EPSOM SCHOOL BOARD
EPSOM CENTRAL SCHOOL
EPSOM, NEW HAMPSHIRE

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8,  2006    7:00 P.M.

MINUTES OF MEETING

 

Present:               

Board Members:     Andrew Turnbull (chair), Barbara Doughty, Bill Yeaton, Gordon Ellis

David Dziura -           Assistant Superintendent of SAU 53 Schools

Patrick Connors –      ECS Principal

Richard Dougherty -   ECS Vice Principal

Tracey Miner -           secretary

 

Citizen/Staff:  Paul Gagnon, Sam Harty, Andy Crowley, Kim Crowley, Steven Patterson, Lisa Bauer, Megan Todd, Molly Todd, Chelsea Jarest, Mary Beth Magan, Denise Pettigrew, Tony Cacciola, Lloyd Doughty

 

Agenda Item 1.     Call to Order – by Andrew Turnbull at 7:00PM

 

Agenda Item 2.     Pledge of Allegiance – lead by Gordon Ellis

 

Agenda Item 3.     Minutes of Previous Meetings

 

The minutes of the January 4, 2006 meeting are approved by unanimous consent, with one edit on page 3.  Add “Principal’s Fund” so that the motion reads “…placed toward the Principal’s Fund for the environmental camp…”

The minutes of the January 12, 2006 meeting are approved as written by unanimous consent.

The minutes of the January 19, 2006 meeting are approved as written by unanimous consent.

 

 

Immediate Business

 

Agenda Item 4A.  Agenda Review

 

Item 5D ECS Phone System will come after 4C.

Item 4D EYAA Issues will be at 8:00PM, when the presenter(s) can be in attendance.

 

Agenda Item 4B.  Citizens’/Staff Comments

 

There were none.

 

Agenda Item 4C.  Administrators’ Report

 

Patrick Connors handed out an Administrator’s Report, which he discussed.  The Drug and Alcohol Awareness presentation was a success and well attended.  Refreshments were provided by the PTO.  The three weeks of mini-courses were able to meet without any weather issues, and were also a success.

 

The 5th grade team, along with the Special Education Department, applied for and received an award for $5,000 to continue introducing technology with the upcoming flag/state projects.  The Math-A-Thon that Mrs. Strano organized raised $2,100 to go to St. Jude Children’s Hospital.  PTO is currently running a Read-A-Thon.

 

Tim Lewis donated the time and equipment to put in the rest of the fence for the basketball court.

 

There will be a practice lockdown drill this month.  Gordon Ellis suggested that this information be placed on the front sign, so that anyone coming to the school will know that it’s a drill.

 

The Student/Staff/Board/Parents Basketball Game is Feb. 22 at 6:00PM.

 

The Spelling Bee was won by the defending champion Emily Goulet.  Of the top 4 finishers, 3 were 6th graders.  Emily correctly spelled “metabolize” and “cholesterol”.

 

There will be a Memorial Day concert in May for the intermediate level grades and the chorus.  Bill Yeaton asked for a  list of music for the Memorial Day concert.  Gordon Ellis mentioned that students are going to be asked to attend the Memorial Day function at the Legion Hall.

 

Agenda Item 5D.  ECS Phone System

 

Two quotes that are similar in price were received by ECS for a new phone system.  The TDS quote is for an all digital phones, but does not address the current Dukane intercom problems.  The Williams quote is for analog phones (except the office area), using the current wiring for the intercom, while putting a new intercom system in the office.  Paul Gagnon discussed the phone system further, saying that the current Dukane intercom system cannot interface with a digital phone system, such as the one quoted by TDS.  The question would be whether or not converting to digital should be done at this time.  Paul has requested a quote from TDS for adding the new intercom system.  The other concern the Board discussed was the age of the current wiring, which was estimated to be at least 10 years old.  The new phone system could be installed over the summer, or during the one-week vacation.  However, if the money is to be spent from this year’s budget, something needs to be done with the work before the end of the fiscal year.  The Board asked for quotes to add the intercom by TDS, and for digital installation from Williams.

 

Agenda Item 4D.  EYAA Issues

 

Denise Pettigrew and Tony Cacciola of EYAA came to the Board requesting that they be allowed to put up some new fencing, and repair some old fencing around the fields.  The funding for this would all come from EYAA’s budget.  EYAA said that businesses don’t want to sponsor individual teams, but are willing to put up signs.  Half of the revenues would go back to the school, after expenses.  Anything put up on school property needs to be approved by the Board.  The other question that was raised is whether or not it is legal on school district owned property for a group outside the school to collect revenue.  The Board discussed the possibility of leasing the fence to EYAA.  Revenue for one sign for one year would be $500.

 

Another issue that was discussed was the use of the tractor.  Without a certificate of liability insurance, no volunteers can cut the lawn.  The certificate of insurance needs to be provided to the SAU.  EYAA agreed to ensure that the paperwork is delivered to the SAU by March 1st.  As far as any school personnel using the tractor and being covered by this liability insurance, the providers of District liability insurance requested that a written assurance be provided to them from the administration and the superintendent’s office, saying that the equipment was in good shape, and that there was a maintenance schedule available.  The insurer’s come out to the school to check on the safety of playground equipment, etc., and they would do this with the tractor, also.

