For a verbatim account of the meeting, see tape.
June 20, 2007
A meeting of the Berlin Board of Education was held in the Berlin High School library beginning at 6:10 p.m. Present for the meeting were Mitch Couture, Martha Laflamme, Nicole Plourde, Nathan Morin, John Moulis, Marion Y. Huntley, Steve Michaud, Gary Bisson, Tim Forestall, Dan Record, Jane Provencher, Ken Proulx, Roland Pinette, Cheryl Pinette, Angela Duquette, Amy Huter, Keith Duquette, Deborah Beaudoin, Keri Malone, Ann Marie Favreau, Jen & Olivia Boucher, Steven McCosh, Nancy Spaulding, Lucille Gagnon, parents, citizens, and members of the press.
MINUTES On a motion by Martha Laflamme, seconded by Nicole Plourde, the Board voted to approve the minutes of the June 6, 2007 meeting, public and nonpublic sessions. The motion passed unanimously.
WARRANTS A motion was made by Martha Laflamme, seconded by Nicole Plourde, to approve the warrants dated June 18, and June 25, 2007 for the amounts of $10,775.15 and $467,874.05 respectively. Discussion ensued and questions were answered on electricity, sports uniforms, track and tennis teams. On a roll call vote, all members voted in the affirmative.
COMMENTS None
EARLY GRADUATION Ken Proulx , Anita Desmarais, and Autumn Kimball spoke on behalf of Autumn’s request for early graduation at Berlin High School. They informed the Board that she will have all her credits and has an education plan in place. She is an excellent student and will take courses at NHCTC in the second semester to strengthen her background to be able to apply to New England College in the fall. Her parents and the administration support her request. A motion was made by Martha Laflamme, seconded by Nicole Plourde to approve her request. The motion passed unanimously.
POLICIES On a motion by Martha Laflamme, seconded by Nicole Plourde, the Board voted to approve the second readings of Policies, GBAA, Sexual Harassment and Sexual Violence and JBAA, Sexual Harassment and Sexual Violence. The motion passed unanimously.
On a motion by Nicole Plourde, seconded by Nathan Morin, the Board voted to approve the first reading of Policies BIE – Board Member Indemnification and BGE – Policy Dissemination. The motion passed unanimously.
SUPER REPORT The Superintendent presented the Board with a tentative schedule for 2007-2008 school board meetings. Martha Laflamme requested they move the November 21, 2007 meeting to November 28, 2007. She felt the November 21 meeting may be difficult due to it being the night before Thanksgiving. All members were in agreement.
The Superintendent commented on the Dummer withdrawal from the AREA Agreement.
The Superintendent informed the Board of a call he received from Caryn Poulin a former student in support of continuing the music program in the district. She was calling from West Africa where she is studying music.
COMMENTS None.
NEW BUSINESS Nathan Morin expressed his appreciation for the public attending and talking about education at this meeting and the council meetings.
NON PUBLIC On a motion by Nathan Morin, seconded by Nicole Plourde, the Board voted to go in to nonpublic session at 6:30 p.m. in accordance with RSA 91-A3II(a),(b), (c). On a roll call vote, all members voted in the affirmative.
A motion was made by Nicole Plourde, seconded by Martha Laflamme to recess from nonpublic session at 7:10 p.m. The motion passed unanimously.
BUDGET Discussion ensued regarding the administration’s recommendations for the 2007-2008 budget, specifically Girls’ ice hockey over academics. Martha Laflamme stated she will not support ice hockey, she prefers to use the money for something else. She would rather give the money back if it can’t be used for academics. Nathan Morin feels education is first and sports are second. Nicole Plourde is struggling with this issue and is not ready to say yes or no. Further discussion ensued. Mitch Couture will support the administration’s recommendation. A motion was then made by Nathan Morin, seconded by Martha Laflamme to eliminate Girls ice hockey and the high school athletic equipment and put the money
toward the Hillside Reading Program. Nicole Plourde and Mitch Couture voted in the negative; Martha Laflamme and Nathan Morin voted in the affirmative. The motion failed due to a tied vote. Further discussion ensued. A motion was then made by Nicole Plourde to table discussion on Girls ice hockey until a full Board is present allowing for a successful vote, and to vote now on the balance of recommendations. There being no second the motion failed. Further discussion ensued. Nicole Plourde then presented her motion again and it was seconded by Martha Laflamme and passed unanimously.
STAFFING On a motion by Nicole Plourde, seconded by Nathan Morin, the Board voted to accept the following staffing changes:
RESIGNATIONS:
Jake Moore – English Teacher – BHS
TEACHER NOMINATIONS:
Jeffrey Beaudette – French Teacher - BHS
NOMINATIONS:
RE-NOMINATIONS:
Neil Beaulieu – Science Teacher – BHS
Lynne Bacon – BHS Special Education
Kelly Judson – Business Teacher – BHS
Brenda Lamarque – Kindergarten Teacher
Susanne Lanctot – Kindergarten Teacher
All nominations are contingent on the person passing a criminal record check. The motion passed unanimously.
The Board went back into nonpublic session at 7:45 p.m.
On a motion by Nicole Plourde, seconded by Martha Laflamme, the Board voted to come out of nonpublic session at 9:25 p.m. The motion passed unanimously. No additional votes were taken in nonpublic session.
RDG FIRST On a motion by Martha Laflamme, seconded by Nicole Plourde, the Board voted to approve the attendance of staff members to the Reading First Conference. The motion passed unanimously.
SALARIES On a motion by Martha Laflamme, seconded by Nicole Plourde, the Board voted to increase the Administrators salary adjustment for 2007-2008 to 3%. On a roll call vote, all members voted in the affirmative.
ADJOURN On a motion by Nathan Morin, seconded by Nicole Plourde, the Board voted to adjourn it’s meeting at 9:26 p.m. The motion passed unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Secretary, Board of Education
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