MINUTES OF MEETING
PRESENT: John Harrington, Bonnie
Beaubien, Kevin Barry, Kevin Webber, Paul Yergeau, Patti Willis, Don Gorman
1. Call To Order-Mr.
Harrington
The December 7, 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 Don
Gorman to accept the minutes of
Pg. 5: All new contracts or increases over $1,000 in present
contracts regarding Special Ed. likewise shall be reviewed and approved by the
board. Deerfield Community School Board
may terminate this freeze by a majority vote of the board at anytime.
SHOULD READ: All
new contracts or increases over $1,500 in present contracts
regarding Special Ed. likewise shall be reviewed and approved by the
board. Deerfield Community School Board
may terminate this freeze by a majority vote of the board at anytime.
Pg. 4 Question 2: When and how did
the school decide to have a 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.
SHOULD READ: When and how did the school decide to have a
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. Webber stated that Kindergarten registration does not take place
until contracts have been signed therefore they could not cut the position.
Kevin Webber stated that the
individual line items on page 6 and the discussion that the board had is not
part of the min.
Mr. Gorman removed his motion to
accept the minutes of November 16th, Mr. Barry removed his second.
The minutes of the November 16th
were tabled as requested by John Harrington, Chairman.
4. Immediate
Business
Agenda Review
No Changes
Citizens’
Staff Comments
None made
5. Old/Unfinished
Business
A. Budget Follow up –Mr. Harrington
Mr. Harrington stated that the
proposed 07-08 DCS budget was accepted by the MBC.
Mr. Webber asked what the deadline
would be for Warrant Articles?
Mr. Harrington replied that there
would be one more school board meeting before the scheduled public hearing by
the MBC.
Mr. Barry stated that January 10th
was the MBC Public Hearing for the School Budget and the 11th was for the town budget,
The board reviewed the DRAFT of
the official ballot concerning warrant articles.
Question 1: Could not be determined till a later date
Question 2: Could not be determined till a later date
Question 3: Shall the District vote to raise and
appropriate the sum or $_____to support the research and planning activities of
a School Facilities Planning Committee.
Mr. Webber suggested that one of
the options could be for the board to put a sum of money in that line and then
amend the line during the budget hearing or at the school district
meeting. This then would allow the members
of the board to review the results of the town survey.
Mr. Gorman stated that by putting
a dollar amount in, it would start the discussion process and the MBC meeting
would be the place to start.
If there is not a clear purpose
from the survey this question will be removed.
$1.00 was put in.
Question 4: Shall the District vote to raise and
appropriate the sum of up to $________from surplus, to be added to the Special
Ed. Trust Fund previously established, and authorize the use of that amount
from the June 30, 2007 unreserved fund balance (surplus) available for transfer
on July 1 of this year, and to make the school board agent to expend.
The amount in the Special Ed.
Trust fund as to date is $131,864.62
Mr. Gorman asked if the board
wanted to tie in “make the school board agents to expend, ” stand alone as its’
own warrant article. The purpose of this
is to allow people to vote on each part separately.
Mr. Barry stated that if the board
was to break it out he suggested that he would like to see one warrant article
that uses language that allows the school board agent to expend and that would
cover any and all trust funds.
Question 5: Shall the District vote to raise and
appropriate the sum of up to $________, from surplus, to be added to the
Building Repair Trust Fund previously established, and authorize the use of
that amount from the June 30, 2007 unreserved fund balance (surplus) available
for transfer on July 1 of this year, and to make the school board agents to
expend.
The amount in the Building Trust
fund is $ 9,938.20.
Mr. Webber stated that the Special
Ed Trust Fund has to be funded completely before the Building Repair Trust Fund
can receive any money. He stated that
this year the District would not have a $40,000 in surplus, so to put $20,000
in the Special Ed. Trust Fund means that the Building Trust Fund will not be
funded. He suggested lowering the dollar
amounts for both of them.
Mr. Barry suggested that the
questions be reversed and putting more into the Building Trust fund.
Mr. Webber suggested that instead
of $20,000 replace it with $10,000. The board members agreed.
A motion was made by Kevin
Barry to present the above Warrant Articles to the Budget Committee, seconded
by Kevin Webber.
ALL IN FAVOR
MOTION CARRIED
B. Negotiations Update-Mr. Webber, Mr. Gorman
Mr. Webber informed that
board that they had a meeting last week and would like to review the discussion
with the board in a non-public meeting.
C. Policy Development- Mr. Barry
Mr. Barry presented to the board for their
review 6 new policies.
Student
Involvement in Decision Making (JIB)-See Attachment #A
Mr. Yergeau stated that he was not
able to review this policy with Mr. Haley but that it was his opinion that this
policy was high school oriented and not necessary for the elementary level.
Mr. Harrington suggested that this
policy be brought back when Mr. Haley would be available for input.
