Nottingham School Board

Public Session
October 7, 2009
Official Minutes as of October 21, 2009

School Board Members Present: School Board Members Absent:

Jack Caldon, Chair
Amy Plante, Vice Chair
Dave O’Brien
Dawn Fernald
Frank O’Hanlon

Others Present:
Michael Ludwell, Superintendent
Michelle Carvalho, Principal
Terry Leatherman, Assistant Principal
Lorraine Ferland, School Board Secretary

Visitors
Lisa Diener, Grade 8 Language Arts teacher
Jessie Klingensmith, 8th grade student
Jamie Roesener, 8th grade student
Linda Hoyt
Wanda Dole
Britney Dole
Robert Sprague
John Thomas
Amy Gagnon
Kelly Dallaire
Vicki Jenkins
Janet Horvath

Opening
Dr. Caldon called the meeting to order at 7pm.

Non Public Session

A non-public session was held.

Visitors:
There was an 8th grade presentation of the Informative Unit given by Ms. Diener and two
students, Jessie K. and Jamie R. Both students described what topics and comic strips
they wrote and created for the newspaper and said the students enjoyed this activity.

Public Comments
Coe Brown and DHS tuition cost

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 NOTTINGHAM SCHOOL BOARD October 7, 2009 Public Session

Ms. Horvath asked about the Dover HS rate. Dr. Caldon said discussions will occur on
October 16. Dover HS wants to raise the tuition rate which will bring the tuition cost
closer to Coe Brown’s.

The School Board follows the warrant article that was passed regarding tuition cost to
high schools: Nottingham pays the rate of the school of record and that money can be
applied to another school if the student is accepted to one. There is a payment schedule
currently for Coe Brown and the Board will continue to tell parents as soon as possible
what the tuition difference will be.

Athletic Department
Ms. Gagnon is concerned about the girls’ soccer team. There are 25 kids on the girls’
soccer team and only 11 play. The coach told her that the playing time goes by seniority
level but that all kids will play. Ms. Gagnon suggested an A and B team or cuts for all
sports. She said the kids can play on the NYA or recreation department. She called other
towns and 6-8th graders can all try out and there are cuts. Ms. Gagnon inquired if 6th
graders are considered middle school; Ms. Carvalho said they are not considered middle
school.

There were other parents at the meeting who would like cuts or an A and B team for
sports.

Ms. Gagnon would like a storage shed instead of the girls’ locker room being used for
storage.

President Obama Speech

Mr. Sprague spoke about President Obama’s speech. His full comments are attached.

School Board Business

A. Approval of School Board Minutes—9-16-09 Public/Non-public Minutes
Mr. O’Brien made a motion to approve the public minutes of September 16, 2009.
Ms. Fernald seconded.
Motion unanimously approved.

There were changes:

Page 2, School Board Business, B., 5th paragraph, remove ‘propane tank
improvements’.
Page 2, School Board Business, B., 6th paragraph, add ‘overflow tank in’ before
‘septic’.
Page 3, New Business, A., 2nd paragraph, add ‘of the Budget Committee’ after ‘sub-
committee’.
Page 4, last paragraph, 2nd sentence, add ‘The Board assumes’ before ‘The’.

On September 2, 2009 public official minutes, change 2nd Ms. Fernald to Ms. Plante
New Business, Section F.

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NOTTINGHAM SCHOOL BOARD October 7, 2009 Public Session

B. Principal’s Report
President Obama’s speech will be shown to 4-8th graders by grade level on October
16, Friday. If parents do not want their children watching it, they can be dismissed
early.

Information has been gathered for the Capital Improvement Plan. Ms. Carvalho
distributed a proposed CIP. The parking lot and other asphalt resurfacing are on the
CIP for 2010 at an estimated cost of $42,200-$77,150. The technology infrastructure
and network upgrade is on the CIP for 2011 at an estimated cost of $47,455.98. Ms.
Carvalho suggested the technology upgrade would be beneficial if it could be done in
2010. Previous items on the CIP are the propane tank upgrade and irrigation system.
The propane tank upgrade is being worked on and the soccer field irrigation was put
on hold.

Ms. Plante made a motion to approve the CIP draft as presented.

Mr. O’Hanlon seconded.
Motion unanimously approved.

The tech director ascertained 4 quotes for the laptop mobile lab for Grades 7 and 8.
The tech director recommends the CDW-G, Inc. quote for a total cost of $14,673.48.
The budget for the laptop mobile lab for Grades 7 and 8 was $22,000.

Ms. Fernald made a motion to approve the CDW-G, Inc. quote for a total cost of
$14,673.48.
Ms. Plante seconded.
Motion unanimously approved.

