DRESDEN SCHOOL BOARD
REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2005
7:00 P.M., HANOVER HIGH SCHOOL LIBRARY
Approved Minutes
Present: Board members Asmus, Bruce, Carter, Chamberlin, Cheney, Fleischer, Gray, Kaplan, Pilchman, Sachsse, Vitt; Council Representative Creighton; Administrators Gersen, Aubin, Brush, Gillespie, Finer, Jackson; and 25 members of the public. Recorded by R. Lohr
1. Call to order
Chair Cheney called the meeting to order at 7:06 p.m.
2. Approval of Minutes
A motion was made by Nancy Carter and seconded by John Chamberlin to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of September 27, the Retreat of October 18 and the nonpublic meeting of September 27, as submitted with changes. The motion passed with 8 in favor and two abstentions (Asmus, Bruce). The change on item 5b third sentence added the words “orientation to the council.” It was suggested that the surveys that were reviewed at the Retreat be added to the minutes.
3. Receiving of Public Input
Parent Bill Mlacak mentioned that he appreciated the posting of the Board meeting minutes on the SAU Web site and he requested that the meeting agenda and Board packet materials also be regularly posted on the site in advance of the meeting. The Board promised to post the agenda and the Superintendent will review the possibility of posting the meeting packet materials.
4. Communications and Reports
a) Chair Report
The Chair announced that the next regular School Board meeting is scheduled for November 22, tentatively at the RMS library. A Special School District Meeting will take place on Monday, November 7, at 7:00 p.m. in Tracy Hall in Norwich to convene the Discussion Phase of the bond vote, which will take place Tuesday, November 8, from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Voting will take place at Tracy Hall for Norwich voters and the Richard Black Community Center in Hanover for Hanover voters. Additionally, there will be public forums held regarding the fields project at 7:00 PM on October 26 at Richmond Middle School and at 7:00 PM at Marion Cross School. The SAU budget review meeting will be held on November 14.
b) Council Representative Report
Alex Creighton of the Student Council reported on recent Council activity and decisions. In response to recent behavior problems at the Co-Op, the Council sent a letter of apology to the store management and encouraged students to exercize personal responsibility. There was a Council motion to support skateboarding, which was passed, but will be revisited at the next meeting. Bylaw revisions were enacted to encourage attendance at the Council meetings. The Council voted to create the Common Ground Cup, a light-hearted competition designed to stimulate participation and enthusiasm among students. The Council also created a committee to consider the institution of inter-term courses. Finally, the Council discussed altering the present timing of the daily activity break period from the end of third period to the end of fourth period. This change would go into effect in the second semester. The Council expects to vote on this issue soon.
c) Superintendent Report
Superintendent Gersen reviewed a letter from Dresden Attorney Dave Bradley regarding HB 549, that allows a district to accept a gift below $5,000 without a hearing as long as it is posted on the Board meeting agenda. Athletic gifts could be accepted as one large sum. Grant funds will not be affected as long as the grants were anticipated.
The administration received the K-12 World Language Committee analysis regarding early language studies. The staff is reviewing the report with the hope that a decision on the issue can be reached by the December SAU Board meeting. Because the institution of this program affects all three districts, Superintendent Gersen suggested the discussion occur at the SAU Board level.
Dr. Gersen announced that he plans to request a waiver from the state for the high school students to be released from classes on December 20 and 21 so the staff can pack for the transitional move at HHS.
The Superintendent reviewed the enrollment projections and explained the three-year weighted average formula he used to calculate the projections. The projections predict a decline in enrollment at the High School, assuming a rate of growth in housing construction comparable to the past three years. The Board suggested the need to encourage more non-resident students to attend the secondary schools in the district. In response to a Board member’s question, John Aubin stated that the annual tuition prices were derived by calculating the percentage increase on the gross budget and multiplying that figure times the previous year’s tuition rate as opposed to a straight per capita calculation.
d) Facilities Director Report
Jonathan Brush reported that the Richmond Middle School punch list was reduced from 50 to 12 pages. The wood chip heating system at the Middle School will be started at the end of the week. Jonathan Brush expected that the wood chip system would cost the equivalent price of 54 cents per gallon.
