March 19, 2015 Minutes

APPROVED BY THE PITTSFIELD SCHOOL BOARD

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

MINUTES

Pittsfield School Board Meeting
Thursday, March 19, 2015
Pittsfield Middle High School

I. CALL TO ORDER

Members Present: Mike Wolfe
Bea Douglas
Linda Freese
Gary Mullen
Ray Ramsey

Others Present: John Freeman, Superintendent of Schools
Tobi Gray Chassie, District Administrator
Derek Hamilton, Dean of Operations
Danielle Harvey, Dean of Instruction
Donna Lehmann, Director of Student Services
Kathy LeMay, Director of Interventions
Ross Morse, Community Liaison
Sarah Rollins, Director of College and Career Readiness
Tucker Wolfe, Student Representative
Member of the Faculty
Members of the Public
Students

Dr. Freeman called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. He explained that the tradition of the School Board is to elect officers at the meeting following the annual school district meeting and election.

II. NOMINATIONS

Ms. Douglas nominated Mr. Wolfe to hold the position of chair. The nomination was seconded by Mr. Mullen. Mr. Wolfe was elected with a vote of 4 – 0 – 1, with Ms. Douglas, Ms. Freese, Mr. Mullen, and Mr. Ramsey voting in the affirmative and Mr. Wolfe abstaining from the vote.

Mr. Ramsey nominated Mr. Mullen as the vice-chair. The nomination was seconded by Ms. Douglas. Mr. Mullen was elected with a vote of 4 – 0 – 1, with Ms. Douglas, Ms. Freese, Mr. Ramsey, and Mr. Wolfe voting in the affirmative and Mr. Mullen abstaining from the vote.
Mr. Mullen nominated Ms. Freese as secretary. The nomination was seconded by Mr. Douglas. Ms. Freese was elected with a vote of 4 – 0 – 1, with Ms. Douglas, Mr. Mullen, Mr. Ramsey, and Mr. Wolfe voting in the affirmative and Ms. Freese abstaining from the vote.

III. AGENDA REVIEW

The following items were added:
· Announcement (Ms. Lehmann)
· Spring track (Mr. Hamilton)
· Junior-senior prom (Mr. Hamilton)
· Heating oil contract (Dr. Freeman)

The following items were deleted from the agenda:
· Non-resident attendance request (Dr. Freeman)
· Non-public session (Dr. Freeman)

IV. APPROVAL OF AMENDED AGENDA

On a motion made by Mr. Mullen and seconded by Mr. Ramsey, the Board unanimously approved the agenda as amended.

V. APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MEETING MINUTES

A motion was made by Mr. Mullen and seconded by Ms. Douglas to approve the minutes of March 5, 2015, as written. The motion passed with Ms. Douglas, Mr. Mullen, Mr. Ramsey, and Mr. Wolfe voted in the affirmative and Ms. Freese abstaining as she was not a member of the Board at the time.

VI. PUBLIC INPUT – None

VII. STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE

Mr. Wolfe introduced Tucker Wolfe, new Site Council representative. Tucker explained that the Site Council is in the process of discussing revisions to the Inter-Communication Environment (ICE) proposal. The Site Council is also researching alternatives to the community policy requirements.

VIII. DEAN OF OPERATIONS

A. SENIOR CLASS TRIP

Mr. Hamilton introduced Jenny Wellington, senior class advisor; Madison Johnson, senior; and Morgan Corliss, senior. Ms. Johnson and Ms. Corliss reviewed the details of the proposed class trip to Bryant Lake in Maine. On a motion made by Ms. Douglas and seconded by Mr. Mullen, the Board voted unanimously to approve the senior class trip.

IX. DEAN OF INSTRUCTION

A. SPRING ASSESSMENTS

Ms. Harvey explained that the Smarter Balanced test will be given to students in grades four through eight and eleven. The assessment will measure English language arts and mathematics. Ms. Harvey challenged the members of the Board to attempt the practice test and focus on two questions, including 1) What did you notice and did anything stand out? And 2) What do you think families need to know about this assessment?

