ROCHESTER SCHOOL BOARD

Regular School Board Meeting

November 8, 2007

City Council Chambers

DRAFT

 

Members Present:

Mr. Frank Callaghan

Mrs. Pamela Hubbard

Mrs. Audrey Stevens

Mrs. Anne Grassie

Mr. Robert Watson

Mrs. Peggy Parker

Ms. Diane Moody

Mr. John Connelly

Dr. Anthony Pastelis

Mr. William Brennan

Mrs. Jae Duntley (arr. 7:17 pm)

 

Members Absent:

Mr. Charles DeVito

Mrs. Nancy Warren

 

 

Also Present:

Mr. Michael Hopkins, Superintendent

Mr. Kent Hemingway, Assistant Superintendent

Ms. Linda Casey, Business Administrator

Atty. Jerome Grossman

 

Guests/Press

 

Mr. Callaghan 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. Connelly moved, second by Dr. Pastelis, to accept the minutes of the Regular meeting of the October 11, 2007. 

 

Superintendent’s Report

 

Employee Recognition        Mr. Hemingway, Assistant Superintendent, with the assistance of Ms. Terry Desjardins; Mrs. Martha Wingate; and Mrs. Valerie McKenney introduced the recipients of the October Rochester School Department Employee of the Month award, highlighting their attributes:   Linda Morrill, Benefits Coordinator (District); John Hodgdon, SHS Maintenance; Cindy Giguere, grade 1 teacher at Gonic School; and Caitlyn McCarthy grade 8 teacher at Rochester Middle School.

 

                                                Recipients received a $25 gift certificate from The 103 Restaurant in Rochester, a certificate of appreciation and a gift certificate from the Rochester Opera House.  

 

School Portfolio                   An excerpt from the Rochester Middle School’s presentation to the Instruction Committee was shown.  Over the course of three Instruction Committee meetings in October each school presented their School Portfolio and reviewed their progress towards the 90% Reading Goal.

 

Student Senate Report

                                                Katie Mitropoulos, Student Senate representative reported that the Senate discussed upcoming fundraising and other events at their last meeting.  The decision was made not to hold a winter spirit week but to plan an event that will coincide with a home hockey game.

 

                                                The Volleyball Team went to the finals last Saturday, despite a valiant effort, lost to Salem.  The team had a superb season and the student body is very proud of them.  Winter sports will begin soon, everyone is encouraged to come out and show their school spirit.  The sophomore class has begun planning the semi-formal; the junior class has chosen Paris for the theme of the prom; the senior class is holding their semi-formal this evening.

 

                                                Thoughts and good wishes were extended to the family and friends of a fellow student who died Monday night in a car accident.

 

 

Public Comment                 

                                                Mr. Tom Kaczynski expressed his concern with the time and money being spent on proposed new athletic fields.  He strongly opposes the building of any new schools or fields; he feels that these items are wants not needs.  Focus should be on solving problems. Until all students have achieved the level of proficiency in academics, money should not be spent on new programs, fields, buildings or anything not related to academic achievement.

 

                                                Mr. Rick Healey, Rochester City Councilor brought a concern forward from the City Safety Committee regarding buses not going far enough down Norway Plains.  The Council is requesting more information pertaining to the request from Holy Rosary Credit Union to put up signage.  Mr. Healey requests that the administration and Board consider the possibility of moving the voting location in Gonic from the Fire Station to the Gonic School due to lack of parking at the Fire Station.  A decision before the next Primary would be helpful, a letter addressing the pros and cons of changing the polling location should be forwarded to the City Manager.

 

Committee Reports

 

Building Committee:        

                                                Mr. Connelly moved, second by Mr. Watson, that the Board abandon the idea of building on the Chamberlain Street School property.  The motion carried unanimously.

                                                 

Instruction Committee:

                                                Mrs. Grassie reported on the presentations done by each school, noting what a tremendous job they did outlining programs and interventions being implemented highlighting the unique special qualities of each school.  Administrators and staff were commended for their time and effort.

                                                 

Personnel Committee:

 

Nominations                         Mrs. Stevens moved, second by Mr. Brennan,  that the Board approve the following nominations: 


Denise Csinsi............................................... Special Education Personal Assistant
Casey Cook.................................................. Special Education Personal Assistant
Cassandra Wolff............................................................ Special Education Teacher

 

                                                The motion carried unanimously.

 

Co/Extra Curricular               Mrs. Stevens moved, second by Dr. Pastelis, that the Board approve the following Co-Curricular/Extra Curricular nominations:
                                                                                                                                           

Heather Holland........................................................... Student Council Co-Advisor
Stephanie Philip............................................................ Student Council Co-Advisor

 

                                                The motion carried unanimously.

Special Services Committee:           

                                                No action required - October meeting was cancelled.                   

 

Finance Committee:

 

Tuition                                   Mr. Connelly moved, second by Mr. Watson, the Board approve the 2008-2009 Tuition Rates:  High School - $9,505.36; Middle School - $10,026.40; Elementary - $8,799.31; Vocational Tuition Rate - $3,802.14; and FY ’08 Sped Tuition Rate for Non-AREA School District - $15,975.24 The motion carried unanimously.

 

Desktop Computers             Mr. Callaghan moved, second by Dr. Pastelis, the Board approve the bid from Turbotek of Manchester, NH for 100 desktop computers in the amount of $89,220.  The motion carried unanimously.

