MILAN

Minutes of School Board Meeting

Thursday, June 23, 2005 at 6:30 pm

Milan Village School, 11 Bridge Street, Milan, NH 03588-9702

                     Phone 603 449-3306       Fax 603.466.3870     Web http://schools.ncia.net/milanvs2                                

 

Milan Members Present:

Sarah Sarette, Principal, Milan Village School; Andrew Mullins, School Board Chairman; Jacqueline Quintal, School Board Member; Patricia Shute, School Board Member.

Others Present:

Patrick Low, Superintendent, SAU-20; Pauline Plourde, Business Administrator SAU-20; Malcolm Shute, Minute Taker.

Guests Present: Karen Wheeler, Julie Hallee, Laura Ouellette, Amy Cornish, Jeff Schall (NCIA), Carol Miller (NCIA),  Rich Sarette,  Gisele Oullette.

 

(Taken from Agenda)

No.          Subject

I.    Call to Order

The School Board Chairman called the meeting to order at 6:47 pm.

 

II.   Approval of June 7,  2005 Minutes

Motion     by Jacqueline Quintal to approve minutes of June 7, 2005 with changes as amended.

Seconded by Patricia Shute.

Vote:        All in favor, motion passed.

 

III. Public Comments

None.

 

IV. Communications/Written

      The Chairman read a letter from the New Hampshire DOE regarding their underpayment to the Milan Village school for targeted aid in the 2003-2004 school year.  The school will be reimbursed after July 1st, 2005.

      The Superintendent read a letter regarding the status of the Performance Bond.

      The Chairman read a letter from the Principal which was a response to the opening for a 5th grade teacher.

      The Superintendent read a letter regarding outstanding bills from a vendor.

      The Superintendent read from a letter-to-the editor on June 15th, criticizing his absence from the community awards' ceremony and 6th grade graduation at the Milan Village school. The Superintendent said his time was occupied at a Gorham event and  indicated he will try to have all of the SAU-20 districts alternate their activities so they do not occur on the same night.  This should prevent such a situation from happening in the future.

 

V. Communications-Visiting Staff or Special Presenters

      Motion    By Patricia Shute, seconded by Jacqueline Quintal.

     Motion:   To accept the NCIA contract, as presented, for a one-year trial period to provide high speed T1

                      Internet Service for the Milan Village school's computer systems.

     Vote:       All in favor, motion passed.

 

      NCIA gave the superintendent a printed copy of their proposed Service Contract for the Milan Village school's computer systems for review and acceptance.

 

      NCIA gave the Superintendent a printed copy of their contract for the Milan Village school's computer systems to obtain Internet Service for e-mail and Internet connections for review and acceptance.

 

      NCIA indicated that it may be possible to locate Repeater on Milan Hill and send data to the Milan Village School antenna in order to provide T1 service to Milan Hill and West Milan residents.

 

VI.  Building

       No bids were received on roof repair.

       Wells Excavators bid on water line repair was submitted for $10,725.00 fixed price or less $1,790.00 if

                drainage work is done separately on a time & materials basis. 

       Wells Excavators bid on work on new access road was submitted for $3,795.00

        J & R Gutters bid on work for rain gutters was submitted for $3,895.00.

       Worth’s Seamless Rain Gutters Inc. bid on work for rain gutters was submitted for $2,195.00.

       Rich Sarette, a guest at the meeting, asked if the playground could be drained in the spring.

       No bids were received on replacing the front steps of the school.  The Chairman and the Business Administrator

 will make additional phone calls to local contractors.

       The Business Administrator mentioned that the $180,000 in unexpended funds from last year is not available

 for this yea r to cover these expenses; however, an emergency request may be made to the state.

      Motion    By Patricia Shute to accept the bid of Wells Excavators as submitted, with the addendum of a

possible decrease in cost of $1,790.00 on water line repair as it is done on a time & materials basis, for a total of $10,725.00 less $1,790.00.

Seconded by Jacqueline Quintal.

     Vote: All in favor, motion passed.

      Motion by Patricia Shute to accept the bid from Wells Excavators about the access road as presented for

 $3,795.00.

Seconded by Jacqueline Quintal.

Vote: All in favor, motion passed.

      The school board tabled further discussion on the fuel tank monitor and paving until their next meeting.

      The school used 15,000 gallons of fuel last year and there is a surplus of $5,000 remaining in the budget.

      The school board agreed to increase the footage required for gutters from 200 feet to 400 feet and agreed to adjust the contract cost accordingly.

