit not being completed. He asked what the chances
were of having the budget held up without an audit being complete and approved. There
was discussion.
Article 3 – if action on this article is necessary, Mr. Scamman will move the article, and
Mr. Hazekamp will second.
6. BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL
Dr. Hanson said that manifest will be signed at the next meeting. Mr. Scamman mentioned
that the rental of the storage units are still on the manifest. After discussion, Mr. Fosher said
he will make it a point to do the research of the next billing. Mr. Scamman asked that, on
conference request forms, there be a date, and the employee’s name printed out, not just a
signature to identify the teacher making the request. Signatures are, sometimes, hard to
read.
7. OLD BUSINESS
There was none.
8. NEW BUSINESS
Mr. Fosher spoke of Gary Harrison’s conference request for Responsive Classroom training,
which is offered at only two places in the country, Marlboro, Massachusetts, and in Texas.
He said that refresher work in Responsive Classroom is necessary. Mr. Fosher explained
the Responsive Classroom undertaking, and he explained the seven strands of the
program.
Mr. Hazekamp, alluding to the audit currently conducted of the Stratham School District,
made a motion that, in light of the negating of the citizens’ petition to poll the SAU 16
voters as to whether they would support the conducting of a Forensic Audit of the
Exeter Region Cooperative School District’s operations over the past four years, the
Stratham School District School Board shall empower at least one, but no more than
two, board members to thoroughly scrutinize the financial operations within SAU 16
that have an affect on the Stratham School District’s operating budget. And, upon
sufficient justification, recommend further action to be taken by the Stratham School
District School Board beyond the minimal audit currently conducted annually. For
the purpose of discussion Mr. Scamman seconded. Mr. Hazekamp said he made the
motion to have it on the record. There was discussion. Mr. Scamman said he spoke with
Mr. Lunney to have a subcommittee of the board review the budget on a monthly basis
and report back to the board. Dr. Hanson suggested that this duty could be a corollary
assignment for a board member. The Chair asked for a motion to table this discussion.
Mr. Hazekamp so moved; seconded by Mr. Scamman, and voted unanimously.
9. CLOSING STATEMENTS
There were none.
10. NEXT SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
The next meeting of the school board will be Wednesday, March 19, 2008, at 6:30 p.m.
11. NONPUBLIC SESSION
There was none.
12. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 8:03 p.m.
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Mary Lou Clinton-Stevens
* Action Items are underscored
Meeting Handouts (PDF)
Attachment 1 – Stratham School Board Goals 2007 / 2008
Attachment 2 – Policy DI, Fiscal Accounting and Reporting
Attachment 3 – Policy IL, Evaluation of Instructional Programs
Attachment 4 – Suggested Five Year Capital Improvement/Maintenance Plan
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