APPROVED BY THE PITTSFIELD SCHOOL BOARD

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

MINUTES

Pittsfield School Board Work Session
Thursday, June 5, 2014
Pittsfield Middle High School

I. CALL TO ORDER

Members Present: Mike Wolfe, Chair
Gary Mullen
Ray Ramsey

Others Present: John Freeman, Superintendent of Schools
Tobi Gray Chassie, District Administrator
Lois Stevens, Director of Student Services
Ross Morse, Community Liaison
Members of the Faculty
Members of the Public

Mr. Wolfe called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.

II. WORK SESSION

Derek Hamilton, co-chair of the Site Council, opened the session by explaining to the Board the process that the Site Council used to revise the Student / Family Handbook. He distributed a summary of the Site Council review and vetting process. He explained that sub-teams formed around sections of the handbook to revise text. Once revised, the sub-teams, using a protocol developed by Mr. Hamilton and Ms. Chassie, vetted their respective sections with the Site Council. After the vetting, further revisions were made and then further vetted by the faculty and students. Mr. Hamilton highlighted the additions, deletions, and modifications.

Several items that required further explanation, according to Mr. Hamilton, included dress code and homework, among others.

Discussion ensued regarding the dress code. Specifically, the issue of students wearing hats in common areas (hallways, cafeteria, etc.) was fully explored.

Mr. Hamilton explained that the PMHS Educational Leadership Team is currently conducting an annual review of attendance guidelines, grades and grading, honor roll, and eligibility policies. Any changes to these policies will be brought to the Site Council and the School Board for approval prior to the start of the 2014-2015 school year and included in the new handbook.

The School Board will review the handbook and it is anticipated that it will be voted on at the July meeting.

It was suggested that the School Board meet the third Thursdays in July and August. It is anticipated that next school year’s School Board meetings will change to the first and third Thursday of each month. However, the schedule was not finalized.

III. ADJOURNMENT

On a motion made by Mr. Mullen and seconded by Mr. Ramsey, the Board voted unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 6:35 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Tobi Gray Chassie
Recording Secretary