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, September 13, 2012
Pittsfield Middle High School

I. CALL TO ORDER

Members Present: Clayton Wood, Chairperson
Mike Wolfe, Vice-Chairperson
Nicole Manteau
Gary Mullen
Mary Paradise

Others Present: John Freeman, Superintendent
Tobi Gray Chassie, District Administrator
Lois Stevens, Director of Student Services
Bob Bickford, Principal, PMHS
Members of the public
Members of the faculty

Chairman Wood called the meeting to order at 5:33 p.m.

II. AGENDA REVIEW

The following items were added:
• French (Mr. Bickford)
• Drake Field Playground Equipment (Mr. Bickford)
• Resignation (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 August 23, 2012, meeting. The motion passed unanimously.

V. PUBLIC INPUT

Kathy Corliss, parent of a sophomore student, stated that she had been in contact with Mr. Bickford to determine the status of French class. She wants to find a way to expedite the initiation of the class.

Mr. Bickford explained that Rosetta Stone was contacted; it was learned that they had several options available. After surveying students, it was determined that it was most economical to purchase a site license. The site license will enable fifty students in the district (K-12) to take approximately four languages. The cost would be $11,970 annually for the license. The company can have the program up and running on Monday, September 17, 2012. Ashleigh Frame, a certified teacher in a neighboring school district, has been hired to provide the required supervision of a highly qualified teacher (HQT).

Ms. Paradise asked Ms. Corliss to monitor the use of the program so that the information can be used to inform decisions in the future about such programs as Rosetta Stone.

Ms. Manteau stated her appreciation for the work that was done to accommodate the thirteen students who wanted to take French. Mr. Bickford acknowledged ELO Coordinator Sheila Ward and Dual and Online Enrollment Coordinator Sarah Carri for the work they did to ensure the program’s implementation. They have developed a system to report progress to parents at the end of each quarter.

Mr. Ross Morse introduced himself the Board as the district’s newly-appointed Community Liaison. He offered his assistance in providing a link between the community and the Board, especially during the upcoming budget season. Mr. Wood thanked Mr. Morse for his work.

VI. PES ADMINISTRATION

A. PES STAFF HANDBOOK

On a motion made by Ms. Paradise and seconded by Mr. Wolfe, the Board voted unanimously to approve the PES Staff Handbook.

B. ENROLLMENT DATA

Mr. Kilmister provided the Board with enrollment data. The total enrollment of PES as of September 5th was 312.

C. NEW STAFF PROFILES

Mr. Kilmister provided the Board with brief profiles of the new PES and district staff members.

D. WHOLE-SCHOOL TITLE I

Two representatives from the Title I office of the New Hampshire Department of Education met with the PES Team Leaders to discuss the process and requirements for PES to move from a “Targeted Assistance” Title I program to a “Whole-School” Title I program. Whole-School Title I offers greater flexibility in the use of these federal funds so that all students can benefit. The PES staff continues to research this option.

E. CAFETERIA UPGRADE

According to Mr. Kilmister’s report, new cafeteria tables have been delivered and installed.

F. SMART BOARDS

New interactive white boards have been installed in the music and art classrooms.

G. PTO COLLABORATION

This year, the PTO is working with teachers on the bulletin board in the front lobby. Team Leaders have agreed to send a representative to each monthly PTO meeting.

H. PES CALENDAR

Mr. Kilmister provided important dates for September and October.

VII. PMHS ADMINISTRATION

A. GREAT START

Mr. Bickford provided the Board with a summary of the opening of school. He stated that the energy seems to be very positive, and he believes the school is started off to a very exciting and eventful year.

B. DRAKE FIELD

Mr. Bickford explained that he has asked Primex, the district’s liability insurance provider, for advice about the material used to cushion the area under the playground equipment. Primex has completed a Drake Field audit and submitted it to Mr. Bickford, recommending a number of upgrades.

C. CALENDAR

A calendar of events for September and October was provided by Mr. Bickford.

VIII. STUDENT SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

A. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Ms. Stevens informed the Board of a training offered to special education teachers on August 23, 2012.

B. SUCCESS STORY

Ms. Stevens shared a success story for the PES special education team. She explained that a resource was developed for an identified student facing an upcoming challenge. This resource was such a success that other agencies in New England are now sharing it to help other students with similar challenges.

