Thursday,
October19, 2006
MINUTES OF MEETING
PRESENT: John Harrington, Bonnie
Beaubien, Kevin Barry, Kevin Webber, Paul Yergeau, Gigi Klipa, Tom Haley,
1. Call To Order-Mr.
Harrington
The
October 19, 2006 DCS Board meeting was called to order at
2. Pledge of Allegiance
Mr. Harrington led those present in the
Pledge of Allegiance.
3. Minutes of
Previous Meetings
A
motion was made by Kevin Barry to accept the minutes of
seconded by Kevin Webber.
All In Favor
Motion Carried
A
motion was made by Kevin Barry to accept the minutes of
Seconded,
by Kevin Webber.
All In Favor
Motion Carried
No Changes
None were made
The board members received the NH
School Board Association Resolutions for 2007.
No comments were made concerning the
document.
5. Old
Unfinished Business
A. Negotiations Update-Mr.Gorman, Mr.Webber
To be
discussed at a later time.
B. Policy Development-Mr. Barry
Kevin Barry
brought to the board’s attention the EBCF-Pandemic/Epidemic Emergencies Policy
from the state for the board to review.
Mr. Barry suggested that the board accept the policy and
attach Mrs.
Matteson’s (DCS Nurse) document as
informational back up.
See
Attachment A.
See
Attachment B.
The
board will review the policy and will bring it back for discussion at their
next meeting.
Mr.
Haley passed out copies of the accepted DCS Health Policy to the board members.
6.
New Business
A. Budget
Development-Mr. Harrington
The board reviewed the Deerfield Projection Report as of
Mr. Haley noted that there was a change in the High School
Tuition line from $ 2,764,234
to $2,767,086. Mr. Haley also informed the board the Special
Education costs were higher than expected.
The board reviewed the 07-08 proposed school budget.
Mr. Haley informed the board that increases in the budget
could be found in the areas of:
Teacher Retirement (due to legislation from the state) an
increase in the budget of 2 percent, Substitute Teaching Line: 001-1100-`112-108-000(Sub.pay has increased
from $60 to $65/per day) so there is an increase of $7,000, SPED is up $100,000
and does not include salaries increases for
Overall the 07-08 budget is up ˝ million dollars from the
06-07 budget.
The board reviewed the 07-08 Initiatives.
1. Security
Increase
Mr. Yergeau reviewed with the board concerns about securing
the building. He stated that the school
day starts at
Mr. Fowler contacted Allsafe & Lock, Inc. and received
a proposal for:
1-14” color monitor
1-Interocm-w/door-release button
1-HES 9600 Elec. Door release and installation
Cost $1,837
Standalone alarm locks-$1,375 each and proximity cards at
$4.30 each of stick-on tags $.79 ea.
The board discussed the needs for securing the building and
how to appropriately secure the modulars.
Mr. Haley stated that all the schools in the SAU with modulars are
facing the same concerns and suggested that Greg Champlin from the state be
contacted.
The board will continue reviewing this situation
2. Soundproofing
the two Music Rooms
Mr. Yergeau informed the members of the board that band
classes interrupt other classes during the day and makes it difficult for
teachers and students.
The board discussed moving the band/music classes to the
modulars and asked Mr. Yergeau to look into space concerns.
3. Changes
in Insurance Benefits
Mr. Yergeau stated the during the previous budget
development cycle, the Board voted to make changes in the insurance benefits
being offered to the employees. This was
defeated with a default budget, but Mr. Yergeau recommended offering the same
terms and conditions of the benefit package as discussed in the 06-07 budget.
4. Sub-Coordinator
Stipend
Mr. Yergeau informed the board that the time it takes to
find substitute staff for the building has increased and finding a sub can
start at
Ms. Klipa stated that other schools offer this stipend and
that a Para in the building might take on this responsibility to alleviate the
amount of time it takes away from the secretary.
5. Increase
in Secretarial Time
Mr. Yergeau stated that with the increased amount of
required reporting as well as office initiated tasks; the addition of five days
at the beginning and five days at the end of the school year for both the
receptionist and special education secretary would help alleviate the backlog
of work. The cost for this was set at
$1,650.
6. Co-curricular
Coordinator
For the last several years there has been an increase in
the use of the building as well as programming. Conflict arises between
athletic programs, community programming and school-wide co-curricular
activities. The Co-curricular Coordinator
would consolidate the frequently conflicting activities. Cost for the
Co-Curricular Coordinator: $1,500.
7. Increases
half time health position to full time
Health Education Initiatives to be accomplished by
increasing Health Ed. personnel:
1. Educate the
students and empower them to make healthy choices.
