Wentworth School Board

Monday, September 26th , 2005 – 6:00 pm
School Board Meeting Minutes
Wentworth Elementary School

Members Present: Deborah Gelsi, Scott Goodale, Laurie Dustin

Administration Present: Jeff Keene - Principal WES, Ethel Gaides - Asst. Superintendent– SAU 48, Fran Gonsalves – Spec. Ed Director - SAU48, Jon Francis – Facilities Director – SAU48

WES Staff Present : Kathy Berei – Phys. Ed, Tanya O’Brien, Brooke Duchette

Community Members Present: Todd Bickford, Melody Gaudette, Palmer Kolb, Debbie Kolb, Glen Hinckley, Henry Kulawasha. Tabitha Coykendall, Ginny Gove, Maria Young, Vinny Samson

 

Deborah Gelsi moves to open meeting at 5:58 pm Laurie Dustin 2nd’s. There are no objections, motion carries.

Deborah Gelsi moves to amend the agenda to move Privilege of the Floor to be heard after the facilities update and to reflect Vinny Samson as a guest speaker. Also, amend the agenda to reflect the Kindergarten Tuition Request to non public where it involves a particular student by name , with a request that has personal and private information as evidentiary information (date of birth, location of birth) Laurie Dustin 2nd’s. There are no objections and the motion carries.

There was discussion of the minutes from the last meeting. Mrs. Dustin claims she wrote the minutes and forwarded them to the SAU. The SAU has not received them as of the meeting. Mrs. Dustin no longer has her notes from the meeting. Mrs. Gaides and Mrs. Gelsi will retrieve the notes that they took individually and work to reconstruct a new version of the minutes.

Jon Francis updates the board on current facilities projects and will be forwarding copies of the blueprints to Glen Hinckley for review by the Facilities Committee. The new boiler is in and the next step is to coordinate and install thermostats in each classroom for added zone controls. The board asks several questions – all of which were answered satisfactorily by Mr. Francis and Mr. Hinckley. Those present were invited to tour the facility at that time, which all did and the board is duly impressed with the work that the Facilities committee and Mr. Francis have accomplished. The new wall and doors are completed so Stage I of the project is successful. The Board would like the SAU to send a note of thanks to Charlie Buffet, the engineer for the project who exceeded all expectations for his work on the project.

Deborah Gelsi motions to accept as the report from Jon Francis Scott Goodale 2nd’s. There are no objections, motion carries

Privilege of the Floor

Vinny Samson informs the board and public that she has started a group to raise awareness regarding communications with the school, the SAU and the Board. Her goal is to connect the parent with the right people at the School and the SAU. A group called NH Connections would like to be affiliated with the group. An informal study performed by Mrs. Samson suggests to her that there are several students that are lacking in needed assistance. She would like to work with the School and the SAU to affect positive change by identifying those students in need. She has reviewed several students IEP’s and spoken with some parents and would like to be a positive liason between these parents and the school to affect positive change. Particularly as it relates to bullying. Palmer Kolb addressed the board and indicated that he had first hand experience with a bullying episode at the school and that as far as he was concerned, Mr. Keene handled the issue in a straightforward and resolute manner and he is very satisfied with the way the problem was addressed and is confidant in the schools new bullying policy. Several others also remarked on the bullying policy and that it is very clear and defined and that Mr. Keene is addressing each individual case with competence and firmness.

Principals Report

CAT scores are in. While we are indeed below average on a couple of items, overall, we are doing well. We will be moving to the NEAP/NCAP testing as the CAT is inconclusive and overall not a decent measuring tool of our students achievements.

Deborah Gelsi motions to accept report as presented. Laurie Dustin 2nd’s. There are no objections, motion carries.

Kathy Berei presented a Powerpoint presentation that illustrated the positive aspects of the Winter Ski Program. A discussion followed and the board allows that the ski program should continue.

The Board approves the funding for the schools contribution for the purchase of Soccer Jackets for the soccer team. The children most decidedly deserve as much recognition as the basketball or baseball teams.

The Board reviews their goals for the 2005-2006 school year. They are as follows:

The Board moves to change the date and time of the meeting for the school committees to the 1st Monday of the month at 7:pm.

Recognition and Awards

Mr. Keene would like to recognize the following people: - All of the workers who worked on the walls and doors of the gym this past summer. - Melody Gaudette of the PTO - Angela Comeau for being instrumental in our ongoing quest to have book authors visit the school. MaryLynn Ray will be visiting us soon.

Deborah Gelsi motions to move to Non Public at 8:34 Scott Goodale 2nd’s. There are no objections, motion carries.

Non-Public Session.
Non Public (RSA 91-A: 3)
Exclusive allowable purposes are: personnel issues, nominations and hiring, reputation, sale or acquisition of property, litigation, 91-A: 2 (non meetings) consultant with legal counsel or negotiations, 91-A: 5 student records or information deemed confidential, personal or invasion of privacy.

a) Personnel

Deborah Gelsi motions to return from Non Public at 8:55pm Scott Goodale 2nd’s. There are no objections and motion carries.

Deborah Gelsi motions to adjourn 9:00 pm Scott Goodale 2nd’s. There are no objections and motion carries.

Respectfully,

Deborah Gelsi School Board Chairperson