DRESDEN SCHOOL BOARD
REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 2007
7:00 P.M., HANOVER HIGH SCHOOL LIBRARY
Minutes
Present: Board members Asmus, Bruce, Callaghan, Carpenter, Carter, Chamberlin, Fleischer, Gray, Rose, Sachsse, Vitt, Williams; Administrators Gersen, Aubin, Brush, Gillespie, Finer; 12 members of the public. Recorded by R. Lohr
1. Call to order
Chair Bruce called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m. The Board recognized students in attendance from a Dartmouth College public policies class.
2. Approval of Minutes
A motion was made by John Chamberlin and seconded by Robin Carpenter to approve the regular meeting minutes of March 27, the Special meetings of April 4, and the non public sessions of March 27 and April 4, as submitted. The motion passed with 11 in favor and one abstention (Fleischer).
3. Communications and Reports
a. Chair Report
Chair Bruce announced that the next regular Dresden Board meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 22, 7:00 p.m. in the Hanover High School Library (NOTE: this was changed to May 21 later in the meeting). He also noted the listing of committee assignments enclosed in the packet and announced that in addition to being the NHSB liaison, John Chamberlin volunteered to organize ceremonies related to opening the new athletic fields and auditorium
b. Council Representative Report
Nancy Carter reported that there have been no recent meetings of the school council.
c. Superintendent’s Report
Superintendent Gersen announced that the school district had received a waiver for three of the days as requested from the NHDOE, which meant the last day of the school year for Hanover High School students would be June 20. The last day for the other Dresden students will be June 19. The teachers last day will be one day after those respective dates. He also announced that the Vermont Legislature proposed a bill that would require a super majority of town voters to pass any school budget that exceeded a 4 percent cap. In New Hampshire, the threshold for posting school board meetings has been lowered.
d. Assistant Superintendent and Director of Buildings & Grounds Report
Assistant Superintendent for Business, John Aubin reviewed the Dresden financial report through the end of March and discussed major variances, highlighting financial information on food service. With regard to the food service report, the Board was concerned with deficits of about $40,000 for the high school and $14,000 for the middle school. The high school recently hiked prices and expected detailed reports will help pinpoint the deficits more accurately. He then reviewed the budget for the renovation, construction, and fields projects, giving a slide show of the high school renovations.
The Board discussed the use of unspent funds from the construction projects. John Aubin indicated that the law required that they be used to reduce the debt service. He recommended the funds be held for a year after the projects are done so that they may used to address any project-related issues that arise. The project costs are expected to be $1.5 million below the supplemental bond that was passed by voters.
On the fields project, John Aubin announced that change orders have tallied to a net deficit of about $220,000 due mostly to the costs needed to accommodate special access to the football field and removal of a ledge at the Norwich site. The Board urged the staff to add padding to the stone retaining walls on the turf field for safety as the walls appear to be close to the field. In his financial analysis, Mr. Aubin reported that the Vermont construction aid office has not accepted responsibility to cover the cost of the synthetic field resulting in a revenue shortfall of about $72,000. He indicated he would contact them to appeal to them to cover those costs. He also noted that the Norwich fields ledge removal was a larger than anticipated part of the project but the Norwich site is moving along as planned now.
e. Principals Report
Principal Gillespie reported that the high school English wing has opened. She also highlighted the students’ participation in Latin Day, which is on YouTube and the other language trips that took place during the spring break. She announced that athletes received five awards for sportsmanship this year. She also indicated Council elections are coming up soon and that students and staff discussed emergency procedures in response to the Virginia Tech tragedy.
Principal Finer said that the middle school also discussed emergency preparedness with the staff and police. The Board asked to have information regarding the NECAP test results in the middle school presented at the next meeting.
f. Committee Reports
Committee On Instruction has not met recently.
The Dresden Budget Committee met three times regarding the Investment Policy and once regarding the budget cycle. In developing the 2008-09 budget, the Committee hopes to incorporate more of other committees’ work and public input. A meeting to begin discussion on 2008-09 budget guidelines is set for August 6.
Dresden Finance Committee expressed interest in the status of the Quality of Education Committee and Negotiations Committee work and has reviewed the Investment Policy.
The Staff Development Committee, which reviews and screens faculty enrichment grants, sabbaticals, and credit for the step/track system, set a retreat meeting on May 1 at Hanover Inn to address the District’s Master Plan for 2007-2010. This meeting is open to the public and the existing plan will be posted on the SAU 70 Web site for review prior to the meeting. Public comment on the future plan is welcome.
Negotiations Committee is considering alternative compensation systems and faculty evaluations. A public forum is tentatively scheduled for May 17 with a speaker, who will discuss information about teacher quality and alternative compensation. Articles with background information will be posted on the SAU70 Web site.
4. Business Requiring Discussion
The Board decided to schedule the next Dresden School Board meeting on May 21 and its retreat on May 22. It decided to set the SAU Board meeting for June 4. Topics to be covered at the retreat might include a proposal for intensive four day study in the high school, consideration of how the school supports students that are in the middle of the educational spectrum, negotiations in closed session, goal setting, and suggestions from the administrators. The Board discussed inviting guidance counselors to give an introduction and background research on the students in the middle.
5. Business Requiring Action
The Superintendent nominated James Nourse as Interim Principal at Frances C. Richmond School, salary $86,000, for the 2007-08 school year.
A motion was made by John Chamberlin and seconded by Cary Callaghan to elect James Nourse as Interim Principal at Frances C. Richmond School, salary $86,000, for the 2007-08 school year. The motion passed unanimously.
The Board discussed the Investment Policy DFA, and the process that was involved with finalizing the policy. It was felt that the policy could be revisited if necessary, after applying it for some time. Board members and those involved in the investment procedures were asked to accumulate technical and other comments related to the policy in the coming months.
A motion was made by John Chamberlin and seconded by Robin Carpenter to approve Policy DFA, Investment Policy as proposed and attached to the original meeting minutes. The motion passed unanimously.
A motion was made by Nancy Carter and seconded by Kari Asmus to create the position of Computer Technician in the Dresden School District at an annual salary not to exceed $41,000. The motion passed unanimously.
The Superintendent nominated Erin Madory, Amy Kono, and Tanya Cluff as faculty for the 2007-2008 school year.
A motion was made by John Chamberlin and seconded by Linda Gray to elect Erin Madory, Amy Kono, and Tanya Cluff for the 2007-2008 school year. The motion passed unanimously.
6. Nonpublic Session
A motion was made by John Chamberlin and seconded by Nancy Carter to enter
nonpublic session in accordance with RSA 91-A:3 for discussion of financial matters. The motion passed unanimously. Roll call was conducted and the Board entered nonpublic session at 10:25 p.m.
7. Adjournment
A motion was made by Linda Gray and seconded by Kari Asmus to adjourn the meeting at 10:45 p.m. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 10:45 p.m.
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