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ROCHESTER
SCHOOL BOARD December
8, 2011 DRAFT
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 Mr.
Allen, to accept the minutes of the Regular Board meeting of November 10,
2011 as written. The motion carried
unanimously. Superintendent’s Report Student
Recognition Mrs. Mary Moriarty,
Assistant Superintendent introduced coordinators of the Teen Drug Court program,
a division of the Juvenile Justice System in Rochester: Nicole Rodler and Deputy Chief of Police
Mike Allen. Ms. Rodler and Deputy
Chief Allen commended the students who serve on the TDC for their dedication,
commitment, leadership and courage that it takes to step up and take the time
to work with their peers whose misconduct has led them to TDC. The following students were recognized:
Michael Seavey Chanelle Brooks, Elysha Marsh, Gabe Hoffman, Jessica LeClair, Nileesa Gautam Chelsea Wasson,
and Lydia Hoffman. Students not in attendance: Desiree Young, Olivia Leonard,
Courtney Foote, and Dillon Albers PTA Honors Mr. Chris Foley, Principal
at William Allen School announced that three members of the William
Allen School community received high honors at the NH PTA Convention in North
Conway at the 2010-2011 awards ceremony in November. The recipients were Kat Crosby, Assistant
Principal receiving Honorable Mention
Administrator Award; Melissa Marcotte, grade 2 teacher Outstanding Partnership Award; and Hannah Gemas, Student
Volunteer Award for the State of NH – Hannah is a 6th grader this
year enrolled at the Rochester Middle School. Employee
Recognition Mrs. Mary Moriarty,
Assistant Superintendent introduced the November employee of the month recipients: Richard Choate, Grade 8 Science Teacher at
Rochester Middle School; Emily Carroll, Math Teacher at Spaulding High
School; and Nancy Sewell, District Academic Assessor. Recipients
received a $20 gift certificate for Granite Steak & Grill in Rochester, a
certificate of appreciation and poinsettia. Meetings Mr. Hopkins reviewed
the schedule of meetings occurring over the next few weeks: - December 15,
2011 at 7:00 p.m. a Special Building Committee is scheduled to interview for
the Construction Manager for the sprinkler system installation. - December 19,
2011 at 6:00 p.m. Magnet School Focus Group Meeting will be held in the
School Department Board Room #2 (first floor). Notices will be sent to all
parents via Infinite Campus and Honeywell Instant Alert; also advertised on
RTV Channel 25. - Invitations will be sent out from the City
Manager’s Office for the Inauguration Ceremony for elected City Officials
scheduled for January 3, 2012. - January 5,
2012 at 7:00 p.m. Regular School Board
meeting in City Council Chambers. Gonic School Mr. Hopkins suggested that
the recommendation from the Instruction Committee to not have students in
attendance at Gonic School on January 10, 2012 should clarify that students
will make up that missed day on the January Teachers Workshop Day. Transportation will be provided to and from
school for those students. Common Core Mr. Hopkins gave an overview of
the State Board of Education’s PowerPoint presentation relating to the NH
State School Board adopted Common Core. The State Board of Education adopted
Common Core Standards in summer 2010.
These standards were developed with support of Governors and the
Department of Education in 44 states. Common
Core State Standards solve three specific problems: Increased skills demand and competition;
students not college/career ready; and variance across the country. With 46% of students moving during school
years it is crucial to have consistency to ensure student’s continued
academic growth and progress. Mr. Hopkins
indicated that the State of NH set the standards higher in Math than
established by Common Core; while review of text complexity indicates that NH
may be slightly reduced. We need to
focus on higher expectations from students. Board Members
- Mr. Hopkins and Mr. Watson
acknowledged Board members who would not be returning for another term with
plaques thanking them for their contributions and commitment to the students
and families in Rochester : Mrs. Doris Gates, Mr. Travis Allen, Mrs. Peggy
Parker; Mr. William Brennan; and Mrs. Pamela Hubbard. Board
members expressed their thanks for the opportunity to serve as a Board Member
representing their individual Ward and community at large. Student Senate
Report
Alex
Clark, Student Senate President and Gabe Hoffman, Student Senate Vice-President provided
the following report of events and activities at Spaulding High School: Spaulding’s Music Department is having its
annual Holiday Village Concert at the Recreation Center Friday evening and
two shows on Saturday. The Junior
class is hosting a Snow Flake Fling dance to help raise money for the
Prom. Sports: SHS Varsity hockey team had their first
scrimmage and won against Winnacunnet; the girls basketball team will have
their first game Friday; and the bowling team ranked 7th out of 14
at the Bowling Invitational. There is
a scheduled pep rally on December 23rd just before the winter
break that is sure to be a lot of fun and team building. Alex
and Gabe thanked all Board members for serving the students and families in
the District. Public Comment Robert
Gates, spoke about schools that are under Restructuring and Corrective
Action. Committee Reports Building
Committee: No
action required. Instruction
Committee: Jewelry Club Mrs. Grassie moved, second by
Ms. Brown, the Board approve establishing a Jewelry Club as a sanctioned
Spaulding High School Club Activity.
