APPROVED BY THE PITTSFIELD SCHOOL BOARD

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

MINUTES

Pittsfield School Board Meeting
Thursday, March 5, 2015
Pittsfield Middle High School

I. CALL TO ORDER

Members Present: Mike Wolfe, Chair
Bea Douglas, Vice Chair
Arthur Morse
Gary Mullen

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
Ross Morse, Community Liaison
Sarah Rollins, Director of College and Career Readiness
Members of the public

Mr. Wolfe called the meeting to order at 5:32 p.m.

II. AGENDA REVIEW

The following items were added:
• Final words (Mr. Morse)
• Non-public session – RSA 91-A II(a) (Dr. Freeman)
• Action items (Mr. Hamilton)

III. APPROVAL OF AMENDED AGENDA

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

IV. APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MEETING MINUTES

A motion was made by Mr. Mullen and seconded by Mr. Morse to approve the minutes of February 19, 2015, as written. The motion passed with Mr. Morse, Mr. Mullen, and Mr. Wolfe voted in the affirmative and Ms. Douglas abstaining due to her absence from the meeting.

V. PUBLIC INPUT – None

VI. PRESENTATION – GREENHOUSE PROJECT

Mr. Hamilton introduced four students, Brandon Cantara, Joe Sliva, Ben Marston, and Cole Wilbur-Lewis. These young men distributed documents relative to their greenhouse project. Ben explained that the purpose of the greenhouse is to give PMHS a better agricultural community where students can learn the general wellness of growing plants and vegetables. He stated that the plan was to build a greenhouse that was strong and long lasting. Cole reported the history of the greenhouse idea, explaining that it is part of their extended learning opportunity for which they will obtain their English credit. Joe explained steps that have been taken to prepare for the construction of the greenhouse, including recruiting Mr. Shawver to incorporate the greenhouse into his curriculum. A grant from Lowes for the amount of $3,900 has been received. The students presented a timeline for completion. The goal, according to the students, is to have the greenhouse completed by June 11, 2015, so that it can be seen on Exhibition Night.

To answer questions of the Board, the students stated the location of the greenhouse will be between the school and the tech education building and the heater is electronic.

On a motion made by Mr. Mullen and seconded by Ms. Douglas, the Board voted unanimously to approve the building of the greenhouse.

On a motion made by Ms. Douglas and seconded by Mr. Mullen, the Board voted unanimously to approve the acceptance of $3,900 from Lowes.

VII. STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE – None

VIII. DEAN OF INSTRUCTION

A. CURRICULUM

On February 19, 2015, the faculty was invited to reflect on the system that the district has been using to map and document the district curriculum. Feedback has been received that the program being used is not suited to the school’s programs. Ms. Harvey explained that currently Atlas Rubicon is currently being used but that a home-grown system is being considered. Many teachers are developing their own websites to house their curriculum.

B. NATIONAL ASSESSMENT OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS (NAEP)

The NAEP testing occurred on March 5, 201,5 for our 4th and 8th graders.

IX. DEAN OF OPERATIONS

A. ALICE TRAINING

Mr. Hamilton explained that members of the Pittsfield Police Department, Pittsfield Fire Department, and the district attended a two-day ALICE training. The purpose of ALICE, which stands for alert, lockdown, inform, counter, and evacuate is to prepare for response to an active shooter threat. The takeaways from the training will be shared with the Emergency Management Team. Policy recommendations and training options will be shared later in the school year.

B. GREENHOUSE PROJECT

Mr. Hamilton complimented the students for their work to prepare for the building of the greenhouse. He stated that the work was a tribute to the extended learning opportunity program. He thanked Jim Dawson and Chuck Gallant, PMHS custodians, for their assistance to the students throughout the planning process.

X. DIRECTOR OF STUDENT SERVICES

A. PARENT FOCUS GROUP MEETING

According to Ms. Lehmann, the Parent Information Center (PIC) will be working with the district to host a parent focus group at the end of March. The purpose of the group is to get feedback as to the needs of our parents and to share information on developing school and parent partnerships. Ms. Lehmann will work with community liaison, Ross Morse, to support parent participation.

B. NH DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION VISIT

Ms. Lehman informed the Board that a representative from the Department of Special Education visited on March 2, 2015, for a monitoring compliance check.

