|
ROCHESTER
SCHOOL BOARD Regular School Board Meeting DRAFT
Mr.
Watson called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. on a roll call with a quorum
present. Members participated in the pledge of allegiance. Point
of question was raised by Mrs. Logan regarding the legality of a Regular Board
meeting prior to the Organizational meeting as outlined in School Board
Policy BCA, Board Organization and Meetings.
Attorney Grossman explained the interpretation of the policy which
gives the Board the authority to conduct an official meeting prior to the
Organizational meeting; noting that this meeting was scheduled by the Board
in December and posted as required. Mrs.
Stevens moved, second by Mr. Gray, to waive Policy BCA, Board Organization
and Meetings; conducting the business of the Organizational and Regular
School Board meeting in one meeting this evening. The motion carried by majority vote. Election/Chairman Attorney Grossman entertained motions
for the School Board Chair. Ms. Brown moved, second by Mr.
Harkinson, to nominate Mr. Robert Watson as Chair. No further nominations were
brought forward. The motion to
nominate Mr. Watson as School Board Chair carried unanimously. Election/Vice-Chairman Attorney Grossman entertained
motions for the School Board Vice-Chair. Mrs. Logan moved, second by
Mrs. Stokes, to nominate Mr. James Gray as Vice-Chair. Ms. Brown moved, second by Mrs.
Stevens, to nominate Mrs. Anne Grassie as Vice-Chair. No further nominations were
brought forward. A ballot vote was
taken for election of Vice-Chair. Ballot
vote results were 8:4 in favor of Mrs. Grassie as Vice-Chair. Last Minutes Mrs.
Logan moved, second by Mrs. Stevens, the Board accept the minutes of the
December 15, 2011 Regular School Board meeting. The motion carried unanimously. Superintendent’s
Report Student
Recognition Mrs. Moriarty, Assistant
Superintendent introduced Mr. Kevin Hebert, Athletic Director to acknowledge and
recognize the Varsity Football team for their rejuvenated successful
year. Players and coaches were
commended on their efforts which brought them to the semi-finals in
Dover. The team focus, supported by
the coaching staff, was to have a zero failure rate in the classroom which
was first and foremost; a second focus off the field was giving back to the
community through a big donation to Jerry’s Food Pantry. The team
was given the NHIAA distinguished award as NH Most Improved; award is not
only based on winning but team character and sportsmanship. Team Captains thanked the Board for their
support and believing in the team when things weren’t going so well. To show their appreciation, hats were
distributed to Board members with the symbol “TRW” that denotes the teams
focus to keep on going – The Right Way. Meeting
Schedule Mr. Hopkins indicated
that the Board would need to vote to cancel the January 10, 2012
Organizational Meeting based on the previous motion to combine the first
meeting in January for this evening.
At the Board’s direction a request will be sent to City Council to
change the City Charter regarding the first meeting of the new School Board. Special
School Board meeting is scheduled for January 23, 2012 for the FY 2013 Budget
presentation. The meeting will be held
in the School Department Board Room at the Community Center. Ms. Casey will go over the proposed budget
in its entirety and explain the review process. The Building
Committee will meet next Thursday January 12, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. – to begin
working on the Space Study. Arrangements
have been made to hold the School Board/Administrator Retreat on February 11,
2012 at the Frisbie Education & Conference Center. Along with Board members and
Administrators, both parent and student representatives will be invited. The
Retreat is a valuable opportunity to have dialogue with everyone in the room,
to set and review goals and vision. Policy
BBF-E Mr. Hopkins
distributed copies of policy BBF-E1, Ethics Policy Statement and policy
BBF-E, School Board Member Ethics to School Board members. Policies are given to members on an annual
basis for their signature acknowledging they have received and reviewed
policy BBF-E. Student
Senate Report
Representatives
from the SHS Student Senate respectfully excused themselves from the first
meeting of the new Board to allow adequate time to conduct School Board business.
