Deerfield School Board
Deerfield Community School
Deerfield, New Hampshire
Thursday, November 15,
2007
MINUTES OF
MEETING
PRESENT: John Harrington,
Bonnie Beaubien, Kevin Webber, Kevin Barry, Paul Yergeau, Tom Haley, Peter
Warburton, Peter Aubrey Kandy Davitt
1. Call To Order-Mr.
Harrington
The November 15th, 2007
DCS Board meeting was called to order at 6:30 PM by Chairman 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 November 1, 2007 as corrected, seconded by
Bonnie Beaubien.
All In Favor
Motion Carried
4. Immediate
Business
A. Agenda Review
No Changes
B. Citizens’/ Staff Comments
Ms. Mann introduced herself to the
members of the board and encouraged the board to use the Deerfield Forum for
school related issues. Ms. Mann also
stated that she would be running as a candidate for State Rep. in the special
election.
Mr. Larry Lassins presented to the
board a petition asking that a warrant be placed on the ballot
to complete engineering studies
for a cost of $20,000. Mr. Lassins
stated that it was his intent to
encourage these studies be
completed so that the town could use the property for additional fields which
Mr. Lassins stated are badly needed by the town.
Mr. Rothemich inquired if the
board had received a response from the Concord School District concerning the
tuition agreement.
C.
Concord Agreement-Mr. Harrington
Mr. Harrington reviewed with those
present an e-mail to Mr. Haley from Chris Rath stating that she had met with
David Immen and it was the opinion of the Concord Board that they were offering
a compromise with the 50 % split. The
tuition cost for a fourth student would be $10,000 with the Deerfield District
paying half ($5,000) and Concord absorbing the other $5,000.
The board prepared for the High
School Lottery.
Mr. Harrington stated that there
were 4 openings for alternative high school applications and that 6 families
with siblings were taking part in the lottery and 4 families without siblings.
Mr. Haley drew the names out of
the box as Mr. Harrington read them off:
Mr. Warburton drew the name out of
the box as Mr. Harrington read them off:
1.
Jon Therrien
3. Taylor Rolling
2.
Angela Pappalado 4.
Hannah Andri
Mr. Haley will notify the parents.
D.
Concord Bus-Mr. Harrington
The board reviewed the survey
results that were received:
Approximately 200 that were sent
out and 80 surveys were returned at the night of the meeting.
75 stated that they would use a
morning bus.
66 stated that they would use the
afternoon bus.
19 would always use the late bus
and 44 would ride it periodically.
51 stated that they would use the
bus after they had their driver’s license.
The members discussed Deerfield’s
transportation needs. Mr. Webber stated
that by the responses received it indicates the need for 2 buses.
Mr. Harrington stated that he
attended Tuesday’s High School Transportation meeting that was organized by
parents. He was pleased to see such a
large community effort step forward to address the issue and hoped more people
would begin to talk to their neighbors and friends.
A motion was made by Kevin Webber to bring to a vote the board’s intent to support transportation to Concord as a warrant or placed in the budget, seconded by Kevin Barry.
Motion Carried
E. Charter School-Mr.Graykin, Mr.
Harrington
Mr. Graykin and Janet Carpenter
were present to discuss and answer any questions concerning the proposed
Deerfield Charter School.
Mr. Graykin stated that it was
important to get information out to the public concerning the Charter School
proposal. Currently they were planning 6
forums, which would start in January on a Saturday and be held at the Philbrick
Library or the Town Hall.
Mr. Graykin shared with the board
a brochure that was produced for public review.
(Proposed Forum Dates: January 10,11,12,26,30 & Feb. 1) Times
have not been set.
F.
NCLB Update-Ms. Klipa
Tabled till another time.
G.
Action Items-Kevin Webber
Mr. Webber reviewed with the board
the attached Action Items.
