Kensington School Board Minutes
June 14, 2007
The Kensington School Board met on Thursday, June 14, 2007. 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, KES Principal.
The School Board held a thank you reception for Margaret Ruggeri who is leaving the position of School Board Secretary after thirteen years. The board thanked Mrs. Ruggeri for her years of service to the board and presented her with a gift certificate to the Carriage House restaurant.
The School Board meeting was called to order at 5:50 PM.
Manifests were signed by the board.
Mrs. Lalime, representing the Kensington Social Library, asked permission to use the multipurpose room on June 26, July 17, and August 14th for the Summer Reading Program performances.
Mrs. Mower moved to approve the request. Mrs. Camacho seconded the motion. A vote was taken and was in the affirmative.
Mrs. Larson, the 2007-2008 PTO President, was in attendance and asked permission to use the multipurpose room for a spaghetti dinner on March 11th which is a SAU#16 In-Service Day and children would not be in school that day. Mr. Flynn will check on its availability and felt the request could be approved. The board took the request under advisement but indicated that they did not foresee a problem with the request.
Mrs. Larson also asked permission to use school grounds for a Town-wide Fall Festival. Mrs. Larson indicated that the liability insurance is already in place. Mr. Flynn indicated that the District would also have a special event rider on our Liability Insurance for the for that day.
Mrs. Mower moved to approve the request. Mrs. Camacho seconded the motion. A vote was taken and was in the affirmative.
More information will be provided to the board at a later date.
Mrs. Larson expressed her concern that there is not enough communication presented to parents relative to the plan which will be put into place for the 2007-2008 school year regarding a first grade student with a severe peanut allergy. Mrs. Larson noted that it was her understanding that a list of foods where not going to be allowed into the first grade classroom and that parents might have to pay money for the school to purchase snacks for the classroom rather than parents providing individual snacks. Mrs. Larson stated that her child only eats peanut butter and jelly for lunch.
Mrs. Switzer noted that the child in question has a 504 Plan which is a medical document identifying a child’s medical needs. Mrs. Switzer stated that the first concern of an administrator is to look out for the safety of each student. Mrs. Switzer indicated that accommodations were met this year in Kindergarten for the student and accommodations will need to be addressed for the lunchroom for the upcoming school year. Mrs. Switzer said that information was sent home over the year to all kindergarten parents and KES will continue to do that next year for first grade parents. The plan for the lunchroom will be to have one table absolutely peanut free. There is a meeting planned in mid-July with Administration, staff and the child’s parents to further discuss and update the plan if necessary.
Mrs. Roffman stated she would not interfere with what a child brings for lunch and that all lunches could be house outside of the classroom.
Mrs. Donovan stated she was confident that the administration has addressed the particulars of the emergency plan in place for the student and will continue to do so.
Mr. Flynn noted that currently there are no peanut free schools in the SAU and he indicated that an appropriate plan would be in place for the student.
Mrs. Klamarcyzk stated that her primary concern is for the safety of the student because of the severity of the allergy.
Mrs. Larson again reiterated that she felt not enough information was communicated to the parents from the school.
Mr. White asked if there shouldn’t be a policy in the SAU that could be cross referenced. It was determined that most plans are too individualized to be generic in nature
The minutes of the May 9, 2007 minutes were unanimously approved by the board.
Mrs. Switzer gave her report as follows:
The June calendar was reviewed with the board.
Mrs. Switzer stated that the Artist Showcase, held on Tuesday, June 12th was well received by parents.
KES Field Day was a huge success.
A skateboard presentation and helmet safety program is scheduled for Friday, June 15th.
Mrs. Switzer gave the board a copy of the KES School goals for 2006-2007 along with a comprehensive summary of how KES met those goals during the school year.
Mrs. Switzer also gave the board a list of all of the accomplishments at KES for the 2006-2007 school year. ( See attached)
The KES School Goals for the 2007-2008 will be a continuation of the current School Goals.
Mr. Flynn gave his report as follows:
Relative to the NECAPS, the state will not be reporting on AYP until August 27th.
The NWEA’s will be looked at to determine if the Elementary Schools are benefiting from using them. CMS will not be administering the fall NWEA’s only the Spring NWEA’s.
Mr. Flynn noted the Superintendent Search Committee has met several times. The committee will be meeting with recruiting firms to determine if they can serve as a resource to the committee. The committee would like to conclude their search by the end of January. Mrs. Mower stated that the committee is open to all comments from the community.
Because of a budget move, Brentwood has hired an Assistant Principal and will no longer have two Curriculum Coordinators.
Stratham has a new Assistant Principal.
The financial report was discussed. Mrs. Mower moved to encumber $14,600.00 for a storage shed. Mrs. Camacho seconded the motion. A vote was taken and was in the affirmative.
Mrs. Mower moved to encumber $850.00 for the purpose of updating the electrical outlets in the teachers’ kitchen area. Mrs. Camacho seconded the motion. A vote was taken and was in the affirmative.
Mrs. Mower moved to encumber $34,000.00 to use for the kitchen. Mrs. Camacho seconded the motion. A vote was taken and was in the affirmative.
The School Board will meet on Monday, June 18, 2007 at 12:00 PM to discuss further financial matters.
The meeting adjourned at 7:57 PM
Respectfully submitted,
Margaret Ruggeri
School Board Secretary