Deerfield School Board

Deerfield Community School

Deerfield, New Hampshire

Thursday, April 6, 2006

 

MINUTES OF MEETING

 

PRESENT: John Harrington, Bonnie Beaubien, Don Gorman, Peter Aubrey, Kevin Barry, Kevin Webber, Kandy Davitt, D Arzigian, Cindy Hanson, Trish Lafond

 

1. Call To Order

 

The April 6, 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

 

March 16, 2006 Minutes

 

A motion was made by Kevin Barry to accept the minutes of March 16th, 2006 as written, seconded by Kevin Webber.

 

Mr. Barry stated that the minutes on page 4, Section D.  Paragraph 1 & 2 should be combined and read as:

 

At 8:25 PM a motion to enter non-public session under RSA 91-A: 3II (a), (c) to discuss an……

 

A motion was made by Kevin Barry to accept the minutes of March 16th, 2006 as corrected, seconded by Kevin Webber.

 

All In Favor

Motion Carried

Minutes were accepted as corrected.

 

4.  Immediate Business

 

A.      Agenda Review

 

         To be added:  Added under New Business, Public Awareness

 

 

 

 

 

     

B.      Citizens’ Staff Comments

 

Dottie Anderson a member of the First Fellowship Christian church spoke with the board members about the distribution of Bibles to the graduating 8th graders.  She stated that for the last several years the board has very graciously allowed them give Bibles to any 8th grade graduate who desired to have a copy.

Mr. Harrington stated that the board would discuss the offer and he would contact them with a date.

 

Mrs. Hanson stated that she was here to be part of the Facility Use discussion.

Mr. Harrington replied that the board is currently working on a draft and will be asking for input at a later date.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

C.  Review of SB-2 Vote-Mr. Harrington

 

The board started the process of determining how and where they could reorganize the budget.

The board has to cut from the budget a total of $98,964 from the 06-07 budget. Mr. Aubrey suggested several areas in the budget leaving $19, 277 for the board to continue looking at where further cuts in the budget can be made.

Mr. Yergeau stated that the substitute line could be looked at but they do not have control of sick days.  Mr. Aubrey reminded the board that any warrant monies could not be considered such as Para salaries. 

Mr. Harrington suggested dropping the school board salaries ($2,000) to start with.  Mr. Gorman stated that it is a token line and that they truly are volunteers.  All members of the board agreed.

        Mr. Barry informed the board that Alex Cote no longer will be mowing the lawns at DCS which

        is an additional two thousand.

        Other suggested lines were the Field Trip line, School Supplies, etc.

 Mr. Aubrey stated that DRA’s deadline for the budget was due April 3rd but they would allow a   few more weeks.

The board looked at classroom configurations etc.

Kevin Webber stated that maybe the following lines could be cut:

001-2310-610-108-000-Board Expense ($2,000) 001-2620-733-108-00 New Furnishing & Equip, ($2,1999) 001-2620-737-108-000 Replacement Furn. & Fixtures ($4,000), 001-2630-424-000 Grounds Maintenance ($1,500), 001-2721-519-108-000 Transportation Contract ($5,000 field Trips) 2620-735-108-000 Equipment Replacement ($2,000) Line 731-108 (2,500) etc.  By doing this $20,999 would be taken out of the budget and combined with Peter Aubrey’s suggestions they would meet the default budget.

 

A motion was made by Kevin Webber to move the budget with cuts in the following lines:  001-2310-610-108-000-Board Expense ($2,000) 001-2620-733-108-00 New Furnishing & Equip, ($2,1999) 001-2620-737-108-000 Replacement Furn. & Fixtures ($4,000), 001-2630-424-000 Grounds Maintenance ($1,500), 001-2721-519-108-000 Transportation Contract ($5,000 field Trips) 2620-735-108-000 Equipment Replacement ($2,000) Line 731-108 (2,500) combined with Mr. Aubrey’s suggestions to meet the 06-07 DCS default budget seconded by Kevin Barry.

 

All In Favor

Motion Carried

 

  

D.       Tuition Contract Report-Ms. Beaubein, Mr. Gorman

 

A letter was sent to the school board requesting assistance for the $200 entrance fee for Coe Brown.  The board discussed Coe Brown’s policy.

 

A motion was made by Kevin Webber to give the assistance requested seconded by Bonnie Beaubein.

 

All In Favor

Motion Carried

 

5.  Old/Unfinished Business

 

A.      Use of Facilities Policy-Ms. Beaubein, Mr. Gorman – Mr. Webber

 

Mr. Gorman stated that a lot of good suggestions have come forward and that he and Bonnie Beaubein will be meeting with Paul to finalize the list of suggestions.

Mrs. Hanson stated that the greater public would like to participate in this process.

 

B.     Facilities Planning-Mr. Harrington, Mr. Webber - Mr. Barry

 

Kevin Webber informed the members of the board that he and Kurt Lauer from Lauer Associates reviewed the electrical plans and is planning to meet with an electrical engineer for a site visit.  As of now each room has 1 outlet per wall, 1 circuit for every 2 rooms.  The good news is that the service coming into the building is more than adequate.   If the school were to be built today there would be 2 outlets per wall and each room would be on their own circuit.

The cost for this work would be $3,500 and could be done during April vacation.

It was also noted that in June of 2004 NH Coop doubled billed the school.  Mr. Aubrey was asked to look into this situation.

