EPSOM SCHOOL BOARD

EPSOM CENTRAL SCHOOL 

EPSOM, NEW HAMPSHIRE

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2007            6:00 PM

MINUTES OF MEETINGS

 

PRESENT

 

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

Superintendent of Schools:  Tom Haley

Principal:  Patrick Connors

Assistant Principal:  Brian Beaverstock

Board Secretary:  Claire Flannery

Citizens/Staff:

Steve Patterson

  1. Call to Order

 

The meeting was called to order at 6:00 PM by Barbara Doughty.

 

  1. Pledge of Allegiance

 

Gordon Ellis led the Board in the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

  1. Minutes of Previous Meetings- November 7 and 19, 2007. The minutes from the November 7th meeting were reviewed. The November 7th notes state: “NWEA testing will take place for grades 3-8 in January 2008.” Mr. Connors requested that a correction be made thus stating: “NWEA testing will take place for grades 2-8 in January 2008.”

 

      A motion was made by Gordon Ellis and seconded by Barbara Doughty to approve the November 7, 2007 minutes.

 

GORDON ELLIS                       AYE

DAVE GOULET                         AYE

                                    BILL YEATON                           ABSTAINED

THE MOTION CARRIED ON A VOTE OF 2 - 0.

 

      The November 19, 2007 minutes were reviewed.  The minutes were amended to more accurately reflect motions regarding a high school tuition matter.

 

GORDON ELLIS                       AYE

DAVE GOULET                         AYE

                                    BILL YEATON                           ABSTAINED

THE MOTION CARRIED ON A VOTE OF 2 - 0.

 

 

      A motion was made by Mr. Yeaton to accept the minutes as amended. Mr. Ellis seconded the motion.

                               

                                    GORDON ELLIS                           AYE

                              DAVE GOULET                            AYE

                              BARBARA DOUGHTY                AYE

                              BILL YEATON                              AYE

                              THE MOTION CARRIED ON A VOTE OF 4-0

 

  1. Immediate Business

A.     Agenda Review- Ms. Doughty reviewed the agenda

B.     Citizen’s/Staff Comments:  Mr. Ellis commented as a citizen. He commended the school’s maintenance staff in their diligence and ability to keep the floors safe and sand free during this time of the year.

C.     Fields Update- No action taken.

 D. Principal’s Report- Mr. Connors reported that the school donated 12

                        food baskets to the school community. He also reported that the school

                       had a good turnout for the Food Drive and Veteran’s Day

                       activities. In upcoming news, Mr. Connors stated that the music and

                       choral concerts for the holidays will take place next Tuesday December 11.

                       The Geography Bee will also occur next Tuesday. It was announced that

                        the 8th grade has raised $16,000 for their class field trip thus far. Ms.

                       Doughty inquired about chaperones for the trip.

 

  1. Old/Unfinished Business

 

A.     Budget Update and Development- Ms. Doughty reported that the Board is presenting at the Budget Committee meeting. Mr. Haley announced that our previous deficit of $40,000 currently stands at about $4,000. The remaining balance is a result of specific special education services.

The Board did a review of the previous year’s budget and the proposed budget. Mr. Haley stated that there was a proposed budget and a default budget. It was determined that the proposed budget would create a 6% increase from last year. Without including proposed projects the default budget would create a 5% increase from last year.

Mr. Connors inquired about changing the schedules of the school’s three full time janitor’s. He stated that they work year round including the day after Thanksgiving. Mr. Connors asked if the number and terms of sick and personal days for this staff could be reviewed. He inquired whether any changes would require a contract change.

Mr. Connors spoke about impact the Language Arts program has on the budget. He also reported that the grant supported teaching position would not be reinstated for next year. As a result the actual number of classrooms will decrease.

Ms. Doughty inquired about the number of anticipated kindergarteners. Mr. Connors stated that the proposal was based on previous class sizes.

 

It was reported by the principal that Mr. Rouillard looked into repairing the roof. The repairs could be completed in a two-year times span. The overall cost will be about $90,000. Mr. Haley stated that the proposed budget does not have that fee included in it. Mr. Yeaton suggested looking into repairing the roof versus removing the asbestos. Mr. Connors reported that the roof has never been replaced.

 

It was proposed by Mr. Goulet that a $50,000 increase in the maintenance budget be made under “other repairs”, line item 316. This was agreed upon by consensus of the board. It was determined that this would increase the proposed budget to 7%.

Mr. Goulet made a motion that an additional $25,000 be added to the trust listed at number three, if possible, number two. Mr. Ellis seconded it.

            GORDON ELLIS                     AYE

            BARBARA DOUGHTY         AYE

            BILL YEATON                       AYE

            THE MOTION CARRIED 3-0

                       Following the vote, Mr. Connors proposed increasing the number of

                       sick days of non-union staff from 12 to 15. Ms. Doughty recommended,

                       contingent on the approval of salary increase; that non-union staff sick

                       days increase from 12 to 15.  This was the consensus of the Board.

 

B.     District Meeting Planning- Mr. Haley discussed the date of the

                 Deliberative Session. Ms. Doughty proposed that the board meet

                 before this meeting that same day.

