|
ROCHESTER
SCHOOL BOARD School
Board Meeting Minutes
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. Last Minutes Dr. Pastelis moved, second
by Mrs. Stevens, to accept the minutes of the Organizational Board meeting of
January 11, 2011 and the Special Board meeting of January 31, 2011. The motion carried unanimously. Superintendent’s Report Student
Recognition Mr. Hemingway
introduced Spaulding High School National Honor Society members: Ashley Griffin, Erica Good, Corey Tondreau,
Lydia Phoenix; Annemarie Hall, Hannah Mason, Megan Avery, Victoria Nakis, Andrew Bosco. The group was involved in an invigorating
project related to community service – the Special Olympics penguin plunge at
Hampton Beach. Andrew explained that
the funds raised go to support a great organization and it was a lot of fun. NHS
members also participating in this community service venture not in
attendance this evening include: Macy
Day, Joe Lanoie, Sara Faria,
Corinne Baita, Breana
Goodwin, Sam Baldwin, Jennarae Mansfield, Ryan McQuade, Allie Cummings, Olivia Arruda,
Alyssa Turgeon, Liz Power.
Employee
Recognition Mr. Hemingway, Assistant
Superintendent recognized the January employee of the month recipients: Stacy Perkins, Social Studies Teacher at
Spaulding High School; Sean Sullivan, Physical Education/Heatlh
Education Teacher at Rochester Middle School; Mary Rogers, Kindergarten
Para-Educator at William Allen School; and Raymond Pillsbury, Guidance
Counselor at Spaulding High School (District recipient for his endeavors to
support homeless students). Recipients
received a $20 gift certificate for Granite Steak & Grill in Rochester, a
certificate of appreciation and floral arrangement. ASBO Certification Mr. Hopkins commended Linda Casey,
Business Director on her recent achievement of the Certified Administrator of
School Finance and Operations certification by the Association for School
Business Officials International. Ms.
Casey is one of ninety-nine recipients nationwide to receive this
certification; which is granted to individuals who demonstrate a commitment
to high standards and ethical practice in school business management. Mr. Hopkins thanks Ms. Casey for all she
does for the District. Student Senate Report No
report this month. Public Comment Mr. Robert
Gates requested that when making cuts to the budget, the Board look at
programs such as Professional Development (as one example) before cutting
teaching positions. Mrs. Robin
Flockerzi spoke on behalf of her daughter Rose;
requesting an appeal to the Board for decisions made regarding her credits at
Spaulding High School which were earned through VLACS courses. Committee
Reports Building
Committee: No action
required. Instruction
Committee: No action
required. Mrs. Logan expressed concerns that textbooks
currently in use do not contain truths with regard to 2nd
Amendment Rights; which should be rectified.
Mr. Watson suggested bringing forward her proposal to revisit textbooks
used in schools to the Instruction Committee for discussion and review. Personnel
Committee: Retirements Mrs. Stevens moved, second
by Mr. Allen, the Board accept the following resignations for retirement
purposes: Janis Dorr....................................................... Special
Education Teacher The motion
carried unanimously. Resignations Mrs. Stevens moved, second
by Mrs. Logan, the Board accept the following resignations: ................................... Kollin Arnold................................................................... Para-Educator ................................... The
motion carried unanimously. Nominations Mrs. Stevens moved, second
by Mrs. Parker, the Board approve the following nominations: ................................... Catherine
Booth................................................................ Para-Educator The motion
carried unanimously. Extra-Curricular Mrs. Stevens moved, second by Mrs.
