EPSOM SCHOOL BOARD

EPSOM CENTRAL SCHOOL

EPSOM, NEW HAMPSHIRE

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2006

MINUTES OF MEETINGS

 

PRESENT

 

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

Superintendent of Schools: Tom Haley {Not Present}

Assistant Superintendent:  Peter Warburton

Principal:  Patrick Connors

Assistant Principal:  Aaron Pope

Board Secretary:  Dawn Vaillancourt

Citizens/Staff:             Paul Martin, Joan Pozner, Judy Snell, Lisa Strano, Diane Lewis, Steven Patterson, Brian Sorgenta, Rebecca (Becca) Powers

 

  1. Call to Order

 

The meeting was called to order at 6:31 P.M. by Chair Barbara Doughty.

 

  1. Pledge of Allegiance

 

Gordon Ellis led the board in the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

  1. Minutes of Previous Meeting

 

Chair Barbara Doughty passed out excerpt from Roberts Rules.  The previous minutes were not approved until such time that Tom Haley, Peter Warburton and Dawn Vaillancourt can meet to discuss Roberts Rules which states that the minutes should contain what was done at the meeting, not what was said. 

 

The Chair does not vote unless to break a tie as in following past practice.

 

  1. Immediate Business

 

    1. Agenda Review.  Moving #6 New Business before #5 Old/Unfinished business.

 

    1. Citizens’/Staff Comments.  None.

 

    1. Special Presentation:  Congressman-elect Paul Hodes is in Washington at this time.

 

Mary Brown and Margaret Porter were present to listen to the Board on specifics of federally mandated services of the Special Education services to be provided to each student who needs it in the school system and to ask questions.

 

    1. P.T.O. Update – The PTO is getting closer to the playground fund.  Several cakes from the fundraiser were donated to the 3rd Grade bake sale. 

 

    1. Principal’s Report.  Over 2,100 food items were raised for the food drive.  The poet that came to the school was a very big hit and there will be a bulletin board near the main office with some of the students’ poems on it.  The board discussed the options of either a scholarship or naming the field after Officer Briggs.  Bill Yeaton will talk with the family further.  A quote was obtained for a camera/monitor security system which is half the dollar amount of moving the doors.  More quotes will be forth coming.

 

A staff member request was presented to the Board; see Part 9.5 of the contract for unpaid leave.

 

A motion was made by Gordon Ellis to allow six (6) unpaid days of vacation in January 2007 for the staff member, seconded by Bill Yeaton.

 

BARBARA DOUGHTY        AYE

DAVE GOULET                    AYE

TRACEY MINER                 OPPOSED

GORDON ELLIS                  OPPOSED

BILL YEATON                      AYE

THE MOTION CARRIED ON A VOTE OF 3 – 0

 

A motion was made by Dave Goulet to go into a non-public meeting under RSA 91-A:3 II(b), seconded by Bill Yeaton.

 

BARBARA DOUGHTY

DAVE GOULET                    AYE

TRACEY MINER                 NOT PRESENT

GORDON ELLIS                  OPPOSED

BILL YEATON                      AYE

THE MOTION CARRIED ON A VOTE OF 2 – 0

 

No action was taken by the Board on this non-public session. 

 

Peter Warburton made a nomination of Rebecca Powers as a Case Manger for the reminder of the 2006 – 2007 school year.

 

A motion was made by Gordon Ellis to accept the nomination and seconded by Tracey Miner.

BARBARA DOUGHTY

DAVE GOULET                    AYE

TRACEY MINER                 AYE

GORDON ELLIS                  AYE

BILL YEATON                      AYE

THE MOTION CARRIED ON A VOTE OF 4 – 0

 

    1. Budget Promotion Committee.  Nothing to report at this time.

 

  1. Old/Unfinished Business

 

    1. School Board Goals – Put on next month’s agenda.

 

    1. Career Day Plan – Put on next month’s agenda.

 

  1. New Business

 

    1. Negotiations Update.  The bold items in the voter-approved contract will be looked at by the board members for discussion at the January 2007 meeting.

 

    1. Budget Update.  Peter Warburton discussed the line difference from the Budget of November 2006 to December 2006 and the Board discussed the line differences.  Patrick Connors would like to add in budget line item 2490 one part-time technology assistant.  The Budget will be presented to the committee on Thursday at 7:00pm as a “work in progress”.

 

A motion was made by Gordon Ellis that we fund a state-mandated position in technology for $7,200.00, seconded by Tracey Miner.  The motion was rescinded and reworked at $7,500.00.

 

BARBARA DOUGHTY

DAVE GOULET                    AYE

TRACEY MINER                 AYE

GORDON ELLIS                  NOT VOTING

BILL YEATON                      ABSTAINED

THE MOTION CARRIED ON A VOTE OF 2 – 0

 

Warrant Article Number 1 is to accept budget, #2 is teacher contacts, #3 & #4 should be switched around and #5 & #6 are always in as warrant articles.  An updated Budget and Warrant Articles will be mailed to Barbara Doughty to be given to the board members. 

 

Parents of 8th through 10th graders have called board members requesting a warrant article on bus transportation to Pembroke Academy (PA).

 

A motion was made by Bill Yeaton to make a Warrant Article for two (2) busses to PA at the agreed price by Dail Transportation and the SAU #53 and seconded by Gordon Ellis.

 

BARBARA DOUGHTY        AYE

DAVE GOULET                    OPPOSED

TRACEY MINER                 OPPOSED

GORDON ELLIS                  AYE

BILL YEATON                      AYE

THE MOTION CARRIED ON A VOTE OF 3 – 0

 

  1. Other Business

 

    1. Agenda Preparation.  Peter Warburton discussed the board members’ stipend, which will be an agenda item for next month as well as school voucher presentation by Tom Langlais.

 

    1. Citizen’s/Staff Comments.  Mr. Patterson thought the idea of an assistant in the technology department was appropriate and the dollar amount was low.  Mrs. Lewis also thought the idea of an assistant in the technology department was appropriate and that a bus warrant article is a good choice and that it has passed in past election.  Mrs. Lewis also thought that putting off the purchase of the camera/monitor at this time is a good idea.  Mr. Martin said that it would be nice to have Paul Gagnon available to provide support for the computers and laptops in the school.

 

  1. Adjournment

 

    1. Next Schedule Meeting is Wednesday, January 3, 2007 at 6:30 P.M.

 

A motion was made by Tracey Miner to go into a non-public meeting under RSA 91-A:3 II(b), seconded by Bill Yeaton.

 

BARBARA DOUGHTY       

DAVE GOULET                    AYE

TRACEY MINER                 AYE

GORDON ELLIS                 

BILL YEATON                      AYE

THE MOTION CARRIED ON A VOTE OF 3 – 0

 

The meeting was adjourned after that non-public session.