PLAINFIELD SCHOOL DISTRICT

Plainfield School Board Meeting

Monday, June 20, 2005

Plainfield Elementary School

APPROVED MINUTES

The meeting was called to order at 6:37 pm. Present were Board members Houde Hardy, Ferguson, Bucklin, Cogan and Reynolds. Also present were Superintendent Collins, Finance Director Moorman, Principal Mellow and members of the community.

Public Comments

There were no comments from the public.

Announcements, Communications

Board member Houde Hardy reported that she had a conversation with community member Eric Brann about making the softball field a little larger so it can be used for a Little League field also. The field is currently too small for Little League. Brann has promised support and equipment for this project and is enthusiastic about making it happen. He plans to come to a future Board meeting to share his proposal.

Superintendent Collins reported that the following people did not sign contracts for the 05-06 year: Christine Ditchfield, Andrea Eaton, Andrew Mellow.

Board member Cogan stated what a pleasure it was to read the Ward essays. He was impressed with the caliber of all the essays. He suggested that the second and third place essays be printed in PlainFacts as well as the first place essay. He will speak with Nancy Norwalk to see if this is possible.

Consent Agenda

A. Minutes June 6, 2005

Upon motion made and seconded, the School Board voted unanimously to accept the public and non-public minutes of June 6, 2005 with the following revision: to change the second sentence under “Announcements, Communications” to read, “Principal Mellow said he is in the process of putting a curriculum revision cycle together…”

B. Nominations

Upon motion made and seconded, the School Board voted unanimously to accept the following nominations:

Brian Morse Soccer Coach

Allan Reetz Soccer Coach

Mindy Taber Soccer Coach

Kurt Filiault Soccer Coach

These coaches will remain undesignated until the Athletic Committee decides how they will split the large soccer teams expected this fall.

Reports

A. Finance Director’s Report

Finance Director Moorman predicts a surplus in the area of $80,000. He reminded the Board that $30,000 of that surplus is earmarked for the reserve funds. He indicated that the Adequacy Aid money will likely be $150,000 less than predicted in the budget. The Board spoke of using the remaining $50,000 in surplus to reduce the impact of the reduced adequacy aid.

Superintendent Collins requested some surplus funds be spent on a color printer for the office. He estimates the printer would cost $1904 plus the service agreement. He sees a need for a color printer in the office given the large number of certificates and reports produced there that could be improved with a color printer. The Board discussed this. Moorman suggested that if the Board wished to wait a week, they could see if the surplus came in over $80,000 before deciding to buy the printer. The Board thought this was a good idea and supported the purchase if sufficient funds, over the $80,000, became available.

Moorman expects that insurance costs will come in just under budget. He predicts heating oil will be approximately $9000 over budget. He has contacted several oil companies smaller than Irving Oil and Johnson and Dix Oil and was told that he would find more competitive rates through the larger companies. He is still waiting for quotes from Irving and Johnson and Dix.

B. Principal’s Report

Mellow spoke about the work he and the staff have done this year on GLE’s. He told the Board that students at PES take the NECAP test during October, 2005. Two grade levels will test each week for a week. Mellow also said the Best Schools team will meet this week to finish merging their work with the Professional Development Plan.

Mellow reported he will start interviewing this week for the grade 5 teaching position. He hopes to hire someone before he leaves. He said the special education teacher candidates dried up but he is still advertising. He does not believe he will be able to hire someone before he leaves.

C. Superintendent’s Report

Superintendent Collins reported that the search for an interim principal is moving along. The committee hopes to have two or three recommendations for candidates to bring to the Board. Collins asked the Board to set up a time to meet with the final candidates. The meeting was set for Thursday, July 30 at 2:00 pm.

Collins asked the Board to consider increasing teacher Mary McKernan to full time. McKernan has been teaching math and science in grades 7 and 8. In addition, she has been paid to tutor math in the lower grades. McKernan is highly qualified in math and has been working to become highly qualified in science also. Principal Mellow stated that McKernan is also interested in teaching a study skills class. Collins stated that increasing her to full time would free up her schedule and give her more opportunities to tutor math. He said she is a core part of the math and science programs and will be invaluable when other teachers at that level retire.

Upon motion made and seconded, the School Board voted unanimously to extend Mary McKernan’s math and science teaching position to full time.

D. Committee Reports

Facilities Committee – Board Chair Reynolds reported that the proposed bridge over the brook on the trail between school land and KUA land will actually be on KUA property so the KUA money proposed to build the bridge will not need to be transferred to Plainfield School.

AREA – Houde Hardy reported that recently she has not received agendas from Lebanon about AREA meetings. Superintendent Collins will follow up.

Athletic Committee – Board chair Reynolds requested that the agendas for Athletic Committee meetings be copied to all Board members. Houde Hardy will see to this.

Business for Discussion and/or Action

A. Authorization for Summer Contracts

Upon motion made and seconded, the School Board approved unanimously to give Superintendent Collins authorization to offer staff contracts during the summer for the 2005 – 2006 school year.

B. Policy BDDC, Agenda Preparation and Dissemination (Second Reading)

The Board made a few changes to this policy. Upon motion made and seconded, the Board voted unanimously to adopt Policy BDDC as amended.

C. Strategic Planning

The Board spoke about initiating programs such as “Destination Imagination”, “Lego League” and vocational education into Plainfield School. They talked about checking out other schools to see what they offer and how they pay for it or if it is done through volunteers. Superintendent Collins will ask Superintendent Harris from Lebanon if there is something being offered to students at Lebanon Jr. High that PES doesn’t offer that puts LJHS students ahead of ours when they reach high school.

Superintendent Collins and Board member Bucklin will draft out goals, objectives and outcomes for “Challenge Every Child” to bring to the Board Retreat.

D. Board Meeting Calendar

The Board tentatively scheduled a retreat for Monday, August 15 at 4:00 pm. Bucklin will check on getting the building at KUA for the retreat. The retreat agenda will include: Administration organization including principal, athletic program with the town, and time frames for Board meetings. Other changes were made to the calendar including the first meeting in September which will be on Wednesday, September 7 due to Labor Day. Collins will get a clean calendar to Board members.

Audra Bucklin has a new email address: abucklin@tds.net.

Other Business

The Board discussed the timing of the next school profile. There aren’t any state test results from last year to update the profile with in August. The Board discussed using Terra Nova results instead and including an explanation of the change. Another option would be to wait until the NECAP test results come back in January.

The Board thanked Andy Mellow for his excellent service at Plainfield School.

There being no further business to come before the School Board, the meeting was adjourned at 8:10 pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Annette Moore

Recording Clerk