S

S.A.U. 20 School Board

Meeting Minutes

November 10, 2004

Gorham Middle/High School

Members present:

Dummer: Joane Belleau

Gorham: Jay Holmes, Anne Hill, Jennifer Lapointe, Leona Guay

Milan: Andy Mullins, Jacqueline Quintal, Patricia Shute

Randolph: Angela Brown, Kathleen Kelley

Shelburne: Joanne Carpenter

Others present:

Patrick Low – SAU Superintendent

Pauline Plourde,- SAU Business Administrator

Rebecca Hebert-Sweeny – SAU Director of Special Services

Todd Butler – Speech Pathologist / Preschool Coordinator

Chad Miller – Gorham Technology Director

DeAnn Murphy – SAU office

Julie Renaud Evans – recording secretary

Call to Order

L Guay called the meeting to order at 7:19 p.m.

Approval of minutes

Chair Guay asked for approval or of May 11, 2004 minutes.

Motion by J. Lapointe, second by P. Shute.

Motion: To accept minutes of March 16, 2004 minutes as presented.

Vote: All in favor. Motion passed.

It was noted that the minutes of the March 2004 Non-public session were still missing.

Communications

None.

Public Comments

There were no public comments.

Committee Reports

Professional development

J. Carpenter reported that the committee has met two times, and the focus this year is computer technology training; C. Miller has given some training on the COWS and the committee is working with NHPTV on possible workshops about using media in teaching.

L. Guay asked for clarification of reimbursement criteria for training noting a teacher who traveled to Europe for pleasure was reimbursed for some of the travel costs since he had visited various museums and cultural sites. J. Carpenter explained that the trip expenses had been pre-approved by principal and building subcommittee and that the travel expenses met the criteria. She noted that the committee attempts to keep an open mind about how people learn and stay focused on what will benefit children.

NCES

P. Low reviewed the following with the Board regarding projects with NCES:

NCES secured approximately $ 300,000.00 for Transition project to transition special education students into adulthood. The program matches up students with appropriate agencies, organizations, and even work sites as young adults. The grant will defray some current SAU costs, as each special education student is currently required to have a transition plan.
NCES was a significant partner is the recently released Education report by AVER.
NCES is a valuable resource for the SAU in professional development offerings to our staff.

Board member training

The proposed Code of Ethics by the NHSBA was handed out.

L. Guay reminded the Board that School Board training is excellent, including that for new members and Chairs, both are valuable for all members.

Policy Development Report

P. Low informed that Board that he is aware that current SAU Board policies are over ten years old; he hopes to begin reviewing them for possible amendments or changes some time after the new year. J. Lapointe reported that she and K. Kelley had reviewed the policies and have some recommendations for changes.

Superintendents Report

P. Low reported on progress made in his first 4 months at SAU 20. He noted that Communication has been a top priority. The administrative office team meets bi-weekly and is working to build an efficient operation based upon service; he noted that he appreciates their level of professionalism. He is impressed with the amount of volunteerism occurring in the local schools. He said that each school in the district is working on curriculum issues, and notes that the focus is to meet each child’s individual needs, including getting them to the next level, what ever that might be. P. Low also discussed his general approach to budgets, this year his approach will be conservative, though he asked Board members to keep their eyes out for grant monies for more laptops. At the school levels he is instituting a staff and parents roundtable where people can speak openly with the superintendent about any subject.

Special Guest

Mr. Fred Bromante, currently Chairman of the New Hampshire Board of Education, visited with the Board regarding the proposed changes to the Department of Education’s Administrative Rules regarding the Real World Learning Initiative. F. Bromante began by stating that we must start looking beyond the walls of our schools for educational opportunities for our children and that it is our job to draw out their talents and their passions. He explained that Real World Learning gives us an opportunity to engage in a process that will bring out passions in every child. The Board has been working to revise the administrative rules to create an institutional foundation so that schools will be able to offer critical flexibilities in a child’s educational experience. For example one proposed rule change states that each student shall have a personalized learning strategy, with a new emphasis on “each” instead of “all”; the rules try to address the styles, needs, and interests of every student. Another change adds the phrase that schools shall use “all available resources” in working with their students, which offers them the resources outside of the school, in the community, and in today’s technology offerings. He also noted that the historical requirement of 180 days of a school year has been removed, so that the focus is not on “seat time,” but on competency. F. Bromante also spoke of the support of the Board, the excitement of the business community, and the inquiries from institutions interested in making this happen. Public hearings on the proposed changes are scheduled, and one will be held in Littleton.

Superintendent Evaluation process

The Board discussed the process to evaluate the superintendent, some members felt strongly that this should be done at six months, and certainly before March when new Board members begin. P. Low offered an evaluation packet for the Board’s review which included a self-evaluation component. The Board decided upon the following process:

1. Each Board in the District will do an individual evaluation which will include a review discussion

2. Each of the written reports shall be forwarded to SAU Chair, and reviewed by the SAU officers

3. The full SAU Board shall complete an evaluation and meet with the superintendent

This shall be completed before March. There was also discussion about budget process and potential salary changes.

Financial Report-

P. Low introduced the proposed budget indicating that he had taken a very conservative approach in order to give the taxpayers a break. He then discussed highlights of the proposed SAU budget, which included a potential savings of almost $ 38,000.

Decrease of hours of one support staff in SAU office from 35 to 30 hours (loss of benefits too)
Includes 80 hrs overtime for support staff
Travel lines – suggest increase for P. Low (at I.R.S. rate)
Use 10,000 of fund balance to reduce expenditures
Salary increases of 1.5% increase for cost of living, and more for performance (1-2%); with notation that adjustments may need to be significant in 2006/2007.
Move to 80% insurance premium coverage; and move to HMO system
Retirement costs are increasing (“out of our control’)
Support staff – to 80% on insurance – net increase of 2% take home
Overall new money for salaries after insurance hit: 0.72%
Institute new position for Occupational Therapy at $55,000 (right now district contracts out at
$132,000)
Pilot Office Manager position in SAU office
New carpeting for SAU office
Some equipment needs including new laptop computer and a digital camera

The Board discussed at length the need to have a full time Occupational Therapist, R. Hebert-Sweeny noted that Special Educational needs continue to rise in this area. Needing a backup was also discussed.

P. Low recommended that the SAU only hire for one year contract, but recognizes that potential applicants may not leave their current employment for one year contract.

Motion by J. Lapointe, second by P. Shute.

Motion: To accept the recommendation to hire a full time Occupational Therapist at a total

cost not to exceed $ 65,500.00 (2 year contract)

Vote: L. Guay abstained. All in favor. Motion passed.

The Board also discussed, with P. Low and C. Miller, how technical support services will be delivered to the individual districts and the SAU. Managing all the new technology will be critical as the districts continue to increase their use of it.

P. Plourde then reviewed with the Board some of the details of the proposed budget looking at the summary sheet. She noted transfer of responsibilities of support staff at SAU office, and therefore budget line items, between professional development and special education, increase in speech services due to new computer needed, and the fund balance.

Next meetings

Tuesday November 30 at 6 p.m. at Milan Village School; Public Hearing scheduled at 7 p.m.; then the Board will likely reconvene for meeting afterwards. It was noted the Board will need a non-public session during the second meeting.

Other

The newly released AVER report “Education: The New Currency for Coos County” was made available to Board members.

Adjournment

Motion by A. Brown, second by J. Lapointe.

Motion: To adjourn the meeting.

Vote: All in favor. Motion passed.

Meeting adjourned at 10:04 p.m.

Respectfully submitted

Julie Renaud Evans

Recording Secretary