Grassie, the Board approve the extra-curricular nomination of Patricia
McNally, Girls Lacrosse Coach Assistant. The motion carried unanimously. Special
Services Committee: No
action required. Finance Committee: Smartboards
& Carts Mr. Watson moved,
second by Mr. Brennan, the Board approve the bid from Valley Communications
Systems, Inc. of Chicopee, MA in the amount of $6,015 for Smartboards and
carts. Mr. Hopkins clarified questions
raised with regards to the purchase of additional Smartboards. This purchase is for the Technology Center,
the purchase is for Smartboards – not projectors which are already in
place. A key component is getting
standard equipment to save costs. The motion on the floor carried
unanimously. Marimba Mr. Watson moved,
second by Mrs. Grassie, the Board approve the bid from Washington Music
Center of Wheaton, MD in the amount of $4,555 for one Concert Marimba. The motion carried unanimously. Donation Mr. Watson moved,
second by Mr. Brennan, the Board accept a donation from the Rochester School
Department Foundation in the amount of $15,576 and approve the bi-weekly
salary of $750 for John Shea through March 2011; with approval of $2,074.94
in expenses. The motion carried
unanimously. Mr.
Hopkins gave a brief update to the continued efforts by Mr. Shea to solicit
support for the Big Step Forward. A
detailed report will be presented at the March Instruction Committee meeting. Clarification was also given regarding
donations to the Foundation can be made by anyone; a process for
disseminating funds to teachers in the form of grants is being developed. Temporary
Positions Mr. Watson moved, second
by Ms. McCarley, the Board approve one temporary Special Education
Para-Educator through the remainder of the 2010-11 school year
at each of the following schools: HOPE
School, Maple Street School, and Middle School. These positions are to be funded through a
transfer of funds for an unfilled Interpreter position. The motion carried unanimously. Stipend Mr. Watson moved,
second by Mr. Gray, the Board approve a Title IIA Grant funded stipend for
Andrea Lancey in the amount of $500 for services as
an Infinite Campus Coach. The motion
carried unanimously. FY 2012 Budget Ms. Casey gave a brief summary of
the FY 2012 Budget noting there is an increase of .1% or $52,000 higher than
the current budget. She discussed
increased costs and the anticipated decrease in revenue. Budget meetings will be held over the next
few months. Discipline
Committee: Mrs. Parker
moved, second by Mr. Brennan, the Board support the Committee recommendation
for discipline case #21888. The motion
carried unanimously. Policy
Committee: Second Reading Dr. Pastelis moved, second by
Mrs. Logan, second reading and adoption by the Board of the following
policies: - IKA-R, Grading Guidelines - GBCD, Criminal History and
Background Checks - GBD, Annual Notice to
Non-Certified Personnel - IKA-R1, Grading Policy The motion carried unanimously. Old Business American Legion Mr. Brennan referred dignitaries from the American
Legion to Mr. Hopkins to review their Essay Contest revolving around the US
Constitution. They were extremely pleased with the time and attention given
by Mr. Hopkins. Student’s essays are
judged and scored with a possible $18,000 grant at the National level of the
competition. New Business Appeal Mrs. Logan moved, second
by Mr. Allen, the full Board hear the Flockerzi appeal. Mr. Gray
moved, second by Mrs. Stevens, to table the motion for further discussion in
non-public session. The motion to
table carried, by a 6 to 5 show of hand vote. NSBA Mr. Brennan asked
that the Board take under advisement his recommendation to send a School
Board member to a National School Board Association meeting. This would give the opportunity to gain
information about what is happening at National and State levels. Non-Public
Session Dr.
Pastelis moved, second by Mrs. Parker, the Board enter non-public session at 8:04
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 follows: YES: Dr. Pastelis, Mrs. Parker, Mr. Brennan,
Mrs. Gates, Mrs.
Grassie, Mr. Watson, Mrs. Stevens, Ms. McCarley, Mr.
Gray, Mrs. Logan, Mr. Allen NO: None After a
short recess, the Board entered non-public session at 8:10 p.m. Public Session Mr. Allen moved,
second by Mrs. Stevens, to enter public session. By unanimous vote, the Board entered public
session at 9:09 p.m. Mrs. Parker
moved, second by Mrs. Logan, to approve the Superintendent’s disciplinary
action for a two day suspension, without pay for an employee. The motion
carried unanimously. Adjournment Ms.
McCarley moved, second by Mrs. Stevens, to adjourn. On a unanimous vote, the
Board adjourned at 9:10 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Michael
Hopkins Board
Secretary |