Deerfield School Board
Deerfield Community School
Deerfield, New Hampshire
Thursday, January 18, 2007
MINUTES OF MEETING
PRESENT: John Harrington, Bonnie Beaubien, Kevin Barry, Kevin Webber, Paul Yergeau, Don Gorman, Peter Warburton, Tom Haley, Kandy Davitt
1. Call To Order-Mr. Harrington
The January 18th, 2007 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 by Kevin Webber to accept the minutes of January 4, 2007 as corrected seconded, by Bonnie Beaubien.
A motion was made by Don Gorman to accept the minutes of January 9, 2007 seconded, by Kevin Webber.
A motion was made by Kevin Webber to post the approved school board minutes seconded, by Don Gorman.
4. Immediate Business
A. Agenda Review
B. Citizens’/ Staff
Comments
Mr. Barry shared a letter with the board members from Colleen
Guardia (Overseer of Welfare). Ms.
Guardia stated in her letter that as the Overseer of Welfare for the Town of
Deerfield, it was her honor to work with the students, the staff and faculty
during the holiday season collecting gift items for residents.
See Attach. A - Letter from Colleen Guardia
Mr. Harrington opened the School Board Meeting to Citizens’ /Staff
Comments.
Mr. Rothemich asked the board who were the representatives on the
joint Concord/Deerfield committee? Mr.
Harrington stated that Don Gorman and Bonnie Beaubien were the Deerfield
representatives on that committee. Mr.
Rothemich asked if
Deerfield would be required to send 100% of their students to
Concord next year.
Mr. Harrington responded that the contract requirements for the
08-09 would be somewhat the same as the 07-08 Academic year which means 95% of
Deerfield’s graduating 8th graders based on ADM (Average Daily
Membership) would be required to attend Concord. Mr. Harrington also informed those present
that the 95% would also include 9th grade students.
Several members from the community that were in attendance asked
if the board had pursued changing the contract with Concord, allowing siblings
of students who attend a different high school than Concord could be
grandfathered. This would allow them to
attend the same school as their sibling.
Mr. Harrington stated that there
has not been any further discussion with Concord.
Mr. Rothemich asked about transportation. He had read that in the
Concord/Deerfield contract it stated that Deerfield would be responsible for
transportation. Mr. Harrington replied
that the intent of the wording released Concord from any transportation
concerns and until the voters pass the transportation warrant that has been
placed on the ballot and/ or legislation changes that mandates high school
transportation the boards’ hands are tied when it comes to providing
transportation for Deerfield’s high school students. Mr. Harrington stated that the citizenry of
Deerfield is not bound by any statute to transport their high school age
students and the members cannot require the townspeople to do so.
Mr. Rothemich felt that the board had not looked past 10 years and
they need to.
Mrs. Fahey asked how the board thought the town would pass the
transportation warrant when they did not pass the stipend last year?
Mr. Harrington replied that it was the right thing to do for the
high school students and hoped that the community realized the benefits it
would provide for families.
Kevin Webber stated that since all students do not attend Concord
the board legally has to provide some type of transportation or stipend to all
students therefore meeting the letter of the law. If this passes it will guarantee two buses AM
& PM to Concord High and a stipend for those attending other high schools.
Mrs. Yurek wanted to encourage the board to look for options that
would allow siblings to attend the same high school. She stated that having two students at two
different schools would cause a hardship for her family.
Mr. Harrington read the letter from the Concord Supt. of Schools regarding the request from the Deerfield School District.
Mr. Barry stated that given the current situation the school
district has met with Concord on behalf of parents. The board has sent
Representatives in an attempt to open negotiations surrounding the number of
students to attend Concord High. Mr.
Barry stated that the board has received verbal responses from the Concord
Board and now a written response both stating that the Concord board did not
approve the request to amend the tuition agreement.
A motion was made by Kevin Barry to cease any further attempts to approach the Concord Board at the current time seconded by Bonnie Beaubien.
Mr. Barry stated the reasons for
this motion is that he does not want to jeopardize any future dealings,
extension etc. with Concord. He stated that the majority of the town voted
for this contract and the board needs to protect their interest and not put the
contract in jeopardy by continuing to try to change it.
Mr. Gorman stated that if the
petition warrant passes the board would have to pursue changes in the contract
with Concord. Mr. Webber stated that he
did not think that the parents looking for a grandfather clause in the contract
were seen as badgering Concord especially when the Deerfield District pays
Concord 2 to 3 million dollars a year.
This request hardly constitutes badgering stated Mr. Webber.
Mr. Gorman stated that he can’t
figure out where the concept of badgering is coming from and the meeting with
Concord was a pleasant inquiry. To
ignore the warrant if it passes does not make sense.
Mr. Harrington stated that he was
in total agreement with Kevin Barry due to the response from the Concord
Board. He stated that the District may
approach Concord again for the 08-09 school year.
The board continued to discuss if
continuing the negotiations would jeopardize the current contract with Concord
or not.
Mr. Harrington stated that the
sibling issue was not presented to the Concord Board. Tom Haley, Bonnie Beaubien and Don Gorman
agreed with Mr. Harrington’s statement.
A motion was made by Kevin Barry to amend the motion to include the words for the 07-08 academic school year.
