ADVANCE COPY, SUBJECT TO THE APPROVAL THE PITTSFIELD SCHOOL BOARD

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

MINUTES

Pittsfield School Board Meeting
Thursday, October 16, 2014
Pittsfield Middle High School

I. CALL TO ORDER

Members Present: Mike Wolfe, Chair
Bea Douglas, Vice-Chair
Arthur Morse
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 & Title I Manager
Ross Morse, Community Liaison
Sarah Rollins, Director of College and Career Readiness

Mr. Wolfe called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. He welcomed newly appointed, Art Morse to the School Board.

II. AGENDA REVIEW

Nothing was added to or deleted from the agenda.

III. APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MEETING MINUTES

A motion was made by Mr. Ramsey and seconded by Mr. Mullen to approve the minutes of the October 2, 2014, meeting. The motion passed with Ms. Douglas, Mr. Mullen, Mr. Ramsey, and Mr. Wolfe voting in the affirmative and Mr. Morse abstaining from the vote.

IV. PUBLIC INPUT – None

V. STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE

Student representative, Kyle Hamel, was unable to attend the meeting. Instead, Mr. Hamilton explained that several districts have made inquiries regarding a visit to the Site Council. Also, the Site Council will be working on a proposal regarding student attendance on late start Wednesday.

VI. DEAN OF INSTRUCTION

A. FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCE (FACS) / HEALTH

The FACS / Health teacher has been experiencing health issues, keeping her from regularly being in school. Ms. Harvey explained the measures that have been taken to cover the classes, with an effort to find consistent coverage.

B. CLASSROOM UPDATES

Ms. Harvey shared that the small kindergarten classes are allowing small group activities. With a full day program, students have been able to participate in school community activities, such as school-wide morning meetings and book buddies.

With class sizes of twenty-four in second grade, teachers are revising and modifying some practices and activities they have used before to ensure all students can participate and have a voice.

Computer classes in the PES lab have begun, now that NWEA MAP testing is completed.

Art work from our PES students was displayed at the Deerfield Fair. Lisa Stevens, art teacher, is loading work onto Artsonia, a website that features student artwork, to share with families.

The middle school social studies teacher is teaching a unit on anthropological studies. An alternative plan was devised in order for a parent request to be met regarding the choice of curriculum materials.

VII. DEAN OF OPERATIONS

A. ATTENDANCE REPORTS

Mr. Hamilton reported that half and full day absences are now being closely monitored in order to send out truancy letters for students who are considered truant or in danger of being truant. Sample letters were provided.

B. BEHAVIOR FORMS

At PMHS, several forms related to behavior management were revised. Sample forms were provided.

C. SCHOOL FACILITIES

Mr. Hamilton reported that the roof repairs at PMHS are complete, but new leaks have been discovered. Additional lights will be added to the street lights outside the main entrance of PMHS to brighten the parking lots and walkways.

VIII. DIRECTOR OF INTERVENTIONS AND TITLE I MANAGEMENT

A. PROFESSIONAL LEARNING

Ms. Lemay explained that the Title I staff presented a two hour professional learning opportunity for the PES staff on October 10, 2014, with the goal of sharing some of the new learning that the Title I staff has experienced.

B. TITLE I SERVICES

Ms. Lemay distributed a chart that showed the distribution of students in each grade level receiving Title I services and a description of the services being provided.

IX. DISTRICT ADMINISTRATOR

A. COMMUNICATIONS TEAM

Julie Mallozzi, videographer, continues to work on videos on the administrative reorganization, inquiry-based learning, and restorative justice.

B. PRIORITY / FOCUS SCHOOLS

Representatives from PES accompanied Mr. Hamilton to the first quarterly meeting of the Priority and Focus Schools.

C. EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT TEAM

Rob Freese, Pittsfield’s emergency shelter director, has helped the district request a facilities audit by the New Hampshire Department of Homeland Security. School Board members will be notified of the date in the event there is interest in joining the visiting team.

D. INDUCTION PROGRAM

Mentors and new teachers were provided training on October 3 and 6, 2014, respectively, according to Ms. Chassie.
E. NELLIE MAE EDUCATION FOUNDATION

Work is being completed for the submission of our grant application to the Nellie Mae Education Foundation for the second three years of our grant. The deadline for submission is October 31, 2014.

F. POSITION ANALYSIS

Ms. Chassie invited the School Board to a position analysis workshop on October 22, 2014, at 5:30 p.m. The position being analyzed is the student support specialist.

G. UNIVERSITY OF MAINE AT PRESQUE ISLE

Ms. Chassie explained that she attended a meeting with officials from the University of Maine at Presque Isle this week. The officials reported that the University had moved to a competency-based baccalaureate degree and wants to partner with high schools who are also competency-based.

H. VISITS

Representatives from KnowledgeWorks, according to Ms. Chassie, an organization that helps school implement innovation, assists communities in building infrastructure to sustain educational change, and researches future trends in teaching and learning for the purpose of advocacy and policy development spent October 14, 2014, at PMHS. They have invited us to participate in work they are doing to create software for teachers to use to monitor students’ mastery of competencies.

X. SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOL

A. POLICIES

On a motion made by Ms. Douglas and seconded by Mr. Mullen, the Board agreed to the following action with Ms. Douglas, Mr. Mullen, Mr. Ramsey, and Mr. Wolfe voting in the affirmative and Mr. Morse abstaining from the vote: Policy IGE, Parental Objections to Specific Course Materials – no change; Policy IHAM, Health Education and Exemption from Instruction – amended; Policy IHG, Programs for Students Who Come Under the Provisions of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act – rescission; Policy IHBAA, Evaluation Requirements for Children with Specific Learning Disabilities – revised; Policy IHBG, Home Education Instruction – revised; Policy IHBI, Alternative Learning Opportunities – no change; Policy IHCAA, Summer Activities – amended; Policy IHCD, Advanced Course Work / Advanced Placement Courses – amended; Policy IJ, Instructional Materials – no change.

B. BIOMASS ENERGY PROJECT

Dr. Freeman provided the Board with a timeline for the execution of a process to communicate with the public regarding the possibility of utilizing biomass energy. Mr. Ramsey reported that he reviewed the proposal with the Budget Committee and received a positive response.

C. FIRST QUARTER FINANCIAL REPORT

Dr. Freeman provided the Board with the first quarter financial report.

XI. SCHOOL BOARD COMMITTEES

A. BUDGET COMMITTEE

Mr. Ramsey reported that the Budget Committee is fully appointed. Louie Houle is the chair of the committee.

B. DRAKE FIELD COMMITTEE

The next meeting of the Drake Field Committee is October 21, 2014. The Committee has been discussing the location of the new playground equipment.

XII. PUBLIC INPUT (2nd Session)

According to Ross Morse, on Wednesday, October 22, 2014, the Pittsfield Parent Connection will be making a presentation on student led conferences to assist parents in understanding what to expect from their conference. The meeting will be in the PMHS media center at 6:00 p.m.

Mr. Morse asked if the Pittsfield Fire Department’s lighting might be made available for the PTO’s Trunk or Treat activity. Mr. Wolfe agreed to help acquire the lighting.

XIII. NEXT MEETING

The next School Board meeting is scheduled for Thursday, November 6, 2014, at 5:30 p.m. at the Pittsfield Middle High School.

XIV. ADJOURNMENT

On a motion made by Mr. Mullen and seconded by Mr. Douglas, the Board voted unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 6:30 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Tobi Gray Chassie
Recording Secretary