DRESDEN SCHOOL BOARD
REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, AUGUST 30, 2005
7:04 P.M., RICHMOND SCHOOL LIBRARY
Approved
Present: Board members Asmus, Bruce, Carter, Chamberlin, Cheney, Fleischer, Gray, Kaplan, Pilchman, Sachsse, Slaughter; Student council rep Creighton; Administrators Gersen, Aubin, Brush, Gillespie, Finer; and 20 members of the public. Recorded by R. Lohr
1. Call to order – Chair Cheney called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m.
2. Approval of minutes
A motion was made and seconded (Ms. Carter, Mr. Chamberlin) to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of June 21, as submitted with corrections. The motion passed unanimously. Change -Mr. Krass was spelled incorrectly.
3. Public InputKirk Gantrish, a prospective buyer of a house adjacent to Richmond Middle School, expressed concern about student safety at Dresden Road at the new school. He suggested that a fence be installed behind two homes on Curtis Road. Chair Cheney indicated that the staff scheduled a meeting with the neighbors to discuss a variety of issues associated with the new RMS and the neighborhood on September 8. Superintendent Gersen noted that the site plan was subject to extensive review by the neighbors and accepted by both the Dresden School Board and the Hanover Planning Board.
4. Agenda ReviewChair Cheney recommended that the Budget and Finance Committee reports and deliberations on athletics be addressed earlier in the meeting and Board members concurred.
5. Communications and Reports
a) Chair Report
Chair Cheney announced that the next Board meeting date is scheduled for September 27, at 7:00 p.m. in the Richmond School Library. She proposed the second week in October for the Board’s annual retreat and asked Board members to email dates that they were unavailable. Additionally, the SAU Board would meet on September 7 at the scheduled Norwich Board meeting at 6:45 p.m. and the Norwich Board meeting would begin at 7:30 p.m.
b) Dresden Finance Committee Report
Athos Rassias, Chair of the Dresden Finance Committee, reported that the Committee met over the summer to review and discuss teacher contract issues. A memo summarizing the Dresden Finance Committee’s findings was distributed to the Board. The memo outlined the Dresden Finance Committee’s goals and mission and provided a synopsis of the Committee’s opinions in anticipation of the teacher contract negotiations. Members of the committee and the Board discussed some of the issues that were addressed in the document. The Finance Committee members advocated that cost of living increases incorporate benefits as well as salaries, that merit pay be considered, and questioned applying cost-of-living increases to higher income earners. The Board expressed its concern about the potential disruptive nature of the negotiations process in the context of budget development. At the end of the discussion, the Superintendent said he would meet with the Dresden negotiations committee in the coming week to discuss the issues raised by the Dresden Finance Committee.
c) Budget Committee Report
Kari Asmus reported that the Board’s Budget Committee met on August 17 to discuss the 2006-07 budget guidelines. In formulating the budget guidelines, the Board Committee hoped to address concerns that the previous guidelines had been too stringent and had stifled potential innovation. She suggested that the Dresden Finance Committee review the budget guidelines and provide feedback on them before the next Board meeting. Some Board members expressed their opinion that the cost per pupil data suggested in item four of the guidelines was not directly applicable to the Dresden budget.
d) Fields Design-Build Subcommittee Report
John Chamberlin expressed his appreciation for the work that the subcommittee had completed, particularly the help provided by community volunteers, Buff McLaughry, Barry Harwick, Cam Brown, and Hank Tenney. He reported that the subcommittee supported the use of a design-build firm for the fields projects and that RFP’s had been sent to six firms. The Superintendent reported that on September 8 the staff will receive a response to these RFP’s. The Superintendent will meet with the Hanover Select Board on September 12 and Norwich Select Board on September 14 to discuss the details of the fields. On September 19 the Athletic Fields Committee will meet and hear a report from the Design-Build Subcommittee and reach a consensus on the scope and final budget for the athletic fields bond.
To continue discussion on athletic fields, the Board took up item 6a under Business requiring discussion, Next Steps for Athletic Fields. Superintendent Gersen reiterated that the Athletic Fields Committee recommended a design-build approach, and noted that determining the specific cost would have to be deferred until bids are reviewed, that the Committee recommends seeding and irrigating new fields rather than using sod, and tha the Board set a target dollar amount for private fundraising, noting that initial efforts indicate that $100,000 could be realistic.
He summarized the proposed timetable: 9/19 - the Athletic Fields Committee will review its subcommittee’s findings to identify the scope and cost for the proposed bond; 9/27 - the Dresden Board meeting to approve and set the scope and cost; 11/8 - bond vote.
As an outgrowth of this presentation, the Board discussed fundraising efforts for the fields projects. Athletic Fields Committee Co-chair, Peter Krass, indicated his group would appreciate a formal endorsement by the Board regarding their fundraising efforts.
A motion was made and seconded (Ms. Gray, Mr. Pilchman) to express support for the pursuit of the recommendation for the athletic fields as presented by the Athletic Fields Committee report (received in June 2005) and for the committee’s fundraising efforts, with the goal of reducing the total cost to the taxpayers. The motion passed unanimously.
6. Business Requiring Discussion
Funding of New Athletic Programs
The Dresden Athletic Department included information in the packet on program participation and budget history. In the packet, the DAAC submitted a document outlining its proposed method for adding athletic sports and teams. The proposed criteria for adding sports and teams was discussed. Mike Jackson hoped the Board would take action on the proposed criteria by the end of the calendar year. The Board requested that the athletic staff provide an accounting for each of the respective sport expenses that are covered by the Dresden budget and, if possible, the various booster groups. The Board indicated a willingness to consider the DAAC’s proposal for handling additions and identified some questions for the DAAC to consider.
