HOPKINTON SCHOOL DISTRICT

School Administrative Unit #66

204 Maple Street

Contoocook, NH 03229

Hopkinton School Board

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

I. Chair David Luneau called the meeting to order at 6:32 p.m. Present: Chair David Luneau, Vice Chair Liz Durant, School Board members Larry Donahue, Kim Fuller and Louis Josephson, Superintendent Dr. Brian Blake, Director of Student Services Dr. Valerie Aubry, Director of Technology Matt Stone, Administrative Assistant Tara Graham, Principals Steve Chamberlin, Michael Bessette and Bill Carozza.

II. Additions/Deletions to the agenda:

A. Dr. Blake noted that an update on Safe Routes To School will be given during Mr. Carozza’s report.

III. Correspondence

A. None.

IV. Approval of Minutes

A. Motion to approve the 4/28/09 minutes made by Dr. Josephson, seconded by Ms. Durant, motion passes, all in favor, minutes approved.

V. Public Comments

A. Merle Dustin: Ms. Dustin commended the PTA and school for the Fun Fair and noted what a big job the clean-up after must have been.

VI. Staff Reports/Presentations

A. Principal Carozza, Harold Martin School:

· In addition to his written report, Mr. Carozza noted what a great success the Fun Fair was, making the PTA $7000.

· Round three of the Safe Routes To School Grant has begun. Natalie Duval and Mr. Carozza presented the plans to the Department of Education and a positive response is expected. In round two $10,000 was received and some work has already been done in the Contoocook Village area, making it safer to walk and bike in that area. Mr. Luneau suggested a community forum to discuss the grant, engineering and traffic studies, and how to make pedestrian flow more friendly for kids to walk to school. Stage one is also soon to be completed, which is the sidewalk in front of the Harold Martin School. Ms. Fuller asked if the Selectmen were informed of these projects? Dr. Blake confirmed that they are aware and support the programs and studies.

· Mr. Donahue asked about Assessment Night and if NECAP testing was discussed there? Mr. Carozza confirmed that it was.

· Mr. Donahue asked about school e-mail blasts and if they are also sent to interested members of the community also? Dr. Blake noted that while there is a separate list for the community, a better job could be done in being more consistent with messages. Effort will be put into doing this.

B. Principal Bessette, Maple Street School

· In addition to his written report, Mr. Bessette commented on the Earth Day celebration and what a great experience it was for all involved. He encouraged everyone to stop by and look at the recycling tree in the cafeteria and what pride all of the students put into it.

· Mr. Donahue asked if the percentage of students being identified as needing IEPs was standard? Dr. Aubry commented that district-wide we are right with the national average, there is a “bubble” of higher numbers at Maple Street currently that has been there since those students were at Harold Martin.

C. Mr. Chamberlin, Hopkinton Middle/High School

· In addition to his written report, Mr. Chamberlin commented that he had had only two parent concerns over the larger scale searches being proposed at HMHS and he will be meeting with them to discuss.

· The NEASC committee will be coming to tour the building on May 21^st. All is expected to go well as the building is sustaining the population at the current time.

· HMHS has now gone half a year without having anyone on a sports team failing off of a team, a great accomplishment.

· Ms. Durant asked if there are emergency procedures in place for the Fire Department to notify the school in case of emergency. It was confirmed that there are.

· Mr. Chamberlin also spoke regarding the Principal search. The current interviewing committee will narrow the choice down to 2 or 3 candidates who will then meet with the Board, Leadership Team, students and parents. Mr. Chamberlin expressed that he hopes to have a nomination in approximately two weeks.

D. Director of Technology, Matt Stone:

· Mr. Stone reviewed a list of new technologies that are currently being tested, including the previously discussed White Boards and Netbooks.

· Mr. Donahue asked if Classmate PCs have been looked at – a grade 6 and below, rugged option. Mr. Stone responded that he has looked at them a bit, but they can be examined further.

· Mr. Luneau asked how much longer there was on the White Board trial and suggested a demo at the next Technology Committee meeting. Mr. Stone noted that this was doable, and the demo expires in June.

E. Dr. Brian Blake, for Michelle Clark, Business Administrator:

· March financials are as expected with an increase in the fund balance due to the budget freeze.

F. Superintendent, Dr. Brian Blake:

· In addition to his written report, Dr. Blake noted that he has been sending information to parents and posting it on the web when there was any news on the Swine Flu from the CDC or the State.

· Dr. Blake also noted that “phase 1” of the new website should be ready for launch in September.

VII. Comments From the Hopkinton School Board

A. Ms. Durant thanked Dr. Blake for the Flu update.

B. Dr. Josephson suggested looking at the School’s plans in the case of a real, large-scale outbreak.

C. Mr. Donahue expressed how pleased he was to get a note from his child’s teacher and noted how it really shows the dedication of the teachers in the district.

