May 13, 2010 Minutes

APPROVED BY THE PITTSFIELD SCHOOL BOARD

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

MINUTES

Pittsfield School Board Meeting
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Pittsfield Middle High School

I. CALL TO ORDER

Members Present: Mary Paradise, Chairperson
Kathy Corliss
Clayton Wood
Michael Wolfe
Elizabeth Adams

Others Present: John Freeman, Superintendent
Tobi Gray Chassie, Director of Student Services
Rick Gremlitz, Interim Principal, PMHS
Lois Stevens, Coordinator of Student Services
Doug Kilmister, Principal, PES

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

II. AGENDA REVIEW

The following items were added to the agenda:
• Property and Liability and Worker’s Compensation Insurance (Dr. Freeman)
• Foss Family Donation (Dr. Freeman)
• Nellie Mae Foundation Grant Opportunity (Dr. Freeman)
• Resignations (Ms. Chassie)

III. ACTION ON AMENDED AGENDA

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

IV. WELCOME

Ms. Paradise welcomed PMHS student Jen Tyrell as the student body representative to the School Board for the remainder of the school year.

V. APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MEETING MINUTES

A motion was made by Mr. Wood and seconded by Mr. Wolfe to approve the minutes of the April 22, 2010, meeting. The minutes indicated that the location of the meeting was the Pittsfield Elementary School, when actually it was Pittsfield Middle High School. In the section regarding the next meeting, the location should also state Pittsfield Middle High School. On page 5, paragraph 1, add “NH does not include intellectually gifted as ‘exceptionally different.’” On page 7, line 5, change “though” to “through.” The motion carried unanimously with changes made.

VI. PUBLIC INPUT – None

VII. PES ADMINISTRATION

A. REQUEST

On a motion made by Mr. Wolfe and seconded by Mr. Wood, the Board voted unanimously to approve a family’s request for non-resident attendance and to allow a current PES student to continue to attend school in Pittsfield until the end of the current year. Ms. Paradise reminded the parent that transportation would be the responsibility of the family.

B. NWEA MAP TESTING

Mr. Kilmister explained that a group of teachers representing most grade levels, met to discuss how the results of the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) computer-adaptive tests will be used by teachers and grade-level teams to monitor annual progress in reading and math. He will meet with each classroom teacher in June to review each class’s progress as measured by MAP tests and Developmental Reading Assessments (DRA’s).

Ms. Corliss asked if a similar review will occur with middle school teachers. Ms. Stevens stated that there will be an analysis of the results of the MAP tests. She explained that the Intervention Team will continue the work being done at PES and expand it to PMHS. Dr. Freeman stated that some of the people working on use of assessment results for instructional planning will be assigned to do similar work at PMHS next year.

Ms. Tyrell suggested that the amount of testing required of students in the same time period should be monitored.

VIII. PMHS ADMINISTRATION

A. STUDENT HONOR

Mr. Gremlitz called attention to the annual DAR Good Citizen Award being given to Irene Vogt. Ms. Paradise asked that a congratulatory note be sent to Ms. Vogt.

B. TEACHER HONOR

PMHS biology teacher Denise Mason was recognized by the Chichester Grange at their annual Community Awards Night on May 5, 2010.

C. JUNE CALENDAR

Mr. Gremlitz provided the Board with the events for the month of June.

D. GREEN GAMES

Mr. Gremlitz’s written report included information regarding Earth Day 2010, which was commemorated on April 23, 2010, with a school-wide program, planned by the school’s Green Team.

E. SUMMER READING

Mr. Gremlitz’ written report reminded the Board that because there will not be an Advanced Placement English course offered next fall, there will be no required summer reading list for students. All other summer reading is suggested reading, and a list will be made available to students soon.

IX. STUDENT SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

A. RESIGNATION

Ms. Chassie reported that three letters of resignation have been received by the administration. Duane Johnson, special education teacher in sixth grade, is retiring. Tiffany Pease, special education teacher at PMHS, is moving out of state. On a motion made by Mr. Wolfe and seconded by Ms. Adams, the Board voted unanimously to accept the resignation of Mr. Johnson and Ms. Pease, with thanks for their service.

Ms. Chassie informed the Board that Sabrina Smith, paraprofessional at PMHS, has also resigned her position.

B. DIFFERENTIATED INSTRUCTION

Ms. Chassie explained that there have been seven teachers who have signed up for the Plymouth State University course on Differentiated or Intentional Instruction. The administration will investigate the reasons for low interest in the hopes that changes can be made, possibly in the dates or format, in order to appeal to a larger audience.

C. CENSUS

Ms. Chassie explained that the census audit report expected from technical assistant, Bruce Thielen, was not yet available.

D. HOME SCHOOL EVALUATIONS

Ms. Adams asked if the four evaluations conducted by our school psychologist would have budget implications. Ms. Chassie explained that the testing of home schooled students is planned into the schedule of the school psychologist so would have no budgetary impact.

E. PRESCHOOL SCREENING

The PES preschool program will be conducting the annual screening to recruit typical age mates on Friday, May 14, 2010.

F. CONFERENCE

Ms. Chassie, a parent of one of our students, and a representative from Community Bridges will be presenting information at the 2010 Partnerships in Education Conference on May 15, 2010.

X. SAU ADMINISTRATION

A. SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT GRANT

Dr. Freeman distributed a summary of the SIG application for the Board’s review. He reviewed the data sources that were used to justify the requests. Further, he described the goals and strategies outlined in the application for the next three years. Dr. Freeman explained that a decision will be made by the end of May. He expects that the district will likely have an opportunity to negotiate changes that the Department of Education suggests.

