APPROVED BY THE PITTSFIELD SCHOOL BOARD

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

MINUTES

Pittsfield School Board Meeting
5:00 p.m.; Thursday, December 13, 2012
Pittsfield Middle High School

I. CALL TO ORDER

Members Present: Clayton Wood, Chair (entered meeting at 5:10 p.m.)
Michael Wolfe, Vice-Chair
Nicole Manteau
Gary Mullen
Mary Paradise (entered meeting at 5:25 p.m.)

Others Present: John Freeman, Superintendent
Tobi Gray Chassie, District Administrator
Doug Kilmister, Principal, PES
Bob Bickford, Principal, PMHS
Noah Manteau, Site Council, Student Representative
Members of the public, including students
Member of the staff

Vice-Chairperson Wolfe called the meeting to order at 5:03 p.m.

II. AGENDA REVIEW

The following items were added:
• Non-resident attendance (Dr. Freeman)

The following items were deleted:
• Position Analysis (Ms. Chassie)
• LEA Plan (Dr. Freeman)
• Pre-School (Dr. Freeman)
• Out of District Placements (Dr. Freeman)
• Technology (Dr. Freeman)

III. ACTION ON AGENDA

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

IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

A motion was made by Ms. Manteau and seconded by Mr. Mullen to approve the minutes of the November 29, 2012. Changes made included page 2, paragraph 6: change to Pittsfield Elementary School Kindergarten and page 3, paragraph 2: change to “on the project of working.” The motion passed with amendments made.

V. PUBLIC INPUT

Louise Sawyer, Director of the Drake Field Summer Program, asked if the Drake Field Park Program will become a non-profit organization. Dr. Freeman stated that the district’s attorney has recommended the Board consider non-profit status. He stated that further investigation will be completed before a final decision is made. Mr. Wood stated that the Board is in full support of the program and is interested in determining the most appropriate way to handle the program while increasing the possibilities of charitable funding.

Mr. Morse stated his appreciation for the Board’s willingness to move the meeting time to accommodate the Pittsfield Listens Community Impact Awards.

Noah Manteau was introduced as the student representing Site Council.

VI. PES ADMINISTRATION

A. TITLE I AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM

PES began a new Title I homework club, according to Mr. Kilmister. Funding for this program is entirely grant-based.

B. DISCIPLINE DATA

Mr. Kilmister provided discipline data collected during the first quarter of school, showing comparisons with two previous years. The Board provided accolades for the improvement noted in the discipline data.

C. CALENDAR

A calendar of events was provided by Mr. Kilmister for the months of December and January.

VII. PMHS ADMINISTRATION

A. NEW ENGLAND ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOLS & COLLEGES (NEAS&C)

A copy of the NEAS&C progress report was provided to the Board.

B. PROFESSIONAL GROWTH & EVALUATION TEAM

Mr. Bickford explained that Dr. Freeman, Mr. Kilmister, Ms. Chassie, Kiza Armour, Laura Smith, and he made a presentation at the national conference of Learning Forward in Boston.

C. SITE COUNCIL

Noah Manteau reviewed several of the proposals that have been considered by the Site Council. He explained that representatives are working on a presentation that they will make for the Noble High School Winter Professional Development Conference on December 20th and at the National Association of Secondary School Principals Conference in Washington, D.C., during February vacation.

D. CALENDAR

A calendar of events was provided by Mr. Bickford for the months of December and January.

VIII. DISTRICT LEVEL SYSTEM CHANGE ADMINISTRATION

A. COMMUNICATION PLAN

The Communication Team will be meeting on December 19th to translate the communication plan approved by Nellie Mae Education Foundation into a work plan.

B. COLLABORATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING PROTOCOL TRAINING

Arnie Clayton of the Center for Secondary School Redesign will be providing training on collaborative problem solving protocols, which will assist in the efficient facilitation of school meetings.

C. PROVIDER MEETINGS

Meetings with the technical assistance providers continue with the purpose of keeping a unified approach to our professional development.

