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MINUTES OF MEETING
JACKSON SCHOOL BOARD
September 10, 2013
- Call to Order: The September 10th meeting of the Jackson School Board was called to order at 6:03 p.m. Present were Genn Anzaldi, Keith Bradley, Andrew Kearns, Lauren Synnott (joined at 6:45 p.m.), Fred Nemeth, Superintendent Carl Nelson, and Principal Gayle Dembowski. There were three members of staff/public present.
- Approve Minutes (8-19-13) – Motion by Mr. Kearns, seconded by Mr. Bradley, to approve the minutes of the August 19, 2013 as circulated. Mr. Nemeth has a correction; regarding the Transportation Committee discussion, the Minutes state that it was agreed that Jackson is getting the better deal; that was not agreed on by this Board. Later on in the Minutes, Mr. Nemeth’s comments should state there were at least five Bartlett kids on the Jackson bus at that particular stop; there are more Bartlett kids riding the Jackson bus than the Board had heard previously. Mr. Bradley noted that as far as Jackson getting the better deal, it would cost Jackson fourteen-thousand dollars if Jackson were to send a bus every day; a will-call bus would cost much less. Mr. Kearns would
like to see that entire sentence struck. Original motion and second were withdrawn. Motion by Mr. Kearns, seconded by Mr. Bradley, to approve the Minutes of August 19, 2013 as amended. Motion carried with 3 votes in the affirmative and 1 abstention (Bradley).
- Citizen Comments: There were none.
- Presentation of School Programs/FYI ITEMS
- SAU – Other School Board Reports (oral report) The full SAU Board will meet on the 19th; the Executive Board meets on the 12th.
The Board agreed to move agenda item 9 up for discussion now.
- Summer Work Presentation The three staff members presented information about their summer work; one staff person worked in Google Docs to create an easy to use two year plan for student work. The plans are based on Common Core Standards (CCS) appropriate for each learning level and loop. There have been some changes to the curriculum; Writing used to start in second grade; it now starts in first grade but otherwise there are not any big gaps for Jackson’s students. This allows for putting everything in one place; it shows the parts of the day with the standards attached. Ms Anzaldi asked if this information has been shared at Teacher Workshop days with other schools in the District; it is not being shared at this time. Ms Anzaldi suggested others might benefit from this work. The curriculum changes every year so when Jackson’s students leave 6th grade they have all they need. The teachers work collaboratively; the plan keeps everyone on track. Margo discussed Next
Generation Science Standards (NGSS) which are not yet required but Jackson needs to look in that direction; these are rigorous standards. This summer she looked at the current SAU units; the work Jackson’s students are doing is based on what the state currently requires; she examined what will be needed for what is coming down the road. The NGSSs are for grade levels up to 5. Sixth through eighth grade is the next group; this will be a good conversation to have with Bartlett to make sure Jackson’s students are getting what is needed while attending Josiah Bartlett School.
- Report Card Timeline Kristen designed a new report card over the summer; a review of the current Jackson report card was compared to the proposed card. The information would be available on Google Docs; the plan is for a Common Core report card that takes the CCSs and breaks them down. This is still another year out. Ms Anzaldi wondered why, since the CCSs are nationally required, there isn’t some national grading system. The second page shows how quarters would work; there would be two quarters with grading and two quarters with conferences. Conway currently grades four quarters however, they are going to K – 6 at two quarters. Ms Anzaldi wants more frequent check-in. It was explained that portfolios will be available for parents to review and conferencing
could be done every week if necessary; the teachers aren’t going to let students “slip” just because a quarter isn’t a graded one; documentation will continue. Some of these are really specific standards; teachers can’t grade out a quarter when a subject wasn’t taught. This is a useable document; parents and teachers will know where their kids are at, teachers will still be reporting out. Ms Anzaldi noted there are some parents that are not able to keep tabs or check in; she wants to make sure folk stay on top of this. Conferencing will help push that. Mr. Bradley feels the School needs to come up with a plan for the family that doesn’t come to the first quarter conference and then comes in for the second quarter and finds out there’s a problem half way through the year. Ms Dembowski noted this will be presented for parent input. Follow-up will continue.
- Camp Numbers Ms Dembowski presented the Camp numbers; there were thirty-eight kids that participated with twenty on average; Camp was heavily attended by younger students. Preschoolers that were incoming to Kindergarten were included this year for the first time, too. In previous years the older students would come in for just the field trips; that became an issue because they were not aware of the rules; that was not allowed this year. Attendance is up from prior years and there were seven kids from out of town that attended at a fee that is twice that for Jackson residents. There is a survey that will be going out, Heather will help with that. This will come back to the Board after survey feedback; there will be conversation on focus at that time.
- Tuition for non-resident teacher’s children Teachers that take advantage of enrolling their children at Jackson Grammar School would be taxed on that benefit. The value would be reported on a 1099 however, the value of that benefit is either twenty-five-hundred dollars or the full price of tuition. There is quite a bit of difference; full tuition is eight-thousand plus there’s a different charge for enrolling a second child. If the school is going to be issuing the 1099 it needs to know what it is going to be setting the benefit at.
- Reduction in Force Policy The Minutes say this may come back with new verbiage but the Policy Committee hasn’t had a meeting to do so; currently the draft calls for the reduction to be based on performance first then seniority. Ms Anzaldi will send out an e-mail to set up a meeting.
- Consider First Reading of Policy ECF (Energy Conservation) This is the First Reading; there were no comment; this now moves on to a Second Reading.
- Consider Personnel Actions: There were none.
- Business Affairs
- FYI – 2013-14 Budget Status Report
Regarding the Soccer Meeting, the Board asked if there was any money for painting the lines; Ms Dembowski noted there is. Uniforms will need to wait even though they are at least eight years old; this would be a good fund-raising project for the PTO.
