Minutes

SAU #20 Board Meeting

Thursday, September 11, 2003 – Milan Village School

 

Attendees

Jay Holmes – Gorham                                                Jacqueline Quintal - Milan

Leona Guay – Gorham, SAU vice-chair            Patricia Shute - Milan

Jennifer Lapointe – Gorham                                    Andrew Mullins - Milan   

Jay Guilmette – Gorham                                    Joanne Belleau - Dummer

Wendy Niskanen – Shelburne                                 Diane Labbe - Dummer

Joanne Carpenter - Shelburne

Lark Wood – Randolph                                 

Kathleen Kelley – Randolph, SAU chair

David Dernbach - Randolph

 

Others

Pauline Plourde – Business Administrator, SAU #20

Jacqueline Tetreault – Curriculum Coordinator Adm. Assist., SAU #20/

                                    Recording Secretary

Ted Comstock - NHSBA

 

 

Call to Order

Kathleen Kelley, chairperson of the SAU #20 School Board, called the meeting to order at 7:03 pm.  This meeting was called to facilitate the process for hiring a permanent superintendent for SAU #20, and to conduct other board business.  Superintendent Welford had been asked to arrive later in the meeting at the request of the chairperson.

 

Approval of minutes

 

            Motion by Jay Holmes, second by Jay Guilmette

            Motion:  to approve the July 21, 2003 minutes as presented.

            Vote on motion:  all in favor; motion carries.

 

            Motion by Jennifer Lapointe, second by Joanne Belleau

            Motion:  to approve the August 12, 2003 minutes as presented.

            Vote on motion:  all in favor; motion carries.

 

Superintendent Search Update

Ted Comstock, NHSBA Executive Director,  needs to include a vision statement in the recruitment brochure. The chairperson shared some options and asked for comments:

            -To provide strong leadership throughout the organization

-To provide a safe, enriching environment that fosters independent growth and enjoyment for staff & students

-To provide strong educational institutions supporting community development and delivering the services the community wants

-To provide a school that will be the heart of the community

 

The vision statement will be discussed at the next meeting.

 

There are a few different options on running the superintendent search process.  One option is to “charge” a  search committee with a timeline and a list of characteristics for a superintendent.  The second option is to use both a search committee and focus groups and gather input from all the towns involved in the SAU.  It was recommended that a committee should be formed to review the superintendent job description and salary range, and then check with the SAU board if there are any changes.  It was then recommended that town focus groups should be formed, which would consist of various members of school staffs and administration.  The superintendent position would be advertised in October or November; review of resumes and references of approximately six to nine candidates would take place during late December in to early January; interviewing, and site visits, for three candidates who meet best meet the desired qualifications would then take place.

 

Joanne Carpenter entered the meeting at 7:13 pm.

 

Inquiry was made as to starting the process later, such as in December or January.  Mr. Comstock commented that it may jeopordize the process by moving the hiring date to May or June, and it may limit the pool of available candidates.   Ideally, the process should start as soon as possible.

 

Jay Holmes inquired as to how many districts hire the interim superintendent.  Mr. Comstock commented that this does happen.

 

            Motion by Jay Holmes, seconded by Jennifer Lapointe.

Motion:  to direct Ted Comstock from New Hampshire School Boards Association to negotiate with Steve Welford to hire as the full-time superintendent, with a start date as soon as possible.

 

            Motion by Leona Guay, second by Andrew Mullins

            Motion:  to enter non public session under RSA 91a – 32c

            Roll call vote:                 J. Holmes – yes            L. Guay – yes

                                                J. Lapointe – yes            J. Guilmette – yes

                                                W. Niskanen – yes            J. Carpenter – yes

                                                L. Wood – yes                 K. Kelley – yes

                                                D. Dernbach – yes            J. Quintal – yes

                                                P. Shute – yes                   A. Mullins – yes

                                                J. Belleau – yes            D. Labbe – yes

 

            Non public session entered at 7:24 pm.

 

            Non public session exited at 8:07 pm.     

 

            Mr. Welford joined the SAU meeting at this point.

             

            Motion by Wendy Niskanen, second by Jennifer Lapointe

Motion:  to affirm the job description of the superintendent, and giving these responsibilities to Steve Welford therein.

Vote on motion:  all in favor, motion carried.

 

Discussion was had regarding selecting a search committee which would begin the process for choosing a permanent superintendent.  It was agreed upon that each board in the SAU should have a member on the search committee, as well as the principals.  The chairs of the school boards will work with Ms. Kelley to compose a draft of what is being looked for in a superintendent.

 

David Dernbach shared that he would be willing to work with the chairs of the school boards on a draft of the charge to the search committee.