D. COMMUNITY ADVISORY COUNCIL (CAC)

The Community Advisory Council Steering Team has reached a decision to have the CAC lead the process for continuous improvement, which ensures the best use of resources and that infrastructure elements are in place to insure sustainability of both current and future student centered learning gains.

E. VALUES / VISION / MISSION / GUIDING PRINCIPLES / SLOGAN / LOGO

The values, vision, mission, guiding principles, slogan, and logo have been vetted across the school community in many venues. The final proposal will be submitted to the Board for approval at the next meeting.

F. NELLIE MAE EDUCATION FOUNDATION PROGRESS REPORT

The next progress report for the District Level System Change grant will be due in January.

IX. SAU ADMINISTRATION

A. NON-RESIDENT STATUS

Dr. Freeman informed the Board of a request from a parent for a current senior at PMHS who will be living in Concord beginning in January to remain in school in Pittsfield. On a motion made by Mr. Wolfe and seconded by Mr. Mullen, the Board voted unanimously to approve the non-resident student’s continuation in school through the end of the school year. Transportation will be provided by the parent.

B. FY14 BUDGET

The first meeting with the Budget Committee took place on Wednesday, December 12th. In preparation for that meeting, the budget was adjusted to reflect $0/thousand tax impact; SIG is not in the estimated revenues; and building aid from the state is not available for PES building project.

C. PES SIDING AND WINDOWS

Dr. Freeman provided a cost estimate for the replacement of siding and windows at PES. Dr. Freeman was directed by the Board to prepare a warrant article that would ask voters to provide the additional $425,000 funding needed for the project. Ms. Paradise asked that the FY13 fund balance be monitored as a possible relief to the amount to be requested in the warrant.

X. COMMITTEES

A. DRAKE FIELD & FACILITIES – None

B. BUDGET COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVE – See above.

C. NEGOTIATING TEAM – Report to me made in non-public session

D. FOSS FOUNDATION – None

XI. PUBLIC INPUT – 2nd SESSION

Adam Gauthier asked about the replacement of the dormer windows. Dr. Freeman explained, with the help of Mr. Kilmister, that the windows will be replaced next week and will take two weeks for the job to be completed, depending on weather.

XII. NON PUBLIC SESSION

At 5:42 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 and negotiations with the Education Association of Pittsfield pursuant to RSA 91-A:3, II (a) and (c). 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 non-public session for the purpose of discussing a personnel issues and negotiations.

A. SEPARATION AGREEMENT

Dr. Freeman provided the Board with an update regarding negotiations with an employee regarding a resignation and separation agreement and made a recommendation regarding a separation agreement.

On a motion made by Ms. Paradise and seconded by Mr. Wolfe, the Board voted unanimously to approve the terms of a proposed separation agreement between Sheila Bartlett and the Pittsfield School District and authorized Dr. Freeman to sign the agreement pending review and recommendation by the district’s attorney.

On a motion made by Mr. Wolfe and seconded by Mr. Mullen, the board voted unanimously to seal the minutes of non-public session until a separation agreement has been signed or for ninety days from the time of the vote, whichever occurs first.

B. NEGOTIATIONS

Board negotiations, Mr. Wolfe and Mr. Wood, provided the Board with an update regarding negotiations with the Education Association of Pittsfield. Negotiations will continue next week.

At 6:11 p.m., a motion was made by Mr. Mullen and seconded by Ms. Manteau to exit the 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) to exit the non-public session and to re-enter into open session.

XIII. NEXT MEETING

The next School Board meeting is scheduled for Thursday, January 10, 2012, at 5:30 p.m. in the PMHS Media Center. The meeting on December 27, 2012 has been cancelled due to the holidays.

XIV. ADJOURNMENT

On a motion made by Ms. Manteau and seconded by Mr. Mullen, the Board voted unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 6:12 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Tobi Gray Chassie
Recording Secretary