APPROVED BY THE PITTSFIELD SCHOOL BOARD

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

MINUTES

Pittsfield School Board Meeting
5:30 p.m.; Thursday, November 29, 2012
Pittsfield Middle High School

I. CALL TO ORDER

Members Present: Clayton Wood, Chair
Michael Wolfe, Vice-Chair
Nicole Manteau
Gary Mullen
Mary Paradise (entered meeting at 6:50 p.m.)

Others Present: John Freeman, Superintendent
Lois Stevens, Director of Student Services
Tobi Gray Chassie, District Administrator
Doug Kilmister, Principal, PES
Bob Bickford, Principal, PMHS
Members of the public, including students
Member of the staff

Chairman Wood called the meeting to order at 5:35 p.m.

II. AGENDA REVIEW

The following items were added:
• Progress Reports (Mr. Bickford)
• Position Analyses (Ms. Chassie)
• PES Dormer Windows (Dr. Freeman)
• PMHS Eligibility for Extra-Curricular Activities (Dr. Freeman)
• Drake Field (Dr. Freeman)
• Race to the Top Grant (Dr. Freeman)
• Project Home / Eagle Scout Project (Mr. Wolfe)

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 November 8, 2012. The motion was unanimously passed to approve the minutes as written.

V. PUBLIC INPUT – None

VI. PMHS ADMINISTRATION

A. SENIOR TRIP

PMHS Senior Jillian Towle presented information for the senior class trip. Questions posed by the Board were answered by PMHS Teacher Rick Anthony, advisor for the class.

On a motion made by Mr. Wolfe and seconded by Ms. Manteau, the Board unanimously approved the proposal.

B. DRAKE FIELD PROGRAM

Dr. Freeman explained the recommendation by the school’s attorney to run the Drake Field program through a 5013c non-profit organization. He suggested that the district can provide bookkeeping services. Ms. Sawyer, the program director, will be present at the next meeting to discuss the issue further.

VII. PES ADMINISTRATION

A. GOOGLE ACCESS FOR STUDENTS

Mr. Kilmister presented a proposal for the use of a Google account for students. The plan reflected graduated usage by students according to grade level. The School Board members expressed support for the proposal, which will now be going to the District Technology Team for final crafting.

B. KINDERGARTEN ATTENDANCE

Mr. Kilmister provided the Board with a copy of a letter sent to the parents of Kindergarten students regarding the importance of attendance in school. Two years ago, the Pittsfield Elementary School Kindergarten had the second lowest daily-average attendance rate in the state.

C. CONFERENCES

Mr. Kilmister provided the Board with documentation of parents’ participation in parent-teacher conferences. As of the writing of the report, 254 of 298 (85%) students’ parents attended a conference. The goal of teachers is to have 100% by December 1st.

D. DROP OFF PROCEDURES

Ms. Manteau suggested that a reminder be given to parents regarding drop off procedures. She stated that parents allow their children to get out of the car on the street side, causing a safety issue. Mr. Kilmister explained that parents are spoken to individually when observed making unsafe decisions.

E. PROJECT HOME

According to Mr. Wolfe, a PMHS student is interested in taking on the project of working on the woodland path behind the elementary school for his Eagle Scout project. The student will be contacting Mr. Kilmister and eventually making a presentation to the School Board.

F. PES CALENDAR

Mr. Kilmister provided the Board with a calendar of events for November, December, and January.

VIII. PMHS ADMINISTRATION (Continued)

A. DRAKE FIELD EQUIPMENT

The project to repair the play structure is well underway, according to Mr. Bickford.

B. NEW ENGLAND ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOLS AND COLLLEGES (NEAS&C)

Mr. Bickford will be providing the School Board with a copy of a special report that is required, identifying work in two areas: curriculum and 21st Century learning expectations.

C. PROGRESS REPORTS / LATE START WEDNESDAY

Mr. Bickford explained that the transition to competency based instruction, assessment, and reporting, measures are being taken to support students who are struggling to meet expectations. The library will be opening at 7:00 a.m. every morning with staff to help support students with their assignments. An English teacher and a math teacher will be available Monday through Thursdays after school until 3:55 p.m. to assist students who require assistance.