The motion carried unanimously. Gonic School Mrs. Grassie moved, second by
Ms. Brown, the Board approve students not being in attendance at Gonic School
on January 10, 2012; the day will be made up on the January Teacher Workshop Day. The motion carried unanimously. 2012-2013 Calendar The Committee submits the proposed
2012-2013 School Calendar to the Board for first reading. Personnel
Committee: Retirement Mrs. Stevens moved,
second by Mrs. Grassie, the Board accept the resignation for retirement
purposes of John Eliopoulos, Special Education Teacher. The motion carried unanimously. Nominations Mrs. Stevens moved, second
by Mrs. Logan, the Board approve the nomination of Cathy Bassett, Licensed
Nursing Assistant. The motion carried
unanimously. Co/Extra
Curr. Mrs. Stevens moved,
second by Mrs. Parker, the Board approve the following Co/Extra Curricular
nominations: Daniel Allen, ($1.00
contract) Bowling Coach; and Jennifer Roberge,
Middle School Cheering Coach. The
motion carried unanimously. Resignation Mrs. Stevens moved, second
by Mr. Allen, the Board accept the resignation of Pamela Schulte,
Para-Educator. The motion carried unanimously. Special
Services Committee: Healthy Moves Mr. Allen moved, second by Ms.
Brown, the Board approve the pilot of the Health Moves Program at Gonic
School. The motion carried
unanimously. Finance Committee: RFP Approval Mr. Watson moved, second by Mrs. Parker, the Board
approve the Superintendent developing and submitting a request for proposal
for a wireless network at Spaulding High School and Technology Center. The motion carried unanimously. Milling Machine Mr. Watson moved, second by Ms. Brown, the Board
approve the bid from Rice Machinery, Inc. of Cranston, RI in the amount of
$12,400 for a vertical milling machine.
Perkins Grant funded. The
motion carried unanimously. Laser System Mr. Watson moved, second by Ms. Brown, the Board
approve the bid from Laser Systems & Support, LLC of Norman, OK in the
amount of $18,490 for a laser system machine.
Perkins Grant funded. The motion carried unanimously. Sprinkler Design Mr. Watson moved, second by Ms.
Brown, the Board approve the expenditure of $19,500 to Davis Goudreau
Architects of Portsmouth, NH for additional design of the sprinkler alarm
system at the high school. The motion
carried unanimously. Floor Machine Mr. Watson moved, second by Ms. Logan, the Board
approve the bid from Clean-O-Rama of Gorham, ME in the amount of $10,002 for
two (2) walk behind floor machines.
The motion carried unanimously. Stipends Mr. Watson moved, second by Mrs. Grassie,
the Board approve the following grant funded stipends for work as Youth
Empowerment Advisors in the amount of $1,675.32 each for Brandon Albert,
Kenneth Daynard, John Lindsey, and Brandy
Sanger. The motion carried
unanimously. Discipline Committee: Mrs.
Parker moved, second by Mr. Brennan, the Board support the recommendations by
the administration and committee for the following discipline case #28941.
The motion carried unanimously. Policy
Committee: Second Reading Dr. Pastelis moved, second by Mrs.
Gates, for second reading and adoption of the following amended policies by the
Board: - JEB, Age of
Entrance - IGDJA,
Athletic Rules and Regulations The motion carried unanimously. First Reading The Committee recommends the
following policies as amended for first reading: - DJC, Bidding
Requirements - IKA-R, Grading
Guidelines - IKE, Promotion
Policy - EBBA-1,
Rochester Health Policies (Recommendations from Rochester School Nurses) - EBBA-3,
Medication Policy (Rochester School Health Services) - EBBA-5, First
Aid (and Emergency Care) Old Business None New Business Focus Group Mrs. Gates confirmed the
meeting time for the Magnet School Focus Group Meeting on December 19, 2011
as 6:00 p.m. Mrs.
Grassie reached out to Rochester residents that do not currently have a
student in our school system or that may not get information via school wide
notices. Residents are urged to come find out what
Magnet School concept is all about. Mr. Watson
indicated that the Magnet School Focus Group meeting is an opportunity for
the community to give input and hear what work has been done through the
Steering Committee. The Board would
like to get more community input with regards to the magnet school concept. Mr. Brennan
expressed his support for introducing students to a second language at an
early age. Speaking a second language
such as Spanish will be quite valuable in the future. Mr. Hopkins explained that French and
Spanish are introduced in grades 6-7; within the magnet school concept a
second language would be introduced at an early age – the best way to
breakthrough to young learners Non-Public Session Dr.
Pastelis moved, second by Mr. Allen the
Board enter non-public session at 8:14 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: Mrs. Gates, Mr. Allen, Ms. Brown, Dr.
Pastelis, Mr.
Brennan, Mrs. Stevens, Mrs. Grassie, Mrs. Parker, Mrs.
Logan, Mr. Gray, Mrs. Hubbard, Ms. McCarley, Mr.
Watson NO: -- After
a short recess, the Board entered non-public session at 8:20 p.m. Public Session Mrs.
Hubbard moved, second by Mr. Allen to enter public session. By unanimous vote, the Board entered public
session at 8:58 p.m. Adjournment Mr. Allen moved,
second by Mrs. Gates to adjourn. On a unanimous vote, the Board adjourned at 8:59
p.m. Respectfully submitted, Michael
Hopkins Board
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