ROCHESTER SCHOOL BOARD

School Board Meeting Minutes
May 12, 2011
City Council Chambers

                                                                                                            DRAFT

Members Present:

Mr. Robert Watson, Chair

Dr. Anthony Pastelis

Ms. Julie Brown

Mrs. Pamela Hubbard

Mr. James Gray

Mrs. Doris Gates

Mrs. Peggy Parker

Ms. Caroline McCarley

Mrs. Audrey Stevens

Mrs. Evelyn Logan

Mrs. Anne Grassie

 

Members Absent:

Mr. Travis Allen

Mr. William Brennan

 

Also Present:

Mr. Michael Hopkins, Superintendent

Mr. Kent Hemingway, Asst. Superintendent

Ms. Linda Casey, Business Administrator

Atty. Jerome Grossman

 

Guests & Press

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                  Ms. Brown moved, second by Mrs. Stevens, to accept the minutes of the Regular Board meeting of April 14, 2011 and the Special School Board meetings of May 4, 2011 and May 5, 2011. 

                                    Mrs. Gates requested a correction to the School Board Minutes of April 15, 2011 page 5 of 5, Appeal – should read “… the Board support the procedures followed by the High School Principal relating to a parental appeal; following School Board Policy JICK. Roll call…”

                                    The motion to approve the minutes as corrected carried unanimously.

Superintendent’s Report

Student Recognition       Mr. Hemingway introduced Coach Sheila Colson and the SHS Softball team.  The team is being acknowledged this evening for their recent NHIAA recognition.  The team Captains proudly announced that the team received an award for demonstrating the best sportsmanship of the year last year.  Captains displayed the banner acknowledging this recognition.  Coach Colson stated that the team was recognized by the Softball Umpires Association – of all the class divisions, they were the only school receiving an award for 2010.  She credited their discipline and hard work both on the field and in the classroom; fair play; and acknowledging competitors with good plays and nice comments.

Employee Recognition    Mr. Hemingway, Assistant Superintendent introduced the April employee of the month recipients: Cheryl Richardson SHS Music Teacher; Susan Richman, Title I Reading Specialist at McClelland School; Carla Femino, Guidance Counselor with Excel Program at Rochester Middle School; and Terry Desjardins, District Academic Assessor.

                                    Recipients received a $20 gift certificate for Granite Steak & Grill in Rochester, a certificate of appreciation and a spring plant.

Rotary Rising Star          Mr. Hopkins reviewed the profile of the Rochester Rotary Rising Star recipient for the month of May, Blazah Connors.  Recipients of this acknowledgement are students from Spaulding High School and Bud Carlson Academy that have made significant strides in achievement from their freshman year to junior year.  Blazah has made incredible growth since his freshman year; through program support and his determination to reach his goal to enlist in the US Army next year.

NHSBA                        Mr. Hopkins reviewed information regarding State Aid to School Districts that was disseminated to Board members attending a NHSBA training workshop.  He pointed out that Building and Catastrophic Aid may not be as big of concern as was anticipated.  The funding for Dropout Prevention will be eliminated; we will look at programs this grant was funding and possibly reallocate funds to ensure ongoing success.

NWEA                          Mr. Hopkins reported that the District is currently in the midst of NWEA Assessments in grades 2 through 10.   Maple Street School has finished the Reading Test for third grade; testing results show that 93% of the third grade is reading on grade level.  The programs implemented at Maple Street School have enabled enormous progress for students.  In June, a full update will be presented from testing results at all schools.

Student Senate Report

                                    Mr. Watson welcomed Student Senate representatives Gabriel Hoffman and Michael Seavey to the meeting.  Representatives reported that the Student Environmental Action Coalition recently cleaned up the Pines and have cut paper waste in half at SHS.   Upcoming events include:  HOSA sponsored blood drive on May 13th; the Junior Prom is May 14th – the Grand March will be held in the SHS Auditorium; and Graduation is scheduled for June 17th.

