APPROVED BY THE PITTSFIELD SCHOOL BOARD

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
SCHOOL ADMINISTRATIVE UNIT #51
PITTSFIELD SCHOOL BOARD

MINUTES

Pittsfield School Board Meeting
6:15 p.m., Thursday, April 12, 2012
Pittsfield Middle High School

I. CALL TO ORDER

Members Present: Nicole Manteau
Gary Mullen
Mary Paradise
Mike Wolfe
Clayton Wood

Others Present: John Freeman, Superintendent
Tobi Gray Chassie, District Administrator
Bob Bickford, Principal, PMHS
Doug Kilmister, Principal, PES
Max Tuttle, Student Representative, Site Council

Superintendent Freeman called the meeting to order at 6:15 p.m.

Dr. Freeman opened nominations for the position of Chairperson. Ms. Paradise nominated Clayton Wood, which was seconded by Mr. Wolfe. The Board unanimously voted for Mr. Wood to serve as Chairperson of the Board for the next year. Mr. Wood took control of the meeting.

Mr. Wood opened nominations for the position of Vice-Chairperson. Ms. Paradise nominated Mr. Wolfe, which was seconded by Mr. Wood. The Board unanimously voted for Mr. Wolfe to serve as Vice-Chairperson for the next year..

Mr. Wood opened nominations for the position of Secretary. Mr. Wolfe nominated Ms. Manteau, which was seconded by Mr. Wood. The Board unanimously voted for Ms. Manteau to serve as Secretary for the next year.

II. AGENDA REVIEW

The following items were added to the agenda:
• Newsletter from PMHS (Mr. Bickford)
• AYP for PES (Mr. Kilmister)
• Expenditure Report (Dr. Freeman)
• Separation Agreement (Dr. Freeman)
• Non-Public Session (Dr. Freeman)

III. ACTION ON AGENDA

On a motion made by Mr. Wolfe and seconded by Mr. Mullen, the Board voted unanimously to approve the agenda as amended.

IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

A motion was made by Mr. Wolfe and seconded by Mr. Mullen to approve the minutes of the March 8 and 15, 2012. The following changes were made to the March 8, 2012 minutes:
• Delete Mary Paradise from the members present;
• Change title for Tobi Gray Chassie to District Administrator;
• Change title for Lois Stevens to Director of Student Services;
• Under Approval of Minutes, change to “seconded by Ms. Adams;”
• Under Public Hearing, change to “April 17, 2012.”

The Board unanimously approved the March 8th minutes as amended and the March 15th minutes as written.

V. PUBLIC INPUT – None

VI. PMHS ADMINISTRATION

A. NEWSLETTER

Mr. Bickford distributed copies of the recent PMHS newsletter and highlighted several topics.

B. IMPACT TEAM

Mr. Bickford proposed a job description for the IMPACT Team advisor. Jenny Keller, Grade 11 and 12 English teacher, has taken on the advisor responsibilities. He requested the Board’s support of a stipend for the IMPACT Team advisor, which would be provided to Ms. Keller on a pro-rated basis for the current school year.

On a motion made by Mr. Wolfe and seconded by Mr. Mullen, the Board voted unanimously to approve the new advisor position and the associated stipend.

C. SITE COUNCIL

Mr. Max Tuttle, grade 10 student, reviewed several initiatives of the Site Council including improving community service requirements, clean-up efforts in Pittsfield, and discipline process mapping. Mr. Tuttle reported the intent of the Site Council to reconsider the assignment of advisors and provided survey data that supported the assignment moving from two years to four years, once the student arrives in grade 9.

D. AYP STATUS

Mr. Bickford shared communication from Department of Education Consultant Merry Fortier and Commissioner Virginia Barry regarding the improvements in student performance indicators as measured on the New England Common Assessment Program (NECAP).

