PEMBROKE SCHOOL BOARD

PEMBROKE ACADEMY

PEMBROKE, NEW HAMPSHIRE

TUESDAY, APRIL 10, 2007

 

PRESENT:  Clint Hanson, Tom Haley, Tom Serafin, Mike Reardon, Deb Bulkley, Susanne Whitbeck, Mona Sandberg, Sandy Valine (recording secretary), Patty Willis, Dorothy O’Rourke, Tammy Boucher, Ry Weisiger,

 

1.          CALL TO ORDER

Chair Clint Hanson called the meeting to order at 7 PM in the library at PA.

 

2.         MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING                     March 27, 2007

A motion to approve the minutes of the March 27, 2007 meeting, as amended, was made by

Mr. Serafin and seconded by Mr. Weisiger.   The corrections involved the inclusion of the list of staff nominated by the Superintendent and election of staff for the 2007-08 year.

 

3.         IMMEDIATE BUSINESS

            A.         CITIZENS’ COMMENTS                 None at this time

            B.         SPECIAL EDUCATION UPDATE

Mr. Haley introduced Patty Willis Special Education Director, and Dorothy O’Rourke K-8 Special Education Coordinator.

 

Earlier this year, it looked like there might be a surplus in the special education budget; however it appears that this is not going to happen.  There are approximately 7 or 8 out of district placements that were not anticipated earlier in the budget cycle.

Ms. Willis did not expect the special education lines to be in deficit.  They had projected that there might be approximately a hand full of unanticipated placements.  They are working on an extensive analysis of out of district placements and investigating the possibility of an in-district program for another year.  It appears that the district and SAU is getting to the point that there is a need for another program.  They are considering the possibility of using the library building for a program that could also be used by students from other districts.

 

Mr. Weisiger asked what it would take to get the building up to code.  It depends to what extent repairs and renovations would need to be made. 

 

Mr. Hanson stated that presumably the building could be covered through the Honeywell project.

 

Mr. Haley stated that they will continue to investigate through at least half of the 2007-08 school year. 

 

Mr. Serafin asked if it was correct that the district is currently paying to heat the building in the last couple of years. Mr. Haley stated that the building may be cut off from water and heat at this point.  He would report back to the board.

 

Offices upstairs and small group space is projected since there was a limit to the number of participants upstairs.  The use of facility still needs to be evaluated.

NHSEISY began a file management system electronically.  Pembroke was a pilot for the program. The issues were reported to the state.  They are working on it.
Ms. Willis stated that very special kudos needed to be acknowledged to the special education staff.  Pembroke is really in good shape!  There are people in state just being trained. It is expected that by 6/30/07 all special education students need to be in the system.  Again we are really in good shape.

 

A couple of glitches were highlighted for the board.  For example, they couldn’t place preschoolers into the system.  It took one month to find the answer.  Some couldn’t finalize IEPs.  Hundreds and hundreds of hours have been logged and then the data disappeared.  One teacher spent 6 hrs entering IEPs and it was printed out in computer code.

 

State is out of money and can’t pay programmer to fix some of the problems.  SPEDIS was shut down, but then reactivated.   It has been CRAZY! 63 concerns were expressed a couple of weeks ago after a year of working with the program.  Special Education funding is going to be tied to the numbers that are in the system.  It is probably is a very good thing that we actually got to use the system for a year.

 

There is a strong preschool bubble ready to enter the public school system in Pembroke!  Needs and intensity of the students were highlighted.  There are plans for a transition to program for kindergarteners and parents.  There are students with extensive language, physical, emotional and family needs.  It will be a lot to address.  We have added a kindergarten special education teacher for the next year.

 

Mr. Haley reported that they have heard nothing about the charter school since the last reporting.

 

Mr. Reardon discussed special education issues.  There is a lot of work that we do with transitioning students from high school to beyond high school.  Gail Luerssen spends a great deal of time working with students and families.                     

There has been an increase in the number of kids with autism.  There are some programs beyond high school.  Learning Centers are designed to help students with difficulties and disabilities.  READ 180 is a computerized literacy program. Mr. Reardon stated that they have seen a difference with the students at the high school who are working with the program.  They are making it available for all supported studies.  Accessing READ 180 program daily to increase literacy skills appears to be working.  Special Ed. Teachers who do direct instruction also need to be highly qualified in various content areas.  This work is on-going.

