Holderness School Board
Minutes – Monday, December 6, 2004
School Board members present: Shane Sirles, Martha Macomber, Ed Swanson, Laura Rollison, Jane Barry
Administration present: Sandy McLaughlin, Principal; Ethel Gaides, Assistant Superintendent; Mark Halloran, Acting Superintendent
At 5:30 PM Chairman Sirles called the meeting to Order
I. Nonpublic Session
At 5:30PM, on a motion by Mr. Swanson, seconded by Ms. Barry, the Board voted unanimously to enter Nonpublic Session to discuss personnel.
At 5:50PM, the Board returned from Nonpublic Session and took the following action.
On a motion by Mr. Swanson, seconded by Ms. Rollison, the Board voted unanimously to approve the maternity leave request for Stephanie Finnegan.
II. Agenda Review and Disposition
Add agenda item #X. Agenda Setting – Next Meeting
Add under - Discussion Items I. John True Scholarship
III. Minutes of November 8, 2004
On a motion by Ms. Macomber, seconded by Mr. Swanson, the Board voted unanimously to accept the minutes of November 8, 2004 as written.
IV. Privilege of the Floor
None
V. Principal’s Report
Ms. McLaughlin reported on several items:
· Ongoing class projects, including a grade four through middle school mineral unit culminating with a family night, a Polar Express book unit and movie field trip (K-2), pen pal letters, service learning bathroom beautification, and a sixth grade cardboard housing project. The sixth grade put on a Greek marketplace which other grades visited. There is far more cross grade communication, coordination, and sharing.
· This month’s enrollment dropped by one student. Six new students would be arriving after Christmas which will bring the enrollment to 242.
· Basketball games started with over 55 eighth graders participating.
· Beavers at Holderness Central School are creating brook backup.
· Eighth grade advisors have been meeting with students and parents to plan the class trip and end-of-year activities. The administration and teachers are looking to make graduation more student centered.
· Playground improvements have been completed.
· Teams have been assessing student work and are beginning to discuss expectations and rubrics for work at various levels to develop consistency and high quality.
· The newly developed Best Schools’ math assessments are being piloted at various levels.
VI. Consent Items
A. Claims and Payroll
A manifest was circulated and signed.
B. Correspondence
None
VII. Discussion Items
A. Materials Selection Policy – 2nd Reading
On a motion by Ms. Macomber, seconded by Ms. Barry, the Board voted unanimously to adopt the Materials Selection Policy as written. (See attached – Second Reading)
B. Winter Program – Snowboarding Update
Ms. McLaughlin updated the Board on Winter Program. She stated that all parents have been contacted and informed that because of safety reasons; students below grade 4 will not be allowed to snowboard.
C. Board Newsletter
Ms. Rollison stated that all articles are in for the Board Newsletter. She planned on having the Newsletter put together and sent to True Colors before Christmas.
D. Boiler Update
Ms. McLaughlin informed the Board that Jon Francis has been researching what it would cost for new boilers and what it would cost to replace the sections that need to be replaced or rebuilt. She stated that she hoped to have the information for the next meeting.
E. School Board Brochure
The Board reviewed the School Board Brochure and asked that the year of Ms. Barry’s term expiring be changed to 2005. The Board also asked that the new Administration be reflected in the brochure.
F. Social Studies and Technology Curriculum
Ms. Gaides reviewed with the Board copies of the new Social Studies and Technology K-12 curriculum guides. She stated that the Social Studies guide has been in process for 3-5 years. She also stated that the Technology guide is in line with the National Educational Standards. Ms. Gaides informed the Board that the curriculum is revisited every 2-3 years and that teachers’ work very hard on professional development to boost the curriculum. On a motion by Mr. Swanson, seconded by Ms. Macomber, the Board voted unanimously to approve the Social Studies and Technology Curriculum guides as presented. The Board commended Ms. Gaides on her hard work and leadership in developing the guides.
G. Foreign Language Presentation
Moved to the January Board meeting.
H. 2005/2006 Budget Draft
Each Board member was provided Budget Draft #1 for fiscal year 05-06.
Ms. McLaughlin reviewed the following major increases in discretionary spending:
· 1100.641 Printed Media - $12,294; new math program K-2, new Social Studies Books grade 7
· 1420.610 Co-curricular Supplies - $1,598; new medical bags, scorebooks, bats (1420.739 Repair of Equipment is down $2,158)
· 2222.650 Computer Software - $1,700 – Site license
· 2620.730 Operating Building New Equipment - $10,210; Tractor 3K, alarm upgrade 8K
· 2620.739 Replacement of Equipment - $1,500; ice machine
· 5221.930 Food Service Replacement of Equipment - $8,000; dishwasher
There will be a Budget Work Session at the January meeting.
I. John True Scholarship Fund
The Board discussed whether they should each donate to the Scholarship Fund privately or collectively as a Board. The Board asked the Administration for more information on the Fund.
VIII. Recognition and Awards
Ms. McLaughlin recognized Dan Molinari for his successful comprehensive rock unit which culminated in a community night that gave the opportunity for students to present what they had learned to their parents and the school community.
Mr. Sirles commended the SAU #48 Administration for filling the void since the untimely death of Superintendent True. Mr. Sirles also congratulated Mr. Halloran his new position as Superintendent of Schools commencing January 1, 2005.
IX. Privilege of the Floor #2
None
X. Meeting Schedule/Agenda Setting
The next scheduled Board meeting will be held on Monday, January 3rd at 5:30PM.
Agenda items: Foreign Language; Boiler Update; Budget Work Session; John W. True, Jr., Scholarship Fund
At 7:25PM, Chairman Sirles adjourned the meeting.
Respectfully Submitted,
Susan Daigneault
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