PLAINFIELD SCHOOL DISTRICT

Plainfield School Board Meeting

Monday, May 21, 2007

Plainfield Elementary School

MINUTES

The meeting was called to order at 6:35 pm. Present were Board members Reynolds, Ferguson, Bucklin and Forman. Also present were Superintendent Collins, Principal Langsner, and members of the public.

Public Comments

In response to a question Board member Bucklin asked of him at the April 2 meeting, town member Dennis Girouard handed out a sheet explaining how he arrived at the cost per pupil at Plainfield School that was published in his article in the April PlainFacts.

At this time the Board reordered the agenda.

Business for Discussion and/or Action

A. Curriculum Presentations

Teacher Laura Knight, representing the Language Arts Curriculum Committee, reported that the committee is at the implementation stage of the curriculum revision cycle. She explained that teachers examined the latest GLE results and identified where changes need to be made to the current language arts curriculum. The committee has already incorporated those changes into the language arts curriculum. Teachers also spent time analyzing this year’s NECAP test results and found the areas that need greater emphasis. The curriculum committee compiled a summary of these areas for the staff so that changes to the curriculum can be made immediately. The committee also surveyed the staff to see how the language arts curriculum committee could support them with writing instruction. They hope to sponsor staff development in response to this survey.

Representing the Social Studies Curriculum Committee, teacher Fran Hills told the Board that the committee is in the first year of the six-year revision cycle. She said the committee has been working with the existing curriculum and comparing it to the curriculum framework received from the State on March, 2007. They have also spent time figuring out how that will work with the curriculum mapping. Hills explained that when the committee finishes revising the curriculum, the big challenge will be finding time for teachers to add time to their already full days to teach new areas. She suggested that integrating subjects may be the answer.

Teacher Mary McKernan, representing the Math Curriculum Committee, explained that state frameworks for Math have changed so much from the current curriculum that the committee has to essentially rewrite the curriculum. She said they have found that the old curriculum language tends to be very broad and they are rewriting using more specific language.

Teacher Jean Allen described how she has been developing a curriculum for Spanish with help from the National Spanish Exam for middle and high school students and the standards adopted by the State. She has also looked at model school programs to help her develop a rough draft. She is in stage one of the curriculum revision cycle but she is implementing the curriculum as she goes along.

B. Athletic Committee Recommendation re: Division of Teams

Board member Forman began the discussion by reiterating the PES Athletic Policy, emphasizing that it is “designed to generate the broadest possible participation of students…..” Forman presented the following recommendation from the Athletic Committee: The Athletic Committee recommends that the School Board vote to allow the PES Athletic Director to use placement try-outs as an approved method to create 7^th & 8^th grade athletics when appropriate. He emphasized the fact that placement try outs will not be the only method used to separate teams, simply one more option for the Athletic Director to use. The reasons given for this recommendation were: to create better participation as well as teamwork, responsibility, sportsmanship and performance through enhanced learning and skills development; a better coaching environment; level match play; appropriate preparation for high school; safety. Forman stated that the Athletic Committee has been discussing this recommendation for the better part of two years and has gathered community input in the forms of a student survey, a coaches forum and a community forum, all of which showed the majority of people responding to support placement try outs. He also listed the local schools that are already dividing their teams by skill level in certain sports using try outs. Board member Ferguson wanted to be sure that the recommendation made it clear that every child will be placed on a team after try outs. Board member Reynolds wanted to see language included that would allow a child the option to not participate in placement try outs and be placed automatically on a B team. Public comments were about half in favor of placement try outs, half against them. Town member Dewey Jones felt that try outs could cause damage to self esteem leading to long term discouragement with organized sports. Several parents stated that their children have told them they will not participate in placement try outs at all and thus not participate in sports at Plainfield School. Allan Reetz stated that there would always be unhappy people, no matter how teams were split up, and that athlete safety is a big issue when teams have mixed skill levels. Leslie MacGregor felt that the experience for both coaches and athletes is better when athletes are matched by skill level. As a result of the above discussion, Forman suggested the following regulations be added to the recommendation: to start an education program to inform parents and students about try outs; to have regular surveys and to monitor participation levels every year; to allow athletes the ability to “opt on” to the B team without  participating in try outs.

Upon a motion made and seconded, the School Board voted unanimously to accept the recommendation of the Athletic Committee, as amended.

C. Policy Revision

The policy revisions were tabled for a future meeting.

D. District Meeting 2008 Time and Date

The Board discussed and reached a consensus to alternate the annual School District meeting from Saturday mornings one year with Friday evenings the next year, starting with Saturday morning next year.

Reports

Superintendent’s Report

Board members Reynolds and Ferguson read aloud the resolution (see attached) between the school district and the NH Municipal Bond Bank. Upon a motion made and seconded, the School Board voted unanimously to approve the resolution.

Superintendent Collins reported that the 2007-2008 lunch contract is ready, with the vendor asking for a one cent increase in the price of lunches next year (from $2.00 to $2.01) and for a $20.00 per month increase for transportation. The Board authorized the Superintendent to sign the new agreement.

Collins reported that he discussed with the insurance carrier, Primex, the issue of insurance coverage for the circus camp at KUA this summer. Primex said the school would be covered but suggested some wording changes in the agreement with KUA to minimize risk. Collins was not sure if there will be any additional costs to the school district with the additional risk but plans to check into it. The consensus of the Board was not to allow the circus camp if there is to be additional insurance costs to the School District or if there is a risk that a claim would cause an increase in premium.

The Board discussed moving the June 18 board meeting to another date, due to a conflict for the Superintendent. They decided to change the June 18 meeting to Monday, June 11.

Facilities Committee Report – Superintendent Collins reported that the contractors are coming in this week to try to facilitate some of the activities that will be taking place at the school this summer.

Athletic Committee – Board member Forman announced that many recreation soccer teams in grades 5 and 6 are switching from 11 team members to 8 team members. This could mean additional soccer teams will need to be formed to accommodate all athletes.

Health and Wellness Committee – Board member Ferguson asked if the committee should review the first year of the Health and Wellness Policy directly to the Board or with Superintendent Collins. The Board asked her to report to the Superintendent and he would summarize for the Board.

Announcements, Communications

Board member Bucklin reported that she has received very positive feedback as a result of the junior high forum. Principal Langsner replied that the next step is to get a small group of willing parents and teachers together for further discussion.

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 (b) at 10:18 pm. Discussions of renominations for Support Staff and nominations for a Grade 5 Teacher and a Speech/Language Therapist took place.

Upon a motion made and seconded, the School Board voted unanimously to go back into public session at 10:28 pm.

Upon a motion made and seconded, the School Board voted unanimously to offer contracts for the 2007-2008 school year to the members of the Support Staff as recommended by the Superintendent and the Principal.

Upon a motion made and seconded, the School Board voted unanimously to offer a contract to Michelle Carlson and to Debra Campbell for the 2007-2008 school year.

There being no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned at 10:30 pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Annette Moore

Recording Clerk