Deerfield School Board

Deerfield Community School

Deerfield, New Hampshire

Thursday, February 16, 2006

 

MINUTES OF MEETING

 

PRESENT: John Harrington, Bonnie Beaubien, Don Gorman, Tom Haley, Kevin Barry, Paul Yergeau, Gigi Klipa, Kevin Webber, Kandy Davitt, Diane Arzigian, Eva Oliver, Jeff Kantorowsky

 

1. Call To Order

 

The February 16, 2006 DCS Board meeting was called to order at 6:30 PM by Chair John Harrington.

 

2. Pledge of Allegiance

 

     Mr. Harrington led the school board and others present in the Pledge of Allegiance

 

3.  Minutes of Previous Meetings

 

January 4, 2006 Minutes

 

A motion was made by Kevin Barry to accept the minutes of January 4th, 2006 as written, seconded by Kevin Webber.

 

4 In Favor

1 Against

Motion Carried

(Mr. Gorman stated that he was concerned that the minutes of January 4, 2006 were being reviewed and voted on 6 weeks after the meeting.)

 

A motion was made to accept the minutes of the January 9, 2006 Public Hearing by Kevin Barry, seconded by Kevin Webber.

 

All In Favor

Motion Carried

 

A motion was made by Kevin Barry to accept the minutes of the February 2, 2006 as corrected seconded by Bonnie Beaubien.

 

All In Favor

Motion Carried

 

(Pg. 1 typo Kevin Barr should read Kevin Barry)

 

(Pg. 5 Should read: A motion was made by Kevin Webber to add to the Non-Certified Benefit package:  That the Deerfield School District will pay 90 percent of all school health insurance plans after 10 years of employment for Full Time Non-Certified Employees (Seconded by Kevin Barry)

 

4.  Immediate Business

 

A.      Agenda Review

 

 The board moved Building Project Planning (4 E) as first item in the meeting to be discussed.

 

B.     Citizens’ Staff Comments

 

    No Comments                

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

C.      Deliberative Session Review-Mr. Barry

 

Kevin Barry handed out to the members of the School Board the minutes to the February 4, 2006 Deliberative Session.  See Attach. A.

Mr. Webber asked where the details of the meeting were.  Kevin Barry stated that due to the time frame requirements for SB2 the statutory time could not be met if they were written in full.  Mr. Harrington stated that he was concerned that the interaction of the constituency was not being recorded and that if the board wanted to review the comments it would be hard to resurrect the information.  Mr. Barry stated that the town will be following the same format and that the Town of Raymond has written their min. in the same way since SB2.

The board will continue to discuss this matter.

Mr. Harrington stated that he wants it noted that Deerfield is pleased with the education that their students are receiving from Concord.  The board’s concerns are with cost, and with increased school population at Concord.   Mr. Haley stated that he spoke with the Supt. of Schools and reiterated that Deerfield is happy with the education at Concord.

Kevin Barry stated that we are now 2 years into the contract and that the school would be built in 4 years allowing for the Administrator to review and set up the school’s curriculum.

At that time Deerfield would be in year 7 of the contract. Mr. Barry stated that the timing could not be better for the proposed Junior High/High School.

Kevin Webber stated that the earliest the building would be open would be 2008, the middle school would be in place alleviating the overcrowding at DCS and the District would not have to be concerned with future sky rocketing building costs.

Mr. Haley reminded the board that with the expansion of 93 looming the Concord, Manchester area would continue to grow in school population.

  

    D.  Building Project Update-Mr. Webber

 

      Mr. Webber informed the members of the board that a second mailer will be going out to

      the public. The mailer this time will include the floor plan.

 

 

E.       Building Project Planning-Mr. Gorman

 

Mr. Gorman informed the members of the board that his meeting with Commissioner of Education went very well.  He stated that with the Governor’s plan on extending the academic age requirement to 18 instead of 16 it is important for the state to have programs in place to insure that these students receive the education that meets their needs but also meets the demands of business, trades, etc.  Mr. Gorman stated that Senate Bill 263 was discussed at the State House.  Present at the hearing were unions, trade unions, the National Guard, etc.  All agreed that there needed to be an expansion of alternative education choices.   Mr. Gorman then stated that Deerfield should review the curriculum for the proposed high school and expand it to or change it to include Computer Education, Vocational Education, etc.  After 5 years a students would receive a high school diploma, Certificate in area of learning, and 1-year experience.  It was Mr. Gorman’s impression that those at the state level would be supportive and assists financially.  Other towns would tuition their students. 

Board members discussed the ideas presented.  Mr. Webber stated that he has seen programs where students are in the school building for 4 hours in the morning and 4 hours in the afternoon and the rest of the school day are apprenticing.   He also stated that it is not inexpensive program to operate and outside money would need to be invested.  The idea of a regional tech. center was discussed.

