Deerfield School Board

Deerfield Community School

Deerfield, New Hampshire

Thursday, April 5, 2007 

 

MINUTES OF MEETING 

 

PRESENT: John Harrington, Bonnie Beaubien, Kevin Barry, Kevin Webber, Don Gorman, Tom Haley, Paul Yergeau, Peter Warburton, 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 Barry to accept the minutes of March 15, 2007 as read seconded, by Bonnie Beaubien

 

All In Favor

  Motion Carried  

     

4.  Immediate Business 

 

A.  Agenda Review

 

      No Changes

 

B.  Citizens’/ Staff Comments

 

      No Comments

 

C.     High School Planning – Mr. Goulet, Mr. Harrington, Mr. Gorman

 

Mr. Goulet a member of the Epsom School Board came to tonight’s meeting to gather information concerning the Deerfield District’s future plans for a high school, middle school, etc. He stated that as of now Epsom is satisfied with their arrangement with Pembroke but with growth in the Southern Tier of NH he did not know how long the arrangement would hold between the two communities. Mr. Goulet was impressed with the initial work that has taken place.

Mr. Harrington stated that Deerfield is in year four of a ten-year contract with Concord.  At year 7 both parties can begin reviewing future needs and begin discussing future plans.

Mr. Goulet invited a representative from the board to meet with Epsom on May 2, 2007.

Mr. Harrington stated that Mr. Webber (board member) had most of the information that Epsom would be interested in.

 

Mr. Haley informed the board that the Concord school board has been contacted concerning the Petition Warrant (grand fathering clause).  The board is requesting a copy of the warrant and the number of students that will be considered grandfathered.

 

Mr. Gorman stated that he received a letter form Dr. Leather concerning Voc.-Tech Education and the initial stages of planning a community would need to take.

Mr. Webber asked about state funding for this type of project?

Mr. Haley stated that the law allowed for 20 centers and that there are already 20 centers in place.  To get approval for a Voc. Tech school the town of Deerfield would have to submit their request with the involvement of other interested communities.  A single district would not have much success with the NH legislature proposing a Voc.-Tech without other communities wanting to participate.

 

Mr. Gorman stated that a Voc. Tech could be done but the board’s attitude would need to be re-vamped for it to be successful.

 

  1. Public Relations Efforts-Mr. Webber

 

Mr. Webber restated to the board that the public relations effort should be changed so that the community gets information in a timely manner.

Mr. Webber suggested that the board create a position as Public Relations Co-coordinator for the DCS board.  That person would be responsible to keep track of deadlines, writing articles, finding creative ways to communicate to the public etc.  Due to the amount of time required Mr. Webber suggested that it be a paid position, he also suggested that Maryann Clark be asked to take the position.

 

A motion was made by Kevin Webber to approach Mrs. Clark concerning the position of Public Relations Coordinator, and to explore the cost, and the amount of time needed for the position, seconded, by Kevin Barry

 

All In Favor

  Motion Carried  

 

5.  Old/Unfinished Business 

 

A.  Policy Review – Mr. Barry

 

The board reviewed the following policies:

 

v     Athletic Policy

v     Student Health Services-JLC

v     First Aid and Emergency Medical Care-JLCE

v     Emergency Information Form-JLCE-R

v     Truancy Policy-JHB, JHB-R

v     Student Release Precautions Policy-JHC

v     Student Records and Access-JRA

v     Student Records and Access /Procedures-JRA-R

v     Instructional Approach-IF

v     Instructional Materials-IJ

v     Promotion and Retention Of Students-IKE

v     Evaluation of Instructional Programs-IL

v     Assessments-ILBA

v     Student Class Placement-JG

v     Electronics Policy

 

* See Attached Doc. To View Policies

 

Mr. Harrington stated that the board two meetings ago approved to change the Athletic Policy for the 06-07 Baseball/Softball try-outs but that the rest of the policy stood unchanged.  The board then reviewed the proposed Athletic Policy at their last meeting and tonight would be their second review of the policy.

Mrs. Beaubien was concerned that the removal of the no-cuts policy (except for baseball/softball) did not reflect a middle school philosophy and that by removing it from the policy DCS becomes a “Little High School.”  Ms. Beaubien was also concerned that 6th graders get pushed to early into a program that is not appropriate for them physically and emotionally.

Mrs. McPherson the Athletic Director for DCS stated that it was her opinion that the decision should be made jointly by parents and coaches.

 

 A motion was made by Kevin Webber to approve the proposed Athletic Policy as presented with the exception of Winter Cheer (which will be open to 7th & 8th grade only), seconded by Kevin Barry.

 

All In Favor

  Motion Carried 

 

Electronics Policy 

 

A motion was made by Kevin Webber to approve the proposed Electronics Policy with the suggested corrections from the last school board meeting seconded by Bonnie Beaubien.

 

A motion to amend the proposed Electronics Policy to remove the warning system was made by Kevin Barry, seconded by Bonnie Beaubien.

 

All In Favor

  Motion Carried 

 

A motion was made by Kevin Barry to approve the proposed Electronics Policy as amended, and to note that this policy is part of the student handbook seconded, by Bonnie Beaubien.

 

A motion was made by Kevin Barry to accept the following policies:  IF, IJ, IKE, IL, ILBA, JG, as written, seconded by Kevin Webber 

 

All In Favor

                                                        Motion Carried

 

The board was given the following polices for their first review: JLC,JLCE,JLCE-R, JHB, JHC, JRA for first review.