      Motion by Patricia Shute to accept the work of Worth’s Seamless Rain Gutter Inc. for gutter work as specified and amended at a cost not to exceed $7,000.

Seconded by Jacqueline Quintal.

Vote:  All in favor, motion passed.

       The Chairman agreed to call Dave to see if he is interested in the paving quote.

       Ray's Electric will be called regarding repair of the refrigerator.

 

VII.  Maintenance/Equipment

      The small garden tractor was received and has been used.

      The final cost for the large tractor will be received by Monday so that a purchase order can be issued.

      The Principal reported on her search for a shed at Home Depot in Littleton.

      The Chairman felt that a cost-effective shed could be built locally.

 

VIII.  Policy

      The new School Bus policy will be in the Handbook.

      The prevention of bullying policy will be in the Handbook.

      The board felt that a second reading of the bullying policy was not needed.

      Motion by Jacqueline Quintal to accept the Policy JICK, Pupil Safety and Violence, which mentions the policy on bullying, as written.

Seconded by Patricia Shute

Vote:  All in favor, motion passed.

      A second reading of the amended BEA policy regarding school board meeting criteria was held and it was suggested that in the phrase “regular meetings of the board shall be held in the building of the school district accessible to the handicapped” the words “at least once per month beginning at 6:30 pm except for the months of July and August unless altered by School Board action” be inserted after the word “district”. 

      It was also suggested that the 10 pm time limit should be deleted from the BEA policy.  The Superintendent felt the time limit was necessary and that work sessions could be scheduled to conclude any discussion of subjects which are not finished by 10 pm. A second reading will be made at the next meeting because of these changes.

 

IX.  Principal’s Report

Motion by Patricia Shute to support Lisa Morse in her Master's program at Plymouth State University start with the summer course on July 19th.

Seconded by the Chairman.

Vote:  All in favor, motion passed.

 

X.   Superintendent's Report

      The Superintendent congratulated all who made it possible to receive the accolades for the schools which appeared in local newspaper articles.

      He also thanked all of the school staff who responded to the recent survey about recommendations for the continued improvement of the quality of education in the schools.

      He also requested feedback from parents.  The Principal conducted a similar survey two years ago with 60% of the forms being returned.

      A search team needs to be formed soon to review the packets received for the Principal opening.

      The request from last meeting for a list of shared activities among various SAU-20 schools is finished and will be provided.

      There was no month-end financial report.  It will be included in the year-end report which will be out next week.

      A discussion was held on who should pay Ray’s Electric the $42.00 he is due from his invoice dated June 20, 2003.  (The Board believes that this is an obligation of Wrenn Construction.)

 

XI.  Staffing/Job Postings

      The school board reviewed several responses for the kindergarten/pre-school teacher opening and agreed to hire Mrs. Gerri St. Gelais at a salary of $31,172 MA Step 4 with standard benefits package.

      Motion by Jacqueline Quintal to hire Mrs. Gerri St. Gelais as described above.

Seconded by Patricia Shute

Vote:  All in favor, motion passed.

                               The Principal discussed the possible availability of a PE teacher who would share time between Errol and Milan and perhaps with other districts.  This subject should be placed on all school agendas.

                               Patricia Shute spoke about having a full-time nurse next year.  The state of NH requires that there be a person at all schools who is certified to give CPR and is trained in administering first aide.  A nurse could provide this without needing to train school staff.

                               A letter will be sent to all parents on Monday requesting volunteers for the search committee.

                               Search committee volunteer letters of interest are scheduled to be reviewed on Wednesday, July 13th.  The search team will meet on Monday, July 18th from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm to review applications.

                               The Superintendent mentioned that applications have been received from nine candidates for the Principal opening.

                               A decision on candidates who will be interviewed will be made by the end of the third week in July.

 

XII.   Other 

      The Chairman questioned if the existing computer facilities will require any modification to accept the T1

     high speed Internet connection from NCIA.  The Superintendent will follow-up with NCIA.

 

 

XIII.  Non-Public Session

Motion      by Patricia Shute to go into non-public session under RSA 91-A:3-II..

Seconded  by Jacqueline Quintal

     Vote:         Roll Call Vote: Andrew Mullins-Aye, Patricia Shute-Aye, Jacqueline Quintal-Aye.

     Motion passed.

Public session began at 9:52 pm. 

 

XIV.  Next Regular Meeting

 Tuesday August 2, 2005 at 6:30 pm at Milan Village School.   

 

XV.   Adjournment

Meeting adjourned at  9:52 pm.