Deerfield School Board

Deerfield Community School

Deerfield, New Hampshire

Thursday, October 5, 2006 

MINUTES OF MEETING 

PRESENT: John Harrington, Bonnie Beaubien, Don Gorman, Kevin Barry, Kevin Webber, Paul Yergeau, Tom Haley,  Kandy Davitt, Debbie Campelia,

1.  Call To Order-Mr. Harrington 

 

The October 5, 2006 DCS Board meeting was called to order at 6:30 PM by Chair John Harrington. 

 

2. Pledge of Allegiance 

    Mr. Harrington led those present in the Pledge of Allegiance.  

3.  Minutes of Previous Meetings  

A motion was made Kevin Webber to Table the minutes of September 21st, 2006 seconded by Kevin Webber. 

All In Favor

Motion Carried 

4.  Immediate Business 

  1. Agenda Review

Mr. Gorman requested that School Security be added on as an Agenda Item. It was placed on the agenda as 4E.

 

B.     Citizens’ Staff Comments

None were made

C.     Technology Update-Mrs. Boisvert

Mrs. Boisvert from the Technology Dept. was present to review Technology at DCS.  Mrs. Boisvert informed the members of the board that the air conditioning was installed in the computer lab.

Mrs. Boisvert reviewed with the members of the board using a Power Point Presentation the following:

Use of computers/technology by DCS personnel.

Attitude towards instructional practice using technology

Technology Integration, etc.

Mrs. Boisvert informed the board that the state is in the process of setting ICT Literacy standards.  There will be a Portfolio requirement for all students showing that students have certain set standards.

For further information see Attachments A1, A2,A3.

  1. Policy Review/Revision - Mr. Harrington

Wellness Policy

Mr. Gorman stated that he had several issues concerning the proposed Wellness Policy that he would like to review. 

Pg. 1:  schools will provide nutrition education and physical education to foster lifelong habits of healthy eating habits of healthy eating and physical activity.

It was Mr. Gorman’s impression that this wording opened up a new teaching position and was looking for wording that would specify specific requirements.

Mr. Yergeau replied that it was specifically written out in curriculum documents.

The board suggested adding:  (as identified in curriculum documents.)

 

Wellness Policy change:  Pg. 1:  schools will provide nutrition education and physical education to foster lifelong habits of healthy eating habits of healthy eating and physical activity as identified in curriculum documents.

Mr. Gorman brought forward his concerns about Pg. 1:  the school will engage students, parents, teachers, food service professionals, health professionals and interested community members in implementing, monitoring, reviewing district-wide nutrition and physical activity policies.  Mr. Gorman asked where was the staff coming from.

Mr. Yergeau stated that the staff would be charged to engage students concerning wellness and that no additional staff would be needed and that it was not the intent of the policy to create a new position.

Mr. Gorman stated that it would then take teachers, staff, etc. away from teaching and other duties.

Mrs. Campelia stated that the Federal Government has required this policy and that teachers’ would integrate the policy into their classes.

Mrs. Campelia stated that the generic policy that the board adopted was to insure that the school received reimbursement from the Federal Government for their lunch program and did not meet the needs of the school.

Mr. Gorman stated that he was concerned about cost vs. time.

Ms. Beaubien replied that information would be weaved into a regular day or referred to as a “teachable moment.”

Mr. Yergeau stated that it was an additional layer, another expectation, and another federal requirement.

Mr. Gorman stated that on page 3, 3rd bullet item down,

Provide K-6 students with supervised recess for at least 20 minutes a day to encourage moderate vigorous physical activity, Mr. Gorman stated that DCS still does not have a recess policy where there is a mandatory recess.  Ms. Beaubien stated that the length of the school day cuts into recess and teaching time. 

Mr. Gorman brought forward concerns about bullet item 2: recognize that student involvement in other physical activities (ie., interscholastic, intramural sports, or recess) is not a substitute for physical ed. classes. Mr. Gorman stated that the two are not that different. 

Ms. Beaubien stated that there is an educational component to a Physical Ed. class that cannot be found in recess, intramural sports, or interscholastic sports and that these stated activities are an extension of PE class not in place of.

