August 25, 2009
Hopkinton School District School Board
School Administrative Unit #66
Meeting Minutes
August 25, 2009
IN ATTENDANCE:
School Board: Chairman: David Luneau, Vice Chairman: Elizabeth Durant, Kim Fuller, Louis Josephson, Larry Donahue, Student Representative: Noah Meister
Administration: Superintendent: Steven Chamberlin; Business Administrator: Michelle Clark
CALL TO ORDER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
School Board Chairman, David Luneau, called the meeting to order at 6:30pm. Merle Dustin and Janet Krzyzaniak, community members, led the meeting in the Pledge of Allegiance.
SUPERINTENDENT ADDITIONS/DELETIONS TO AGENDA:
(Additions are underlined in the agenda)
We have a revised agenda tonight. Action items 18 through 22 have been added. In addition, there has been a change in the wording to action item 18 regarding the CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement).
CORRESPONDENCE:
Pocket schedules for the boys and girls fall Hopkinton Hawks teams were passed around.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Motion to approve the August 11, 2009 meeting minutes made by Mrs. Fuller, seconded by Ms. Durant as amended, all in favor (Mr. Donahue abstaining), motion carries.
Amendment: Change in board member chair’s name motioning to move into nonpublic session and out of nonpublic session and adjournment.
PUBLIC COMMENT (1):
Merle Dustin, community member, stated that she recently read US News and World Report (September 2009). This volume focuses on enormous amount college information and she believes strongly that this issue should be available for all of the 9th graders.
Janet Krzyzaniak, community member, asked that we take into consideration lengthening the day to make up for some of the snow days, so students do not have to go to school so late into June.
COMMENTS FROM THE HOPKINTON SCHOOL BOARD:
Mr. Donahue thanked the Negotiations Team for all of their hard work. Also, to piggyback on Janet Krzyzaniak’s comment, he sees an opportunity to look at April vacation as a chance to make up snow days. He encourages the Calendar Committee and the Board to consider this. He just wanted to plant the seed, not discuss it tonight.
Ms. Durant is looking forward to school opening. She thanked all the schools for working hard and complimented their communication.
Mr. Luneau piggybacked on Merle Dustin’s comment. This morning he saw some information on a powerful/very graphic video that is posted on YouTube about the dangers of teenage texting while driving (produced by the police in the UK). It actually shows (a dramatization) teenagers killed in an accident. He can’t imagine anyone texting or using a cell phone while driving after watching this video.
Second, he read a piece in a newspaper regarding US Secretary of Education Arnie Duncan and the Stimulus and ARRA funds and how much of it is being allocated to the public school system. Secretary Duncan impressed upon school districts to use this money in such a way that will have a long-term impact on education – not a temporal impact. He stated that this comment was very good forward thinking from the Secretary Duncan.
SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT:
Mr. Chamberlin stated that although some of these items were covered in his board notes, he wanted to be sure there were no further questions. Mr. Chamberlin explained each of the three budget adjustment forms, he highlighted that the tuition student is one that has a tradition of attending our schools, and stated that the cost of the possible staffing increases at Harold Martin and Maple Street School would be completely born by the sending district. Sometimes certain students are placed in our district, with the financial responsibility from the sending district. Mr. Chamberlin will talk more about this in nonpublic. Please be aware if you see an ad in the paper, that this is what it pertains to; it is an increase in staff, with the financial responsibility covered completely by the sending district.
ITEMS FOR BOARD DISCUSSION:
No further questions for Mr. Chamberlin at this time.
Mr. Luneau complimented the superintendent for really pushing the board (third August board meeting this month) to get positions filled and everything documented properly.
PUBLIC COMMENT (2):
Janet Krzyzaniak, community member, stated that she wanted to ask Mr. Chamberlin to take his jacket off. Mrs. Krzyzaniak said she was extremely hot! Mr. Chamberlin took off his jacket. Mrs. Krzyzaniak asked if the YouTube video could be shown in schools. Perhaps it would save some lives by showing it. She encouraged the board to see if it could be shown.
MATERIALS INCLUDED (in board packet):
Nomination Packets (5)
Memorandum: update on negotiations (confidential)
Budget Adjustment Forms (3)
IMPORTANT DATES:
8/26/09: Salute to 7th Graders, Hopkinton Middle School
8/28/09: New Staff Orientation
8/31/09: Welcome staff breakfast, Hopkinton Middle High Schools
9/01/09: First day for students
9/01/09: Hopkinton School Board meeting, 6:30pm Maple Street School cafeteria
Mrs. Fuller, Ms. Durant, and Mr. Luneau will be at the opening breakfast and assembly on Monday.
ACTION ITEMS:
11. Recommend the Hopkinton School Board approve the Superintendent’s nomination of Susan Garlow, morning crossing guard, Maple Street School, 2009-2010 school year.
A motion was made by Mr. Donahue, seconded by Ms. Durant, motion carries, all in favor, not opposed.
12. Recommend the Hopkinton School Board approve the Superintendent’s nomination of Lisa Lulka, .8 mathematics teacher, Hopkinton High School, 2009-2010 school year.