5. Old/Unfinished Business
A. Water Quality
Update-Mr. Haley, Ms. Klipa
Mr. Aubrey informed the members of the board that more
water samples have been taken. The water
in the storage tanks and wells are fine but there is an area in the piping
where debris is being found. The system
will be flushed with chlorine this Friday and further tests will be taken. The board discussed what steps need or could
be taken to clear up the water concerns.
A motion was made by Kevin Webber to allocate $2,500 for valves and/or equipment that would be needed to take care of the situation, seconded by Kevin Barry.
Motion Carried
B. Budget
Development-Ms. Beaubien, Mr. Harrington
Mr. Aubrey informed the members of the board that
Maintenance currently has 2 part time employees and 4 full time employees.
The board members also were informed that the cost for
mowing of the lawn and fertilizing was
$6,040. The cost for
each time the lawn was mowed costs approx. $295.
The board reviewed Averall’s Landscape and Design proposed estimates for designated work at DCS. Mr. Yergeau explained to the board that he and Ms. Klipa walked the grounds with Mr. Averall and shared with him areas that staff, parents, and others had concerns. They asked him to come forward with a breakdown of each area with a cost. This would allow the school administration and/or board members to decide which items to address.
The board reviewed the co-curricular costs. This line includes paying coaches for soccer,
baseball, basketball, cross-country, etc.
It all depends on how many students sign up for each activity and how
many coaches are needed therefore it changes from year to year. This line also includes payment for the
Athletic Director.
Stipends will change from $800 to $900 and the Athletic
Director who currently receives $1,500 will receive $,2000 if approved.
The board reviewed the need for replacement texts for music
and 6th grade Social Studies.
Mr. Yergeau informed them that the current Soc. Studies texts that are
being used are no longer in print so they are no longer able to replace them.
It would cost $3,115 to purchase new texts for the 6th
grade Social Studies program.
The board reviewed the request for new music texts, which
would cost $6,038. The board discussed
if this was an immediate need or could wait.
A motion was made by Kevin Webber to remove $6,038 from the
music line, seconded by Kevin Barry.
3 In Favor
1 Against
Ms. Beaubien stated that if teachers put in for textbooks
they should be given them since they are an important resource.
Mr. Harrington noted that the 08-09 budget increased 6.9%
from the 07-08 budget.
Mr. Webber noted that the board could decrease the
Feasibility Study line from $5,000 to $3,000.
Mr. Webber amended line 4300-330 (feasibility study line)
from $5,000 to $3,000,seconded by Kevin Barry.
All In Favor
Motion Carried
The board reviewed the need for the 3 modulars. The oldest modular costs the district $1,400
a month, the 2nd modular (the smallest) costs $1,200 a month and the
3rd (newest to DCS) costs $1,575.
In total the three modulars cost the district $50,100.
Mr. Yergeau passed out to the board members the 08-09
enrollment projections.
*see attachment
Currently their are 31 teaching positions at DCS and he is
recommending 30 positions for the 08-09 year.
Their would be no changes in grades 1,2,3,7,and 8. Grades 4 and 6 there would be a decrease of 1
and grade 5 and increase of 1. Mr.
Yergeau noted that because of NCLB and the requirement that teachers be “highly
qualified” in their teaching areas he could not recommend
reducing those grades by 1 class size. Mr. Yergeau noted that students at this grade
level are separated therefore the classroom sizes for Math, Soc. Studies, Science, etc. vary.
A motion was made by Kevin Barry to place an additional
$50,100 in line 2620-531-108-000 to renew the modular contract, seconded by
Kevin Webber
All In Favor
Motion Carried
The board discussed high school transportation and if it
should be put directly in the budget or as a warrant. Mr. Webber stated that he preferred that it
be placed as a separate warrant because it shows clearly the cost and the need.
For 2 morning buses and 2 afternoon buses the cost would be $73,440. It was noted that with the information that
the board has gathered clearly two buses were need. Kevin Barry and other members of the board
noted that it is part of the expense of sending Deerfield student’s to DCS and
should be part of the actual operating budget.
