HANOVER SCHOOL BOARD
REGULAR MEETING
WEDNESDAY, MAY 11, 2005
7:07 P.M., RAY SCHOOL MULTI-ROOM
Minutes
Present: Board members Asmus, Bruce, Carter, Chamberlin, Fleischer, Pilchman, Slaughter; Administrators Gersen, Weissmann, Aubin, Williams. Recorded by R. Lohr
1. Call to order – Chair Chamberlin called the meeting to order at 7:07 p.m.
2. Approval of minutes
Nancy Carter moved and Larry Pilchman seconded a motion to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of April 13, as submitted. The motion passed unanimously.
3. Communications and reports
a) Report of Chair:
Chair Chamberlin announced that the next Board meeting was scheduled for June 8, 7:00 p.m. in the Ray School Multi-room. Mr. Chamberlin reported about the Hanover Improvement Society offer to develop additional tennis courts on Ray School property. The Board reached a consensus for Chamberlin to draft a letter to the Society that would express the Board’s appreciation, but not pursue the offer. The letter would be sent to the Board for review.
The reseeding of the Ray School front lawn has not been successful and Jonathan Brush, Director of Facilities has contacted the contractor to discuss repairs.
Mr. Chamberlin also announced that SB 45, the special legislation to permit the proposed Hanover District Stabilization Fund, had passed unanimously out of the House Education Committee and would be voted on by the full House the following week.
Kari Asmus announced that a joint meeting of the combined Budget Committees is scheduled for May 23 at 3:45 p.m. in the SAU office.
b) Reports of Administrators
Superintendent’s Report – Superintendent Gersen said that his concerns would be addressed in other parts of the Board agenda during the meeting.
Assistant Superintendent’s Report – Assistant Superintendent John Aubin said that there has been improvement from last month’s Hanover financial situation and that he would provide more details at the June Board meeting. New Building Aid legislation was passed and should result in an additional $10,000 of new aid to the Hanover District and an additional $60,000 to the Dresden District.
Aubin reported that he received estimates to replace the Ray School water heater and the new model would be more energy efficient and have a better maintenance design. The funds would be taken from the Building Maintenance Reserve Fund pending Board action.
Principal’s Report – Ray School Principal Williams submitted a written report and highlighted field trips and the luncheon for volunteers, who received New Hampshire’s Blue Ribbon Achievement Award for the 23rd consecutive year.
Mr. Williams reported on a PTO forum where Dartmouth professors led a discussion regarding the value of languages in child development. Bruce Williams updated the Board on the recruitment for the Education Planning Committee who will be reviewing this issue. He indicated that four members of the public expressed interest in participating on the committee. In the ensuing discussion on the introduction of foreign languages at an earlier grade level, Mr. Williams asked if the Board intended to limit program increases in their budget guidelines. He also noted the need to consider the impact of early foreign language on the SAU 70 K-12 system. The Board felt it was important for the committee to look at the foreign language issue independent of the budget and that variables such as scheduling must be considered. They also suggested that the committee consider opening a dialogue with the Education Planning Committee in Norwich.
4. Business Requiring Discussion
Ray School Handbook
The Board reviewed the handbook draft. It was suggested that the current radio stations for school cancellations be checked.
Board Education Goals
The Board reviewed the goals developed in May, 2004. Board members suggested clearer wording with less jargon for the goals so they could be understood by more people. Bruce Williams reported that goals four and five dealing with Language Arts and school culture were completed. Goals two and three, dealing with the health and science curriculum, were still in process. Principal Williams invited the Board to develop additional goals.
Bridgman Trust
The Superintendent reviewed the grant options for the Bridgman Trust and reported that the attorney for the trust would talk with the district’s lawyer to discuss option four (the After School Program) and how it meets the trust’s stipulations. The Board felt that both options one and two involving a musical residency and an outdoor classroom space were acceptable and they would be voted on next meeting. The artwork associated with option three was discussed and it was suggested that the idea be put off a year to see how the allocated space is going to be utilized in the sixth grade wing of the new building. Additionally, it was suggested that the students participate in developing ideas for the space. Board member Fleischer requested that background information about the Bridgman Trust be included in the next Board meeting packet. Another idea was to create a project using trust resources to figure out the Ray School field situation.