 

Laptop Computers               Mr. Callaghan moved, second by Dr. Pastelis, the Board approve the bid from Turbotek of Manchester, NH for laptop computers, two labs with 25 laptops per lab at a total cost of $58,200.  The motion carried unanimously.

 

Thin Client Server                Mr. Callaghan moved, second by Mrs. Duntley, the Board approve the bid from Turbotek of Manchester, NH for Thin Client Server Systems in the amount of $30,403.  The motion carried unanimously.

 

 

POS System                          Mr. Callaghan moved, second by Dr. Pastelis, the Board approve the bid from Lunch Byte Systems of Rochester, NY for a Point of Sale System in the amount of $65,891.   The motion carried unanimously.

 

Gymnasium Doors               Mr. Callaghan moved, second by Mr. Connelly, the Board approve the bid from Granite State Glass of Rochester, NH for replacement doors at the Spaulding High School Gymnasium in the amount of $16,880.  The motion carried unanimously.

 

CIP Line                                 Mr. Callaghan moved, second by Mr. Connelly, the Board authorize submission of a request to City Council to establish a CIP line for developing the property near Chestnut Hill Road.  The motion carried unanimously.

 

RFP Project Manager          Mr. Callaghan moved, second by Mr. Connelly, that the Board authorize the Superintendent and Facilities Director to develop a RFP for a Project Manager to oversee the field development of the property near Chestnut Hill Road.  The motion carried unanimously.

Aide Position                        Mr. Callaghan moved, second by Mrs. Grassie, the Board approve a 27.5 hour per week Aide position at Gonic School for the remainder of the 2007-08 school year.  The motion carried unanimously.

 

Discipline Committee:

                                                Mr. John Shea, SHS Principal gave an overview of the changes to discipline procedures at the High School that were presented to the Discipline Committee.    The school is working aggressively with suspension issues, to eliminate time out of school.  There are several options being considered and will be presented to the Administration and Board once finalized.  Saturday detentions have been eliminated; detentions are served after school for two hours on Tuesday and Thursday.  Consistency with discipline and assuring that students are aware of the consequences for their actions are vital to the decrease of discipline issues.

 

Policy Committee:

                                                Dr. Pastelis moved, second by Mr. Watson, to take the motion for second reading and approval of policy GBEA-1, Anti-Fraternization  Policy: Staff off the table.  The roll call vote was as follows:

 

                                                YES:      Mrs. Grassie, Dr. Pastelis, Mrs. Duntley, Mrs. Parker, Mrs. Stevens,

                                                              Mr. Brennan, Mr. Callaghan, Mrs. Hubbard, Mr. Watson,

                                                              Mr. Connelly,    Ms. Moody

 

                                                No:        None

 

                                          The motion to remove from table carried unanimously.

 

      Policy GBEA-1                Mr. Connelly moved, second by Mr. Brennan, the Board approve second reading and adoption of policy GBEA-1, Anti-Fraternization Policy: Staff.  The motion carried unanimously.

 

                                                Mr. Connelly moved, second by Dr. Pastelis, to take the motion for second reading and approval of policy ACA, Sexual Harassment off the table.  The roll call vote was as follows:

 

                                                YES:      Mr. Callaghan, Dr. Pastelis, Mrs. Parker, Mrs. Hubbard, Mr. Connelly,

                                                              Ms. Moody, Mrs. Stevens, Mr. Brennan, Mr. Watson, Mrs. Grassie,

                                                              Mrs. Duntley

 

                                                No:        None

 

                                          The motion to remove from table carried unanimously.

 

      Policy ACA                     Mr. Connelly moved, second by Dr. Pastelis, the Board approve second reading and adoption of policy ACA, Sexual Harassment.  The motion carried unanimously.

 

Old Business

                                                None

 

NHSBA Update

                                                None

                                                 

New Business

                                                Dr. Pastelis extended his thanks to everyone that went out in the bad weather on Tuesday to vote.   

 

                                                Mrs. Duntley congratulated the four new Board members and those members who were re-elected for another term.

 

                                                Mrs. Grassie was contacted by a constituent regarding the recruitment of 8th grade students for early decision by private schools for their freshman year in high school.  Should we look into offering the opportunity for 8th graders to visit the High School before Spring so they are not lost to private school recruiting?  

 

                                                Mr. Brennan noted that land has been donated to the School Department in the past for school construction.  If there is anyone who wants to donate land for school development, we are willing to accept it.  An ideal piece of property would be 20 acres of flat, dry land.

 

Non-Public Session

                                                Dr. Pastelis moved, second by Mrs. Hubbard, that the Board enter non-public session in accordance with RSA 91-A:2, Paragraph II (c), 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: 8:02 p.m.  The roll call vote was as follows:

 

                                    YES:  Mr. Parker, Mr. Watson, Ms. Moody, Dr. Pastelis, Mr. Callaghan,

                                                Mr. Connelly, Mr. Brennan, Mrs. Duntley, Mrs. Hubbard,

                                                Mrs. Grassie, Mrs. Stevens

 

                                                NO:     None

                                               

                                                 The motion carried unanimously.

Public Session

                                                Mr. Connelly moved, second by Mrs. Hubbard, to re-enter public session.  On a unanimous vote, the Board entered public session at 8:16 p.m.

 

     

Adjournment

                                                Mr. Connelly moved, second by Mrs. Hubbard, to adjourn.  On a unanimous vote, the Board adjourned at 8:17 p.m.

 

 

                                                                                                                                                Michael Hopkins 

                                                                                                                                                Board Secretary