EPSOM SCHOOL BOARD

EPSOM CENTRAL SCHOOL

EPSOM, NEW HAMPSHIRE

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2007

MINUTES OF MEETINGS

 

PRESENT

 

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

Assistant Superintendent:  Peter Warburton

Principal:  Patrick Connors

Assistant Principal:  Aaron Pope

Board Secretary:  Dawn Vaillancourt

Citizens/Staff:       Lori Brown, Charles Yeaton, Suzanne Beauchesne, Tom Langlais, Richard Evans, Howie Lund, Darlene Roy, Brian Nase, Carole Brown, Margaret Porter

 

  1. Call to Order

 

The meeting was called to order at 6:34 P.M. by Bill Yeaton.

 

  1. Pledge of Allegiance

 

Gordon Ellis led the Board in the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

  1. Minutes of Previous Meeting

 

The November 1, November 15, and December 5, 2006, minutes were discussed.  Several changes were brought to the attention of the Board Secretary.

 

A motion was made by Gordon Ellis, seconded by Dave Goulet, to approve the November 1, November 15, and December 5, 2006 minutes as revised.

 

DAVE GOULET                    AYE

TRACEY MINER                 AYE

GORDON ELLIS                  AYE

BILL YEATON                      AYE

THE MOTION CARRIED ON A VOTE OF 4 - 0

 

  1. Immediate Business

 

A.                 Agenda Review

Chair Barbara Doughty reviewed the agenda.  The Board decided that the Voucher Presentation, Citizens’/Staff comments, Transportation Matters, and Science Curriculum would be heard before other items.

 

B.                 Citizens’/Staff Comments

 

None at this time.

 

C.                 Voucher Presentation

 

Howie Lund made a presentation on a School Choice Certificate Program (Voucher), which is based on qualifiers and enrollment growth among other items in the school.  Abatement for Education, which gives an option to people who pay property taxes, and also on 21st Century Scholarship fund; all with handouts.

 

Richard Evans made a presentation on School Choices with a PowerPoint presentation, also with handouts.  The Board thanked both men for their time and their presentations.

 

D.                Science Curriculum

 

Ms. Roy made a Science Curriculum presentation in draft form to the Board in that a binder was given to each board member, with brief explanation of each page, in which the School Board needs to review and approve.  Ms. Roy said the Science Fair is being planned for the middle to end of March and the District Science Fair is on April 9th, 2007, at Pembroke Academy.

 

E.                 Transportation Matters

 

Dail Transportation presented a new 20-mile route run to the Board.  The transportation matter was addressed and no action was taken.

 

F.                  Principal’s Report

 

The Board reviewed the report and Ms. Doughty asked if we are continuing to repair the freezer?  No.  The Board asked if the electric invoice could be reviewed.

 

G.                Budget Promotion Committee

 

Ms. Miner has nothing to report at this time.

 

  1. Old/Unfinished Business

 

A.     Negotiations Update

 

A motion was made by Barbara Doughty, seconded by Bill Yeaton, to go into a non-public meeting under RSA 91-A:3 II(b).  No action was taken in this non-public session by the School Board members.

 

DAVE GOULET                    AYE

TRACEY MINER                 AYE

GORDON ELLIS                  AYE

BILL YEATON                      AYE

THE MOTION CARRIED ON A VOTE OF 4 - 0

 

A motion was made by Tracey Miner, seconded by Bill Yeaton, to approve the proposed contract between Epsom School Board and the Epsom Teachers’ Association for the 2007 through 2011 school years.

 

DAVE GOULET                    AYE

TRACEY MINER                 AYE

GORDON ELLIS                  AYE

BILL YEATON                      AYE

THE MOTION CARRIED ON A VOTE OF 4 - 0

 

Discussion ensued on the retirement issues of the contract and the budget itself in general by the Board members.

 

B.                 Deliberative Session Planning

 

A work session is planned for January 2, 2007 and the town public session is slated for January 11, 2007 on the budget.  The School Board has a Deliberative Session on February 8, 2007 at 7:00 P.M.

 

C.                 Career Day Plan

 

Principal Connors mentioned several careers that would be at Career Day on May 16, 2007.

 

D.                School Board Goals

 

The Board discussed the goals and no changes were made at this time.  At-Risk information will be gathered and presented at the February meeting by Assistant Superintendent Warburton.  If possible, have one student from each grade 9 – 12 from Pembroke Academy come to the March meeting and talk about their experience at PA.  An updated budget was handed out by Assistant Superintendent Warburton and changes are in green.

 

  1. New Business

 

A.                 Agenda Preparation

 

Budget Promotion Committee, Deliberative Session, School Board Goals specifically At-Risk information, land purchase and Principal’s Report.

 

B.                 Citizens’/Staff Comments

 

Ms. Miner made thank you to the administration on the school lunch program.  Ms. Roy said thank you to the school board.

 

  1. Other Business

 

A motion was made by Ms. Doughty, for Gordon Ellis to sign a permit to remove the beavers from the school property so as to not cause more damage to the ball field and adjacent field, seconded by Gordon Ellis.

 

DAVE GOULET                    AYE

TRACEY MINER                 AYE

GORDON ELLIS                  AYE

BILL YEATON                      AYE

THE MOTION CARRIED ON A VOTE OF 4 - 0

 

The next school Board meeting is scheduled for February 8, 2007 at 6:00 P.M.

 

  1. Adjournment

 

The Chair, Ms. Barbara Doughty adjourned the meeting at 9:47 P.M.