January 24, 2000

To the Residents of the Oyster River Cooperative School District:

The Board focused on three goals for the year.

1. Address high school space needs through a bond proposal to be approved by the voters at the next school district meeting.

   The issues of overcrowding at the high school, a deteriorating building and possible loss of accreditation are larger than ever. The Long Range Planning Committee projects an increased high school enrollment of 39 students next year, a 5.4% increase in the current 723 students who fill a building built for 604.

   We hope that the bond to renovate and expand the high school (Warrant Article 3) passes on March 14, 2000. A similar bond passed November 16, 1999 (62.6% to 37.4%), but was invalidated by Judge Fauver based on a narrow interpretation of House Bill 111 which had been passed in February 1999 to mitigate the turmoil created by Claremont.

2. 2. Develop, implement and assess, using the District Educational Improvement Plan as a framework, plans to enhance student achievement through

   • K-12 curriculum updating,

   • improvement of teaching effectiveness,

   • recognition of instructional excellence, and

   • continuing work in the areas of assessment and evaluation.

   Last winter and spring a committee of teachers, community members, and administrators wrote the District Educational Improvement Plan which gives detailed plans for curriculum review, staff development and facilities enhancement. The Board is working actively with Tom Zarnowski, our new Assistant Superintendent, to implement the DEIP. Teachers have been meeting by subject area to further align our curriculum with the New Hampshire Standards and improve consistency. The proposed budget for 2000-2001 contains funds to continue this important work during the summer months.

3. Improve communication and collaboration with students, parents, teachers, administrators, town officials, and community members.

   The Board works to maintain and improve communication through a number of channels. Board meetings open with public comments. Many bond and budget hearings are held. The School Board News is published six times a year and Community Commentaries appear in Foster's. Board members attend numerous community and school events. We meet with the Lee and Madbury Selectmen and Durham Town Councilors. Board voice mail is available at 868-5100, extension #7. The four school buildings and the district maintain websites. Oyster-River-On-Line maintains a website, a mailing list devoted to district notices and news, and an active discussion list.

In the fall, Sergeant (now Detective) Ed Levesque started working two days a week as the School Resource Officer with funding from the Durham Town Council. In December, the Durham Police Department received a federal grant which allows Detective Levesque to be at the High School and Middle School five days a week.

In December, arsonists threw Molotov cocktails into the industrial arts section of the high school, creating $300,000 worth of damage. Only the immediate response of the police and fire departments prevented far greater damage from a fire that reached 1100 degrees and compromised the structural integrity of several steel beams by cracking the welds. Detective Levesque coordinated an investigation that rapidly led to six arrests. We greatly appreciate the fine work of all the fire departments that responded, especially the Durham, Lee, and Madbury Fire Departments, and the Durham Police Department.

Two important retirements and replacement hires occurred at the district level. Mike Everngam retired as Business Manager; Bob Berry is our new Business Manager. Al Elwell retired as Assistant Superintendent; Tom Zarnowski is our new Assistant Superintendent. Danielle Bolduc filled a new position as district Technology Integration Facilitator.

In March of 1999, Patrice Gray and Shirley Thompson were reelected to the School Board. In April, Drew Christie was elected Chair and Shirley Thompson Vice-Chair of the Board.

Drew Christie, Chair Shirley Thompson, Vice-chair

Last update on 24-Feb-00 at 10:22 PM.

http://www.orol.org/district/elections/2000/report/chair.html

This page is edited by David K. Taylor. Please send questions or comments to editor@orol.org.