MINUTES OF MEETING
PRESENT: John Harrington, Bonnie
Beaubien, Kevin Barry, Kevin Webber, Paul Yergeau, Tom Haley, Don Gorman,
1. Call To Order-Mr.
Harrington
The
November 11, 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
Pg. 1
At
John Harrington YES
Kevin Barry
YES
Bonnie Beaubien YES
Donald Gorman YES
Kevin Webber YES
THE MOTION CARRIED
Present: John Harrington,
Kevin Barry, Bonnie Beaubien, Donald Gorman, Kevin Webber, Tom Haley, Gigi
Klipa.
A personnel matter
was discussed.
At
John Harrington YES
Kevin Barry YES
Bonnie Beaubien YES
Donald Gorman YES
Kevin Webber YES
THE MOTION CARRIED
Chair John Harrington noted that no
action had been taken in non-public session.
Pg.
2 (C, 1st paragraph)
Mrs.
Worthen the Special Education Coordinator presented to the DCS board reasons
for the increase in the
Should Read: Mrs.
Worthen the Special Education Coordinator presented to the DCS board reasons
for the increase of
· 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.
Should Read: A number
of students required longer programming last summer were sent to an outside of
district program. Next summer DCS is
planning to have a program in place that is held at DCS not out of district.
Pg.
5 (A, 1st paragraph)
Mr.
Webber noted that he
received an e-mail from Mrs. Clark concerning space needs and Facility
Planning.
Should Read: Mr.
Harrington noted that he received an e-mail from Mrs. Clark concerning space
needs and Facility Planning
A motion was made by Kevin Barry to accept the minutes of
All In Favor
Motion Carried
4.
Immediate Business
No Changes
None were made
Mr. Harrington stated that 12 letters concerning alternative high school placement were placed in unmarked envelopes and sealed by Paul Yergeau. Mr. Harrington informed those present that Mr. Haley the Supt. of SAU 53 would be drawing the names. As Mr. Haley drew the envelopes they were marked in the order that they were drawn and the names were read:
The names were drawn in the following order:
1. Gabriel LaRoche
2. Sam Williams
3. Justin Bilodeau
4. Renee Zwick
5. Abigail Burmeister
6. Kevin Fahey
7. Perry Eaton
8. Taylor Mahoney
9. Cullen Barnes
10. Shane Currier
11. Cam Levasseurer
12. Ian Johnson
Mr. Harrington announced that letters would be sent to the parents informing them of where their names fall on the list.
Mr. Harrington then allowed parents to comment or ask questions.
Denise Fahey asked
if the board approached
Mrs. Fahey also
stated that transportation issues are a huge concern to parents and encouraged
the board to pursue finding a better way to get
Mr. Harrington
stated that
At
Mr. Harrington invited Bill Carbeneau a member of the MBC to the board meeting so that he could have the questions he had brought forward at a MBC meeting answered. Mr. Carbenueau stated that he was not representing the MBC at this time.
Question #1: Mr. Carbonneau asked about the $1,000 stipend for teachers to do certain jobs and how did the school find monies to fund this?
Mr. Harrington replied that the administration adjusted other line items to do so. The teachers’ that receive this stipend have taken on added responsibilities above and beyond their classroom responsibilities.
Question#2: When and how did the school decide to have full day kindergarten and if the school knew they were not going to have enough Kindergarten students why did they not decide to cut the teaching position to half-day.
Mr. Barry stated that Kindergarten registration does not take place until contracts have been signed therefore they could not cut the position.
Mr. Yergeau replied that the community overwhelming responded to the full day option
and that there was not added personnel.
Question #3: Did DCS charge parents for school supplies?
Mr. Yergeau stated that every year parents are asked to assist with basic school supplies such as crayons, markers, etc.
Kevin Webber informed Mr. Carbonneau that the default budget caused the supply line to be reduced as other items or lines were reduced.
Mr. Carbonneau stated that he wanted to trust the decision making process at DCS and would encourage better communication between the school and the community.
* It was noted that the board was in receipt of a letter from Mrs. LeMauk.
A motion was made by Don Gorman, seconded by Kevin
Webber that the:
3 In Favor
2 Against
A motion was made to amend the motion (# 2) by Kevin Webber to add without board approval, seconded by Don Gorman.
3 In Favor
2 Against
Motion Carried
A motion was made to amend the motion (# 5) by Kevin
Webber to change $500, to $1,500 seconded by Don Gorman.
In Favor-4
Abstained-1
Final Draft including amendments.
1.
2. This freeze includes all new hires including
Special Ed. Positions, Teaching staff, and all
other Staff positions. All new
hires may not happen without board approval.
3. All half-time positions are frozen at present
levels
4. All new hires that replace a vacancy may only
take place after review and approval of
the board.
5. All new contracts or increases over $1,000 in
present contracts regarding Special Ed.
likewise shall be reviewed and approved by the board.