           

6. New Business

 

A.  Nomination/Election of Staff- Mr. Aubrey, Board Members

     

      The board members reviewed the 06/07 Nomination List for the Deerfield Community School.

 

      A motion was made by Kevin Barry seconded by Don Gorman to move the nomination of the 06/07 staff as presented.

 

All In Favor

Motion Carried

 

C.     Proposed Public Awareness Plan-Kevin Webber

 

Mr. Webber presented the following plan to assist the public in being aware as to what was happening at DCS. 

 

 

 

Proposed Public Awareness Plan for the School Board 3/18/06

Goals

• To create community awareness of ongoing school board activities as well as current major initiatives.

• To provide the community with information on the space needs at DCS and the status of the High School arrangement with Concord High

• To generate feedback from the community with respect to school board

activities.

 Method

• All local forms of print/web media will be used including The Communicator, The Bridge, The Deer field Newsletter and The Forum.

Public information forums and "klatches" will be held to explain major

initiatives, including the warrant for a middle/high school. When to start?

Specific Suggestions and Notes

• School Board meeting agendas can be posted in each week's Bridge as well as on The Forum. Also include school board members' names. Suggested text:

"Current School board members are: Kevin Barry, Bonnie Beaubein, Don German, John Harrington, and Kevin Webber. The School board meets the first and third Thursdays of the month at xx PM in the Deerfield Community School Library. The public is encouraged to attend."

• School Board meeting minutes can be posted on the DCS web site. A reference to their location in the hard copy version of The Bridge each week helps generate interest from persons unable to show up at the weekly meetings. A reference to online meeting minute location can be made in The Communicator, The Forum and The Deerfield Newsletter.

School Board must appoint a board member responsible for Public Awareness.

• Consistently reiterate the School Board function, members and meeting times.

• School board members can be scheduled as guest speakers at regular meetings

of other organizations in town. (Selectmen, Planning Bd, ZBA, DCC, FOL ...) Media Deadlines

2006 deadlines for The Communicator. The Communicator is usually delivered the last week of the month prior to that issue; for example, the February issue will arrive in mailboxes the last week of January. These dates are tentative and subject to change.

Issue      Deadline

May April 14

June May 12

July/August June 9

September   August 11

October     September 8

November   October 13

Dec/Jan     November 10

The Deerfield Newsletter Generally published on an as needed basis.

 

7.  Other Business

       

A.     Informational Items-Mr. Harrington

 

Don Gorman informed the members of the board that the No Parking Signs have arrived and will be put in place when the ground thaws.

 

John Harrington passed out two letters to the school board members:

 

Mrs. Marquis a para at the Deerfield Community School wrote a letter requesting an approved vacation in November of 2006.

 

A motion was made by Kevin Webber to grant Mrs. Marquis request as an unpaid leave, seconded by Kevin Barry.

 

3 In Favor

1 Against

 

The second letter was Mrs. Tatulis a 5th grade teacher at DCS.  Mrs. Tatulis requested a one-year leave of absence to work with UNH interns in a supervisor capacity.

 

A motion was made Kevin Webber to approve the request as an unpaid leave, seconded by Don Gorman.

 

All In Favor

Motion Approved

 

Kevin Barry reminded the board members of the April 19th  NH School Brd. Association meeting.

 

Kevin Webber stated that at a future meeting he would like to discuss transportation, busing issues.

 

Paul Yergeau brought to the boards attention that the lawn near the parking lot was torn up on Election Day and he wondered if the town had the ability to repair it.

Mr. Yereau also requested that the board members review the Proposed Electronic Equipment Policy that the Deerfield Community School Technology Magnet is working on. Board members reviewed the policy and gave several suggestions.  All parties involved will continue to work on the policy.

 

The board discussed high school numbers and where the 05/06 students were going.  The board then revisited the Concord contract.  Mr. Harrington was concerned that Deerfield was not meeting the agreement with Concord.  The board will continue reviewing the situation. 

 

B.     Agenda Preparation-Mr. Harrington

 

1.      Bldg. Needs

2.      Proposed Public Awareness Plan

 

 

 

 

 

 

C.     Board Organization - Mr. Harrington

 

06-07 Officers and Committee Chairs for the Deerfield School District

 

Chair-John Harrington

Vice Chair-Don Gorman

MBC Representative-John Harrington

Selectmen’s Representative-Kevin Barry

SAU Executive Board-Kevin Barry

Negotiators-Kevin Webber, Don Gorman

Transportation-Don Gorman

Curriculum Review Board-Don Gorman, Bonnie Beaubein

Manifest Review -Bonnie Beaubein, Kevin Barry

Maintenance -Don Gorman

NHSBA Delgate-Bonnie Beaubein

Deerfield Building Needs-As needed

 

D.     Citizens’/Staff Comments

 

None Made

 

8.  Adjournment

 

At 9:35 P.M. a motion to enter non-public session under RSA 91-A: 3II(c) to discuss an SAU personnel contract was made by Kevin Webber, seconded by Kevin Barry.  On a roll call, the school board voted:

 

                                                   John Harrington                                 YES

                                                   Kevin Barry                                       YES

                                                   Bonnie Beaubein                                YES

                                                   Don Gorman                                     YES

                                                   Kevin Webber                                   YES

 

THE MOTION CARRIED