ROCKINGHAM SCHOOL DISTRICT
School Board Meeting
June 21, 2010
Present: Joseph Brissette, Timothy Doherty, Michael Empey, Richard Kane, James McAuliffe
Also Present: Johanna Harpster, David Lesser, Bruce Downer, Cheryl McDaniel-Thomas, Edie Cole, FACT-TV
MINUTES
The Vice Chair, Jim McAuliffe, called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM.
Pledge of Allegiance: Tim Doherty led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Adjustments to the Agenda: Johanna said some of the appointments in 13b. are SU employees and do not belong on this agenda. Jim added a real estate matter to executive session and No. 11d. Rockingham Street Light Plan.
Review and Approve Minutes of June 7 and 12, 2010 (Enclosed): Joe moved to approve the Minutes as printed; Tim seconded and the motion carried.
Visitors: None.
Communications – Chair: None.
Committee and Other Projects:
Bellows Falls Middle School Renovation Committee: The Committee is meeting tomorrow at 5 PM in the Middle School library. The public is welcome.
Action Planning: Action plans for all three schools will be presented at a July meeting.
Retreat Update (Enclosed): Jim reported that the Board worked on goals for this year and developed a draft, and have to develop some measurements for them. They talked about the challenge of the 2011-2012 budget, and contract negotiations.
8. Reports:
Financial Report (Enclosed): Johanna referred to the one-page Budget Comparison which Edie provided; preliminary numbers indicate a $532,000 surplus. Jim talked about the equipment allotment which has been established for busses, and setting up reserves to pay for the CES and SRES heating problems. Johanna will check with Chris Kibbe on the heating bids. Under Technology, there is an amount of $9,733 which Johanna would like to use in the Middle School.
Tim moved to add $65,000 to the $15,000 in the bus reserve, for a total of $80,000; Joe seconded and the motion carried.
Tim moved to put a $40,000 reserve into each of the CES and SRES Operations and Maintenance Accounts to fund the repairs of their heating problems; Rick seconded and the motion carried.
Rick moved to put a $10,000 reserve in the BFMS Technology Account for computers; Tim seconded and the motion carried.
Principals (Enclosed): Bruce said CES is going to a team approach, and he talked about the summer program. Cheryl talked about BFMS’ six-week summer school program, and the free lunch program which is in her building this year. Jim urged parents to take advantage of these programs, and Cheryl said that transportation is an issue for some of them. Johanna handed out a piece on the WNESU Title 1 Summer School Program and urged parents to call for information. There was discussion of mandatory summer school, which would be addressed by the Policy Committee.
Superintendent of Schools/Assistant Superintendent: Johanna reported that the lunch program began today at BFMS with about 25 children and a couple of adults. There have been some donations from the community, and a number of organizations are involved. Parents are urged to send their children. Jim inquired about the construction fund reimbursement which Chris has been following up, and Johanna reported that Rockingham will receive an additional $45,000 from the State.
Business Manager:
End-of-Year Cash Statement: Above.
WNESU Unapproved 5/26/10 Minutes (Enclosed): The next meeting is Wednesday, June 23, 2010 and Joe cannot attend; Rick will attend.
9. Unfinished Business:
Heating System Assessment Bids (Enclosed): Jim moved to approve the bid from Kohler & Lewis Engineering for the mechanical review at CES and SRES. Tim seconded and the motion carried.
Athens Tuition Reimbursement: The figure is $4,248.78. Mike has not yet met with the Chair of the Athens Board, but will do so prior to the July meeting.
Other – Rocking Chairs for Retirees: Following some discussion, the Board decided again to do nothing.
New Business for Discussion/Action:
Fund Balance/Borrowing: Edie asked for approval to borrow up to $600,000, to be borrowed after July 1st with the understanding that it would be paid back ASAP, and perhaps borrowed as needed and not as one lump sum. Jim moved to authorize the Business Manager to send out bids for up to $600,000 which is needed for fiscal year 2010-2011, and report back to the Board at the next meeting. Joe seconded the motion. Following discussion, Jim withdrew the motion and the Board instructed the Business Manager to put out the bids.
Summer School Overview: Above.
