HANOVER SCHOOL BOARD
REGULAR MEETING
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 22, 2007
7:00 PM, RAY SCHOOL MUSIC ROOM
Minutes
Present: Board members Asmus, Bruce, Carter, Carpenter, Chamberlin, Fleischer, Rose; Administrators: Gersen, Williams; Recorded by R. Lohr
1. Call to Order – Chair Asmus called the meeting to order at 7:26 PM.
2. Minutes Approval
John Chamberlin moved and Nancy Carter seconded a motion to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of June 20, the special meeting of July 11, and the nonpublic session on July 11, as submitted with changes. The motion passed with 5 in favor and 2 abstentions on the June 20 meeting and one abstention on the July meetings. The changes on the June 20 regular meeting minutes on item 4, last paragraph, the majority of the Board felt the entry age is permissive and a minority of the Board felt the actual application would be more restrictive than the state policy would allow. Chip Fleischer attended the July 11 meetings but his name was left off of the attendee roster.
3. Communications and Reports
a) Report of Chair
Chair Kari Asmus announced that the next Board meeting was scheduled for September 19, 7:00 PM. at the Ray School multi purpose room. The Board recognized the Annual Meeting timeline document that was in the Board packet.
b) Committee & Liaison Reports
Robin Carpenter reported on the discussions held at the July 11 Communications Committee meeting. The SAU Web site now has the Board meeting packet information prior to the meeting and all of the school district policies are also on the site. It was also mentioned that school snow closings are on the WMUR Web site.
The Education Committee agreed to handle the Parent Survey project.
c) Superintendent’s Report
Superintendent Gersen discussed the Faculty Survey for Ray School and it is expected to be completed by the end of October so that the survey findings can be incorporated into work on budget deliberations, evaluations, and alternative compensation. The Board discussed conducting a concurrent survey of educational assistants. The Board also asked for an opportunity to review the draft of the Faculty Survey to ensure that it will fulfill the intended purpose of the board.
The Superintendent also reviewed discussions about teacher evaluation documentation with regard to what would go into the personnel files in years when teachers have selected alternatives to formal evaluations. This documentation is necessary as a mechanism to support progression in the track/step process.
He also reported that the Hanover fiber optic cable project has begun and it is expected to be completed with the service coming on line by late September. The final total cost is within the original estimate to complete the project.
A report about the status of fund assets was discussed and questions would be passed on to John Aubin, Assistant Superintendent for Business. There is interest to discontinue some of the smaller funds.
John Chamberlin announced that the grand reopening of Hanover High School is scheduled for Tuesday, August 28 at 5:00 PM and there will be a tour of the facility, a short ceremony, and light refreshments.
d) Assistant Superintendent’s Report
Superintendent Gersen reviewed the financial report that was submitted by John Aubin. The end-of-the-year fund balance was positive as Special Education expenditures were below forecasted levels. A large variance in expenses occurred in the medical insurance.
Bruce Williams reported that the Ray School sculpture at the school entrance has internal damage due to the effects of weather and will require about $5,000 to repair, which could have an adverse effect on the budget.
e) Principal’s Report
Principal Williams reported on the teacher evaluation schedule for the upcoming school year and the Board discussed the particulars of the report and the evaluation system. The Board suggested that a written accounting of all observations might be useful, but it was also understood that the lack of time is the biggest challenge for comprehensive teacher evaluations that incorporate every encounter.
The principal reported that the NECAP tests are scheduled for October 3-21. The reading/writing and math tests will be taken by students in the third through fifth grades, while the science would be taken only by the fifth graders.
Facilities work is now underway on the lift in the multi purpose room, carpeting, and the outdoor universal playspace. The basketball court project and new storage facility are expected to be completed in late August. The Ray School acquired the furnace from Dresden and more work is to be done on school security.
Enrollment is at 493, which is 20 students above projections but the new students are spread out among the grades.
4. Public Comments
It was announced that three signs had been posted to encourage people who are waiting in their cars to refrain from idling their engines.
5. Business Requiring Discussion
The Board discussed the draft 2008-09 budget guidelines. The Board set a placeholder benchmark of 2.75% to show the consequences of such a budget. The Board discussed having the principal guidelines be limited to controlled costs, which would exclude for example, contractual compensation, insurance, bus transportation, and costs associated with special education. This would entail having the principal “assist the Board” in its work to reach its budgetary goal. It was suggested that item one on the principal guidelines be changed so that a budget be brought forth that is within 2.75 percent of the previous year’s budget.
The plan is for a Dresden Board meeting to focus on negotiations prior to adopting final budget guidelines.
6. Business Requiring Action
Superintendent Gersen nominated Robert Maurer as a 20% music teacher for the 2007-08 school year.
John Chamberlin moved and Nancy Carter seconded a motion to elect Robert Maurer as a .2 Music Teacher at track 3, step 14, salary $12,758.80 for the 2007-08 school year. The motion passed unanimously.
The Superintendent explained the situation with a prospective tuition student and how a planned move to town would be handled by the school district.
Nancy Carter moved and John Chamberlin seconded a motion to accept Christopher Rieseberg as a tuition student for the 2007-08 school year. The motion passed unanimously.
7. Adjournment
John Chamberlin moved and Chip Fleischer seconded a motion to adjourn at 10:07 PM. The motion passed unanimously.
The meeting adjourned at 10:07 PM.
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