The overflow tank for the septic system needs to be replaced. Quotes ranged from
$3900 to $5900. Ms. Carvalho recommended using a stainless steel tank. The tank
needs to be emptied at a cost of $3000. Ms. Carvalho asked the Board to move
forward with acquiring money from the Capital Reserve Fund for the overflow tank.
The recommended sum of money to cover the tank purchase, emptying of the tank
and any associated costs is $10,000.

Ms. Fernald made a motion to post the hearing to remove money from the Capital
Reserve Fund.
Mr. O’Brien seconded.
Motion unanimously approved.

C. Superintendent’s Report
Ted Comstock, Executive Director of the NHSBA will make a presentation on labor
relations on November 4.

There is a Board Retreat from 9am till 1pm on October 17.

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 NOTTINGHAM SCHOOL BOARD October 7, 2009 Public Session

Old Business
A. Updated 2010-2011 Budget Schedule
The dates for the budget presentations are November 19, December 3, December 17,
and January 7. January 13 is the hearing date.

B. Date for Next Meeting with Dover

October 16 is the meeting with Dover at 9am at the Nottingham School library.

C. Stevens Hill Bus Stop Update

Because of the nature of this, bus stops will be discussed in non-public.

D. Race to the Top

Dr. Ludwell said the grant money is highly competitive. The commissioner wants to
meet with Nottingham to discuss. The director of special education and
superintendent of schools are currently discussing use of this grant to improve the
alternative program at the SAU.

E. Policy #KB-Parent Involvement Policy and #ILBA-Assessment

Ms. Fernald made a motion to approve policy #KB-Parent Involvement Policy, as
amended.
Mr. O’Brien seconded.
Motion unanimously approved.

Ms. Plante made a motion to approve policy ##ILBA-Assessment, as posted.

Ms. Fernald seconded.
Motion unanimously approved.

New Business
A. Dover Tuition Rate
There was a request tonight from the parents of Coe Brown students to inform them
about the Dover tuition rate as soon as possible. The rate has been determined and
the information will be distributed to the Board and to parents.

B. Northwood/Nottingham Split Tuition CBNA Students

There is an RSA regarding residency. Dr. Caldon received a call from the chairman
of the Northwood Board who said there are 8 students this year that are going to Coe
Brown that Nottingham and Northwood are sharing the cost for. All graduated from
Nottingham School. Coe Brown is sending a bill to both towns. Dr. Caldon was told
that this practice has been going on for some time now.

The Board’s counsel will look at this.

Financial Business
A. Bills and Manifests

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 NOTTINGHAM SCHOOL BOARD October 7, 2009 Public Session

Set Next Agenda

Items to include: Kidder Law conference, athletic program,

Future Meeting Dates

October 17, 2009 9a-1p Board Retreat-LGC
October 21, 2009 7pm Budget Committee Meeting
October 26, 2009 7pm Joint School Board Meeting
at the SAU Office
November 4, 2009 7pm School Board Meeting

Adjournment
Ms. Fernald made a motion to enter into non-public session per RSA 91-A:3 IIc and e at
8:47pm.
Mr. O’Brien seconded.
Roll call was taken.
Motion to move into non-public unanimously approved.

The meeting returned to public meeting at 9:11pm.

Ms. Fernald made a motion to approve the request the bus stop at 9 Patriots Lane.
The motion failed for a lack of a second.

Mr. O’Hanlon made a motion to return Bus 66 to the original route.

Ms. Plante seconded.
Motion unanimously approved.

Ms. Plante made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:19pm.

Ms. Fernald seconded.
Motion to adjourn unanimously approved.

Respectfully Submitted by Lorraine Ferland, School Board Secretary

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 NOTTINGHAM SCHOOL BOARD October 7, 2009 Public Session

Comments from Robert Sprague:

Good Evening, Members of the Nottingham School Board. My name is Robert

Sprague … and I apologize that my comments last week took so much time ...

Three weeks ago, at the Board's last meeting, our school Principal, Ms. Carvalho,
made a specific commitment to show Nottingham School students President
Obama's speech …

To my knowledge – and please correct me if I am mistaken here - Mr. Obama's

speech has not yet been shown to students at the Nottingham School. Nor have
parents received any information from the school about future plans to show the
speech.

As we all know, President Obama timed his speech to America's students to be

shown at the beginning of the school year, when he believed it would have its
greatest positive effect. And time is passing … the first Nottingham student
progress reports have already been sent by teachers to parents. It is not the
beginning of the school year any longer.

So, I'm here tonight to learn exactly how & when Ms. Carvalho will honor her
specific promise – her pledge - to show Mr. Obama's speech.

So … please ...

Thank you ...