MINUTES OF MEETING
JACKSON SCHOOL BOARD
Jackson Grammar School
April 8, 2015
1. Call to Order: The Apr. 8th meeting of the Jackson School Board was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by SAU 9 Supt. Dr. Carl Nelson. Also present were Genn Anzaldi, Jerry Dougherty, Keith Bradley, Daniel Mahood, and Principal, Gayle Dembowski. There was one member of the public present, that being Chief of Police, Doug Jette. [Newly elected Board member, Jessica DellaValla was not able to be present.]
Reorganization of Board:
Election of Chairman – Dr. Nelson called for nominations for Chairman. Motion made by Ms. Anzaldi, second by Mr. Bradley, to elect Jerry Dougherty as Chairman for the ensuing year. Motion carried with 3 votes in the affirmative and one abstention (Dougherty).
Election of Vice-chairman – The Chair called for nominations. Motion made by Mr. Bradley, second by Mr. Dougherty, to elect Genn Anzaldi as Vice-chair for the ensuing year. Motion carried by unanimous vote.
Set Meeting Dates and Time – It was unanimously agreed that meetings would be held on the 3rd Monday of each month at 6:00 p.m. Mr. Dougherty stated the Board would try to be more transparent with announcing any necessary change in the schedule, as well as trying for fewer changes.
Adopt Rules of Order/Agenda Format – Motion made by Mr. Bradley, second by Ms. Anzaldi, that the rules of order and agenda format would remain the same as with the 2014-15 school year. Carried by unanimous vote. It was agreed the Chair will have a vote and recording of votes will list the names of those voting in the negative.
Committee Assignments – It was agreed that members would take home the listing of committees as presented, review them, and email the Chair with their wishes as to which committee they wished to serve on.
Manifests – It was agreed that manifests would be signed by the Chair and the Vice-chair.
2. Approve Minutes (3-5-15) – Motion by Mr. Bradley, second by Ms. Anzaldi, that the Minutes of the Mar. 5th meeting be approved as circulated. Motion carried with three votes in the affirmative and one abstention (Mr. Mahood).
3. Citizen Comments: Police Chief, Doug Jette, joined the meeting noting a mutual aid agreement between the School and the Police Dept. had been in effect up until this year; however, the signed parties are no longer involved. It was explained it is a contract that outlines what the Board’s role is in an emergency preparedness situation and what the Police Dept.’s role needs to be, and that some situations involve mandatory reporting to law enforcement. Chief Jette stated the contract he has is nearly ten years old, and he asked that the Board, Ms. Dembowski, and Dr. Nelson set aside a work session to address that document, and then bring it to the full Board. Dr. Nelson stated the one we have is for 2012. (Mr. Jette’s copy was
dated 2006.)
Dr. Nelson suggested Mr. Jette go through the contract to see what he thinks needs to be changed and get back to us. Mr. Jette questioned whether that contract is comparable to what Conway and Bartlett have and Dr. Nelson assured him it is. The Chief agreed to review it and let the Board know what he thinks should be changed, noting it is important for all that everybody’s role be defined. It was agreed that Ms. Anzaldi, Ms. Dembowski, Dr. Nelson, and Chief Jette would meet on May 6th at 3:00 p.m.
Mr. Jette reported there was an incident last year and he was disappointed in some of the way that that was handled. Mr. Dougherty noted the RSAs are set up so that some of the decisions are decisions that only the Superintendent can make – he is the only one who can make the decision in some instances.
Chief Jette said the Police Dept. has been making plans for the next 6-8 months – Bartlett is planning to appoint a new Chief; the dept. will be putting in place the DARE program. He said he hopes the DARE Officer will be invited into this school system as well as Bartlett. He suggested members start looking at the DARE curriculum. He explained it could evolve into a sports program between the DARE Officer and the kids, including a discussion with the children of various subjects. Mr. Bradley suggested it would be great if officers are rotated so the kids could get to know other officers, maybe do a joint activity sponsored by the DARE program.
Mr. Jette expressed disappointment with the amount of exposure that the Police Dept. has in the school, stating, for instance, there have been two events the school did not invite them to: one was the Jackson/Bartlett Ambulance for the health fair. Ms. Dembowski stated that was sponsored by the hospital. Chief Jette requested a phone call if that were the case. He stated this school is an important part of the community, we want to give the kids a good experience as police officers. Mr. Dougherty stated the relationship between the Police Dept. and the school has always been very strong and Mr. Jette should assume his department is always welcome. Chief Jette said there was also an event about internet safety that was
done by Conway, but Police were not notified. Ms. Anzaldi said she feels the relationship is more open now with Chief Jette as the new chief. Chief Jette was informed there is an open meeting held at the school every Thursday morning which he is welcome to attend.
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Speaking as a citizen, Ms. Anzaldi said she was talking to Kathy Dougherty and Ms. Dougherty would like to start working with the school to spruce up the town hall with some of the students’ art work. She offered to frame the students' art and would rotate it and return the work to the students at the end of the year all framed. Ms. Anzaldi noted this will combine the school and the town a little more, visually.
