Deerfield School Board

Deerfield Community School

Deerfield, New Hampshire

Thursday, March 15, 2007 

 

MINUTES OF MEETING 

 

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

 

1.  Call To Order-Mr. Harrington  

 

The March 15, 2007 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   

 

A motion was made by Kevin Webber to accept the minutes of February 15, 2007 as read seconded, by Kevin Barry

 

All In Favor

  Motion Carried  

     

4.  Immediate Business 

 

A.  Agenda Review

 

5A was moved out of order to accommodate the student presentation concerning the Use of                           Electronics Policy. 

Mr. Yergeau introduced members of the Deerfield Community School Technology Magnet Cam Levasseur, Brianna Hall, and Cody Whelan.  The Technology Magnet has been working on reviewing and updating the Electronic Policy to make it reflect current technology use.

The Technology Magnet members stated in their presentation that Technology used appropriately benefits students, parents, and teachers.  One example given was cell phone use.

It was stated that when games, practices, etc are cancelled students are able to inform parents promptly.  The proposed policy from the Technology Magnet proposed a “ No Cell Phone Use” for grades  K-5.

The members of the board thanked the Technology Magnet for their time and presentation.

 

B.  Citizens’/ Staff Comments

 

Mrs. LeMauk asked the members of the board how they planned to proceed concerning the Concord Contract and the proposed grandfather clause?  Mr. Harrington informed Mrs. LeMauk that the board would be discussing this issue when they reached item 4C:  District Voting Review.

 

C.  District Voting Review – Mr. Harrington

 

Mr. Harrington stated that Mr. Barry was re-elected to the school board.  Jonathan Hutchinson was elected as the School District Moderator,  Cynthia E. Tomilson, Treasurer.  Mr. Barry informed the board that Melissa Yurek was elected as District Clerk as a write in canidate.  Mr. Barry asked Mrs. Yurek who was present if she would accept the position.  Mrs. Yurek replied that she would.

The members of the board were pleased that the recommended  $10,789,767 school budget passed.  The board also noted that funding for the collective bargaining agreement, the Building Repair Trust Fund, and the Special Ed. Trust Fund passed.  Questions 4 & 6 which designated the school board as agents to expend from the Special Ed. Trust Fund and Building Fund also passed. 

Question 7, which requested the district to raise and appropriate the sum of $115,200 for the purpose of providing two buses for high school students attending Concord high School, and a $30 stipend to the family of each duly enrolled public high school student legally residing in Deerfield did not pass.  The board discussed this question as some length and will continue to to review all options for high school transportation.

Question 8, which stated that the board pursue changes to the High School Contract with Concord to create a grandfather clause passed.

 

A motion was made by John Harrington to send a delegation comprised of Kevin Webber and Bonnie Beaubien to the Concord School Board and to authorize the delegation to open up discussions with Concord concerning Article 8.

 

4 In Favor

1 Against

Motion Carried

 

Mr. Haley will contact the Concord Supt. concerning a meeting date and inform the Concord board about the town vote.

 

Mr. Harrington stated that Mr. Webber was the originator of the petition and therefore it only made sense for him to speak to the petition warrant article with the Concord board.

 

Question 9 to rescind the provisions of RSA 40:13 (SB2) did not pass.

 

Kevin Webber stated that the board needed to embrace the fact that Deerfield is an SB2 town and to work accordingly.

 

5.  Old/Unfinished Business 

 

A.  Policy Review – Mr. Barry

 

The board received several policies for their 1st review.

 

v     Use of Facility Policy

v     Student Class Placement

v     Assessment

v     Evaluation of Instructional Programs

v     Instructional Approach

v     Instructional Materials

v     Promotion and Retention of Students

v     Athletics Policy

v     Electronics Policy

 

There seemed to be some confusion concerning the Athletic Policy.  It was Mrs. McPherson’s impression that it was going to be voted on at tonight’s meeting.  The board members were of the understanding that the current policy was amended to reflect the changes needed for the upcoming baseball/softball season and that Mrs. McPherson’s proposed Athletic Policy needed to be reviewed and then voted on. 

The board will place on the agenda for next month the proposed Athletic Policy.  Mrs. McPherson gave Mr. Haley the correct Athletic Policy to be presented. 

The board discussed the proposed Electronic Policy.  Mr. Webber suggested that the term “Personal Electronic Devices” be used instead of listing such devices because technology changes so rapidly.  The members also discussed the proposed cell phone policy and agreed that if parents purchase and require their students in the lower grades to carry them the policy should state that students in Grades K-5 may have cell phones but should be turned off until after school.  The board asked Mr. Yergeau to speak to the Technology Magnet about the suggested changes.

 

6.  New Business 

 

A.  2007-08 Calendar-Mr. Harrington

 

The board reviewed the 07-08 proposed calendar

 

Paul Yergeau-Mr. Yergeau informed the members that the Teacher Workshop held on March 13th (voting day) at Pembroke was very successful and that it was nice for the staff to be able to meet with peers that work within SAU 53.

 

See Attac: B

 

A motion was made by Kevin Barry to accept the proposed 07-08 Deerfield Community School Calendar as presented, seconded by Bonnie Beaubien.

 

All In Favor

Motion Carried

 

7.  Other Business

 

A. Informational Items – Administrators and Board Members

 

Paul Yergeau-stated that the Professional Dev. Day on March 13th was very productive and the time was well spent.

 

Bonnie Beaubien –informed the members of the board that she is still meeting with the hazardous mitigation committee.  The school most likely will be used as a shelter in emergency situations.

 

John Harrington-Mr. Harrington requested that parents and students are informed that the fields will not be sprayed for mosquitoes and to encourage those using the fields to use the appropriate precautions.

 

Mr. Haley-presented a letter to the board from Ms. Sims stating that she will be moving and will not be returning for the 07-08 school year because she is moving. 

 

A motion was made by Kevin Webber to accept Ms. Sims’ letter of intent not to return to her teaching position for the 07-08 school year, seconded by Kevin Barry.

 

All In Favor

Motion Carried

 

B.  Agenda Preparation- Mr. Harrington

 

School Policies, Athletic Policy, Nomination of Staff, Board Organization, Goal Setting

 

C. Citizens’/Staff Comments

 

Mrs. Yurek wanted Mr. Yergeau and the members of the board to know that as a parent of a child who receives services that the Deerfield Staff goes above and beyond expectations.

 

Mr. Yurek stated that he thought Article 8 (High School Transportation) did not pass because of the stipend and that maybe putting it into the budget instead of a warrant it might have passed.  Mr. Harrington replied that the board would continue discussing high school transportation and acknowledged that transportation is an important issue for the town to have.

 

 

 

D.  Administrative Staff Review

 

At 78:52 P.M., a motion to enter non-public session under RSA 91-A:3II(b) to conduct a review of staff 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

 

THE MOTION CARRIED

 

Present:  John Harrington, Kevin Barry, Bonnie Beaubien, Donald Gorman, Kevin Webber, Paul Yergeau, Tom Haley.

 

The board reviewed the hire of staff for 2007/08.

 

At 8:21 P.M. a motion to end the non-public session was made by Kevin Barry, seconded by Bonnie Beaubien.  On a roll call, the board voted:

 

                                                      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.

 

8. Adjournment

 

At 8:22  P.M. a motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Kevin Barry, seconded by Bonnie Beaubien.

 

ALL IN FAVOR

THE MOTION CARRIED

 

The next Deerfield School Board meeting is scheduled for Thursday, April 5, 2007 at 6 :30 P.M.