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, December 8, 2011
Pittsfield Middle High School

I. CALL TO ORDER

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

Others Present: John Freeman, Superintendent
Tobi Gray Chassie, Director of Student Services
Bob Bickford, Principal, PMHS
Doug Kilmister, Principal, PES
Kelsey Wrye, Student Representative

Chairperson Wood called the meeting to order at 5:34 p.m.

II. AGENDA REVIEW

The following items were added to the agenda:
• Non-public – personnel matters (Dr. Freeman)
• Site Council update (Mr. Bickford)

III. ACTION ON AGENDA

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

IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

A motion was made by Mr. Wolfe and seconded by Ms. Adams to approve the minutes of the November 16, 2011, meeting. On page 1, under “Approval of Minutes,” the minutes were changed to read, “A motion was made by Mr. Wolfe and seconded by Ms. Adams to approve the minutes of November 10, 2011.” The Board voted unanimously to approve the minutes as amended.

V. PUBLIC INPUT – None

VI. PMHS ADMINISTRATION

A. PMHS PROM

Rebekah Adams, Sage Anthony, and Advisor Rick Anthony, representing the junior class, presented to the Board their proposal for the 2012 Prom at Alan’s Restaurant in Boscawen, on May 19, 2012, from 7:00 to 11:00 p.m. The cost will be $60 per person, and the theme will be Hollywood.

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

B. STUDENT REPRESENTATION

Kelsey Wrye, student representative from the Site Council, updated the Board on the work of the Site Council. She explained the “Open Campus” program that the Site Council initiated. Each week, students’ grades and discipline records are reviewed to determine eligibility for the following week.

Ms. Wrye explained the current project for the Site Council, which is the revision of the community service requirement by a sub-committee. Once the program is defined, the group will work on gathering information on all of the opportunities that are available for students.

On December 12, 2011, members of the Site Council will be visiting the Souhegan High School Site Council. After observing their Site Council meeting, there will be an opportunity for a question / answer session.

Mr. Wood explained that the School Board has intentionally remained uninvolved with the Site Council, but is available if the Council should need support.

Kelsey Wrye explained that there was a proposal submitted from the Senior Citizen Center to use the facilities at PMHS for early morning walking. The proposal will be taken under consideration by the Site Council.

Kelsey Wrye explained that the student mentor program is going well. There are currently eight high school students mentoring eight younger students. The mentors spend approximately one hour per week with their mentees.

C. CALENDAR

Mr. Bickford provided the Board with a list of school events for December.

VII. PES ADMINISTRATION

A. MORNING MATH STIPEND

Mr. Kilmister provided the Board with a description of the morning math program before the school day begins. He further explained that there continues to be a need for a morning math coordinator. Previously, this work was accomplished using Title I funds, but with the changes in funding, Mr. Kilmister is suggesting that the work be compensated by a stipend of $1,400 per year.

On a motion made by Mr. Wood and seconded by Ms. Adams, the Board unanimously approved the stipend for the morning math coordinator.

B. SUPPLEMENTAL EDUCATIONAL SERVICES (SES)

Mr. Kilmister explained “Supplemental Educational Services,” a provision of the federal No Child Left Behind Act requiring that Title I schools in year-two School in Need of Improvement (SINI) status set aside a portion of their Title I budget for tutoring from state-approved SES providers.

The PES Title I program submitted an application to be an SES provider, which was approved by the Department of Education. Eleven parents of students receiving free or reduced lunch have chosen the PES program and eight have chosen external SES providers.

C. KYDSTOP

Mr. Kilmister reported to the Board that Deb Gallipeault, the Child Care Director of the Concord Family YMCA who oversees Kydstop at PES, has called to explore the idea of combining the Chichester and Pittsfield afterschool programs.

Unanimous consensus was made by the Board to support the concept of combining the Chichester and Pittsfield afterschool programs.

D. PTO LUNCH PALS

Fifteen parents of fifth graders had lunch with their children in the PES cafeteria on Wednesday, and thirteen parents had lunch with their fourth graders on Thursday as part of a PTO-sponsored Lunch Pals program. Next week, parents of students in grades one and three will be invited. PTO Vice President Lisa English has taken the lead in organizing this event.

E. CHILD DEVELOPMENT

Mr. Kilmister explained that Joan Fossum, the family and consumer studies teacher from PMHS, is partnering with the Kindergarten teachers to provide an opportunity for the students in her Child Development class to spend time at PES.

F. CALENDAR

Mr. Kilmister provided the Board with a list of school activities for December and January.

VIII. PMHS ADMINISTRATION (continued)

A. ALERTNOW

Mr. Bickford updated the Board on AlertNow, the family notification system that will be installed within the next few weeks. The administration will be trained on December 22, 2011, and a test run will be executed soon thereafter.

