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HOPKINTON SCHOOL DISTRICT

SCHOOL ADMINISTRATIVE UNIT #66

204 MAPLE STREET

CONTOOCOOK, NH   03229

  MINUTES

Hopkinton School Board Meeting 

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

6:30 p.m.

 

Present:  School Board Members:   Larry Donahue, Kim Fuller, David Luneau and Marshall Rowe; Brian Blake, Superintendent; Michelle Clark, Business Administrator

 

 I.         CALL TO ORDER: The meeting of the Hopkinton School Board was called to order at 6:30 p.m. by Vice Chair, Kim Fuller.

 

             After the Call to Order, everyone stood for the Pledge of Allegiance.   

        

II.         Additions to or Deletions from Agenda    

 

Addition:  C. Personnel: 5. Recommend the Hopkinton School Board approve the Superintendent’s nomination of April Kent, Part Time Instructional Assistant, Harold Martin School for the 2007-2008 School Year.

 

III.       Correspondence 

 

 1.  Information Packet from the Budget Committee and Budget Subcommittees

 2.  Email to community member from Edward Murdough, Department of Education regarding school capacity.

                             

IV.       Approval of Minutes       

 

1.         A motion was made by Mr. Rowe and seconded by Mr. Donahue to approve the June 19, 2007 minutes as amended.

 

Amend:  Page 1727, D. insure to ensure.

 

THESE MINUTES ARE NOT OFFICIAL UNTIL APPROVED AT THE FOLLOWING MEETING AUGUST 21, 2007.

 

  Hopkinton School Board Minutes 2007-2008                  1729

 

V.        Public Comments   - None

       

VI.       Staff Reports/Presentations

 

1.      Staff Vacancies

 

Dr. Blake reported that the District has the following positions open for the 2007-2008 school year.

 

      .5 Instructional Assistant, Harold Martin School

      .7 Reading Specialist, Hopkinton Middle/High School

      .5 Special Education Teacher Maple Street School will be combined with .5 Out-of District Coordinator for one year only.   The .5 Out of District Coordinator position will be funded through a federal grant.

 

2.      Fuel Bids

 

Michelle Clark, Business Administrator, discussed the fuel oil bids and recommended Fred Fuller Oil be awarded the 2007-2008 School Year fuel oil bid at $2.245 per gallon.

 

3.      China Trip

 

Dr. Blake presented a video presentation of his trip to China and the Board discussed possibly establishing classes on the Chinese language and culture at the elementary level. The Hopkinton School Board requested Dr. Blake research government programs that are available to help pay a visiting teacher's salary.

 

VII.     Comments from Hopkinton School Board 

 

Mr. Donahue noted that the report to the Budget Committee from the Process and Targets Subcommittee discussed the taxpayers in Hopkinton.  Mr. Donahue noted he found lacking in this report an appreciation and treatment of the masses. He noted that the tone in which the report was written in terms of the recommendations that follow assume that the Budget Committee will use all powers and authority provided by RSA 32 including those certain punitive powers for non-compliance and RSA 91-A, the “Right to Know Law”.  Mr. Donahue noted recommendation No. 9, “The Budget Committee will seek to significantly improve communication with the taxpayers, the group they are representing”.  Mr. Donahue stated that if the full Budget Committee thinks that the taxpayers are the only group they represent, as the Process and Targets Subcommittee apparently does, shame on them.  The Budget Committee represents all residents including residents regardless of their status as taxpayers.  Mr. Donahue found the omission of all residents from recommendation No. 9 to be insulting.  Mr. Rowe concurred with Mr. Donahue.

 

Hopkinton School Board Minutes 2007-2008               1730

 

Mr. Donahue noted that the Process and Targets Subcommittee recommendations seem to have a limited view of the Budget Committee’s responsibilities and limit their view in a counterproductive way in respect to the overall responsibilities to all of the residents and all of the voters of the Town of Hopkinton. 

 

Mr. Donahue noted that the School Board needs to work with the Budget Committee in a collaborative manner on a budget format that makes sense for all concerned which includes the School District, Budget Committee, Department of Revenue and Department of Education.  Mr. Donahue stated the format needs to be efficient and doesn’t increase the School District staff.

 

Mrs. Fuller asked if the District was looking into taping Board meetings.  Mr. Donahue noted this meeting is the first meeting that the Board has the authority to spend 2007-2008 funds.  The Board requested Michelle Clark and Cindy Dobe provide a recommendation to Dr. Blake on how to implement a system for taping and storing Board meetings within the budget of $400 and authorized Dr. Blake to act on such a recommendation.

 

VIII.    Items for Board Discussion

 

1.      Endowment Fund

 

The Board discussed the formation of a Hopkinton Education Foundation.

     

2.      Facility Update

 

Dr. Blake reported that the Harold Martin School window installation is almost completed and the HVAC System should be completed by Friday.  Dr. Blake noted that the installing of the HVAC System was difficult because of the age of the boilers.  Dr. Blake reported that the Hopkinton Middle/High School security cameras are installed.

 

3.   Homework

 

The Board discussed the Homework Policy.

