EPSOM SCHOOL BOARD

EPSOM CENTRAL SCHOOL

EPSOM, NEW HAMPSHIRE

MONDAY, NOVEMBER, 21  2005

MINUTES OF MEETING            

 

PRESENT: Andrew Turnbull, Gordon Ellis, Bill Yeaton, Barbara Doughty, Patrick Connors, Richard Dougherty, Dave Dziura, Richard Fowler, Tami Preve, Mary Beth Magan

 

1.   Call to Order

     

      School Board Chairman, Andrew Turnbull, called the meeting was called to order at            5:15     P.M...

 

2.   Pledge of Allegiance

 

      Gordon Ellis led the board in the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

3.   Minutes of Previous Meeting 

 

      Several instances of misspelling of Mr. Connors name were pointed out in the draft minutes for November 7, 2005.  Gordon Ellis requested an additional clarification be added to the           summary of his A.R.E.A. meeting update in the minutes.  Mr. Ellis also questioned an    employee’s date of hire stated in the minutes.  Dave Dziura explained that the date found in            the minutes correctly stated what had been discussed at the meeting, but that, at the       employee’s  request subsequent to the meeting, that date had been researched and the correct          date revision had been recorded in the district’s files.

 

      Gordon Ellis made a motion that the minutes be approved as amended.  Bill Yeaton seconded         the motion.

 

THE MOTION CARRIED

ON A VOTE OF 4 AYES AND 0 NAYES

 

     

4.   Immediate Business

 

      A.  Citizens’/Staff Comments

           

            There were not citizen comments.

 

      B.   2006/07 Budget Development

 

            The Board began their budget review looking at budgeted expenditures proposed for                             special education services.  Board members asked a variety of questions regarding special                    education budget lines that were answered by ECS Special Education Coordinator, Tami                           Preve.  Ms. Preve, also explained the rationale behind the proposed administrative                              initiative to hire an additional special education case manager for 2006/07. The Board                                    also requested that SAU Special Services Director, Patty Willis, attend their next                                          meeting, if possible, to explain the process for estimating special education student                     transportation expenditures for the budget proposal.

           

            Following discussion of proposed special education expenditures, the Board moved back                                  to the beginning of the proposed budget and began a line-by-line review of proposed                                 expenditures.

 

            Following a lengthy discussion there was consensus among Board members that the                               district should budget for 250 high school students to be tuitioned at Pembroke Academy                                 next year.  Following similar discussions, it was agreed that stipends for District Clerk                                 and Moderator should be increased to $250 and that School Board stipends be funded at                                     $12,500 to provide four stipends at $2,000 per member and $2,500 for the chairperson.

 

            For their next meeting, the Board requested that a quote be obtained from Dail                                Transportation for high school bus service for 2006/07 including estimates for one and                                 two buses.  Also requested was a five-year history of total property valuation in Epsom                                and projections for this year’s year-end fund 4 budget.

 

Note -- At 7:17 P.M. Board Member, Gordon Ellis, left the meeting to attend a selectmen’s meeting.

 

5.   Other Business      

 

      A.  Citizen Comments

 

            There were no citizen comments.

 

      B.   Richard Dougherty announced a $500 grant recently received by the school from Exxon                              Mobil.  Andrew Turnbull made a motion that the Board formally vote to accept the grant                             from Exxon Mobil.  Bill Yeaton seconded the motion.

 

THE MOTION CARRIED

ON A VOTE OF 3 AYES AND 0 NAYES

 

            Andrew Turnbull distributed copies of a letter to the Board announcing the resignation of                                    Beth Sirrine as School District Treasurer.  Barbara Doughty made a motion that the                           Board accept the resignation of Beth Sirrine as School District Treasurer effective                              December 31, 2005 as stated in her letter.  Bill Yeaton seconded the motion.

 

THE MOTION CARRIED

ON A VOTE OF 3 AYES AND 0 NAYES

 

            The Board briefly discussed locating a replacement treasurer for the district and agreed to                      include the topic of a replacement treasurer on the agenda for their next meeting.

 

            Mr. Turnbull also distributed copies of a letter from the chair of the Board of Selectmen                               regarding the recent injury by a stray bullet suffered by a spectator at an athletic event on                             the school fields.  The Board discussed the incident and the selectmen’s letter.  Patrick                               Connors explained the steps taken by the school following the incident to assure the                          safety of spectators and players at school events.  The Board discussed those steps and                            also discussed what should be done in consideration that the incident had not happened at                 a school sponsored event but at an EYAA sponsored event.  Dave Dziura suggested that a             letter should probably be sent to the EYAA outlining what precautions the school was                            taking for school events.

 

Note  --  At 8:22 P.M. Gordon Ellis rejoined the meeting.

             

5.   Adjournment

 

      Upon hearing no call for further board discussion or action on issues, Andrew adjourned      the meeting at 8:25 P.M.

 

      The Board’s next scheduled business meeting is at 6:00 P.M. on Wednesday, December 7,             2005.  Included on the agenda will be budget development, status of the School Year          Committee, ECS Mini-courses, and the science fair.