IX. DISTRICT LEVEL SYSTEM CHANGE ADMINISTRATION

A. GRANT POSITIONS

Ms. Chassie identified the positions that were hired as a result of the Nellie Mae Education Foundation’s (NMEF) District Level Systems Change grant.

B. POSITION ANLYSES

Nineteen of thirty-one school district positions have been analyzed. The work is in various stages of completion with a goal to have the positions refined and submitted to the superintendent for review this fall.

C. COMMUNICATIONS PLAN

Communications Consultant Jane Feinberg has been consulting with a team, developing a communication plan for our community. A draft of the plan was provided; the finalized copy will be shared with the next report. Ms. Feinberg’s work is funded by a grant from the Nellie Mae Education Foundation.

D. INDICATORS OF SUCCESS

Required indicators of success have been identified, finalized, and will be sent to NMEF this week.

E. COMMUNITY ADVISORY COUNCIL

The Community Advisory Council is working on revising the district values, vision, mission, and guiding principles.

F. SCHOOL STRATEGIC PLAN

The School Board is in the process of developing a five-year strategic plan.

G. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT 2012-2013

A process for identifying the priorities for professional development needs and determining the way in which technical assistance will be delivered is in process. A goal for this year’s plan is to incorporate the local expertise to the degree possible.

X. SAU ADMINISTRATION

A. POLICY JLCJ

Dr. Freeman provided the Board with a draft of Policy JLCJ – Concussions and Head Injuries, which is a policy now required by school districts. He recommended the Board’s adoption of the policy.

Ms. Paradise asked if a routine concussion test would be done on all athletes providing baseline data should an incident occur. Mr. Bickford agreed to investigate this possibility.

On a motion made by Ms. Paradise and seconded by Ms. Manteau, the Board unanimously approved the policy as presented.

B. RESIGNATION

Dr. Freeman distributed a letter of resignation from Nora Jones, second grade special education teacher. On a motion made by Mr. Mullen and seconded by Ms. Paradise, the Board unanimously accepted the resignation.

C. OPENING DAY ENROLLMENT

Dr. Freeman reported enrollment statistics for the district, comparing those data with October 1, 2011.

D. FY12 FINAL REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE REPORT

Dr. Freeman provided the Board with an expenditure report. Ms. Paradise stated that she will talk to Sally Blanchette to be sure she is up to speed when representing the Board at the budget meeting.

Also provided was a report showing an unreserved fund balance as of June 30, 2012, of $157,386.26.

E. RACE TO THE TOP GRANT

Dr. Freeman explained that the district has been in conversation with several other school districts in preparation to apply for a federal grant known as the Race to the Top – District grant program. He explained the requirements and primary components. He further explained that the Nellie Mae Education Foundation is making available up to six grants of $50,000 to support the development of proposals; the district has submitted an application for this grant. The application for the Race to the Top grant is due at the end of October and requires sign-off by the School Board chair, union president, and superintendent of schools in each of the districts involved in the consortium.

XI. SCHOOL BOARD

A. ARTS GRANT

Mr. Bickford explained that he asked Mr. Mitchell, the art teacher, and Ms. Morse, the music teacher, to investigate the possibility of applying for a grant from the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation. They determined that the deadline for submission had passed and that a second deadline is months away.

B. COMPETENCY-BASED GRADING COMMUNITY EVENT

Ms. Stevens invited the School Board to a community event intended to provide information on competency based grading. The event will be held at Drake Field (PMHS if raining) on the evening of Tuesday, September 25, 2012.

XII. COMMITTEES

A. DRAKE FIELD & FACILITIES – None

B. BUDGET COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVE – None

C. NEGOTIATING TEAM – None

XIII. PUBLIC INPUT – 2nd SESSION

XIV. NON PUBLIC

At 6:40 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 (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 issue.

The Board discussed a personnel issue.

No action was taken in non-public session.

At 7:14 p.m., a motion was made by Mr. Wolfe and seconded by Ms. Paradise 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).

XV. NEXT MEETING

The next School Board meeting is scheduled for Thursday, September 27, 2012 at 5:30 in the PMHS Media Center.

XVI. ADJOURNMENT

On a motion made by Mr. Wolfe and seconded by Ms. Paradise, the Board voted unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 7:15 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Tobi Gray Chassie
Recording Secretary