D. Ms. Fuller thanked the PTA for all the work that goes into the Fun Fair.

E. Mr. Luneau noted the great turn out for both the Fun Fair and Opening Day.

VIII. Items For Board Discussion

A. Stimulus Funds

· Dr. Aubry passed out handouts summarizing the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Stimulus Funds for IDEA. She noted that both her and Dr. Blake had been participating in numerous conference calls, yet there are still many questions to be answered.

· Hopkinton is to receive $8,818.17 for Preschool and $213,525.00 for IDEA-B, half available in May and half in the fall.

· How to report the spending of the funds will also need to be examined as it needs to be reported separately from our current accounting.

· The District is not eligible for Title I funding.

· All districts have been encouraged not to put the funds into salaries, causing an unsustainable funding “cliff” after 2011 when the funds are no longer available.

· Funds used must be a direct benefit to students with disabilities and we must be able to show the connection. Monthly reports will be required. A list of suggested areas for using the funds was provided in Dr. Aubry’s handout.

· Ms. Fuller asked if growth due to the benefit of the funds would need to be shown in the short-term? Dr. Aubry responded that it is not necessarily measured by the individual student achievement, but by the benefit to the program.

· Ms. Durant asked if infrastructure type improvements would be considered? Dr. Aubry responded that it would need pre-approval from the Department of Education as well as the Committee for Economic Stimulus.

· Dr. Blake spoke about the construction funds that will be distributed throughout state school districts in two rounds. The first round will be going to schools with past bonds for this purpose, but the second will be open to all districts, with more information being released in the fall. Mr. Luneau asked if this was similar to building aid? Dr. Blake responded no, it is a different kind of funding all together. Also, in the future, there will be a number of different grant programs that have not been rolled out yet.

B. Schedule B Middle School Track Positions

· Mr. Chamberlin explained that these coaching positions were originally two co-coach positions and are now appropriately reconfigured. They are paid at the end of the season. There were no questions.

IX. Public Comments

A. Merle Dustin: Requested that Dr. Aubry speak up.

B. Janet Kryzaniack:

· Suggested that copies of the public information in the Board packets be made available to the general public so they are informed of what the Board is talking about.

· Recognized Curt Martin and his long tenure as not only a teacher, but student.

· Shared her experience with Flat Stanley.

· Thanked Mr. Chamberlin for explaining snow day policies to her.

· Noted that it was nice to see a principal (Mr. Bessette) outside welcoming kids back to school after vacation.

· Asked about the status of negotiations? Ms. Fuller confirmed that the committee and union representatives will be going back into negotiations.

· Expressed that she had no idea and was very impressed that the District provides independent living and job experience to disabled students.

X. Action Items

A. Recommend the Hopkinton School Board approve the Middle School Track positions as presented. Mr. Donahue motioned, Ms. Durant seconded, all in favor, motion carries.

XI. Mr. Donahue moved at 8:13 p.m. and Dr. Josephson seconded that the Board enter non-public session as provided in (RSA 91-A:3, II (a)(b)(c)) to discuss negotiations. Motion passed on a roll call vote- Mr. Donahue, Ms. Durant, Ms. Fuller, Dr. Josephson, and Mr. Luneau, (all) in favor.

XII. Following a motion by Mr. Donahue, seconded by Ms. Durant, roll call vote- Mr. Donahue, Ms. Durant, Ms. Fuller, Dr. Josephson, and Mr. Luneau, (all) in favor, the board came out of non-public session at 9:23 p.m.

XIII. Following a motion by Ms. Durant, seconded by Mr. Donahue, the board voted to seal the minutes of the non-public session for one year. Motion passed on a roll call vote- Mr. Donahue, Ms. Durant, Ms. Fuller, Dr. Josephson, and Mr. Luneau, (all) in favor.

XIII. Motion to adjourn by Mr. Donahue, seconded by Ms. Durant. Motion passed on a roll call vote- Mr. Donahue, Ms. Durant, Ms. Fuller, Dr. Josephson, and Mr. Luneau, (all) in favor.

Adjourned at 9:24 p.m.

Respectfully submitted, Tara D. Graham

Hopkinton School Board Meeting Minutes

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Maple Street School, Hopkinton NH

Non-public minutes

XIV. Non-Public Session (RSA 91-A:3, II (a)(b)(c)).

During the non-public session, the Board discussed negotiations.

Ms. Durant motioned to come out of Non-Public Session, seconded by Mr. Donahue. Motion passed on a roll call vote- Mr. Donahue, Ms. Durant, Ms. Fuller, Dr. Josephson, and Mr. Luneau, (all) in favor, the board came out of non-public session at 9:23 p.m.