- Budget Direction for 2014-15 Mr. Bradley noted the direction is to put in what is needed and go from there.
- Electioneering Lawsuit The School and town have received a letter from Mr. Benesh; there is an agreement regarding an electioneering area however he is requesting payment of his legal fees. Mr. Bradley, seconded by Mr. Kearns, made a motion that the Board does not agree to pay any of the petitioner’s legal fees. Mr. Kearns noted it sounds like as long as someone pays Mr. Benesh’s fees he’ll go along, it’s okay as long as we pay him; this is rude and it’s weird. This Board needs to publically say the School is not going to pay Mr. Benesh’s fees; the School has paid enough to get to this point; no one is paying the School’s legal fees. Mr. Kearns quipped that the usual way to make a motion is in the affirmative but he wasn’t about to make a motion that the School pay the fees. There was no further discussion. Motion carried by unanimous vote. The Selectmen will be notified that the School has voted and they have no intention of paying Mr. Benesh anything.
- Principal Previously presented – See agenda item 4A.
- Summer Work Presentation
- Camp Numbers
- Report Card Timeline
- Citizens Comments: There were none.
- Board Member Issues –Board Discussion/Committee Reports: Mr. Kearns noted there’s a difference of opinion regarding information provided at the Transportation Committee meeting. Rob Clark is saying there are eight stops but Jackson’s paperwork says eight students; Ms Dembowski noted it is eight stops. Mr. Bradley noted this discussion has been on-going for five or six years. Each year there are different stops and new numbers of students. They reviewed the stops; if they always make eight stops no matter how many students there are then there’s no issue. He’d also like to remind folks, when Bartlett says they are providing a service that would cost Jackson fourteen thousand dollars, that would only be the case if Jackson ran a bus all the time.
Additionally, their bus makes one stop at Stanley’s Corner; servicing Jackson’s students does not create an additional stop. Jackson is making four, five, eight additional stops to drop off Bartlett’s kids while they aren’t making more to drop Jackson’s kids. Mr. Bradley noted a couple of years ago Jackson waived something; Jackson gave something back already. Mr. Nemeth noted the Bartlett bus picks up Jackson’s kids and takes them to Glen; this means Jackson doesn’t need to go out; he thinks it is reasonable to charge Jackson for that pick up. It was mentioned that the whole problem would be moot if each town were to provide their own transportation. Mr. Kearns isn’t sure that’s necessary, he’s asking to call this a wash; Mr. Bradley noted it’s not really a wash. Jackson’s bus is stopping nine-hundred-sixty times for Bartlett’s students. Mr. Nemeth is
troubled; the subject was broached with the notion that Jackson was on the short end of the stick and got back from Bartlett that Jackson is actually getting the better end of the deal and now Jackson has to waive something else to make Bartlett happy. Mr. Bradley agrees; Bartlett is making no additional stops while Jackson’s experiencing a lot of wear and tear on its bus. When asked if Jackson has to provide a late bus, it was noted it’s not required. This is something that can be put on the warrant. Mr. Kearns asked how many kids are on the late bus; he was informed that varies from season to season. Mr. Bradley believes that doesn’t make a difference; the main issue was wear and tear on the bus and that’s why Bartlett was paying Jackson; Jackson gave some amount of money back and they all agreed it was based on stops not the number of students. Mr. Kearns noted if Jackson says it is not going to pay the
twenty-five hundred dollars, Bartlett could then say the charge is fourteen-thousand. If that’s the case then Jackson would send its own bus and it will be less than that. Ms Dembowski noted Jackson’s bus drivers get overtime every week already. It is eighteen miles roundtrip from Stanley’s to Kennett High School; the cost is calculated at four dollars and forty-four cents per mile. If Jackson were to do this, Bartlett would have to send another bus into service. Ms Anzaldi would like to know what the end goal is here. Mr. Bradley noted these same types of issues came up with the Transfer Station; he still thinks Jackson is getting the short end of the stick; the worst case is that it will cost Jackson fourteen thousand dollars to send a late bus every day. On the other hand, Bartlett will have to send a late bus every day and that will cost them ten- to twelve-thousand dollars. When asked what he is trying to prove,
Mr. Bradley noted he’s not trying to prove anything, he’s trying to be fair; Jackson should ask for more. Mr. Kearns went back through records and Bartlett has assisted a lot with transporting Jackson students, including for Field Trips like Ferry Beach (which no longer happens) and Special Education. Mr. Bradley noted the cost for Jackson would most likely be seven- to ten-thousand dollars to run its own bus; he doesn’t think Jackson should wait for the current agreement to be up; he’d like to see a separate agreement. Mr. Kearns asked what numbers Mr. Bradley wants to see; he wants to know what it would cost Jackson to run its own bus when needed and what it would cost Bartlett to send their bus every day; this is just discovery; he wants to see that number. Mr. Kearns noted the Committee has had some of this discussion; Mr. Bradley needs to attend the next meeting to make sure his concerns are addressed. This will come back
to the Board. Mr. Nemeth noted there needs to be a look at the math done already; he has the sense that Bartlett put together these costs not Jim Hill; the figures are apples and oranges and that’s how Jackson got into this conversation with Bartlett to begin with. Mr. Bradley would also like information on how many times the bus has to put its brakes on, how many stops it makes and what the maintenance costs are for that usage.
- Signing of Manifest: Manifests were duly signed.
- Nonpublic Session: None.
- Adjourn: Motion made by Mr. Bradley, second by Mr. Nemeth, that the meeting be adjourned at 7:02 p.m.
Respectfully submitted by:
Martha D. Tobin
Acting Recording Secretary
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