DRESDEN SCHOOL BOARD
REGULAR MEETING and PUBLIC HEARING FOR RSA 198:20-B
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2005
7:00 P.M., HANOVER HIGH SCHOOL LIBRARY
Approved Minutes
Present: Board members Asmus, Bruce, Carter, Chamberlin, Cheney, Gray, Kaplan, Pilchman, Sachsse, Vitt; Council Representative Creighton; Administrators Gersen, Aubin, Brush, Gillespie; and 3 members of the public. Recorded by R. Lohr
1. Call to order and Public Hearing
Chair Cheney called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. and then opened the Public Hearing in accordance with NH RSA 198:20-b, for the purpose of accepting a $5,000 gift from the Byrne Foundation to support the trip to Edinburgh, Scotland, for the 2006 Fringe Festival. A notice for the Public Hearing was published in the Valley News on Monday, November 14. There may be a matching pledge component to increase funding to this cause and there are 14-15 students expected to participate. The Public Hearing was declared closed by the chair at 7:10 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 October 25, as submitted with changes. The motion passed unanimously. The change on item 4c in the Superintendent’s Report should read “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. On item 4f, the committee is Finance rather than Budget. On item 5, the second motion should show the opposing votes as Bruce, Cheney, and Vitt. On item 5, it was mentioned that the Board discussed the Graduation Policy rather than concurred with the staff recommendation regarding credit for middle school courses.
3. Communications and Reports
a) Chair Report
The chair expressed gratitude to the public for voting in favor of and passing the Dresden Fields project bond. The Athletic Fields Committee will continue to help fulfill the plan to improve the Dresden fields. The Chair announced that the next regular School Board meeting is scheduled for December 20, at the Richmond Middle School library, one week early due to the school vacation.
b) Council Representative Report
Alex Creighton of the Student Council reported Council activity and decisions regarding changing the name of Common Ground, the scheduling of x-periods during shortened weeks, reducing the number of PA system announcements and promoting the high school tutoring program.
c) Superintendent Report
Superintendent Gersen reported about a letter regarding highly qualified teachers and its relation to teachers hired before 1999.
Dr. Gersen announced that the request for a waiver was accepted by the Commissioner for the high school allowing students to miss school on December 19 and 20 so the staff can pack for the move at Hanover High School related to the first phase of the renovation.
Dr. Gersen also discussed a NHSBA workshop he attended recently where the issue of email communication and the forthcoming state legislation relating to the use of emails in the context of the public’s right to know. Some of the Board members were interested in exploring the development of an electronic bulletin board to make topical non-meeting deliberations public and allow for public participation in such deliberations. The Board asked the Superintendent to draft guidelines for substantive email communication and practical protocols. The Board would review these guidelines at a future meeting.
d) Assistant Superintendent Report
John Aubin announced that the staff selected a design-build firm after visiting sites and checking references. The company is David W. White & Sons from Manchester, NH. The Board asked to vote on the final hiring of the company and the contract for the work. John Aubin also described the permitting process for the development of the various fields projects.
e) Facilities Director Report
Jonathan Brush reported that the majority of the work checklist related to Richmond Middle School was expected to be completed within a couple of weeks after Thanksgiving, but cautioned that completion of some project checklists can continue for many months. On December 19, the Hanover High School library complex will be moved, along with the Art room, guidance offices, main office, and some special education services. He also noted that 200 student lockers would be relocated. Jonathan Brush also reported that the wood chip boiler system at Richmond Middle School has started and it is very efficient.
f) Principals Reports
Principal Gillespie distributed the Hanover High School Broadside publication, which provides an update of school activities. She reported that murals would be painted in the old school on December 15. The principal gave some details about the pending move and mentioned that the newest portion of the school should be ready for January 3 opening. The next transition in the renovation process should be the opening of the gymnasium in April and more renovation activity will be later in June.
Richmond School Principal Finer’s report was given by Superintendent Gersen. He noted that 250 people attended the Richmond School Community Open House night and 150 attended the film showing later that evening.
g) Committee Reports
Dresden Finance Committee – The Dresden Finance Committee’s final vote on the fields project was 11-2 in favor of the proposal. The Committee is scheduled to meet on Wednesday, December 14 in the SAU office with Norwich convening at 8:30 a.m., Dresden at 9:15 a.m. and Hanover at 10:00 a.m.
4. Business Requiring Discussion
High School Graduation Policies IHF and IHF-1
The Board discussed the high school graduation requirement policies. It was pointed out that the Dresden requirements added up to 20.5 credits, instead of 20 cited in the policy. Dr. Gersen indicated that Open Electives were supposed to be five credits rather than 5.5 credits, which would result in the 20 credit total. Board members also suggested that the order of the required subjects be changed to reflect the significance of the subjects.
The Board discussed the proposed Assessment Policy ILBA. Given the feedback from the Board, Dr. Gersen suggested he would write two separate policies: one for student assessments and another for curriculum assessment.
The Board also reviewed policies IJO, IF and IHCD as first readings.
5. Business Requiring Action
A motion was made by Larry Pilchman and seconded by John Chamberlin to accept the $5,000 gift from the Byrne Foundation to support the trip to Edinburgh, Scotland, for the 2006 Fringe Festival. The motion passed unanimously.
A motion was made by Larry Pilchman and seconded by John Chamberlin to approve the 2005-06 Board Goals as proposed and attached to the original meeting minutes with amendments. The motion passed unanimously.
A motion was made by Nancy Carter and seconded by Linda Gray to adopt the “Authority to Open Deposit Account” at Mascoma Bank as attached to the original meeting minutes. The motion passed unanimously.
A motion was made by John Chamberlin and seconded by Larry Pilchman to accept the Friends Grant for Jeanine King in the amount of $3,037.00, as proposed and attached to the original meeting minutes. The motion passed unanimously.
A motion was made by John Chamberlin and seconded by Larry Pilchman to accept the Friends Grant for Stephanie Gordon in the amount of $1,920.04, as proposed and attached to the original meeting minutes. The motion passed unanimously.
A motion was made by John Chamberlin and seconded by Larry Pilchman to accept the Friends Grant for Maryann Postans in the amount of $1,027.00, as proposed and attached to the original meeting minutes. The motion passed unanimously.
6. Nonpublic Session
The Board voted to go into nonpublic session at 9:00 p.m.
Nancy Carter moved and Kari Asmus seconded a motion to enter nonpublic session in accordance with RSA 91-A:2 (i.b.) for discussion of negotiations. The motion passed unanimously by roll call vote.
7. Return to public session
The Board returned to public session at 10:20 p.m.
John Chamberlin moved and Linda Gray seconded a motion to approve the contract for service employees. The motion passed 9 yes, 1 no (Asmus). Kari Asmus stated that she voted against the contract because not enough information had been presented for her to be able to judge whether or not this was a good settlement. IN particular, she wanted to see a wage schedule and information on what other local employers pay.
8. Adjournment
Nancy Carter moved and Kari Asmus seconded a motion to adjourn at 10:52 p.m. The motion passes unanimously.
The meeting adjourned at 10:52 p.m.
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