MINUTES OF MEETING
JACKSON SCHOOL BOARD
Jackson Grammar School
January 22, 2013
1. Call to Order: The Jan. 22nd meeting of the Jackson School Board was called to order at 6:00 p.m. Present were Genn Anzaldi, Keith Bradley, Fred Nemeth, William White, Dr. Carl Nelson, and Principal, Gayle Dembowski. Also present were staff members Heather Woodward and Ann Bennett, Tish Hanlon representing the Whitney Oversight Committee, and Pam Stimpson and Taylor, Kathy and Carl Myers.
2. Approve Minutes (12-17-12) – Ms. Bennett offered the following corrections/clarifications: Pg. 1, Item 3, delete “a student at JGS.” Pg. 3, 3rd para., 4th sentence should read ….- they are not for wear and tear…. Pg. 4, 1st full para., last sentence should read …with a locked front door.” Motion by Mr. Bradley, second by Mr. Nemeth, to approve the Minutes of the Dec. 17th meeting as corrected. 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 a Joint School Boards meeting on 1/24/13 at 6:30 p.m. at the Conway Professional Development Center at which will be discussed the Program of Studies for Eagle Academy and Kennett High School.
5. Old Business:
- Whitney Oversight Committee – Mr. Bradley expressed a desire to create a
systematic formula for handing the funds over so there would no longer be reference to “1/3-1/3-1/3” and paying the position created for program management. Ms. Hanlon wished to come up with a plan so that when the School Board has the remaining funds they could turn them over to the Whitney annually. Comment was made that it will be different every year and has nothing to do with maintenance.
Mr. Bradley said he has a hard time with that employee not being an employee paid by the school because they work for Ms. Dembowski. He suggested paying that out of the appropriate portion and then at the end of the year hand over whatever is left. (It was noted that it was being paid out of the Friends of Whitney.) Mr. Bradley stated it was in the school’s budget this year and suggested keeping it, paying the employee, and then at the end of the year give the balance back. Ms. Hanlon said she does not feel they will be hiring another person.
Ms. Bennett said the 1/3 you are referring to is 1/3 of the endowment payment meant for capital projects, operation and maintenance, and programming. Ms. Hanlon said if we do hire someone else it will come out of the school budget. Dr. Nelson stated the Friends of Whitney does not have workmen’s compensation insurance so that is another reason for the school to pay it. $3,695 is being budgeted for the program management position at the Whitney Center. Ms. Dembowski said programming will be the job description for the person, if one is hired, and she [Ms. Dembowski] will retain the scheduling.
Mr. Bradley proposed to have in the school budget “X” amount of dollars for the purpose of hiring someone to promote the Whitney Center, and at the end of the year the Friends of Whitney may, or may not, come to request that the remaining balance of that fund be handed over to them.
Ms. Hanlon said that would be the calendar year 2013-14, and for this year they also will come and request the funding. Ms. Bennett said this year the Board will receive its annual endowment from the Whitney Foundation which will be between $9,000 and $10,000. Ms. Hanlon expressed agreement with Mr. Bradley’s proposal.
6. Instructional Issues: None.
7. Consider Personnel Actions: None.
8. Business Affairs:
- FYI – 2012-13 Budget Status Report – Dr. Nelson provided copies of
updated budget, noting they are still in good shape.
- Consider Approval of Warrant Article #2 – To see if the School District
will vote to authorize, indefinitely until rescinded, to retain year-end unassigned general funds in an amount not to exceed, in any fiscal year, 2.5% of the current fiscal year’s net assessment, in accordance with RSA 198:4-b,II. Such fund balance retained may only be used to reduce the tax rate or for emergencies to be approved by the Dept. of Education under RSA 32:11.
Motion was made by Mr. Bradley, seconded by Mr. Nemeth, that the Board approve warrant article #2 in order to put it before the budget hearing.
Dr. Nelson explained under the new regulations the School Board is allowed to retain 2.5% of your net assets. Mr. Bradley wished to know whether they could reduce the tax rate with it. Dr. Nelson said they could, for instance, say this year they had greater expenses, less revenues, and want to take “X” number of dollars out without getting State approval. Mr. Bradley said he had a problem with asking for more money under Article #6 [the tuition trust fund] when this money may be available. Dr. Nelson stated you cannot put away anything more than 2.5% of net assets. He noted that Article #6 is very specific and can only be used for tuition.
Ms. Anzaldi pointed out that we have a “bump” coming and if we know that is coming, it makes more sense to put it in Article #6. Mr. Bradley said he was not comfortable with voting in favor of Article #2. When asked whether the other schools in the District will have that warrant article, Dr. Nelson answered in the affirmative. Ms. Anzaldi felt it makes sense to have it in there, giving them an opportunity to explain it at the annual meeting. She said she is not comfortable with eliminating it, that it should be brought to the townspeople and let them decide.
Mr. Nemeth said as a School Board member he will support it, that we should take advantage of the flexibility that the law gives to us in our budget process. He felt if the townspeople feel it is beyond the pale, they could just eliminate it.
Dr. White said he is in support of bringing it to the voters as well; he wants to hear what people have to say about it.
Motion carried by unanimous vote (4-0-0).
