ROCHESTER SCHOOL BOARD

Regular School Board Meeting

December 13, 2007

City Council Chambers

DRAFT 

Members Present:

Mr. Frank Callaghan

Mr. Robert Watson

Mrs. Peggy Parker

Mr. William Brennan

Dr. Anthony Pastelis

Mrs. Jae Duntley

Mrs. Audrey Stevens

Mrs. Anne Grassie

Mrs. Pamela Hubbard

Mrs. Nancy Warren (arr. 7:10 pm)

 

Members Absent:

Mr. Charles DeVito

Ms. Diane Moody

 

 

Also Present:

Mr. Michael Hopkins, Superintendent

Mr. Kent Hemingway, Assistant Superintendent

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                        Dr. Pastelis moved, second by Mr. Connelly, to accept the minutes of the Regular meeting of the November 8, 2007 and the Special meeting of November 26, 2007

 

Superintendent’s Report

 

Retirement Plaques              Mr. Hopkins recognized and thanked for their many years of dedicated service the following mid-year retirees;  Jackie Faulhaber, 23 years; Lorraine Ramsay, 22 years; Paul Normandin, 13 years; Sarah Brown, 27 years; Sylvia Poore, 10 years; and Juliette Lamb, 26 years.

 

Board Recognition               Mr. Hopkins, amongst a standing ovation, presented Mrs. Duntley with a plaque acknowledging her four years of service as a Board member and Committee Chair.  Although not in attendance Mr. Devito was recognized for serving as a Board member, Vice-Chair, and Committee Chair for twelve years; and Ms. Moody was recognized for her two years of service as a Board member.

 

                                                Mrs. Warren, amongst a standing ovation, was presented a plaque acknowledging her ten years of service as a Board member, serving as Board Chair, Committee Chair, NHSBA and NSBA representative.  Mr. Hopkins extended thanks and appreciation for her commitment to the District.

 

                                                The Superintendent read a message from Peg Hurd, RFT President:  On behalf of the Federation, thanks and gratitude is extended to the outgoing Board members for their dedication to the children of Rochester and continued support of the staff during their tenure.

 

Employee Recognition        Mr. Hemingway, Assistant Superintendent, acknowledged the recipients of the November Rochester School Department Employee of the Month award, highlighting their attributes:   Betty McCrillis, Special Education Secretary (District); Theresa Ahadi , Program Aide at Spaulding High School; Barbara Bridges, Health & Wellness teacher at Rochester Middle School; and Bonnie Mulcahy grade 1 teacher at McClelland School.

 

                                                Recipients received a $25 gift certificate from The 103 Restaurant in Rochester, a hand crafted wooden puzzle made by students at the Richard Creteau Technology Center.  

 

 

Field Development               Mr. Hopkins met with the City Council Finance Committee to discuss the field development on the property adjacent to Chestnut Hill Road.  In order for the Council to approve the field development a motion brought forward by the Board must be in place.

 

                                                Mr. Connelly moved, second by Mr. Brennan, the Board authorize the allocation of $300,000 to a CIP for Athletic Field Development.

 

                                                Mrs. Warren clarified that all funds from revenue generated in association to field development and the property off Hillsdale Road will be used to offset the field development costs.

 

                                                The motion carried unanimously.

 

Student Senate Report

                                                Due to inclement weather there was no Student Senate Report.

 

Public Comment                 

                                                Mrs. Jae Duntley stated that it was a pleasure and honor to work with all members over the past four years,  it has been a rewarding experience.

 

Committee Reports

 

Building Committee:        

                                                No Action Required

                                                 

Instruction Committee:

 

RMS Spanish & French      Mrs. Grassie moved, second by Mr. Connelly, the Board approve Spanish I and French I instruction at Rochester Middle School beginning in the Fall of 2008.   The motion carried unanimously.

 

French Honor Society         Mrs. Grassie moved, second by Dr. Pastelis, the Board approve the establishment of a French Honor Society at Spaulding High School. 

 

                                                Mrs. Warren moved, second by Mrs. Grassie, to amend the motion to authorize the Superintendent to speak with the RFT regarding approval of a stipend for the French Honor Society Advisor.  The amendment passed unanimously.

 

                                                The motion as amended carried unanimously.                                                           

 

2008-2009 Calendar              The Committee recommends for first reading the 2008-2009 School Calendar.

       

Personnel Committee:

 

Retirements                           Mrs. Stevens moved, second by Mr. Connelly, that the Board approve with regrets the following resignations for retirement purposes effective at the end of the 2007-08 school year:

Nancy Eastman......................................................................... Mathematics Teacher
Linda Mullen....................................................................................... English Teacher

      ......................................... The motion carried unanimously.

