September 18, 2014 Minutes

APPROVED BY THE PITTSFIELD SCHOOL BOARD

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

Pittsfield School Board Meeting
Thursday, September 18, 2014
Pittsfield Middle High School

I. CALL TO ORDER

Members Present: Mike Wolfe, Chair
Bea Douglas, Vice-Chair
Vanessa Abell
Gary Mullen
Ray Ramsey

Others Present: John Freeman, Superintendent of Schools
Susan Bradley, Co-Project Manager, DLSC Grant
Danielle Harvey, Dean of Instruction
Kathy LeMay, Director of Intervention/Title I manager
Ross Morse, Community Liaison
Sarah Rollins, Director of College and Career Readiness

Jovani Antonelli, student
Quinn Boyce, student
David Chamberlain, parent
Christie Dunlavey, PMHS Teacher
Madison Johnson, student
Jessie Massey, student
Cierra Pharr, student
Raquel Sheridan, student
Jenny Wellington, PMHS teacher

Mr. Wolfe called the meeting to order at 5:34 p.m.

II. AGENDA REVIEW

The following items were added to or removed from the agenda:
? Remove: job descriptions (Dr. Freeman)
? Add Action: resignation (Dr. Freeman)
? Add Action: supplemental materials (Ms. Harvey)
? Add Information: Drake Field update (Mr. Wolfe)

III. ACTION ON AMENDED AGENDA

On a motion made by Mr. Mullen and seconded by Ms. Douglas, the Board voted unanimously to approve the amended agenda.

IV. APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MEETING MINUTES

A motion was made by Mr. Ramsey and seconded by Mr. Mullen to approve minutes of the September 4, 2014, meeting. Changes include: on page 2 to change “Mr. Ross” to “Mr. Morse;” change “Mr. Girard” to Mr. “Gerard.” On a motion made by Ms. Douglas and seconded by Ms. Abell, he Board voted unanimously to approve the minutes as amended.

V. PUBLIC INPUT

Mr. Morse advised the Board that the next meeting of the Foss Scholarship Committee has been scheduled for Thursday, September 25.

VI. STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE

Miss Johnson reported that the Site Council is still looking for representatives. The Council is in need of an additional adult representative, a student member at large, and a seventh grade student. Council members will recruit by visiting the seventh grade advisories. In addition, she shared that their major project for this school year will be to revise the community service requirements to make the process more meaningful for students and the community.

VII. DEAN OF INSTRUCTION

A. SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS

For a Middle School Learning studio, the teacher making plans would like to show PG and PG-13 movies related to historical events. The teacher is asking for an exemption to the Board’s policy regarding the screening of videos. A permission slip will be sent home with a list of the movies and the ratings of each title.

On a motion made by Ms. Douglas and seconded by Mr. Wolfe, the Board voted unanimously to allow an exemption to the policy IKJ for the learning studio in question under the conditions of parent notification and permission.

B. PROFESSIONAL LEARNING

PMHS faculty has started the Late Start Wednesday professional learning schedule. Topics previously addressed this year include technology, executive functioning skills, and language instructional methods. PES faculty had its first early release professional learning schedule. The first topics included mathematics and teacher language, including methods to support students in critiquing work.

C. SPANISH

Mrs. Harvey explained the foreign language immersion teaching approach that is being used by Mr. Billings in Spanish classes. He has presented to the students and faculty on the differences and benefits of the research-based, organic world language model compared with the traditional approach.

D. i3 TEAM

The Investing in Innovation (i3) team has shared their goals for the year. The team will meet next week to continue the work of integrating inquiry learning and performance assessment into the school’s curriculum.

VII. DEAN OF OPERATIONS

A. CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

PMHS students recently signed up for co-curricular activities at the school’s Activity Fair, an event organized to introduce students to the activity options available. The Environmental Team, a new group, is now up and running. Plans are underway to create a Future Business Leaders of America club this year. The hope is that the Activity Fair and the removal of eligibility requirements for club participation will increase student engagement in co-curricular activities.

B. EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

Mr. Hamilton submitted a report that detailed the fact that eighty-two PMHS students are participating in fall athletics: this represents about 30% of our student body. A schedule for this weekend’s Homecoming events was shared.

C. JUSTICE COMMITTEE

Justice Committee heard its first case this past week. The issue was successfully mediated.

VIII. DIRECTOR OF STUDENT SERVICES

No report.

X. DIRECTOR OF COLLEGE & CAREER READINESS

No report.

XI. DIRECTOR OF INTERVENTIONS AND TITLE I

A. OPEN HOUSE

Ms. LeMay thanked the Board for their help and support with the PES BBQ and open house. She reported that all teachers were present at the open house. The enthusiasm and energy was positive, despite the rainy weather.

B. HOMELESS UPDATE

Ms. LeMay reported that Title 1 is required to reserve a portion of the grant to serve homeless students in districts. Historically, the district has had struggles with identifying the needs of this population. A team organized by Ms. LeMay recently met to review the changes in the grant requirements regarding how funds can be used and a process for identifying eligible students. The goal of this work is to ensure the best use of resources to support our students who are homeless.

XII. DISTRICT ADMINISTRATOR

A. COMMUNICATION TEAM

The district’s first newsletter will be going home on September 19 to students and their families. The second edition of Pittsfield’s Progress will be ready for distribution, which will be sent to a broader audience, including non-parent community members and local and state leaders.

B. EXTENDED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES VIDEO PREMIERE

The premier of the newly produced video focused on extended learning opportunities will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 30, 2014, in the PMHS Lecture Hall. In addition to invited guests, the public is invited.

C. POSITION ANALYSES
A position analysis for the position of student support specialist will be held on Wednesday, October 22, 2014.

D. FOCUS SCHOOL

A small group of teachers and administrators representing PES will attend the first quarterly meeting for Focus Schools on October 7, 2014. The meeting is organized by the New Hampshire Department of Education.

E. GOOD TO GREAT TEAM

Team met this week. Last year, the Team devoted its time to learning about process maps. The group agreed to re-organize into a small steering team of approximately eight members, which will own the process mapping. Additionally, two groups will also work under the auspices of the steering team: one group will map the process of hiring while a second group will be working on a needs assessment process.

The PES School Improvement Team (SIT) will restart their work next Tuesday.

F. LEAGUE OF INNOVATIVE SCHOOLS

An application has been submitted for PMHS to be considered part of the New England Secondary Schools Consortium grant. Receiving this grant would further promote our work with student centered learning.

G. NELLIE MAE EDUCATION FOUNDATION TASK FORCE & CROSS SITE MEETING

This item was deferred until the October 2 meeting.

H. STUDENT LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE

Miss Johnson and Miss Massey, two PMHS seniors presented a report to the Board on the Youth Leadership Institute (YLI). Highlights included a sharing of information about the sessions the PMHS group presented on restorative justice. Highlights of what the group members gained from the Institute including mixed level advisories and piloting quarterly reflections for student to teacher evaluations.

Mr. Antonelli, Mr. Boyce, and Miss Sheridan shared personal reflections. In response to a question about what learnings might be applied to PMHS, students had included student to teacher evaluations, mixed grade advisories, and iLab as potential benefits to PMHS. In response to a question about learnings about leadership, Mr. Boyce stated that he learned and practiced collaboration. Ms. Sheridan shared that she learned that leadership requires patience and understanding. Ms. Pharr reflected that as the youngest PMHS student participating, she learned she needed to step out of her comfort zone. The Board thanked the students for their presentation.

XIII. SUPERINTENDENT

A. POLICIES

GD, Support Staff: Policy revised to reflect current practice; added detail on the probationary period and training; for Category One employees, added Columbus day as a holiday.

IHBH, Extended Learning Opportunities: simplified the language; HQT status is no longer required, a certified teacher meets the requirement.

