MINUTES OF MEETING
PRESENT: John Harrington, Bonnie Beaubien, Kevin
Barry, Kevin Webber, Don Gorman
Tom Haley, Paul Yergeau , Peter
Warburton,
1. Call To Order-Mr.
Harrington
The June21, 2007 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 Kevin
Barry to accept the minutes of
ALL IN FAVOR
MOTION CARRIED
4.
Immediate
Business
A. Agenda Review
Item 7D –Concord Contract was moved
to item 5A.
B.
Citizens’/ Staff
Comments
Mrs. Knee, thanked the members of
the board for a great school year.
C.
Driver Education
Program-Mr. Harrington, Mr Wedemeyer
Jack
Wedemeyer from Jack’s driving School was present to discuss the matter of
having his driving school program replace Mr. Miller’s program. Mr. Miller is
retiring this year. Mr. Wedemeyer has been teaching Drivers’ Ed in
D. Facilities Matters-Mr. Gorman,
Mr. Barry, Mr. Yergeau
Mr. Gorman spoke with Mr. Pellitier
concerning the proposed generator. Mr.
Pellitier was willing to look at the proposed generator. Mr. Harrington stated that there would be a meeting
with the Selectmen Monday evening and asked Mr. Gorman if further information
could be brought forward at that time.
It was noted that unless the school
has a generator it couldn’t be used as an emergency shelter.
The board discussed and reviewed
items that were compromised by the lightening strike. Mr. Haley informed the members that the
insurance company has been out to inspect the damage. Mr. Harrington asked if
the board should encumber funds from the 06-07 budget for initial costs, which
in the end the monies would be returned by the insurance claim. ‘
A motion was made by Kevin
Barry to incumber up to $10,000 for work being done due to the lightening
strike, seconded by Don Gorman.
All In Favor
Motion Carried
Security Up grades-Paul Yergeau- Mr.
Yergeau reviewed with the members of the board the proposed security
changes. The proposal includes locking
the door at the modulars, key swipe system, monitor, and buzzer system. Mr. Yergeau stated that there are several
times during the day where large groups enter the building where someone will
need to be at the lobby entrance to monitor the doors.
Mr. Webber stated that to date
everyone has been focusing on the technology and not the goals.
Specifically Mr. Webber asked what
is it the board is trying to accomplish.
Stopping a parent, a questionable person, student and how would such a
system affect the school personnel.
Board members stated that their goals were to stop unwanted visitors,
unauthorized visitors, and stop the roaming of people throughout the building after
school.
Mr. Yergeau stated that the time
involved in implementing and monitoring the proposed security system was
problematic. Mr. Yergeau stated that it
would take time away from the office staff doing their daily work.
It was also stated that maintenance
needed to secure the building after school hours and make sure students and
parents, etc. were not wondering the building.
Mr. Harrington suggested that a
safety plan be designed by setting up different case scenarios and determine if
the results are what the board and school are looking for.
Wetland’s Update: Mr.
Haley and Peter Aubrey contacted Fred McGary concerning the 30 page application
for the proposed dredge and fill of the small pond next to the school. Mr. Haley stated that someone with more
experience is needed to fill out the application and the cost to the district
would be approximately $1,000 to $1,500.
A motion was made by Kevin Webber to hire someone to fill
out the Wetlands Application and to encumber up to $3,000 for hiring that
person and for additional costs that may occur, seconded by Bonnie Beaubien.
All In
Favor
Motion
Carried
5. Old/Unfinished
Business
A.
Concord Contract-Mr. Harrington
Mr. Webber stated that he gave the
Concord School Board a copy of the petition warrant article. Concord in return has requested that
Deerfield agree to give any existing slots to siblings and then they will set
up a sibling clause.
A motion to suspend the rules
to allow public comment was made by
Kevin Barry, seconded by Don Gorman.
All
In Favor
Motion
Carried
Mr. Rothmich stated that the community was behind the
petition to allow siblings to be a priority in placing students in high
school.
Kevin Barry and John Harrington stated that they were
concerned about giving siblings preferential treatment above all other concerns
and needs.
Mrs. Yurek reminded the board that the sibling situation
was temporary.
Ms. Beaubien stated that fairness is a concern but with the
petition warrant article the community has made a statement that siblings
should be a priority.
A motion was made to return to Concord with the
understanding that Deerfield would designate any open slots to siblings first,
seconded by Bonnie Beaubien.