 

6.  New Business 

 

A.  Future Board Schedule-Mr. Harrington

 

The members of the board reviewed future board meeting times and dates:

      April 19th

May 3rd

May 17th

June 7th

June 21st

July 16th Goal Setting-To be held at Kevin Barry’s home

August 16th

Spring SAU Mtg. May 30th at 5:30

 

B.  Nomination/Election of Staff-Mr. Haley, Board members

 

Mr. Haley presented to the board staff nominations for the 07-08 school year.

 

A motion was made by Kevin Barry to accept the nomination list as presented by Tom Haley, seconded by Bonnie Beaubien

 

Mr . Gorman asked if the board could go into executive session.

 

Bonnie Beaubien withdrew her second Kevin Barry withdrew his motion.

 

At 7:23 P.M., a motion to enter non-public session under RSA 91-A: 3II(c) made by Don Gorman, 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

 

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

 

      The board discussed a personnel matter.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At 7:48 P.M. a motion to end the non-public session 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

 

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

 

A motion was made by Kevin Barry to accept the nomination list as presented by Tom Haley, seconded by Bonnie Beaubien

 

All In Favor

Motion Carried

 

C.  Board Organization- Mr. Harrington

 

A motion was made by Kevin Barry to nominate John Harrington as Chairman for the Deerfield Community School Board, seconded by Bonnie Beaubien

 

A motion was made b y Don Gorman to nominate Kevin Webber as Chairman for the Deerfield Community School Board

(There was no second)

 

Mr. Gorman stated that he had some strong objections to the nomination of John Harrington as Chairman.  Mr. Gorman then addressed Mr. Harrington about his concerns.

 

The motion to nominate John Harrington was brought forward again.

 

3 In Favor

I Against

Motion Carried

 

A motion was made by Don Gorman to nominate Kevin Webber as Vice-Chairman for the Deerfield Community School Board, seconded by Kevin Barry.

 

All In Favor

Motion Carried

 

A motion was made by Kevin Webber to nominate Bonnie Beaubien to the Deerfield MBC, seconded by Don Gorman.

 

All In Favor

Motion Carried

 

A motion was made by John Harrington to nominate Kevin Barry as the Deerfield Board of Selectmen Rep. seconded by Bonnie B.

 

All In Favor

Motion Carried

 

A motion was made by Bonnie Beaubien to nominate Kevin Barry to the SAU Executive Board, seconded by John Harrington.

 

All In Favor

Motion Carried

 

A motion was made by Kevin Barry to nominate Kevin Webber & Bonnie Beaubien to be members of the DCS board negotiating team, seconded by John Harrington.

 

All In Favor

Motion Carried

 

Transportation Rep. Will remain open

 

 

A motion was made by Kevin Webber to nominate Don Gorman & Bonnie Beaubien to represent the board on the Curriculum Review Committee, seconded by Kevin Barry.

 

All In Favor

Motion Carried

 

A motion was made by Kevin Webber to nominate Kevin Barry & Bonnie Beaubien for Manifest Review, seconded by Kevin Barry.

 

All In Favor

Motion Carried

 

A motion was made by Bonnie Beaubien to nominate Don Gorman to Maitenance, seconded by Kevin Barry.

 

All In Favor

Motion Carried

 

A motion was made by Kevin Barry to nominate Bonnie Beaubien as the delegate to the School Board Association, seconded by Kevin Webber.

 

All In Favor

Motion Carried

 

 

Public Relations-As needed

 

Building Needs-As needed

A motion was made by Kevin Webber to nominate Bonnie Beaubien and Kevin Barry as Deerfield’s Representatives to the Concord School Board School Board seconded by John Harrington.

 

All In Favor

Motion Carried

 

7.  Other Business

 

A. Informational Items – Administrators and Board Members

 

Paul Yergeau- Informed the members of the board that Monday, June 18th is the last day of school.

Deerfield’s 8th grade graduation is scheduled for Thursday, June 14th at 7:00 pm.


Mr. Yergeau informed the board about the recent accident on the playground with 1st grade student and a 4th grader.  Apparently the two students collided on the playground ending with the 4th grade student breaking his leg.

Mr. Yereau stated that next Wednesday, the 13th of April he will be holding a public hearing on the designing the school’s Mission statement.  He invited each of the members to come stating that the meeting would be at 6:30.

 

Tom Haley-informed that board that Notice Meetings were sent from Concord and he was passing them out to the members of the board.

Mr. Haley informed the members that Multi-year terms for the Moderator and Treasurer could be done.  The board would have to place a warrant on next years ballot to vote on the RSA, which would allow them to do so.

 

Kevin Barry-informed the members of the board that the results of the town survey were posted on the town’s web site.

 

Peter Warburton- informed the members of the board he has been working with staff from DCS and other schools on a Reading Task Force Committee.  He would be coming forward with more information but wanted the board to know that he appreciated the participation of Paul Yergeau, Jackie Veal, and Nancy Maguire.

 

Bonnie Beaubien-brought information forward from the Hazardous Mitigation committee stating that there is no place in the community with a generator large enough to handle an Emergency situation.  The board discussed the situation stating the meet the towns needs.  The board will continue reviewing the situation.

 

B.  Agenda Preparation- Mr. Harrington

 

Policies

Dept. Head-Louise Matteson

World Language-Eva Oliver

Public Relations

 

 

 

C. Citizens’/Staff Comments

 

      None Made

 

 

9. Adjournment

 

At 8:37 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 16, 2007 at 6: 30 P.M.