On motion by Mr. Mullen and seconded by Ms. Abell, the Board unanimously approved the amendments as presented.

B. NELLIE MAE EDUCATION FOUNDATION O’TOOLE AWARD NOMINATION

The New Hampshire School Board Association and our Department of Education have both been sharing the link for voting. The Board expressed appreciation for their support.

C. BIOMASS ENERGY PROJECT

Mr. Wolfe and Dr. Freeman met with the board of the selectman to inform board members of the potential energy project. The board did not express opposition and was not opposed to looking into the project further. The estimated cost of the project to install a biomass boiler system is approximately $850,000. Harriman architects and engineers will be discussing the project with the School Board at the next meeting. Board members asked a number of questions; Dr. Freeman stated that he would pose the questions to the Harriman representatives.

Mr. Chamberlain stated that he had heard positive information about a wood chip furnace. Mr. Wolfe shared that burning wood chips would be less expensive, but would require more space and a greater effort of maintenance. Mr. Ramsey stated that the district should be able to cycle the existing PMHS boilers in order to extend their lives.

D. PES FLOORING

The Board had asked for recommendations on current trends for flooring, relative to a PES carpet replacement proposal. Dr. Freeman spoke with the Architect Dan Bisson and was told there is no current recommendation; the selection of carpet vs. tile is a matter of personal preference. Harriman is currently recommending a newer, synthetic carpeting material than has been used in the past. Dr. Freeman has asked for samples and will share information with the Board in advance of any decision regarding flooring replacement.

XIV. SCHOOL BOARD

A. RESIGNATION

Ms. Abell submitted her resignation from her position as School Board member due to an anticipated family relocation to another state. Board members stated their appreciation for Ms. Abell’s support and wished her family well with the move.

On a motion by Ms. Douglas and seconded by Mr. Ramsey, the Board unanimously voted to accept the resignation of Ms. Abell effective at the conclusion of the meeting.

Mr. Wolfe stated that he will reach out to the others who had been interested in Board vacancy last spring.

B. DRAKE FIELD UPDATE

Drake Field Committee has expressed its intention to reach out to parents of young children to provide input on playground equipment to be installed at Drake Field. Next meeting for the Drake Field Committee will take place at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 21, in the PMHS media center.

Improvements on the field continue to be made. New gates have been installed, lights have been adjusted, and the field has been aerated. Suggestions have been discussed for a phase two field improvement process. Mr. Wolfe has suggested that the Committee submit a proposal for an annual amount to placed into the Drake Field Reserve Account.

XV. COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS

Dr. Freeman will revise the committee assignments recorded on the agenda to reflect the current board.

XVI. NEXT MEETING

The next School Board meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, October 2nd, at the Pittsfield Middle High School.

XVII. PUBLIC INPUT (Second Session)

Mr. Morse asked if a reminder email went out for the Summer Academy meeting next week; Dr. Freeman stated that he would do so.

XVIII. NON-PUBLIC SESSION

At 7:00 p.m., a motion was by Mr. Mullen and seconded by Mr. Ramsey, to enter into non-public session to discuss personnel issues and potential litigation pursuant to RSA 91-A:3, II (a) and (c). The Board was polled and voted unanimously (Ms. Abell, yes; Ms. Douglas, yes; Mr. Mullen, yes; Mr. Ramsey, yes; Mr. Wolfe, yes) to enter into non-public session.

Dr. Freeman provided the Board with updates regarding three personnel issues and potential litigation involving a contractor.

No action was taken in non-public session.

At 7:13 p.m., a motion was made by Ms. Douglas and seconded by Ms. Abell, to exit the non-public session and to re-enter into open session. The Board was polled and voted unanimously to exit the non-public session and to re-enter into open session.

XIX. ADJOURNMENT

On a motion made by Ms. Abell and seconded by Mr. Wolfe, the Board voted unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 7:14 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Danielle Harvey and Kathy LeMay, acting recording secretaries