Here’s your recap of the Monday, March 10, Board of School Committee meeting. You can find the agenda for the meeting here: https://5il.co/39ocg. Video from the meeting will be posted online by Manchester Public Television. As a reminder, we provide live updates from full board meetings at https://x.com/mansd_nh.
Musical performance
Prior to Monday’s meeting, we were treated to a performance from the Memorial High School Jazz Band. The Jazz Band is also set to perform this Wednesday, March 12, at the State House prior to the Executive Council meeting. Video of the performance will be posted by Manchester Public Television along with the meeting video.
Donations public hearing
Before the regular meeting, there was a public hearing on donations. The two donations total $60,000, with $10,000 coming from an anonymous donor to support Memorial’s work with the Dallas Brass Band, and $50,000 from the NH Statewide Family Engagement Center. The agenda for the special meeting is here: https://5il.co/39obq. The donations were later approved as part of the consent agenda.
Parker-Varney School students lead Pledge of Allegiance
Monday night’s meeting kicked off with students from Parker-Varney Elementary School leading the Pledge of Allegiance. Prior to the meeting, students Thomson, Niahlise, Nova, Beckett, Patience and Patrick had a chance to meet Mayor Ruais and check out his office, too.
The students did a great job. As always, we are thankful to Mayor Ruais as well as Board Members Bonilla and Baines for introducing the students and to PV Principal Andrew Sims for coordinating.
Action agenda
There are no recognitions or presentations at tonight’s meeting, so we move right on to the action agenda. The action agenda includes the superintendent’s updated organizational chart, along with revisions to district leadership job descriptions or the creation of new positions. While the organizational chart did not need board approval, the revisions to job descriptions and new positions did. After some discussion and suggestions, the board approved the changes. You can find more details of the changes here: https://5il.co/39ocg.
Consent agenda
The consent agenda included items from the following committees: Policy, Teaching and Learning, and Finance and Facilities. Items include updates to policies as well as the adult high school handbook, an MOU with the bus drivers union and results of an RFP for specialized transportation. The bulk of the consent agenda items were approved, with three others -- all policies – pulled for discussion.
The policies pulled for discussion, numbers 14d, 14e, and 14f, relate to grading, attendance and assessment. After lengthy discussion on the policies, all three are approved. You can find detail on all of the approved items in the agenda packet: https://5il.co/39ocg.
Communications and adjournment
In superintendent’s communications, Assistant Superintendent Ransdell offered an update on work to bring specialized transportation in house as well as some good news updates on athletics. Superintendent Chmiel reminded families that the Spring Into Summer event is coming up on March 22 at Beech Street School. Finally, and most notably, Assistant Superintendent Doherty announced that the new French dual language immersion program would be housed at Weston Elementary School starting in the fall. More information on registration for that is coming soon.
The meeting moved to non-public session and later adjourned. The next full meeting of the board is Monday, March 24.