EPSOM SCHOOL BOARD

EPSOM CENTRAL SCHOOL

EPSOM, NEW HAMPSHIRE

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2006

MINUTES OF MEETING

 

PRESENT:

 

            Board Members:     Barbara Doughty (Chair), Gordon Ellis, Dave Goulet, Tracey Miner, Bill Yeaton

            Superintendent of Schools:  Tom Haley

            Assistant Superintendent:  Peter Warburton

            Principal:  Patrick Connors

            Assistant Principal:  Aaron Pope

            Board Secretary:  Dawn Vaillancourt

            Citizens/Staff:   Steven Patterson, Darcy May, Diane Lewis, Jan Santosuosso, Tony Cacciola, Lori Brown, Pat Dail, Kelly Dube, Lisa Weaver, Stacey Harwood, Lisa Strano, Lisa Bauer, Jennifer Gallagher, Rob Topik.

 

1.   Call to Order

 

      The meeting was called to order at 6:03 P.M. by Chair Barbara Doughty.

 

2.   Pledge of Allegiance

 

      Bill Yeaton led the board in the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

3.   Minutes of Previous Meeting

 

      The September 6, 2006, minutes were discussed.  A change was noted to correct PTO not PTA in the minutes.  Under 4H, the wording of “spoke out” is correct in the context of the sentence.  Under 4E, the amount of reimbursable mileage will be added as 44.5 cents per mile.

 

      A motion was made by Tracey Miner, seconded by David Goulet, to approve the August 2, 2006 minutes as revised.

 

BARBARA DOUGHTY        AYE

BILL YEATON                      AYE

DAVE GOULET                    AYE

TRACEY MINER                 AYE

GORDON ELLIS                  NOT PRESENT

THE MOTION CARRIED ON A VOTE OF 4-0

 

 

 

 

4.   Immediate Business

 

      A.  Agenda Review

 

Chair Barbara Doughty reviewed the agenda.  The board decided that citizen/staff comments would come before other items.

 

      B.  Citizens’/Staff Comments

 

Tony Cacciola, EYAA, made the following updates:  Pump is out of the water; a new pump is being purchased for a backup; the Raft was recently stolen; NH Liquor Commission is interested in having a sign at the Athletic field; seems to be a parking issue at the Athletic field.  Trees removed and paving completed.  The No Parking Beyond This Point sign will be removed.  New uniforms were delivered today by Mr. Nase.  Can the boys keep old uniforms?  Joni Kiten stated that drainage away from school and away from paved area.  If paved it will be have to be re-graded.  Drainage easement needed if not on school property.  Cal Ripken Baseball will be returning provided EYAA gets commissioners.  No field adjustments will be needed. 

 

Tracey Miner asked that a printout of the NH Liquor Commission signage so the board could discuss it.

 

Bill Yeaton asked for drawings of the paved parking with the trees there and one also without to see how many spaces would be gained by cutting the trees down.  Bill Yeaton also asked on a timeline for completion if the paving/tree removal were to take place.  Tony Cacciola stated depending on approval and monies earned, spring.  Advanced is willing to work with EYAA on the paving.  No at this time. 

 

The paving/tree removal will be put on the November Agenda for further discussion.

 

Diane Lewis, PTO President spoke of the various fundraiser for PTA.  A “Haunting of Alcatraz” theme for the Haunted House and a list of needs will be sent home with 7th and 8th grade students.  Monarch Tickets are on sale also as a Fund Raiser.  The yard sale was a success.  Melissa Sheehy will chair next spring’s yard sale.

 

Chair Barbara Doughty said thanks and Congrats to Lisa Bauer, 7th Grade Teacher.

 

 

Lisa Bauer wanted to know why Constitution Month was in September.  The board stated that it was just a month that was picked by Gordon Ellis. 

 

Lisa Bauer also spoke on Community Service and that it was an awesome idea.

 

Lisa Bauer spoke on the 8th grade trip costing too much.  Did people know that it was not being funded by the school, town?  Environmental camp was good with an isolated incident.  If chaperones are needed in the future, Barbara Doughty suggested that the board be contacted.

 

Tracey Miner stated the homework on-line is great and that other teachers do it as well.

 

Stacey Harwood stated that there is an Area meeting @ Pembroke on 10/18 @ 7:00pm and that the Board attends.  Her reasons being that the locker rooms need some updating and that there will be a police officer at Pembroke Academy next year during school hours.  She expressed concern about a student incident which involved the police.

