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, February 23, 2012
Pittsfield Middle High School

I. CALL TO ORDER

Members Present: Clayton Wood, Chairperson
Elizabeth Adams
Kathy Corliss (arrived at 5:40 p.m.)
Mary Paradise
Mike Wolfe

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

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

II. AGENDA REVIEW

The following items were added to the agenda:
• Employee compensation (non-public) (Dr. Freeman)
• Resignation (Dr. Freeman)
• Policy KDF (Ms. Adams)

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 February 9, 2012, as written. The vote carried with Ms. Adams, Mr. Wolfe, and Mr. Wood voting the affirmative, and Ms. Paradise abstaining from the vote.

V. PUBLIC INPUT – None

VI. PES ADMINISTRATION

A. SECURITY

Mr. Kilmister reported that he had visited Chichester Elementary School to view their main entrance security system. Discussion ensued regarding the advantages and disadvantages of various security systems for PES. Mr. Kilmister will continue his research and report on options to the Board at an upcoming meeting.

B. INSTRUCTIONAL SWEEP

Mr. Kilmister provided a summary of the data that was collected in the instructional practices “sweep” (audit) of all PES classrooms conducted on February 9th and 10th.

C. TEAM LITERACY GOALS

All grade-level teams at PES will set specific goals related to student achievement in the area of reading and writing, according Mr. Kilmister. The goals will be relatively short-term, covering the weeks before the April vacation. Teams will set targets for students, monitoring students’ progress, and use a common instrument – a test or sample of written work – as an assessment of goal attainment.

D. READ ACROSS AMERICA

Mr. Kilmister explained that many members of the community have been invited to read a favorite storybook to a class of students at PES. All classes will have a guest reader as part of Read Across America Week.

E. UNH VISIT

On March 7th, sixth graders will visit the University of New Hampshire in Durham and take the university’s official tour for prospective students and families.

F. SANDERSON TRUST AWARDS

Mr. Kilmister announced the awarding of grants from the Sanderson Trust Fund to Music Teacher Melissa Davis to support Artist in Residence Sowah Mensa and the purchase of sound/lighting equipment. Also receiving an award was Art Teacher Lisa Stevens to support the purchase of art display boards.

G. PES CALENDAR

Mr. Kilmister provided a list of activities important to PES for February and March.

VII. PMHS ADMINISTRATION

A. SENIOR CLASS TRIP

Mr. Bickford, after providing the Board with detailed information, asked the Board for their approval of a senior class trip for a river rafting trip in Maine on May 11-13, 2012.

On a motion made by Mr. Wolfe and seconded by Ms. Adams, the Board voted unanimously to approve the senior class trip.

B. TECHNOLOGY

Mr. Bickford provided an update regarding the current status of technology in the district. He explained the work done by DayStar, a contracted company.

Mr. Bickford informed the Board of the resignation of the IT Manager, Sunday Dearborn. This resignation has caused the administration to re-examine the utilization of technology position. The recommendation being put forth is to replace the IT manager position with a technician, while continuing to contract the services for the network maintenance and oversight.

The Board came to a consensus that these proposed changes would be in the best interest of the district

C. BEST PRACTICES SWEEP

Mr. Bickford provided a summary of the data that was collected in the instructional practices “sweep” (audit) conducted in PMHS classrooms on February 9th and 10th.

D. CALENDAR

Mr. Bickford provided a list of activities important to PMHS for February and March.

VIII. STUDENT SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

A. McKINNEY VENTO ACT

Ms. Chassie provided the Board with information regarding the roster of students who are homeless in Pittsfield or living elsewhere after having become
homeless in Pittsfield. In some cases, the law provides for transportation arrangements to be made for students. Ms. Chassie suggested that the Board might want to consider a line item in the next budget to cover these transportation costs as they arise.

B. OUT OF DISTRICT PLACEMENTS

Ms. Chassie provided the Board with a document that updates the status of the students who have been placed out of district, either by a special education team or as a result of a court order.

C. TRANSITION

Ms. Chassie reported that the transition of Lois Stevens to the position of director of student services and Ms. Chassie to the position of project manager / district administrator has been executed smoothly. Letters were sent to parents of students with disabilities, as well as to vendors serving this segment of the school population. Ms. Chassie stated her appreciation for having served the district in the capacity of director and her eagerness to fulfill the responsibilities created by the initiatives brought forth by the Nellie Mae Education Foundation grant.