Mike Jackson reported that 85 students enrolled in boys’ soccer and 70 registered for cross country, which required additional coaches in each sport. The Board discussed the issue and decided that since these sports and levels already existed, additional coaches should be hired to accommodate the situations. Board members also encouraged the consideration of developing an intramural program at the high school in light of the expansion of sub-varsity teams. The Council will consider this concept and confer with the athletic department on the desirability of intramurals.
The Superintendent reported that Dartmouth College informed Dresden that the Fullington Fields are no longer available and will not be available for the foreseeable future. The college’s decision exemplified the urgency of the Dresden fields issue and showed cause for it being addressed as soon as possible.
e) Superintendent Report
Superintendent Gersen distributed a copy of the Temporary Conditional Certificate of Occupancy for Richmond Middle School to the Board. He noted that in addition to the items on the memo from the Town, there is a lengthy punch list of work still to be done. The Superintendent reviewed a hard copy of a power point presentation he gave to the staff on opening day. The presentation highlighted accomplishments and described the curriculum committee work to date and the long and short term plans for the future. He thanked Joanne Roberts for her work preparing and reviewing the individualized curriculum plans for each department.
Superintendent Gersen also noted that the packet included proposed policy changes that resulted from recently adopted New Hampshire minimum standards. He noted that over the coming year these policies would be reviewed, particularly those that provide flexibility for the Board.
f) Assistant Superintendent Report
John Aubin reported that the year end fund balance for Dresden was roughly $328,000, which was better than the anticipated budget estimates. He indicated that the tuition revenues were $60,000 higher than projected, and the medical insurance account was lower by $65,000. He noted that $28,000 was transferred to the cafeteria fund to offset overruns in that area.
i) Council Representative Report
Alex Creighton reported that The Council held an orientation retreat and to prepare for the upcoming year. The Council wanted to receive plans for the renovation and the implementation. He reported that The Council was concerned about free space at the school during the renovation process. The staff pledged to provide the plans and to regularly review the renovation expectations with The Council.
g) Facilities Report
Superintendent Gersen reported that Director of Facilities, Mr. Brush is presently working on several environmental issues at the high school. He noted that the contractor was removing lead paint in the old RMS but not in the high school. Jonathan Brush planned to convene parent meetings to discuss the additional asbestos work to be done in November in the high school renovation project.
h) Principals’ Reports
High School Principal Gillespie expressed appreciation for the cleanup work done at the high school to get ready for the start of the school year. She reported that the morale is good and an open house is scheduled for September 22, when the renovation project will be discussed again. The enrollment is roughly 760.
RMS Principal Finer reported that 500 people visited the new school during the August preview for grades six through eight and that about 400 people visited during the ribbon cutting this evening. She indicated that the library shelves were expected within a couple of weeks and acoustic panels would be installed in the cafeteria. The enrollment at Richmond Middle School was reported as 413.
j) Quality of Education Committee Report
Bob Bruce briefed the Board on the Committee meeting in July and its discussion on developing benchmarks. The staff has reached out to about a dozen other schools to compare and develop educational benchmarks and has heard from four school districts at this point.
k) Alternate Funding Committee Report
The Committee plans to meet with a contact at Dartmouth to discuss the steps needed to establish an alumni fundraising program. At its initial meeting, the Committee discussed ideas such as increasing the number of tuition students and getting additional revenue by offering on line courses.
l) Building Committee Report
Linda Gray reviewed the Building Committee meeting, where the mandates from the Town of Hanover were reviewed. The Committee identified two areas to revisit: 1) an amendment to the “hardscape” plan, substituting less expensive fencing around the trees near the HS bus drop-off, and 2) reexamining the “streetprint” requirement for Lebanon Street crosswalks.
7. Business Requiring Action:
The Board discussed the sites for the Special Dresden District Meeting and the timing of the vote for the fields project bond. Board members recommended a strong publicity effort in advance of the vote and decided to have a Dresden Board meeting with the Fields Committee on September 19. Board members also encouraged using open houses in RMS and HHS to share information about the proposed fields project. The Superintendent indicated that the project design builder would help with presentations on the project.
A motion was made and seconded (Ms. Carter, Mr. Chamberlin) for a special Dresden District Meeting to be held as follows: Discussion Phase on November 7, 2005, at 7:00 p.m. in Tracy Hall, Norwich, Vermont; Voting Phase on November 8, 2005, 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the Richard W. Black Center in Hanover, New Hampshire for Hanover voters and in Tracy Hall in Norwich, Vermont for Norwich voters. Said meeting to be in accordance with the New Hampshire/Vermont Interstate School Compact, New Hampshire RSA Chapter 200-B, Article IV.H to authorize the incurring of debts to finance the construction of athletic field facilities; and further to authorize such debt for all items incidental to and necessary for the aforementioned project for approval by Dresden School District voters. Said votes of authorization to be taken by secret written ballot according to “Dresden School District procedures for Australian Ballot” Appendix A of the Articles of Agreement. The motion passed with 9 in favor and one opposed (Pilchman).
A motion was made and seconded (Mr. Chamberlin, Mr. Fleischer) to approve the 2005-06 Dresden School Board Educational Goals as proposed and attached to the original meeting minutes. The motion passed unanimously.
The Superintendent nominated Jill Witney for a .4 debate teacher at Hanover High School for the 2005-2006 school year.
A motion was made and seconded (Mr. Pilchman, Mr. Chamberlin) to elect Jill Witney as a .4 Debate Teacher at Hanover High School at track 1, step 1, salary $14,358 (40% of $35,895), for the 2005-2006 school year. The motion passed unanimously.
7. Adjournment
A motion was made and seconded (Mr. Bruce, Ms. Gray) to adjourn at 11:05 p.m. The motion passed unanimously.
The meeting adjourned at 11:05p.m.
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