Mr. Brush updated the Board on the High School renovations, indicating that soil issues in back of the cafeteria were worse than expected, but the soils under the gym were not as bad as expected. The ATC Associates Environmental Company, that will be monitoring the asbestos removal process at HHS, will have representatives at a public meeting to speak with parents and staff on air quality issues on December 1 at 6:30 P.M. An email notice will be sent to invite all parents to this presentation.
e) Principals Reports
Principal Gillespie announced that she accompanied Martha Lorden, a finalist for the Treat Humanities Award, to the awards’ ceremony in Manchester, NH. Ms. Gillespie noted that the seniors posed for their class photos in the hole dug for the wood chip system installation, an indication that the students’ morale is - at this point - still high. The Principal gave a brief overview of the NEASC report, which included the revised list of expectations for student learning. She also responded to questions about Dean of Students Ron Eberhardt’s report on HHS average class size and student/staff ratios.
Principal Finer of RMS reported that a Community Open House is scheduled for Wednesday, November 9 at 5:15 – 6:15 P.M. Following the Open House, there will be a film presentation in the auditorium at 6:30 P.M. Ms. Finer reported that the staff planted 400 bulbs in the bus loop as a memorial to several teachers who were similarly honored at the former Middle School site.
f) Committee Reports
Dresden Finance Committee – Kari Asmus reported that the Committee met and discussed enrollment projections, the effects of new housing developments on these projections, the impact of health insurance costs, and the budget implications of the field project.
Athletic Fields Committee – John Chamberlin reported that committee members are meeting with various groups in the community in an effort to inform the public about the fields project bond vote. The committee chairs will be the primary presenters at forums in Hanover and Norwich reviewing the project details, tax implications and long term maintenance. The Design-Build Committee is still reviewing the proposals two companies submitted in an effort to select the most cost-effective contractor.
5. Business Requiring Discussion
Method of Funding New Sports
Mike Jackson, Hanover High Athletic Director briefed the Board on the recent deliberations by the Dresden Athletic Advisory Committee (DAAC). The Board discussed the DAAC recommendation for adding new sports or team levels at HHS with the focus on how additional costs would be shared by participants in the entire sport rather than solely being borne by participants in the new level.
A motion was made by Robert Bruce and seconded by Larry Pilchman to accept the Criteria Guidelines for Adding Sports and Team Levels at Hanover High School as submitted, without the second sentence in item 10.
A motion was made by John Chamberlin and seconded by Larry Pilchman to table the previous motion regarding acceptance of the Criteria Guidelines. The motion to table passed 7 in favor and 3 opposed (Bruce, Cheney, Vitt).
A subsequent motion was made by Chip Fleischer and seconded by Larry Pilchman to accept the Criteria Guidelines for Adding Sports and Team Levels at Hanover High School as submitted, with the change to the second sentence in item 10 to read, “funding will be assumed by all levels of the sport (not just by a new level being added)”. The motion passed 9 in favor and one opposed (Gray).
Graduation Policy
Superintendent Gersen and Principal Gillespie presented an overview of the current Board Policy addressing graduation requirements and the changes mandated by the recent change in NH Minimum Standards. Board members discussed graduation requirements with much of the discussion focused on world languages. The Board discussed the Graduation Policy. Following the discussion, Superintendent Gersen indicated he would submit a redrafted policy in November and December meetings so that the new policy would be reflected in next year school’s course guide.
6. Business Requiring Action
The Board discussed the Dresden Board goals for 2005-06. Chair Cheney suggested that the second goal be changed to read, “Identify the academic and social support systems students will need to achieve these skills while maintaining their overall well being in Dresden Schools.
7. Adjournment
Due to a power outage, the Board decided to abruptly adjourn the meeting at 9:40 PM.
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