Merrimack School District
Planning & Building Committee
Minutes of the February 27, 1998 Meeting
Present: All Committee members, guests: MHS Principal Bill Marston and
Director of Guidance Rick Walker
S. Heinrich called the meeting to order at 7:36 P.M.
High School Space Needs
S. Heinrich introduced B. Marston and R. Walker and explained the main purpose
of the meeting was to discuss space needs at Merrimack High School. B.
Marston reported to the committee that the space study done by former
principal Tim Mayes was currently being updated and should be available by
March 1. He noted that he has sent a memo to department heads and asked them
for the following information: what electives should be added to curriculum
for 1999-2000, what Advanced Placement (AP) courses should be added, which
current courses should be eliminated, what they felt the appropriate direction
the school should take in regard to the technology program and should
Merrimack High pursue the likelihood of additional vocational courses with
Manchester, Alvirne, Milford, and Nashua. He told the committee that the
school has two areas where space is a current concern: science labs and multi
purpose classrooms. He plans to go to Art Taylor (State Dept. Of Vocational
Education) for information regarding what the district should do to be more in
line with the current recommendations regarding vocational education and if
the district could qualify for state aid to implement any changes if there was
a possibility that our vocational offerings could be expanded. He further
noted that somewhere there is some type of contract or written agreement with
Nashua regarding Merrimack students taking vocational classes at Nashua High
School. He would like to see this to confirm the agreement is being complied
with. He also explained that there are two issues with using Nashua for
vocational students: Transportation and Schedule. There is no transportation
money available so students must car pool or find rides. In addition, they
lose instructional time (two periods a day) while traveling to and from
Nashua. Further, Nashua School District has a different school year calendar,
exam schedule and bell schedule than Merrimack High.
The following issues were raised in the discussion that ensued.
- Committee members suggested that the department heads also be asked if
they felt the current space was being used efficiently and if they had
suggestions for more efficient use.
- Most of the "required" subjects are offered during the middle of the day.
Exploring better distribution of when classes are offered might provide some
space relief.
- Block scheduling has been brought up to be explored as a possibility, but
the faculty has voted against this option. Block scheduling involves taking
four classes a semester with no study halls. Some areas of concern include
math, the need to retrain teachers and cost. Research shows it may not be
better, but it is no worse.
- There is a need to look at graduation requirements and number of classes
offered to meet these requirements. It was suggested that the committee
should look at the figures for classes that are under enrolled as well as over
enrolled. These figures should also include the numbers of students that
originally requested the various courses as well as how many actually enrolled
in them after Arena. Should some of these classes which meet graduation
requirements be offered if enrollment is less than ten students?
- Another broad issue is, should classes be offered at levels or be
heterogeneous groupings?
- Accreditation will be reviewed 1999-2000.
- B. Marston suggested that the committee needs to recommend both what
should be done immediately about the current space problem and what could be
done for 8-9 years until community agrees to build new space.
- S. Heinrich asked if any students are in danger of not meeting graduation
requirements due to space shortage. R. Walker answered that students are
never denied access to required courses even if it means overloading them
which is currently happening in English. There are cases where students are
taking particular classes just because they need more credits to graduate.
There are some electives that are limited by grade.
- The question of the maximum enrollment of the building was raised. In
their master plan, the PBC determined the recommended enrollment was 1416 and
the maximum enrollment was 1635. T. Koenig questioned these figures and would
like to see the issue revisited.
- It was noted that just looking at figures of current enrollment to
predict next year's enrollment might not be accurate. Over summer, 1997
seventy-five new students registered for the high school.
- Lab classes are the biggest problem. These cannot be overloaded due to
safety issues. Can labs be offered on a part-time revolving basis?
- Another suggestion to meet vocational needs were to have students spend
50% of their time in the physical plant and the rest "on the job" in a sort of
apprenticeship. However, there was a concern voiced about the impact on the
elective program currently offered.
- The question was raised as to what the new cafeteria space had
accomplished. It was reported that all students now have a seat at lunch.
Could some of this space be used as classroom space? Was cafeteria space the
biggest space issue when it was proposed?
- What about space with flexible walls?
- B. Marston commented that portable classrooms work only short term as
long as tied to a major renovation plan to eliminate them. There is no cost
return or building aid for portable classrooms.
- The PBC needs to update its master plan.
- The committee would like to see a copy of the master schedule when it is
set. How many of what classes are offered and when. How many students wanted
to take them originally and how many actually sign up for them? Looking at
the schedule, who much of what space to we need to meet student requests and
how much are we missing?
- R. Walker suggested that committee members take a tour of the building
during a school day.
- B. Marston noted that a few years ago the School Board had determined the
maximum enrollment in classes was to be 25 students. Is this policy still in
effect?
- What is the split of classes offered between those required and those
that are electives? This brought up definition of what an elective is.)
- Can we improve choices for pre-vocational students in grades 9 or 10 and
vocational students in grades 11 or 12?
- Can some art and music electives be offered off site?
- The committee wants to see copies of the last accreditation report, and
the 2 year and 5 year interim reports.
- T. Koenig wants to be sure that the committee substantiates all data with
as much background information and facts as possible.
- J. Flis will get School Board minutes to help clarify what exactly the
School Board talked about when deciding to ask the PBC to look into the high
school space issue.
- Each committee member and the high school administration need copies of
the PBC master plan for review.
By consensus, the committee decided to define the project and put it in
writing as soon as possible, decide what the committee is going to do and who
is going to do it. The next meeting of the committee to discuss this issue
will be March 24.
Approval of Minutes
On a motion from W. Morrison, seconded by S. Heinrich, the minutes of November
12, 1997 were unanimously approved with the following correction: Page 2 -
W. Morrison noted that should the district need to get a waiver for the final
plan, the waiver should be pursued for tentative approval before going
before the voters.
On a motion from D. Miller, seconded by W. Morrison, the minutes of December
11, 1997 were unanimously approved.
On a motion from W. Morrison, seconded by D. Miller, the minutes of January
13, 1998 were unanimously approved with the following correction: Page 2 -
Annual Report - T. Koenig seconded the motion and the vote was
unanimous.
On a motion from D. Miller, seconded by B. Triolo, the minutes of January 27,
1998 were unanimously approved with the following corrections: Page 1 -
D. Miller provided the committee with his new E-mail address. , Page 2,
top of page - He explained his philosophy that you can overload classes as
long as there are only a few students over, Page 2 - first full
paragraph - He also indicated that the technology budget is behind the
state average and that the high school does not have a network. Eliminate
any reference to the Ferry schools.
Other
- Athletic Fields: D. Miller wants to be sure that S. Isabelle gets written
plans for the athletic fields whether the warrant article passes or not. He
feels DiGeronimo was hired to produce a plan and we need the plan regardless
of this year's vote. There was discussion regarding the costs included in the
proposed athletic field package. The committee took no official position on
the proposal. There will be an informational meeting about the athletic field
proposal at Mastricola Elementary School sponsored by the P.A.T.T. on 2-28-98.
- W. Morrison wants committee opinion on having their E-mail addresses on
the PBC Web page.
- Members wanted to know what about kindergarten project?
On a motion from S. Heinrich, seconded by B. Triolo, the committee voted to
adjourn at .
Respectfully submitted,
Planning & Building Committee
Merrimack School District
Last Updated: May 20, 1998 by Wayne Morrison