Deerfield School Board

Deerfield Community School

Deerfield, New Hampshire

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

 

 

MINUTES OF MEETING

 

 

PRESENT:  Bonnie Beaubien, Don Gorman, Kevin Barry, Maryann Clark, Greg Williams, Supt. Peter Warburton, Assist. Supt. Gail Paludi, Principal, Paul Yergeau, Kandy Davitt

 

1.  Call to Order - Mr. Gorman

 

The June 3, 2009 was called to order by Chairman Bonnie Beaubein at 6:40 pm.

 

2.  Pledge Allegiance

 

Ms. Beaubien led those present in the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

3.  Minutes of Previous Meeting (s) – May 6th

 

 

A motion was made by Don Gorman to accept the minutes of May 6th as written seconded by Maryann Clark.

 

All In Favor

Motion Carried

 

4.  Immediate Business

 

A.    Agenda Review

 

B.     Citizens’/Staff Comments

 

Mrs. Shigo and Mrs. Anderson from the First Love Prayer Fellowship Church came to the meeting to request permission to give to the 8th grade graduates “The Message Bible” as a graduating gift.   Mrs. Shigo requested that they be allowed to hand out the gifts at a table outside the office at 2:05pm the day of graduation and at graduation night.

The board members thanked Mrs. Shigo and Mrs. Anderson for their presentation and would inform them of their decision.

 

Mrs. Nelson a parent of two children attending DCS asked the members of the board if they would review the route of the red bus.  According to Mrs. Nelson the length of the ride is very long and the bus is crowded.   Mrs. Cummings who lives on Pleasant Hill asked if the board would also reconsider the route and include having the bus go up Pleasant Hill.

The board will review the route with Dail.

C.     Request from Citizen – Mr. Warburton

 

Mrs. Guardia (Deerfield Welfare Admin.) wrote a letter to the members of the board thanking several DCS staff for assisting a family in need.  In particular Mrs. Guardia thanked Ms. Klipa and Mrs. Mahoney for their assistance.

Supt. Warburton brought to the attention of the board several DCS staff members who have chosen to retire this year.  Pam Marcoux (Reading Recovery), James Arcari (4th Grade Teacher), and Ann Ryan (6th Grade Teacher).

 

A motion was made by Don Gorman to accept the resignations, seconded by Kevin Barry.

 

All In Favor

Motion Carried

 

Nicole Manley, a Para-professional wrote a letter to the members of the board requesting maternity leave as stated in the Para contract.

 

A motion was made by Don Gorman to accept the request from Nicole Manley for maternity leave as per the Para contract, seconded by Greg Williams.

 

All In Favor

Motion Carried

 

D.    Default/Amended Working Budget Discussion/Action- Mr. Warburton, Mr. Aubrey

 

Mr. Aubrey suggested changes to the 09-10 budget and noted the areas where lines needed to be transferred from. Mr. Aubrey requested that the board vote to change the amended budget into a working budget.

 

A motion was made by Kevin Barry to accept the amended working budget as proposed, seconded by Don Gorman.

 

    All In Favor

       Motion Carried

 

E.     Teacher Open Forum – Ms. Beaubien

 

At this time several teachers and staff members were present to discuss needs at the Deerfield Community School and to reflect on the past 08-09 school year with the board members.

 

5.  Old/Unfinished Business

 

A.    Plowing Bill Follow Up-Mr. Warburton

 

Will be reviewed at the next meeting.

 

B.     High School Survey-Mr. Warbuton, Mrs. Clark

Mrs. Clark shared with the board the results of the High School survey.  Mrs. Clark stated that the response rate was 42%.  Board members were pleased with the high participation.  It was decided that the board members would review the survey in more detail at their next meeting.

 

C.      D.E.A. Negotiations

 

Supt. Warburton will write a letter for the board responding to their request.

*Request was not noted verbally for the min. to be recorded.

 

6.  New Business

 

A.    Principal’s Report- Mr. Yergeau

 

Mr. Yergeau informed the board that Self-Study Review, work will continue through the summer and that the members of the Steering Committee will be reviewing the information.

Mr. Yergeau invited the members of the board to the 08-09 graduation on the 19th of June at 6:30 pm.

Mr. Yergeau reviewed the water issue that took place at DCS while the students were arriving at school.  There was a malfunction with a sprinkler head in Mr. Dudley’s 8th grade classroom.  Water leaked from that room into the art room, which is directly underneath Mr. Dudley’s room.  Damage was minimal Mr. Yergeau noted for the amount of water that was flowing down the hall and through the ceiling.  Mr. Yergeau thanked the members of the Police and Fire Dept. for their assistance in the clean up.

Mr. Yergeau informed the members of the board that as of tonight 49 students have registered for kindergarten and that the numbers were up 6 students from the 08-09 school year.  Due to the high enrollment the full day program is in question.  Mr. Yergeau informed the board that both classes are above the board recommended numbers of 14.

Options that were brought forward were:

1.      Status quo

2.      3 Full Day Kindergarten programs

Mrs. Clark was concerned about the space issue if three full day programs were set in place.

Other concerns that were brought forward were money, hiring freeze, and the sentiment of the taxpayers.

The board members reviewed the options with the two Kindergarten teachers and decided to set up another meeting to discuss the situation in greater detail.   

