MINUTES OF MEETING
JACKSON SCHOOL BOARD
Jackson Grammar School
October 17, 2011
1. Call to Order: The Oct. 17th meeting of the Jackson School Board was called to order at 6:00 p.m. Present were Andrew Kearns, Keith Bradley, Genn Anzaldi, Dr. Carl Nelson, and Principal, Gayle Dembowski. Lauren Synnott joined the meeting at 6:25 p.m. There was one member of the general public present (Fred Nemeth).
2. Approve Minutes – (9-19-11) – Notation was made by Mr. Bradley that on Pg. 1, under Item 5, next to last sentence should read that “It was noted Ms. Bennett would be asked if she had the paperwork….” Motion was made by Mr. Bradley, seconded by Ms. Anzaldi, to approve the Minutes of the Sept. 19th meeting as amended. Motion carried by unanimous vote.
3. Citizen Comments: None.
4. Presentation of School Programs/FYI Items:
A. SAU – Other School Board Reports - Dr. Nelson announced there will be an SAU Board meeting on Oct. 27 at 4:00 p.m. at the CPDC.
Dr. Nelson explained the SAU would like to expand the Alert Now Program. He explained at the high school when there will be a school closing or early dismissal or late arrival day, there is an instant automatic phone calling system alerting all parents of the event. The alert includes phone numbers (multiple phone numbers to cover all concerned parties), student IDs, and names. It was reported that Ann Bennett has expressed concern about confidentiality. Dr. Nelson stated Dale is a confidential SAU 9 employee approved to do that work. Dr. Nelson said there will be a training session on how to deal with the input, a sign-off form can be provided if they do not want to be a part of it. He noted they may, in the future, consider adding Email. Mr. Kearns felt
possibly one of Ms. Bennett’s concerns was Email.
Dr. Nelson stated it is an automatic message, each individual school will control it so if a particular school wants to send out a message for, for instance, notice of an open house - this building will control it. He said the cost for Jackson is $144 to be a part of the system. Mr. Kearns said he is in favor of approving it, but would like to see it include the “opt out” option.
5. Old Business:
A. Wetlands Project Finalization – Mr. Bradley said he feels we are done, the only other possible thing would be the silt fence, and that is to be removed by Mr. Bordash.
6. Instructional Issues: None.
7. Consider Personnel Actions: None.
8. Business Affairs:
A. FYI -2011-12 Budget Status Report – Dr. Nelson stated they are still in pretty good shape.
B. Consider Approval of Agreement with Bartlett School District for School Psychological Services – Motion was made by Mr. Bradley, seconded by Ms. Anzaldi, to approve the agreement with the Bartlett School District for School Psychological Services. Ms. Dembowski stated they have been contracting this out, but now will just deal with Bartlett. They presently have a provider who is doing it for $150. for a student evaluation. Mr. Bradley noted the rate offered by Bartlett is $72.51 per hour and wished to know how this was calculated. Dr. Nelson will get that information for him. Motion carried by unanimous vote.
9. Administrator’s Reports:
A. Superintendent –
1. SAU 2012-13 Budget Direction – Dr. Nelson stated he needs direction from the Board for the 2012-13 school year budget. He noted Ms. Dembowski has been asked to put together a fundamental budget. Mr. Kearns said we need to look and see if there are any places we can cut, and discuss add-ons as well. It was noted the first Budget Committee meeting will be in Nov. Mr. Kearns noted regarding the pay increase for the teachers, this current year is the 3rd year of the agreement. Dr. Nelson stated they have performance pay that is in place, they may want to review that. Mr. Kearns stressed the need to fill Joe Kopitsky’s spot on the Personnel Committee.
Mr. Bradley questioned the Bartlett position [student advocate for Jackson students] we did not have in the budget this year. Dr. Nelson said it was $8,000. Mr. Bradley questioned the ESY line, noting we may be reducing it or it may be gone. Ms. Dembowski stated it has been the same since she has been here – it is under the Special Education budget. Dr. Nelson said they will talk to the current instructor and she will give us an assessment. He said the State requires you do it until they achieve a certain level on the test which is given in the spring.
Mr. Kearns questioned where Conway is at in their budget process. Dr. Nelson stated they are just starting, will be meeting with the administrators Wed. and Thurs. this week. Nov. 8th will be the high school, KMS and Technical Center budgets at the KMS Professional Development Center at 6:30 p.m.
2. Report of Excellence Committee Progress - Dr. Nelson said he will try to provide monthly reports on the Excellence Committee - they have identified two goals: (1) We want a school environment in which students, staff, administrators, and parents feel welcomed, supported, included and valued; and (2) We want to provide students with deeper, broader, more challenging learning experiences. He said they have some subcommittees being formed. Ms. Dembowski said they are discussing those and the plan went home; Wed. night they will have a forum for feedback.
B. Principal –
Ms. Dembowski reported NECAPS are finished, other than a few make ups, and went very well.
She stated they had a wonderful presentation by the Fire Chief, explaining what it would be like in the event of a fire.
10. Citizen Comments: None.
11. Board Member Issues:
A. Set Date for Next Meeting – November 21, 2011 at 6:00 p.m.
- Accept Resignation of School Board Member Joseph Kopitsky – Motion
was made by Ms. Anzaldi, seconded by Mr. Bradley, that the Board accept with regret the resignation of Joe Kopitsky from the Board. Motion carried by unanimous vote.
The Chair stated Mr. Kopitsky will be greatly missed and requested that the contents of his resignation letter be made a part of the Minutes:
“Dear Jackson School Board and Dr. Carl Nelson, October 14, 2011
We have sold our home in Jackson and are relocating to Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Therefore I am regretfully submitting my resignation on the Jackson School Board effective on October 14, 2011.
During my tenure I have enjoyed working with a great group of Educators who put the students first in the educational environment. I will always remember Jackson as having an outstanding school system.
Sincerely,
Joseph Koptisky”
Mr. Kearns noted Personnel Committee and Excellence Committee representation need to be filled. He offered to serve on the Personnel Committee, Ms. Anzaldi volunteered to serve on the Excellence Committee.
As regards filling the position on the Board made vacant by Mr. Kopitsky’s resignation, Dr. Nelson stated it should be advertised for a week for anyone in Jackson who might be interested in serving; they could hold a special meeting sometime after that and make an appointment. It would be just until the next election. The SAU 9 office will take care of the advertisement.
Fred Nemeth, who was in attendance at the meeting, stated he is interested and has been a Jackson resident for four years. He stated he has two boys in the Bartlett school, is a lawyer by profession and is interested in sitting on the Board. Dr. Nelson said they will close the period for receiving of letters of interest on Oct. 26th. The appointment will be until the March election, then the seat would be open for two years.
At 6:25 p.m. Lauren Synnott joined the meeting. She said she had questions about School Board’s monitoring the work of certain legislative committees. Dr. Nelson said that is a requirement, and offered to review it with her.
Mr. Kearns said two or three years ago we had an enormous number of snow days and number of hours came into question. He said he has now read that a new law has been passed changing that. Dr. Nelson said if we have a really bad winter, everyone else is having one too; we then would petition the Commissioner for approval for less than 180 days.
12. Signing of Manifest: Manifests were duly signed.
13. Nonpublic Session: None.
14. Adjourn: At 6:30 p.m. Motion was made by Ms. Anzaldi, seconded by Ms. Synnott, that the meeting be adjourned. Motion carried by unanimous vote.
Respectfully submitted,
Gail T. Currier, Recording Secretary
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