APPROVED BY THE PITTSFIELD SCHOOL BOARD

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

MINUTES

Pittsfield School Board
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Pittsfield Middle High School

I. CALL TO ORDER

Members Present: Mary Paradise
Michael Wolfe
Kathy Corliss
Leslie Vogt
Elizabeth Adams

Others Present: John Freeman, Superintendent
Tobi Gray Chassie, Director of Student Services
Rick Gremlitz, Interim Principal, PMHS
Doug Kilmister, Principal, PES
Leslie Bergevin, Director of Guidance, PMHS
Member of the Public

Chairperson Paradise called the meeting to order at 5:32 p.m.

II. AGENDA REVIEW

The following items were added to the agenda:

o PMHS gym roof replacement
o Superintendent performance evaluation
o Non- public session
o Enhancing Education Through Technology Grant

III. ACTION ON AMENDED AGENDA

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

IV. NON-PUBLIC SESSION

At 5:40 p.m., a motion was made by Mr. Wolfe and seconded by Ms. Vogt to enter into non-public session to discuss personnel issues pursuant to RSA 91-A:3, II (a). The Board was polled and voted unanimously (Ms. Adams, yes; Ms. Corliss, yes; Ms. Paradise, yes; Ms. Vogt, yes; and Mr. Wolfe) to enter into a non-public session.

Discussion ensued regarding the work being done to prepare for the scheduling and staffing of classes for the 2010-2011 school year. No action was taken in non-public session.

At 6:08 p.m., a motion was made by Mr. Wolfe and seconded by Ms. Adams to conclude the non-public session and to re-enter the public session. The Board was polled and voted unanimously (Ms. Adams, yes; Ms. Corliss, yes; Ms. Paradise, yes; Ms. Vogt, yes; and Mr. Wolfe, yes) to conclude the non-public session and to re-enter the public session.

V. APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MEETING MINUTES

A motion was made by Mr. Wolfe and seconded by Ms. Adams to approve the minutes of the January 7, 2010 meeting. Changes were made as follows:

o On page 2 in the fourth paragraph under Presentation, change “decrease drop-out prevention” to “address drop-out prevention”
o On page 3 under E2T2 Grant, change “commended the writers of the grant should be commended” to “stated the writers of the grant should be commended”
o On page 4 under Early Release Day, change to “significantly interfered with the early release and a teacher workshop opportunity”.
o On page 5 under Contracts, change to “Dr. Freeman reviewed a list of school district vendor contracts, as requested by the Board.”

Ms. Adams, Ms. Corliss, Ms. Paradise, and Mr. Wolfe voted in the affirmative to approve the minutes as amended; Ms. Vogt abstained from the vote.

VI. PUBLIC INPUT – None

VII. PES ADMINISTRATION

A. ENHANCING EDUCATION THROUGH TECHNOLOGY (E2T2) GRANT

Mr. Kilmister explained that the team working on the E2T2 project met this week and reported that progress toward implementation continues. The team would like to plan a one-day conference in August, which would provide an opportunity for the teachers to demonstrate the use of technology in their classrooms. The grant directly involved eight teachers – four at PES and four at PMHS – who will have access to interactive whiteboards, teacher laptops, shared sets at each school of 24 netbooks, and digital cameras. The project will also involve community volunteers, who will support teachers in the use of technology.

VIII. PMHS ADMINISTRATION

A. MID-YEAR EXAMINATIONS

Mid-year examinations are underway and the students are approaching them in a very positive manner.

B. MAIN STREET ACADEMIX

Mr. Gremlitz explained that the Safe Measures School Climate Improvement Process is being implemented at PMHS. The program is facilitated by Main Street Academix in Henniker, NH. A survey will be conducted, the results analyzed, and short and long-term goals developed. The work is being completed by twenty-two student leaders and two teachers, while overseen by Ms. Bergevin and Ms. Stevens.

IX. STUDENT SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

A. POSITIVE BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTIONS AND SUPPORTS (PBIS)

Ms. Chassie explained that the PBIS effort at PMHS continues. In late January, the Targeted Team will commence with organizing to address the issues of students who might not be responding to the universal set of rules and consequences.

Ms. Adams asked Mr. Gremlitz for some information regarding due process, which he agreed to provide.

Dr. Freeman stated that data is being collected, which guides the decision making process. Ms. Chassie further explained that data is gathered regarding the location, time, type of behavior, and staff involved so that work can be done to improve the climate school-wide. Once the Targeted Team is up and running, the data will be used to guide decisions regarding specific students.