                                    Spring sport statistics were reviewed; attending games was encouraged.  Spaulding will be hosting the SENH Spring Track Meet which seventeen schools come to participate in.   Thanks were extended to the Board for giving the Student Senate the opportunity to be part of the meeting.

Public Comment          

                                    Peg Hurd, President of the Rochester Federation of Teachers announced that the 5th Annual No Talent Left Behind Show was scheduled for May 21, 2011.  Talent from elementary students to teachers is showcased at this fundraising event.  Tickets are $10 adults, $5 students; proceeds go to the Davyanne Locke Scholarship – awarded to a graduating senior entering the field of education.

Committee Reports

Building Committee:     

                                    No action required.

Instruction Committee:

Competency Grading      Mrs. Grassie moved, second by Mr. Gray, the Board approve the proposed Spaulding High School Competency Grading Plan.  The motion carried unanimously. 

                                    Mrs. Grassie reported that the High School Administration has scheduled six forums for the month of May to inform parents and students about the new grading system.

Personnel Committee:

Retirement                     Mrs. Stevens moved, second by Mrs. Logan, the Board accept the resignation for retirement purposes of Veronica Grant, Para-Educator.  The motion carried unanimously.

Resignations                  Mrs. Stevens moved, second by Mrs. Logan, the Board accept the resignation of Paul Palazzolo, Mathematics Teacher.  The motion carried unanimously.

                                    Mrs. Stevens moved, second by Mrs. Logan, the Board accept the resignation of Willard Young as Freshman Basketball Coach Assistant.  The motion carried unanimously.

Nominations                  Mrs. Stevens moved, second by Ms. Brown, the Board approve the nomination of Coby Troidl as the East Rochester School Principal.  The motion carried unanimously.

                                    Mrs. Stevens moved, second by Ms. Brown, the Board approve the nomination of Judith Goodnow as HOSA Advisor.  The motion carried unanimously.

Leave of Absence....... Mrs. Stevens moved, second by Mrs. Logan, the Board approve the leave of absence request from Jessica Burrows, Special Education Teacher for the 2011-2012 school year.  The motion carried unanimously.

Job Descriptions          Mrs. Stevens moved, second by Ms. Brown, for second reading and adoption by the Board of the following job descriptions:  Alternative Pathways Secretary, Alternative Pathways Teacher, and Assistant Superintendent.  The motion carried unanimously.

                                    The Committee submits to the Board for first reading the Business Administrator job description.

Special Services Committee:

                                    No action required.

Finance Committee:

Salary Adjustment          Mr. Watson moved, second by Mrs. Logan, the Board approve adjusting compensation for Ms. Linda Casey, Business Administrator to $100,469; effective July 1, 2011.  The roll call vote as follows:

                                                YES:    Ms. McCarley, Dr. Pastelis, Ms. Brown, Mrs. Logan,

                                                            Mr. Watson, Mrs. Grassie, Mrs. Gates, Mr. Gray,

                                                            Mrs. Parker, Mrs. Hubbard, Mrs. Stevens

                                                NO:      none

                                    The motion carried by a vote of 11:0.

Space Study                   Mr. Watson moved, second by Ms. McCarley, the Board approve hiring Lavallee Brensinger Architects of Manchester, NH to conduct the Space Study at the cost of $73,750.  The roll call vote as follows:

                                                YES:    Mrs. Parker, Ms. Brown, Mrs. Stevens, Ms. McCarley,

                                                            Mrs. Logan, Mrs. Hubbard, Dr. Pastelis, Mr. Gray,

                                                            Mr. Watson, Mrs. Grassie, Mrs. Gates

                                                NO:      none

                                    The motion carried by a vote of 11:0.

Generator, Sale of          Mr. Watson moved, second by Ms. McCarley, the Board approve the bid from Chuck Butler of Lebanon, ME in the amount of $250 for the purchase of the old high school generator.  The motion carried unanimously.