 

Nominations                         Mrs. Stevens moved, second by Dr. Pastelis, that the Board approve the following nominations: 

Kenneth Guild............................................................................................... Custodian
Tina Litchfield........................................................ Special Education Personal Aide
Marli McKenna..................................................... Special Education Personal Aide

 

............................................... 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:
                                                                                                                                           

Bonnie Varney-Lachance.......................................... Middle School Girls Lacrosse
Bonny Young...................................................................... Freshman Softball Coach
Robert Gee.......................................................................... Freshman Baseball Coach
Susan Pelletier................................................................ Varsity Boys Tennis Coach
Darren McCarthy............................................................... JV Girls Basketball Coach
Richard Poole.................................................................... Boys Winter Track Coach
Michael O’Brien................................................................. Girls Winter Track Coach
Jennifer Zaidlicz.................................... Middle School Girls “B” Basketball Coach
Pahm Allard........................................................................ Audio Visual Coordinator
Julie Gagne................................................................. Elementary Yearbook Advisor
Gail Nelson...................................................................... Middle School Spirit Coach

                                                The motion carried unanimously.

 

Resignation                           Mrs. Stevens moved, second by Mrs. Grassie, that the Board accept the resignation of Janice Tilton, Special Education Program Assistant.  The motion carried unanimously.

 

Nominations                         Mrs. Stevens moved, second by Dr. Pastelis, that the Board approve the following nominations:


Andrea Brault........................................................ Special Education Personal Aide
Gail Martin..................................................... Special Education Personal Assistant

 

                                                The motion carried unanimously.

 

Special Services Committee:           

                                                No action required - November meeting was cancelled.                               

 

Finance Committee:

 

Cache Server                         Mrs. Warren moved, second by Mr. Connelly, the Board approve the bid from Stratacache of Dayton, Ohio for Cache Server System in the amount of $12,154.  The motion carried unanimously.

 

Stipend                                  Mrs. Warren moved, second by Mrs. Stevens, the Board approve a salary increase of 10% for Gwen Guess during the period of time that she served as interim Principal at Chamberlain Street School, covering a leave of absence.  The motion carried unanimously.

Mrs. Warren moved, second by Dr. Pastelis, the Board approve a stipend in the amount of $4,000 for Martha Brennan for managing the McKinney-Vento Grant.  The motion carried unanimously.

                                               

Increased Hours                   Mrs. Warren moved, second by Mrs. Duntley, the Board approve a 2.5 hour per week increase for the High School Principal’s secretary.  The motion carried unanimously.

Aide Positions                      Mrs. Warren moved, second by Dr. Pastelis, the Board approve a 17.5 hour per week Personal Aide position at Chamberlain Street School.  The motion carried unanimously.

Mrs. Warren moved, second by Mrs. Duntley
, the Board approve a 27.5 hour per week Aide position at Spaulding High School.  The motion carried unanimously.

 

OT Position                           Mrs. Warren moved, second by Mrs. Duntley, the Board approve an additional Occupational Therapist position.  The motion carried unanimously.

 

Discipline Committee:

                                                Mrs. Hubbard moved, second by Mr. Connelly, the Board support the Committees recommendations as presented for case #1655, #1657, and #1642.  The motion carried unanimously.

Policy Committee:

                                                Mrs. Duntley reminded members the next Policy Committee meeting would be held on December 20, 2007 at 6:30 p.m.

 

Old Business

                                                None

 

NHSBA Update

                                                Mrs. Warren asked for volunteers to represent the Board at the Delegates Assembly scheduled for January in Concord.  Please e-mail her if you would be interested in attending.

                                                 

New Business                     

 

Negotiations                         Mrs. Warren had received a request from the RFT to establish a schedule for Paraprofessional Contract negotiations.  The following Board members offered to serve on the Negotiation Team:  Mrs. Hubbard, Mrs. Parker, and Mrs. Grassie.

 

                                                The Superintendent reported that he has spoken with the RFT regarding beginning negotiations in January 2008.                                                                                           

 

Non-Public Session

                                                Dr. Pastelis moved, second by Mr. Connelly, that the Board enter non-public session in accordance with RSA 91-A:2, Paragraph II (d), to discuss the acquisition, sale or lease of property.  Time: 7:34 p.m.  The roll call vote was as follows:

 

                                    YES:  Mr. Connelly, Mr. Watson, Mr. Brennan, Mrs. Stevens,

                                                Mrs. Warren, Mr. Callaghan, Mrs. Duntley, Dr. Pastelis,

                                                Mrs. Hubbard, Mrs. Grassie, Mrs. Parker

 

                                                NO:     None

                                               

                                                 The motion carried unanimously.

Public Session

                                                Mr. Connelly moved, second by Dr. Pastelis, to re-enter public session.  On a unanimous vote, the Board entered public session at 7:47 p.m.

 

Organizational Meeting      The January Board meeting will be held on Thursday, January 10, 2008 in City Council Chambers at 7:00 p.m.

 

CIP                                          Mr. Connelly moved, second by Mrs. Grassie, to authorize the Superintendent to submit a request to the City Manager a supplemental CIP in the amount of $95,000.  The motion carried unanimously.

 

     

Adjournment

............................................... Dr. Pastelis moved, second by Mr. Connelly, to adjourn.  On a unanimous vote, the Board adjourned at 7:50 p.m.

 

 

                                                                                                                                                Michael Hopkins 

                                                                                                                                                Board Secretary