DRESDEN SCHOOL BOARD
PUBLIC HEARING (RSA 198:20-b) AND REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, MARCH 27, 2007
7:00 P.M., HANOVER HIGH SCHOOL LIBRARY
Minutes
Present: Board members Asmus, Bruce, Carpenter, Callaghan, Chamberlin, Gray, Rose, Vitt, Williams; Administrators Gersen, Aubin, Brush, Gillespie; and 5 members of the public. Recorded by R. Lohr
1. Call to order
Chair Bruce called the meeting to order at 7:35 p.m.
2.Public Hearing in accordance with RSA 198:20-b, for the purpose of accepting gifts.
Chair Bruce opened the public hearing. The Board reviewed the particulars associated with various gifts to Dresden School District. The Board expressed its appreciation of the gifts.
A motion was made by Nancy Carter and seconded by Linda Gray to accept a $5,000 gift for the Crew Team from the Byrne Foundation, $8,205.85 for the Swim Team from the Byrne Foundation and other sources, $3,000 for the Athletic Department from the Class of 2005, and a $3,700 gift for industrial tech department in the Dick Guyer Memorial Fund as proposed and attached to the original meeting minutes. The motion passed unanimously.
The public hearing closed at 7:40 p.m.
3. Approval of Minutes
A motion was made by John Chamberlin and seconded by Robin Carpenter to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of February 27, the Organizational meeting of March 12, Special meetings of March 13, March 14, and March 19, and the nonpublic sessions of March 13, March 14, March 19, and March 20 as submitted. The motion passed unanimously.
4. Communications and Reports
a. Chair Report
Chair announced that the next regular Board meeting will be Tuesday, April 24, 7:00 p.m. in the Hanover High School Library.
Chair Bruce reviewed committee assignments and the Board discussed the issue of having people continuing to serve on the same committees or as liaisons. The Board concurred that standing committees such as Negotiations, Fields, and Building should retain their current members as should liaisons for DAAC, VSBA, and Vocational Tech. John Chamberlin agreed to serve as NHSBA liaison and Cary Callaghan accepted the assignment as liaison to the Richmond Advisory Council. The Board reminded the public that committee meetings are open and the public is welcome to attend and participate at the meetings. Dates for committee meetings are posted on the SAU Web site.
A motion was made by Linda Gray and seconded by Robin Carpenter to nominate Stan Williams as Vice Chair. The motion passed unanimously.
b. Council Representative Report
On behalf of the Council Representative, Principal Gillespie reported on the Council’s discussion about improving recycling at the school, elections for next year, and a planned joint meeting with the Lebanon Council. Nancy Carter reported that the junior class is developing a fund raiser to provide magnets for students to put on their lockers to secure posters. To help with the cleanup, items that are displayed would need to be removed on Fridays.
c. Superintendent Report
Dr. Gersen reported that he has requested a waiver from the NH Board of Education for the days missed at the beginning of the year and will forward the decision when it is received.
d. Director of Buildings and Grounds Report
Director Jonathan Brush provided the Board with an update of the high school renovation and field projects. He reported that the projects are within the budget. John Aubin, Assistant Superintendent for Business, indicated he would prepare a report on the financial accounting of the projects (including change orders) for the next Board meeting.
e. Principal Reports
Principal Gillespie reported about the passing of Dick Guyer of the high school industrial tech department. The NEASC Report was received and it continued the Hanover High School’s accreditation. Ms. Gillespie also reported that Jeannie Kornfeld was awarded the Siemens Foundation Award for Advanced Placement for environmental science.
Principal Finer was unavailable as she was giving a presentation at the NH League of Middle Schools, which named the Richmond School as a Spotlight School in the state. Dr. Gersen reported that Ms. Finer wanted to thank Cheryl Lindberg for help in a program to send funds to Guatamala. He also noted the play about bullying, “The Revealers,” was performed at the school and received accolades in the Valley News.
f. Committee Reports
COI – Reporting for Mary Sachsse, Deb Gillespie reported that the COI is setting up a system to track community service and has developed more electives in the high school. Students now can register in their subjects and electives on line.
Finance Committee – Kari Asmus reported that the Finance Committee met on March 19 and discussed HEA negotiations, the auditor’s report, and the investment policy. The next Finance Committee meeting is scheduled for April 16. The Board will need to replace Kari as liaison on this committee.
Staff Development – Dr. Gersen reported that all but $5,000 of the staff development grants were allocated and there will be a carry over of the remaining funds. This committee is reviewing the staff development document to tighten guidelines and focus on credits for advancement.
Negotiations – John Chamberlin reported that the Alternative Compensation Committee has held wide ranging discussions to develop a new compensation system. He indicated that an open public forum is planned prior to the end of the school year to provide the committee and the public with information on the topic.
5. Business Requiring Discussion
The Board decided to ask the Budget Committee to handle the final review of the Board’s Investment Policy. This policy is intended to develop a balanced process and policy so that the Treasurer and Assistant Superintendent can work together successfully and invest the district’s funds beneficially. Board members with finance and legal experience will be involved in a review of the policy prior to the April 16 Finance Committee meeting. The Finance Committee will be asked to provide additional feedback.
6. Business Requiring Action
A motion was made by John Chamberlin and seconded by Linda Gray to approve the 2007-08 school calendar as presented and attached to the original meeting minutes. The motion passed unanimously.
A motion was made by Linda Gray and seconded by John Chamberlin to approve the Friends Grants as proposed and attached to the original meeting minutes. The motion passed unanimously. The Friends Grants included $2,500 for mobile art and $2,500 for theatre lighting at Richmond Middle School.
7. Nonpublic Session
A motion was made by Nancy Carter and seconded by Linda Gray to enter
nonpublic session in accordance with RSA 91-A:3 for discussion of personnel matters. The motion passed unanimously. Roll call was conducted and the Board entered nonpublic session at 9:10 p.m.
8. Return to public session
The Board returned to public session at 9:42 p.m.
A motion was made by John Chamberlin and seconded by Linda Gray to elect staff members for the 2007-08 school year, as listed and attached to the original meeting minutes. The motion passed 8 yes, 1 no (Carpenter).
9. Adjournment
A motion was made by Linda Gray and seconded by Kari Asmus to adjourn the meeting at 9:43 p.m. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 9:43 p.m.
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