These are unofficial notes of the Board of Education meeting held on Monday, February 2. Meetings are broadcast live on the district’s YouTube channel.  

Agendas, meeting materials, minutes & video

 

Attendance: Pamela Walsh – President, Cara Meeker – Vice President, Liz Boucher - Secretary, Jess Campbell, Alexander Dubois (arrived at 6:07pm), Brenda Hastings, Barb Higgins, Madeleine Mineau, Sarah Sadowski

Student Board Members - Aryn Bernardo, Clementine Mayala

 

Called to Order – 6:00pm

APPROVAL OF AGENDA – Approved 8-0 as amended

Agenda amended – CMS Cares will not be presenting, public comment on the superintendent nomination will be held following the school celebration and the vote

CONSENT AGENDA – Approved 8-0

• Regular Monthly Meeting (January 5)
• Executive Committee (January 7)
• Instructional Committee (January 12)
• Joint Capital Facilities & Finance Committee (January 14)
• Executive Committee (January 21)
• Communication & Policy Committee (January 21)
• Special Board Meeting: Loan Resolution (January 28)

SCHOOL CELEBRATION: Mill Brook School

Mill Brook students shared what brough them joy

PUBLIC COMMENT – SUPERINTENDENT NOMINATION

There was no public comment

VOTE TO APPROVE SUPERINTENDENT NOMINATION

Acting Superintendent Tim Herbert was nominated as superintendent – approved 9-0

RECOGNITIONS / REPORTS

• Student Report - Aryn Bernardo and Clementine Mayala shared updates for Concord High school, including:

• In January, semester one closed, Advanced Placement classes had preview days, students had intersession and CRTC had an open house; students participated in ICE walkout; course selection for next year has started
• Abbot-Downing School has started Changemakers and the theme this month is self-awareness

• Superintendent Report

• Recognition of Diana Mayo – CSD Bus Driver – the Board and Superintendent Herbert recognized Diana for her calm and steady response when her bus caught fire during a trip to Keene in early January
• Transportation Director Position – Superintendent Herbert introduced Rebecka Hart, the new transportation director – she has worked at the COMF for nine years and two year in the central office before accepting the position
• CMS Principal Search – community interviews will be held at CMS with two finalists on Tuesday, February 3 from 3 to 4pm
• Donation to CRTC of $7,500.00 from Kingsbury Companies of Vermont – Kingsbury Companies donated $7,500 to the construction trades program
• Mill Brook School Book Donations from Granite United Way – the $250 donation is for  Mill Brook to purchase books for the library
• Grant Update – SAMSHA grant funding was terminated in January and reinstated in within 24 hours; the district is looking at alternatives for future funding
• Open enrollment – Superintendent Herbert provided an update on two open enrollment bills at the State House – HB751 and SB101; the Board discussed sending a letter to the governor opposing the legislation
• President Walsh – at the Board retreat, the Board discussed reviewing the device policy for students in kindergarten and first grade – it will be discussed at the Instructional meeting on February 10

FACILITIES UPDATE

CHS Ceiling Update – the project has officially closed out $215,249.51 under budget and was covered by insurance

MIDDLE SCHOOL PROJECT UPDATE

A project report was shared with the Board, which will be included in the Board packet each month – the report includes milestones from the last month and important dates in the future

• The AOT permit was submitted last week
• The first meeting was held with Harvey Construction
• There will be a Building Committee meeting on Thursday – the agenda includes the traffic report, athletic fields and the building exterior

FINANCE

This item was moved towards the end of the meeting

COMMUNICATIONS & POLICY

Three policies were presented for first reading

• Policy 542.1, Unauthorized Communication Devices (1st Read)
• Policy 580, Student Records and Access (1st Read)
• Policy 741, Facility Use Policy (1st Read)

NEGOTIATIONS

• CEA Update – the negotiations team met with CEA on Friday and the district has received notification in regards to the tutors

PERSONNEL

• Winter coach – approved 9-0
• Upcoming postings – several positions will be posted on Tuesday, February 3 – CHS principal, Director of Special Education – CHS; assistant superintendent of student services and some other positions due to retirements

INSTRUCTIONAL COMMITTEE

CHS Program of Studies – Assistant Superintendent Kimberly Yarlott reviewed the updated graduation requirements

PUBLIC COMMENT

There were no public comments

VOTES

• Donation from Kinsbury Company – approved 9-0
• Program of Studies – adoption of page six (the minimum graduation requirements) - approved 9-0
• Open Enrollment – authorizing the Board president to send a letter in opposition of HB751 and call on governor to veto the bill – approved 9-0

OTHER BUSINESS

Monthly enrollment report – Superintendent Herbert reviewed the enrollment report – there has been an increase of 13 students at the elementary level in the last month; homeless students have increased by 20

FINANCE

Board member Jess Campbell shared that the audit was given to Board members and it will be reviewed with the auditor after the budget is completed

PROPOSED CALENDARS OF MEETINGS

Upcoming dates were reviewed. Approved dates are posted on the website.

NON-PUBLIC SESSION

RSA 91-A:3II I, RSA 91-A:3, Section II a, RSA 91—A:3, Section II d, RSA 193:3,II(a), RSA 193:3I, RSA 91-A-2, RSA 91-A:3, Section II (i)

ADJOURNMENT

 

 

Notes by Terry Wolf, Director of Communication