Foundation Donation      Mr. Watson moved, second by Ms. McCarley, the Board approve accepting $9,950 from the Rochester School Department Foundation to continue funding Mr. Shea’s salary and benefits through June 9, 2011.  The motion carried unanimously.

Discipline Committee:

                                    Mrs. Parker moved, second by Mrs. Hubbard, the Board uphold the Administration’s recommendation for discipline case #24823.  The motion carried unanimously.

Policy Committee:

Second Reading             Dr. Pastelis moved, second by Mrs. Grassie, second reading and adoption by the Board of the following policies:  

-          JGG, Physical Restraint of Students

-          JGG-R, Physical Restraint Notification and Permission Form

-          BEAB, School Board Meeting Cancellations

                                    The motion carried unanimously.

                                    Dr. Pastelis moved, second by Mrs. Gates, to table policy BHB, Board Member Development Opportunities.  The motion to table carried unanimously.

Old Business

                                    None

New Business

NHSBA                        Mrs. Gates discussed the valuable information contained in the NHSBA Policy/Legislative Updates. Mr. Hopkins confirmed that he receives and reviews the NHSBA Policy Updates; they are used along with other sources to ensure School Board Policies are updated and amended to meet the requirements of new or changed laws.

                                    Dr. Pastelis reported that he along with Mrs. Gates, Mrs. Logan and Mr. Gray recently attended the New Board Member Orientation.  A lot of good information is disseminated at these workshops; very informative and serves as a refresher.  Dr. Pastelis further noted that the work of our Policy Committee and Mr. Hopkins’ leadership was commended by the NHSBA Executive Director.

Non-Public Session

                                    Dr. Pastelis moved, second by Ms. Brown, the Board enter non-public session at 7:43 p.m. in accordance with RSA 91-A:3, I & II (1,3,4,5) to discuss the dismissal, promotion, or compensation of a public employee; matters that would adversely affect the reputation of any person, other than a member of the board; consideration of the acquisition of real estate or personal property; and consideration of pending claims or litigation against the school district. The roll call vote follows:

 

                                                YES:    Mr. Watson, Mrs. Stevens, Ms. McCarley, Mrs. Hubbard,

                                                            Ms. Brown, Mrs. Logan, Mrs. Grassie, Mr. Gray,

                                                            Dr. Pastelis, Mrs. Parker, Mrs. Gates

 

                                                NO:      None

                                    After a short recess, the Board entered non-public session at 7:48 p.m.

Public Session

                                    Ms. McCarley moved, second by Mrs. Hubbard, to enter public session.  By unanimous vote, the Board entered public session at 8:40 p.m.

Fosters                          Mr. Watson thanked Jake O’Donnell, Foster’s Reporter for a great job reporting on school related activities and events.  Jake was wished well in his new employment endeavor with AOL.

Nomination                   Mrs. Stevens moved, second by Ms. Brown, the Board approve the nomination of Mary Moriarty as Assistant Superintendent; with a two year contract effective July 1, 2011.  The motion carried unanimously.

Contract Agreement        Mr. Gray moved, second by Mrs. Stevens, the Board accept the Administrative Contract Agreement.  The motion carried unanimously.

                                    Mr. Gray moved, second by Mrs. Stevens, the Board accept the RFT Food Service Contract Agreement.  The motion carried unanimously.

                                    Mr. Gray moved, second by Mrs. Hubbard, the Board accept the Para-Professional Contract Agreement.  The motion carried unanimously.

                                    Ms. McCarley complimented members of all bargaining teams for their efforts and commitment to reach an agreement.  Settling these contracts helps the community, the District and employees.

Adjournment

                                    Mrs. Hubbard moved, second by Mrs. Parker, to adjourn. On a unanimous vote, the Board adjourned at 8:43 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

Michael Hopkins

Board Secretary