 

Pg. 1 (2nd to last par.):  schools will provide nutrition education and physical education to foster lifelong habits of healthy eating habits of healthy eating and physical activity as identified in curriculum documents.

Pg. 2 School Environment,bullet 8:  require school-sponsored events/fundraising efforts to be supportive of healthy eating and to follow the district’s nutrition standards. Replace require with encourage.

Pg. 2, Nutrition Ed. bullet 2:  Integrate into core curriculum, math, science language arts, social studies and elective subjects, not just health courses

Pg. 2, Nutrition Ed. bullet 8:  includes training, materials, and support for teachers and other staff

(eliminate bullet 8)

Pg. 3, Milk:  To be deleted:  2% milk will be phased out by 07-08.

 

A motion was made by Kevin Webber to accept the above changes to the Wellness Policy, seconded by Kevin Barry.

 

All In Favor

Motion Carried

 

A motion was made by Kevin Barry to accept the Wellness Policy as amended, seconded by Bonnie Beaubien.

 

All In Favor

Motion Carried

 

  Alternative High School Enrollment

 

A motion was made by John Harrington to approve the amended Alternative High School Policy, seconded by Bonnie Beaubien.

 

All In Favor

Motion Carried

 

The board agreed that all High School requests should be given to Mr. Yergeau.

 

E:  School Safety-Members of the Board

 

      Kevin Webber stated that after the number of school incidents nation wide this week, it was important for the school to re-evaluate/review their intruder alert policy.  Mr. Yergeau informed the board that the Crisis Team was meeting on Friday to walk the building and review policies set in place concerning entrance into the building etc.

 

 

5.   Other Business 

 

A.     Informational Items 

 

Kevin Barry-informed the board that the Executive Board would be meeting November 6th for their SAU dinner meeting.

 

Paul Yergeau- informed the board that NECAP testing is now going on and will continue through next week.

Mr. Yergeau also stated that he spoke to the Deerfield Fair president about fair tickets for DCS students.  The fair president insisted that the school’s tickets were made behind the Fair Association’s back.  Mr. Yergeau informed the board that Bob Stevens asked Mary to take care of the tickets for the school children.  Currently the Fair Assoc. will no longer be giving reduced fair tickets to DCS students.

The DCS 8th grade raised $3,062 working at Cheslie’s this year.

Mr. Harrington asked if the cafeteria had the ability to post on the web lunchroom balances by account and asked Mr. Yergeau to speak to Mrs. Duchano to see if it was a possibility.

He also asked if Dail’s Transportation phone number could be posted on the web and put on the school’s voice mail.

 

B. Agenda Preparation 

 

      Delegate

      Security Update

      Budget

 

C.  Citizens’/Staff Comments 

 

8.  Adjournment 

 

At 8:09 P.M. a motion to enter non-public session under RSA 91-A: 3II(c) was made by Kevin Webber, seconded by Bonnie Beaubien. 

 On a roll call, the school board voted: 

John Harrington YES

Kevin Barry YES

Bonnie Beaubien YES

Don Gorman YES

Kevin Webber YES

THE MOTION CARRIED 

 

Present in the non-public session were: John Harrington, Kevin Barry, Bonnie Beaubien, Don Gorman, Kevin Webber, Paul Yergeau, Peter Warburton, Tom Haley. 

A personnel matter was discussed by the board. 

 

At 8:37 P.M., a motion to end the non-public session was made by Don Gorman, seconded by Kevin Webber.  On a roll call, the school board voted: 

 

John Harrington YES

Kevin Barry YES

Bonnie Beaubien YES

Don Gorman YES

Kevin Webber YES

THE MOTION CARRIED 

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

 

6. Adjournment 

At 8:39 P.M., a motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Kevin Barry, seconded by Kevin Webber. 

ALL IN FAVOR

THE MOTION CARRIED 

 

The next Deerfield School Board business meeting is scheduled for Thursday, October 19, 2006 at 6:30 P.M. at Deerfield Community School