 

Tom Haley stated that the incident should not be discussed in this meeting until all the facts have been obtained.  Tom Haley to call Stacey Harwood.  The Pembroke Board meetings are on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month.

 

Lisa Weaver stated that a representative from the school board attend the Pembroke meeting to promote better communication between the two boards.  

 

Tracey Miner, David Goulet, Barbara Doughty, Tom Haley discussed that most boards are public and a student can be on a board.

 

Steven Patterson spoke about the environmental camp about code words between parents/students.  David Goulet was a chaperone and played with kids.  Mr. Patterson is also for the community service and that the board should vote for more hours, the better.  Why was there an officer at this meeting?

 

Barbara Doughty responded that she had requested the police chief’s attendance due to the transportation agenda item. 

 

      C.  Transportation Issues.

 

Mrs. Brown was present to discuss her request for a change in the North Pembroke Road bus route.  She indicated that it is unsafe for children in her area to walk to the current stop and that she will need to place her child in after-school care rather than risk the walk.  The school board members reviewed materials related to this request dating from 2001 to the present.  Tom Haley had requested the Department of Motor Vehicles Student Transportation Office. Cpl. Burke to review the route for safety as well as the availability of a safe turnaround location.  Cpl. Burke’s letter was distributed and reviewed.  He stated that walk and current stop appear safe and that Poor Town Road in Pembroke would not provide an appropriate turnaround area. He also stated No safe turnaround beyond where it is and the current situation is the safest.   Pat Dail and Kelly Dobe of Dail Transportation agreed that there is no safe turnaround area within reasonable distance.  Barbara Doughty noted that she and Dail Transportation had reviewed a number of options to see if a safe turnaround could be established without success.

 

A motion was made by Gordon Ellis to deny the turnaround at Poor Town Road, seconded by Bill Yeaton for discussion.

 

Bill Yeaton wanted more discussion on the Poor Town Road turnaround.  Gordon Ellis indicated it would need to be upgraded at considerable expense and would need to be redone from time-to-time.  There is a phone pole in the middle so the bus would have to back in.  Poor Town is an unmaintained road in Pembroke, and Epsom would not be legally permitted to do upkeep.  It is not plowed.

 

Chair Barbara Doughty called for a vote.

 

                                       GORDON ELLIS         AYE

                                       DAVE GOULET           NAYE

                                       TRACEY MINER        REQUESED

                                       BILL YEATON             AYE

                                       THE MOTION CARRIED ON A VOTE OF 2-1

 

Mrs. Brown asked to further address the matter.  Chair Barbara Doughty indicated that the board would proceed with its agenda but that there is another citizens’ Comments item near the end.  She could then give further input for the board to consider.  She said the matter could be reviewed further if the board agreed.

 

      D.  Freezer Repair.

 

Pat Connors provided a brief review of the problems with the kitchen freezer.  Neal Burns has volunteered to see if the manufacturer will help.  This matter will be discussed again in November.

 

E.     Principal’s Report

 

Magazine Fundraiser and Constitution Month went well.  Ms. Bachelder will be the Student Council Advisor.  A parent has stepped forward to be the yearbook advisor.  A lockdown will happened on October 5, 2006.  The teachers will talk with students and explain what is going on.  NECAP testing is also going on at this time.  Andrew Ramsdell from TD Banknorth has spoken with Pat Connors about setting up a meeting to talk with students/parents about a savings account for trips, etc.  Imagination Village had a contest and Lisa Strano was given a gift certificate.   Pat Connors stated the a mock election is to be held November 2, 2006.

 

Barbara Doughty asked Gordon Ellis why is February the Constitution Month.  He stated that once the students leave the building, they hardly glimpse the Constitution.  The exit exams do have questions about the Constitution on it.

 

 

F.      Communication Committee Update

 

Tracey Miner said the meeting had been held and a goals were established..  The board needs to approve a pamphlet that Kara Bean and Heather Cummings have worked on so it may be handed out and sent home with student folders.  David Goulet to attend the October 17th meeting.  This will be discussed again at the November meeting.

 

 

5.      Old/Unfinished Business

 

      A. Confirmation of Poll

 

Barbara Doughty received an email regarding the acceptance of the donation

 

A motion was made by Barbara Doughty to accept donation of monies for uniforms from Tony Cacciola, Lori Brown and others, seconded by Bill Yeaton.

 

                        BARBARA DOUGHTY           AYE

                        GORDON ELLIS                     AYE

                        DAVE GOULET                       AYE

                        TRACEY MINER                    AYE

                        BILL YEATON                         AYE

THE MOTION CARRIED ON A VOTE OF 5-0

 

B. School Board Goals

 

Tabled until the November meeting.

