October 11, 2006 Minutes of Regular Meeting / Marlow School Board / Perkins School, 7:30 p.m.

Present:  
Joseph Scharf, Chair
Stephanie Tickner, Board Member
Art Andreasen, Board Member
Ken Dassau, Board Member
Nancy Tomasko, Board Member
Michele Munson, Superintendent of Schools
William Gurney, Assistant Superintendent of Schools
Timothy Ruehr, Business Manager of Towns
Priscilla Peterson, Principal
Jill Wdowiak, Recording Secretary

Also Present:
Marcia Levesque

Call to Order

Mr. Scharf called the meeting to order at 7:30 pm.

Approval of Minutes

A motion by Mr. Andreasen to approve the regular Board minutes of September 20, 2006 and the Board/Faculty Retreat minutes of September 6, 2006 as presented. Mr. Scharf seconded the motion. A unanimous vote in favor was taken.

Hearings of Individuals and/or Groups

None

Bills and Manifests

Motion by Mr. Scharf to approve the bills and manifest as presented (cks#5000793-5000809 in the amount of $41,441.25. Mr. Andreasen seconded the motion. A unanimous vote in favor was taken.

Financial Report

Mr. Ruehr presented the Marlow Financial Report as of October 11, 2006 with a net available balance of $63,599.00. Mr. Ruehr explained that tuitions are not included in this report but will show in future financial report. Auditors will be coming next month to meet with the Board to discuss audit plans.

Reports

a. Principal - Ms. Peterson presented her report and explained that she is working on redesigning the school website. Ms. Peterson shared that she would like to set up a committee of teachers and parents to develop a Wellness/Nutritional Advisory Committee. She explained that the food policy needs to be in place in order to meet the federal guidelines. The Board asked Ms. Peterson to review the policy and recommend any changes.

Superintendent/Assistant Superintendent/Special Education

Ms. Munson introduced the "My Voice Student Survey" to the Board. The survey will provide information as to the conditions that affect student aspirations in grades 6-12. The raw data goes to the Department of Education and the results are sent back within a couple of weeks. The results come back to the schools but are not tracked according to schools. The survey will tell schools what students are experiencing.

Ms. Munson also distributed a "Follow the Child" brochure from the Department of Education. She shared that she has asked the Commissioner to attend the SAU Board Meeting to talk to all the Boards about why this is a good initiative and to demonstrate how well they are trying to meet the needs of the kids. Ms. Munson will try to find the funding to include students in grades 3-5 as well. A motion was made by Mr. Scharf to approve the My Voice Student Survey. Mr. Andreasen seconded the motion.

A unanimous vote in favor was taken. Mr. Scharf shared that he is curious to know just how Marlow students feel about school.

Ms. Munson distributed Projecting Achievement results to the Board. It provides a look at NECAP score results that are in the top 10% of schools in New Hampshire. She explained that it would give us a sense of where the students are and what we can do to get closer to the top 10%.

Mr. Gurney told the Board that the Technology Committee is now called the K-12 Technology and Curriculum Committee. He also shared that he attended a two-day Virtual High School conference. The hope is to introduce these courses at Keene High School. He explained that they would be training a site coordinator over the summer as well as training two Keene High Teachers to become coordinators. He explained that for every person teaching a course, we will receive 25 seats in their courses.

 It will give students the opportunity to take courses that are not offered at Keene High School. Mr. Gurney also updated the Board on the new field trip requirements. The new regulation states that someone on the field trip must be CPR and first aid certified. He suggested that this change be added to policies and procedures. He also explained that their insurance companies would reimburse teachers for the course. Discussion ensued regarding having a presentation from former Marlow students who are now at Keene Middle School, and find out how they are doing. The Board would like to have students come and share their experiences.

c. Special Education

Mr. Gurney reported that a full Special Education report would be presented in November.

School Board Members

The Board discussed the upcoming election and their concern of people being in the building while school is in session. Mr. Scharf suggested that a letter be drafted to the town stating that the school bathrooms and classrooms are off limits and to inform the selectman of the cost of a port-a-potty.

The Board recommended a change to the budget schedule. The date of February 7, 2007 would be changed to February 14, 2007. A motion was made by Mr. Scharf to accept the budget schedule as amended. Mr. Andreasen seconded the motion. A unanimous vote in favor was taken.

Mr. Scharf distributed an estimate from a local contractor for repairs to the shed and basketball hoops. Mr. Ruehr suggested that the Board look into purchasing and adjustable basketball hoops that would last for many years. The Board will take that under advisement. Mr. Scharf also shared that half the phones do not work in the school. He felt that this creates a safety and security issue. He distributed two proposals in order to fix the phone problem and stated that it would be paid for with technology money in the budget. Mr. Ruehr suggested that he meet with Mr. Duhaime and get some recommendations from him.

S.A.U. 29 Committees

Ms. Munson explained to the Board that they are looking for representatives from the town schools to serve on the West Street Relocation Committee as well as the Compensation Committee. Mr. Scharf would like additional information regarding these committees.

Old Business

None

Other

New Business

AREA update - Ms. Munson explained that the Keene Board of Education has a proposal that they are going to vote on Monday night and administrators will take it to each Board. Once all the questions are answered, an AREA meeting will be scheduled in December.

Other

None

Future Agenda/s

November - Establish Town Tuition Rate for 2006-2007

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

A motion by Mr. Scharf that the Board move into non-public session at 9:00 p.m. under the provisions of R.S.A. 91-A:3 to discuss student personnel. A unanimous vote in favor was taken. Accompanying the Board was Ms. Peterson, Ms. Munson, Mr. Gurney and Ms. Wdowiak.

Mr. Scharf moved that the Board return to open session at 9:09 p.m. The motion was seconded by Mr. Dassau. A unanimous vote in favor was taken.

A motion by Mr. Scharf that the Board move into non-public session at 9:10 p.m. under the provisions of R.S.A. 91-A:3 to discuss staff personnel. A unanimous vote in favor was taken. Accompanying the Board was Ms. Peterson, Ms. Munson, Mr. Gurney and Ms. Wdowiak.

A motion by Mr. Scharf that the Board return to open session at 9:20 p.m. Ms. Tickner seconded the motion. A unanimous vote in favor was taken.

Adjournment

A motion was made by Mr. Scharf to adjourn the meeting at 9:20 p.m. A unanimous vote in favor was taken.

Respectfully Submitted,
Jill Wdowiak
Recording Secretary

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