PLAINFIELD SCHOOL DISTRICT
Plainfield School Board Meeting
Monday, May 5, 2008
Plainfield Elementary School
MINUTES
The meeting was called to order at 6:36 pm. Present were Board members Reynolds, Ferguson, and Forman. Also present were Superintendent Collins, Principal Langsner, Fourth Grade Teacher Fran Hills, First Grade Teacher Laura Knight, Mike Higgins (Facilities Committee), and members of the public.
Public Comments
There was no public comment.
Announcements, Communications
Superintendent Collins announced that the annual orientation for New Hampshire school board members will again be offered by the New Hampshire School Board Association. He also notified the board of a letter received from the Town of Plainfield inviting all abutters to the Robinson property to a meeting on May 19. The meeting will discuss the conveyance of the Robinson subdivision to the town.
Consent Agenda
A. Minutes of April 3, 2008
Upon a motion made and seconded, the School Board voted unanimously to accept the minutes of the April 3, 2008 meeting as written.
At this time, the Board reordered the agenda as follows:
Business for Discussion and/or Action
A. Curriculum Presentations: Social Studies (SS), Language Arts (LA)
Fourth Grade Teacher Fran Hills distributed a copy of the Social Studies Curriculum Update dated May 5, 2008. The committee members are: Kathy Lanzim, Special Education; Julie Perkins, Grade 2; Fran Hills, Grade 4; Jim Sheehan, Grade 6; and Amelia Lincoln, Grades 7 and 8. The committee decided to reorganize and add to the Social Studies Curriculum dated November, 2004. The following areas of the world are now studied in the following grades: Grade 1, Asia; Grade 2, North America; Grade 3, Europe; Grade 4, Africa; Grade 5, Europe, Asia and the Middle East; Grade 6, American History (1700s to Civil War) and North/South America; Grade 7, Asia and Africa; Grade 8, American History (Reconstruction to present) and Modern Europe. Hills said that the committee hopes to continue their work and include all nine grades in the curriculum next year (e.g., K-8). The content outline in each grade is: geography (physical, political, climate); culture (way of life, economy [jobs and natural resources]); and history (key events, political systems, and place in world today). Following are some of the highlights of the discussion regarding the SS curriculum:
· Because of the current change in the SS curriculum some children may “miss” important learning opportunities as they progress from one grade to the next. Those children will be identified and given the opportunity to experience the learning that was “missed.”
· Integrating SS in other disciplines (e.g., physical education, art, music, mathematics, etc.) is an on-going goal.
· Current events are woven into each SS learning activity by the SS teacher on an as-it-happens basis.
The Language Arts curriculum was presented by Teacher Laura Knight. She stated that the LA curriculum is at the best stage because it can be implemented. The LA curriculum (drafted in the Spring of 2007) was created in response to teachers’ review of the then current grade level equivalencies (GLEs). A major tool in the implementation of the LA curriculum is the six traits of quality writing: Ideas, Word Choice, Organization, Sentence Fluency, Voice, and Conventions. The LA staff has read the book, used learning activities, and attended workshops that “train-the-trainer” to implement the learning theories of Ruth Culham, author of 6+1 Traits of Quality Writing. Some of the highlights of the discussion with Knight regarding the LA curriculum are:
· Writing is taught in all areas of learning, not just LA.
· Handwriting in the lower grades is improving because of increased occupational therapy opportunities. The staff successfully uses the Handwriting Without Tears program.
· The LA staff is responding to NECAP testing results for improvement in the following areas:
o Writing in content areas
o Writing a report
o Using a list of facts, make a conclusion from them
o Write to explain how a math problem is solved
o Use of prefixes and suffixes
· The LA staff is also working to improve research and study skills.
B. Discussion, Action on Authorization of Funds
Mike Higgins, chair of the Facilities Committee, presented a request for funds to begin the improvements to the school’s parking lot. Higgins stated that the $50,000 amount proposed at the March District Meeting will be sufficient for the work already outlined. The opportunity for bids was posted and two of the three recipients of the notice responded. The School Board voted unanimously to: 1) authorize the amount of $50,000 from the Capital Reserve Fund be available for the Facilities Committee to begin the improvements to the school parking lot; 2) allow the Superintendent and Facilities Committee Chair to decide the merits of any contractor quotes and chose the appropriate responding contractor.
Reports
A Superintendent’s Report
Superintendent Collins said he would have a proposed calendar for the 2008-2009 Board meetings at the May 19 meeting. He would also like to talk about a date for a retreat at that time.
Collins said he is in the process of collecting quotes for the erosion project. He explained to the Board that he can accept the bid but he wants to keep the Board informed. Collins hopes to have details for the next meeting.
B. Principal’s Report
Principal Langsner announced that Educational Assistant Sherrie Smith had a baby boy and will not be returning to the school for work. Langsner explained that she is using two regular substitutes on a part-time basis to fill Sherrie’s position for the rest of the school year, which has made finding a substitute for other positions more difficult than usual. Langsner is finding it necessary to teach a class occasionally to help fill in the gaps.
Langsner reported that Spanish teacher Jean Allen had her eighth grade students take the National Spanish Exam this year and Plainfield School students had a very good showing with Josh Huett taking second place and Cooper Hardy placing third in level 1.
In return for the brush cutting assistance given by students and volunteers on the last Beaupre Community Service Day, Langsner said that National Grid has donated several Sugar Maple trees to the school. The type of tree was chosen by the students in order to assist the second grade maple sugaring project each spring. In addition to these new trees, the Student Council is purchasing lilacs and blueberry bushes for the school yard.
Langsner explained that she has interviewed a good potential candidate for the part-time Physical Education position (one of only two applicants so far) and wanted to ask the Board if they would consider increasing the position from .33 FTE to .50 FTE so the person would be eligible for insurance. She explained that doing so would increase the salary line $2,000 – 3,000 over budget and increase the benefits line $3,000 over budget. She highlighted the benefits of having the extra hours from a P.E. teacher. Both Board Chair Reynolds and Board member Forman stated that currently they did not want to take such action, with Forman stating that the Board worked hard to pare the budget down of discretionary funds and he doesn’t want to see that hard work go to waste.
Langsner said that the number of eighth grade students electing to go to private high school next year is estimated at fifteen.
Consent Agenda
B. Nominations
Superintendent Collins announced that Bill Fleming has resigned as Facilities Manager. The Board regretfully recognized his resignation and thanked him for his years of service.
Upon a motion made and seconded, the School Board voted unanimously to accept Bill Knight to take over immediately as Facility Manager.
Upon a motion made and seconded, the School Board voted unanimously to accept Lisa Gradijan for the School Secretary position. Gradijan will start training immediately on a part-time basis and will become full-time as soon as scheduling makes this possible.
Upon a motion made and seconded, the School Board voted unanimously to accept Gail Malsin as the Guidance Councilor for the 2008-2009 school year.
The Board regretfully accepted the resignation of Margaret Kogut, Education Assistant. Kogut will finish the 2007-2008 school year.
Non-public Session
Upon a motion made and seconded, the School Board voted unanimously to go into non-public session pursuant to NH RSA 91-A:3, II (a) at 8:10 pm. A discussion of personnel renominations took place.
Upon a motion made and seconded, the School Board voted unanimously to go back into public session at 9:23 pm.
Upon a motion made and seconded, the School Board approved unanimously to offer contracts for the 2008-2009 school year to members of the Plainfield Elementary School Support Staff, as presented and recommended by the Superintendent and Principal, and to the SAU #32 Staff and the Plainfield Elementary School Principal, as recommended by the Superintendent.
There being no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned at 9:24 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Annette Moore
Recording Clerk