A regular meeting of the Portsmouth School Board was held on Tuesday, March 26, 2002 in the Library at Portsmouth High School.

PRESENT: Mr. Kent LaPage (Chair), Mr. John Lyons, Jr. (Vice-Chair), Mr. Raimond Bowles, Mrs. Nancy Novelline Clayburgh, Mrs. Nansi Craig, Mr. Clay Hayward, Mrs. Colleen M. Montminy, Mr. Carvel Tefft, Mr. Charles Vaughn

PARTICIPATING: Dr. Lyonel B. Tracy (Superintendent of Schools), Dr. Robert J. Lister (Assistant Superintendent), Mr. W. Peter Torrey (Business Administrator), Mr. Alan Robinson (Student Representative), and Mrs. Ann Walker (Employee Representative).

Chair LaPage called meeting to order at 7:09 p.m.

Chair called for a moment of silent reflection. High School Principal Rick Gremlitz led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Minutes of the March 12, 2002 meeting approved on a motion by C. Vaughn, seconded by C. Montminy. Unanimous vote.

Board received invitation to second annual "Light Night" at Dondero School on April 11.

Board received copy of "The Navigator," the PHS guidance newsletter.

C. Vaughn moved the Board accept and place on file a letter from Mary Carey Foley thanking the Board and administration for approving Student Government Day; and the Superintendent write to Ms. Foley and express the Board’s appreciation for the fine work she has done over the years with Student Government Day. C. Hayward seconded the motion; the motion was unanimously approved.

There was no one in attendance who wanted to address the Board under the public commentary session.

Mr. Sam Tombarelli, social studies teacher at Portsmouth High School, and two juniors from PHS, Zachary Rahn and Amanda Nichols, told the Board about the "Students Helping Students" program -- a tutoring program held at Crossroads for homeless students.

Elementary school principals (Robin Burdick, Connie Carmody, Jill LeMay) and Title I Reading Director (Diane Law) reviewed the grade 3 NHEAIP (New Hampshire Educational Assessment Improvement Program) results.

High School Principal and Superintendent announced the graduation date for Portsmouth High School’s Class of 2002 – June 7, 2002.

Dr. Lister presented the professional nomination of Liz Diemer, Transition Coordinator at Portsmouth High School, for the 2002-03 school year. (Ms. Diemer’s name was left off the list of March 12, 2002.) Mr. Vaughn moved, seconded by Mrs. Craig, to approve the nomination. The motion was unanimously approved.

Dr. Lister presented the nomination of Megan Burns for the position of PHS math teacher for the 2002-03 school year. Mr. Vaughn moved, seconded by Mrs. Clayburgh, to approve the nomination. The motion was unanimously approved.

Superintendent authorized to hire coaches in order to fill coaching vacancies, as necessary, and to bring the nominations to the School Board. Motion by J. Lyons, seconded by C. Hayward, and unanimously approved.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Joint Building Committee -- Chair LaPage stated School Board members will receive invitations to the groundbreaking ceremony at New Franklin School on April 5, 2002. The Chair reported on the recent activities of the Joint Building Committee.

R. Bowles moved the School Board authorize an encumbrance of $98,700 to complete the two roofs at New Franklin School contingent on these funds being available at the conclusion of the 01/02 fiscal year. C. Hayward seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously approved in a roll call vote.

GPEPC – J. Lyons and Dr. Tracy reported on meeting held today. The date for the Celebration of Excellence has been set for May 29 at 5:30 p.m.

Curriculum Committee – C. Montminy reported on the March 21 meeting.

Chair LaPage reported on a meeting held with Booster Clubs on March 25.

C. Vaughn moved to table discussion on the ROTC program to the next meeting to allow Board members to receive input from the community.

N. Clayburgh moved the Portsmouth School Board declare opposition to the current Statewide property tax and correspond that message via sample letters as presented, and signed by the Board Chair. C. Montminy seconded the motion. In a roll call vote, the motion was unanimously approved.

R. Bowles moved the Board take the motion re: funding for ice hockey program off the table;

C. Hayward seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously approved.

C. Tefft moved the Board fund exactly $10,000 to the ice hockey program from the 2002-03 budget assuming the administration can find the money within the actual budget and not add to the bottom line of the budget. C. Hayward seconded the motion. In a roll call vote, the motion was unanimously approved.

Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent requested to meet with the Athletic Director to discuss the freshman girls’ softball program. (Thirty girls had to be cut during tryouts for varsity and junior varsity. Twenty of those girls were freshmen.)

J. Lyons moved approval of the second reading of the harassment policy; C. Vaughn seconded the motion. N. Craig moved to table; C. Hayward seconded. The tabling motion was unanimously approved.

N. Craig moved the Board re-open discussion on the 2002-03 school calendar; C. Hayward seconded the motion. The motion failed in a four to five vote (Mrs. Clayburgh, Mrs. Craig,

Mr. Hayward and Mr. LaPage voted for the motion; Mr. Bowles, Mr. Lyons, Mrs. Montminy, Mr. Tefft and Mr. Vaughn voted against the motion).

There was no further business to come before the Board. N. Craig moved to adjourn; seconded by C. Tefft and unanimously voted. The meeting was adjourned at 11:19 p.m.

LBT/paw

3/27/02