PLAINFIELD SCHOOL DISTRICT

Plainfield School Board Meeting

Monday, November 20th, 2006

Plainfield Elementary School

MINUTES

 

The meeting was called to order at 6:30 pm. Present were Board members Reynolds, Ferguson, Bucklin, Cogan and Forman. Also present were Superintendent Collins, Principal Langsner and members of the public.

 

Announcements, Communications

Board Chair Reynolds announced that she, Audra Bucklin, Myra Ferguson and Superintendent Collins went to the AREA meeting.

 

Board Chair Reynolds said that the bridge linking the school trails to the French’s Ledges trails is complete. She said that there is work planned for the trails beyond the bridge including some smaller bridges.

 

Consent Agenda

A. Minutes October 2, 2006 and November 6, 2006

Upon a motion made and seconded, the School Board voted unanimously to accept the public and non-public minutes of October 2, 2006.

 

Upon a motion made and seconded, the School Board voted unanimously to accept the public and non-public minutes of November 6, 2006.

 

B. Nominations

Superintendent Collins announced that Steve Beaupré has been hired to work 24 days between January 9 and February vacation to fill in for Principal Langsner while she is out on medical leave. Collins also told the board that Denis Reisch will not be returning next year and that Susan McGee will retire at the end of the 2006-2007 school year. No action was necessary.

 

Reports

A. Principal’s Report

Principal Langsner reported that fundraising for the Putnam Playground has reached the goal and will end on Wednesday, November 22. Lisa Pixley headed the fundraising and did a incredible job. The Craft Fair was a successful community event and made about $600. Mrs. Taber’s third grade class sold popcorn for a playground fundraiser and raised $126.29. There was a fundraising event at Salt Hill that raised $300 in donations alone and 25% of the evening proceeds will be donated by Salt Hill.

 

Langsner said there are approximately 140 students signed up to participate in the ski program this year. The program will be starting at 1:30 pm this year, later than in the past, which will lessen the impact on academics. Activities for the children not in the ski program are being planned.

 

Langsner thanked Stephanie Schell for her great job as the Volunteer Coordinator this year. Her “advertising” for needed volunteers has been very successful.

 

Langsner said that the junior high staff is using a web-based grading program for the first time to do report cards. The program will make it easier for the Guidance Department and the Principal to monitor student progress. Junior High teachers are also working on a consistent rubric for effort grades.

B. Financial Report

Superintendent Collins said that the first draft of the 2007-2008 budget will be presented at the December 4, 2006 meeting.

 

C. Superintendent’s Report

Superintendent Collins said that he received an email from Steve Taylor concerning work needing to be done on the gym entrance used by the town on voting day. The gym entrance does not meet ADA standards. The town came down to pave a handicap ramp to replace the existing wooden ramp and Bill Fleming is looking into replacing the doors.

 

D. Athletic Committee – Chris Forman talked about the final draft of the Athletic Committee survey designed to gain feedback from parents and athletes after each athletic season. Forman will donate the software that runs the program to the school when the survey template is complete. Forman also reported that the Athletic Committee has decided that basketball tryouts will not be necessary this year. Athletic Director Brandon Feid added that it was the smaller number of students signed up compared to last year and the small ability gap between those players that made tryouts unnecessary.

 

Forman explained to the Board that the Athletic Committee (AC) is concerned with making training and professional development available to all coaches. He said that the AC recommends to the School Board that all coaches try to take education classes and that Plainfield School will reimburse the expense. He said that courses are not expensive and that professionally trained, up-to-date coaches are important. The AC would like to eventually come up with a set of requirements for coaches, including CPR training. Superintendent Collins suggested that Brandon Feid look into ways to collaborate with other schools to share coach training classes. The School Board requested that Superintendent Collins put together a policy as recommended by the AC.

 

Facilities Committee – Board member Cogan reported on the last meeting from minutes written by Bill Taylor.  The Committee discussed the:

§         bridge

§         replacing the gym door with a handicap accessible door

§         chimney. It is recommended that the chimney be raised 6 – 8 feet so that exhaust will not be pulled back into the building. This will cost approximately $6400.

§         sprinkler system

§         sewer project. Waiting for a special plug for the generator backup before final connection

§         HVAC. The program has been put in but it still needs some adjusting.

§         insulation. Waiting for quotes on carpentry work.

The committee is still looking for a seventh member.

 

Business for Discussion and/or Action

C. Facilities; Fire Marshall’s visit

Superintendent Collins said he has not yet received the report from the inspection by the Fire Marshall. He said the Fire Marshall was very concerned with the wood nature of the school and the openness that could draw a fire quickly from one area to another. The inspector was also concerned that many of the windows don’t open enough to allow a body to escape. Installing a sprinkler would eliminate the need to install new windows.

 

Collins has contacted two fire protection engineers for opinions. He would like to have a fire engineer draw up the specs for the sprinkler system as soon as possible. Those figures will be necessary if the Board pursues a bond vote in March. Collins is not sure that there is enough time to get that done before March. Board member Bucklin is concerned with not making this bond request this year because the town will probably need to pursue a bond next year for the Willow Brook Road repairs. Superintendent Collins said another option is to ask for additional funds for the Building Maintenance Fund.

 

The Board had questions about how to pursue a bond. Superintendent Collins will look further into that for the next meeting. The Board asked that Superintendent Collins get a fire engineer to the school as soon as possible.

 

A. Curriculum Revision Process

Principal Langsner said she emailed an updated curriculum revision cycle including parent input and history to each board member. She said that obtaining the history of when each curriculum was viewed and/or approved by the Board made it clear to her that a better system of presenting curriculum to the board is needed. Langsner said that the curriculum committees will start reporting regularly to the Board again. A few more changes were suggested to the revision cycle.

 

Board Chair Reynolds asked if the schedule is flexible and responsive enough to meet changes in state guidelines. Langsner replied that it is flexible enough to make small changes but time is necessary for large changes. Teacher Laura Knight said that teachers can start to make changes immediately in the classroom if they see that it is necessary and that those changes can be formally added to the curriculum later.

 

Principal Langsner explained that the community is involved with the process in years two and six. Year six is the biggest opportunity for community involvement when students and parents are surveyed.

 

Superintendent Collins explained about the “Follow the Child” flyer received by Board members. He said that they are selling surveys for schools to use to personalize education for each child. Collins said he called the State Commissioner to see if the school can get some of these guidelines for free. He has not received a reply yet. Principal Langsner reminded the Board that the new NWEA testing allows the school to follow each child’s growth immediately and can be used several times each year.

 

Town member Carl Strong suggested that there be a place on the curriculum committees for members of the public. He said that people are interested in what their children are learning. Strong suggested that the board become familiar with the “Core Knowledge Sequence”.

 

D. A.R.E.A. Meeting summary

Discussion at the A.R.E.A. focused on the pupil tuition rate, which is down, and a middle school facility.

 

B. School Profile

Board member Bucklin distributed an updated version of the Profile. Board Chair Reynolds said that the focus of the School Board message to be included would be on volunteering in the Plainfield community.

 

There being no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned at 8:48 pm.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Annette Moore

Recording Clerk