Mr. Webber stated that Mr. Gorman’s assumption that the Curriculum for the proposed high school was not presented well, was incorrect.  He stated that it was his opinion that the school board should not develop the curriculum but it should be given to the Principal and head teachers to formulate.  Mr. Webber stated that the current proposal also recognized the need for long distance planning to be set in place allowing subjects like Latin to be taught.

The board members agreed to continue discussion concerning this subject.

 

5.  Old/Unfinished Business

 

A.     Electrical Review – Mr. Webber

 

Mr. Webber has contacted Kurt Lauer concerning a site analysis of DCS’s electrical needs.  Mr. Lauer recommended several Electrical Engineers and Mr. Webber will be contacting them this week and will have more information at the next school board meeting.

 

6. New Business

 

A.     Informational Items-Administrators and Board Members

 

Kevin Webber- stated that he is very concerned about the continued parking in the fire lane.  It was his opinion that more signs need to be put in place and the yellow lines need to be repainted.   Mr. Gorman was asked by the board to purchase more signs and to repaint the yellow fire lane lines.  Mr. Gorman agreed to do so.  The board also agreed to

review the situation until they are satisfied that the fire lane is not used for overflow parking.

 

Mr. Haley – presented a letter to the board from Mr. G. Kelley IV stating that Mr. & Mrs. Adam Langdon are renting a home from him on 27 Middle Rd., in Deerfield while they are building in Deerfield.  This letter clarifies any residency issues for the Langdon family.

 

The board also received a letter from James Smith (73 Old Centre Rd. N, Deerfield, NH) requesting that the Deerfield School District allow his daughter to transfer to Raymond High School from Concord.

 

A motion was made by Kevin Barry to allow Mr. Smith’s daughter to transfer to Raymond High, with the District paying the tuition, seconded by Don Gorman.

 

All In Favor

Motion Carried

 

The board reviewed a letter from Tom Haley to the School Administrative Unit # 53 Board Members concerning the search process for an assistant superintendent.

In his letter Mr. Haley stated that previous contact with board members, it appeared that all were in agreement that a representative group rather than the full SAU #53 Board should conduct final interviews. Mr. Haley also stated that two suggestions had been given to him:

• Appoint the Executive Board to conduct the interviews and make a recommendation to the full SAU Board.

• Select a group comprised of one board member from Allenstown, Deerfield and Pembroke and two board members from Chichester and Epsom to conduct final interviews and make a recommendation for full SAU Board approval.

 

The original subcommittee (7 members) would like to join the Board members who conduct the interviews to be part of the deliberation prior to a final decision.

 

Mr. Haley stated that he envisioned the process to be complete by Mid-March.

 

Mr. Harrington- informed the board members that he had received a phone call from a parent concerning High School Transportation.  The parent stated that they called Dail and were told that the company may not continue transporting students to Concord next year.  Mr. Gorman will call the company and determine what is going on. 

 

B.     Agenda Preparation-Mr. Harrington

 

Travel Policy

Electrical Needs

Voc. Tech. Curr. Plans

Candidate’s Night

School Calendar

Teacher Request

 

C.     Citizens’/Staff Comments

 

None

 

D.     Non-Public Session

 

At 8:45 P.M. a motion to enter non-public session under RSA 91-A:3II© to discuss a student-specific matter was made by Don Gorman, seconded by Kevin Webber.  On a roll call, the board voted:

 

                                                   John Harrington                                 YES

                                                   Kevin Barry                                       YES

                                                   Bonnie Beaubien                                YES

                                                   Don Gorman                                     YES

                                                   Kevin Webber                                   YES

THE MOTION CARRIED

 

            Present: John Harrington, Kevin Barry, Bonnie Beaubien, Don Gorman, Kevin Webber, Paul Yergeau, Gigi Klipa, Tom Haley.

 

            At 9:15 P.M. a motion to end the non-public session was made by Bonnie Beaubien, seconded by Don Gorman.  On a roll call, the board voted:

 

                                                   John Harrington                                 YES

                                                   Kevin Barry                                       YES

                                                   Bonnie Beaubien                                YES

                                                   Don Gorman                                     YES

                                                   Kevin Webber                                   YES

THE MOTION CARRIED

 

            Chairman John Harrington noted that no action had been taken in the non-public session.

 

7.   Adjournment

 

      At 9:17 P.M. a motion to adjourn was made by Kevin Webber, seconded by Kevin Barry.

 

ALL IN FAVOR

THE MOTION CARRIED

 

      The next Deerfield School Board business meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 4, 2006 at 6:30 P.M. at Deerfield Community School. 

 

8.   Informational Items

 

      None