Lyme School District
School Board Meeting
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Meeting Minutes

Board Members Present: Peter Glenshaw, Mary Beck, Julie McCutcheon, Kathy McGowan, Maggie Minnock.
Staff Members Present: Gordon Schnare, Jeffrey Valence.
Recorder: Roger Lohr

1. Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 7:08 p.m. by chair, Peter Glenshaw.

2. Approval of Minutes
A motion was made and seconded (McGowan,Beck) to approve the minutes from the January 25, 2007 Lyme School Board Meeting, as submitted with changes. The motion was passed with four in favor and one abstention (Minnock). The changes included on item 3D, third paragraph the third sentence should change library staff to media specialist. The last sentence of that paragraph should identify the residents as those who attended the public meeting.

A motion was made and seconded (McGowan, Glenshaw) to approve the minutes of the January 25, 2007 Lyme School Board Nonpublic Meeting, as submitted. The motion was passed with four in favor and one abstention (Minnock).

3. Communications and Reports
A. Chair Report: Chairman Glenshaw distributed a Strategic Plan Committee document outlining priorities and next steps. It was mentioned that the Strategic Plan process could attract prospective Board members and encourage residents to become more involved with the school. The various subcommittees are asked to hold 2-4 meetings and present broad recommendations on the respective topics to the Executive Committee in April and then the Board. It was suggested that more teachers be asked to participate in the process.

The Superintendent was asked whether the fundraising/field trip procedures were written after the policy was created and he will check the documents. Mr. Glenshaw will complete staffing the subcommittees. Other names that were suggested included resident K. Marks and resident N. Meyer. The Principal asked to serve on the Student Life subcommittee.

The slides for the Budget Presentation would be sent to the Chair and the Board to review. The Chair will present the budget at the School District Meeting and the Board was asked to encourage supportive residents to attend the meeting. It was felt that the library issue may be brought up at the meeting.

B. Superintendent’s Report: Superintendent Schnare distributed summaries for expenditures and revenue to the Board members. The food service account is looking good and the school budget is presently in the black.

The Driver’s Education issue for students in Vermont high schools was discussed and the Superintendent continues to look into various solutions so New Hampshire accepts out-of-state driver education for Lyme students. The Board favored (if necessary) developing a Driver’s Education program at the Lyme School and applying funding to it in order to keep the costs in line with other high school driver’s education fees.

C. Principal’s Report
Principal Valence discussed the focus of upcoming teacher in-service meetings. He favors more full in-service days in next year’s school calendar. He also spoke about a school ethics process that will be initiated at the school for behavioral/character development. Student facilitators will be trained to handle peer mediation. The Global Ethics organization has developed this program.

NECAP results will be reviewed by teachers at the Lyme School: the Guidance counselor will attend the NECAP interpretation sessions hosted by the state. The results will be presented to the public via the newsletter. The preliminary results show that Lyme students have done very well. The NWEA tests will reinforce Lyme student levels of accomplishment.

D. Committee Reports
Kathy McGowan spoke about the Budget Committee and reported that items that were cut from the budget included summer staff hours, library shelving in the lobby, and the part time assessment coordinator for differentiated learning. It was suggested that private support might be able to be solicited and that it needs to be done by late April. Proposals will be developed for the items and the Board expressed interest in a broader discussion about fundraising and a contribution program. It was mentioned that Lazslo Bardos had considered this option. The Superintendent will look into organization formats for the concept.

The status of the Thetford Academy capital campaign was given to the Board. The T.A. campaign has received pledges for $50,000 so far and other funding is being sought. The town will be voting on a non-binding resolution on the school renovation project.

4. Business Requiring Discussion
Special Education Director, Pam Frost has sent notice of her resignation and a committee has been formed to hire a replacement. Two candidates have been found to date.

The warrant article about the school surplus says that up to $50,000 would be put into the high school fund.

There was a first reading of the Email Policy BHE, which involves Board electronic communication and making certain that decisions would remain in the open and on the record. The Superintendent should be copied on all Board email correspondence that is on relevant topics. Another aspect of email policy will involve the destruction of such communication.

The Superintendent will look into privacy of information for employees, parents, and students. Maggie will forward a sample policy from Dartmouth to the Superintendent.

5. Non Public Session
A motion was made and seconded (McGowan, Minnock) to enter nonpublic session in accordance with RSA 91-A3 (II. (a) & (c)) for discussion of matters relating to personnel and pupils. The motion passed unanimously. At 8:42 p.m. the roll call was conducted and the Lyme School Board entered non public session.
A motion was made and seconded (McGowan, Beck) to re-enter public session. The motion passed unanimously. The Board reopened the public session of the Lyme School Board meeting at 8:53 p.m.

6. Adjournment: There was a motion and approval to adjourn the meeting at 8:55 p.m. (McGowan, McCutcheon). The motion passed unanimously.
Next regular board meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 22, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. The Little Town Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 6, and the School District Meeting is scheduled for March 8.