 

            Hopkinton School Board Minutes 2007-2008               1731

 

            4.   Instructional Materials

 

The Board discussed the Instructional Materials Policy and amended the policy to read “Basic instructional course material in the fundamental skill areas of language arts, mathematics, science and social studies shall be reviewed by Superintendent or designee….”

 

            5.   Character and Citizenship Education Policy and Procedures

 

The Board discussed the Character and Citizenship Education Policy amending the policy to read:  11.  An individual should be tolerant of another's beliefs and should have freedom to express his/her own beliefs as long as such expression does not compromise a reasonable students sense of …..”

            6.   Instructional Approach

 

The Board discussed the Instructional Approach Policy.

 

            7.   Data/Records Retention

 

The Board discussed the Data/Records Retention Policy.

 

            8.   Personnel Records

           

The Board discussed the Personnel Records Policy.

 

IX.      Public Comments - None

 

X.        Action Item

 

            A.  Manifests

 

A motion was made by Mr. Donahue and seconded by Mr. Rowe to approve 2006-2007 Manifest No. 138-140 for $119,039.43 and 2007-2008 Manifest No.1-7 for $970,468.56   The motion was unanimously approved.

 

B.  Cardigan Lodge Group Overnight Trip

 

A motion was made by Mr. Luneau and seconded by Mr. Rowe to grant approval of the overnight field trip to Cardigan Lodge Group Campsite August 19, 2007 through August 21, 2007.  The motion was unanimously approved.

 

Hopkinton School Board Minutes 2007-2008               1732

 

C.  Personnel

 

1.      A motion was made by Mr. Donahue and seconded by Mr. Rowe to accept Hopkinton Middle/High School Librarian, Shelley Lochhead’s request for early retirement effective June 30, 2008 with regret.  The motion was unanimously approved.

2.      A motion was made by Mr. Donahue and seconded by Mr. Rowe to approve the Superintendent’s nomination of Tana Montore, .5 Learning Center Specialist, Hopkinton Middle/High School for the 2007-2008 School Year.  The motion was unanimously approved.

3.      A motion was made by Mr. Donahue and seconded by Mr. Rowe to approve the Superintendent’s nomination for Schedule B for the 2007-2008 School Year per attached dated July 10, 2007.   The motion was unanimously approved.

4.   A motion was made by Mr. Rowe and seconded by Mr. Donahue to approve the Superintendent’s nomination of the following for the 2007-2008 School Year.  The motion was unanimously approved.

 

                  Morning/Afternoon Crossing Guard                  Sue Garlow

                  Early Morning Duty                                          Curt Martin

 

5.  A motion was made by Mr. Rowe and seconded by Mr. Donahue to approve the Superintendent’s nomination of April Kent, Part Time Instructional Assistant, Harold Martin School, for the 2007-2008 School Year.  The motion was unanimously approved.

 

D.  Budget Adjustment

 

A motion was made by Mr. Donahue and seconded by Mr. Rowe to approve 2006-2007 Budget Adjustment No. 2007-15 in the amount of $80.00 to cover unexpected bus costs for the 6th grade move up day to Hopkinton Middle/ High School. The transfer is from Miscellaneous to Principal Office Field Trip Transportation.  The motion was unanimously approved.

 

E.  Policies

 

1.      A motion was made by Mr. Rowe and seconded by Mr. Donahue to adopt the Homework Policy.  The motion was unanimously approved.

2.      A motion was made by Mr. Rowe and seconded by Mr. Luneau to adopt the Instructional Materials Policy as amended.  The motion was unanimously approved.

 

Hopkinton School Board Minutes 2007-2008               1733

 

3.      A motion was made by Mr. Donahue and seconded by Mr. Rowe to adopt the Character and Citizenship Education Policy as amended.  The motion was unanimously approved.

4.      A motion was made by Mr. Rowe and seconded by Mr. Donahue to adopt the Instructional Approach Policy as amended.

5.      A motion was made by Mr. Rowe and seconded by Mr. Donahue to adopt the Data/Records Retention Policy.   The motion was unanimously approved.

6.      A motion was made by Mr. Rowe and seconded by Mr. Donahue to adopt the Personnel Records Policy.  The motion was unanimously approved.

 

F. 2007-2008 Fuel Bid

 

A motion was made by Mr. Donahue and seconded by Mr. Rowe to award the 2007-2008 Fuel Oil Bid to Fred Fuller Oil at $2.245 per gallon.  Mrs. Fuller noted she is not related to Fred Fuller Oil.  The motion was unanimously approved.

 

G.  Endowment Fund

 

A motion was made by Mr. Rowe and seconded by Mr. Donahue to approve the establishment of the Hopkinton Education Foundation.  The motion was unanimously approved.
       

XI.      ADJOURNMENT

 

 A motion was made by Mr. Rowe and seconded by  Mr. Donahue to adjourn at

8:25 p.m.                                                       

            

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

 

Brian J. Blake

Hopkinton School Board Clerk

 

Hopkinton School Board Minutes 2006-2007                       1734