SAU #70 - Dresden School Board

Present: Board members Asmus, Bruce, Carter, Chamberlin, Cheney, Fleischer (4:27), Gray, Pilchman, Sachsse, Vitt; Administrators Gersen, Aubin, Weissmann, Gillespie, Finer, Brush; Guests Kadish, Wilhelm; and no members of the public.

1. Call to order

Chair Cheney called the meeting to order at 4:10 p.m. She identified two additional agenda items, Board goals and recognition of large gifts to the District, that would be taken up after the dinner break.

2. Presentation of High School test results

Hanover High School Guidance Counselor Gene Kadish distributed copies of the testing results from ETS and reviewed the information with Board members and Administrators. He said the largest group ever took AP exams last year - 80 High School students and 1 post graduate student. Mr. Kadish also reviewed GPA’s for the class of 2006 and SAT statistics for the class of 2005 and the previous years. He said that there is evidence that test preparation makes a difference in the SAT I and SAT II scores. He thought this was a factor in the increased average scores over the past ten years. The final category of information he presented was the colleges and post secondary plans of the class of 2005. A lengthy discussion of the material followed.

3. Presentation of Middle School curriculum survey results

Richmond School Curriculum Coordinator Celeste Wilhelm distributed the results of the biannual curriculum and parent surveys and discussed the results. She also discussed the Curriculum Enrichment Brainstorming Sessions feedback from the faculty. The brainstorming topics focused on “How has the new building enriched our current curriculum,” and “What new curriculum possibilities do you see in new space?” Most of the comments were positive and she said that both students and faculty are very pleased to be in the new building.

Administration and faculty identified one area of immediate concern, that being the need for soundproofing in the cafeteria area. Jonathan Brush said that the contractor is aware of the problem and is working to correct it.

4. Board’s definition of “Excellent School”

Prior to the Retreat, the Superintendent asked Board members to think about what makes an excellent school and to write a definition of an excellent school. At the Retreat, he compiled the material and asked those in attendance to identify the three most important characteristics. Five elements were identified.

An excellent school:

• Provides students with tools in a global society
• Supports/meets needs of all students
• Helps students think and make connections
• Teaches social skills needed in competitive environment
• Ensures that one adult knows each student well.

The Board’s discussion then lead to formulating two draft goals.

5. Board goals

From the above exercise, the Board identified two draft goals for the 2005-06 school year:

1. The academic skills Dresden graduates need to thrive in a global society (modern world) and develop a plan for providing these skills in the curriculum offerings in 2007-08.

2. The academic and social support systems students will need to achieve the academic skills needed to thrive in the global society (while maintaining their well being).

The Board also asked Administration to draft a third goal regarding the High School building and athletic fields projects, and to bring the draft goals to the October 25 Board meeting for further discussion and possible adoption.

6. Recognition of large gifts to the District

The Board discussed how to acknowledge large gifts to the District, individual versus company donations, and concerns about commercialism. The Board was clear that it has no problem acknowledging large gifts in a permanent way. The Board asked Administrators to talk with other nonprofit organizations, such as the Howe Library, to learn how they acknowledge gifts, and also to ask donors if they have something specific in mind.

7. Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at 9:25 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Mary B. Davis
Recording Secretary