XI. DIRECTOR OF COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS

A. BLENDED LEARNING

Dr. Rollins explained that a group will organize around blended learning in the next few weeks. She explained that blended learning involves leveraging the Internet to provide each student a more personalized learning experience.

B. COLLEGE BOARD TESTING SCORES

Dr. Rollins reported that meetings have been occurring with staff to review the data resulting from the SAT, PSAT, and ReadiStep.

C. STUDENT MEETINGS

Meetings with students, their parents, and their advisors, according to Dr. Rollins, have been taking place to assist students who are in danger of not following a four-year high school plan to graduation.

D. CONCORD REGIONAL TECHNICAL CENTER

Dr. Rollins reported on the success of a recent student trip to the Concord Regional Technical Center.

XII. SUPERINTENDENT

A. BIOMASS PROJECT

Dr. Freeman stated that he and Mr. Wolfe visited several sites where pellet burners are being used. Mr. Wolfe reported that the feedback they received was fully supportive of pellet systems. Discussion ensued regarding the benefits derived from the visit. Since the engineer will not be present at the annual school district meeting, Mr. Morse suggested that a question and answer document based on the previous public meetings be prepared so Mr. Wolfe will be well prepared to respond to questions. Upon being asked by Ms. Douglas if a drawing of the facility will be available, Dr. Freeman stated that one is not available at this time. It was suggested that a public meeting be scheduled when more details are available and before final decisions are made regarding location and design.

B. ANNUAL SCHOOL DISTRICT MEETING

The Board organized themselves for the meeting, assigning which member would move and second each of the warrant articles. A member of the Budget Committee will be invited to move Article VI.

The Board agreed to meet at 6:15 p.m. in the PES library for a light dinner and last minute organizing. Ammy Ramsey, moderator, will be invited as will the district’s attorney, Jay Boynton.

XIII. SCHOOL BOARD

A. FINAL WORDS

Mr. Morse requested the opportunity to have a few final words as this will be his last regular meeting as a member of the School Board. Mr. Morse stated that the back-up that he receives in the Board packet is not sufficient for him to be prepared to ask questions. Mr. Morse suggested that a list of acronyms be developed for new members in order for her/him to follow along. He also suggested the Board consider having a warrant next year that would reduce the number of School Board members to three.

Mr. Morse stated that he is fully supportive of student centered learning, but questions some of the systems that are in place that do not fully promote this concept. He provided accolades to Mr. Hamilton for the work that he is doing in his administrative position.

XIV. COMMITTEES

A. DRAKE FIELD

A meeting will be scheduled once the ground begins to thaw and plans for installing the playground equipment are ready to commence.

XV. NEXT MEETING

The next School Board meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 19, 2015, at 5:30 p.m. at the Pittsfield Middle High School.

XVI. PUBLIC SESSION (2nd Session)

Ross Morse asked how far away the silos were from the buildings when Mr. Wolfe and Dr. Freeman visited other biomass systems. He suggested consideration of other locations for the silos. Mr. Morse asked if the people at the schools visited were custodians, to which Mr. Wolfe answered in the affirmative. Mr. Morse stated his preference for further decisions to be informed by further public input.

XVII. NON PUBLIC

At 6:45 p.m., a motion was made by Mr. Mullen and seconded by Ms. Douglas to enter into non-public session to discuss a personnel matter pursuant to RSA 91-A:3, II (a). The Board was polled and voted unanimously (Ms. Douglas, yes; Mr. Morse, yes; Mr. Mullen, yes; Mr. Ramsey, yes; Mr. Wolfe,) to enter into non-public session for the purpose of discussing a personnel issue.

The Board discussed the potential for multi-year contracts for school district administrators. Dr. Freeman will bring forward specific recommendations at a future meeting.

No action was taken in non-public session.

At 7:13 p.m., a motion was made by Ms. Douglas and seconded by Mr. Ramsey to exit the non-public session and to re-enter into open session. The Board was polled and voted unanimously (Ms. Douglas, yes; Mr. Morse, yes; Mr. Mullen, yes; Mr. Ramsey, yes; Mr. Wolfe,) to exit the non-public session and to re-enter into open session.

XVIII. ADJOURNMENT

On a motion made by Mr. Wolfe and seconded by Mr. Mullen, the Board voted unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 8:16 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Tobi Gray Chassie
Recording Secretary