A roll call was requested:
John
Harrington YES
Kevin
Barry YES
Bonnie
Beaubien YES
Donald
Gorman NO
Kevin
Webber NO
The amended motion reads: A motion was made by Kevin Barry to cease
any further attempts to approach the Concord Board concerning any changes to
the Concord/Deerfield contract for the
07-08 Academic school year seconded by Bonnie Beaubien.
John Harrington YES
Kevin
Barry YES
Bonnie
Beaubien YES
Donald
Gorman NO
Kevin
Webber NO
5. Old/Unfinished Business
A. Deliberative
Session Planning
The board invited Jack Hutchinson the Moderator for the
Deliberative session to the next school board meeting February 1, 2007 to
review warrants and procedures.
The members reviewed the warrants and discussed Warrant 7
(Transportation for High School Students)
Kevin Webber stated that the exact logistics could be worked out at a
later date but the monthly stipend would include 2 buses and approximately $30
for students who drove.
B. Policy Review – Mr.
Barry
Policy JI, (Student Rights and Responsibilities), Policy
JICD-Appendix A (Reinstatement of Expelled Students), Policy JICFA (Hazing),
Policy JICH(Drug and Alcohol Use by Students), Policy JLD (School Guidance
Programs and Services, Policy KA(School, Community, and Home Relations),Policy
DFA(Investment Policy). The Investment
Policy is re-affirmed every year.
The board reviewed the following polices and will and will vote on
approval at their next meeting.
6. Other Business
A. Informational
Items-Administrators and Board Members
Kevin Barry informed the members of the board that the articles
for the Town Newsletter
are due on the 11th of January.
Bonnie Beaubien informed the members of the board that the
Hazardous Mitigation committee is still meeting and making progress.
John Harrington stated that he was in receipt of a letter from
Kathy Matthews. Mrs. Matthews wrote the
board to inform them that she would unlikely be able to vacate her teaching
position as originally planned through the district’s early retirement
benefit. Mrs. Matthews requested that
she be allowed to retain employment, salary, and benefits as a teacher in the
Deerfield School District for the 07-08 school year.
A motion was made by Kevin Webber to table the request until the budget has been voted on, seconded by Don Gorman.
Motion Carried
Policy Review
Deliberative Session Review
C. Citizens’/Staff Comments
Robin Lemauk remarked to the members of the board that she was very disappointed that the sibling clause would not be brought forward and that it created a hardship for many families. She stated that the board’s vote did not represent the families of Deerfield.
Mrs. Yurek stated that if the board did not pursue the petition warrant it would be very difficult for her family, because she would have children in three different schools and school should not break up families.
Mrs. Fahey stated that a 30 mile commute and the early bus pick-up is difficult for Deerfield students and was discouraged by the boards lack of understanding concerning this issue.
Mr. Harrington informed those present that he could not endorse the Petition because he could not choose one parents concern over another. Mr. Harrington further stated that although he could sympathize with parents with siblings he also sympathized with those parents with transportation, financial, and educational needs. Mr. Harrington stated that he could not see the grandfathering clause that is being proposed by parents any more important than the concerns that Denise Fahey had. He stated that until the community supports a coop, or build a high school Deerfield may need the option to go back to Concord. Mr. Harrington concluded that the lottery wasn’t perfect but that it put everyone’s needs on a fair playing field.
Mr. Gorman did not refer to siblings when he met with Concord. He stated that he said there were twelve families looking for alternative high school placement and asked the board if they could get relief. Mr. Gorman stated that the Deerfield School District should continue to meet and negotiate with the Concord board and he realizes that Concord can reject any proposal Deerfield puts forward.
Robin Lemauk stated that she has spoken to several Concord board members and they appear to understand and recognize the sibling placement needs of families.
Bonnie Beaubien stated that she and Mr. Gorman only request to the Concord board was to change the formula from 95% to 90% to help more students find alternative placement. Concord rejected that proposal. She stated that she has watched this situation change over the years from Deerfield residents being able to pick the school that would be the most convenient for their families to where Deerfield students could not find high school placements. The Concord agreement insures that every student is placed leaving no one behind panicking where can they get their child into a high school. Ms. Beaubien stated that this was not a one-person agreement to go to Concord with this proposal and that it had the full support of each and every school board member.
Mr. Harrington stated that the proposal that was presented to Concord was accepted by all board members so that one concern or need did not take précis dense over someone else’s concerns.
At 8:45 P.M., a motion to enter
non-public session under RSA 91-A: 3II(c) to discuss a personnel matter was
made by Kevin Barry, seconded by Kevin Webber.
On a roll call, the board voted:
John
Harrington YES
Kevin
Barry YES
Bonnie Beaubien YES
Donald Gorman YES
Kevin
Webber YES
Present:
John Harrington, Kevin Barry, Bonnie Beaubien, Donald Gorman, Kevin
Webber, Paul Yergeau, Patty Willis, Tom Haley.
The board discussed a personnel matter.
At 9:02 P.M. a motion to end the
non-public session was made by Bonnie Beaubien, seconded by Kevin Barry. On a roll call, the board voted:
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.
7. Adjournment
At 9:03
P.M. a motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Don Gorman, seconded by
Kevin Webber.
ALL IN FAVOR
THE MOTION
CARRIED
The next Deerfield
School Board meeting is scheduled for Thursday, February 1, 2007 at 7:00 P.M.
The next Deerfield School Board meeting is scheduled for Thursday,
February 15, 2007 at 6:00 P.M.