MONADNOCK REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

Board Meeting Minutes

January 21, 2003

Monadnock Regional Junior and Senior High School Library

 

7:00 PM CALL TO ORDER

 

Present: Don Arguin, Winston Wright, Chairman, Dixie Gurian, Stephen Mettling, Gene White, Alan Gross, William Felton, John Morin, Robin Marra, Patricia Smith, Gus Lerandeau, Richard Thackston and Larry Colby. Absent:  Jonathan Kirstein and Geordie Fifield

Also present: K. Dassau, Asst. Supt., T. Warner, Dir. of Technology and R. Cloutier, Asst. Business Manager. Principals: D. Dahl, D. Stockwell, K. Craig, D. Mousette, S. Rashid and B. Tatro. Student Council Representative B. Dahl.

 

1.            CONSENT AGENDA:

Minutes of January 7, 2003 MOTION: W. Felton MOVED to approve the minutes.  SECOND G. Lerandeau DISCUSSION: G. Lerandeau corrected the minutes to read the new building size to be 200,000 sq. ft. R. Marra commented that the interest rate right now is 4.522%.   VOTE: 10.97/0/0/4.03 Motion Passes.

 

2.           CITIZENS COMMENTS: N. Moriarty of Richmond commented to the Board  

that they did not have a quorum at the Bond Hearing  nor did they call for a quorum. K. Dassau said that there was some confusion because the Budget Committee was meeting with the school district. The Board ran the first part of the meeting and the Budget Committee the second. W. Wright sought a legal opinion.

 

3.            STUDENT COUNCIL CONCERNS: None.

 

4.            CORRESPONDENCE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS: K. Dassau said that he had received correspondence from the Surry Elementary PTC on their donation to support the communication effort for the new high school and their challenge to the other MRSD PTCs to respond in kind.

 

5.            OTHER SCHOOL BOARD BUSINESS:

A.  Board Committee Reports:

 

1.      Facilities Committee: G. Lerandeau explained that the architect in which the Facilities Committee has been working with is present and would like to demonstrate plans and talk about what the new high school. Architect Paul Marinace was introduced. He explained that it is important that the structure fit on the site planned for the project and it does. He told the group that the Facilities Committee visited a Cooperative Middle School in Stratham and that’s where the plan was started and adapted from. He explained the amount of classrooms and the amount of space for community use and where they are located. He explained that the structure is two story and future expansion is possible. P. Marinace explained that by having the second floor it is more efficient. W. Felton asked what the ideal size for the cooridors was. P. Marinace said that he will be putting in 12 foot hallway and the lockers will be placed in an area that is out of the way of the flow of traffic. W. Wright asked about cafeteria capacity. P. Marinace responded that the cafeteria will hold 400 students that would be 3 servings it is about 6,000 sq. ft. J.Morin asked P. Marinace how many students are at the middle school in Stratham. He said about 1250 and that the school has less programs because it is a middle school. P. Marinace replied that the plans have room for 10 additional classrooms built into it. (R. Thackston arrives.)  W. Wright introduced Representative Tilton and asked if she had anything to say. She said that she wanted to get a feeling about the building and had nothing to report. W. Wright thanked her for coming. R. Thackston asked Representative Tilton if it was her sense that the state would give the same amount of funding. Tilton said what she is hearing is that the Governor wants to cut. It is a continuous battle between the Governor and the legislature and senate. She also said that the word is don’t ask for anything that will cost money. She said that the funding this year will not change because it is constitutional.

 

2.      Policy Committee: D. Arguin reported that the sheet attached to the agenda says that the Policy Committee will meet on Feb. 5, 2003 that meeting is tentative. 

 

3.      Communication Committee: D. Gurian would like to welcome the public to a presentation on Thursday at 5:45 PM at Mt. Caesar, informational about the new building. On Saturday there will be a meeting in Surry and on Monday at Cutler. She mentioned that a newsletter with listed activities that will help inform the public about the new building, will be going out. W. Wright charged the committee with scripting a new letter to the Editor of the Keene Sentinel concerning the new building and e-mail it to the Board members before the next meeting or send it along with the minutes.

 

4.      Cheshire Vocational Center: A. Gross informed the Board that the next meeting will be Feb. 18, 2003 in the Culinary Arts Restaurant at the CCC Center at Keene High School. He will attend the meeting and bring a report after that meeting.

 

B.     New Business:

1.      W. Wright would like to go back and answer N. Moriarty’s question concerning the attendance at the Bond Hearing. W. Wright reports that after D. Stockwell talked to Attorney Priggy and Attorney Hatfield the meeting was legal and if only one Board Member attended, the Bond Hearing requirements would be fulfilled.

2.      K. Dassau passed out a copy of the new contract of the Monadnock Maradas Football Team. This is for information only with action for next meeting. W. Wright placed on the agenda for next meeting

.