• Organize school wide health programs (5-A-Day,
bike safety, dental hygiene etc)
• Continue snack of the month presentations (grades
K-2)
• Make
health related activities/presentations on various topics available to grade
levels or classroom teachers.
• Consult with teachers about integrating health
concepts into lessons or units.
2. Develop a school environment that promotes
wellness.
• Assess current level of health practices (CDC
school health index, student BMI, etc,
• Support teachers in integrating movement/activity
into core subject lessons
• Work with
health committee to create appropriate nutrition policies and practices in the
classroom.
• Support teachers to implement these policies and
practices.
• Work with the wellness committee to organize
wellness focused events for staff
• Develop
programs that address staff needs/concerns that were identified in the wellness
survey last fall (including stress management, nutrition education, opportunities
for activity)
3. Educate and involve families.
• Provide families with practical ways to increase
activity
• Organize
a parent's night to create awareness and provide opportunities for interactive
learning
• Provide families with nutrition information and
ideas on an ongoing basis
• Inform parents about health related programs in
which their students are involved
8. Addition
of a second World Language position
The World Language program attempted to have the teacher
introduce foreign languages and cultures to all students at DCS from grades 1-8
when it started sixyears ago. The
schedule has been revised yearly to best accommodate the language class. The number of students being seen has
decreased by cutting the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th grades from
the program altogether but have increased the number of times that most
students see the language teacher. The
perfect situation for DCS students in grades 1-8 would have a foreign language,
daily, throughout their ed. at DCS. This
proposal to add a second teacher, along with a longer school day, would make
this possible.
9. Full
Time Kindergarten
Fulltime Kindergarten was possible because of the lower
number of children who registered for Kindergarten this past spring. Preliminary review of the program has shown
the program to be successful and very well supported by the parents of the
children in the program. Having only two
teachers and being limited in space, DCS was not able to accommodate all
families who requested this option.
Options are being reviewed to allow us to offer full day kindergarten
for all children.
10. HS
Transportation
The long-term agreement of an exclusive high school
contract with Concord High the board has proposed factoring in transportation
costs for high school students who would attend
Mr. Yergeau was asked to get more information about how
many buses may be needed and cost.
7. Other Business
A. Informational Items-Administrators and
Board Members
Mr. Barry
informed the board that the Board of Selectmen have received bids for spaying
the town and school fields and would like to share the cost. $40,000 was the estimated cost that was
brought forward. Ms. Beaubien stated
that this would be a special warrant article and that by splitting the cost and
having two warrants (one of the school ballot, one on the town) could cause
problems if one of the warrants passed and the other didn’t. It was suggested that the town pays one year
and the school pays another insuring that the full cost is covered. Mr. Barry will bring this information to the
board of Selectmen.
Kevin
Webber- requested that the school document how their drills such as fire,
intruder, etc. work and review it with the school board.
Mr. Webber
also stated that the timers for the outside lights need to be adjusted.
Mr. Yergeau
informed the board that the staff will be working of revisiting the Mission
Statement for
Mr. Harrington
inquired about café accounts being posted on the DCS web. Mr. Yergeau stated that an additional module
for the accounting system would need to be added. The cost for this piece was
estimated at $7,000. Mr. Harrington
stated that he was not looking for additional software but for a spreadsheet,
by ID # posted on the web.
Mr. Yergeau
would relay the information to Mrs. Duchano.
Kevin Barry
informed the members of the board that the SAU dinner meeting is on the
November 6th, at the Lazy Lion.
The board
reviewed several Maternity Leave Requests.
1. Mrs. Cook (6th grade)
2. Mrs. Peasley (8th grade)
A motion was made to accept the request for maternity leave
for Heidi Cook from Nov. 23rd-Jan. 22nd according to
policy by Kevin Webber seconded by Kevin Barry.
All In Favor
Motion Carried
A motion was made to accept the request for maternity leave
for Kira Peasley according to policy by Kevin Barry seconded, by Bonnie
Beaubien.
All In Favor
Motion Carried
A
letter was received by the board members from Mr. Robertson concerning the
Athletic Policy and Girls Basketball.
Chairman, Mr. Harrington asked for a sense of the board. The members of the board agreed to adhere
with the Athletic Policy as it is written for the 06-07 school year.
B. Agenda Preparation-Mr. Harrington
Pandemic/Epidemic
Emergencies Policy Review
Budget/Budget
Initiatives
C. Citizens’/Staff Comments
None Made
8.
Adjournment
At
ALL IN FAVOR
THE MOTION CARRIED
The next
Deerfield School Board business meeting is scheduled for Thursday, November 2
At