 

There still is a concern that we are identifying too many kids.  The numbers go up every year.  Sharing information at the SAU level has become a focus for the Reading Task Force.  It appears that some students are being identified through special education that really have undiagnosed or un-remediated reading disabilities.

 

In the LD population, 80% are identified as LD but really have reading disabilities.  Intervention is needed so that it is prevented.  Peter Warburton is working on this through the Reading Task Force.

 

The district is very lucky that Ms. Whitbeck and Ms. Sandberg have been working on intervention strategies as they are now part of the federal guidelines.  The district appears to be on top of it.  Literacy task force will also be addressing this. A neuro-psychologist works with the elementary schools.

 

            C.         CONSENT AGENDA

□        Review of administrative contract addendum

□        Leave of Absence request

 

A motion to approve the published consent agenda was made by Mr. Serafin and seconded by Mr. Weisiger.

 

□        Request for continued enrollment at the Hill School (2 students)

A motion to approve the enrollment request was made by Mr. Serafin and seconded by Mr. Weisiger.  

 

Is there an “official” policy if they are not residents?  Contact is made with the parent with the recommendation of enrollment in their new district.  There are some stipulations in the current policy.  Board has the ability to assign financial responsibility to the family.

 

ALL IN FAVOR
THE MOTION CARRIED

 

            D.         TRUANT OFFICER APPOINTMENT

A motion to appoint the recommended list of truant officers was made by Mr. Weisiger and seconded by Mr. Serafin.

ALL IN FAVOR
THE MOTION CARRIED

 

4.         OLD/UNFINISHED BUSINESS

 

            A.         PEER RECOGNITION PROCESS

Board voted to pursue this as a board rather than as a sub committee.

Early May is the due date for the Peer Recognition Nominations.

Nomination forms have been distributed.

 

            B.         POLICY REVIEW

 

□        Revised Field Trip Policy

The revision of the field trip policy was presented.  This is the first time this policy is coming before the board.  Action will be taken at the next meeting.

Insurance carrier has been contacted.  The language has been reviewed by counsel.

 

            C.         NOMINATION/ELECTION OF STAFF

Mr. Haley presented the following candidates to the board for nomination.

Margaret Brush- TRS

Cristle Corcoran- Hill and Village guidance

A motion to elect was made by Mr. Mitchell and seconded by Ms. Boucher.

Ms. Corcoran will be contracted for the end of the 2006-07 school year, beginning in that position after April vacation and for the 2007-2008 school year.  She currently works in the district in the Support Center.

ALL IN FAVOR
THE MOTION CARRIED

 

5.         OTHER BUSINESS

            A.         CITIZENS’ COMMENTS                 None at this time

 

6.         ADJOURNMENT

            NEXT SCHEDULED MEETING                               May 8th  PA

                                                                                                May 22nd         Hill

A motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Mr. Weisiger and seconded by Mr. Mitchell.

ALL IN FAVOR
THE MOTION CARRIED

7.         INFORMATIONAL ITEMS

Edy’s School:  May 1st school visit   1:30  Mr. Reardon requested the board attend if possible.

There was a request for reminders.  Mr. Reardon will take care of that.

 

EAP concluded their review of the Master Agreement.  A few “typos” were discussed and both sides were in agreement.  The Board will receive an email about signing document.

 

SAU Dinner is scheduled for June 4th.      

 

Teacher’s room at the Hill School has been covered with a tarp on the roof.

Considerable leaks have been discovered.  Other rooms/space is currently available.  The room is not healthy.  Carpet, insulation, and ceiling tiles have been wet.  Until roof is fixed, the room has been “shut off”.  The company is expecting to start the repair work during April vacation.  Hopefully it will be completed by early May.

 

Regarding the Honeywell contract, a request has been made for updates at least monthly.  Score card, planning guide/time line were suggested.

 

Talent Show:  There was discussion regarding the rehearsals and scheduling issues.  It was suggested that the groups take advantage of the best spaces for performances in the district rather than fill to capacity the “hosting” school.  Perhaps it would be better to use other schools for various programs.  It is something to consider.

 

School information and special events is available on the website.  The information can be gathered, but access to specific school-events would have to go school by school.