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Jackson School Board Minutes - 09/21/2015
MINUTES OF MEETING
JACKSON SCHOOL BOARD
Jackson Grammar School
September 21, 2015


  • Call to Order:  The Sept. 21st meeting of the Jackson School Board was called to order at 6:10 p.m. Present were Jerry Dougherty, Daniel Mahood, Jessica DellaValla, Genn Anzaldi, Supt. Kevin Richard, Asst. Supt. Kadie Wilson, and Principal, Gayle Dembowski.  There were five members of the public/staff present.  
                        
  • Approve Minutes (8-24-15) – Correction was noted by Ms. Dembowski: Pg. 7, 3rd full para., 5th line should read: Mr. Dougherty said it was not developed for any particular situation, it was a global agreement between the school and the police dept.  Ms. DellaValla noted correction, Pg. 7, 2nd full para., 4th line: remove the words “these incidents” and replace with “reports from Kennett.”  She also requested addition to Pg. 7, 1st full para., after the words “questioned why” to add:  When we are given monthly discipline reports on our Kennett students, and when we’ve been asked to comment on or vote on issues or policies relating to that incident at two previous meetings, Motion was made by Ms. Anzaldi, second by Mr. Mahood, that the Minutes of the Aug. 24th meeting be approved as amended.  Motion carried by unanimous vote.
  • Citizen Comments:  None.   
It was agreed to take Item 9, B, 1. Out of order:  

Summer Curriculum Work Review – Joan Heysler provided a video presentation of the summer curriculum workshop, noting they now have a pretty set schedule of units of study across the grades.  She said there is still a lot of work to do in math - the whole SAU is continuing with new Everyday Math 4 Program.  Ms. Heysler gave some highlights from the workshop, noting it makes greater connection to Common Core Standards; stating they agreed to “follow it with fidelity” straight through, then staff gets together to compare where all the 4th, 5th, and 6th graders are and make a math plan.  They want to look at the progression from grade to grade.  

Ms. Heysler said they spent a lot of time on science; this year every grade level put together a physical science unit across the grades, planning and carrying out investigation, and analyzing data.  She said the summer before, folks got together and sorted out these essential questions, identified what the essential concepts were and cross cutting concepts.  All 6th graders are getting the same assessments to compare to, and then they will get back together to see if they achieved what they wanted to.  Mr. Richard said an important part is curriculum goes in a cycle – initial stage, evaluation stage, literacy stage.  There will be further work done next summer to evaluate what is working.  

Ms. Heysler noted she and Dexter Harding plotted out unit by unit, took the high lights of each suggested lesson given to us, and put them together in an order that makes sense for us.  She said they went through the report card, indicated where they could put in a reading response, then made a grading chart and report card standard.  Both felt like they started the year knowing where we are going.  Ms. Dembowski stated that summer teacher worktime is really valuable, when teaching two grade levels it takes more time for organization.  Ms. Heysler said she appreciated the time given this summer to be able to do this, they have had very productive collaborative meetings.  Ms. Dembowski commented there is a lot going on in the SAU and this staff has worked hard to pull it all together.  

Emily Benson suggested, based on the Listening Post session [referring to proposal for public preschool shared with Bartlett] if they can get the word out it would be a good idea to discuss this at the Joint Boards meeting as opposed to a separate meeting.  Mr. Dougherty stated it will be a presentation to the Boards, but they will not be looking to the public to be asking questions that night.  Angus Badger said it seems they would want a survey to find out what current parents want.  Ms. Anzaldi said the question is, is there any public interest at all to even bother investigating this further?   She said she felt the input was positive as to we would like more information on it.  Ms. DellaValla said she was interested in what people had to say; the committee wants to make the argument that we should definitely do this - the concerns are real and we need to get answers to them.  She said what she heard tonight is “we are not there yet.”   

Mr. Dougherty stated it is a developing process, we need to wait and see:  Is this the right place for Jackson, is Jackson in the right place to do it now?  Ms. Benson said for the presentation in October, she is concerned that there should be an opportunity for people to ask questions.  Ms. Anzaldi said she thinks there should be an area of time where we should gather questions.  Mr. Dougherty said he thinks in November we should have a public hearing and figure out how to move forward with it:  Does this make sense for us?  We need to be able to put it together in a comprehensive way.  

One citizen said he thinks 5:00 p.m. is a difficult time for working people to be here, noting even 6:00 p.m. would be better.  He also felt a survey sounds like a good idea.  It was noted a Jackson/Bartlett joint meeting is scheduled for Oct. 19th at 5:30 p.m.  Mr. Dougherty said we will have to have a “yes or no” answer in Nov.  He noted cost sharing is going to be a big issue, he assumes the Board would have to negotiate with the Bartlett School Board, which could take months.  

Dr. Badger said Bartlett having a preschool in Bartlett is very different from Jackson – having publicly funded pre-Kindergarten education is huge for any town.  Mr. Dougherty suggested waiting until the regular meeting in Oct. after the joint meeting, before deciding.  Ms. Anzaldi said she would like to see the option of having it in Jackson as well as Bartlett.  Ms. DellaValla said there is the question “should there be a public pre-Kindergarten in Bartlett and Jackson,” and whether or not we want to vote for it in Bartlett.    

Dr. Badger said Dexter Harding sent an email that he presented to the curriculum committee regarding the report card.  Ms. Anzaldi felt it would be wise to set up a separate meeting for this discussion.  Ms. Dembowski said they had offered a session, hoping for the same day as the meeting in Bartlett prior to the joint Bartlett/Jackson meeting.  Ms. Anzaldi said she questions whether there are other schools in the District that are having these questions.  Dr. Badger stated there is no place on the report card to note whether a child is having a hard time with something – the most important thing he wants to hear is they struggled through it and worked through it – there are pieces missing.   