 

Barbara Doughty made a motion to authorize EYAA to repair or replace the fencing in Charron field, the upper field part.

Gordon 2nd.

 

                        THE MOTION CARRIED ON A VOTE OF 4 - 0

                        Gordon Ellis -             aye

                        Barbara Doughty –     aye

                        Andrew Turnbull –     aye

                        Bill Yeaton –               aye

 

The Board asked the SAU to look into the laws about signage on, and leasing of the fence.  The Board will give EYAA an opinion at the March meeting that will be held on March 8th @ 6:00PM.

 

Agenda Item 4E.  Deliberative Session Review

 

There was no discussion.

 

 

Old/Unfinished Business

 

Agenda Item 5A.  Petty Cash

 

Gordon Ellis requested that the petty cash available at the school be changed from $100 to $500.  When the maintenance crew needs to have equipment repaired, they need access to readily available funds.  $100 is not enough to cover the two-week period between which checks are issued.

 

Barbara Doughty made a motion to increase the petty cash fund from $100 to $500.

Bill Yeaton 2nd.

 

                        THE MOTION CARRIED ON A VOTE OF 4 - 0

                        Gordon Ellis -             aye

                        Barbara Doughty –     aye

                        Andrew Turnbull –     aye

                        Bill Yeaton -                aye

 

Agenda Item 5B.  Assistant Principal Search

 

Patrick Connors informed the Board that candidates would be coming in next week on 2/13 and 2/16 for a formal interview with the administration, and be given a tour of the building.  On 2/21, they will come in for group interviews that will include representatives from:  ECS staff (teachers and support staff), the police department, the fire department, PTO and parents.  On 3/6 – 3/10, interviews would be held with ECS administration and Tom Haley.  The School Board would then conduct interviews the following week 3/13 – 3/15.  School Board members were welcomed to come to any of the interview phases.  Bill Yeaton said that he would like to be part of the interview process.  So far, approximately 20 people have applied.  6-7 of the applicants were called in for the next phase of interviews on 2/13 – 2/16.

 

Gordon Ellis discussed the role of the vice principal, and the fact that ECS is not required to have a vice principal.  Agenda Item 4B from the ECS School Board meeting of January 19, 2006 was listed as ECS 2006/07 Principal Position, and did not list the vice principal on the agenda, even though discussion about the search for a vice principal occurred during that meeting.  Board discussion lead to the conclusion that the job description has already been established, and the process is in place and underway, so no changes would be made to the requirements for the job at this late stage in the interview process.

 

Agenda Item 5C.  2005/06 Budget Update

 

Dave Dziura handed out a spreadsheet titled Epsom Projection Report, which details yearly ECS expenditures for each line item of the budget, budgeted amounts, YTD expenditures, encumbrances, remaining balance, projected expenditures and surplus/deficit.  As of January 27, 2006, the report showed a $224,082 surplus.  There will be some expenditures that the Board will make before the end of the fiscal year (e.g. the phone system).  It appears that there is going to be a surplus at the end of the year.  Each month, the SAU will report if there is anything that is going to change regarding that surplus.

 

 

New Business

 

Agenda Item 6A.  2006/07 Calendar Preparation

 

Patrick Connors asked the staff for their input on next year’s school calendar.  He then put together a packet for this meeting which included:  a working calendar with staff input, the New Hampshire Department of Education’s Model School Calendar, and the Concord School District Student/Staff Calendar.  The working calendar was discussed, with emphasis on the start date for the school year.  Several other things were considered in the discussion, such as summer camp end dates, teacher conferences and workshops, the children’s readiness to be back in school for a full week, the preparedness of the school building, and the comfort of the environment due to temperature.  The Board asked the administration to take these comments and come back with a proposed schedule for the next school board meeting.

 

Agenda Item 6B.  Policy Review/Development

 

Dave Dziura handed out the Epsom School District Investment Policy, which is to be reviewed annually by the School Board. 

 

Barbara Doughty made a motion to adopt the current Investment Policy as is.

Gordon 2nd.

 

                        THE MOTION CARRIED ON A VOTE OF 4 - 0

                        Gordon Ellis -             aye

                        Barbara Doughty –     aye

                        Andrew Turnbull –     aye

                        Bill Yeaton -                aye

 

 

Other Business

 

Gordon Ellis asked that changing the name of the school be placed on the April agenda.

Barbara Doughty asked that the review of Patrick Connors’ idea for changing the reporting periods (trimesters vs. quarters) be placed on the March agenda, rather than the April agenda.

Gordon Ellis asked that honor roll be put in the School Board packets.

 

Agenda Item 7A.  Citizens’/Staff Comments

 

There were none.

 

Agenda Item 8.     Adjournment

 

At 9:01P.M., hearing no call for further business to be conducted, Andrew Turnbull adjourned the meeting.

 

Next Scheduled Meeting will be on March 8th at 6:00PM.