PSD SCHOOL BOARD MEETING 1/12/16
NOTES TO APT EXECUTIVE BOARD
TAKEN BY OLIN JOHANNESSEN, EMPLOYEE REPRESENTATIVE

NOTE: video and minutes of all past meetings can be found here: http://www.cityofportsmouth.com/calendar/2016/index.htm

LATE START
There was much discussion around the late start committee, specifically due to the fact that if some change were to be made to the scheduling of start/end times, it would need to be enacted soon in order to be accounted for in the budgeting process, both here in SAU 52 and in SAU 50, due to those communities operating in the Town Hall meeting format, and having funds appropriated must be vetted through that process. 

The plan set forth to continue this discussion was that administration (Super and Ass't Super) would put together a presentation with information about the two possible start time scenarios which will both be given at the 1/26/16 meeting, and at that point determine whether to move forward with a public hearing on this issue now (in the interest of trying to implement a change for next year, FY18), or to table the changes (in the interest of gaining greater alignment with the PHS scheduling committee, the NHIAA scheduling board to look at solutions to lessen the frequency of teams having to travel great distances thereby necessitating students' early dismissals, and greater alignment with our peer board in SAU 50), and revisit these at a slower pace throughout next year in the hope of implementing some change for FY18.

I've broken down some of the discussion points between school levels:
•	Elementary
⁃	much of the negative feedback from parents and families around having elementary students start earlier was how that would impact the need for after school care and activities. 
⁃	Superintendent Zadravec noted that he and Assistant Superintendent Shea had met with personnel at Seacoast Community School about options to expand the PEAK program, and possible implications around expanding PEAK staffing or partnering with the current aftercare program at NFS, and adding financial assistance for families who need it in order to enroll their child in aftercare. 
⁃	Two options currently are being researched by district administration:
⁃	elementary students going to school early (in the 7:30am range, as in the flip-flop model where secondary students go later and elementary go earlier)
⁃	elementary students going to school at the current time, and changing secondary students to a similar start time, thereby expanding the need for buses around that 8:30-9:00am start time.

•	Middle school
⁃	See above paragraph "Two options currently…"
•	High school
⁃	primary concerns from parents and families of high school students included:
⁃	if students are ending school day later, how would that impact their participation in after school activities, relative to athletics (specifically traveling to away games), homework time, after school job time, caring for younger siblings
⁃	See above paragraph "Two options currently…"
⁃	Recognition given to Dr. Rhoades for his work with current PHS students around the drafting and editing assistance and feedback for the district's updated "TRANSGENDER AND GENDER NON-CONFORMING STUDENTS" policy. Chairperson Stevens noted that this was one of two recent policy updates that had sought collaboration with current students, and how prideful we feel about that. 
•	District-wide
⁃	the FY17 budget was initially presented along with documents from the city's Joint Budget Committee. The budget books will be distributed to the board next Tuesday, 1/19/16 at the SB budget workshop #2.
⁃	a PLC primer document was shared by Assistant Superintendent Shea; this document reflects a lot of collaboration among administration and teachers as they continue to zero-in on issues around the Teacher Quality Panel, and how our teachers can align themselves with the PD goals of the district so as to obtain that model teacher status through their work in PLCs. 
⁃	the board engaged in first reading of a newly updated version of the "TRANSGENDER AND GENDER NON-CONFORMING STUDENTS" policy.