Sept2006
School Board Minutes of Regular Meeting September 2006

[School Minutes] [Board/Faculty Retreat]

September 13, 2006 Minutes of Regular Meeting /Marlow School Board / John D. Perkins School / 7:30 PM

Present: 
Joseph Scharf, Chair
Arthur Andreasen, Board Member
Stephanie Tickner, Board Member
Phyllis Peterson, Principal
Michele Munson, Superintendent (arrived 8:10 pm)
Bill Gurney, Assistant Superintendent
Timothy Ruehr, Business Manager for Towns
Jill Wdowiak, Recording Secretary

Also in Attendance: 
Nancy Tomasko
Donna Chase
Marcia Levesque
Alice Scharf

  1. Call to Order:

Mr. Scharf called the meeting to order at 7:40 PM.  Mr. Scharf recognized Mr. Gurney who acknowledged the changes and improvements to the buildingand all the work and effort by Ms. Scharf to pull the building together.

  1. Approval of Minutes:

A motion by Mr. Andreasen to accept the board minutes of June 14, 2006. Ms. Tickner seconded the motion.  A unanimous vote in favor was taken.

  1. Hearings of Individuals and/or Groups:

Ms. Levesque would like to give some thought to the plans/projects that need to be done and to be sure that there is enough money in the budget to pay for them.  She suggested that they look into building storage units. Mr. Scharf replied that the Board has had preliminary discussions about adding space for storage as well as additional space for Special Education.  He said that the Board will be looking into that further in the next couple of months and will have something in place to present by the March board meeting.

Ms. Tomasko asked the Board who would cover the cost of playground equipment.  She said that the PTA would like to know who is responsible for purchasing replacement equipment such as basketball nets.  Mr. Scharf replied that there is money in the maintenance account to cover the cost.

Ms. Tomasko also suggested that a fence be placed around the playground to make it safe and secure in order to block off the parking lot and the wooded areas.  Mr. Scharf will discuss the matter in non-public as it relates to an issue to be discussed in non-public session.  Ms. Levesque would like to thank Ms. Munson, Mr. Gurney, and Ms. Scharf for all their hard work over the summer and is thrilled with what's happened to the school in such a short amount of time.  The Board would like to thank Ms. Peterson, Ms. Tomasko, Ms. Munson, and Mr. Gurney for all their hard work. 

  1. Bills and Manifest: 

A motion by Mr. Scharf to approve the bills and manifest as presented (cks#5000771-5000790) in the amount of $31,301.07.  A unanimous vote in favor was taken.

  1. Financial Report:

Mr. Ruehr presented the Marlow Financial Report with a net available balance of $115,91 as of June 30, 2006 for the 2005-2006 school year. He stated that $65,000 will go back to the town to reduce taxes.

  1. Report:

  1. Principal

Ms. Peterson presented her report and stated that she is trying to concentrate on the physical plant and to balance her time and address  concerns brought to her by administration and parents in order to ensure a smooth  running school.  She shared that she would like direction regarding the phone system.  Mr. Scharf asked how many lines were currently in the school.  Ms. Peterson replied that two phone lines were currently in use at the school.  Mr. Scharf suggests that she call Verizon to see how many phone lines can be brought into the building. He also stated that Monadnock Security had once done phone work in the building and they should follow up with them to see if they currently do phone work.

  1. Superintendent/Assistant Superintendent

Mr. Gurney shared with the Board that NWEA testing will begin in four weeks and that they now have the ability to test first graders.  Mr. Andreasen will be working on the technology plan. Mr. Gurney stated that Marlow only has three computers hooked up to the T1 line and they will be adding more to that throughout the year and will find out what works best for Marlow.  He also shared that Mr. Woolridge has organized a SAU 29 K-8 math committee.

  1. Special Education - No report

  1. School Board Members

Mr. Scharf would like to thank those teachers who came in to clean out their classrooms.  He shared that he had received thank you notes from Sandy Cunningham, Ashley Plum and the staff in regards to the retreat.  Mr. Scharf also acknowledged the resignation of Denise Bennett from the Marlow School Board and that they are looking for a replacement.  Ms. Tomasko voiced her interest in the position and the Board stated that they have no objection to appointing her.

