Kensington School Board

April 14, 2005

  

The Kensington School Board met on Thursday, April 14, 2005. In attendance were: Mrs. Dana Donovan, Chairperson; Mrs. Alice Mower, Mrs. Cheryl Camacho, Members; Mr. Paul Flynn, Associate Superintendent of Schools; Mrs. Barbara Switzer, Principal.

 

Mrs. Donovan called the meeting to order at 6:50 PM.

 

Mrs. Mower moved to approve the minutes of the March 10, 2005 School Board

Meeting. Mrs. Camacho seconded the motion. A vote was taken and was in the affirmative.

 

Mrs. Sue Lalime was in attendance and requested the use of the multipurpose room on June 28 from 10:00 – 11:00 AM and July 13, 2005 from 9:00 – 11:00 AM for the Social Library’s Summer Reading Program. The request will be taken under advisement in order to check with the custodian, Art Wiggin to determine if he’ll be cleaning in that area at those times.

 

Mrs. Switzer gave the Principal’s Report as follows:

·         The KES Times and the monthly calendar were reviewed.

·         The Wellness Fair was quite successful with many community members attending. Mrs. Switzer thanked Lili Spinosa and Carrie McDonough for all of their hard work in organizing the fair.

·         One of KES’ Destination Imagination Teams came in second place at the competition held on March 19^th.

·         The 4^th and 5^th Grade Chorus participated in the Musical Sharing Festival on April 2^nd and was very well received.

·         Mrs. Switzer congratulated Stephen Doherty on his attendance at the State Geography Bee and Ben Smith on his attendance at the State Spelling Bee. Both students did very well.

·         The Micro society Marketplace was a huge success. The board asked where the money earned from the marketplace would be used. Mrs. Switzer stated that some would go to the SPCA and some would go to help the poor in Peru. Mrs. Switzer will report back on where other monies would be spent.

·         Earth Day is scheduled for April 20^th. Mrs. Solomon has worked very hard in preparing the morning activities. The shed is being painted by Mr. Estey and will be artistically decorated by Mrs. Beauchemin, Mrs. Solomon and the students of KES. A magnolia tree is being donated to the school from the Great Hill Horticultural Foundation in Hampton Falls, NH. 

·         The Enrichment Committee’s Barn Dance held on April 1^st was fun, well attended and monetarily successful. The Enrichment Committee raised more than $6,000.00 for the gardening project.

·         Mrs. Switzer reported that the children were having a wonderful time at Sargent Camp.

·         Parent Conferences went well and were very well attended.

·         Relative to Literacy initiatives, Mrs. Switzer reported that all professional staff will be reading The Bee Season and discussing the book on May 18^th. The discussion will focus on how to teach children to read.

·         Mr. Paul Erickson will be at KES on April 22^nd to meet with all students.

 

The school board unanimously approved the Fifth grade field trip to the Freedom Trail in Boston on May 4^th.

 

Mr. Flynn gave the Superintendent’s report as follows:

·         The monthly School Board Chairpersons meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, April 20^th to discuss SAU school wide initiatives.

·         The full SAU 16 Board Meeting is scheduled for Monday, May. 16^th. The meeting will focus on follow-up to evaluations, compensation for Central Office Administration, and Title I funding.

·         The new high school is 30% complete and is on schedule and on budget. Mr. Sokul will begin his position as EHS Principal on July 1, 2005. EHS Graduation will take place as scheduled on June 17^th.

·         June 22^nd will be the last day of school for KES students.

·         Mr. Flynn reported that Mrs. Cheryl McDonough is involved with the School Improvement Plan for the SAU and is working in an Administrative Support capacity with the Charter School.

·         Mr. Flynn reminded the board that the District is scheduled to replace the windows across the front of the school at a cost of approximately $15,000.00.

·         Mr. Flynn noted that due to a change in the regulations for water testing for Arsenic, the school will make some modifications to the system. The initial estimated cost for the filtering system is between $15,000 - $20,000.

·         Mr. Flynn also noted that contrary to the initial determination it now appears that the District will need to expend $3,400.00 for each of the five students currently attending the Charter School. This money is not in the current operating budget nor has it been placed in the 2005-2006 operating budget.

·         Mr. Flynn stated that he has spoken to Art Wiggin and has received a $9,000.00 estimate to side the wooden facade of the school.

·         The aforementioned monetary issues will be discussed at the June School Board Meeting.

 

 

The meeting adjourned at 7:40PM

 

Respectfully submitted, 

Margaret Ruggeri, School Board Secretary