A motion was made by Kevin Barry to consider high school
transportation as part of the operating expense and to allocate $73,440 in line
2721 for that need, seconded by Bonnie Beaubien.
3 In Favor
1 Against
Motion Carried
The board discussed the salary level for employees not
under the Master Agreement. Those
positions would include Maintenance, Secretarial and Cafeteria employees.
A motion was made by Bonnie Beaubien to base the 08-09
salary increase for these employees on the Consumer Price Index at 2.5%,
seconded by Kevin Barry.
All In Favor
Motion Carried
Mr. Webber noted that the Out of District Special Ed. Line
showed an increase of 3.5% of the total budget . It was noted that this increase reflects high
school students.
The board reviewed the 08-09 Initiatives:
Security Increase:
Mr. Yergeau stated that he has met with the fire chief and police chief
concerning the issue. All agree
something needs to be done but all have differing views as to what should be
done. Kevin Webber noted that money in
the budget for changing the locks on the doors has not been spent and it
appears that this issue is not moving forward.
Ms. Beaubien stated that she supports a locked door/buzzer system.
Mr. Haley stated that there are two parts to the Security
System. The system itself and then the
personnel needed to implement the security system.
Kevin Webber agreed that concrete plans need to be made.
Automating the Library:
The board members agreed that this initiative should be done.
Parking Lot Paving:
The board asked Mr. Yergeau to bring to the next meeting specific
dimensions and written estimates.
Addition of a School Secretary: Mr. Yergeau stated that in a recent Union
Leader article a secretary noted that her work has increased since NCLB
legislation. Mr. Yergeau noted that the
Administrators are doing their own correspondence and filing and that an
additional secretary would allow them to serve as curriculum leaders.
The board discussed the situation and noted that maybe
other solutions such as phone automation, etc. could be looked into before
hiring another employee. Mr. Yergeau will ask Mr. Burgess to review the
situation and come back to the board.
World Lang. Position:
Mr. Webber noted that it would be beneficial to have Deerfield students
immersed in a second language. Ms. Beaubien stated that with globalization a
second lang. would be beneficial. Mr.
Yergeau noted that he sees the benefits but the school day currently is too
short and to fit in another integrated arts class would be very difficult to do
without taking away from other areas.
Full Day Kindergarten:
Mr. Yergeau stated that currently he was seeking support towards a full
day kindergarten session if it could be contained in the building. Bonnie Beaubien and Kevin Barry support the
concept of a full day Kindergarten. Kevin Webber stated that there are many
families who find that the ½ session still allows the child to be at home with
a parent and want that choice. He also
noted that he could not support selling an expectation of full day when
currently the numbers can’t do it.
C. Paraprofessional
Negotiations Update-Ms Beaubien, Mr. Webber
The board will discuss the para negotiations at the end of
the meeting.
6. Other Business
Kevin Barry noted that the Deliberative Session for the School District would be Feb. 9th.
Paul Yergeau-informed the members of the board that Maria Knee the full day Kindergarten teacher has been selected as the Technology Teacher of the Year.
Bonnie Beaubien-reminded the members of the board that the MBC will be reviewing the 08-09 proposed school budget on December 15th, 2007 at 8:00 am at the George B. White building.
B. Agenda Review
Budget
Re-visit Initiatives
C. Citizens’/Staff Comments
A number of the citizens that were in attendance spoke passionately about their concerns with the Alternative High School policy. Several in attendance were upset with the lottery system and that the outcome would cause hardship for many of the families present.
7. Adjournment:
At 9:20 P.M. a motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Kevin Webber seconded
by Bonnie Beaubien.
ALL IN FAVOR
THE MOTION CARRIED
The next scheduled
Deerfield School Board meeting will be Thursday, December 6, 2007 at 6:30 P.M.