Kensington School Board Minutes

January 12, 2006

 

The Kensington School Board met on Thursday, January 12, 2006. In attendance were: Mrs. Dana Donovan, School Board Chairperson; Mrs. Alice Mower, Mrs. Cheryl Camacho, School Board Members; Mr. Paul Flynn, Associate Superintendent of Schools; Mrs. Barbara Switzer; Principal.

 

Mrs. Donovan called the meeting to order at 7:08 PM.

 

The minutes of the December meeting were unanimously approved by the board.

 

Mrs. Switzer gave her report as follows:

·        The KES Times and January Calendar were reviewed by the board.

·        Mrs. Switzer noted that the 5^th grade classes thoroughly enjoyed traveling to the Leddy Center for the production of A Christmas Carol.

·        The Senior Breakfast was well received by the forty community members who attended the breakfast. Mrs. Switzer thanked the Central Office Administration for coming and helping to serve the food.

·        The Holiday Concert was enjoyed by all. Mrs. Switzer thanked Mrs. Vallone for all of her hard work in preparing the children for the concert.

·        Because of the two snow days, the third grade classes were unable to attend the production of the Nutcracker.

·        The second quarter ends on January 20^th.

·        There is a spaghetti supper scheduled for January 20^th.

·        The second session of the After-School Enrichment Program will begin on January 23^rd.

·        The Cultural Passport program is scheduled for January 23 thru February 2^nd with the culminating celebration being held on February 2^nd from 6:00 – 8:00 PM.

·        Mrs. Switzer gave an update on the KES School Goals for the 2005-2006 School Year.

·        The Literacy Committee will begin meeting during the second half of the school year.

·        The KES staff and a few volunteer parents are in the process of learning how to update the KES Website.

·        The results of the NECAPS are due in February.

·        Mrs. Switzer shared with the board a number of activities that KES students participate in at KES:

o       Student Council

o       Heart of the Art Club

o       Sky high Skippers

o       Destination  Imagination

o       “We the Kids” school newspaper

o       After-school Enrichment programs

o       Basketball Skills/ Badminton

 

Mr. Flynn gave his report as follows:

·        Mr. Flynn noted that Kensington is a SB2 Town and that the town will vote on the School District Warrant as well as the School District Officers on March 14^th. Only East Kingston, Stratham and Brentwood hold traditional School District meetings. The following Kensington School District Officer positions will be voted on March 14^th. 1-3 Year Position for School Board and 1 - 1 Year position for School Auditor.

·        Mr. Flynn gave enrollment figures for all SAU#16 schools.

·        Mr. Flynn stated that the SAU has received a $500,000.00 grant for Video Conferencing which will provide students in rural areas in NH and Vermont to access courses not currently available to them.

·        The SAU #16 Boards will be evaluating and setting the compensation for the Superintendent sometime in February  before new people are elected to the various school boards.  The Kensington School Board will meet with Dr. Hanson on January 19^th.

·        Mr. Flynn gave an overview of the various Warrant Articles for the surrounding towns in the SAU.

·        The new high school is still on budget and on time and hopefully will be turned over to the COOP in June.

·        The Deliberative Session is scheduled for Wednesday, February 8^th at 6:00 PM. The proposed increases are because of Special Education costs, increase in medical insurance, increase in the cost of oil and electricity and the PE position being increased by 50% making the position a fulltime position.

·        Mr. Flynn told the board that the repairs to the furnaces could be as high as $6,000.00.

 

Mrs. Mower moved to accept the proposed 2006-2007 School District budget. Mrs. Camacho seconded the motion. A vote was taken and was in the affirmative.

 

Letters will be sent to Mrs. Spinosa, Mrs. McDonough, Ms. Small and Mrs. Praded thanking them for their work in securing the grants recently awarded for science and health/wellness.

 

The meeting adjourned at 8:05 AM.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Margaret Ruggeri

School Board Secretary