IX. SAU ADMINISTRATION

A. ANNUAL DISTRICT MEETING WARRANT

Ms. Paradise reported the results of the Budget Committee meeting, at which time action was taken on the Board’s draft warrant for the Annual District Meeting. The Budget Committee voted in favor of all articles in the warrant.

Dr. Freeman distributed an official copy of the warrant for the Board members’ signatures. On a motion made by Ms. Paradise and seconded by Mr. Wolfe, the Board voted unanimously to approve the warrant as presented.

B. POLICY IHBG

Dr. Freeman submitted for the Board’s consideration Policy IHBG: Home Education Instruction. Changes have been made after consideration by the home school parents and consultation with the New Hampshire School Board Association model policy.

On a motion made by Mr. Wolfe and seconded by Ms. Paradise the Board voted unanimously to approve Policy IHBG: Home Education Instruction as amended.

C. STRATEGIC PLANNING

Dr. Freeman explained that Consultant Bill Bryan has concluded that the Board’s strategic planning process can be divided into two sessions. Dates for this project will be soon set.

D. DRAFT SEX OFFENDER REGISTRY LETTER

Dr. Freeman presented the draft of the sex offender registry letter. The Board agreed that the letter could now move to the Chief of Police for his review.

E. POLICY REVIEW

Final versions of two policies – Policy JLIF: Receipt and Use of Sex Offender Registry Information and Policy IGE: Parental Objections to Specific Course Material – were distributed to Board members.

F. BUS ACCIDENT PROTOCOL

Dr. Freeman investigated the need to have a school official at the scene of a bus accident and found that there is no law to require that practice.

G. PYW RECOGNITION

Dr. Freeman suggested presenting Pittsfield Youth Workshop with a print and plaque at the Annual School District Meeting, recognizing the organization as an important community partner of the school district. The Board agreed.

H. RESIGNATION

On a motion made by Mr. Wolfe and seconded by Ms. Adams, the Board voted unanimously to accept the resignation of Sunday Dearborn from the IT manager position.

I. CONCORD REGIONAL TECHNICAL CENTER

Dr. Freeman provided the Board with an informational flyer from the Concord Regional Technical Center.

X. SCHOOL BOARD

A. POLICY KDF: DRAKE FIELD USE

Ms. Adams stated that the Policy KDF: Drake Field Use stipulates that the park is the property of the Pittsfield School District and, therefore, is subject to “Safe School Zone” and “Drug Free School Zone” regulations. She cautioned the Board since it could mean a member of the community could be
inconvenienced by possible prosecution if, for example, individual were to be found at the boat launch with a fishing knife. The Board agreed that prosecution would be the decision of the Pittsfield Police Department and that the designation is necessary to maintain safety at Drake Field.

XI. COMMITTEES

A. DRAKE FIELD & FACILITIES – None

B. BUDGET COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVE – None

C. NEGOTIATING TEAM – None

XII. PUBLIC INPUT – 2nd SESSION – None

XIII. NON PUBLIC SESSION

At 6:47 p.m., a motion was made by Mr. Wolfe and seconded by Ms. Corliss to enter into non-public session to discuss personnel matters 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 a non-public session.

A. SUPERINTENDENT WORK SCHEDULE

Dr. Freeman reviewed his work schedule since the reduction of the superintendent’s position to part-time in January. The Board agreed that the flexible use of time is acceptable.

B. DIRECTOR OF STUDENT SERVICES COMPENSATION

Dr. Freeman reviewed the salary of the Director of Student Services. The Board discussed a salary adjustment for Lois Stevens as she assumes the responsibilities of this position on March 5.

No action was taken in non-public session.

At 6:59 p.m., a motion was made by Mr. Wolfe and seconded by Ms. Paradise to exit non-public session and to 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 into a non-public session and to re-enter into open session.

XIV. EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION

On a motion made by Mr. Wolfe and seconded by Ms. Paradise, the Board voted unanimously to increase the compensation of Lois Stevens by 1% effective March 5, 2012, in consideration of increased responsibilities associated with Ms. Stevens’ assumption of the position of Director of Student Services.

XV. NEXT MEETING

The next School Board meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 8, 2012, at 5:30 p.m. 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 6:59 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Tobi Gray Chassie
Recording Secretary

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