Deerfield School Board

Deerfield Community School

Deerfield, New Hampshire

Thursday, November 2, 2006 

 

MINUTES OF MEETING 

PRESENT: John Harrington, Bonnie Beaubien, Kevin Barry, Kevin Webber, Gigi Klipa, Tom Haley, Don Gorman, Kandy Davitt

1.  Call To Order-Mr. Harrington 

 

The November 2, 2006 DCS Board meeting was called to order at 6:32 PM by Chair John Harrington. 

 

2. Pledge of Allegiance 

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

3.  Minutes of Previous Meetings  

Mr. Haley noted that there was a change in the High School Tuition line from $ 2,764,234

to  $2,76086. (Should read:  Mr. Haley noted that there was a change in the High School Tuition Line from $2,764,234 to $2,767,086.)

 

A motion was made by Kevin Barry to accept the minutes of October 19, 2006 as corrected

 Seconded, by Kevin Webber. 

 All In Favor

Motion Carried 

 

4.  Immediate Business

 

  1. Agenda Review

Item 6A Staff Request was taken up at this time.

 

A motion to enter non-public session under RSA 91-A: 3II(c) was made by Kevin Barry, 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

 

 

 

The board returned to Public Session at:  7:20

 

B.     Citizens’ Staff Comments

None were made

C.     Budget Development-Mr. Harrington

Mrs. Worthen the Special Education Coordinator presented to the DCS board reasons for the increase in the Para line:  33-42.5. Also she reviewed with the board the summer program, and high school line increases in the Special Ed. budget.

                Mrs. Worthen noted that by decreasing 1st grade classrooms, the ratio of Sped students

         Increased, creating the need for placing more Para’s in the classroom.  The ratio is determined by the IEP Mrs. Worthen stated.

Mrs. Worthen also informed the board members that budget increases also happened due to:

·        Several new students needing 1:1 rather than a shared Para.

·        Decrease in grade 1 and 2 teachers place a higher percentage of identified students in each class, plus the increase of students in each class, extra support was needed to access the curriculum

·        1:1 paras went from part time to fulltime because their students went to full day programming.

Mrs. Worthen stated that her goal was to reduce number the of para educators by 5 next year and she is working on a list of criteria that teams must review together to determine a student’s need for para support.  She has also worked on a Needs Assessment that would determine exact support needs based on areas of need (academic, transition times, unstructured activity times)

Increase in Summer School tuition was due to:

 

·        A number of students requiring longer programming that was not offered last summer.  They were sent to an outside program.  Next summer she is DCS will have their own program in place.

·        Several students with Autism required longer programs, aged-out of the Bear Hill Camp program. DCS created their own program using a staff member who specialized in Autism and the other in Outdoor Adventure Programming.  This program would have been much more expensive and transportation also would have been a huge cost.  Mrs. Worthen and others are working on receiving Grant money for this program.

 

Increase in the Concord tuition line was due to:

 

·        An increase in students with significant needs attending CHS next year.  Each student’s projected costs are at 47K each.  Mrs. Worthen met with the Staff at CHS and they are now looking at one student at 47K and the others at a much lower cost.  Details are being finalized.

 

To be added to the Special Ed. costs are the following lines:

 

001-1200-610-108-000    $9,500.00 Special Ed. Supplies

001-1200-650-108-055    $1,450.00 Computer Software

001-1200-733-108-000    $877.00 New Furniture/FixturesEquip.

001-1200-734-108-055    $1,760.00 New computer/network Equip

The board thanked Mrs. Worthen for her time and information.

 

Ms. Klipa reviewed with the board several budget item requests/needs for the 07-08 budget. 

Ms. Klipa stated that file cabinets were needed to be purchased for record retention that needed to be fireproof, locked etc.

White boards, which are 13 years old, the finish is worn off and need to be replaced.

 

Mr. Haley noted that Health Costs were projected to have a 15% increase may come in much lower and they are waiting to hear from School Care.  Dental Insurance will have a 0% increase instead of a projected 5% increase.

 

Kevin Webber noted that in the 07-08 budget SPED costs are up 12 % from last year and everything else is 2%.  Mr. Webber stated that voters are going to see a 5% increase overall and not take into consideration the difference.

  1. Security Update-Ms.Klipa

Ms. Klipa informed that board that the school has had a Fire Drill, Bus Evac. Drill, and an Intruder Alert this year.  All of the drills so far have gone very well.  After the Intruder Alert the Crisis Team walked around the school to check on areas that might need improvement.  Areas of concern are:  Playground area and the modulars.

The Crisis team is looking at placing a buzzer system in the building to allow people access into the school. Mr. Webber also noted other problematic areas:

Pre-dismissal, (back door) end of the day.

Kevin Barry inquired about “Shelter In Place” and if the school had such a program in place.  If not he suggested that it was a good drill to have in place. 

The board also stated that the brush around the modulars needed to be cut away from the modulars for a clearer view.

The board will continue reviewing building security.

 

5.   Old Unfinished Business

 

A.     Facilities Planning –Mr. Harrington, Mr.Webber

 

Mr. Webber noted that he received an e-mail from Mrs. Clark concerning space needs and Facility Planning.  The board members support having Mrs. Clark pursue any communication ideas that she may have and continue reviewing these with the board.

 

B.     Policy Review-Mr. Barry, Mr. Gorman

 

Policy Review was TABLED.

     

6.  Other Business

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A.     Staff Request-Mr. Harrington

 

A motion was made by Don Gorman to not honor Mrs. Bilodeau’s request to extend her current assignment another year, seconded by Kevin Webber.

 

All In Favor

Motion Carried

 

B.     Informational Items – Administrators and Board Members

 

Ms. Klipa-informed the members of the board that NECAP testing is done.

 

Kevin Webber- stated that he would like to have the staff e-mail addresses posted on the web site.  He also stated that Homework. Now is underutilized and would like to see teachers and students implement this program more into their schedules.

 

Mr. Haley- shared with the board the tax rate summary.

See Attach. A.

Mr. Haley also handed out to the board Special Ed. Comparisons in SAU 53.

The board reviewed the information noting that Deerfield does not over exceed other towns in the SAU.

 

A letter was received from Ms. Ryan at teacher at DCS dated October 26, 2006.  Ms. Ryan stated that at this time she was planning on retiring as of June 2010. 

 

A motion was made by Kevin Barry to accept Ms. Ryan’s request, seconded by Don Gorman.

 

All In Favor

                                                  Motion Carried

 

 

C.      Agenda Preparation-Mr. Harrington

 

Budget

High School Placement

Hazard Mitigation Plan

 

D.     Citizens’/Staff Comments

 

None Made

 

E.      Non-Public Session-Mr. Gorman

 

At 8:53 P.M. a motion to enter non-public session under RSA 91-A: 3II(c) was made by Kevin Barry, 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

 

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

 

The board discussed a personnel matter.

 

At 9:07 P.M., a motion to end the non-public session was made by Kevin Barry, 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

 

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

 

8.  Adjournment 

 

At 9:08 P.M. a motion to adjourn the meeting 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, November 16

at 6:30 P.M. at Deerfield Community School