APPROVED

WINDHAM SCHOOL BOARD

Public Session

Business Meeting

September 18, 2007 – SAU #28 Building

 

 

School Board Members:          Al Letizio - Chairman, Beverly Donovan, Bruce Anderson, Beth Valentine and Barbara Coish

Superintendent:                              Dr. Frank Bass

Assistant Superintendent:     Roxanne Wilson

Business Administrator:          Toby Eaton

 

Chairman, Al Letizio called the public session of the Windham School Board to order at 7:26 p.m. 

 

Procedural Protocol

 

Mr. Letizio discussed the protocol he would like the school board to follow during meetings.  He spoke of Roberts Rules of Order – asking all board members to not speak out of turn during a meeting.  The board noted his comments and discussed what was stated. 

 

Beverly Donovan noted during public comment, that the board listen and then take it under advisement and not respond at that time.  She stressed that it was not procedure for the board to vote on a comment made during public comment section of a meeting.  She further requested that there be a section on the agenda for board member concerns.  She noted her concern about not taking Mrs. Hastings comments under advisement during the last meeting and voting on it.

 

Barbara Coish noted a board member can request at any time to speak about an issue and that it is within member’s legal rights to have a non-public session to hold a discussion. 

 

Beth Valentine respectfully requested that she would like a category of information about what a board member wishes to discuss during non-public session.

 

CIP

 

Status of Projects/Funding and Timelines – Beth Valentine spoke of her concern regarding CIP items and gave a brief history noting the 2005 Middle School repaving project which was underestimated leaving the additional parking spaces undone.  She stated her concern over only being able to accomplish the first part of the job which was approved by voters. 

 

Next, Mrs. Valentine spoke of the Middle School request for a sod soccer field for fiscal 2008.  Business Administrator, Toby Eaton, noted surveying was completed and the site was being engineered for the proper location of the soccer field and parking lot.

 

Bruce Anderson questioned why the paving project went forward if there was not enough money to also include the approved parking spaces.

 

Mr. Eaton explained that he could not find history of any bids for the project and thus it was underestimated by the previous Business Administrator.

 

Mrs. Valentine questioned putting an artificial turf field at the Middle School – is this the best place for it or should it be placed at the high school site.  She also stated future school board requests to the CIP may be questioned.

 

Beverly Donovan noted they should not put that field at the middle school now that they are looking at potential new middle school at the high school site.

 

Bruce Anderson stressed the middle school still needs parking spaces and not a soccer field.

 

Mr. Eaton noted he made the engineering request urgent from Appledore.  Glenn Davis will help expedite this matter.

 

Athletic Committee Impact –Al Letizio opened the discussion for the newly adopted athletic vision. 

 

Glenn Davis noted he is working with Brad on conceptual drawings; verifying spaces to use and looking at the total site.  He also noted they looked at land for a new school.  Mr. Davis stressed the real issues are the site work; access and services.

 

Mr. Letizio stated the school board is looking at values to give to the CIP.

 

Bruce Anderson suggested averaging the costs and bringing that number forward to CIP.  Noting they should accept Appledore proposal and ask for the best layout for vision and middle school needs.

 

Mr. Eaton noted that Appledore would like to attend meetings with the Athletic Committee.

 

Mr. Letizio noted he will request the Athletic Committee to make elementary and middle school recommendations.

 

Motion to Accept Proposal of Appledore Engineering from 9/11/07 for master plan of high school and middle school site with $5,500 for Task 1 plus $2,000 cap for Task 2 for a total of $7,500 was made by Bruce Anderson with a 2nd by Barbara Coish.  Approved 5-0.

 

Dr. Bass noted that at the October 2nd meeting the board will present the master plan of how they look.  Mr. Letizio stated they will probably announce it in public session, but will wait for more concrete plans.

 

Beth Valentine questioned what would be brought to CIP.  She stressed a decision should be made on the septic system for Golden Brook School, noting they should be prudent and put it back into CIP.  The system is about 20 years old.