School Board members, after taking portions of the practice test, offered the following advice:

· Remind parents that their students may come home frustrated,
· Remind parents that this is the first trial with this computerized test,
· Accommodations can be made to support student with disabilities and/or learning challenges

Ms. Lehmann offered an explanation of the accommodations that are available for the students who require them. Ms. Harvey explained that staff are preparing students for the testing experience. Tucker Wolfe reported that the practice test was relevant to the material he is learning in his math class but does not appreciate taking computerized math tests.

Ms. Harvey distributed information from the New Hampshire Department of Education providing more information about the Smarter Balanced assessment.

X. DEAN OF OPERATIONS (Continued)

A. SPRING TRACK

Mr. Hamilton informed the Board that a student is requesting permission to join the Coe Brown track team; PMHS does not offer the sport. On a motion made by Mr. Mullen and seconded by Ms. Douglas, the Board voted unanimously to pay up to $250 to Coe Brown for the student’s participation.

B. STIPEND POSITIONS

Mr. Hamilton explained that in the fall, he met with three representatives of the Education Association of Pittsfield to review and create a draft proposal for stipend positions at PES and PMHS. The goal was to create a system that was equitable and reflective of the time and skill necessary to fulfill the duties of each position as well as the level of responsibility. The outcome of the meeting was the development of a four category system that outlines the position, number of participants, and number of meetings required.

Dr. Freeman suggested the Board consider appointing a sub-committee to review the proposal. Mr. Wolfe asked Dr. Freeman to plan a non-public session at the next meeting to discuss these stipend positions in more depth.

C. JUNIOR SENIOR PROM

Mr. Hamilton explained that a rule in the PMHS Family Handbook excludes anyone over the age of twenty-one from attending the annual junior-senior prom. He reported that he has received a request for the fiancée of a senior, who is a few months over the age of twenty-one and an alumnus of PMHS, to attend the prom. Mr. Hamilton and Dr. Freeman stated that they supported this request.

On a motion made by Ms. Douglas and seconded by Mr. Ramsey, the Board voted unanimously to waive the age requirement for the designated student to go to the prom.

XI. DIRECTOR OF STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES

A. ANNOUNCEMENT

Ms. Lehmann distributed a flyer advertising an event called Building a Partnership with Parents: A Focus Group for Parents of Students with Special Needs. The event is scheduled for Thursday, March 26, 2015, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. in PMHS room 126. Further advertisement is being provided through parent notices, newspaper, website, and Blackboard Connect.

XII. DIRECTOR OF INTERVENTION

A. NEW STAFF

Ms. LeMay explained to the Board that Jenny Stevens has been hired as the new library media specialist.

XIII. DISTRICT ADMINISTRATOR

A. COMMUNICATIONS

Ms. Chassie reminded the Board that the first gathering of the community to work on the ceramic journey map will be on Saturday, March 21, 2015, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. Everyone from the community is encouraged to attend.

B. NELLIE MAE EDUCATION FOUNDATION

Ms. Chassie informed the Board of a mandate from the Nellie Mae Education Foundation to participate in an initiative mapping and policy auditing activity, both of which will be facilitated by Dr. William Bryan of the Center for Secondary School Redesign. The events will occur on March 28th and May 16th, both from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Ms. Chassie welcomed all Board members to participate in one or both of these events.

C. SCHOOL VISIT

Ms. Chassie reported that a visit was made by six educators from the district to a school district in Maine. This district has had great success with competency based education and shared their knowledge with the group. Ms. Chassie explained the concept of students moving at their own pace to master competencies. Ms. LeMay, who also went on the visit, added information that was learned regarding the supports students receive when they struggle to meet competencies and the freedom they have to move ahead when they are able.

