Deerfield School Board

Deerfield Community School

Deerfield, New Hampshire

Thursday, May 17, 2007  

MINUTES OF MEETING  

PRESENT:  Bonnie Beaubien, Kevin Barry, Kevin Webber, Tom Haley, Paul Yergeau, Kandy Davitt 

 

1.  Call To Order-Mr. Harrington   

The April 18, 2007 DCS Board meeting was called to order at 6:30 PM by Vice Chair Kevin Webber.   

 

2. Pledge of Allegiance  

Mr. Webber 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 May 3, 2007 as corrected seconded, by Bonnie Beaubien

ALL IN FAVOR

MOTION CARRIED

4.      Immediate Business  

 

A.  Agenda Review  

Mrs. Oliver (World Language) was not available for item 4D of the agenda.  Mr. Fowler was present to update the board concerning maintenance items and would be item 4 D on the agenda.

 

B.  Citizens’/ Staff Comments  

Mrs. Campelia stated that she had observed several of the buses only being partially full at the end of the school day and was wondering if routes needed to be changed to insure that buses were full. 

The board members informed Mrs. Campelia that they would contact Dail to check on the number of students in each bus and if the number of students could be increased one ach bus.

 

Cindy Morisette asked the board about high school transportation and informed the members that there were 29 students on the waiting list. 

Mr. Haley stated that he had heard the number 29 but was informed by Dail Transportation that the actual number of students on the waiting list is 24.  Mr. Haley was informed by Dail Transportation is not able to run another bus until they have another additional 45 riders.

Kevin Webber informed Cindy Morisette that every year the board has this discussion and until the residents of Deerfield vote to fund High School transportation students will have to find alternative ways to get to Concord.   Mr. Webber also noted that the number of students needing bus transportation drops significantly over the summer months as students find alternative transportation.

 

  1. Bible Distribution-Kathy Shigo

 

Ms. Shigo requested from the board a time and place for the First Prayer Fellowship to distribute Bibles to any of the 8th grade graduates who want it.

Mr. Webber informed Mrs. Shigo that the board would allow her a space in the school and a time as they did last year.  Mr. Webber asked her to contact Mr. Yergeau concerning setting up the time and place.  Mrs. Shigo asked the members of the board if she could announce on the intercom that she was in the building and to have a time closer to the end of the school day.

Mr. Webber stated that upon advice of legal council there needed to be a period of time between the end of the school day and the distribution of Bibles to insure that it was clear this was not a school sponsored function. and that the board would accommodate Ms. Shigo the best that they could.

 

A motion was made by Kevin Barry to allow the First Prayer Fellowship to distribute Bibles to the 8th Grade graduating class at 6:00 pm (date to be determine), seconded, by Bonnie Beaubien

ALL IN FAVOR

MOTION CARRIED

 

D. Department Head Report-Ms. Boisvert

    Mrs. Boisvert shared with the board the following Tech. Highlights for the 06-07 school year.

 

 

 

 

Mrs. Knee shared with the members of the board the Kindergarten Blog that she and her class have been working on for the 06-07 school year. She stated that the blog has connected her class to other Kindergarten classes around the world and is a great educational tool.

 

E.  Department Head Report-Mr. Fowler 

 

            Mr. Fowler spoke to the board about the lawn care service.  It was his opinion that the contract

            ran from July to July but it has been determined that it runs from December to December. 

            Because of this clarification Mr. Fowler spoke with and reviewed the lawn care service with the

            company that cared for the lawn in the summer of 06.  He was informed that they would be         going up in their price.  Due to that increase Mr. Fowler spoke with several other lawn care

            companies and asked for bids.  Averall Landscape came forward with a bid that Mr. Fowler stated was within the budget needs of the school.  He stated that that the company will only mow the areas that need to mowed not everything all at once.

        

 A motion was made by Kevin Barry to accept the bid from Averall Landscaping seconded, by Bonnie Beaubien

ALL IN FAVOR

MOTION CARRIED

 

Mr. Barry asked if the lawns and fields were being fertilized.  Mr. Fowler stated that Chem-lawn did the lawns and the fields.

 

Mr. Fowler brought information to the board concerning the proposed security system.  He stated that All State Lock came in with an estimate of $9,000.  It included 5 doors but not a monitoring system.