Mr. Josephson asked why the split? Also, what does the school do to make sure the new staff member is up to speed?
Mr. Chamberlin stated that the .8 allows for more planning and observation time (reducing the number of fifths and preps). Also, the ability to teach parallel with Jim Brizard and other teachers instead of being solo; there is a lot of professional learning and collaboration going on. The reduced schedule was meant specifically for this candidate in planning for success. Ms. Lulka will be teaching 9th and 10th grade.
A motion was made by Mr. Donahue, seconded by Mrs. Fuller, motion carries, all in favor, not opposed.
13. Recommend the Hopkinton School Board approve the Superintendent’s nomination of Jim Brizard, additional .2 mathematics teacher, Hopkinton High School, 2009-2010
A motion was made by Mr. Donahue, seconded by Mr. Josephson and Ms. Durant, motion carries, all in favor, not opposed.
14. Recommend the Hopkinton School Board approve the Superintendent’s nomination of Sharon Politz, special education teacher, Hopkinton Middle School, 2009-2010 school year.
A motion was made by Mr. Donahue, seconded by Ms. Durant, motion carries, all in favor, not opposed.
15. Recommend the Hopkinton School Board accept the resignation of Diane Bennett, Food Service, Hopkinton Middle and High Schools, effective August 18, 2009.
A motion was made by Mr. Donahue, seconded by Ms. Durant, motion carries, all in favor, not opposed.
16. Recommend the Hopkinton School Board accept the Superintendent’s recommendation to approve budget adjustments 2009-14, 2009-15, and 2009
A motion was made by Mr. Donahue, seconded by Mrs. Fuller, motion carries, all in favor, not opposed.
17. Recommend the Hopkinton School Board accept the Superintendent’s recommendation to accept a tuition student at Hopkinton High School, 2009-2010 school year.
A motion was made by Mr. Donahue, seconded by Mr. Josephson,
motion carries, all in favor, not opposed.
18. Recommend the Hopkinton School Board ratify the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Hopkinton School District and Hopkinton Educational Association (HEA) for the period of ratification at the Special School District Meeting until midnight, June 30, 2011.
19.Recommend the Hopkinton School Board approve the negotiated changes to the July 2006- June 2009 Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Hopkinton School District and the Hopkinton Education Association.
A motion was made by Mr. Donahue, seconded by Ms. Durant, motion carries, all in favor, not opposed.
20.Recommend the Hopkinton School Board accept the Superintendent’s nomination of Carol Testa, Administrative Assistant to the Director of Student Services, effective September 8, 2009.
A motion was made by Mr. Donahue, seconded by Mrs. Fuller, motion carries, all in favor, not opposed.
21.Recommend the Hopkinton School Board accept the resignation of Melissa List, Instructional Assistant, Hopkinton Middle School, effective August 21, 2009.
A motion was made by Mr. Donahue, seconded by Ms. Durant, motion carries, all in favor, not opposed.
22. Recommend the Hopkinton School Board accept the Superintendent’s nomination of Donald Wood, Instructional Assistant, Hopkinton Middle School, 2009-2010 school year.
A motion was made by Mr. Donahue, seconded by Mrs. Fuller, motion carries, all in favor, not opposed.
23. Recommend the Hopkinton School Board accept the Superintendent’s nomination of Joseph Besl, Cross Country Coach, Hopkinton Middle School, 2009-2010 school year.
A motion was made by Mr. Donahue, seconded by Mrs. Fuller, motion carries, all in favor, not opposed.
NONPUBLIC SESSION
24. Nonpublic Session for the Discussion of Matters as Per RSA 91-A: 3, II (a) and (c)
Negotiations
Personnel
At 7:15 pm, Mrs. Fuller made a motion, seconded by Mr. Josephson, that the Board enter into nonpublic session in accordance with RSA 91-3:II(a) and (c) for discussion on negotiations and personnel. Motion passed on a roll call vote: Ms. Durant (yes), Ms. Fuller (yes), Mr. Donahue (yes), Mr. Josephson (yes), Mr. Luneau (yes), all in favor.
RETURN TO PUBLIC SESSION
At 8:30 pm, a motion was made by Mrs. Fuller, seconded by Ms. Durant, to return to public session. Motion passed on a roll call vote: Ms. Durant (yes), Ms. Fuller (yes), Mr. Donahue (yes), Mr. Josephson (yes), Mr. Luneau (yes), all in favor.
Following a motion by Mr. Donahue, seconded by Ms. Durant, the board voted to seal the minutes of the non-public session for one year. Motion passed on a roll call vote: Ms. Durant (yes), Ms. Fuller (yes), Mr. Donahue (yes), Mr. Josephson (yes), Mr. Luneau (yes), all in favor.
ADJOURNMENT
At 8:30 pm, a motion to adjourn was made by Mr. Donahue, seconded by Mrs. Fuller. Motion passed on a roll call vote: Ms. Durant (yes), Ms. Fuller (yes), Mr. Donahue, Mr. Josephson (yes), Mr. Luneau (yes), all in favor.
Respectfully submitted, Jean Eaton
