SAU #70 - Dresden School Board

Nancy Carter moved and Linda Gray seconded a motion to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of November 23 as submitted with corrections, which was passed by 9 Board members in favor and one abstention (Chamberlain). Changes:On item 7, motions A and B are reversed and should correspond accurately with the fields and grants motions, respectively. On item 6, sentence 3 should incorporate that the results of the resident survey should be integrated with the full plan.

3. Receiving of public input – none.

4. Agenda review – It was suggested that the agenda be changed so the GMP presentation preceded the athletic fields discussion.

5. Communications and reports

a) Report of Chair:

(1) Calendar - Chair Cheney announced that the next Board meetings will be on Tuesday, January 11, 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, January 18, 7: 00 p.m., Tuesday, January 25, 7:00 p.m. at the Hanover High School. It was also announced that the Dresden Annual Meeting would be held on Saturday, February 26 at 11:00 a.m. but Superintendent Gersen suggested and the Board agreed that the meeting time be moved to 1:00 p.m. to accommodate the updating of the checklist. Superintendent Gersen will look into conducting some Dresden meetings at the Marion Cross library in Norwich.

(2) Town Appointments - Chair Cheney announced that the town of Norwich has named appointees to the Athletic Fields Committee (Dennis Kaufman and Brian Livingston) and that the town of Hanover would provide names for the committee by Christmas.

b) Reports of Administrators:

Superintendent’s Report – Superintendent Gersen said that after the budget deliberations he would schedule a presentation of math assessments and that this and other curriculum topics would provide the Board with updated curriculum information. A report from the athletic department showed that 92 students are participating in winter track and 56 students are participating on the cross-country ski team. There is a proposed land swap on Hovey Lane that is under consideration where the town would not require a separate warrant article. Finally, the Superintendent informed the Board that Assistant Superintendent for Business, John Aubin recently sold $4 million of the $5.5 million supplemental bond total authorized in October, at 4.48 percent interest.

Director of Buildings & Grounds Report – Jonathan Brush reported progress on the middle school building project. The insulation is on schedule and the electricity will be initiated to replace use of generators for power. August 1 remains the scheduled opening date.

Principals’ Reports – High School Principal Gillespie reported about the Thanksgiving Pie Day and that the school has been nominated for “No Child Left Behind” Blue Ribbon Award based on testing scores. The school conducted a successful emergency evacuation drill in November.

Richmond School Principal Finer reported about music programs in the middle school and the student participation in the Toys for Tots program. Plans for packing and moving the library and computers to the new school are presently being discussed.

c) Report of Committee Representatives:

Education Committee – Nancy Carter reported that the committee reviewed the new state education regulations and that it has been 8 years since many of the regulations have been changed. There are no hearings scheduled in the Hanover vicinity but Board members can submit concerns in writing via related associations. Some of the new regulations under consideration include acceptance of experiential learning and changing the school year measurement from a number of days to a number of hours.

Quality of Education Subcommittee – Robert Bruce discussed that the committee has produced and submitted a mission statement document regarding the “peer school” analysis. This committee has been a collaborative effort of the School Board and the Finance Committee. It has found that comparative school districts may be found outside of the NH/VT region. Additionally, the committee would like to not only consider budgetary comparisons of peer schools but rather look at a more diverse collection of school districts in terms of best practices. It wants to identify 10-15 schools that exemplify these practices involving for example, parental/community involvement, use of the Internet, curriculum offerings, mechanisms for parental feedback and so on. The committee (comprised of Board members Robert Bruce, John Chamberlin and Finance Committee members Bill Bender and Mado Macdonald) needs to clarify the procedures necessary and list of schools to conduct this effort. There was concern regarding the words “value added” in the mission statement and the Superintendent will consider finding another phrase. The next meeting of the subcommittee is scheduled for Friday, January 7.

6. Business requiring discussion

a) Richmond School GMP Status – Superintendent Gersen discussed the status of the RMS construction project and the updated Change Order Log document that had been distributed to the Board. The log lists both pre and post-bond changes made to the project and the costs associated with those changes. Many of the changes did not have a price issued at this point and the steel price increase was not incorporated into the log.

Greg Hemberger, project manager conducted a presentation about the RMS project contingency fund. At the time of the October supplemental bond vote, it was set at $596,000 or 5% of the remaining construction costs. It is now $486,000 (6.6 percent of remaining RMS construction costs). Some of the changes that were highlighted include the fire department’s additional requirements, which increased owner costs and the soil testing that showed that less investment was required, which decreased owner costs. The worst steel price scenario was incorporated into the project presentation. The dispute about how the steel price increases will be covered has been postponed until the high school renovation plans get underway. Steel prices are continuing to rise 10-15 percent but parameters are too uncertain and there is no way to purchase the steel until the bid documents are ready. Those documents are expected earliest in late February

b) Athletics Fields – John Chamberlin of the Athletic Process Committee discussed the Fields Survey draft with the Board. He thanked the residents, who participated in developing the questionnaire. The Board reviewed the document and a proposed introduction statement and suggested some additional changes. The discussion included whether the private funding issue should be raised in the survey, distribution plans for the survey and how divided households could participate.

John Chamberlin moved and Larry Pilchman seconded a motion to approve the Dresden Athletic Fields questionnaire as proposed and attached to the original minutes of the meeting with revisions that integrate suggestions. The motion passed unanimously.

c) Update on Norwich Athletic Fields Development – Jonathan Brush distributed a

map of the proposed Norwich athletic fields development, which included two multipurpose fields, parking, underground irrigation lines and a pumphouse. It will not have drinkable water. The Norwich Highway Department and Hanover Public Works are considering how they can contribute to the project to help contain costs. Efforts are being undertaken to acquire clean fill from Dartmouth and other contractors, who would pay with in-kind contributions such as transporting the fill. The high school will also require fill and if the fields project moves forward leveling could begin in the springtime.

7. Business requiring action:

a) Approval of $20,000 crew gift to replace a shell. The Board expressed its appreciation to the Byrne Foundation for the gift and its support of the crew program.

Nancy Carter moved and John Chamberlin seconded a motion to accept a $20,000 gift to the athletic department as proposed and attached to the original meeting minutes. The motion passed unanimously.

b) Consent agenda - The Board expressed its appreciation to the teachers involved for their dedicated service.

Nancy Carter moved and John Chamberlin seconded a motion to accept the early retirement and resignation of Bruce Curtis-McLane in accordance with the provisions of Article 12 of the Contract between Hanover Education Association and the Dresden School Board, 2004-06 page 14. The motion passed unanimously.

Nancy Carter moved and John Chamberlin seconded a motion to accept the early retirement and resignation of Marilyn Blight in accordance with the provisions of Article 12 of the Contract between Hanover Education Association and the Dresden School Board, 2004-06 page 14. The motion passed unanimously.

Nancy Carter moved and John Chamberlin seconded a motion to accept the early retirement and resignation of Rebecca Hutchins in accordance with the provisions of Article 12 of the Contract between Hanover Education Association and the Dresden School Board, 2004-06 page 14. The motion passed unanimously.

8. Nonpublic session

Kari Asmus moved and Nancy Carter seconded a motion to enter nonpublic session in accordance with RSA 91-A:2 (l.b.) for discussion of matters related to collective bargaining and RSA 91-A:3 (ll.a.) for discussion of a personal matter. The motion passed by roll call vote. (9:37 p.m.)

9. Adjournment

Robert Bruce moved and Geoffrey Vitt seconded a motion to adjourn at 10:05 p.m. The motion passed unanimously.

The meeting adjourned at 10:05 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Roger Lohr

Recording Secretary