ROCHESTER SCHOOL BOARD

Regular School Board Meeting

March 13, 2008

City Council Chambers

DRAFT

 

Members Present:

Mr. Robert Watson, Chair

Mrs. Anne Grassie

Mrs. Pamela Hubbard

Mr. Timothy Bruneau

Mr. Frank Callaghan

Mr. William Brennan

Dr. Anthony Pastelis

Mr. Travis Allen

Mrs. Peggy Parker

Ms. Caroline McCarley

 

Members Absent:

Mr. John Connelly

Mrs. Audrey Stevens

Mr. Mark Torr

 

 

 

 

 

Also Present:

Mr. Michael Hopkins, Superintendent

Mr. Kent Hemingway, Assistant 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                        Mr. Callaghan moved, second by Mrs. Hubbard,  to accept the minutes of the Organizational  meeting of  February 14, 2008 and the AREA Board meeting February 18, 2008.

 

Superintendent’s Report

 

 

Employee Recognition        Mr. Hemingway, Assistant Superintendent, with the assistance of Mrs. Nancy Booth, School Street School Principal and Ms. Pahm Allard, RMS Librarian acknowledged the recipients of the February Rochester School Department Employee of the Month award, highlighting their attributes:   Mr. Bruce Wheeler, Buildings & Grounds (District); Linda Gelinas, Rochester Middle School; Meghan Walkama, Grade 4 Teacher at School Street School; and Karrie Brady, Math Teacher at Spaulding High School

 

                                                Recipients received a $25 gift certificate from The 103 Restaurant in Rochester, a certificate of appreciation and  spring flowers from the RW Creteau Technology Center.

 

Corrective Action                The Superintendent reported that District Administrators met with the Deputy Commissioner of Education along with other Department of Education representatives to review the District’s Corrective Action Plan.  The Corrective Action Plan consists of four focus areas:  Student Engagement, Professional Learning Communities, Non-Fiction Writing in all Subjects; and Monitoring Programs.   The final plan will be submitted within three weeks, which will contain the District’s plans and what the State can do to assist in this endeavor.       

 

Special Board Meeting        A Special School Board meeting will be scheduled for March 27, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. in the School Department Board room for second reading and adoption of the FY 09 School Department Budget.

 

Student Senate Report

                                                Student Senate representatives were participating in the Masque and Dagger production of the “Wizard of Oz’ at Spaulding High School.

 

Public Comment                 

                                                Mr. David Robbins, RW Creteau Technology Director commended the Drama Department at Spaulding High School for the exceptional job they have done putting together the performance of the “Wizard of Oz”.  He suggests everyone should take the opportunity to see the outstanding efforts put forth by the students and staff.

                                                Shows are scheduled for tonight at 7:00 p.m.; March 14th at 7:00 p.m.; March 15th at 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.; and March 16th at 1:00 p.m.

 

                                                Mr. Kent Hemingway, Assistant Superintendent announced the “No Talent Left Behind” show would be held at the Opera House on March 30, 2008 beginning at 2:00 p.m.  This production was quite a hit last year showcasing the talents of our teachers and students.   Tickets are $5.

 

                                                Board members extended congratulations to the Boys Basketball team and coaches for making it to the State Semi-Finals this past weekend.  Congratulations were further extended to the Hockey Team, Girls Basketball Team and all the Winter sport team members and coaches all participants were commended for a great season.

 

Committee Reports

 

Building Committee:        

                                                Thanks and congratulations were extended to Dick Kalisz and his staff for all of their efforts and for the significant amount of money saved with the Honeywell Project.

 

Instruction Committee:

                                                Mrs. Grassie moved, second by Dr. Pastelis, that the Board approve the expansion of the Bud Carlson Alternative School.  The motion carried unanimously.

 

                                                Mr. Hemingway reviewed the details of the proposed expansion indicating that the opportunity would be enhanced for students to earn their diploma, decrease the dropout rate, and would help address the compulsory attendance age being changed to 18.

                                                 

Personnel Committee:

 

Retirement                             Mrs. Parker moved, second by Mr. Brennan, that the Board accept Glen Despards, Custodian resignation for retirement purposes.  The motion carried unanimously.

 

Nomination                           Mrs. Parker moved, second by Mr. Brennan, that the Board approve the nomination of Charles Butler, Custodian. The motion carried unanimously.

 

08-09 Nominations               Mrs. Parker moved, second by Mrs. Grassie, that the Board approve the Administrative nominations for school year 2008-2009.  The motion carried unanimously.

 

                                                Mrs. Parker moved, second by Mr. Allen, that the Board approve the Teacher nominations for school year 2008-2009.  The motion carried unanimously.

 

                                                Mrs. Parker moved, second by Mr. Bruneau, that the Board approve the R.O.T.C. nomination for school year 2008-2009.   The motion carried unanimously.

 

Retirement                             Mrs. Parker moved, second by Mrs. Grassie, that the Board approve the resignation for retirement purposes for Sarah Shapleigh, Substance Abuse/Guidance effective at the end of the 2007-08 school year.  The motion carried unanimously.

