STRATHAM SCHOOL BOARD MINUTES
STRATHAM, NEW HAMPSHIRE
April 23, 2008
On Wednesday, April 23, 2008, the Stratham School Board met in a special session at the Stratham Memorial School.
PRESENT: John Hazekamp, Katherine McDonnell, Wendy Poutre, Bruce Scamman, (Chairperson), School Board Members; Arthur Hanson, Superintendent of Schools; Tom Fosher, Principal.
ABSENT: Gary Giarrusso.
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mr. Scamman opened the meeting at 7:00 a.m.
All stood for the Pledge of Allegiance.
2. SUMMER CONFERENCE
Mr. Fosher clarified his request for attendance at the summer conference of the National
Association of School Principals to be held in Virginia Beach. The cost of attendance is
estimated at $1,876. He spoke of the benefits to the school district because of his
attendance. Ms. McDonnell moved that the attendance at the conference be supported
by the board; seconded by Ms. Poutre, and voted unanimously. There was discussion.
It was requested to build into the professional development request form how the
attendance at conferences would benefit the school and school district.
3. MOTION TO SAU JOINT BOARD
Mr. Scamman reviewed with the board that his recommendation to form a subcommittee to
study the SAU budgeting and governances was brought before the Joint Chairs.
The Chairs suggested coming back with one issue to work on. Dr. Hanson said that the
minutes are being research to list initiatives and goals requested previously and put them in
chronological order. Mr. Scamman said this request will not be going before the Joint Board.
The board discussed accomplishing some of this study at the district level.
Mr. Hazekamp said some are talking of an expansion of the middle school and the moving of
grades back to the towns. Dr. Hanson said this is being discussed at Facilities Committee
meetings. Ms. McDonnell spoke of informing the public about these issues including creative
alternatives. This, and the issue of traveling pods, could be put on the agenda of the
SAU Joint Chairs for feedback.
Mr. Scamman asked for a motion to invalidate Stratham’s formal request to bring this study
before the Joint Board. Mr. Hazekamp so moved; seconded by Ms. Poutre, and voted
unanimously.
4. FUTURE LOCATIONS OF SAU JOINT CHAIRS / SAU JOINT BOARD MEETINGS
Mr. Scamman said that he spoke with Anne Marie Chesno, board member in charge of the
Joint Chair’s, about alternating meeting locations for the Joint Board and the Joint Chairs,
which would allow for board members to tour the various facilities in the SAU. He asked if
Stratham would be interested in hosting a meeting at the school. The next Joint Chairs
meeting is in early May and Stratham could offer its facility. The board was in agreement.
Refreshments will be provided by the board. Ms. McDonnell so moved; seconded by Ms.
Poutre, and voted unanimously. This action is contingent on Principal Fosher’s
agreement and space availability.
.
5. BREAKFAST WITH STAFF
Mr. Fosher discussed breakfast with the staff, and because of the workload in May,
suggested a date early in June for this event. The board discussed contributing to the food
offerings.
6. PRINCIPAL FOSHER
Mr. Fosher said that the paving will begin this Saturday, and that contact has been made
not only with the paving company, Bell and Flynn, but with the Town and with the Police.
Mr. Fosher left the meeting at 7:40 a.m.
7. NEW BUSINESS
Ms. McDonnell reported that she attended the Bus / Safety Committee meeting and that
federal mandates and seat belts were discussed, as was the cost of seat belting buses; that
old buses can not be retrofitted and new buses would need to be purchased. Also, the
committee discussed cameras on buses, parents’ right to view the tapes, and the laws
around this practice.
Ms. McDonnell reported on legislative issues. Mr. Scamman said he spent three hours with
Meg Driscoll reviewing special education reports and the large encumbrance, and discussing
new legislation around medical issues such as eye and ear implants, the cost of which is
no longer covered by insurance but passed on to the school districts. This will be discussed
at the next board meeting. Dr. Hanson suggested that Pat Dowey attend the next board
meeting to update these issues. The board discussed the importance of actively
contacting legislators, and preparing a joint communication from the school boards in
the SAU to be sent to the legislature.
Discussed was House Bill 1436, which would require inclusion of an automatic continuation
clause in collectively bargained employment agreements with the terms of a contract
continuing after the contract expires. This mandatory “evergreen clause,” should it become
law, does not encourage the parties to come to the table to negotiate, which may cause
countless problems with union negotiations.
Dr. Hanson said at last night’s meeting, the Cooperative School Board discussed the
good job that the middle school students are doing with recycling. He said SAUs are big
paper wasters, and that he challenged the board to furnish laptops for school board
members, to allow them to get all their necessary data electronically, eliminating paper waste
and demonstrating the board’s awareness of this issue. Surplus funds could be used.
Discussed was the cost of savings, modeling the correct “green” behaviors, asking taxpayers
permission, using recycled laptops, funding of the laptops at the district level or at the SAU
level. This can be on the next agenda.
8. FROM THE FLOOR
None.
9. NEXT BOARD MEETING
The next regular meeting of the board will be on May 14, 2008
10. NONPUBLIC SESSION
None.
11. ADJOURNMENT
At 8:29 a.m., Ms. McDonnell moved to adjourn; seconded by Mr. Hazekamp, and
voted unanimously.
Submitted by:
Mary Lou Clinton-Stevens
Meeting Handouts
Attachment 1 – Motion to form SAU 16 Study Subcommittee
Attachment 2 – Flow Chart – SMS Board’s Officers / Duties, Committees
Attachment 3 – Flow Chart – SAU Joint Board’s Officers / Duties, Committees
Action Items are underscored
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