Mr. Gorman stated that he couldn’t see the purpose in expanding programs at DCS with the lack of space. He stated that the projects are wonderful but paid for by the taxpayers.
Mr. Gorman also stated that the board needs to review Special Ed. spending and maybe say no to adding more para’s.
Ms. Beaubien stated that the board does not have the power to override an IEP. Ms. Beaubien also stated that Health Care is breaking the backs of American citizens and educating the public would drive down cost and it needs to start at a young age.
Mr. Yergeau stated that sweeping generalizations have been made which are inappropriate. He further stated that he would not be doing his job if he did not advocate quality programs for the students at DCS He also stated that DCS has brought back a number of out of district students creating a savings in Special Ed. Mr. Yergeau also reminded the board members that the numbers of classes have been reduced by 1 teacher.
Mr. Gorman stated that the purpose of his motion was to encourage and bring forward a platform to have an open discussion.
The board
reviewed the proposed 07-08 budget.
Please see attached documents for further information.
1. DCS
Initiatives 07-08 submitted by Paul Yergeau
2.
3. 07-08
4. Dept. of Ed. Release of Equitable Education
Aid Figures of 07-08
Mr. Haley noted that the Deerfield
District will be receiving a substantial increase in the
FY 08 Equitable Education Aid of
$2,117,056.
Items left
in the budget process are Teacher contracts, non-certified staff and 07-08
school initiatives.
The Sped
budget was reviewed again and the summer program will be reduced to 3 days
saving ($13,000). Summer transportation
will be reduced. The total reduction in
the budget as if November 6th (which are not reflected in the
budget) totals $91,345.
A noted
increase in the budget was the substitute teacher. The SAU compared surrounding communities in
the area and $65 is the current rate for most districts. It is an increase of $5 a day.
ESOL Tutor
was discussed by the board. Mr. Haley
informed the board that position
was driven
by students who meet a federal standard in language requirements.
The members
discussed a textbook request from 7th grade. Mr. Haley stated that because of state
testing and “No Child Left Behind” teachers must now instruct in specific skill
areas. Curriculum is now going back to a
very structured format using basil readers.
A
motion was made by Kevin Webber to remove the grade level stipends from line
001-2213-110-108-000 seconded by Don Gorman.
4 In Favor
1 Against
The board
reviewed each line as needed for clarification.
It was noted
that the 07-08 proposed budget is a 3.3 increase or 60cents per $1,000
A
motion was made by Kevin Webber to move the 07-08 budget at $10,789,831.00.
All In Favor
Motion Carried
07-08
Initiatives
Security Increase
The board reviewed the listed equipment required to
install a security system at DCS.
Mr. Webber stated that the board should take the
time to look at low-tech before they
They make any changes.
Discussed at previous
meetings.
Changes
in Insurance Benefits (To be considers as part of negotiations)
Sub
Coordinator Stipend
Several of
the board members stated that they were not convinced that a stipend was
the best way
to handle extra time spent in finding subs and will discuss this further.
Increase
in Secretarial Time
The board
discussed the changes in required reporting due to NCLB and the demands it was
making on the office personnel. Mrs. Davitt stated that teachers, specialist,
and others are asking for more reports to be generated from the student info.
system because of state and federal requirements. Appox. 8 years ago the office
had green screens and the only info. that was being generated by the office was
the School Register, Attendance, School memo, and bridge. The student information system now holds much
more information requiring more data entry work and report making. Also, the dependence on volunteers has
changed due to a decrease in their numbers the office staff has had to pick up
a lot of work that once was done by volunteers.
HS
Transportation
Due to the
difficulty in parents getting their students to
Total of
07-08 Initiatives: $11,358
5. Other Business
A. Informational Items –Administrators and
board Members
Mr.
Harrington asked about the ID badges.
Mr. Yergeau stated that the machine at the Police Dept. has been in
repair since the end of August. Life
touch, which is the company that does school pictures, came in for a re-take
day and agreed to take the Staff ID’s.
A motion
was made by John Harrington that all staff members must have their ID’s as of
Dec. 31st.
All In Favor
Motion Carried
B. Agenda Preparation-Mr. Harrington
Review of
budget
C. Citizens’/Staff
Comments
None Made
A. Non-Public Session-Mr. Gorman
At
John Harrington YES
Kevin Barry YES
Bonnie
Beaubien YES
Donald Gorman YES
THE MOTION CARRIED
Present: John Harrington, Kevin Barry, Bonnie
Beaubien, Donald Gorman, Kevin Webber, Paul Yergeau, Tom Haley.
The board
discussed a personnel matter.
At
John Harrington YES
Kevin Barry
YES
Bonnie Beaubien YES
Donald Gorman YES
Kevin
Webber YES
ALL IN FAVOR
Chair
John Harrington noted that no action had been taken in non-public session.
6. Adjournment
At
ALL IN FAVOR
THE MOTION
CARRIED
There is a meeting of the M.B.C.
scheduled for
The next Deerfield School Board meeting is scheduled for