The board will continue to review DCS ‘s options in this area.

 

        F.  Address to Board -  Don Gorman

            Item F. was passed over because Mr. Gorman was not present at the May 17th meeting. 

 

5.  Old/Unfinished Business 

 

A.  Public Awareness Program – Mr. Webber

 

 

 

 

Mr. Webber stated that the board needs to review the Public Awareness proposal and determine how to fund the position and the amount of funding.  The board will discuss the proposal in more detail at their next meeting.

 

B. Confirmation of Commissioner’s waiver- Mr. Harrington

 

Mr. Haley stated that each board member had been contacted concerning the waiver from Commissioner Tracy for the missed school days due to flooding, but that a formal vote needed to be recorded.

 

A motion was made by Bonnie Beaubien to accept the waiver seconded, by Kevin Barry.

ALL IN FAVOR

MOTION CARRIED

 

6.  Other Business 

A. Informational Items – Administrators and Board Members 

Tom Haley- Mr. Haley informed the members of the board that he received a letter from Bob Miller stating that he would be retiring at the end of this year and no longer would be teaching Driver’s Ed.  In his letter Mr. Miller stated that he would like the Driver’s Education program to continue and suggested that Jack Wedemeyer be his replacement.  Mr. Miller also reported in his letter that 52 students completed the driving program with and additional 12 over the summer months for a total of 64.  94 percent of these students are from Deerfield.

Mr. Haley informed the board that at their last meeting they approved Policy: Emergency   Information Form-JLCE-R.  This is a form that the state requires but is given to the Districts in a

generic format.  The form that DCS uses is more detailed but needs to be reviewed and voted on by the school board members.

*Attach: A  See attached form:

 

A motion was made by Bonnie Beaubien to replace form JLCE-R that was approved at the May 3rd meeting with the recommended Emergency form used by DCS seconded by Kevin Barry.

 

ALL IN FAVOR

MOTION CARRIED

Mr. Haley informed the members of the board that Concord High has spoken to the designated   LEA liaison concerning a Deerfield student.  It has been recommended that this student might do better in an alternative program.  The members discussed what the process and costs would be.  Mr. Haley stated that he will review the Deerfield/Concord contract and the board will continue to discuss this concern.

      Paul Yergeau- A letter from Cathy Pease was brought to the board.  In her letter Mrs. Pease

Stated that she was submitting her resignation at the end of the 06-07 school year as a full-time speech-language pathologist at DCS.  She thanked that board for the learning experience.

     

A motion was made by Bonnie Beaubien to accept Cathy Pease resignation seconded by Kevin Barry.

 

ALL IN FAVOR

MOTION CARRIED

Mr. Yergeau stated that Mr. Turnquist was nominated Wal-Mart Teacher of the Year. A  $1,000 check was given to the school in recognition of Mr. Turnquist’s dedication to  teaching.  Mr. Turnquist will help determine how and where the money should be spent.

Mr. Yergeau told the board that DCS is now working with a new school photography company.

The previous company did not follow through delivering class pictures, etc.  At this time the new company has been very accommodating.

Mr. Yergeau stated that the 8th grade graduation is Friday, June 15th at 7:00 PM and invited all school board members.

 

Bonnie Beaubien- Ms. Beaubien informed the board members that the Mitigation meeting had been cancelled therefore she had no new information.

 Kevin Barry- asked the board members if they would be able to meet with the Deerfield Board of Selectmen in late June concerning related items such as Emergency lodging, etc.  Members of the board agreed it would be good for the two boards to meet.  Mr. Barry will come back with a suggested date.

Kevin Webber – suggested that a letter recognizing Mr. Turnquist’s award be written and sent   to him.

Mr. Webber informed the board members that he and Mr. Barry went to the Seacoast Charter Middle School forum.  They both were very impressed by the presentation. 

B. Agenda Preparation- Mr. Harrington

 

      Use of Facilities and fees

      Security

      Public Awareness Plan

      Stipend

      Dept Head-Heather Worthen

      Resolutions

      Grade 6

      Bus Capacity

 

 C.  Citizens’/Staff Comments 

      None Made

9. Adjournment 

At 8:34 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, June7, 2007 at 6: 30 P.M.