 

Motion to ask CIP representatives to request a placeholder of a septic system at Golden Brook School to use dollar amount estimates the Business Administrator can obtain by next meeting was made by Bruce Anderson with a 2nd by Beth Valentine.

Approved 5-0.

 

Mr. Letizio requested a meeting to seek town input when they have more concrete numbers for the athletic vision.

 

Beverly Donovan reminded the board that the whole purpose of the CIP was to make placeholders.  She further noted the board agreed years ago to work with CIP and that they need to be consistent.  Stressing they should be put on notice.

 

Barbara Coish stated that regardless of when it happens, the board will have to put it on as a warrant article.

 

Mr. Letizio suggested this topic be part of the public hearing process.  Mr. Letizio then requested that Mr. Davis obtain numbers of the separate components that the board can bring to their business meeting and then formalize what they wish to do.

 

FF&E Budget – Mr. Davis requested clarification on the academic side of things, noting any unique curriculum requirements.  Mr. Davis stressed that there is a lot of work involved in this process along with a lot of research for over 800 items.  He outlined the process of contacting vendors, physically looking at items and finally obtaining approval for said items.  He suggested having the Building Committee do this and then bring it to the School Board for approval.  Mr. Davis noted he would handle the care of deliveries.  He noted that the process should be well underway by February or March of 2008.

 

Dr. Bass noted the whole FF&E process is enormous.  Roxanne Wilson stated she could assist with some of this, but that it needs to a combination of many people.  It was decided upon that Mr. Davis would oversee the process; the Building Committee would obtain recommendations; recommendations would be given to Dr. Bass and Mrs. Wilson with Dr. Bass and Mrs. Wilson serving as consultants to Mr. Davis.

 

Land Transfer

 

Chairman Letizio noted nine (9) acres of land have been identified to give back to the Town.  Mr. Anderson requested a mapping of the acres and then bringing it forward to the Conservation Committee and Board of Selectman.  It was decided that Mr. Anderson would bring this to the Conservation Committee for acceptance first.

 

Cornerstone Laying Ceremony

 

The pros and cons of an official ceremony at the high school site were discussed by board members.  Barbara Coish noted that the Communications Committee voted not to do it at this time, but to wait until the paving and guardrail installation were competed.  It was also noted that the Governor of the State of New Hampshire books out far in advance for such ceremonies.  The board discussed the safety and liability standpoint along with having an “open site” less formal type of ceremony on a Saturday or Sunday and leaving a formal ceremony for later.

 

Mr. Letizio requested that communications to the public continue and that the board will update the public during their business meetings.

 

Beth Valentine discussed a video tour of the site.  Roxanne Wilson volunteered her husband to help with a website.  She noted she will coordinate this with Mr. Davis.

 

District Master Plan – Tabled to another meeting.

 

Manifests

                  Building Fund Voucher #1021                                  $   4,585.38

                  WSD Voucher #1020                                                        $381,459.41

                  WSD Voucher #7                                                                 $ 50,600.45

                  WSD Voucher #1022                                                        $489,988.61

 

Other Business

 

Roxanne Wilson discussed AYP.  She noted that Windham Middle School did not make AYP in the area of math.  She updated the board on their strategy for appeal with the State.

 

Professional Development – Roxanne Wilson updated the board on professional development process, noting the finishing touches were being done and then it would be sent for approval.

 

Barbara Coish brought forward her concern over a flyer that went home with students from an out-of-town business.  Dr. Bass will look into this matter.

 

Motion to Adjourn the public session under RSA 91-A:3II(b) at 9:54 p.m. and return to non-public to discuss reputations was made by Barbara Coish with a 2nd by Bruce Anderson.  Al Letizio-aye; Beverly Donovan-aye; Beth Valentine-aye; Bruce Anderson-aye; Barbara Coish – aye.

 

Respectfully - Diane Figaro