Minutes of Meeting
The Milan School Board met in regular session on
Those present were: Superintendent Patrick Low, Business Administrator Pauline Plourde, Principal Sarah Sarette, School Board Members, Andrew Mullins, Jacqueline Quintal and Patricia Shute, Café Services Terry Redmond and Christine Griffin, Julie Renaud Evans and Recording Secretary Clara Grover.
1. Andrew
Mullins called the meeting to order at
Terry Redmond said that he was aware of the low food temperature and poor quality of the food that had occurred in the past but he and Christine Griffin
have been working to bring about improvements.
Patricia Shute wanted to know if it was the fault of the equipment for the low food temperature?
Terry replied that some of the problems were because of the equipment but most was because of an unqualified person. The steam table had a bad heater coil, which has since been replaced and there is now a back-up coil on hand.
Patrick Low stated that instead
of calling a repair person from
Terry stated that an adjustment period was required to make improvements and to get the personnel trained.
Julie Renaud-Evans wanted to know the hours of the part-time person?
Christine explained that the person was there to help serving and clean-up. By having the person working, the children didn’t have a long wait for service.
Jacqueline Quintal wanted to know why two employees had been let go and then one of them had been rehired?
Terry explained that it was discovered that another person was required to make the service faster and more efficient.
Jacqueline wanted to know why the person was let go in the first place?
Terry explained that with the low student count, they felt that the two people were not needed, but as the month proceeded, it was decided to hire back one of the people let go.
It was also discovered that one of the personnel wasn’t as experienced as they had led Terry and Christine to believe.
Terry explained that the
Julie Renaud-Evans wanted to know who handled the money?
Christine explained that Louise
handled the money and it was part of her work schedule to account for it. Louise works from
Terry stated that Christine was working with Louise to set up a better format for the meals.
Terry gave his cell phone number to the Board: 603-490-3761. He urged the Board to call him, if any problems or concerns arise.
Christine Griffin and Terry
Redmond left at
2. Approval of the minutes of:
favor.
favor.
favor.
favor.
3. Public Comments: No Comment
4. Principal’s Report. People are coming to talk to the children about health. Talks are taking place about the amount of weight that the children are putting in their backpacks. This weight is detrimental to the children’s posture and harmful to their backs. There is a growth in the second grade students in reading since last year. SWIS data on the behavior
of the student on the playground and overall actions of the students have improved somewhat. There are three adults on the playground when the students are outside. The playground rules are now consistent among the adults. Verbal praising is used for the students. The students are given a verbal warning on the first offense in their behavior.
The older students are being asked to help the younger students in the school and on the playground. This seems to help the older students also.
October 29, will be Harvest Festival Day, games, refreshments and a dunking booth are on the agenda.
NECAP testing will be done at the end of the month. This is a pilot program for this year.
Sessions will be a 45 minutes a day, for three days. State will not provide individual results.
Julie Renaud-Evans wanted to know how the team teaching was progressing.
Sarah Sarette said that the teachers meet once a week to discuss what is happening. She
felt that it was to early too give a progress report.
Julie Renaud-Evans wanted to know about math testing.
Sarah said there is a training session in January for the NWEA program and she planned to
go. Andrew wanted to know how it worked and the cost.
Sarah stated that the students are put in reading groups and are up to the challenge of
increasing their understanding of what they read. As each student increases in reading
they are moved from one group to another to get a bigger challenge.
Julie commented on the Woods Days that was held recently; the events were interesting
and everyone had a good time.
Sarah said that the Woods Day was incorporated in the curriculum.
6. Superintendent’s Report: Patrick Low said that the Turner Group had looked over the
roof and made several suggestions about fixing it for the winter. A lot of the screws need to be tightened to secure them to the under pining and a Water Shield was suggested also.
Andrew wanted to know if installing more insulation was a good fix.?
Patrick said that more insulation was suggested, plus dropping the ceiling in a couple of the rooms to install 4 x8 foam sheets/foil faced. Keeping the attic cold was better than having a warm one because of the condensation. Replacing the shingles was another suggestion, but because it so later in the year it was not feasible. Replacing the shingles would cost from $55,000 to $85,000 plus disposal.
Julie suggested getting in touch with Regional Refuse Disposal District about the disposal
of the shingles.
Patrick stated that there would be a public forum in a week to let the residents know what was happening to the school. A call was placed to Loren Belida of the Turner Group
Andrew wanted to know about the proposed shield that was suggested and was $158,000 the whole cost for all repairs?
Patrick suggested that Loren give the highlights of what was proposed, about the self adhesive shingles and the eaves sealants.
Andrew asked if there was a guarantee or warranty for longer than 30 days.
Andrew asked if dropping the ceilings would cost $55,000 and would the insulation be R42 and increased to I inch.
Loren: The insulation was drooping all over the place.
Pauline Plourde would that be similar to what has already been done with the insulation
Loren: Yes.
Andrew asked if $65,000 would be added to the $235,000?
Loren said the price would be $515, 000 with a cold attic. Ventilation to the roof
is needed and the cost of shingles would be $14,000.
Patrick stated that there was no guarantee with a warm attic.
Andrew said that they were led to believe that there was a five year guarantee on the warm attic and could it be backed up with a thermal imaging and was the cost was built in with the previous figure.
Pauline said the first thermal imaging was $3200.
Jacqueline wanted to know if the pipes needed more insulation to keep them from freezing this coming winter?
Andrew stated that he was tired of baby-sitting the pipes on very cold nights.
Loren suggested putting heat tapes on the pipes.
Andrew wanted to know what pipes should have heat tapes?
Pauline wanted to know if more insulation would help?
Loren said that more insulation would help and blocking the outside ventilation vents would help. Having the fans blowing out would draw heat from the building.
Board members had concerns about stripping the shingles at this time of the year, didn’t think that the plastic sheeting would last all winter and felt that if the South East corner of the building needed the most work on it to get through the winter with no babysitting frozen pipes.
Loren agreed with them and would come up to reassess the problems and provide a temporary solution.
The phone call ended at
Andrew suggested that Sarah and Dennis meet to discuss last year’s problems and find a solution.
Patrick shared using heat tapes would involve the insurance company?
It was decided to go into
Non-Public Session to talk with Mike Fortier about the bus (tapes and cameras) at
Andrew Mullins Yes Jacqueline Quintal Yes Patricia Shute Yes
Non-Public Session ended at
Voted to go public
Andrew Mullins Yes Jacqueline Quintal Yes Patricia Shute Yes
Patrick presented a list of the
students going to
Jacqueline wanted to know why
Patricia made the motion to move money from Special Ed Tuition to Media Support and Jacqueline seconded the motion. All in favor.
Pauline said that the insurance would not cover any problems that maybe covered under the performance Bond. She is investigating about the Fire truck wrecking the fence to see if the insurance will cover the cost.
Patrick received a bill from the fire department for coming to the school when the fire alarm went off. The bill should be covered by the fire department.
A bill was received from Wrenn Associates for the money still due them.
Pauline pointed out to the Board members that a purchase order number was required for her to pay anyone who does work at the school.
Patrick presented the Board a
bust of
Patrick stated that the AREA agreement was being reviewed.
Patricia made the motion to adjourn and Jacqueline seconded the motion. All in favor.
The meeting
adjourned at