DRESDEN SCHOOL BOARD
RETREAT
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2006
4:40 P.M., PIERCE’S INN
DRAFT MINUTES
MINUTES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE UPON BOARD APPROVAL
Present: Board members Asmus, Bruce, Carpenter, Chamberlin, Cheney, Gray, Pilchman, Sachsse, Vitt, Williams; Administrators Gersen, Aubin, Finer, Gillespie, McCracken, Roberts (5:45); Council Representative Proom; and no members of the public.
1. Call to order
Chair Cheney called the Retreat to order at 4:40 p.m. The Board discussed agenda items for discussion and ordered the items.
2. Bullying Resolution
Superintendent Gersen explained that a review committee of the NH School Boards Association (NHSBA) had split on whether or not to support the Dresden Board’s Resolution to amend RSA 193-F to limit the defined scope of actionable harassment (“bullying”), and to permit case-specific administrative response. The question was raised whether to further express the concerns regarding this legislation to the full NHSBA Board as it will be meeting soon to make its recommendation. Robin Carpenter will make the contact for the Dresden Board by letter and email.
3. Meeting format
Board members discussed the meeting format and ways to be more focused at the meetings. Consensus was to keep the timeline on the agenda and make a concerted effort to adhere to it. Also the Chair will remind Board members of the amount of time remaining for each item and cut-off discussion when time is running over. In the event that closure is not likely, topics will be delegated to subcommittees.
4. Media contacts
Board members offered no changes to the proposed guidelines.
5. Email protocols
Superintendent Gersen lead the discussion by distributing a packet that included a bill that passed the NH Senate, but failed in the House because it would have been too restrictive. Based on conversations with Dean Michener, the NHSBA legislative liaison, he believed a close approximation to this bill will probably be enacted in the next session. Board members and Administrators discussed how to treat emails among themselves. Chair Cheney summed up the consensus: Board members should use email for requesting and disseminating information, not for discussion or decision making. The Board agreed that monthly packets and other information shared with the entire Board should be made available to the public on the SAU website and/or Town libraries. Superintendent Gersen was asked to rewrite the draft protocol with a goal of delineating this mutual understanding as opposed to writing a formal policy.
6. Quality of Education Committee mission statement
The Board had a lengthy discussion about the proposed mission statement, along with the make-up and role of the Committee itself. The Consensus of the Board was that this Committee should be an SAU Committee rather than a Dresden Committee with more direct involvement from the Administration and teachers. The Board made edits to the proposed mission statement and asked the Superintendent to provide an updated document for approval at a special SAU Board meeting on September 26.
7. Dresden feedback - community and parent surveys
Board members discussed what process they wished to follow as a result of the information gathered from the roundtable discussions and the parent surveys. Board members said they would like to see annual roundtable type meetings and the surveys in each school. Principal Gillespie said she will use ASAP to organize the forums and bring in other community members to assist in the review of the survey. Principal Finer said she is very willing to do a survey in the spring. Board members asked that this be made into a goal. The Administrators also said that they are currently considering how to address some of the concerns raised in the parent survey and will brief the Board in October on steps that will be taken.
8. 2006-07 Board Goals
Board members and Administrators discussed and prioritized each proposed goal and discussed timelines for meeting the goals. A final draft of the goals will be brought to the September 26 Board meeting for approval.
9. Long range planning ideas
Board member Bruce suggested two topics for long range discussions: the financial impact to the District when the Dartmouth money ends, and local resources that might be available to the District. He also introduced two ideas: a program with Dartmouth that would bring college students into the classrooms to enhance our teaching staff, much the same as Teach for America; and an expanded version of the Dartmouth SEAD program which might add 30-50 tuition students to the Dresden enrollment base.
Superintendent Gersen spoke with the Board about legal concerns surrounding the payment of special ed costs for tuitioned students, a factor that could undercut the Board’s notion of increasing the number of tuition students in order to address the pending revenue losses.
Board members suggested convening a meeting of the Alternative Funding Committee.
10. Nonpublic session
Larry Pilchman moved and Kari Asmus seconded a motion to enter nonpublic session in accordance with RSA 91-A:3 (II.d.) for discussion of land sale. The motion passed unanimously by roll call vote. at 9:38 p.m.
11. Adjournment
Bob Bruce moved and Mary Sachsse seconded a motion to adjourn at 9:42 p.m. The motion carried unanimously.
The meeting adjourned at 9:42 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Mary B. Davis
Recording Secretary
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