E. U.S. DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF EDUCATION

According to Mr. Bickford, Deputy Assistant Secretary Jason Snyder from the U.S. Department of Education has scheduled a visit to PMHS on Tuesday, May 1, 2012. A schedule, including classroom visits and conversations with students, teachers, and administrators, will be devised with the help of Ms. Chassie.

F. INFORMATION TECHNOLGY (IT) TECHNICIAN

Katrina Bortoszak has been hired as the new IT Technician.

G. CALENDAR

Mr. Bickford supplied a list of events for the months of April, May, and June.

VII. PES ADMINISTRATION

A. PES ENTRYWAY SECURITY

Mr. Kilmister provided the Board with two options for providing more security for the PES entryway. Mr. Wood offered an option for a computerized keyless door entry system and recommended that this option be further investigated.

Mr. Wood voiced his support of a computerized keyless door entry system. Discussion ensued regarding the options that could be considered. The Board asked Mr. Kilmister to investigate the keyless entry options by the next School Board meeting. Ms. Manteau suggested the teachers be surveyed to see what they think might be the best option.

B. CHILDREN’S LITERACY FOUNDATION (CLiF)

According to Mr. Kilmister, PES is applying for a $20,000 grant from CLiF, a non-profit organization whose mission is to nurture a love of reading and writing among children throughout New Hampshire and Vermont. The focus of the grant application will be on building a stronger home-school connection around reading and engaging our more reluctant readers.

C. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Mr. Kilmister reported that during early dismissal days teachers have been working with consultants from WestEd on research-based instructional practices. On April 18, 2012, the focus of professional development will be emphasizing and reinforcing key vocabulary.

D. SCHOOL-COMMUNITY INDEX

Mr. Kilmister reported the Pittsfield Parent Connection’s arrangement for both PES and PMHS to participate in the School-Community Index surveys for parents and teachers. The plan is to administer the on-line survey during parent-teacher conferences at PES on April 16, 2012.

E. CALENDAR

Mr. Kilmister provided a list of events scheduled in April, May, and June.

F. ADEQUATE YEARLY PROGRESS (AYP)

Mr. Kilmister stated that 71% of schools in New Hampshire have not made AYP. He acknowledged the fact that PMHS made AYP, but stated that PES did not.

VIII. STUDENT SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

A. LETTER OF RETIREMENT

By report, Ms. Stevens notified the Board of the intention of Speech and Language Pathologist Peter Eklof to retire at the end of the school year. Ms. Stevens is recommending we seek hiring a full-time speech and language pathologist and decreasing to two full-time speech assistants and one part-time speech assistant.

B. TUITION STUDENT

Ms. Stevens reported the potential of enrolling a tuition student from Manchester. She will update the Board when final decisions are made.

C. ENGLISH FOR SPEAKERS OF OTHER LANGUAGES (ESOL)

Ms. Stevens provided the Board with a chart, updating them on the enrollment of ESOL students.

IX. SAU ADMINISTRATION

A. RESIGNATIONS

Dr. Freeman distributed a letter of retirement from Peter Eklof, Speech and Language Pathologist. He also provided the Board with a letter of resignation from School Nurse Mary Fiset, PMHS Math Interventionist Jeff Greenhalgh, and Science Teacher Herb Moyer.

On a motion by Mr. Wolfe and seconded by Mr. Mullen, the Board unanimously accepted the resignations of Mr. Greenhalgh, Ms. Fiset, and Mr. Moyer.

On a motion by Ms. Manteau and seconded by Ms. Paradise, the Board voted unanimously to accept the resignation for purposes of retirement of Peter Eklof with appreciation for his many years of service and in recognition of all the children and youth he helped while in Pittsfield. A note of appreciation will be sent by Board Secretary Manteau.

B. TECHNOLOGY UPGRADES

Dr. Freeman explained that Mr. Kilmister and Mr. Bickford have worked on the development of a bid on technology upgrades for the school. Mr. Kilmister distributed the request for proposal summaries for, 1) technology network upgrade and support and, 2) district wide wireless internet services.

