Lyme School District
School Board Meeting
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Meeting Minutes

Board Members Present: Peter Glenshaw, Mary Beck, Audrey Brown, Kevin Kerin, Kathy McGowan, Maggie Minnock, Dan Parish. Staff Members Present: Jeff Valence; 2 Lyme School faculty. Recorder: Roger Lohr

1. Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 7:06 p.m. by Board Chair Peter Glenshaw.

2. Approval of Minutes
A motion was made and seconded (Minnock, Brown) to approve the minutes from the April 26, 2007 Lyme School Board Meeting, as submitted. The motion was passed with six in favor and one abstention (McGowan).
A motion was made and seconded (Minnock, Kerin) to approve the minutes of the April 26, 2007 Lyme School Board Nonpublic Meeting, as submitted. The motion was passed with six in favor and one abstention (McGowan).

3. Communications and Reports
A. Chair Report: Chairman Glenshaw reported that the Strategic Plan is almost complete with more to do on the curriculum, facilities, and student life. The goal is to release the plan in the summer after each committee provides its plans for respective areas. It was suggested that the Strategic Plan could be completed by the end of June.
The Board discussed holding a retreat meeting in the summer. The principal would like to conduct a two day retreat (two four-hour blocks) regarding the academic curriculum. Additionally, the principal would like to review the topic later in the year with parents. Kathy McGowan will consider the scheduling of the retreat meeting and help the Board to decide the final date probably in July.

The Budget Committee meeting discussions were summarized for Board members. The Strategic Plan for the school will be reported to the Budget Committee. There will also be a year-end budget update and a forum will be held to discuss the school budget process. These steps should help communicate the school budget, increase residents’ awareness and improve the transparency of the school budget process. It was suggested that similar meetings be held with the faculty and staff and that the budget cycle be moved so it can be initiated and developed earlier.
It was also announced that the Board will become involved with the staff appreciation efforts.

B. Principal’s Report: In Superintendent Schnare’s absence, Principal Valence distributed the food service report and a memo to the Board members covering professional development, special education database work, and the driver’s education issue.

The Board discussed the driver’s education issue concerning students that go to high school in Vermont (but need a New Hampshire driver’s license) and will revisit the issue next year again.

A motion was made and seconded (McGowan, Kerin) to authorize the Superintendent at his discretion to pay for driver’s education for any Lyme student that attends high school in Vermont in the 2007-08 school year, in the amount of the difference beyond standard school charges up to $400 per student. The motion passed unanimously.

C. Principal’s Report: Principal Valence distributed a draft letter intended to be sent to sixth grade parents regarding an opportunity to create a choice for math classes. There is a need for two math classes for the seventh grade next year, which has developed because of the larger enrollment in the current sixth grade class. There would be an advanced math class (greater depth, faster pace, etc.) and students would be able to move laterally between the two classes, if necessary. There is no budgetary impact of this “Challenge by Choice” concept and as a pilot program, it may not be available in the future. The principal will also hold a discussion group with interested parents about the concept.

D. Committee Reports
The Academic Committee submitted its Strategic Plan document.

The Building Maintenance Committee announced that it will address the drinking water at the school for a cost of approximately $12-13,000 with a filter and softener system. Additionally, some doors will be replaced with fire-rated doors ($5,000) and classroom door locks will be replaced ($600). The roof on the older building and athletic fields are longer term projects.

The school emergency readiness was discussed and the Lyme Foundation meeting was recently held regarding the details of using the school as an emergency shelter. The town’s Safety Committee handles this issue.

The Library Trustees met and a representative from the Town Building Committee spoke with them. The trustees expressed feelings about the existing building and it appears that moving the location to school property is a less likely option in the trustees’ perspective.

The Personnel Committee reminded the Board to complete the Superintendent evaluation form. The Lyme School Board roster and committee document was distributed. Dan Parish is to serve on the Personnel Committee and Maggie Minnock will replace Kathy McGowan on that committee, too. Kathy McGowan will be replaced on the Policy Committee.

Roger Lohr reported that the Hanover High tuition for Lyme students was passed by the Dresden School Board in the amount of $16,472 ($161 below other non Hanover/Norwich student tuition). Additionally, there was an update about the renovation projects including the fields behind the high school and the auditorium. A March Intensive course concept will be developed at Hanover High for four days next March.

4. Business Requiring Discussion
The Board discussed policy GBRIC about administrative staff and school nurse benefits and leave.

5. Business Requiring Action
A motion was made and seconded (McGowan, Parish) to approve Policy (JICH), student drug and alcohol use, as submitted and attached to the original meeting minutes. The motion passed unanimously. The Board suggested that it look into the school search policy.

The Board discussed Policy JJE about Fund Raising and related procedures. Principal Valence discussed the distinction between solicitous activity (selling candles or wrapping paper) and service-oriented fund raising (student for hire or a table at the flea market). The original issue was to minimize faculty involvement with fund raising and the principal suggested that another issue involves solicitous activity. There is a desire to continue raising money to cover the cost of the class trips. The Board decided to table the policy to clarify the types of fund raisers in the policy procedures. It was also interested in receiving the annual status of fund raising activities in December. The principal will work with the Policy Committee on this issue.

6. Non Public Session
A motion was made and seconded (Brown, McGowan) 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 8:57 p.m. the roll call was conducted and the Lyme School Board entered non public session.

A motion was made and seconded (McGowan, Kerin) to re-enter public session. The motion passed unanimously. The Board reopened the public session of the Lyme School Board meeting at 9:35 p.m.

A motion was made and seconded (Glenshaw, Beck) to accept the nomination of Deborah Trottier as Special Ed Director for a total salary (including any per diem) not to exceed $70,000 for the 2007-2008 school year. The motion passed unanimously.

Peter discussed hosting a summer gathering of school board members from several districts to learn from each other on matters of mutual interest.

Peter may initiate a meeting of community members interested in fund raising.

7. Adjournment: There was a motion and approval to adjourn the meeting at 9:40 p.m. (McGowan, Parish). The motion passed unanimously.

The manifests were reviewed and signed by the authorized Board members. Next regular board meeting is scheduled for Thursday, June 14, 2007 at 7:00 p.