PLAINFIELD SCHOOL DISTRICT

Plainfield School Board Meeting

Monday, December 19, 2005

Plainfield Elementary School

 

APPROVED MINUTES

 

The meeting was called to order at 6:35 pm. Present were Board members Reynolds, Houde Hardy, Ferguson, Bucklin and Cogan. Also present were Superintendent Collins, Principal Langsner, Finance Director Bill Moorman and members of the public.

 

Public Comments

Town member Dennis Girouard made a request to move the school district meeting from Friday night to Saturday morning. The School Board reminded him that the moderator asked for a show of hands at both the school district meeting and at the town meeting last March and there was no clear majority for changing from Friday to Saturday.

 

Girouard also asked the Board who authorized switching the computer lab to Linux. Board Chair Reynolds said that was done at the suggestion of the Technology Committee in conjunction with the technology coordinator and the principal. The School Board did not have to authorize the change.

 

Announcements, Communications

Board member Houde Hardy told about a letter she received from town member and physical therapist Carol Edvin telling of a complimentary session being offered to children to teach them how to avoid torn ACL injuries. The session would teach balance and strength training.

 

Board member Ferguson reported that the Board sent letters of condolence to Marcia Woodbury and to Wayne and Peg Lacaillade.

 

Board Chair Reynolds reported she spoke with town member Nancy Filiault who volunteers in the computer lab. Filiault supports the work being done in the lab.

 

Board Chair Reynolds spoke about an e-mail the Board received from Dennis Girouard after the last Board meeting. Reynolds indicated that she was upset by the tone and content of the message and went on to say that she hopes future remarks to the Board would be more constructive, accurate and courteous. Board member Bucklin echoed this sentiment. Town member John Gregory-Davis spoke in favor of the work the Board has done and said he feels that the majority of the town agrees with him.

 

Consent Agenda

A.        Minutes November 21 , 2005

Approval of the November 21, 2005 minutes was tabled until next meeting.

 

B.         Nominations

Upon motion made and seconded, the School Board voted all in favor to accept the following nomination:

                       

            Joan Lawrence-Studebaker                  Educational Assistant

 

 

Reports

Reynolds reported that she spoke with Bill Taylor about the updated estimate for sewer work which is coming along but not completed. The Facilities Committee is working on the material for the Town Report.

 

Bucklin reported that the Insurance Committee is finding that there seems to be an emerging field of competition for health insurance coverage but unfortunately the costs are all about the same. They are still waiting on final numbers from Primex but were encouraged when the costs of the current insurance provider, School Care, did not rise as much as anticipated.

 

Board member Cogan reported that the KUA Study Committee will have its first meeting on January 3. He has been asked to provide the number of PES eighth graders that plan to apply to KUA.

 

Business for Discussion and/or Action

A. Communications Survey

Board member Ferguson asked if the Board wished to do a communication survey again this year at the district and town meetings. The Board discussed the pros and cons of repeating the survey and ways to improve the survey done last year. Board member Cogan pointed out that the survey is a good reminder to the public of how many ways they can keep abreast of Board activities. The Board decided to shorten the survey to the top portion only with space for comments and suggestions, keeping the whole survey to a half page only.

 

B. 2006-2007 Budget

Finance Director Bill Moorman reported to the Board that the 05-06 budget surplus is now close to $60,000 instead of the $30,000 reported earlier. The Board discussed ways to use the surplus, including putting money into the Building Maintenance Fund (especially if this fund is used to complete the new water/sewer connection) and to the Tuition Fund (currently at $120,000). Moorman stated that he doesn’t see a need to increase the Tuition Fund at this time.

 

Moorman explained the changes made to the 06-07 budget from the last meeting, including; changes to the librarian and library aide position, a reconfiguration in the office staff for summer help, and a reconfiguration in the 7/8 teaching positions to provide more time for a proposed Assistant Principal.

 

Board members Reynolds, Cogan, Houde Hardy and Bucklin all spoke in favor of finding a way to hire a part-time Assistant Principal. Principal Langsner also stated that the school needs help that a part-time Assistant Principal could provide. None of the Board members were in favor of cutting into the program currently in place in grades 7 & 8 to provide an Assistant Principal.

 

The Board discussed the reconfiguration of the 7/8 teaching positions and how this would affect the current curriculum. Teacher Fran Hills, representing the Plainfield Education Association (PEA), said that the PEA feels the reconfiguration causes a decrease in the current level and does not support the changes. Principal Langsner described a proposed change in the seventh grade math text which increase the rigor of the math program thereby eliminating then need for advanced placement math classes in grade 7.

 

Moorman suggested putting $25,000 in a contingency warrant article which would give the Board flexibility to find a teacher/Assistant Principal/Athletic Coordinator while leaving in the budget funds to keep the current programs level. All Board members supported this idea except Board member Ferguson, who was concerned about adding anything new to the budget. Superintendent Collins will bring a clean copy of the budget changes to the next meeting which will include money for a full-time teacher in the 7/8 area, money for an Athletic Coordinator and money for an Assistant Principal, all in the current configuration and also a contingency warrant article for $25,000.

 

C. Principal Search

Superintendent Collins reported that advertisements for a Principal have been placed in area newspapers and he is collecting applications for a search committee. The Board agreed that Collins should assemble a Principal Search Committee as he did last year with the addition of a PTA member familiar with school operation. Collins said he will try to bring recommendations from the Committee to the Board in February.

 

The Board made changes to January meetings as follows:

 

            January 9          Regular Meeting with Finance Committee

            January 17        Public Hearing on Proposed 06-07 Budget

            January 19        Board Adoption of Tentative 06-07 Budget

            January 23        (snow date for Board Adoption of Tentative 06-07 Budget) and

                                    Finalize warrant for Town Report

 

There being no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned at 9:05 pm.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Annette Moore

Recording Clerk