5. Business requiring action:
Board meeting schedule for 2005-06 - The Board agreed to move the regular monthly meeting from the second Wednesday of the month to the third Wednesday of the month. It was noted that these regular dates may be moved to accommodate school schedules or other conflicts. A suggestion was made and accepted to keep the June 2006 meeting on the second Wednesday of the month.
Nancy Carter moved and Larry Pilchman seconded a motion to approve the Board meeting calendar for 2005-06 as submitted and amended. The motion
passed unanimously.
Larry Pilchman and Kari Asmus seconded a resolution that the Board authorizes the transfer of up to $12,100 for purposes from the District’s Building Maintenance Reserve Fund for the purpose of paying the expense of replacing the water heater at the Ray School. The motion passed unanimously.
The Superintendent placed in nomination Jennifer Risley as a 5th grade teacher for the 2005-06 school year.
Larry Pilchman moved and Chip Fleischer seconded a motion to elect Jennifer Risley as a 5th grade teacher at track 4, step 2, $41,803 at the Ray School for the 2005-2006 school year. The motion passed unanimously.
The Superintendent placed in nomination Harriot McGraw as a Media Specialist for the 2005-06 school year.
Larry Pilchman moved and Chip Fleischer seconded a motion to elect Harriot McGraw as a Media Specialist at track 6, step 12, $65,434 at the Ray School for the 2005-2006 school year. The motion passed unanimously.
The Superintendent placed in nomination Becky Eakin as a K-1 teacher for the 2005-06 school year.
Larry Pilchman moved and Chip Fleischer seconded a motion to elect Becky Eakin as a K-1 teacher at track 6, step 14, $69,636 at the Ray School for the 2005-2006 school year. The motion passed unanimously.
The Superintendent placed in nomination Leslie Connolly as a K-1 teacher for the 2005-06 school year.
Larry Pilchman moved and Chip Fleischer seconded a motion to elect Leslie Connolly as a K-1 teacher at track 4, step 4, $45,723 at the Ray School for the 2005-2006 school year. The motion passed unanimously.
The Superintendent placed in nomination Tia James as a K-1 teacher for the 2005-06 school year.
Larry Pilchman moved and Chip Fleischer seconded a motion to elect Tia James as a K-1 teacher at track 1, step 10, $48,817 at the Ray School for the 2005-2006 school year. The motion passed unanimously.
The Superintendent placed in nomination Vicki McCorkle as a Speech Pathologist for the 2005-06 school year.
Larry Pilchman moved and Chip Fleischer seconded a motion to elect Vicki McCorkle as a Speech Pathologist at track 4, step 4, $45,723 at the Ray School for the 2005-2006 school year. The motion passed unanimously.
The Superintendent placed in nomination Janne Piper as a .6 Preschool Coordinator for the 2005-06 school year.
Larry Pilchman moved and Chip Fleischer seconded a motion to elect Janne Piper as a .6 Preschool Coordinator at track 4, step 13, $38,017.80 (60% of $63,363) at the Ray School for the 2005-2006 school year. The motion passed unanimously.
The Superintendent placed in nomination Amy Gowell as a special education teacher for the 2005-06 school year.
Larry Pilchman moved and Chip Fleischer seconded a motion to elect Amy Gowell as a special education teacher at track 1, step 1, $35,895 at the Ray School for the 2005-2006 school year. The motion passed unanimously.
Larry Pilchman moved and Chip Fleischer seconded a motion to approve the Hanover nonunion salaries for the 2005-2006 school year as proposed and attached to the original meeting minutes. The motion passed unanimously.
Larry Pilchman moved and Chip Fleischer seconded a motion to authorize the Administration to fill teacher vacancies between now and the regular meeting of September 21 by offering a one (1) week period to obtain telephone or email votes from Board members and that four (4) affirmative votes must be obtained before a contract is issued. The motion passed unanimously.
6. Adjournment
Matt Slaughter moved and Nancy Carter seconded a motion to adjourn at
8:59 p.m. The motion passed unanimously.
The meeting adjourned at 8:59 p.m.
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