EPSOM SCHOOL BOARD
MINUTES OF MEETING
PRESENT:
Board Members: Barbara Doughty (Chair), Gordon Ellis, Tracey Miner, Bill Yeaton
Superintendent of Schools: Tom Haley
Principal: Patrick Connors
Assistant Principal: Aaron Pope
Citizens/Staff: David Tousignant, Tony Cacciola, Aleah Cacciola, Kelly Dobe, Robin Donovan, Cindy Damelio, Linda Elliott
1. Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at
2. Pledge of Allegiance
Gordon Ellis led the board in the Pledge of Allegiance.
3. Minutes of Previous Meeting
The minutes of July 19, 2006 meeting were reviewed. The board corrected Aaron Pope’s name in one place.
A
motion was made by Tracey Miner, seconded by Barbara Doughty, to approve the
BARBARA
DOUGHTY AYE
TRACEY
MINER AYE
BILL
YEATON AYE
GORDON ELLIS ABSTAIN
THE MOTION CARRIED ON A VOTE OF 3-0
4. Immediate Business
C. Citizens’/Staff
Comments
Tony Cacciola updated the board on athletic field maintenance and repairs, including the well and electrical work and turf maintenance. The board thanked Mr. Cacciola for his many efforts.
Linda Elliott asked the board for a plan to inform the E.T.A. of scheduled meetings. Pat Connors volunteered to communicate schedule changes via email message.
Gordon Ellis, speaking as a citizen, suggested the board give clear and consistent goals to administration. He gave examples including teaching “the rule of 72” to all students, a Constitution month for all grade levels and a community service requirement for students.
B. Transportation Report
Kelly Dobe of Dail Transportation reviewed proposed bus routes and stops for 2006/07. Routes are very similar to the previous year’s. Changes were noted. Various questions from the board were addressed.
A motion was made by Barbara Doughty, seconded by Tracey Miner, to approve the bus routes and stops as presented.
BARBARA
DOUGHTY AYE
GORDON
ELLIS AYE
TRACEY
MINER AYE
BILL YEATON AYE
THE MOTION CARRIED ON A VOTE OF 4-0
The routes and stops will now be posted and publicized.
A. Agenda Review
Chair Barbara Doughty reviewed the agenda. No changes were suggested.
D. Modular
Update
David Tousignant (Water View Construction) was present to review his proposal for repair to the older modular building. The extent of repairs and condition of the modular were discussed. The board debated whether space could be found to run programs in the main building if the modular was not repaired. Extra work using TYVEK to protect the sides and more extensive replacement of joists and sills was suggested.
A motion was made by Gordon Ellis, seconded by Bill Yeaton, to authorize repairs of the modular prior to the school year and to accept Water View Construction’s proposal of $8,500 for all work as discussed.
BARBARA
DOUGHTY AYE
GORDON
ELLIS AYE
TRACEY
MINER AYE
BILL YEATON AYE
THE MOTION CARRIED ON A VOTE OF 4-0
The board noted that roof repairs will be addressed at a later time.
E. Heating System Update
Pat Connors reviewed the proposal from LaMire Heating which suggests an additional $1,778 in upgrades to address previously unknown problems with the zone controlling rooms 311 and 306. The board discussed the proposal.
A motion was made by Gordon Ellis, seconded by Bill Yeaton, to approve up to $1,800 additional expenditure on the heating system as proposed.
GORDON
ELLIS AYE
TRACEY
MINER AYE
BILL YEATON AYE
THE MOTION CARRIED ON A VOTE OF 3-0
5. Old/Unfinished Business
A. Food Service Program
The board discussed changes to food service procedures which would provide notification to students and parents of account status regularly, limit collections to Monday’s (or first school day weekly) and offer no free lunches to those whose accounts are depleted.
A motion was made by Barbara Doughty, seconded by Tracey Miner, to adopt the plan.
BARBARA
DOUGHTY AYE
TRACEY
MINER AYE
BILL YEATON AYE
GORDON
ELLIS NAYE
THE MOTION CARRIED ON A VOTE OF 3-1
B. Handbook
Review
The student handbook was discussed.
A motion was made by Gordon Ellis, seconded by Barbara Doughty to reduce the Handbook to no more than five pages, with all additional information listed on the website.
The motion was discussed. The extent to which Epsom families have internet access was debated. Administrators and teachers present gave examples of how the Handbook is a useful publication.
Barbara Doughty retracted her second from the above motion. There was no other second, and the motion failed.
A motion was made by Barbara Doughty, seconded by Gordon Ellis, to limit the written Handbook to those pages which must be distributed by law or for signature.
The board discussed what should be included in the Handbook described in the above motion.
Barbara Doughty called for a vote on the above motion.
BARBARA
DOUGHTY AYE
TRACEY
MINER AYE
GORDON
ELLIS AYE
BILL YEATON NAYE
THE MOTION CARRIED ON A VOTE OF 3-1
A suggestion was made by Tracey Miner that the board review the draft Handbook page by page as she had a number of concerns. The board concurred.
The board reviewed specific content of the draft Handbook page-by-page. Various grammatical, stylistic, and content items were discussed.
A motion to accept the changes made by the board during its review was made by Barbara Doughty, seconded by Bill Yeaton.
BARBARA
DOUGHTY AYE
TRACEY
MINER AYE
BILL
YEATON AYE
GORDON ELLIS ABSTAIN
THE MOTION CARRIED ON A VOTE OF 3-0
A motion was made by Barbara Doughty, seconded by Bill Yeaton to vacate the vote regarding specifically limiting the size of the Handbook, and to provide one copy of the revised Handbook to each family with students in the school.
BARBARA
DOUGHTY AYE
TRACEY
MINER AYE
BILL YEATON AYE
GORDON
ELLIS NAYE
THE MOTION CARRIED ON A VOTE OF 3-1
The board reiterated its objective to move toward a web-based handbook in the future.
A
recess was called by Chair Barbara Doughty at
C. Policy Review/Revision
The board reviewed the draft policy on Wellness.
A motion was made by Gordon Ellis, seconded by Bill Yeaton, to approve the first two paragraphs of the draft as the full Epsom District policy.
BARBARA
DOUGHTY AYE
BILL YEATON AYE
GORDON
ELLIS AYE
TRACEY
MINER ABSTAIN
THE MOTION CARRIED ON A VOTE OF 3-0
D. Computer Lab Schedule
Gordon Ellis noted he believed students, especially those in the upper grades, should have access to the computer lab for at least one hour daily. Pat Connors explained that this goal was to be accomplished utilizing the lab and also the computer carts available for direct classroom instruction.
E. Board Secretary
No secretary candidate was proposed at the meeting.
6. New Business
A. District Goals
Chair Barbara Doughty asked that this item be tabled until the next meeting. The board agreed. Gordon Ellis reviewed some objectives he disagreed with and others he felt should be added.
B. Grade
8 Trip
Chair Barbara Doughty asked that this item be tabled until the next meeting. The board agreed. Tracey Miner noted she did not believe the board needed to discuss an expanded grade 8 trip as it was allowed by policy. The board debated this.
7. Other Business
A. Agenda Preparation
The next board meeting agenda will include a discussion of goals, recess detentions, the grade 8 trip, and opening of school.
B. Citizens’/Staff
Comments
None
8. Adjournment
Hearing no further business,
Chair Barbara Doughty declared the meeting adjourned at
The next Epsom Board meeting is scheduled
for
9. Informational
Items
None