School
Year Policy (IC)-See Attachment #B
Mr. Barry-stated that this policy
states that the school year should be a minimum of 187 days, with a minimum of
180 instructional days for students.
The board reviewed how contracts
might or might not be affected by this policy.
School
Calendar (JC)-See Attachment #C
Release
of Students (JLIA)- See Attachment #D
Mr. Gorman inquired about how
“other authorized persons” are determined.
Mr. Harrington stated that a person who can’t pick up a child after work
authorizes a neighbor to pick up their child.
Mr. Gorman stated that he was more concerned about custody issues. Mr. Yergeau informed the members of the board
that an informational sheet filled out by parents determined who had custody,
and who could pick up etc.
Community
Resources (IJO)-See Attachment #E
Reviewed-No comments made
School
Bus Safety Program (EEAL)-See Attachment #F
Mr. Webber noted that there was a
typo in the second sentence. It should
read Safety not Safely precautions.
D. Meeting with Concord-Mr. Harrington
Mr. Harrington stated that a
letter was sent to the Supt. of Concord Schools
(Dr. Chris Rath) concerning dates that members from the DCS Board could
meet. The purpose of this meeting was to
present questions that have been brought forward from community members
concerning current minimum enrollment quota defined in the agreement.
Robin Lemauk stated that she was
looking to have grandfathered in the contract a program that allowed students
who had siblings already enrolled into another high school program to be
allowed to follow their siblings. Mr. Gorman stated that the board members
would do their best.
6. Other Business
A.
Informational Items-Administrators and Board Members
A motion was made by Kevin Barry to request Lawyer, T.
Comstock to be the Legal Rep. for the
ALL IN FAVOR
MOTION CARRIED
John Harrington- informed the
members of the board that they were in receipt of a letter from Anna Carlson
concerning her intent to retire, and to take into account that an additional
$3,000 to start the retirement stipend would be added to the budget.
A motion was made by Kevin
Barry to accept the letter of intent to retire from Anna Carlson, seconded by
Bonnie Beaubien.
Mr. Gorman wanted this item to be
brought forward when the board discussed negotiations.
The motion was withdrawn, by
Kevin Barry and Bonnie Beubien withdrew her second.
Paul Yergeau-Reminded the board that they did not meet with the staff
last spring and the staff would like to have a date set.
Staff ID’s – company sent pictures with no ID’s. ID’s arrived with misspellings. Hopefully things will be corrected by the new year.
REAP Grant funds-are intended to
take care of professional development training.
Mr. Yergeau passed out information concerning the purpose of Critical
Friends. He stated that at this time
there are only two trained coaches at this time. Mr. Yergeau spoke to Peter Warburton and Tom
Haley concerning using the money from this grant for a group of people to
attend a three-day conference concerning the training and implementation of
Critical Friends held in
Also, Mr. Yergeau stated that Ms.
Klipa and he would both be going and that Peter Warburton agreed to come to DCS
and be the acting administrator for DCS.
Kevin Webber-Security Plan, stated that he wanted the board to revisit
the entire security scenario and make sure that it really is the right system
before it is implemented.
John Harrington- Mr. Harrington stated that he felt it was important for
DCS to address High School Transportation issues this year and not wait until
next year. Mr. Harrington suggested that
an additional warrant article be added which would cost approximately $64,000
to alleviate transportation issues.
Mr. Webber asked that since
Mr. Gorman stated that he recently
had to deal with several situations concerning transportation and that some of
the students were looking at having to drop out based on transportation needs.
Mr. Webber stated that for the 50
students who don’t go to
Don Gorman-stated that the swamp next to the school might need to be
filled in for an additional parking lot.
He suggested that someone should start looking into what it really is
and if it can be filled in or not. Mr.
Harrington stated that it was part of a reclamation program. Mr. Harrington stated that the board should
find out what it is and then discuss it further.
Meeting dates available for high school
meeting: Dec. 11th at
December 15th at
A.
Agenda Preparation
Teacher/Board meeting dates
Transportation Warrant Article
stipend reviewed
B. Citizens’/Staff Comments
A member of the audience asked
about the high school transportation warrant.
Mr. Harrington stated that the District legally does not have transport
high school students but is hoping that this type of Warrant Article will be
accepted by the community.
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, Paul Yergeau, Patty
Willis.
The board discussed a personnel
matter.
At
John Harrington
YES
Kevin Barry
YES
Bonnie Beaubien
YES
Donald Gorman
YES
Kevin Webber
YES
Chair John Harrington noted that no
action had been taken in non-public session.
A motion to approve Anna Carlson’s
request to be granted the early retirement benefit as outlined in the master
agreement was made by Bonnie Beaubien, seconded by Kevin Barry.
ALL IN FAVOR
THE MOTION CARRIED
7. Adjournment
At
ALL IN FAVOR
THE MOTION CARRIED
The next Deerfield School Board meeting is scheduled for