DRESDEN SCHOOL BOARD
REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, JUNE 26, 2007
7:00 P.M., HANOVER HIGH SCHOOL LIBRARY
Minutes
Present: Board members Asmus, Bruce, Callaghan, Carpenter, Carter, Chamberlin, Fleischer, Gray, and Williams; Administrators Gersen, Aubin, Gillespie, Finer. 10 members of the public. Recorded by R. Lohr
1. Call to order – Board Chair Robert Bruce called the meeting to order at 7:16 PM.
2. Approval of Minutes
A motion was made by John Chamberlin and seconded by Linda Gray to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of May 21, the Retreat of May 22, the special meeting of June 4, and the nonpublic sessions of May 21 and May 22 as submitted. The motion was passed unanimously.
3. Agenda Reorder - Business Requiring Discussion
Trail at Norwich Fields Agreement
The Board reviewed a Memorandum of Understanding that spelled out the agreement between the school district and the Upper Valley Trails Alliance regarding a trail on the Norwich fields property on Route 5. There was a concern that it was not clear that the school district would be held harmless in the case of litigation involving the use of the trail. The trail construction is slated to begin in July.
A motion was made by Linda Gray and seconded by Robin Carpenter to approve a Memorandum of Understanding from the Upper Valley Trails Alliance (UVTA) for placement of a trail on the Norwich athletic fields site contingent upon the UVTA showing that it has insurance coverage so that potential risks are adequately addressed as per school district counsel . The motion was passed unanimously.
Vending Machine Restrictions
The Hanover High School Wellness Committee presented background information supporting its recommendation to restrict the sale of high fructose drinks in the vending machines at the school. The group submitted editorial materials and a short analysis of the extent of the obesity issue at the school. The product sales in question are estimated to generate roughly $20,000 per year in revenue. The concept of restricting such beverages is modeled on California standards on the issue.
The Council attempted to discuss its last scheduled meeting by convening an emergency session, but it was unable to vote on the issue. The Council previously expressed an interest in subsidizing the cost of healthy food by charging a higher price for soft drinks and allowing the Wellness Group to initiate an awareness campaign to inform students about nutrition. The Board felt that the students would need to support the restriction in order for it to be effective. It was also recognized that in the beginning of such a beverage restriction, there may be substantial negative effects on the food service budget if a much larger number of students were driven to leave school for food.
A motion was made by Nancy Carter and seconded by John Chamberlin to table the motion to restrict beverages and bring it to the September Dresden Board meeting as an item to be discussed. The motion passed with 8 in favor and one opposed.
March Intensive
The organizers of the March Intensive program reported that they had solicited enough placement opportunities to accommodate 325 students. September 10 is the deadline established to have enough placement opportunities so that all of the students can be assigned to a March Intensive course. Each placement opportunity would be reviewed by the Committee on Instruction.
The majority of the Board expressed support for the program concept and was interested in program evaluation with regard to effects on academics and the school culture. In response to the issue of additional costs, the March Intensive Committee reported that the Friends of Hanover Schools may be interested in contributing to a scholarship program or in helping to defer low cost offerings so they could be no cost. It also noted that many of the offerings would be free. Coordinators would report to the School Board next May.
4. Communications and Reports
a) Chair Report
Chair Bruce announced that the next regular Board meeting will be held on Tuesday, August 28, 7:00 PM in the Hanover High School Library.
b) Superintendent’s Report
Superintendent Gersen mentioned the Agenda topic template document for next year’s board meetings and an evaluation checklist from Richmond Middle School that was included in the Board packet. Policies that will be reviewed by the Board next school year include those within the personnel and finance categories. He also highlighted the NHSBA memo about Right to Know laws.
c) Assistant Superintendent’s Report
Assistant Superintendent Aubin reported that the indoor aspect of the high school renovation project is complete and he gave an update on the outdoor projects. The turf field is complete; the track needs to be surfaced and the associated field will be seeded; and the Norwich athletic fields are making good progress. He reported that a waiver request needs to be submitted to include the cost of the turf field for the NH Building Aid, but he believed that since the project was approved prior to this rule went into effect a waiver would be unnecessary. There is no similar formal process in Vermont to cover cost for the turf field with Construction Aid, but the same case will be made in Vermont to attempt getting some funding. He announced that he would have a year end budget report in August.