IX. STUDENT SERVICES ADMINISTRATION – None

X. SAU ADMINISTRATION

A. COURSE COMPETENCIES

Curriculum Coordinator Rob Hanson shared an example of course competencies developed by a faculty member for the Algebra I course. He explained that every school in the state was responsible for developing competencies by 2008.

Mr. Hanson is working with the company, Atlas Rubicon, which is providing our district with curriculum mapping capabilities.

Mr. Hanson explained that he has developed a checklist to guide teachers as they are developing the competencies. He is working with the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) and Humanities Departments in creating a process for building capacity within the faculty for determining competencies that are valid, reliable, and aligned to the state standards.

Mr. Bickford explained that once the work is completed with the development of competencies and “I can” statements, teachers will continue the work by developing formative and summative assessments. After this work is accomplished, a cycle of curriculum revision will be implemented for continuous improvement, according to Dr. Freeman.

B. COMMON CORE STATE STANDARDS

Discussion ensued regarding the Common Core State Standards

C. POLICY READING

The New Hampshire School Boards Association has advised the district that a policy addressing the use of service animals within the school buildings and on school grounds is now required under changes made to the Americans with Disabilities Act. Dr. Freeman provided the Board with proposed Policy IMGA – Service Animals for the first reading.

On a motion made by Ms. Paradise and seconded by Mr. Wolfe, the Board unanimously approved Policy IMGA – Service Animals for the first reading.

D. POSITION ANALYSIS AND STRATEGIC PLANNING

Dr. Freeman explained that CSSR Consultant Bill Bryan will be facilitating the position analysis process for students, teachers, and principals. Dr. Bryan will also be helping the district to give the administrative structure a fresh, more focused and efficient look; this may take place later in the school year.

Dr. Freeman asked the Board to consider their involvement in two initiatives: (1) positional analysis of the Board’s role, which could refine the focus of the Board’s work, and (2) long-term strategic planning, which would utilize the outcomes of the community-based processes that occurred in September. The Board expressed interest in learning more about these processes; Dr. Bryan will be attending the January 12 Board meeting to discuss.

E. NHSBA DELEGATE ASSEMBLY

According to Dr. Freeman, the annual NHSBA Delegate Assembly will be held on Saturday, January 14, 2011. Ms. Adams volunteered to represent the Board as a delegate at the assembly. Ms. Paradise volunteered to be the alternate delegate.

F. DISTRICT AUDITOR PROPOSAL

Dr. Freeman provided a proposal from The Mercier Group to continue its auditing services for another three years.

On a motion made by Mr. Wolfe and second by Ms. Paradise, the Board voted unanimously to approve the contract for The Mercier Group for the next three years.

XI. NEXT MEETING

The next School Board meeting is scheduled for Thursday, December 22, 2011, at 5:30 p.m. in the PMHS Media Center.

XII. PUBLIC INPUT (Second Session) – None

XIII. NON-PUBLIC SESSION

At 8:18 p.m., a motion was made by Ms. Paradise and seconded by Mr. Wolfe to enter into non-public session to discuss two personnel issues, negotiations with the Education Association of Pittsfield, and compensation of the superintendent of schools pursuant to RSA 91-A:3, II (a). The Board was polled and voted unanimously (Ms. Adams, yes; Ms. Corliss, yes; Ms. Paradise, yes; Mr. Wolfe, yes; Mr. Wood, yes;) to enter into non-public session.

A. PERSONEL ISSUES

Dr. Freeman advised the Board of two personnel issues that are currently being addressed.

B. NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION OF PITTSFIELD

The Board discussed the upcoming collective bargaining meetings with the Education Association of Pittsfield.

C. COMPENSATION OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS

The Board reviewed a proposal for compensation of the superintendent of schools.

No action was taken in non-public session.

At 8:44 p.m., a motion was made by Ms. Paradise and seconded by Mr. Wolfe to exit the non-public session and re-enter into open session. The Board was polled and voted unanimously (Ms. Adams, yes; Ms. Corliss, yes; Ms. Paradise, yes; Mr. Wolfe, yes; Mr. Wood, yes) to exit the non-public session and to re-enter into open session.

XIV. OPEN SESSION

A. COMPENSATION OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS

On a motion made by Ms. Paradise and seconded by Mr. Wolfe, the Board voted unanimously to authorize Mr. Wood and Mr. Wolfe to re-negotiate the current contract of the superintendent of schools and to compensate the superintendent for the return of twenty-five vacation days at $300 per day.

XV. ADJOURNMENT

On a motion made by Mr. Wolfe and seconded by Ms. Paradise, the Board voted unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 8:46 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Tobi Gray Chassie
Recording Secretary

John J. Freeman, Ph.D.
Non-Public Session and
Subsequent Open
Session Recording
Secretary