 

      C. Pay-to-Participate

 

Barbara Doughty and Gordon Ellis disagreed of cutting of sports funds from the budget.  They discussed raising the price of Pay-to-Play to include the price of uniforms.  If budget is not obtained, the sports fund is traditionally the first to go.

 

6.      New Business

 

      A. Field Trip Planning Committee

 

The school board discussed why it should be involved in planning for an extended field trip. Lisa Weaver reviewed her research into possible educational trips for grade 8 students.  She distributed information detailing a trip to Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.  The cost is estimated at $650. per student.  Students’ ability to pay or to earn funds for such a trip was discussed as was whether the trip would be for 2007 or 2008.  The school board is involved from a district liability by approving all trips.

 

A motion was made by Gordon Ellis that Patrick Connors form a committee with Ms. Weaver, the History Club and 8th Grade teachers to further investigate and plan for such a trip, seconded by Tracey Miner.

 

                                    GORDON ELLIS      AYE

                                    DAVE GOULET        AYE

                                    TRACEY MINER     AYE

                                    BILL YEATION        AYE

                              THE MOTION CARRIED ON A VOTE OF 4 – 0.

 

B.     Deliberative Session Planning

 

A postcard was received by Barbara Doughty and it said that a school board member needs to be present on 11/27 at the Board of Selectmen budget meeting.  Barbara will contact the Selectmen to clarify this.  SAU wide meeting to approve the SAU budge is on 11/6/06 as a tentative date. 

 

Tom Haley spoke that the Deliberative session is from February 3 to February 10, 2007.  A date of February 8, 2007 is a tentative date for deliberative session. 

 

Tom Haley also spoke that this is the last year of the bus contract and suggested that the Board seek an extension of its contract with Dail Transportation.  The board agreed.

 

Tom Haley spoke about including a Trust/Capital Reserve article on the 2007 warrant.  David Goulet asked if a copy of a sample warrant article could be obtained.  Tom Haley will provide samples for the next meeting.

 

C.     Community Service

 

Patrick Connors asked the board to support the introduction of a community service requirement for grades 6, 7 and 8.  He felt it could be incorporated without additional cost and could be traced appropriately.  He would communicate the plan to students and parents.  He recommended beginning with 5/10/10 hours, respectively.

 

Gordon Ellis asked if it could be changed to Grade times 2. 

 

A motion was made by Gordon Ellis that Patrick Connors start Community Service with the 6th grade and up to and including 8th grade, seconded by Tracey Miner.

 

Discussion from Mr. Patterson was that it the number of required hours too low.  If you have high expectations for the children, they will meet it.  He suggested 10/20/30, respectively.  The previous motion and second were withdrawn. 

 

A new motion by Gordon Ellis, seconded by Tracey Miner to support Mr. Connors community service plan and use the 10 hours – 6th grade; 20 hours – 7th grade and 30 hours – 8th grade.

 

                                 BARBARA DOUGHTY        AYE

                                 GORDON ELLIS                  AYE

                                 DAVE GOULET                    AYE

                                 TRACEY MINER                 AYE

                                 BILL YEATON                      AYE

                                 THE MOTION CARRIED ON A VOTE OF 5-0

 

Community Service to be reviewed in June, 2007.

 

 

7.      Other Business

 

A.     Agenda Preparation

 

Budget/Contract Support Committee, Budget, Freezer, E.Y.A.A. and career Day were noted.

 

Gifted and talented program discussion to be held in December.

 

B.     Citizens’/Staff Comments

 

Ms. Bauer thanked Liz Doughty and Kirsten Smith for helping with the Magazine Drive.  Is it a state law the children can’t vote with their parents?  No.  The moderator at the poles thought it would be a “mockery” of voting if children were voting along side their parents.  Ms. Bauer stated that it would help children learn about voting.

 

Darcy May asked the students “What is the one thing you can do to help your community?”  The student said it was to vote to help the community.

 

Mr. Patterson said that the voting can be done in his room.  He had also heard a rumor that the board was going to discuss class size numbers.

 

Rob Topik stated if the kids wanted to vote, have voting elsewhere in the school.  Appearance may drive the issue and influence the voter.  As far as the school bus stop, he feels the burden of providing an appropriate route has been met by the board.

 

Hearing no further business, Chair Barbara Doughty declared the meeting adjourned at 9:07 PM.

 

The next Epsom Board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, November 1, 2006 at 6:00 PM. at Epsom Central School.