Mr. Bickford explained that the NHIAA establishes criteria for the eligibility to participate in sports. The Site Council previously approved a practice that would also create criteria for eligibility for all co- and extra-curricular activities. The eligibility list after the first quarter represented 75% of the students. There is a concern that the students who most benefit from participating in the co- and extra-curricular activities may now be ineligible. Consequently, the practice will be brought back to the Site Council with new information for further consideration.

D. PMHS CALENDAR

Mr. Bickford provided the Board with a calendar of events for November and December.

IX. DISTRICT LEVEL SYSTEM CHANGE ADMINISTRATION

A. POSITION ANALYSIS

Ms. Chassie distributed the position analysis for the positions of superintendent and principals. She briefly reviewed the documents and noted that the issue will be on the agenda for the next Board meeting.

Dr. Freeman explained that the information in the position analysis was informed by the 360 degree feedback data.

X. SAU ADMINISTRATION

A. PES WINDOWS & SIDING

Dr. Freeman reported that the windows for PES are being fabricated and will soon be installed. He explained that some of the siding was found to have significantly deteriorated when the new roof was installed. Replacement with vinyl siding as a temporary measure would require an additional expense of approximately $2,800

On a motion made by Mr. Wolfe and seconded by Mr. Mullen, the Board approved the expenditure of up to $4,000 to purchase temporary siding to protect the building from leakage.

Dr. Freeman distributed a set of drawings that depict the work being proposed to reside the elementary school. The cost estimate will be prepared and shared for the next Board meeting.

B. FY14 BUDGET

Dr. Freeman distributed a copy of the FY14 budget, including the 2013-2014 budget summary revenues. The proposed budget represents a $.02/thousand tax increase. Also provided was documentation on the balances for reserve accounts: special education, school buildings maintenance, and Drake Field. The Board discussed their interest in presenting a budget that would have no tax impact.

On a motion made by Ms. Paradise and seconded by Mr. Wolfe, the Board approved the proposed budget for $9,477,317.00.

C. RACE TO THE TOP

Dr. Freeman reported that the district’s application for funding was eliminated from the competition for the Race to the Top grant. He stated that the consortium of schools who submitted the grant may be interested in taking a step to remain connected in order to promote best practices in student centered learning.

Mr. Wood expressed the appreciation of the Board for the work of the team who worked on the writing of the grant and to the Nellie Mae Education Foundation, which awarded $50,000 to help support the grant.

XI. COMMITTEES

A. DRAKE FIELD & FACILITIES – None

B. BUDGET COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVE

Ms. Paradise reported the progress of the Budget Committee. She stated that they are seeking additional members.

C. NEGOTIATING TEAM – Discussion in Non-Public Session.

D. FOSS FOUNDATION – None

XII. PUBLIC INPUT – 2nd SESSION

Ross Morse stated that he thought the process of position analysis was excellent and represented a way to set Pittsfield apart from other schools. He expressed accolades to all of the people who have participated. He feels this process will create sustainability of student centered learning.

XIII. NON PUBLIC SESSION

At 7:12 p.m., a motion was made by Mr. Mullen and seconded by Mr. Wolfe to enter into non-public session to discuss personnel matters and contract negotiations 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. PERSONNEL MATTERS

Dr. Freeman provided the Board with updates regarding two personnel matters.

B. CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS

The Board discussed the current contract negotiations with the Education Association of Pittsfield.

No action was taken in non-public session.

At 7:57 p.m., a motion was made by Mr. Wolfe and seconded by Mr. Mullen 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).

XIV. NEXT MEETING

The next School Board meeting is scheduled for Thursday, December 13, 2012, at 5:00 p.m. in the PMHS Media Center. The meeting on December 27, 2012, has been cancelled due to the holidays.

XV. ADJOURNMENT

On a motion made by Mr. Wolfe and seconded by Mr. Mullen, the Board voted unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 7:58 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Tobi Gray Chassie
Recording Secretary