Update on May 5, 2015 School Board Meeting

Windham LINK attended the School Board meeting on Tuesday, May 5, 2015 at the Community Development Department.  The agenda contained important items such as Goal Setting, the High School Accreditation, and Facilities.  Below is an update on these and other items that were discussed at the meeting. 
State Funding for Education
Members of the Windham School Board and Administration will meet with the Superintendent and School Board member(s) of the Bedford School District to discuss legislation regarding changes to the way NH funds education. The current formula for distributing education adequacy funds prohibits towns from receiving more than 108% of what they received the previous year, regardless of student population growth.  According to a recent article in the Eagle Tribune, “since Fiscal Year 2012, the Windham School District has lost out on $11.7 million.”  
Track and Grass Field Presentation
Windham High School Assistant Track Coach, Marjorie Dastous, appealed to the School Board to include a Warrant Article for a track and grass field on the ballot in March 2016.  Currently there are 65 students on the Windham High School Track Team and 115 on the Windham Middle School Team.  These teams practice on busy roads, dirt trails, and in parking lots.  She noted safety concerns, injuries from training on pavement, and reminded the Board that other sports teams and the Windham community would also benefit from a track. The Board requested that Business Administrator, Adam Steel, use the track plans that were designed in 2008 to seek bids for review. To watch the video Marjorie presented to the Board, click here.
NEASC Accreditation Report
Windham High School Vice Principal, Rob Dawson, gave a presentation about the report received from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), the organization that oversees the school accreditation process.  Mr. Dawson shared the committee’s commendations and recommendations.  The full report can be viewed here.
School Board Goal Setting 
The School Board presented its list, in no particular order, of various goals they would like to see addressed in the coming year.  Some of the items included: 

• Facilities
  
• Staff Retention/Recruitment
  
• Teacher Contracts
  
• Center School Roofs 
  
• Increase Board Communication
  
• Educate Parents about Curriculum
  
• Clarifying Business Meetings vs. Workshops
  
• Energy  Efficiency
  
• CO2 Issue at GBS 
  
• Hiring a new Superintendent 

Facilities
The timeline for moving forward with an addition and renovation of Golden Brook School and a renovation to Windham Middle School was presented by the Business Administrator.  Mr. Steel expects to present a rough conceptual design of what Option 2 would look to the Board on June 2, 2015. Assuming the Board approves the conceptual design, the District will move forward to narrow the cost basis by September.  This would involve having an architect draw up a conceptual design, a site person doing sight plan, and a construction manager would then do a cost estimate on the whole process.