September 16, 2010
Hopkinton School District School Board School Board
Hopkinton, New Hampshire
School Administrative Unit #66
School Board Retreat
Saint Methodios Faith and Heritage Center, Retreat House
Contoocook, NH
Meeting Minutes
September 16, 2010
Mr. Luneau stated that unlike at regular board meetings, the School Board Retreat would not be audio recorded, as no action items or policy decisions will be acted on.
IN ATTENDANCE
School Board: Chairman: David Luneau, School Board Members: Louis Josephson, William Jones, Larry Donahue, Vice Chairman: Elizabeth Durant (arrived at 1:24pm)
Administration: Superintendent of Schools: Steven Chamberlin
Facilitator: Susan Covert
CALL TO ORDER:
Mr. Luneau called the meeting to order at 1:00pm
PUBLIC COMMENT:
None
Susan Covert discussed each agenda item with the school board and superintendent.
ITEMS FOR BOARD DISCUSSION:
Outcomes:
Mr. Chamberlin presented his position regarding the outcomes of the meeting: sharing his direction, providing and clarity, understanding, and unity. He stated that during his second year as superintendent he is looking at a different structure for board meetings business meeting supported periodic extended discussions/work sessions with the board.
David Luneau stated he hoped everyone liked the shorter format of the regular school board meetings.
The View From The Bay Window
What is the current state of the Hopkinton schools?
What does the future of the Hopkinton schools look like?
What are the barriers impacting the future of the Hopkinton schools?
Mr. Chamberlin stated that preparing for the retreat caused him to make purposeful reflection of the district.
Mr. Chamberlin stated that the district is in the 21st Century and the hope is to create/develop 21st century policies, practices and procedures to join with the time, tools, and training focus of last year.
Mr. Donahue asked Mr. Chamberlin if when he talks about the 21st Century classroom, does he mean beyond the United States?
Mr. Chamberlin stated that his current focus is best practice in this country.
Curriculum:
Mr. Chamberlin stated that the Hopkinton School District has not clearly articulated what we want our students to learn in all content areas. We have standards in math, so we know by the end of the 2nd grade what we want our students to learn.
The superintendent and board members discussed the following outlined topics:
Assessment:
What is the purpose of grades?
Sorting and selecting students
Using grades as punishment
Focus on student achievement, instead of labeling with a grade.
Measure student learning – equally important is citizenship
Instruction:
Replacing extraordinary specialized/talented teachers
Integrate technology into all areas and grade levels
Projectors and whiteboards
Personnel:
Financial consideration of health care and other costs related to staffing.
Central Office:
Demands on the positions are extraordinary
Infrastructure:
Concerns about funding adequacy
Downshifting costs to towns/school districts
Rising retirement costs
Managing costs per employee
Deferring maintenance
Working environment for central office staff
Discussion
Mr. Chamberlin stated that staff takes every measure to support the needs of the district and community – the staff is incredible.
Mr. Luneau stated that he wants to ensure the Board is supporting the district and the resources are available to meet the need.
Mr. Chamberlin stated that New Hampshire does not have a stable funding mechanism to fund education. He said there was an increase in retirement costs yesterday – he is concerned about managing costs.
Facilities:
Mr. Chamberlin stated that they have been deferring maintenance at the schools and the district office. The high school does not support 21st Century learning – it does not have the flexible space.
Mr. Chamberlin is concerned about deferred maintenance. He stated the SAU office is not a 21st Century space – everyone eats lunch at their desks. It is not a space that is represented in the mission of the district.
What do the indicators of successful/high achieving public schools need to tell/show us?
How do we know how we are doing?
Mr. Chamberlin stated that we need to determine if kids are learning
- Are we teaching the right material?
- Five years out – are they graduating from college, are they successful?
- Do they feel comfortable in the career track they chose?
- Are kids obtaining two-year degrees, certifications, or four-year degrees?
- How do we know what knob we moved worked?
Indicators should show:
What we are missing?
Are we improving?
Are students mastering competencies?
Indicators:
Attendance (absences, tardiness)
Parent/student evaluation
What role does a vision, value, and/or mission statement play in successful school districts? And
What role does the school board play in creating/supporting/implementing the vision/values/mission of the Hopkinton School District?
The superintendent and the board members all agreed the mission needs to be changed. They discussed their thoughts on what each brings to the table: vision, value, and mission.
- Unifies all employees
- Collective commitment/covenant
- Tells the world what we are about
- Living document that endures over time
Mission: Why we are here?
Value: Ingrained in culture – guides our actions
Vision: What we are aiming for?
Mr. Chamberlin will bring a straw man draft of the mission to the board.
The board, teachers, families, and students will all be part of creating the new mission statement.
The board’s role will be to get all stakeholders to buy in: faculty, families, students, and community.
NEXT STEPS:
The board and superintendent will meet again in 2-3 months, separate from the traditional board meeting. (Utilize one board meetings/quarter as a work session.)
Adjournment
At 4:58pm Mr. Donahue made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Ms. Durant.
Respectfully submitted,
Jean Eaton