 

Mr. Comstock shared that the search process should begin soon.  The process normally takes about four to six months from beginning to end.

 

            Motion by David Dernbach, second by Joanne Belleau

Motion:  to have a tentative hire date for a permanent superintendent of schools as February 15, 2004.

Vote on motion:  all approve; motion carried.

 

Ms. Carpenter suggested that work begin with Betsy Miller-Jones on focus groups and gathering community ideas.  It was agreed to by the group that accurate representation from all involved communities will be the key to a successful hire.

 

Wendy Niskanen and Ted Comstock exited the meeting at 8:21 pm.

 

Superintendent’s Report

 

-Ms. Plourde presented a handout of the current SAU budget, which currently does not have a lot of revenue.  An unaudited fund balance of $ 90,925.67 was shown, $ 55,000 given back to reduce assessments, and $ 35,925.67 remaining in fund balance.

 

Ms. Plourde went over a variety of line items with the members present.  Due to an oversight, some lines were eliminated in the handout, and a new copy will be delivered to members of the SAU board as soon as it is available.

 

-Mr. Welford informed the SAU board of some staff changes:

- Todd Butler recently moved back into the SAU office area, and will be sharing an office with Chad Miller, who has also moved into the building.

 

-The following dates were proposed for SAU meetings:

- Thursday, October 9th, 2003 – 6 pm – presentation by Bill Wheeler on curriculum software & develop SAU budget for 2004-2005.

-Thursday, November 6th , 2003 – 6 pm – review of budget.

-Thursday, December 4th, 2003 – 7 pm – public hearing – adoption of new

budget

                        -Thursday, January 29th, 2004 – 7 pm – hiring of new superintendent

 

A meeting will be held in March for new board member training.

 

Inquiry was made as to if each board has a choice if they wish to vote on the SAU budget as a separate warrant article, and this will be investigated.

 

-Copies of the SAU contact list were circulated to update information.  A new list will be available ASAP.

 

-Ms. Kelley presented a copy of the AVER Survey to be completed by Board members.

 

-Some discussion was had regarding the SAU website, and it was requested that an email for the SAU board be created and monitored by SAU staff.

 

-The Board was updated on the status of the cooperative school study.  That board has recently begun work on its articles of agreement and statement of purpose.  Some information has recently been gathered regarding the change in the building aid formula, which could fluctuate if the towns are in a cooperative.

 

Board Business

 

-Board self evaluation was discussed, with handouts being presented.  This will be discussed at individual school board meeting separately, and then possibly a retreat be arranged for a Sunday afternoon.

 

-David Dernbach, Jennifer Lapointe, and Wendy Niskanen agreed to being working on an SAU policy manual.

 

-Mr. Welford presented a proposal from Wheeler Consultants for curriculum alignment software purchase.  This proposal is estimated to be in the cost area of $20,000 to $30,000 for the school year, including training.

 

It was shared that this software is in alignment with NH frameworks, and that the Berlin School District is in the process of purchasing the same software.  It was recommended that a hands-on demonstration from Wheeler Associates be conducted at the next SAU meeting.  It was also shared to contract the Berlin superintendent and his administration to extend an invitation to view this demonstration.

 

            Motion by Jacqueline Quintal, second by Joane Belleau

Motion:  to approve purchase of the curriculum alignment software for $1600 from Wheeler Consultants.

Vote on motion:  one abstention – Andrew Mullins; all others in favor; motion approved.

 

Other

 

-David Dernbach will compose a thank you letter to Fred King for supporting local schools through the budget cycle.

 

-Some discussion was had regarding a possible meeting with the Commissioner regarding the impacts to be felt with No Child Left Behind.

 

-It was shared that Mr. Welford has recently met with the town officials in Gorham, Randolph and Shelburne, and would like to meet with the town officials of Milan, Dummer and Errol.

 

Adjournment

 

            Motion by Jennifer Lapointe, second by Patricia Shute.

            Motion:  to adjourn the September 11th, 2003 SAU board meeting.

            Vote on motion:  all approved; motion carried.  Meeting adjourned at 9:33 pm.

 

 

Respectfully submitted

 

 

 

Jacqueline J. Tetreault

Curriculum Coor. Adm. Assist./Recording Secretary

SAU #20

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-Public Session

 

 

The SAU board discussed issues involving expectations of the Interim Superintendent and the SAU staff.  Board members shared concerns involving perceptions of problems and possible solutions.  The board agreed it was necessary to share this information with the Interim Superintendent.  Ted Comstock offered his observations and advice.

 

 

            Motion by Lark Wood, second by Andrew Mullins

            Motion:  to exit non-public session.

            Vote on motion:  all approved; motion carried.  Non-public session exited at

8:00 pm.