DRESDEN SCHOOL BOARD
REGULAR MEETING TUESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2006
7:00 P.M., HANOVER HIGH SCHOOL LIBRARY
Minutes
Present: Board members Asmus, Bruce, Carter, Carpenter, Chamberlin, Fleischer, Gray (7:12), Pilchman, Sachsse (7:14), Vitt; Council Representative Proom; Administrators Gersen, Aubin, Finer, Gillespie, Jackson. 12 members of the public attended. Recorded by R. Lohr
1. Public Hearing in accordance with RSA 198:20-b, for the purpose of accepting a Friends of the Hanover/Norwich Schools Grant in the amount of $6,000.
State law requires that a public hearing be held for gifts to the school district in excess of $5,000. This gift is earmarked to upgrade the physics lab with computers. The public hearing was closed at 7:10 p.m.
2. Regular Meeting - Call to order
Vice Chair Bruce called the regular board meeting to order at 7:10 p.m.
3. Approval of Minutes
A motion was made by John Chamberlin and Larry Pilchman seconded by to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of November 28, and the nonpublic meeting of November 28, as submitted. The motion passed unanimously.
4. Communications and Reports
a) Chair Report
The vice chair, Robert Bruce announced that the next Dresden School Board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, January 9, 7:00 p.m. at the Hanover High School library. This will be the first of three budget meetings in January. Budget deliberations will be on Tuesday, January 16, and the public hearing and budget adoption will be on Tuesday, January 23.
b) Superintendent’s Report
It was determined that Board Chair, Margaret Cheney, who recently resigned from the Norwich Board effective January 1, 2007, and was not in attendance this evening due to illness, could be available at the January 9 Board meeting. The Board decided to defer a presentation to her until she could be present.
Dr. Gersen highlighted that the Board packet included the materials pertaining to Joe Bonfiglio’s recent presentation on the New Hampshire Vision for Redesign of High School. It was explained that the “Vision” was developed following the State Board’s recent decision to abandon Carnegie Units that count classroom hours in favor of competencies that a student must exhibit.
5. Agenda Change – Business Requiring Discussion
Nutritious Snack Initiative
Dr. Michael Lyons and a Dartmouth Medical School student gave a presentation about obesity as a national issue and recommended that Dresden schools offer only healthy food choices in its vending machines.
Student Council Representative Zoe Proom stated that the Student Council had passed a resolution to create a price differential between the sodas and healthy drinks, so that there would be an economic incentive for students to select the healthy foods. The Council felt that if all junk food and soda was eliminated from the school, many more students would go to the Co-Op for food. Additionally, The Council felt that restricting choices between “healthy” food and “junk food” would limit the students own choices about what to eat.
It was noted that most soft drink beverage companies have agreed to refrain from selling unhealthy products in public schools by 2008/09 and it is expected that more states will act on the issue by passing laws such as California SB-19 legislation.
Board members questioned the scope of the obesity problem at Hanover High School and learned that the high school is estimated to have only a one percent obesity rate.
After hearing an hour of testimony, the Board decided to include a resolution on this issue on its January or February agenda, depending on the complexity of budget deliberations.
Athletic Honor Code
Mike Jackson reviewed the Code of Conduct for student athletes and the form signed by athletes and their parents. While admitting that there are student athletes who violate the Code, Mr. Jackson felt that Honor Code was a helpful and effective deterrent for many students. Last year there were seven incidents where conduct resulted in suspensions and this fall there were four such incidents.
The Board discussed the severity of the code penalty and whether a duty to report other students that break the code should be a necessary element in the code. The question was also raised as to whether the Code should be expanded to other co-curricular activities such as drama productions. The Board recognized the work done by the Athletic Director and the excellent results of the high school athletic program.
6. Communications and Reports
b) Superintendent’s Report Continued
Superintendent Gersen reported that the Search Committee had received nine applications from the Internet advertisement for the Richmond School principal position. He also reported that signs requesting people to turn vehicle engines off would be posted at all schools during the holiday.
c) Assistant Superintendent Report
John Aubin reported that the administrative staff has been working on the budget for six weeks and Board members would receive copies over the Holiday break.
He also reported that the athletic field bond was 4.06 percent rather than the estimated 4.75 percent, thus saving about $10-15,000 per year.
He reported that the Hanover Education Association has not yet appointed members to the two study committees, so these committees have not gotten underway.
John Chamberlin pointed out that the synthetic turf had been installed behind the school. In response to a question about the walking path around the new field, Mr. Aubin said that pedestrians could walk across the field or can pass around it on the left side.
d) Principals Reports
Principal Finer commented that the Richmond School had numerous opportunities to take advantage of community resources and listed some examples from last month.
e) Committee Reports
Committee on Instruction – This committee is looking at the ninth graders’ transition to high school, and considering whether a team approach among the teachers, closer to a middle school model, would be good.
Budget Committee – This committee is scheduled for a joint meeting with the Dresden Finance Committee on the morning of January 9. It was also reported that earlier this week the Dresden Finance Committee voted in favor (10-2) of the tentative agreement with the teachers.
Staff Development Committee - Nancy Carter reported that this committee will review requests on four sabbaticals on January 8-9 and on January 25 the committee will look at enrichment grants. The Board inquired whether these meetings would be posted or require any nonpublic time.
7. Business Requiring Action
A motion was made by Larry Pilchman and seconded by John Chamberlin to accept a gift the Friends Grant of $6,000. The motion passed unanimously. The Board expressed its gratitude for the grant.
A motion was made by John Chamberlin and seconded by Mary Sachsse to accept a gift the Friends Grant for the Richmond School as proposed and attached to the original meeting minutes. The motion passed unanimously. The Board expressed its gratitude for the grant.
A motion was made by Nancy Carter and seconded by Larry Pilchman to accept with regret the resignation of Barbara Blaisdell effective June 30, 2007. The motion passed unanimously. The Board expressed its gratitude for Ms. Blaisdell’s exemplary service.
A motion was made by Nancy Carter and seconded by Linda Gray to accept with regret the resignation of Heddy Fantl effective June 30, 2007. The motion passed unanimously. The Board expressed its gratitude for Ms. Fantl’s exemplary service.
A motion was made by John Chamberlin and seconded by Linda Gray to accept the coaches as submitted and attached to the original meeting minutes. The motion passed unanimously.
8. Adjournment
A motion was made by Nancy Carter and seconded by Larry Pilchman to adjourn the meeting at 10:20 p.m. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 10:20 p.m.
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