Public Comment Mrs. Doris Gates encouraged
parents and citizens to get involved with schools. Mrs. Valerie McKenney, RMS
Principal reported that students and staff had the opportunity to spend time
with two Diversity Storytellers with themes directed towards middle school students
being kind to each other, and doing the right thing. Committee
Reports Building Committee: Construction Manager Dr. Pastelis moved, second by Ms. Brown, the
Board approve Eckman Construction of Bedford, NH as
the construction manager for the sprinkler project at Spaulding High
School. The motion carried unanimously. Instruction Committee: School
Calendar Mrs. Grassie moved,
second by Mrs. Logan, the Board approve second reading and adoption of the
2012-2013 School Calendar. The motion
carried unanimously. Special Services: No action
required. Policy Committee: Second Reading Dr. Pastelis moved, second by Ms.
Brown, the Board approve second reading and adoption of the following
policies: -
DJC,
Bidding Requirements -
IKA-R,
Grading Guidelines -
IKE,
Promotion Policy -
EBBA-1,
Rochester Health Policies (Recommendations from Rochester School Nurses) -
EBBA-3,
Medication Policy (Rochester School Health Services) -
EBBA-5,
First Aid (and Emergency Care) Mrs. Logan moved, second by
Mrs. O’Connor, to table policy DJC, Bidding Requirements for referral back to
the Policy Committee for review. The
motion failed by a vote of 11:1 Mr. Harkinson moved, second by
Mr. Gray, to amend policy DJC, Bidding Requirements Procedures to amend
verbiage in the last sentence of the second paragraph to read “… shall be
notified of emergency purchases as the next regularly scheduled meeting.” The motion carried unanimously. Mr. Harkinson moved, second by
Mrs. Grassie, to amend Policy DJC, Bidding Requirements reinstating the
dollar amount to read $20,000. Mr. Harkinson explained the
benefits of the increased dollar amount budgetary savings associated with an
increased amount. Suggested increasing the dollar limits would have
significant budget savings. Lengthy discussion ensued
regarding the Committee’s recommendation to set the $10,000 cap on purchase
orders. The motion failed with a vote
of 6:6. The main motion for second
reading and adoption of amended policies carried by majority vote. First Reading The Committee recommends the
following policies as amended for first reading: -
EBBA-5R,
Emergency Care of Sickness and Accidents -
EBBB,
Accident Reports -
JHC,
Student Health Services Old
Business None. New
Business Nominations Mr. Watson moved, second by Mrs.
Stevens, the Board accept the following nominations: Jo Anne Crevoiserat-Coon........................... Special
Education Teacher The
motion carried unanimously. Meeting
Cancellation Ms. Brown moved, second
by Mrs. Grassie, to cancel the January 10, 2012 Organizational Board
Meeting. The motion carried by
majority voted; Mrs. Logan abstained. Mrs. Logan
reminded that all Rochester residents and parents are encouraged to attend
committee meetings. Website Videos Mrs. Logan reviewed her request
for copies of Board and Committee meetings on disk; according to policy
BDA-1, Broadcasting/Taping of Board
Meetings electronic data should be available for viewing and
download. She said the information is
not readily available as it should be according to policy. Mr.
Hopkins pointed out that there is currently a link on the District website
for School Board meetings; although not a full year of meetings due to
additional costs that would be incurred for space on the server. Mrs. Logan
moved to have the video taping of School Board and Committee meetings posted
on the District website for one year.
Without a second no action was taken on the motion. Non-Public Dr.
Pastelis moved, second by Mrs. Stevens, the Board enter non-public session at
7:49 p.m. in accordance with RSA 91-A:3, I & II (1) to discuss matters
that would adversely affect the reputation of any person, other than a member
of the Board. The roll call vote as
follows: YES: Mr. Harkinson, Mrs. O’Connor, Dr.
Pastelis, Mr. Lynch, Mrs.
Grassie, Mrs. Logan, Ms. Brown, Mrs. Beaulieu, Mr.
Watson, Mrs. Stokes, Mr. Gray, Mrs. Stevens NO: None After a
short recess, the Board entered non-public session at 7:55 p.m. Public-Session Mrs. Logan
moved, second by Mr. Gray, to re-enter public session. On a unanimous vote, the Board entered
public session at 8:28 p.m. Public
Comment Dr. Pastelis clarified
that policy states that the Chair of each Committee has the right to
determine if public comment will be allowed at meetings. The only public
comment that currently is guaranteed by policy is at Regular Board meetings. Adjournment Mrs. Logan
moved, second by Mr. Harkinson, to adjourn. On a unanimous vote, the Board
adjourned at 8:31 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Michael Hopkins Board Secretary |