C.     Old Business: W. Wright asked K. Dassau if he had any further information about the budget. K. Dassau said that he had anticipated that question and had prepared a small packet for the Board. K. Dassau explained that the Board’s  budget with the 1.3 million dollar reduction is the same as passed out to the Budget Committee. On the MS27 the difference between the Board and the Budget Committee is that the Budget Committee reduced an additional $508,294. K. Dassau explained why the $500,000.00 could not be taken out of the Capitol Reserve to reduce the interest payment of the first year of the new building. He explained that the $ 714,250.00 which is the first year’s payment on the bond could be covered by the selling of the bond. K. Dassau also explained that the federal grants were not included in the budget,  and the adjustment was made. R. Bauries would like to know the percentage of increase in Article Two. W. Wright explained that with the Board’s budget it is 10.9% and with the Budget Committee it is 8.8%. The default budget is at 6.9% of an increase. J. Lefebvre asked if the Budget Committee had said where they wanted the cuts. The budget committee did not offer specific areas of reduction. W. Wright said that the administrative team had made the recommendations given their priorities of operations.  The Board will have the final say on where the reductions will be made pending the outcome in February and March. D. Arguin said that the School Board’s number is 1.3 million dollar less than the initial proposed amount.  With the Budget Committee’s reduction the Board will need to review the administrators recommendations. He said that decisions will be made later. W. Wright noted that each school will receive cuts. J. Lefebvre asked if the Board could vote not to accept. W. Wright said that any changes need to be done at the Deliberative Session. D. Arguin said that unless the Board does something different the Warrant Article will say not recommended by the School Board. The Board may make an amendment at the meeting. G. Lerandeau commented that the article can be brought up and be amended up or down. J. Lefebvre asked for the default number. It is $25,266,937.00. G. Lerandeau would like a copy of the default. W. Wright said that basically the Board will have to decide. R. Bauries said that W. Hasbrouck had a percentage decrease. K. Dassau responded yes but no specific line items were presented.  A citizen asked what the tax would be for the difference between the Budget Committee’s budget and the Boards which is $500,000.00. R. Thackston said it is approximately $.68. The citizens said on a $100,000.00 house the tax would be?  R. Marra responded $68.00.

 

Warrant Article Review: W. Wright recommended that R. Marra make a motion and present Warrant Article One because he has worked very hard and has all the background. R. Thackston had questions about the way in which it is going to happen. W. Wright said that the moderator will read the motion and the Board Member or Budget Member will move the motion. R. Thackston said he understood that part. W. Wright said Mr. Britton is the moderator it is his meeting and he will set the ground rules. W. Wright said that the Board can make requests but it is his meeting. Article Two will be presented by W. Wright, Article Three R. Thackston, Article Four R. Thackston, Article Five D. Gurian, Article Six A. Gross, Article Seven G. Lerandeau, Article Eight G. White, Article Nine W. Wright, Article Ten W. Wright, Article Eleven R. Thackston, Article Twelve Moderator, Article Thirteen W. Wright, and Article Fourteen the petitioner should speak. W. Wright commented that after the article has been moved and seconded the presenter will answer questions and than the rest of the Board may ask, answer or state facts. R. Thackston asked on Article Two if the Board is sticking by our original number shouldn’t we be prepared to amend the motion. W. Wright said that the Board has their number that we need to support.

 

Governor Benson Letter:G. White asked how the Board feels about a letter. He said that if the Board is not interested fine but by taking a poll to get a feel would be better. He said that he is interested in a show of hands to see if we should talk about it today. R. Thackston said it could change. G. White said today if the Board is not interested. R. Marra said he feels that if the Board is going to write a letter to the Governor it might carry more weight if the Board also sends a letter to the legislators and the senators. He feels that thousands of dollars may be lost and he cannot see how the Board can ignore that. R. Thackston asked if the Board wants to discuss the letter. D. Arguin said that in his opinion it is a good idea to send it to the legislators and the senators. R. Thackston said he would choose not to discuss tonight. W. Wright said that it will be discussed at the next meeting. P. Smith asked if the drafted letter could be sent email to the Board Members before the next meeting or in the packets. W. Wright said it will be on the next agenda.

 

D. Curriculum Report: There is no report. R. Thackston reminded the Board that the Curriculum Notes were in the Board packets.

 

E. 21st Century Report: W. Wright said that the update on the Monadnock Public School Choice Grant will be on the next agenda. G. White asked if the Board had a representative on the committee. W. Wright said not as of yet but one will have to be appointed.

 

F.  Action on the Manifest: G. Lerandeau MOVED to approve the manifest in the amount of $745,086.76 SECOND: W. Felton VOTE: 11.99/0/0/3.01 Motion passes.

 

6.  SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT: K. Dassau reported to the Board that there will

     not be any non-public session.

 

K. Dassau handed the Chair an agreement between the Regional Head Start and the Emerson Elementary School which he needs to be signed.  This would be an agreement to allow 4 students to be tuitioned to Emerson preschool. MOTION: D. Gurian MOVED to approve the agreement between the Regional Headstart and the Emerson Elementary. SECOND: R. Thackston. DISCUSSION: J. Morin asked if the District receives the tuition every year. K. Dassau explained that the Head Start is reserving 4 slots for the year. VOTE: 11.99/0/0/3.01 Motion passes.

 

G. White asked W. Wright when the Board will be having their meeting to discuss the Deliberative Session. W. Wright said that K. Dassau would get a hold of T. Britton. D. Arguin asked why a special meeting. He thought the Board could meet an hour before the Deliberative Session. W. Wright told the Board that this is not a mandatory meeting. A. Gross asked W. Wright to contact the Board with the time and date in order that he may attend.

 

7.   SETTING UP THE NEXT MEETING’S AGENDA:

1.         Policy Committee

2.         Communications Committee

3.         Finance Committee

4.         CCC

5.         Facilities Committee

6.         Letter to the Editor

7.         21st Century

8.         Letter to the Governor

9.   Mon. School Choice Grant

10. Curriculum Report

11. Review Deliberative Session

12. Communication between Board and Budget Committee

 

8. Non-Public – None held.

 

9. Motion to adjourn. G. Lerandeau MOVED to adjourn the meeting at 8:45 PM. SECOND: R. Marra. VOTE: Unannimous.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Laura Aivaliotis

MRSD Board Secretary