MINUTES OF MEETING
PRESENT: John Harrington, Bonnie Beaubien, Tom Haley, Kevin
Webber, Don Gorman, Kevin Barry, Paul Yergeau,Gigi Klipa,
1. Call To Order
The September 15, 2005 DCS Board
meeting was called to order at
2. Pledge of Allegiance
The School Board meeting was held in the Conference room and no flag was available.
3. Minutes of
Previous Meetings
A motion was made to TABLE the minutes of
All In Favor
Motion Carried
A motion was made to accept the
minutes of
4. Immediate
Business
Mr. Gorman requested that 5F facilities Improvement be moved to 4 E Informational Items.
Jeff White was present to speak to the board concerning the proposal for dugouts for the upper baseball fields by his son Corey White. Corey was not available because he was at a high school function. Mr. White stated that the proposed project is for Corey’s Senior project. Corey will need to raise the money for the supplies and he will also build the dugouts. The board discussed Corey’s project.
A motion was made to accept Corey
White’s proposal by Kevin Barry, seconded by Kevin Webber.
All In Favor
Motion Carried
The Board members thanked Corey for his efforts.
The board discussed how funds could be appropriated.
Mr. Gorman asked Bonnie Beaubien about her opinion curriculum guidelines and the placement of 6, 7 and 8 grades in the same building.
Ms. Beaubien noted that 6,7, 8th grades being place together have been very successful. If 5th grade is to be included they are usually separated in the building.
Mr. Barry stated that the community’s concern was having 5th grade with 12 grades in the same building area.
Mr. Gorman referred to the
Mr. Yergeau stated that in looking for information concerning placements there is not a lot of documentation to support one idea over the other and that it is the community in the end that needs to make the configuration work.
The board then discussed how to present the proposal to the community and working with community members.
Mr. Yergeau stated that there are five classrooms in the modelers and that with the removal of 7th and 8th the net gain of space would be only two rooms.
Mr. Gorman suggested that Mr. Bush if asked might be interested in heading the committee and stated that community members are needed and that board members should play a supportive role.
A motion was made by Mr. Webber
to form a Middle/Senior High School committee that would organize information
and reach the public with the information, seconded by Don Gorman.
All In Favor
Motion Carried
Mr. Webber will write the charter and present it to the board at their next schedule meeting.
This item will be discussed later in the meeting.
E. Informational Items-Administrators and board Members
Tom Haley – Informed the board members that he has been asked by the Town
Planner to gather current and past enrollment numbers.
Paul Yergeau – informed the members of the board that Saturday is Constitution Day and that the school is required by “No Child Left Behind” legislation to have each grade level recognize the day. Mr. Yergeau asked each grade level to set in place appropriate lessons for each grade level to teach on Friday.
Mr. Yergeau informed the board that
he will be out of the building and will be in
Kevin Barry – asked if the Social Activist magnet might be able to work at the New Horizons and also volunteer at the local food pantry. Mr. Yergeau stated that he would let them know of the interest.
Don Gorman – spoke about facilities improvement. He stated that Mr. Fowler has identified the areas where there are electrical problems and corrected them.
Mr. Harrington expressed concerns about Electrical work being done by an unlicensed electrician. He reminded the board that this had been discussed at previous meetings. Kevin Webber stated that the board is not just looking to have these areas adjusted to meet present needs but to get information that can help the board come up with a plan to know how services can be added. Can a server be added, how many computers can the system have and still operate in an efficient, safe manner. Mr. Barry agreed and stated that the board is looking at the future needs and needs information to forecast what the current system can and cannot handle. The board will continue to discuss this issue.
Don Gorman stated that he has gotten
phone calls from high school parents concerning transportation. He stated that for Dail it is not cost
effective to run a second bus. The
members of the board discussed the situation but stated that until
Gigi Klipa- Ms. Klipa informed the members of the board that the school is getting ready for NCAP tests. It will take three weeks in October to complete the testing for grades 3-8. Ms. Klipa stated that it costs the state 3 million dollars for testing.
Ms. Klipa also informed the board that it was 90 degrees in the computer lab and maybe air conditioning should be considered.
Ms. Klipa stated that the office configuration is working well.
John Harrington- stated that he spoke with D. Barnes and the concerns that the board had with allowing the newly formed baseball league for 13 year olds, the use of the field. Mr. Barnes stated that the field would only be used once a month on a Sunday and hoped the board would reconsider. The board discussed how and when the field was fertilized and wanted more information from Bill Fowler.
A motion was made by Kevin Barry to allow D.
Barnes and the new 13 year old baseball team for play in the AAU program to use
the Tordoff field, seconded by Kevin Webber.
All In Favor
Motion Carried
Mr. Harrington informed the board about the MBC meetings. Mr. Harrington stated that the town’s preliminary budget has been reviewed. The board members stated that November 1st the school board could begin reviewing the school budget. The members of the board agreed to have meetings on the 3rd, 10th and 17th for budget purposes.
A scheduled joint meeting with the Select board, Planning Board was scheduled for the 7th or the 10. Mr. Barry will inquire about the date.