 

Resignations                         Mrs. Parker moved, second by Mr. Brennan, that the Board approve the following resignations:

Lisa Fendone............................................... Special Education Program Assistance
Mary-Elizabeth Nielsen.................................................................... 2nd Cook/Cashier
Stephen Patt............................................................................ Social Studies Teacher

 

                                                The motion carried unanimously.

 

08-09 Nominations               Mrs. Parker moved, second by Mr. Bruneau, that the Board approve the following Teacher nominations for the 2008-2009 school year:

First Year Teacher
Joseph Benham.............................................................. Physical Education Teacher
Daniel Curran.................................................................... Special Education Teacher
Carla Femino.............................................................. Alternative Education Teacher
Jennifer Ford........................................................................... Social Studies Teacher
Ashley Hokanson........................................... Intermediate Special Needs Teacher
Michele Leahey................................................................... Resource Room Teacher
Audra Lurvey...................... Professional Development/Recruitment Coordinator
Katherine Morrison.................................................................... Guidance Counselor
Robert Reynolds.................................................................................... Math Teacher
Julie Seward...................................................................... Special Education Teacher
Gretchen Solomon................................................................................. Math Teacher
Jonathan White....................................................... Computer Technology Teacher
Cheryl Wisminiti....................................................... Alternative Education Teacher

 

                                                Second Year Teacher

Amy Applegate............................................................. Physical Education Teacher
Lori Becker.............................................................................................. Math Teacher
Dawn Connelly......................................................... Alternative Education Teacher
Leovi Durand.................................................................... Special Education Teacher
Kara Kelley............................................................................................. Math Teacher
Meade Mackay.................................................................... Resource Room Teacher
Erin Mahoney................................................................... Special Education Teacher
Sonya Cusack McCafferty................................................................... Math Teacher

 

                                                Third Year Teacher
Adrienne Smith                                                                     Resource Room Teacher

 

                                                Continued Contract Teacher
Jennifer Gilman                                                                                    Grade 4 Teacher
Julie Hart                                                                                         Speech Pathologist

 

                                                The motion carried unanimously.

 

Job Description                    The Committee submits for first reading the amended Director of Student Services job description.

 

Special Services Committee

 

                                                No action required.                                                                                                         

Finance Committee:

 

Food Service Equipment     Mr. Watson moved, second by Mrs. Grassie, that the Board approve the bid from Tri-Mark United East of Attleboro, MA for a total of $14,380. for food service equipment.  The motion carried unanimously.

 

Transportation Bid              Mr. Watson moved, second by Ms. McCarley, that the Board approve the bid from The Provider Enterprises, Inc. of Fremont, NH for special education transportation for five years.  This bid includes 3 wheelchair and 7 non-wheelchair buses to provide daily special education transportation.  The motion carried unanimously.

 

Wheel Balancer                    Mr. Watson moved, second by Mr. Bruneau, that the Board approve the bid from Lappen’s Garage Equipment of Quincy, MA for a wheel balancer in the amount of $4,674.  The motion carried unanimously.

 

FY 09 Budget                        The Committee recommends for first reading the FY 2009 Operating Budget of $52,657,142.

 

                                                The Committee recommends for first reading the FY 2009 Special Grants Budget of $3,596,587.

 

                                                The Committee recommends for first reading the FY 2009 Food Service Budget of  $1,650,000.

 

                                                The Committee recommends for first reading the FY 2009 Capital Improvement Budget of $1,468,000.

 

Discipline Committee:

                                                Mrs. Hubbard moved, second by Mrs. Grassie, the Board accept the Committees recommendations as presented for case #3918; #3875; and #3534.  The motion carried unanimously.

 

Policy Committee:             

 

First Reading                        The Committee submits for first reading the following policies:

 

                                                                JHCA, Physical Examinations of Students

                                                                IGDJA, Athletic Rules and Regulations

                                                                BCB, Board Committees and Structures

                                                                ABB, Staff Involvement in Decision Making
                AC, Non-Discriminations
                AC-R, Non-Discrimination Title IX Grievances
                AE, School District Mission, Goals and Objectives
                AFB-E, Superintendent’s Evaluation
                AFD, Evaluating of Support Staff

 

Old Business                       None.

     

New Business

 

Maintenance                         The Board commended the entire Maintenance Department for the work they did recently clearing roofs and walkways making the buildings safe for students and staff.

 

Non-Public Session

                                                Dr. Pastelis moved, second by Mr. Callaghan, that the Board enter non-public session in accordance with RSA 91-A:3, Paragraph III (1), to discuss matters which, if discussed in public, would likely affect adversely the reputation of any person, other than a member of the body or agency itself.  Time: 7:54 p.m.  The roll call vote was as follows:

 

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

                                                Mr. Brennan, Mr. Callaghan, Mr. Bruneau, Mr. Allen,

                                                Mrs. Parker, Dr. Pastelis

 

                                                NO:     None

 

                                                 The motion carried unanimously.

 

Public Session

                                                Dr. Pastelis  moved, second by Mrs. Hubbard, to re-enter public session.  On a unanimous vote, the Board entered public session at   8:08 p.m.

 

Adjournment

                                                Mrs. Hubbard moved, second by Mr. Allen, to adjourn.  On a unanimous vote, the Board adjourned at   8:09 p.m.

 

                                                                                                                                                Michael Hopkins 

                                                                                                                                                Board Secretary