MINUTES OF PAA MEETING November 5, 2008


Attendance: Larry Fisher, Marie J. Meehan, Laurie LeBlanc, Dan Thornton, Cindy Adams, Liz Babeu, Tim Porter, Nancy Modlish, Katy Harrison, Carol Jakobsons


The Superintendent, Paul Livingston, attended the PAA meeting this month to discuss the Pentucket Regional School District’s Disciplinary Consequences for Involvement with Drugs or Alcohol. He is meeting with several different groups to get feedback and ideas. He asked that we break into groups and discuss the following 6 questions:


  1. Should alcohol/drug education and/or substance abuse counseling be required after first offense?

  2. Should an assessment by a Substance Abuse Counselor be required prior to being allowed back into activities and/or athletics?

  3. Should suspensions be internal or external?

  4. Should we define the 45 days as school days or calendar days?

  5. How do we best educate the students, parents and the community about these issues?

  6. What should be the areas of interest and concern by administrators during the probationary period?


The consensus of the group was that everyone was worried about the severe punishment for a first offense. We are all worried about the kid who is at the wrong place at the wrong time. Dr. Livingston had statistics that show that on average the first time offender has offended before but just hasn’t gotten caught. So that is why there is a suggestion to have a substance abuse counselor in place to assess each situation. Suggestions were made to post the punishments around the school so that students and athletes would be made more aware of the consequences because everyone agreed that no one actually reads the student handbook that is handed out at the beginning of every school year which contains the school’s policies. Everyone agreed that punishment should include some kind of community service. The group also thought that we should take a positive stance and focus on wellness and maybe have presentations on health and wellness.


LARRY FISHER started the meeting with the Treasurer’s Report (Current Balance $10,914.82) and Football Concession Stand report ($2,638.10 profit for 4 games).


Regarding the question on sport books, Laurie LeBlanc reported that after speaking with Janice Littrel, she realized that she was comparing wrong seasons and didn’t know there were three sport books. The cost for the Fall 2008 book ($3177) was actually $207 less than the Fall 2007 book ($3384).


Chris Pinzone is looking for help with the running of the football concession stand for next year and also looking for volunteers for the Thanksgiving Day game. Anyone interested can e-mail at crystalgrower@hotmail.com or call (978) 808-5544.


DAN THORNTON


Dan Thornton had a sample of the new logo for this year’s Super Fan T-shirt which was illustrated by Lee House.


There was a question about the stipend for the football banquet. Football, Field hockey and Cross Country all receive $100.00 and every other sport receives $75.00.


Dan brought up the fact that he doesn’t see anyone wearing the jackets that the athletes receive when they play a varsity sport for the first time and was wondering if we should stop giving them out. There was a discussion and everyone agreed to keep giving them out.


MISCELLANEOUS


Cindy Adams had a question about getting the meal tax waived for the football banquet and was asking if there was some tax form that could be submitted.


Next meeting December 3, 2008 at 7:00 p.m.


Adjourned at 9:05 p.m.