Mr. Scharf brought forth a request from Ms. Scharf regarding student attendance.  Her request is for an attendance software program be purchased so that it doesn't have to be done by hand.  Mr. Gurney shared that PowerSchool, which is used by the Keene Schools, is very expensive.  Ms. Cargill from Westmoreland is recommending a software program for the town schools to use that will allow student information to be transferred to the PowerSchool program when the students transfer to Keene Middle School.

  1. S.A.U. 29 Committees

Mr. Andreasen inquired about AREA - currently nothing to report.

  1. Old Business:

None

  1. New Business:

  1. Approve 2007-2008 Proposed Budget Schedule.

A motion made by Mr. Scharf to approve the 2007-2008 Proposed Budget Schedule as presented.  Mr. Andreasen seconded the motion.  A unanimous vote in favor was taken.

  1. Community Use and Rental of School Facilities #3002, 

Review  Mr. Scharf stated that the Board has reviewed the policy.

  1. Other

None

  1. Future Agenda/s - AREA Update

  1. Non-Public Session - R.S.A. 91-A:3:

A motion by Mr. Scharf that the Board move into Non-Public session at 8:20 p.m. under the provisions of .S.A. 91-A:3 to discuss Staff and Student Personnel.  Mr. Andreasen seconded the motion.  A unanimous vote in favor was taken.

A motion by Mr. Scharf to return to open session at 8:40 p.m.  Mr. Andreasen seconded the motion.  A unanimous vote in favor was taken.

Ms. Munson shared with the Board that the KEA and custodian contracts were agreed upon in Keene.  She also stated that there will be a Public Hearing held on October 9, 2006.  Mr. Andreasen asked Ms. Munson for an update on AREA and asked that it be placed on the October Agenda.  She shared that the next AREA meeting will be held on October 30, 2006 and that they are hoping to take away the tutor fee and to include it in the special education bill.  They are attempting to take away the confusion.

  1. Adjournment:

A motion by Mr. Scharf to adjourn the meeting at 8:45 p.m. A unanimous vote in favor was taken.

Respectfully Submitted,
Jill Wdowiak
Recording Secretary 

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Marlow School Board Board/Faculty Retreat / Pappagallo's Restaurant / September 6, 2006

Board Members Present: 
 Joseph Scharf, Chair
Ken Dassau
Stephanie Tickner
Art Andreason.

Faculty:
Phyllis Peterson, Principal
Sue Kennedy
Peg Wyman
Leah Giles
Sarah Antel.

SAU 29 Administration:
William Gurney

Mr. Scharf opened the retreat at 6:45 and welcomed the staff and Board members.  He invited everyone present to share their present needs with the Board.

Ms. Kennedy expressed appreciation for the recent renovations to her resource room.

Ms. Giles has enjoyed her transition to the school and her new home in Marlow.  She is looking forward to working in a "small school".

Ms. Wyman wished Ms. Peterson well as Principal and was pleased the Board had made the commitment to a principal for the school.  She also suggested that the Board consider a different approach to grade assignments and hopes the community might consider a full day Kindergarten program.

Ms. Antel expressed her willingness to contribute to the planning of the new library area and also expressed her approval for the facility upgrades completed during the summer.

Ms. Peterson hopes to spend time assessing the curriculum and getting a technology plan underway, as well as, centralizing supply distribution.

Mr. Dassau noted the many contributions to the school community by Richard Brewer during his tenure as teaching principal.

Ms. Tickner expressed her goal of upgrading the school website during the school year and linking with the SAU 29 website.

Mr. Gurney acknowledged the hard work of Ms. Scharf and Mr. Scharf during the summer months.  They were responsible for much of the labor and organization that went into the summer projects.

The formal meeting adjourned at 7:15 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
William B. Gurney,
Assistant Superintendent, SAU 29

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