d) Principal’s Report
Principal Gillespie reported about the senior trip to Boston and class day in the new auditorium. Graduation was successful. The Teachers Workshop Day included a presentation about competencies. She reported that the school Web site had an average of 893 hits per day during the school year, an indication of its usefulness. She also congratulated the athletic department for receiving the State Sportsmanship Award. She reviewed the building goals which are to be clean and green; to improve communications with the community; to define what it means to be democratic; and to improve the curriculum competences.
Principal Finer of the Richmond School was making her final report as principal. She expressed appreciation for the bowl that the Board gave her as a retirement gift and she reviewed her favorite quotes to be engraved on the bowl. The Board expressed its appreciation to Mrs. Finer for her outstanding service to the school district. The Superintendent will email the Richmond school goals to the Board members.
e) Negotiations Committee Report
An interim report from the Negotiations Committee was submitted to the Board. The Evaluation Committee is scheduled to meet on July 9 and the Compensation Committee would meet later in the month. These committees will submit reports that will become public documents, be given to the Finance Committee, and made into a press release.
5. Business Requiring Discussion
Fiber Project
The Fiber Project was approved at the town meeting in Hanover to connect Lebanon and Hanover emergency centers with fiber optic cable using a Homeland Security grant. This would provide a low-cost means for the Dresden and Hanover schools to be linked. John Aubin reviewed the financial details of the project whereby the High School would be connected to the Richmond School and Ray School. This linkage would provide savings on the Internet connections at Richmond and Ray and provide enhanced opportunities for direct phone service between schools, more room for systems, and the ability to share educational programs. The High School internet cost would increase by $300 to $1,100 per month, but the other schools would be included at a greatly reduced cost, thus providing a savings. Stan Williams will serve as the Board representative for this project and learn more details about potential maintenance costs and school ownership of the cable.
A motion was made by Nancy Carter and seconded by John Chamberlin to approve up to $20,000 to connect Richmond Middle School and Hanover High School to the Town of Hanover’s fiber network. The motion was passed unanimously.
The Board also discussed offering the schools to political parties for rental space during the New Hampshire primary. The rental prices were to be based on the existing fee structure. It was emphasized that the schools would be made available to all political parties equally.
6. Business Requiring Action
The Board discussed some issues covered in the handbook such as dress code. Principal Gillespie reviewed the changes to the handbook including the attendance policy.
A motion was made by Nancy Carter and seconded by John Chamberlin to approve the changes to the Hanover High School Handbook as proposed. The motion was passed unanimously.
A motion was made by Linda Gray and seconded by John Chamberlin to approve the Board Goals for 2007-08 as proposed and attached to the original meeting minutes. The motion was passed unanimously.
A motion was made by Nancy Carter and seconded by Linda Gray to approve the March Intensive as proposed and attached to the original meeting minutes. The motion was passed unanimously.
Assistant Superintendent Aubin explained the lease program for computers in the schools and he said that the Apple Computer lease was included in next year’s school budget.
A motion was made by John Chamberlin and seconded by Cary Callaghan to approve the lease with Apple Computers to upgrade the computer as proposed and attached to the original meeting minutes. The motion was passed unanimously.
A motion was made by John Chamberlin and seconded by Cary Callaghan to approve Policy IHF, Graduation Requirements as proposed and attached to the original meeting minutes. The motion was passed unanimously.
7. Nonpublic Session
A motion was made by John Chamberlin and seconded by Cary Callaghan to enter nonpublic session in accordance with RSA 91-A:3 for discussion of personnel matters. The motion was passed unanimously. Roll Call was conducted and the Board went into nonpublic session at 10:20 PM.
8. Adjournment
A motion was made by Nancy Carter and seconded by Linda Gray to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed unanimously.
The Dresden School Board meeting was adjourned at 10:35 PM.
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