5. Old/Unfinished
Business
Energy Conservation Policy- The Deerfield School Board reviewed the following proposed Policy.
The Deerfield School Board has established the following required procedures in order to conserve energy and ensure economical operation of the facility:
1. All thermostats at DCS shall be set at 69 degrees F during occupied periods and at 60 degrees F when the nigh set-back is operational.
2. Only a custodian has authorization to adjust thermostats in the building. Concerns with the building environment should be reported to a custodian, who will address the situation to the extent possible.
3. All window will remain closed when the building’s heating system is operation
4. All lights will be turned off in any unoccupied area.
Daily Physical Activity Policy
The
1. Encourage parents and guardians to support their children’s participation in enjoyable physical activities, and recognize that parents and guardians act as role models for active lifestyles.
2. Support special programs such as student and staff walking programs, family fitness events, and events that emphasize life-long phy. activity;
3. Encourage the integration of heath and physical activity across the school curriculum.
4. Encourage student-initiated activities that promote inclusive physical activity on a school wide basis.
5. Support adequate resources that include program funding, personnel, safe equipment, and facilities.
6. Encourage professional development opportunities for all school staff that will assist them to effectively promote enjoyable and lifelong phys. activity among youth, and that will assist school staff to recognize their influence as role models for active lifestyles.
7. Establish relationships with community recreation and youth sports programs and agencies to coordinate and compliment physical activity program.
8. Encourage physical activity recess periods
9. Encourage a tracing and evaluation process to ensure that all students are engaging in developmentally appropriate daily physical activity.
Other policies such as the Deerfield School District Policy Statement Goal Setting and Evaluation of Board Operational procedures, Budget Management Policy, Agenda Preparation and Dissemination, Rules of Order, Voting Method, -Will be reviewed at the next scheduled meeting.
Policy Statement Citizen’s Comments at Board Meetings;
The following changes were brought forward.
Item #3: The presentation should be as brief as possible. Unless an extension of time is granted, a speaker shall be limited to three minutes.
Mr. Gorman stated that documented information should be left with the Chair in advance should be added.
Item #5: The citizens’ comments portion of a meeting will be limited to 15 minutes at the beginning and 15 minutes at the end of each meeting. If there are more citizens desiring to speak than time will allow, names will be taken and a separate forum or agenda item in a future meeting will be scheduled
*Unless an extension of time is granted.
These policies and noted changes will be reviewed at the next scheduled meeting.
Mr. Harrington noted that Mr. Hooker, Chairman of the MBC had presented a proposed calendar. The board reviewed the proposed calendar
It was noted by Kevin Barry that the
The board discussed how to organize
a public relations committee and brought forward several community members
names for further discussion
All In Favor
Motion Carried
Mr. Barry stated that due to the cost of gas, time, etc. he wondered if it would be more efficient to have a currier service to send items back and forth from DCS to the SAU and in reverse.
Mr. Haley stated that he spoke with
Dail transportation about providing a service that would deliver documents to
The board members agreed with Chris Dail's opinion of the situation.
The boarded noted the increased use of the Bridge for businesses. Mrs. Davitt
stated that every Friday volunteers come to collate the Bridge and the added flyers are adding to the time these volunteers take to due their job. Also, noted was the increased paper usage, use of the copier, etc.
A motion was made by Kevin Webber
that the Bridge no longer provides space or attachments for businesses,
seconded by Kevin Barry.
All In Favor
Motion Carried
6. Other Business
A. Staff Requests
In the past
the
computers through the Technology Purchase Plan. This plan was set in place to
encourage staff to purchase and use technology. It allows staff to purchase
computers and make monthly payments through payroll deductions.
A
motion to continue the Technolgy Purchase Plan was made by Kevin Webber, seconded by Don Gorman.
All In Favor
Motion Carried
A letter from Mr. Yergeau was presented to the board concerning the quality of
quality of work by Carrie Connolly. The letter stated that in the absence of
Heather Worthen during her maternity leave Ms. Connolly proved to be a great
asset to DCS. Mr. Yergeau further stated that he would like to increase Ms.
Connolly’s pay from $10.65 to $11.00. .
A
motion was made to increase the pay rate for Ms. Connolly by Kevin Barry,
Seconded by Bonnie Beaubien.
All In Favor
Motion Carried
A letter from Tara Emmett, the Health Teacher at DCS was reviewed by the board. Ms. Emmett requested 6 weeks of extended medical leave/maternity leave in January. Ms. Emmet stated in her letter that she would like to use five sick day (covering the first two weeks and take the remaining four weeks unpaid.
A motion was made to approve Ms. Emmett’s request, by Kevin Barry, seconded by Bonnie Beaubien.
All In Favor
Motion Carried
B. Agenda Preparation
Policy Review brought back with suggested changes
Space Needs
Bill Fowler/Electrical System
Organizational flow chart
Staff Meeting
at
8.11.05 School Board minutes
Public Relations
C. Citizens’/Staff Comments
None Made
8. Adjournment
At
All In Favor
Motion Carried
The next
Deerfield School Board meeting is scheduled for Thursday, October 6 at