DUMMER

Minutes of School Board Meeting


Tuesday November 16,  2004 at 6p.m.

Milan Village School

Milan, NH 03588

 

Members present:

Joan Belleau                          School Board Chairperson 

Mariann Letarte                     School Board Member 

 

Others present:

Patrick Low                                        Superintendent SAU20

Pauline Plourde                                 Business Administrator SAU20

Rebecca Hebert-Sweeny                 Director of Special Services SAU20

John Moulis                                        Berlin Public Schools

Malcolm Shute                                   Recording Secretary

 

Agenda Item No./Subject

 

I.  Call to Order

Joan Belleau called the meeting to order at 6:03 p.m. Motion seconded by

Mariana Letarte.

 

II. Approval of Sept. 13, 2004 Minutes

Motion by Joan Belleau, seconded by Mariann Letarte, to accept minutes.

            Motion: To accept the minutes of September 13, 2004.

            Vote:     All members voted in favor.  Motion passed.

                                                                                                                                               

III.  Communications (Pauline and Patrick, I really need help with this item. John spoke so softly that my recorder barely pick up what he said.  I wrote the following mostly from my notes and I really don’t understand what he is requesting).  As you know, he spoke at the combined Dummer/Milan meeting also which should have been good for both towns rather than repeating the same info. At any rate I would like to have this item be generic so that it can be used directly in both minutes, except for the different comments made in each meeting, if you can help me.  This item may be in the wrong place. John was first to speak at the meeting but is not on the agenda as far as I can tell).

 

John Moulis from the Berlin Public schools discussed the AVER (Androscoggin Valley E R).  Last year a meeting was held Berlin to discuss the area schools that send students in the 7th through the 12th grade to the Berlin public schools.  An Area Agreement document was generated as a result of this meeting and was distributed to Randolph, Errol, Milan and Dummer for their input and comment.  Milan has not responded to the request at this time.  Apparently, the document was in limbo for some time; however, in October 2004, the document went back to John and amendments were added.  In response to a question from Mariann Letarte, he explained that tuition cost/student was pro rated.  She also questioned how changes in student population affected this.  Patrick Low felt that because Berlin accept funds from the State of New Hampshire, they must accept tuition students.

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                                                                                                   Dummer School Bard Meeting Minutes 11/16/04

 

IV.  Superintendent's Report

 

            A.  School/bldg visits

            Patrick Low visited the Gorham school and enjoyed the time he spent in the classrooms, especially the lower grades. He plans to visit the Milan school soon.

 

            B.  Round table discussion opportunities

            Patrick Low will participate in a round table discussion with the Milan School Board on December 1, 2004.  He commented that it is not the intention of SAU20 to try to micro-manage any individual schools.

 

            C.  Curriculum-including Technology, PBIS, other

            Joan Belleau confirmed that she received Sarah Sarette’s Building Report in the Milan packet. On January 17, 2005, Sarah will come to Gorham to receive MWPA training.  The second semester will cover math and language arts.                   

 

            D.  Volunteer outreach-MVS

            Patrick Low visited Virginia Barry, the Assistant Provost at Plymouth State college, last week to discuss how SAU20 could attract student teachers to this area.  He felt that any student-teachers who do come should attend a sampling of  town-related meetings as well as school board meetings during their stay in order to immerse themselves in the local culture and be exposed to the whole picture rather than just their role in the classroom.

 

He also pointed out the need for teachers here and stated that approximately  50% of our teachers will be eligible for retirement in six years (2010).

 

            Preparing a CD/brochure that depicts the high quality of life here in the North Country is on the agenda for SAU20, he noted.  He felt that It would be very valuable when distributed to potential/interested teachers.

 

            E.  MVS Bldg., update-winterization & Performance Bond              

            The soffits on both ends of the Milan Village School have been removed in order to improve the air circulation in the building. The northwest corner will be insulated first and then it will be checked and monitored periodically for any condensation.  Patrick will meet with the contractors.

 

            F.  MVS Principal’s report

            No discussion.

 

            G.  Financial Report

            No discussion.

 

      

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                                                                                                   Dummer School Bard Meeting Minutes 11/16/04

 

            H.  Budget Development-working draft presentation

           No discussion.           

                                                                       

            I.  Combined Dummer/Milan meeting which followed this meeting at 6:30 p.m.     covered topics that are normally included here.

 

            J.  Student Request for tuition pass through

            No discussion.

 

            K.  Other

            No discussion.

 

V.  Budget Development

No discussion.   

                                                                                                           

VI. Committee Reports

None known.

                       

VII. Other

No discussion.

                                                                       

VIII. Non-public Session:  Decision given by board on a request to pass through tuition from Berlin to Gorham for a Dummer resident High School senior.  Declined.

 

IX.  Next Meeting

Dummer Meeting                 December 13, 2004 at 7 p.m at Dummer Town Hall

SAU20 Board Meeting         November 30, 2004 at 7 p.m. at Milan Village School

 

X. Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at 6:37 p.m.

           

Respectfully submitted by

Malcolm Shute

Recording Secretary

Dummer School Board                                                       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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