Present: S. Heinrich, B. Triolo, W. Morrison, M. Morrison, T. Koenig, D. Miller and Merrimack High Principal Bill Marston
S. Heinrich called the meeting to order at 7:32 P.M. He turned the meeting over to Assistant Chair D. Miller and left the meeting.
D. Miller provided the committee with his new E-mail address.
D Miller explained the sole purpose of the meeting was to get input from B. Marston regarding space utilization and needs at the high school.
B. Marston told the committee that a space study is needed. He brought up the idea of a vocational program in Merrimack. He noted that Merrimack sends vocational students out of district and that a growing number of students need to be serviced. Nashua is the regional vocational center. But he noted that the number of placements available is not enough for the need. He noted that we need to look into other possibilities for the 25-30 percent of our students who do not go to college. They do not have as many opportunities as the college bound students do. He told the committee that the state has a recommended curriculum for "pre-vocational" education and there is federal money available to help with the creation of a vocational program. The vocational program of today is more technological than the past with introductory exposure in grades 9 and 10 with specialization in grades 11 and 12. In response to a question from D. Miller, B. Marston commented that "Industrial Arts" (I.A.) programs do not take up as much space as in the past. He suggested that the committee take a look at not only how much but how current IA spaces are being used. He noted that the administration is looking at a "School to Careers" program. He also noted that Superintendent O'Neil in interested in a public television lab funded with federal dollars.
B. Marston also told the committee that the faculty had overwhelmingly voted not to move ahead with block scheduling. Teachers teach five periods a day. Twenty-one teachers do not have space for themselves. They move from one classroom to another over the course of the day. He further explained that tracking/leveling is one of the factors in determining how much space is needed. The majority of MHS students (70%) are in level three classes. (Level three and level four are college tracks.) Level three classes, especially Math and English, are oversized. However, there are only ten classes in the entire school that are not at maximum. The standard that the school does not want to exceed is twenty-four in technical classes, eighteen in industrial arts classes and twenty-two in writing classes. He indicated that the state standard is up to thirty in English, foreign language and other non-specialized classes. He noted this can be done for a short term, but does not recommend it. However, lab classes are at or above the state limit of 24 students which means we are technically not in compliance with state standards. He explained his philosophy that you can overload classes as long as they are only a few students over. However, you cannot do this for very long because after a while it sends the wrong message. In his opinion, the high school is fast approaching the time when it will be out of options.
D. Miller and T. Koenig asked about how the high school plans space utilization. B. Marston told the committee that space should be curriculum driven. The curriculum should not be space driven. What has happened is that labs have been turned into standard classrooms as the need for more classroom space arose. There is some feeling that the school district library space could be converted into classroom space, but the problem then becomes finding space for the district library! B. Marston indicated that a decision on vocational education needs to be made as soon as possible as this will have a great effect on how much of what type of space is needed and how current space is used. (How many labs or multipurpose classrooms are needed?) Electives also affect the amount and type of space needed. B. Marston felt that there should be 8 - 9 advanced placement opportunities and there are currently three. He also noted that the accreditation committee is likely to suggest more emphasis on fine arts. He also indicated that the technology budget is behind the state average and that the high school does not have a network.
B. Triolo asked about satellite locations or portables. B. Marston indicated that he has worked with portables in the past and they work as long as everyone understands that they are temporary and are used in conjunction with a plan to add the necessary space which will eliminate them.
M. Morrison asked at what point the breaking point is reached. B. Marston replied that in two years there will be problems with the Chemistry labs and only specific students will be able to take certain arts and science classes. He also felt the district is about eighteen months from having enough information to be ready to propose a bond which will probably take two years to pass. He indicated his opinion that it's important to give people the true picture and then let them decide what needs to be done. T. Koenig agreed that when things are fairly portrayed voters will go for it. The committee felt that if additional space is at least two years away, then current space will have to be used very creatively in the short term. T. Koenig suggested that the high school should house grades 10 - 12 and move grade 9 to the middle school. He also noted a concern that many people have about a new high school costing 25 - 30 million dollars.
M. Morrison would like the committee to define the project as soon as possible and put a work plan in writing. He wants the committee to determine what its needs to do and spell out specific steps needed to accomplish the task and who is going to do what. W. Morrison agreed that, while the committee may not have sufficient information to provide solid options, they should have an idea of what options they wish to pursue.
D. Miller asked what additional information B. Marston could provide at the next meeting on February 10. B. Marston offered to look into vocational opportunities currently available in Nashua. He felt he could have some tentative figures regarding multi purpose classroom needs for the 10th grade as well as estimates for science labs, vocational and classroom spaces. The high school population in September was 1456. Population projections indicate thirty additional students next year based on size of graduating class and current 8th grade. T. Koenig noted that Mr. O'Neil's projections indicate an increase of only six students and that they seem fairly accurate. B. Marston offered to bring Rick Walker to the next meeting as he has a good knowledge of school's population and space needs.
D. Miller reported that the plans for the athletic field program were on hold. DiGeronimo will not do a final plan until the plan receives voter approval (funding.) D. Miller thinks a final set of plans is necessary to help sell the plan to the voters. T. Koenig thought they would make it easier to put the project out to bid before contractors are booked for the summer. M. Morrison even if the proposal fails, the plans would still be valid and a good planning tool. B. Triolo made a motion to ask Scott Isabelle to direct DiGeronimo to continue with the process of putting on paper the plans for the track and fields prior to the official vote, working toward the final plan. The motion seconded by T. Koenig was approved unanimously. By concensus, the committee decided to postpone a vote on whether to support the track proposal until their next meeting.
On a motion made by W. Morrison, seconded by B. Triolo, the committee voted unanimously to adjourn at 10:26 P.M.
Last Updated: February 22, 1998 by Wayne Morrison