Mr. Bickford provided some historical details for the Board in order to understand the need for the work that has been requested. Discussion ensued regarding the issues to be taken into consideration when making the decision.

On a motion made by Mr. Wolfe and seconded by Ms. Paradise, the Board voted unanimously to award technology upgrade projects to Daystar on both of the RFPs presented. Dr. Freeman thanked Mr. Kilmister and Mr. Bickford for their work on the RFP.

C. POLICY

Dr. Freeman presented Policy IJOA – Field Trips and Excursions, which reflected the changes that were recommended by the Board upon review of the draft at the first reading.

On a motion made by Mr. Wolfe and seconded by Ms. Paradise, the Board voted unanimously to amend Policy IJOA – Field Trips and Excursions as presented with one change in wording.

D. SCHOOL DISTRICT MISSION AND VISION

Dr. Freeman explained that the Community Advisory Council (CAC) has recommended that the current district mission and vision statements, which were last reviewed and revised during the 2008-2009 school year. This process will be piloted by the CAC this spring and modified as needed for a more inclusive process in the fall.

E. SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL GRANT

According to Dr. Freeman, it is anticipated that engineering work on sidewalk construction and signage will be completed this summer and construction will be completed during the summer of 2013.

F. SCHOOL BOARD MEETING SCHEDULE

Dr. Freeman asked the Board to consider a date for two strategic planning sessions. He will make final arrangements with consultant William Bryan and inform the Board of the dates.

Dr. Freeman notified the Board of his absence from Board meetings on April 26, June 14, and July 12. Also, the Board usually restricts its meetings to one per month in July and August. He asked the Board to consider July 26 and August 23. A decision will be made at a later date.

G. EXPENDITURE REPORT

Dr. Freeman distributed the recent expenditure report. He offered new Board members the opportunity to meet with Business Manager Sally Blanchette for a thorough explanation of the report.

H. SEPARATION AGREEMENT

Dr. Freeman distributed a copy of the separation agreement between the District and Mr. Herb Moyer, former Science teacher at PMHS. The document will be placed on file in the Town Clerk’s office, per legal requirement.

X. SCHOOL BOARD

A. COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS

Mr. Wood moved the assignments to committees to the next meeting. A Policy Committee needs to be added, according to Ms. Paradise.

XI. COMMITTEES

A. DRAKE FIELD & FACILITIES – None

B. BUDGET COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVE – None

C. NEGOTIATING TEAM

Meetings have occurred between the Education Association of Pittsfield and the School Board to investigate insurance options.

XII. PUBLIC INPUT – 2nd SESSION – None

XIII. NEXT MEETING

The next School Board meeting is scheduled for Thursday, April 26, at 5:30 p.m. in the PMHS Media Center.

XIV. NON-PUBLIC SESSION

At 8:21 p.m., a motion was made by Mr. Wolfe and seconded by Mr. Mullen to enter into non-public session to discuss a personnel matter pursuant to RSA 91-A:3 II (a). The Board was polled and voted unanimously ( Ms. Manteau, yes; Mr. Mullen, yes; Ms. Paradise, yes; Mr. Wolfe, yes; Mr. Wood, yes) to enter into a non-public session.

The Board discussed compensation of district administrators and other professional employees who are not included in the collective bargaining unit. The Board received information relative to health insurance provided to employees and discussed options; the Board copies of contracts for individuals in this group and discussed contract format. The Board briefly discussed administrative staffing patterns.

No votes were taken in non-public session.

At 8:40 p.m. a motion was made by Mr. Wolfe and seconded by Ms. Paradise to exit non-public session and to re-enter into open session. The Board was polled and voted unanimously (Ms. Manteau, yes; Mr. Mullen, yes; Ms. Paradise, yes; Mr. Wolfe, yes; Mr. Wood, yes).

XV. ADJOURNMENT

On a motion made by Mr. Wolfe and seconded by Mr. Mullen, the Board voted unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 8:41 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Tobi Gray Chassie
Recording Secretary