Ms. Adams asked Dr. Freeman to explain the three tiers of opportunity. He explained that our middle school was designated as a tier 1 school, our high school was designated as a tier 2 school, and our elementary school was designation as a tier 3 school. The determination was made according to NECAP performance. The money, according to Dr. Freeman, is targeted to the schools in most significant need in the state.

The Board commended Dr. Freeman on the completion of the grant application. Mr. Wood stated that he does not think the community believes or understands the hard work that is being done to make changes within the district. He stated that the three goals send a powerful message to the community. Dr. Freeman explained that twenty-eight people worked on planning for the writing of the grant. On Monday, May 17, 2010, at 3:00, a district-wide faculty meeting will
take place to provide Dr. Freeman the opportunity to describe the contents of the grant application. He extended an invitation to this meeting to the members of the School Board.

Ms. Adams asked if input from graduates who attend college was included under the goal of “College and Career.” She suspects that some students know what has helped them to prepare and what they may have needed to be more successful in college. Dr. Freeman explained that our guidance director, Leslie Bergevin, invites graduates into the school during a school vacation to seek information. Further, a survey of graduates who have been away from school at two-, five-, and ten-year intervals has also been included in the grant application.

Discussion ensued regarding using the website to better inform the community on the work being accomplished in the district.

On a motion made by Ms. Adams and seconded by Mr. Wood, the Board voted unanimously to approve the submission of the School Improvement Grant.

Mr. Wood reiterated his appreciation to the team for the work they accomplished to provide information to Dr. Freeman for his writing of the grant.

B. NELLIE MAE GRANT

Dr. Freeman explained that CSSR President and PMHS Consultant Joe DiMartino has suggested that Pittsfield Middle High School participate in the writing of a planning grant for systems change work. He explained that there will be 10-15 multi-year planning grants awarded to high schools in New England. Dr. Freeman intends to work with Joe DiMartino on this grant with the consensus of the Board. The Board was in favor of Dr. Freeman’s efforts in this direction.

Ms. Adam’s commented that at the recent School Board training session, the presenters were not optimistic about the financial situation in New Hampshire.

C. 2010-2011 SCHOOL CALENDAR

Dr. Freeman distributed a copy of the Concord School District calendar, which is the calendar that Pittsfield is guided by in the creation of the school calendar, due to our students’ participation in classes in Concord’s Regional Vocational Center. Ms. Paradise will write a letter to the chair of the Concord School Board to ask for consideration of changing the week of the vacation slated for the week of February 28, 2011. On a motion made by Mr. Wolfe and seconded by Mr. Wood, the Board unanimously approved the calendar as presented. If changes occur with the Concord calendar, the Board will consider changes in their calendar.

D. PROPERTY AND LIABILITY AND WORKER’S COMPENSATION INSURANCE

Dr. Freeman distributed information regarding insurance quotes. He reviewed the quotes for worker’s compensation and property and liability insurance. On a motion made by Mr. Wolfe and seconded by Mr. Wood, the Board voted unanimously to approve the quote for Primex for worker’s compensation and property and liability insurance.

E. PMHS GYM RENOVATION

Dr. Freeman explained that the district is on track with the work that is planned for the gym renovation. He provided the board with a copy of the plans for review; Mr. Wood agreed to review the plans.

F. FOSS FAMILY DONATION

Dr. Freeman explained that a gift of $8,100 from the Foss Family Foundation was made in 2007. No plans were made for this money at the time the gift was made. It was suggested that a portion of this money might be used to increase the sport scholarship fund, which is being depleated, as well as other general events in which students cannot afford to participate.

Ms. Corliss stated that she is concerned about the lack of commitment that is expected when students receive a sport scholarship. Ms. Paradise stated that she would expect the administration use their discretion when determining the appropriateness of a request.

Mr. Wolfe suggested that some of the money be used to paint the panther on the gym floor, once the floor has been replaced. Ms. Adams suggested that some of the money be used to subsidize graduation costs for students, such as cap and gowns. Ms. Stevens suggested using some of the money for Project Create, a program that supports the programs for enriching the curriculum for selected students. Ms. Adams suggested that consideration be made for co-curricular activities, such as Drama Club. Mr. Wolfe stated that he would like the funding of field trips at PES be considered.

The Board agreed to reflect on potential uses of the Foundation donation and to discuss further at a future School Board meeting.

XI. COMMITTEES

A. Drake Field & Facilities

Mr. Wolfe explained that consideration has been made for a backstop for the softball practice area. It appears that a permanent backstop would not be a good idea due to the location of the field; Mr. Wolfe expressed his concern for the safety of sledders using the hill during the winter if the backstop were to be installed in the current field location. Ms. Paradise suggested a temporary backstop, although it might not be sturdy enough to be effective.

It was noted that the Tilton Hill Field is currently being used for games. Mr. Wolfe asked if we pay for the maintenance of the field, to which Dr. Freeman stated he would investigate.

B. Selectmen Liaison – Nothing to report.

C. Budget Representation – Nothing to report.

D. Negotiating Team – Nothing to report.

XII. NEXT MEETING

The next School Board meeting is scheduled for Thursday, May 27, 2010 at 5:30 p.m. at the Pittsfield Elementary School. Agenda items will include the Assessment Team report; two hours will be dedicated to the review of the Team’s report.

XIII. PUBLIC INPUT (Second Session) – None

XIV. NON-PUBLIC SESSION – No need for a non-public session.

XV. ADJOURNMENT

On a motion made by Mr. Wolfe and seconded by Mr. Wood, the Board voted unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 7:00 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Tobi Gray Chassie
Recording Secretary