           A motion was made by Mr. Goulet to call a meeting before the        

           Deliberative Session on February 7, 2008 at 6:30. The motion was

           seconded by Mr. Ellis.

            

                        Barbara Doughty                 AYE

                                    Gordon Ellis                         AYE

                        Dave Goulet                         AYE

                        THE MOTION CARRIED 3-0.

 

         Mr. Goulet stated that he would like to donate his salary to the eighth grade

         field trip. He requested that his donation be distributed evenly among all

         students. Mr. Goulet also requested that any money left over from

          landscaping be donated to the mini courses.

 

 

 

 

 

  1. Other Business

   Agenda Preparation- Budget was proposed as a topic for next meeting. Mr.  

  Ellis requested a Fields Update. The next staff meeting was set for January 2, 2008 at 6:00 pm.

 

A.     Citizen’s/ Staff Comments: Mr. Ellis thanked Mr. Steve Patterson for

            letting him come and speak to his class on Veteran’s Day. He inquired

            if any activities were taking place for Pearl Harbor Day. Mr.

            Patterson reported that he would be hosting some activities in his

            classroom.

 

            At 7:26 P.M. a motion was made by Dave Goulet, seconded by Bill Yeaton, to enter non-public session under RSA 91-A:3II(a) to discuss staff compensation.  On a roll call, the Board voted:

 

                                    BARBARA DOUGHTY                          AYE

                                    GORDON ELLIS                                    AYE

                                    DAVE GOULET                                      AYE

                                    BILL YEATON                                        AYE

THE MOTION CARRIED ON A VOTE OF 4 – 0

 

PRESENT:

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

            Superintendent of Schools: Tom Haley

            Principal: Pat Connors

 

The board discussed staff salaries.

 

At 7:35 P.M. a motion to end the non-public session was made by Gordon Ellis, seconded by Barbara Doughty.  On a roll call, the board voted:

 

                           BARBARA DOUGHTY                          AYE

                                    GORDON ELLIS                                    AYE

                                    DAVE GOULET                                      AYE

                                    BILL YEATON                                        AYE

THE MOTION CARRIED ON A VOTE OF 4 – 0

 

Chair Barbara Doughty noted that no action was taken in the non-public session.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5.   Old/Unfinished Business (Cont.)

 

      A.  Budget Update and Development

 

            A motion was made by Bill Yeaton, seconded by Barbara Doughty, to budget 4% for all non-bargaining unit employees who are not already contracted for a specific salary amount for 2008/09.

 

                                    GORDON ELLIS                                    AYE

                                    DAVE GOULET                                      AYE

                                    BILL YEATON                                        AYE

THE MOTION CARRIED ON A VOTE OF 3 – 0

 

            At 7:37 P.M., a motion to enter non-public session under RSA 91-A:3II(c) to discuss a student-related matter was made by Dave Goulet, seconded by Gordon Ellis.  On a roll call, the Board voted:

 

                           BARBARA DOUGHTY                          AYE

                                    GORDON ELLIS                                    AYE

                                    DAVE GOULET                                      AYE

                                    BILL YEATON                                        AYE

THE MOTION CARRIED ON A VOTE OF 4 - 0.

 

 

PRESENT:

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

            Superintendent of Schools: Tom Haley

            Principal: Pat Connors

            Assistant Principal: Brian Beaverstock

 

            The Board discussed a student matter.

 

At 7:50 P.M. a motion to end the non-public session was made by Barbara Dougherty, seconded by Bill Yeaton.  On a roll call, the board voted:

 

                           BARBARA DOUGHTY                          AYE

                                    GORDON ELLIS                                    AYE

                                    DAVE GOULET                                      AYE

                                    BILL YEATON                                        AYE

THE MOTION CARRIED ON A VOTE OF 4 – 0

 

            Chair Barbara Doughty noted that no action was taken in the non-public session.

 

            A motion was made by Dave Goulet, seconded by Bill Yeaton, to reconsider a previous Board vote to end tuition payments for two students who were found at the time of the vote to reside in Bow.  Further, based upon new information, to authorize tuition payments for these two students as of November 29, 2007 based upon documentation that they now legally reside in Epsom.

 

            DAVE GOULET                                      AYE

            GORDON ELLIS                                    ABSTAIN

            BILL YEATON                                        ABSTAIN

THE MOTION CARRIED ON A VOTE OF 1 – 0

 

            A motion was made by Dave Goulet, seconded by Barbara Doughty, to ask the parents of the two students noted above if they would consider making a donation to the Epsom School District to make up for tuition paid by Epsom when the boys actually resided in Bow.

 

            DAVE GOULET                                      AYE

            GORDON ELLIS                                    ABSTAIN

            BILL YEATON                                        ABSTAIN

THE MOTION PASSED ON A VOTE OF 1 – 0

 

7.   Adjournment

 

Hearing no further business, Chair Barbara Doughty declared the meeting adjourned at 8:10 P.M.

 

The next regular meeting of the Epsom School Board is scheduled for Wednesday, January 2, 2008 at 6:00 P.M. at E.C.S.