  • Presentation of School Programs/FYI Items:  
  •  SAU – Other School Board Reports - Mr. Richard reported administrators
are coming to Jackson to do an observation visit on Sept. 30 - a continued process of bringing everybody up to the expert level.  It is about us getting better with our practice so we can continue to strive to get better at teaching.  Mr. Richard noted they had a good SAU 9 Board meeting on Thursday to inform all the different Board members.  

Mr. Richard noted remote instructional school day was approved last year.  Conway has adopted a policy where the first three days are cancellation days and after that they would have Blizzard Bag days.  He noted Jackson has left it open-ended.  For Conway schools there will be a call on the 4th day that this is remote instructional school day.  Mr. Dougherty said when we supported it, it was to test it out and see how it works; secondly, there is the continuity in instruction – we want to put that out there to keep continuity.  He said he would like to see it on the first cancellation day, noting we left it up to the Superintendent to decide the number of days.  His point is, give them five days and see how they are going to implement it.
 
      5.        Old Business:  

  •  Whitney Center 1.  Review Use of Facilities Policy – Mr. Dougherty distributed a slightly reworded copy of the policy marked to indicate, by strike out, portions to be removed, and italics indicating wording to be added.  He advised members to take it home and review it for action at the next meeting.    
  •  Committee Assignments – It was noted these are all O.K.
  • Ms. Anzaldi requested that skis on the school bus be placed on the agenda for the Oct. meeting.  
      6.        Instructional Issues:  None.    

      7.        Consider Personnel Actions:
        
  • Election of Suzanne Nelson as Lead Soccer Coach – Motion by Ms.
DellaValla, second by Mr. Mahood, that the Board elect Suzanne Nelson as lead Soccer Coach for 2015-16.  Motion carried by unanimous vote.  
 
  • Accept Resignation of Gary Allen – Motion by Mr. Mahood, second by Ms.
DellaValla, that the Board accept “with strong regret” the resignation of Gary Allen as head of Maintenance.  Motion carried by unanimous vote.  

8.      Business Affairs:  

  • FYI – 2015-16 Budget Status Report – There were no questions or
comments.   

 Mr. Richard provided a memo regarding budget preparation, explaining that it is offered as a time line for preparing the budget and receiving staff input.

9.      Administrator’s Reports:

A. Superintendent – 1.  Budget Direction for 2016-17:  Mr. Dougherty noted this is an opportunity to say “we need to be looking to trim the budget, adhere strictly to needs, or create a wish budget.”  He said there is no doubt that the school budget is extremely well run; a needs-based budget is what we usually go with – it is effective and it is working, and he is not hearing from our community that the taxes are too high.  

Mr. Richard said Ms. Dembowski will continue the process of developing her budget for Jackson, but if there are specific needs there is time.  Mr. Mahood said he feels every dollar spent is utilized very efficiently.  Mr. Richard said every penny is accounted for.  Mr. Dougherty noted, historically, we have gone to the staff for a wish list, it is a practical approach and is effective.  Ms. Dembowski advised she will begin developing a needs-based budget.    

B. Principal –

  •  Summer Curriculum Work Review:  See Pg. 1.
10.     Citizen Comments:    

        Ms. Benson questioned regarding the budget, how do you factor in Special Education? noting we are a small town.  Ms. Anzaldi said we have a Trust Fund in which we keep about $100,000 for that purpose.  Mr. Dougherty noted, typically, we have been able to anticipate our expenses there.  Upon question of SE for preschool, Ms. Dembowski said we have a special needs grant presently and that is where tuition money for special services for preschoolers comes from currently.  She noted as a last resort she can move some funds from other accounts if needed.  Ms. DellaValla asked for a projection.  Ms. Dembowski said we can give you a ball park figure of what it could be.  

11.     Board Member Issues:  Ms. DellaValla noted at the joint SAU meeting the issue of the Wellness Committee came up and a motion was made by Mark Hounsell asking to have a Wellness Committee on the SAU 9 level so Conway can move theirs over to it.  She pointed out in Jackson we have a very active Health and Wellness Committee and she would not like to see that moved over to the SAU one.  Mr. Richard said they have done a lot of great work SAU-wide – he commended Emily Benson for her work on that.  He noted every District has to have a Wellness Committee representative.  He feels Mr. Hounsell would like to have people on that committee that are actively involved - the broader scope is to get more representation.  He noted Conway disbanded so that SAU 9 could establish a Wellness Committee.  Ms. Benson stated Conway was always operating as an SAU 9 Committee.  She noted Memorial Hospital, with the funding from their golf tournament, has been very generous and encourages if there is something you want in your school, apply for funds.  She said now the process is there will be somebody to receive all information so all schools know what’s going on.  She felt it would be cool to have one theme throughout.  Mr. Richard said the charge of the committee would be any recommendation that would come out of the committee would go to every single Board.  It was noted buying power is a big plus.  Ms. Benson commented there are some great professional development opportunities coming through that she would love to see taken advantage of.      

  • Set Date for Next Meeting – Monday, October 19th at 7:00 p.m.  
Jackson/Bartlett Joint Boards meeting Oct. 19th from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.

  •  Call for NHSBA Resolutions – No resolutions were offered.    
12.     Signing of Manifest:  Manifests were duly signed.

13.     Nonpublic Session:  None.   

14.     Adjourn:   Motion made by Ms. Anzaldi, second by Mr. Mahood and carried by unanimous vote, that the meeting be adjourned at 7:25 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
                                                Gail T. Currier, Recording Secretary
Agenda for Oct.:
Skis on the Bus/Revised Use of Facilities Policy