X. SAU ADMINISTRATION

A. POLICIES

On a motion made by Mr. Wolfe and seconded by Ms. Corliss, the Board voted unanimously to adopt Policy IKAD: Changing Student Grades; Policy IKAD-R: Changing Student Grades – Process; and Policy IKJ: Supplemental Materials Selection.

A motion was made by Mr. Wolfe and seconded by Ms. Corliss to approve Policy EDC: Authorized Use of School-Owned Materials and Equipment – Mirrors and Policy EEAA: Video and Audio Surveillance on School Property, for the first reading. Discussion ensued. The motion carried with a unanimous vote from the Board.

B. SAU OFFICE RELOCATION

Dr. Freeman stated that the SAU office has moved, with the help of office and custodial staff. He invited the members of the Board to visit at the conclusion of tonight’s meeting.

C. USE OF PES FOR TOWN ELECTIONS

Dr. Freeman stated that he expects a visit to a future Board meeting by Town Administrator Paul Skawron and Select Board Chair Linda Small to discuss the use of PES for town elections in March.

D. HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL SEARCH

Dr. Freeman stated that the process to select a new high school principal is underway. The field of applicants will be narrowed down by the end of the week and interviews scheduled.

Ms. Paradise reported that a teacher commented on the success of the process being implemented and applauded the administration on the steps taken to ensure that stakeholders had a voice in the selection process.

Ms. Adams thanked Dr. Freeman for his presentation to the Select Board on Tuesday, January 19, 2010, regarding high school redesign.

E. QUARTERLY EXPENDITURE REPORT

The expenditure report was included in the packet. Ms. Vogt asked if the special education costs had stabilized, to which Ms. Chassie responded in the affirmative.

F. WARRANT ARTICLES

Dr. Freeman distributed a draft of the Warrant Articles that will be presented to the Town of Pittsfield at the School District Meeting. Discussion ensued regarding Article V regarding the collective bargaining agreement reached by the Pittsfield School District and the Education Association of Pittsfield.

Dr. Freeman was asked by the Board to pursue further the wording of Article VII. They stated their preference for the format used previously, stating the total amount that is being requested to raise and appropriate to replace the high school gym roof and to authorize the withdrawal from the School Building Maintenance Capital Reserve Fund.

G. SALARY STRUCTURES

Dr. Freeman distributed a comparison of teacher salary structures with the towns of Barnstead, Franklin, Hillsboro, Gilmanton, Allenstown, and Concord, which was compiled by EAP President Kiza Armour. The data show that the Pittsfield teacher salary structure will continue to be one of the very lowest in the state.

H. PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

Dr. Freeman distributed a draft of the letter to be printed in the Suncook Valley Sun, inviting citizens to attend the public hearing for Pittsfield’s proposed municipal and school district budgets.

I. ROOF REPLACEMENT

Dr. Freeman distributed a report by Steven Burns from Advanced Roof Management summarizing the condition of the PMHS gym roof. Mr. Burns’ report verifies the need for replacement of the roof at this time.

J. SUPERINTENDENT PERFORMANCE EVALUATION

Dr. Freeman distributed a document that summarized the process to be used to evaluate Dr. Freeman’s performance. The members of the Board are asked to complete an evaluation tool and return it to the Board Chair.

XI. SCHOOL BOARD

A. Ms. Paradise reviewed the information shared at the recent NH School Boards Association annual meeting. Points of interest included special education legal mandates, the passing of the Evergreen Clause, and the role of the State School Board in the rulemaking process.

XII. COMMITTEE REPORTS

A. BUDGET

Ms. Vogt raised the issue of the health insurance cap and how it would be explained at the Budget Committee. The community has expressed, over the years, their support of a cap, in order to calculate a definitive cost. The Board, throughout their negotiations, has followed this direction.

Dr. Freeman reviewed the agenda planned for the Budget Committee presentation on Saturday, January 23, 2010.

XIII. NEXT MEETING

The next School Board meeting is scheduled for Thursday, February 4, 2010 at 5:30 p.m. at the Pittsfield Middle High School. Agenda items will include warrants, gym roof grant, policy review, and the superintendent performance review.

XIV. PUBLIC INPUT (Second Session) – None

XV. ADJOURNMENT

On a motion made by Mr. Wolfe and seconded by Ms. Adams, the Board voted unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 7:31 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Tobi Gray Chassie
Recording Secretary