HANOVER SCHOOL BOARD
REGULAR MEETING
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2004
7:00 P.M., BERNICE A. RAY SCHOOL MULTI
Minutes
Present: Board members Asmus, Bruce, Carter (7:05), Chamberlin, Goodman, Pilchman, Segal; Administrators Gersen, Aubin, Weissmann, Williams; and four members of the public.
1. Call to order
Chair Segal called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
2. Approval of minutes
John Chamberlin moved and Bob Bruce seconded a motion to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of September 8, as submitted. The motion passed five yes, one abstention (Asmus).
3. Agenda review/additional items
CATV - The Board discussed the lack of availability of some CATV tapes of Board meetings at the CATV studio and library. One Board member expressed concern at not being able to readily access the tapes.
4. Communications and reports
a) Report of Chair:
1. Board Calendar - The Chair announced that the next regular Board meeting will be Wednesday, December 8, 7:00 p.m., at the Ray School Multi.
b) Reports of Administrators:
Superintendent’s report: - The Superintendent updated the Board on the Principals’ Council discussion concerning adding foreign language study at earlier grade levels. He said that RMS Principal Susan Finer reported that Spanish I has just finished the first quarter and she has some concerns about getting the 7th grade students taking Spanish up to the level of the 7th grade students taking French. The French students have had several years of French in the elementary schools, giving them an edge. However, Dr. Gersen said that research seems to indicate that over a two year period, the students taking Spanish I will probably catch up. He said that the Principals’ Council discussed questions and implications of introducing either Spanish or French at an earlier age, and that the consensus of the Council was to wait and see how the implementation of middle school Spanish worked before expanding any language offerings at the elementary level.
A member of the public and founder of the French Club at the Ray School, Bill Mlacak, then spoke to advantages of early foreign language instruction, and asked the Board to consider expanding the French program to begin at first grade, which would entail adding 1.5 FTE foreign language instruction. Two other members of the public spoke in support of Mr. Mlacak’s request.
Board members discussed the implications of adding staff, choosing one language over another, and budgetary considerations (i.e., what programs would need to be cut back in order to meet budget guidelines). The Board asked Principal Williams to come back with information about the impact of adding 100 minutes per week of early foreign language instruction on present programs and budget. The Board agreed to review this in the context of the 2005-06 budget.
Assistant Superintendent for Business report: Assistant Superintendent for Business John Aubin reported estimated year end revenues of $8,718,639, estimated year end expenses of $8,732,742, for a projected year end deficit of $10,326. He stressed that it is still early and the numbers probably will change. Some areas that may end over budget are the special education assistant account and special education contracted services account; while the health services account is over budget by $20,558.
Principal’s report: Principal Bruce Williams reviewed his written report highlighting the backyard Habitat Center, Thanksgiving storytelling, health curriculum pilot, and mock election. Board members asked clarifying questions about the pilot NECAP tests and the current NHEIAP testing. Enrollment is at 500 students.
5. Public comments
A member of the public thanked the Superintendent for the improved web site and asked if agendas and draft minutes could be posted on the web.
6. Business requiring discussion
a) How to inform voters of SB 418, which enables Hanover voters to use Australian balloting in lieu of the town meeting format - Committee Chair John Chamberlin began the discussion by providing a brief history of the work of the Committee. He then made the following suggestions as to how to proceed with preparations for informing the public of the upcoming vote:
• Put the Voting Options Committee report and text of SB 418 on the web.
• Write a letter to the Editor providing the web site information
• Hold two public forums in February, one in Hanover and the other in Etna
• Send a sample mailer to all households in late February
John Chamberlin, Bob Bruce, and Kari Asmus will write a comparative summary of the current voting procedure vs the proposed procedure for posting on the web site as well.
7. Business requiring action
a. Approval of Friends Grants
Board members reviewed the grants and expressed thanks to the Friends. The Board asked the Superintendent to contact Kathy Snyder to inquire if the organization would be willing to put information about their organization on the SAU web site.
Nancy Carter moved and John Chamberlin seconded a motion to approve the Friends Grants as proposed and attached to the original minutes of the meeting. The motion passed unanimously.
8. Adjournment
John Chamberlin moved and Dennis Goodman seconded a motion to adjourn at 8:43 p.m. The motion passed unanimously.
The meeting adjourned at 8:43 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Mary B. Davis
Recording Secretary
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