Leave of Absence Requests:
Josh Ferenc: Jim moved to grant Josh Ferenc a leave of absence from CES to BFMS for one year pending CFG funds. Joe seconded and the motion carried.
Jaime Kamel: Jim moved to grant Jaime Kamel a leave of absence from her regular ed position to take a special ed position. Joe seconded and the motion carried.
Rockingham Street Light Plan: Jim said the new Conservation Commission has reviewed the street lighting and recommends the removal of a number of lights; each of the buildings is affected. There are two lights on the street behind Saxtons River Elementary; a light on George Street near the northwest corner of Central Elementary and one on School Street Extension behind the YMCA; a light on the northeast side of the Middle School. Cheryl would like that one repaired and has called the power company several times. Alan Fowler of FACT-TV, a member of the Conservation Commission, announced that there is a public hearing about their street light proposal this Wednesday, and he encouraged someone from the Board to attend. Members of the Board will go with him after this meeting to look at the
street light issues at BFMS.
Action List Review: Mike reviewed the list and updated it as follows: Topping off the fuel tanks – Edie will address this week. Parks Place – waiting on them. BFMS Athletic Director job description – in progress. Personnel Directory – there will be an update in August by the Superintendent’s Office and a deadline will be set then. Conflict of Interest – Policy Committee, which needs to schedule a meeting and give feedback at the first August meeting. Added to the action list: Review and revise the policy on grade advancement at BFMS in August.
12. Appointments and/or Resignations:
Reappointments:
1. CFG Teachers (contingent upon approval of funding):
a. Kathy Miller - CES
b. Kirsten Larson - CES
c. Gail LaHaise - .5 - CES
d. Dawn Bazin - .2 Reading/.7 Math - SRES
e. Elaine Kraiger - .2 Math/.3 Data Facilitator/.5 Reading - SRES
f. Christine Miller – Reading - BFMS
g. Jane McAllister – Math – BFMS
Joe moved to reappoint the above CFG Teachers; Tim seconded and the motion carried.
Appointments:
Josh Ferenc - .56 Class-Size Reduction Teacher - BFMS
Jaime Kamel – Special Education Intensive Services Teacher - CES (contingent upon obtaining a provisional Special Education endorsement)
Julie Sines – ESY Special Educator – BFMS
Coleen Punger – ESY Special Educator – SRES
Joe moved to appoint the above teachers; Tim seconded and the motion carried.
Katherine Kane – Librarian - .7 CES./.3 SRES, pending her resignation from her position at Grafton: Jim moved to move this item to executive session. Joe seconded and the motion carried.
Johanna stated that items f. through k. are moving to the SU agenda on Wednesday.
l. Erica Comstock – Elementary Education Teacher at CES
m. Gail LaHaise - .5 Reading Coach – CES
Jim moved to appoint the above teachers; Tim seconded and the motion carried.
Margaret Fix – Special Educator Intensive – BFMS
Jim moved to hire the above teacher; Tim seconded and the motion carried.
Directors’ Comments: Joe missed the Moving Up Ceremony at BFMS but congratulated and 8th graders who moved to High School, and he congratulated the High School seniors who graduated, and thanked the High School teachers.
Mike did attend the Moving Up Ceremony at BFMS and liked that the BFUHS Principal attended and handed out a book to each of the students.
Set Date and Location of Next Meeting (July 5 – Celebration of July 4th): The next meeting will be on Monday, July 19, 2010 at the Supervisory Union.
15. Executive Session: Jim moved to go into executive session at 9 PM for a legal matter, a real estate matter and a contract matter. Joe seconded and the motion carried. The Board came out of executive session at 9:18 PM. Jim McAuliffe moved to authorize a reserve fund for the possible purchase of real estate for a certain amount to be negotiated. Joe Brissette seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous.
Rick Kane announced that he was resigning as a member of the Rockingham School Board. Jim McAuliffe moved to accept his resignation and Tim Doherty seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous.
Joe Brissette moved to hire Kate Kane as Librarian for the Elementary Schools and Tim Doherty seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous.
`Adjournment: Jim McAuliffe moved to adjourn the meeting at 9:20 PM and Tim Doherty seconded the motion. The Chair declared the meeting adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Joseph Brissette, Clerk
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