C. Consider approving Balance of Whitney Construction Funds to be Returned to the Bill & Betty Whitney Foundation – Ms. Dembowski reported the floor is done and a purchase order has been written against the remaining construction funds, the rest will be returned to the Foundation. Motion was made by Mr. Bradley, seconded by Mr. Nemeth, to approve the balance of the Whitney Construction Funds to be returned to the Bill & Betty Whitney Foundation. Motion carried by unanimous vote.
9. Administrator’s Reports:
A. Superintendent – Dr. Nelson noted there will be an SAU Board meeting on Feb. 7th at 6:30 p.m. at the Conway Professional Development Center. The School Calendar will be discussed.
- Transition Data – Heather Woodward - Ms. Woodward provided
copies of the results of a survey she had conducted for 2011 and 2012, noting 10 out of 12 people answered the survey which was sent out to the parents after the first quarter. It is parent driven, they do it with the children.
She reported as a whole, Jackson kids do fine in Bartlett. There was only one negative which dealt with a child’s transition to homework, and that was because the parents of that child generally do not approve of homework.
Ms. Woodward meets with the Middle School team in May so they can plan their Advisories. She noted all of our kids are in National Junior Honor Society. They do well and function well in Bartlett. She noted that Mr. Voci does transition activities with Jackson kids – they go to Camp Huckins every May, they go to Ferry Beach. Mr. Bradley asked whether Jackson kids go to the dances and was told they do. He questioned whether Jackson sends a chaperone. Ms. Dembowski said she attends.
Ms. Anzaldi questioned whether we report in the newsletter how many Jackson kids are on the honor roll? Ms. Bennett stated she does not get that information. Ms. Anzaldi felt it would be a nice idea to have it included. Ms. Bennett stated at the subcommittee on enrollment Vicki Garland summarized achievements and it is pretty thorough and very impressive. Dr. Nelson commended Ms. Woodward for her work on the report/survey.
Ms. Anzaldi felt it would help to communicate this to parents, it is a show of nice support and would be nice to add it to the Bartlett newsletter. She suggested also they share it with the PTO. She thanked Ms. Woodward for having conducted the survey. Ms. Woodward said she plans to do it every year. Dr. White stated that would be very important, that with 4 or 5 years of reporting it would be very helpful. Ms. Anzaldi noted they are already getting data back from the teachers and putting that in as well would be very helpful.
Principal’s Report – Ms. Dembowski provided copies of quotes regarding options for security measures for the school. She noted Pope Security, who provides all of our alarm systems for security, has given a quote for a door system which will integrate a camera (with a buzzer) that she can lock down from her office. It also interfaces with the school’s phone system and a camera at the front door which will allow view of the front door from network computers. Cost $5,040. A quote from Intervale Lock & Safe was also provided, strictly for a lock. Cost $1,385.
Mr. Bradley noted the Pope Security quote says two release buttons, but he does not see anything about monitors. Ms. Dembowski stated they can monitor through the computer. Also provided was a copy of the Minutes from the Safety Committee meeting, including a list of recommendations of that committee. Mr. Bradley questioned how it is dealing with Pope when there are issues. Ms. Dembowski advised they are right here when there have been issues. Dr. Nelson pointed out they have two quotes on two different sets of specifications.
Mr. Nemeth said we are all in favor of having the capability of locking the school at certain times; we need a policy on whether we are going to lock and, if so, we need the technology to be able to do it. He asked whether there is a recommendation as to whether to lock the front door in Conway. Dr. Nelson said they would go to a monitoring system. Mr. Bradley questioned whether we have the money in our budget. Dr. Nelson said they could get to the end of the year and see if they have the $5,000. He noted that Bartlett is looking at doing the same thing.
Mr. Bradley questioned whether staff still feels strongly that they do not want them locked? He suggested sharing this information with them and then asking Intervale Lock & Safe to provide a comparable quote. Ms. Bennett said they are two distinct issues, and encouraged the Board to have a specific Listening Post for parents, or discuss it at the next PTO meeting, reaching out one more time before making a decision. It was noted the next PTO meeting is scheduled for Feb. 4th at 5:30 p.m. It was decided to get another quote from Intervale Lock & Safe comparable to the quote from Pope Security.
10. Citizen Comments: None.
11. Board Member Issues:
- Set Date for Next Meeting – February 6, 2013 at 6:30 p.m. followed by the
budget hearing at 7:00 p.m.
12. Signing of Manifest: Manifests were duly signed.
13. Nonpublic Session: At 6:50 Motion was made by Mr. Bradley, seconded by Mr. Nemeth, that the Board adjourn to non public session under RSA 91-A:3, II. Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote.
Nonpublic Session Minutes
The Board heard from Pam Stimpson about a special education issue that was discussed at the December nonpublic session. The parent that presented last month restated the family’s position. The Board asked questions. The Board will provide direction at its February 6th meeting.
Mr. Bradley moved to return to public session and adjourn. The motion was seconded by Mr. Nemeth and passed unanimously at 7:35 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Gail T. Currier, Recording Secretary
Agenda 2/6/13
Old Business:
Security/Locks
Whitney Center
| 