Don
Gorman-No
B
onnie Beaubien-Yes
Kevin
Webber-Yes
John
Harrington-No
Kevin
Barry-Yes
Motion
Carried
B. Action Items-Mr. Harrington
B. Parent Request-Mr. Harrington
A letter was received by a parent who recently moved to
Deerfield requesting that her son be allowed to continue attending Raymond High
School. The board reviewed the letter
and declined the request.
A motion was made by Kevin Barry to decline the parent
request to allow her child to continue
their education at
Raymond High due to contractual obligations to Concord seconded by Kevin
Webber.
4 In Favor
1
Against
Motion
Carried
C. Policy Review-Mr.
Harrington
No Child Left Behind
A motion was made by Kevin
Barry to Table the discussion and review of the “No Child Left Behind”
Legislation, seconded by Bonnie Beaubien.
All In Favor
Motion Carried
The following policies were given
to the members of the board at their last meeting (June, 2007) for review.
a.
Reporting Suspected Child Abuse – JLF-R
b.
Retention of Students- IKEA
c.
Retention of Students, Administrative
Procedure-IKEA-R
d.
Student Assignment – JG
e.
Automated External Defibrillator –
JLCEA
f.
Discipline of Students with an
Educational Disability-JICD-Appendix B
g.
Homework Policy – IKB
A motion was made by Kevin
Barry to accept policies: JLF-R, IKEA,
IKEA-R, JG, JLCEA, JICD Appendix B and Policy IKB seconded, by Bonnie Beaubien.
All In Favor
Motion Carried
D.
Grade 6 Program-Mr. Webber, Mr. Yergeau
Mr.
Webber stated that the 6th grade is currently self- contained and he
was wondering why the grade is not part of the Middle School.
Mr.
Yergeau replied that the 6th grade team does meet with the 7th and 8th
grade teachers as part of the middle school curriculum. Mr. Yergeau stated that in reviewing the
needs of 6th graders and the
expectations of dealing with the different developmental stages it has in the
past been determined that it was better to introduce them into an intergraded
program than expect them to have the
skills and maturity to pass from class
to class in a timely manner, organize and adapt their studies to each teacher’s
expectations.
Another
major hurdle Mr. Yergeau stated was the HQT (Highly Qualified Teacher) status .
Mr.
Yergeau stated that he would put this on the Middle School Agenda for
discussion.
6. Other Business
A. Literacy Task Force-Mr. Warburton
Mr. Warburton brought forward
information to the board concerning the work of the Literacy Task Force. To set direction for the task force they set
the theme “ Lasting Literacy”. The
committee has already interviewed 80 students concerning literacy needs, use,
etc. Mr. Warburton further stated that
Literacy is already supported by DCS and information concerning literacy can be
found on the website.
Mr. Warburton spoke about
RTI-Response to Intervention and how to implement in the community.
The board discussed various formats
for promoting literacy and thanked Mr. Warburton for his insight and continued
work in this area.
B. Nomination/Election of Staff-Mr.
Haley, Board Members
6th Grade Teaching
Position- Angela Bigonia’s name was brought forward as a candidate to fill the
6h grade teaching position. Ms. Begonia
is certified as an Integrated Arts Instructor and Outdoor Education.
A motion was made by Kevin Barry in favor of
placing Ms. Bigonia in the 6th grade position, seconded by Kevin
Webber.
All In Favor
Motion Carried
7. Other Business
A.
Informational Items-Administrators and Board Members
John Harrington- A letter was given to John Harrington from a concerned
parent about a situation with a Concord High School teacher and a question that
she had placed on her exam. In her exam this teacher had written a
uncomplimentary comment about the town of Deerfield and its’ residents. Mr. Harrington informed the board that this
teacher has been spoken to by her administrator and is remorseful about what
she stated and mortified about the situation.
The board agreed to send a letter to
Concord High stating their concerns and disapproval of the teachers test
question.
Paul Yergeau-informed the board that the Ohrenberger family has moved
and their children will not be attending DCS as previously requested in a
letter written by Mrs. Ohrenberger.
Mr. Yergeau stated that the full day
Kindergarten was a success and that there appears to be a need for the half-day
sessions and the full day. Currently the
teachers and Mr. Yergeau are working on
a plan to continue both types of sessions.
B. Agenda Preparation-Mr. Harrington
No Child Left Behind
Dail Transportation
Goal Setting
C.
Citizens’/Staff Comments
None were made.
7. Adjournment
At 9:03 PM. a motion to adjourn the meeting was
made by Kevin Barry, seconded by Kevin Webber.
All In Favor
Motion Carried
The next Deerfield School Board
meeting is scheduled for Thursday, July 16th 2007 at 9:00 P.M.