4. Presentation of School Programs/FYI Items:
- SAU – Other School Board Reports – Dr. Nelson advised that the regular
SAU Board meeting has been moved to April 28th due to the fact that Conway has a late vote and cannot swear members in until after April 14th.
5. Old Business:
- Review Use of Facilities Policy – Mr. Bradley suggested members review the
policy and it be included on the Agenda for the May meeting. It was agreed.
6. Instructional Issues: None.
7. Consider Personnel Actions:
A. Election of Personnel for 2015-16 – Motion by Mr. Bradley, second by Ms. Anzaldi, to elect all of the instructional staff as listed, with the exception of Jennifer Hagerty who has requested a resignation. Motion carried by unanimous vote.
B. Election of Hope Hayes as Lead Counselor for the Summer Program (2015-16) – Motion made by Mr. Bradley, second by Ms. Anzaldi, to hire Hope Hayes as Lead Counselor for the Summer Program (2015-16). Ms. Dembowski said during the summer Ms. Hayes will work 40 hours a week for six weeks. Carried by unanimous vote.
C. Election of Hope Hayes as Lead Counselor for 2014-15. Motion by Ms. Anzaldi, second by Mr. Mahood, to hire Hope Hayes as Lead Counselor for 2014-15. Motion carried by unanimous vote. Ms. Dembowski said Ms. Hayes would work in May and June of 2015, not to exceed 40 hours, for the purpose of preliminary planning and brochure development, etc. in order to be ready when the children arrive in July.
D. Accept Resignation of Jennifer Hagerty - Motion was made by Ms. Anzaldi, second by Mr. Bradley and carried by unanimous vote, to accept, with regret, the resignation of Jennifer Hagerty as school nurse.
8. Business Affairs:
A. FYI – 2014-15 Budget Status Report – Dr. Nelson commented that the school is still doing fine. There were no questions or other comments.
B. Approval of Increase of Hours with Bartlett for School Psychological Services – Motion by Mr. Bradley, second by Ms. Anzaldi, that the Board approve increasing the hours with Bartlett for School Psychological Services. Ms. Dembowski explained the School Psychologist in Bartlett, Mary McAllister, does evaluation/counseling for Special Education purposes for K-6. She said her hours for the year that were budgeted for have already been exceeded. She comes here and tests our K-6 students. It was originally planned for 33 hours; however, they have already had to use 56 hours with three more evaluations to be included. Motion carried by unanimous vote.
9. Administrator’s Reports:
A. Superintendent – Dr. Nelson called attention to the SAU 9 report card for April 2015 which he had distributed to each member.
Dr. Nelson noted there will be a joint Jackson/Bartlett Boards meeting on May 5th in Bartlett at 5:30 p.m. Ms. Dembowski and Mr. Voci will be advising regarding the public preschool.
Ms. Dembowski reported that the DAR ladies came to the school today. The children were well behaved and shared their historic fiction projects. Riley Hayes was awarded the 6th grade DAR Essay Contest award, and Amy Burton won for 5th grade.
Transition Event – Ms. Dembowski said the 6th grade went to Bartlett for the maple sugaring event, they met new friends and rode the bus.
Ms. Dembowski wished to publicly thank Mr. Harding, Ms. Johnson and Ms. Roberts for their extracurricular work on the robotics program. In the spring they will be doing the Tin Mountain exploration.
Ms. Dembowski wished to also thank Ms. Rowe for running the Art Club during lunch times.
Ms. Anzaldi, noting Kristen Groves had done a presentation about the reading program for the PTO, requested that she make the same presentation for the School Board.
10. Citizen Comments: None.
11. Board Member Issues:
- Set Date for Next Meeting – Monday, May 18, 2015 at 6:00 p.m.
Joint Jackson/Bartlett meeting May 5th in Bartlett at 5:30 p.m.
B. FYI – Correspondence from Mark Blotner - Mr. Dougherty called attention to a letter from Mark Blotner expressing his appreciation for the lights having been installed at the town shed where the bus is housed. Mr. Dougherty noted that Gary Allen’s initiative caused that to happen as well.
Ms. Anzaldi questioned whether there has been any follow up with regard to allowing skis on the bus. Ms. Dembowski stated it would have necessitated Mark having to get off the bus and had something to do with the law about the driver not getting off the bus while there are any students on the bus. Mr. Bradley suggested having one parent meet the bus everyday. Ms. Anzaldi suggested this be put on the Agenda for June, and on the PTO Agenda as well, and the bus drivers be invited to the meeting. Mr. Bradley said he will discuss it with Joe prior to that to find out what his concerns are.
12. Signing of Manifest: Manifests were duly signed.
13. Nonpublic Session: None.
14. Adjourn: Motion made by Mr. Dougherty, second by Ms. Anzaldi and carried by unanimous vote, that the meeting be adjourned at 6:50 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Gail T. Currier, Recording Secretary
Agenda – May 18th:
Use of Facilities Policy
Agenda – June
Discussion of skis on the bus
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