HANOVER SCHOOL BOARD
REGULAR MEETING
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20, 2007
7:00 PM, RAY SCHOOL MULTI-ROOM
Minutes
Present: Board members Asmus, Bruce, Carter, Carpenter, Chamberlin; Administrators: Gersen, Aubin, Williams; 3 public; Recorded by R. Lohr
1. Call to Order – Chair Asmus called the meeting to order at 7:06 PM.
2. Public Hearing in accordance with RSA 198:20-b, for the purpose of accepting a large gift.
A check for $10,000 was received from the Byrne Foundation for the Ray School Universal Playground. The playground will be made available to others in the surrounding community such as DHMC visitors. Work is expected to be conducted at the end of the summer so it does not interfere with summer recreational programs. The Board expressed its appreciation to Annie Macintosh, the project donors, and the other people involved with bringing the play space to fruition. The hearing was closed at 7:26 PM.
John Chamberlin moved and Robin Carpenter seconded a motion to approve the design for the Universal Playground Project, as proposed and attached to the original meeting minutes. The motion was passed unanimously.
Nancy Carter moved and John Chamberlin seconded a motion to accept the restricted donations (including the updated list of donations distributed at the meeting) to be used for the Ray School Universal Playground Project, as proposed and attached to the original meeting minutes. The motion was passed unanimously.
3. Minutes Approval
John Chamberlin moved and Nancy Carter seconded a motion to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of May 16, the retreat of May 15, special meetings of June 11, and the nonpublic session on May 16, as submitted with a change. The motion passed unanimously.
4. Agenda Reorder – Business Requiring Discussion
The Board decided to reorder the agenda so that it could discuss new business with the public at an earlier time.
Fiber Project - Betsy McClain, a Hanover town administrator, explained the project that the town is undertaking to use a Homeland Security grant to install fiber optic cable between the Lebanon and Hanover emergency centers. The town has invited the school district to participate whereby the Hanover High School, Richmond Middle School, and the Ray School could be linked by fiber optic cable. The contract with the vendor is expected to be finalized in late July and the project is slated to start in the late summer. The school would be responsible for sharing maintenance costs of the network and covering costs associated with internal equipment and acquiring bandwidth. The costs for all three schools was estimated to be $30,000. The fiber network should provide the school district with extensive communication capabilities that it does not presently enjoy and savings on the Internet connection/phone expenses.
John Chamberlin moved and Nancy Carter seconded a motion to commit up to $10,000 to participate in the town extension of the Hanover fiber optic project to the Ray School. The motion was passed unanimously.
Kindergarten Entry Age – Resident Paul Zaslaw raised the issue of kindergarten entry age and requested that the age policy become more flexible. He felt that a system could be developed whereby children born close to the cut off date could be allowed to start school if they had parental and other support to do so. Administrators explained the rationale for the district policy, which does allow exceptions if “extraordinary or highly unusual” conditions exist. It was also cited that the age guidelines are based on international and cross cultural research done for many years. Additionally, many teachers feel that there are too many students that are not ready for school even within the existing age guidelines.
The challenges to incorporating more flexibility in the entry age policy include opening the floodgates of parental requests for earlier entry and the establishing objective guidelines for early entry justification. The Board felt that the entry age policy is permissive and a minority of the Board felt the actual application would be more restrictive than the state policy would allow. They want to allow the administrators to make the decision about individual student entry exceptions, but they welcome speaking with any resident about the issue.
5. Communications and Reports
a) Report of Chair
Chair Kari Asmus announced that the next Board meeting was scheduled for August 22, 7:00 PM. at the Ray School Multiroom.
b) Committee & Liaison Reports
It was announced that the PTO offers a weekly email newsletter that covers Ray School events and Board meeting reports. The newsletter can be obtained at www.RaySchool.org/PTO.
NHSBA liaison Chamberlin reported on the state educational funding.
A report from Treasurer Bill Brown on Dresden School District investments was distributed to the Board.
c) Superintendent’s Report
Superintendent Gersen discussed the Board Agenda Topic Template that outlined the agenda topics at the Board meetings throughout the year. Additionally, the Superintendent will meet with the Communications Committee to discuss updating the SAU 70 Web site.
d) Assistant Superintendent’s Report
Assistant Superintendent John Aubin distributed a financial report and a memo regarding the special education fund transfer. The end-of-the-year fund balance is now expected to be $43,000. He recommended that a transfer be made to the Special Education Reserve Fund because lower than expected special education expenses will result in no catastrophic aid reimbursement next year. The Board was split between transferring $75,000 or $100,000 (staff recommendation).
Robin Carpenter moved and John Chamberlin seconded a motion to move $75,000 into the Special Education Reserve Fund. The motion passed with 3 in favor and 2 opposed.
Principal Williams requested that the Board cover the costs for resealing the outdoor basketball court surface and acquiring new computer projectors. There is approximately $7,000 remaining from unused Bridgman Trust funds. The Board felt that the resealing project should be done within the existing budget.
John Chamberlin moved and Robert Bruce seconded a motion to appropriate sufficient funds from the Bridgman Trust to purchase 3 computer projectors. The motion was passed unanimously.
e) Principal’s Report
Principal Williams reported that the end of the school year went well and the Gathering Garden Dedication earlier in June was a success. Judy Harvey was awarded the History Teacher of the Year on behalf of the 2nd grade teachers at the school that teach history. The Facilities Report for the Ray School will be made available to the public.
6. Business Requiring Action
Robert Bruce moved and John Chamberlin seconded a motion to approve the 2007-08 Board Goals, as proposed and attached to the original meeting minutes. The motion passed unanimously.
7. Adjournment
Robin Carpenter moved and John Chamberlin seconded a motion to adjourn at 10:03 PM. The motion passed unanimously.
The meeting adjourned at 10:03 PM.
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