 

A motion was made to table any kindergarten proposal for two weeks, seconded by Maryann Clark.

 

All In Favor

Motion Carried

 

    The next board meeting will be June 16th at 5:00 pm.

 

B.      Classroom Use

 

The board discussed the expansion of the pre-school program due to IEP requirements and the need for the program to move into another classroom space.

    The board members discussed the needs and concerns of the pre-school.

    

A motion was made by Maryann Clark to bring a classroom from the modulars into the building   seconded, by Don Gorman.

 

All In Favor

Motion Carried

 

Mrs. Clark stated that her reason (s) behind her motion were driven by safety concerns.  Mrs. Clark stated that by having students out side of the school building there was no protection from intruders.

 Mr. Gorman stated that by moving in only one classroom it did not solve safety concerns.  Mrs. Clark stated that my moving in 25% of the students it would be a beginning.

The members discussed Mrs. Clark’s motion.  Board members agreed that DCS needed to address

School safety but did not feel that Mrs. Clark’s motion addressed those concerns.

Ms. Beaubien called for a vote.

 

1 In Favor

4 Against

 

A motion was made by Don Gorman to encumber $4,300 from the 08-09 budget for a security audit to be done by Honeywell, seconded by Kevin Barry.

 

All In Favor

Motion Carried

 

C.     Energy Committee-Mr. Yergeau

 

Members of the Deerfield Energy Committee were present to ask permission to do an energy audit of the school building.  Mr. O’Connell stated that this information would include an audit of the school, entering the data, and setting benchmarks.  These benchmarks would be used to compare the Deerfield Community School with other schools.

Supt. Warburton stated that the board is already working with Honeywell but that it would be an asset if the two groups could meet.  Mr. O’Connell asked if the contract with Honeywell was a performance contract.  Supt. Warburton stated that it was and that other schools in the SAU had worked with Honeywell and that the results were positive.

Chairman, Bonnie Beaubien stated that the Deerfield Energy committee had done a wonderful job assisting the library with their energy concerns.

 

7.  Informational Items

 

A.  Citzens'comments

 

None were made.

 

 

B.     Budget Projections

 

Supt. Warburton noted that currently DCS has a $160,000 dollar surplus, which does not include Concord High’s revised tuition bill.

 

C.        Special Education

 

A letter was sent to Supt. Warburton form Robert Prohl, Assistant Supt. of Concord.  In his letter Mr. Prohl stated that he and Michele Crouteau the Business Administrator reviewed the benefit costs used in the calculation of special education tuition rates.   Mr. Prohl stated that it was determined that the benefit costs for the paraprofessionals could be lowered, thus reducing the 08-09 paraprofessional hourly cost from $26.69 to $23.65.  The rate change is retroactive to 7/1/08 therefore the second semester bill for the Deerfield School District has been adjusted and the district will receive $26,101.82.

 

D.  Grant Funding Approval-Mr. Warburton

 

Supt. Warburton brought to the attention of the board the monies that be awarded through IDIA.  Deerfield should receive $59,000 for special ed. services.  Supt. Warburton stated that the monies are application driven and that the monies are to be used to very transparent uses.  Deerfield will receive $39,000 for the Title 1 program

 

E.   Approved 2009/10 Calendar – Mr. Warburton

 

2009/10 Calendars were in the school board packets.

 

A motion was made by Don Gorman to allow the First Love Prayer Fellowship the same time and place as the last three years, which has been at the end of the driveway and after school hours, seconded, by Maryann Clark.

 

All In Favor

Motion Carried

 

At 8:55 P.M., a motion to enter non-public session under RSA 91-A:3II(c) to conduct staff review was made by Don Gorman, seconded by Kevin Barry.  On a roll call, the board voted:

 

Maryann Clark                 YES

Kevin Barry                      YES

Donald Gorman                YES

                                                        Bonnie Beaubien              YES

                                                       Greg Williams                   YES

 

THE MOTION CARRIED

 

Present:  Bonnie Beaubien, Kevin Barry, Donald Gorman, MaryAnn Clark, Supt. Peter Warburton, Assist. Supt. Gail Paludi, Paul Yergeau

 

Several personnel items were discussed.

 

A motion was made to come out of non-public session at 9:52 P.M. by Don Gorman and seconded by Kevin Barry. 

 

 

Maryann Clark                 YES

Kevin Barry                      YES

Donald Gorman                YES

 Bonnie Beaubien               YES

                                                       Greg Williams                   YES

 

THE MOTION CARRIED

 

No decisions made in non-public session as stated by Ms. Beaubien, chair.

 

A motion was made by Kevin Barry and seconded by Don Gorman to table the parent request for high school placement until more information was provided.

 

All In Favor

Motion Carried

 

A motion was made by Kevin Barry and seconded by Don Gorman to deny the request from a paraprofessional to take the last two days of school in June as days off without pay; all in favor-yes; the motion carried.

 

All In Favor

Motion Carried

 

8.  Adjournment

 

 

A motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Kevin Barry and seconded by Don Gorman;

 

All In Favor

Motion Carried

 

The meeting was adjourned at 9:56 P.M.

 

Next Scheduled Meeting:  Tuesday, June 16, 2009                 5:00 P.M.