ANDOVER SCHOOL BOARD
ANDOVER ELEMENTARY/MIDDLE SCHOOL – DRAFT
10/5/2022 6:30 PM
MEETING MINUTES
1. ROLL CALL AND CALL TO ORDER:
The ASB meeting was called to order at 6:30 PM by Board Chair, Aimee Menard.
In Person Board Present:
Aimee Menard, Dan Newton, Steve Chella, Kayla Chandler
Administration Present:
Mark MacLean, Randy Wormald, Dennis Dobe, Hilary Denoncourt, Beth Page, Dennis Audet
Public Present:
Donna Crisp Duclos
1. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS:
For the PUBLIC SESSION of September 7, Chandler motioned to accept the minutes and Chella made the second. All others were in favor and the minutes were approved with no discussion.
2. FINANCIAL REPORT:
Most of the overages are due to special education contracted service needs. The new financial system continues to be a slow onboarding process. Denoncourt will be setting up a meet and greet at the November school board meeting with the Budget Committee to start those conversations for this year. Chella motioned to accept the Finance report. Chandler made the second. The motion passed with all in favor.
3. BOARD CHAIRPERSON’S REPORT:
Menard is proposing that on December 7, the school board meets at 5:30 PM, to avoid conflict with the 7 PM SAU meeting. Chandler motioned to move the Andover school board meeting on December 7 to 5:30 PM. Newton seconded. All were in favor, the motion passed.
Menard reported that this school year, the board is negotiating with the Andover Support Staff union for contract agreements. Chella volunteered to join that committee.
4. PUBLIC COMMENT:
Duclos reported that she feels she overreacted in preparing for the town elections; she feels it went very well.
5. PRINCIPAL’S REPORT:
Dobe thanked Denoncourt and the business office in their support with Andover’s grant projects. Dobe spoke of how grants are being used to expand classroom libraries, bring in teaching materials, send the 8th grade class to Nature’s Classroom for a week, acquire new technology to support access to the internet throughout the campus, and professional development for teachers. Dobe and Audet are working to update AE/MS’s emergency operation plans.
Dobe reported that AE/MS’s STEM and middle school social studies teachers, with the support of Kris Vose at the SAU, have done a remarkable job supporting the technology needs of AE/MS. Dobe reported that the soccer and cross-country teams are competing well across the region.
Page reported that the intervention model is going well. The interventionists are being supervised weekly, to make sure that any needs that arise are troubleshooted quickly. The team is doing good work.
The FTA is looking to change the date of the meet-and-greet so that it doesn’t conflict with sports team events. Otherwise, the FTA is working on several fundraising projects.
Audet gave a report about his work with homeland security and the fire department to make sure the building is safe. He is working on regrowing the grass in front of the middle school wing. The boiler is up and running.
Chandler added that the open house was very successful. Both students and teachers were obviously enthusiastic.
6. MANIFEST JOURNAL ENTRIES:
Aimee made the motion to approve the manifests. Chella made the second. All were in favor and the journal entries were approved.
7. SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT:
MacLean spoke of presenting in Denver about the SAU’s mentor program. MacLean reported that the gathering in Denver had communities from across the nation, and our district represented rural schools. MacLean went on to describe the keynote speaker and his presentation on crisis communication. MacLean reported that he’s been attending House Education Committee meetings to track, review and provide feedback on proposed bills and legislative actions.