Nov2007
School Board Minutes of Regular Meeting November 2007

November 14, 2007 Minutes of Regular Meeting / Marlow School Board / John D. Perkins School / 7:30 p.m.


Present: 
Joseph Scharf, Chair
Stephanie Tickner, Board Member
Nancy Tomasko, Board Member
Phyllis Peterson, Principal
Wayne Woolridge, Co-Superintendent of Schools (arrived 7:45)
Timothy Ruehr, Business Administrator for Towns (arrived 7:40)
Jill Wdowiak, Recording Secretary

Also Present: 
Marcia Levesque
Ben Levesque
Dan Stearns
Edith Stearns
Donna Chase
Paula Ceranowicz
Dawn Miller
Mike Miller

  1. Call to Order:

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

  1. Approval of Minutes:

A motion was made by Ms. Tickner to approve the board minutes of October 10, 2007 (R). The motion was seconded by Ms. Tomasko. A unanimous vote in favor was taken.

  1. Hearings of Individuals and/or Groups:

Ms. Levesque stated that twice since our last meeting the newspaper had quoted tuition rates that were different than what she thought. Mr. Ruehr replied that there are many different tuition rates and did not know whatthe paper was quoting. Mr. Ruehr explained that there are both regular education and special education tuitions for elementary school, middle school, high school as well as preschool and TNT. Mr. Ruehr reported the following tuition rates:

KEENE SCHOOL TUITION RATES-proposed / OFFICIAL RATES WILL BE AVAILABLE ON NOVEMBER 15th

2007-08 2008-09 Regular
Education KHS 9,248 8,961 KMS 9,204 9,457 Special
Education KHS 16,350 15,745 KMS 21,119 22,155 TNT 19,455 24,000

  1. Bills and Manifests:

A motion was made by Mr. Scharf to approve the bills and manifests (cks #5001166-5001194) in the amount of $79,735.99. Ms. Tomasko seconded the motion. A unanimous vote in favor was taken.

  1. Financial Report

Mr. Ruehr presented his financial report showing a net available balance of $180,776.00 as of November 14, 2007. He explained that the biggest change occurred in tuitions stating that 31 students were budgeted at KHS and we have 28 students attending and we also budgeted for 28 students at KMS and we currently have 11 students attending. Mr. Ruehr suggested that the Board pay special attention to the tuition bill and verify that we are being billed for exactly who is attending.

Establish Town Tuition Rates for 2007-2008 - Mr. Ruehr presented and explained the Town Tuitions for Marlow based on the State Per Pupil Cost Calculation for Elementary Costs Only with a tuition rate of $15,931. A motion was made by Mr. Scharf to accept Marlow's tuition rate of $15,931. Ms. Tickner seconded the motion. A unanimous vote in favor was taken.

  1. Reports:

  1. Principal

Ms. Peterson presented her report and thanked everyone for coming tonight and for giving their feedback. She shared with the Board that PC Connection has generously donated $10,000 for computers at our school and they are requesting a letter from us accepting these computers.

Mr. Scharf to accept the donation of $10,000 from PC Connection. Ms. Tomasko seconded the motion. A unanimous vote in favor was taken. The Marlow School Board wishes to thank PC Connection for their generous donation.

Ms. Peterson also would like to thank Mr. Rock for bringing a beautiful flat to our school as a donation from the Legion.

Ms. Peterson asked what could we do here at the John D. Perkins School to make the transition to KMS better and easier? Ben Levesque suggested that we be better organized. He explained that KMS uses the Master Notebook for organization and that he did not learn organization skills in Marlow. He also shared that signing out library books and returning them would be helpful as well as going to different classes. Ben also shared that Science is very different and that he felt he was way behind. Ms. Levesque explained that it's hard for kids coming in as 7th graders and if nothing else, we need to work with students not only to write down things that are due but to look at due dates and look into the future. She suggested that HAB notebooks might be a good idea to help students with that. Ms. Levesque also suggested that our 5th & 6th grade teachers take courses that the middle school teachers are taking on note taking, etc.

Ms. Stearns shared that her daughter had a hard time with English at the middle School and felt that the 5th & 6th graders did not learn their basic math skills in Marlow. Ms. Stearns is also concerned about the jump to the middle school and feels that students should be supported here in Marlow in order to make that jump. She shared that she loves the organizational skills being taught at the middle school, with parents having to sign off on homework. She feels that any way to mirror here what they do at the middle school would be very helpful.

Ms. Peterson explained that she is working on a complete scope and sequence of curriculum. She shared that she does not want to lose your kids and your feedback is important to us and that we'd like to blend nicely with the middle school.

Ms. Donna Chase would like to extend an invitation to Marlow students at KHS regarding their transition. Mr. Scharf replied that anyone is welcome to come and address the Board.

Ms. Ceranowicz felt that outlining and being able to organize is important. She suggested that an open house be used to inform people of what's being covered, stating that we do not know what the curriculum is. Ms. Peterson replied that we are trying to work on that and have it organized before it reaches the students.

Ms. Miller felt that it would be extremely helpful to students if the homework assignment were to be written by them as opposed to the assignment being written on a piece of paper and distributed to them. Ms. Miller also shared that she likes the outline given out at KHS informing parents of what will happen during the school year, adding that everything is mapped out. Ms. Chase likes that students are graded on their notebooks and their organization skills.

  1. Co-Superintendent

Mr. Woolridge informed the Board that two students were absent for five or more days from Keene High School. He also shared that it seems that the discipline issues have been declining. Mr. Woolridge reported that Keene High School is looking into possibly modifying block scheduling. He also shared that the December AREA Meeting has been cancelled and will be rescheduled sometime in the spring.

  1. School Board Members - None

  1. S.A.U. 29 Committees

Ms. Tickner shared that the budget meetings have been running very smoothly this year.

  1. Old Business:

  1. Other

None

  1. New Business:

  1. Review Board Member Candidates

Move to next months agenda

  1. Other

  1. Future Agenda/s:

December - 7th Grade KMS Report

December - Review Board Member Candidates

December - Financial Report: Add Middle School Discussion

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

A motion was made by Mr. Scharf that the Board move into non-public session at 8:45 p.m. under the provisions of R.S.A. 91-A:3 to discuss staff/student personnel. The motion was seconded by Ms. Tomasko. A unanimous vote in favor was taken. Accompanying the Board was Mr. Woolridge, Mr. Ruehr, and Ms. Peterson.

Ms. Tomasko made a motion for the Board to return to open session at 9:05 p.m. Ms. Tickner seconded the motion, all in favor.

  1. Adjournment:

Mr. Scharf adjourned the board meeting at 9:05 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted,
Jill Wdowiak
Recording Secretary

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