The school district which was visited will be coming to visit PMHS in April. Visiting educators from Maine are interested in components of student centered learning that have been implemented in Pittsfield. The development and use of personal learning plans is of mutual interest. Plans are being made for collaboration to create a new iteration of the personal learning plans for use in Pittsfield and in the Maine district.

XIV. SUPERINTENDENT

A. LEAVE REQUEST

On a motion made by Ms. Douglas and seconded by Mr. Mullen, the Board voted unanimously to approve a requested leave without compensation for Kathy Vassallo.

B. ACCEPTANCE OF GIFTS

Dr. Freeman explained that gifts have been received that will require official acceptance by the Board. On a motion made by Mr. Mullen and seconded by Mr. Ramsey, the Board voted unanimously to approve a $500 gift from Digital Promise, which represented a thank-you for a visit to PMHS from this group and a gift of $10,000 from the Foss Family Fund, which will be allocated to our PMHS Summer Academy program.

C. RESIGNATION

Dr. Freeman reminded the Board that the district is in the process of developing the Pittsfield School District Support Foundation. He suggested that the Board open a meeting of the foundation to conduct several items of business. On a motion made by Ms. Douglas and seconded by Mr. Mullen, the Board voted unanimously to open the meeting of the Pittsfield School District Support Foundation at 6:32 p.m. Business was conducted, with minutes taken by Dr. Freeman, and the meeting was adjourned at 6:34 p.m.

D. HEATING OIL

Dr. Freeman reported that a bid was offered from Dead River Oil Company at $2.2081/gallon was offered for the 2015-2016 heating year. The budget includes funds to support oil at the rate of $3.17. Dr. Freeman reminded the Board that last year no bids were received until Dead River was contacted by the district. On a motion made by Ms. Douglas and seconded by Mr. Ramsey, the Board voted unanimously to waive the policy requiring a bidding process for such purchases. On a motion made by Ms. Douglas and seconded by Mr. Ramsey, the Board voted unanimously to accept the bid of $2.2081 per gallon from the Dead River Oil Company.

E. ANNUAL SCHOOL DISTRICT MEETING

Dr. Freeman asked the Board to consider the discussion that ensued at the district meeting regarding the biomass project. Ms. Douglas stated that she thought the Board could have been better prepared by providing a drawing of the facility. Mr. Mullen suggested asking other members of the community to join the committee to continue the investigation. Mr. Mullen and Mr. Wolfe agreed to serve as a Board subcommittee to develop a proposal for next spring’s annual school district meeting; Dr. Freeman will schedule a subcommittee meeting.

F. SCHOOL DISTRICT CELEBRATION

Dr. Freeman thanked Ms. Chassie and Susan Bradley for their organization of the celebration that took place on March 7, 2015. He also thanked Mike for speaking at this event. He offered congratulations to Mr. Hamilton and the students who presented a panel discussion.

Dr. Freeman stated that the students have been invited to lead a discussion with a New Hampshire legislative education committees. Mr. Hamilton explained to the Board that the presentation was organized by the students. He was very impressed with the way in which the students answered the questions raised by the audience.

XV. SCHOOL BOARD

Mr. Wolfe stated that the New Hampshire School Boards Association will soon be inviting new members to an orientation workshop for new Board members. He also stated that committee members will be assigned at a future meeting.

XVI. COMMITTEES – None

XVII. NEXT MEETING

The next School Board meeting is scheduled for Thursday, April 2, 2015, at 5:30 p.m. at the Pittsfield Middle High School. The agenda will include teacher nominations for the 2015-2016 school year.

XVIII. PUBLIC SESSION (2nd Session)

Mr. Morse observed at the annual district meeting that the community was in favor of further exploration of heating alternatives for the school district.

Kevin Foss stated his interest in joining the heating options committee. He thinks that the Board would have a good chance of passing a proposal once questions have been researched and adequately answered.

XIX. ADJOURNMENT

On a motion made by Mr. Mullen and seconded by Ms. Douglas, the Board voted unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 6:49 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Tobi Gray Chassie
Recording Secretary