HANOVER SCHOOL BOARD
REGULAR MEETING
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2005
7:02 P.M., RAY SCHOOL MULTI-ROOM
Approved Minutes
Present: Board members Asmus, Bruce, Carter, Chamberlin, Fleischer, Pilchman; Administrators Gersen, Aubin, Williams; 30 members of the public; Recorded by R. Lohr
1. Call to Order – Chair Chamberlin called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m.
2. Approval of Minutes
Larry Pilchman moved and Chip Fleischer seconded a motion to approve the minutes of the regular meeting and nonpublic meeting of September 21, as submitted. The motion passed with three in favor, none opposed and two abstentions (Asmus, Bruce).
3. Communications and Reports
a) Report of Chair
Chair John Chamberlin announced that the next Board meeting was scheduled for November 16, 7:00 p.m. in the Ray School Multi-room. The Special School District Meeting will take place on Monday, November 7, discussion phase at 7:00 p.m. in Tracy Hall in Norwich, and Tuesday, November 8, from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. for all day voting. Voting will take place at Tracy Hall for Norwich voters and the Richard Black Community Center in Hanover for Hanover voters. Forums about the fields issue will be held in Hanover on October 26 at 7:00 PM at Richmond Middle School and in Norwich on November 7 at 7:00 PMat the Marion Cross School.
John Chamberlin also announced that Board member Matt Slaughter has been nominated for the President’s Council of Economic Advisors. Once he is approved by the Senate, a new Hanover resident will need to take his place on the School Board.
b) Reports of Administrators
Superintendent’s Report
Dr. Gersen reviewed a letter he received from Dave Bradley, Dresden’s attorney, regarding HB 549 that allows a district to accept a gift below $5,000 without a hearing, as long as it is posted on the Board meeting agenda. Athletic gifts could be accepted as one large sum. Grant funds will not be affected unless they are unanticipated.
Assistant Superintendent for Business Report – Assistant Superintendent John Aubin discussed the budget report that he distributed to the Board at the meeting. Mr. Aubin explained some of the larger budget issues for the benefit of the students who were attending the Board meeting, noting that transportation, teacher salaries and benefits, and special education would have the largest impact on the 2006-07 budget. He noted that the accounting system software has been installed and as a result, he was able to enhance the reports for the Board. Mr. Aubin also reported that bus transportation remains a problem due, in part, to a shortage of bus drivers. The 5-year contract with the bus company is in the last year and alternative companies will be investigated in an effort to find a long term solution.
Principal’s Report – Ray School Principal Williams submitted his written report to the Board. He commented that the NECAP tests required an excessive amount of student time away from studies. The fifth graders, for example, took eight ninety-minute tests.
The Principal reviewed his proposal to increase the fourth grade teaching staff by .6 FTE in order to reduce the current student class sizes of 22-23 students. He felt that the current ratios are too large given the relatively large number of special education students and the breadth of the content. He reported that a Federal REAP grant could cover most of the additional costs of the proposal.
Kari Asmus moved and Robert Bruce seconded a motion to authorize the administration to add .6 FTE to Michelle Landry’s contract, thus creating five fourth grade classrooms. The motion passed unanimously.
c) Committee Reports
Communication Committee Report
Kari Asmus discussed improvements planned for the annual report to help people vote in a more informed manner. A draft of the revised report will be distributed to the Board in time to review before publication for distribution in February.
Budget Committee
This committee met with the Hanover Finance Committee to discuss budget changes that will affect the district in 2010 when the annual Dartmouth payments are no longer available. It also considered anticipated student enrollment increases in Hanover due to projected residential building in the Town.
Education Committee
Nancy Carter discussed a meeting held by the Education Committee and its consideration of adding an early foreign language program. A report prepared by the SAU K-12 World Language Curriculum Committee will be shared with the Board shortly.
Parents from the French Club voiced their opinion that the consideration process concerning the introduction of foreign language has taken too long. Board members cited competing budget priorities as a major factor in the consideration of the program. The Board decided that it would review the K-12 World Language Committee’s findings and seek input from the Ray School Budget Committee on the issue. The concept of introducing foreign language at earlier grade levels would be discussed at the next meeting with the goal of having a decision in December.
4. Business Requiring Discussion
Enrollment Projections – The Superintendent reviewed charts illustrating enrollment projections for the next five years. Based on the projections generated using a three-year weighted average formula, the Superintendent felt the school could absorb more students. The facility capacity is 520, and if that enrollment is achieved for two consecutive years, a report on the building capacity must be prepared. There is an expected decline in enrollment, which should help incorporate students from the numerous Hanover housing development projects under consideration.
State Standards – The Board held a first reading of the revised policies and will review suggested changes in semantics in the November meeting. Adopting the standards might occur in the next meeting on some of the policies and the remainder could be adopted in the December meeting.
5. Business Requiring Action
Larry Pilchman moved and Nancy Carter seconded a motion to approve the expansion of the special education teacher position of Gilda Dunn from .5 to full time, salary $52,615 for the remainder of the 2005-06 school year. The motion passed unanimously.
6. Nonpublic Session
The Board voted to enter non-public session with a roll call at 9:45 p.m.
Larry Pilchman moved and Nancy Carter seconded a motion to enter nonpublic session in accordance with SA 91-A:3 (l.) for discussion of a personnel matter. The motion passed unanimously by roll call vote.
The Board re-entered public session at 10:10 p.m.
7. Adjournment:
Nancy Carter moved and Larry Pilchman seconded a motion to adjourn at 10:11 p.m. The motion passed unanimously.
The meeting adjourned at 10:11 p.m.
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