CHICHESTER SCHOOL BOARD

BEN BROWN’S RESIDENCE

CHICHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE

MONDAY, JULY 25, 2005

 

PRESENT:     John Poirier, Ben Brown, Nancy Fraher, Tom Haley, Pam Stiles, Dave Dziura

 

 

1.         Call To Order

 

            School Board Chairman, John Poirier, called the meeting to order at 6:15 P.M.

 

 

2.         Administrative Issues

 

            Pam Stiles distributed and reviewed with the Board, copies of recommended school bus            routes and stops for the start of the 2005/06 school year.  She pointed out that only one       change for the bus 3 route had been made from last year’s routes.   Following a brief           discussion, Ben Brown made a motion to approve the recommended routes for the start of the school year with the provision that the Board will review them again at their September meeting.  Nancy Fraher seconded the motion.

 

ALL IN FAVOR

THE MOTION CARRIED

 

            Pam Stiles then distributed and reviewed with the Board, copies of the student/parent    handbook.  She informed the Board that the only change being made to the handbook was           introduction of language advising parents of certain legal rights to know provided under       the federal No Child Left Behind Act.  Nancy Fraher suggested that the Board might             consider including some language regarding additional acceptable school dress codes.    Following a brief discussion of acceptable student dress guidelines for school and school      events, Nancy Fraher made a motion to approve the student/parent handbook with the          recommended change by administration, and with added language to exclude the wearing            of rubber-soled beach/shower flip-flops by students.  John Poirier seconded the motion.

 

ALL IN FAVOR

THE MOTION CARRIED

 

            The Board then discussed a request received from a Chichester resident recently hired as           a paraprofessional at Pembroke Academy, to ride the Chichester District’s student bus to PA.  The Board reviewed legal advice regarding this request provided by the District’s          attorneys as well as information provided by the SAU regarding similar permission             previously granted by Merrimack Valley School District to this resident when she had    been a paraprofessional employed by Merrimack Valley High School.  After considerable          discussion, Ben Brown made a motion that the School Board approve the request by   Kathy Hammen to ride the District’s school bus to and from Pembroke Academy while    employed there as a paraprofessional, and that the SAU outline in a confirming letter to Ms Hammen the understandings with which the Board’s permission is granted.  Nancy     Fraher seconded the motion.

 

ALL IN FAVOR

THE MOTION CARRIED

 

            Dave Dziura then distributed a summary prepared by the business administrator of         recently received bids for the SAU heating oil contract.  He pointed out that only one        response had been received to the RFP sent out to vendors.  The Board discussed this          issue and asked that the SAU further investigate more favorable pricing for fuel oil, but   seek to commit soon to a contracted price for the year.

 

 

3.         Goals Setting

 

            The Board began their goals setting by reviewing the School Board goals established for            the 2004/05 school year.  As they reviewed each goal, they decided by consensus which     could be dropped in formulating their 2005/06 goals set and which should be included           and/or revised for the new set of goals.

 

            Following their review of the past year goals, the Board then discussed possible new      areas for which formulating goals would prove beneficial to the District.  Consensus was      reached on two new areas to be introduced to the goals set for the upcoming school year:    the investigation of potentially valuable realignment options for the school’s current Jr.    High grades instructional model and dedicating resources to introducing new classroom          technology tools in order to measure and deepen student growth.

 

            The Board requested that the SAU and building administration prepare for review at their          August 23 business meeting, a preliminary draft wording for the new year goals        statement.

 

4.         Adjournment

 

            At 7:50 P.M., hearing no further call for other business, John Poirier adjourned the        meeting.  The School Board’s next meeting is scheduled for 6:00 P.M. on Tuesday,    August 23, 2005 at Chichester Central School.