Non-approved minutes

MONADNOCK REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

Board Meeting Minutes

January 7, 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, Geordie Fifield, Patricia Smith, Gus Lerandeau, Richard Thackston and Larry Colby. Absent: Jonathan Kirstein

Also present: C. Cardine, Supt., K. Dassau, Asst. Supt., R. Cloutier, Asst. Business manager, T. Warner, Dir. of Technology, and B. Fowler Dir. of Grounds and Maintenance. Principals: D. Dahl, D. Stockwell, K. Craig, D. Mousette and B. Tatro. Student Council Representative B. Dahl.

1. CONSENT AGENDA:

Minutes of December 17, 2002 MOTION: L. Colby MOVED to approve the minutes. SECOND W. Felton DISCUSSION: C. Cardine commented that M. Alexander was representing the PTO when announcing the support of the new high school. VOTE: 12.18/0/1.8/1.02 Motion Passes.

2. CITIZENS COMMENTS: B. Tatro of Swanzey spoke in support of a new high

school. She has had 2 sons graduate from this high school. She is a resident and the principal of Mt. Caesar. She explained the new school would free space at the other elementary schools as the 6^th graders join with the 7^th and 8^th graders. She feels that it would give the opportunity to go to all day Kindergarten. With all the opportunities for more space and more educational pluses she cannot understand the hesitation about putting the article for the new school on the ballot. She feels that it is a breach of the democratic oath. She is in support of the article.

K. Cota asked the Board permission to read a letter from a parent who was unable to attend the meeting tonight. The letter was from Laura Maxfield. She wrote that she is in support of the new high school. In her letter she writes the same concerns as other parents. (I.e. The overcrowding, the fact that 12 year olds and 18 year olds are in the same room and safety. K. Cota handed the letter to the board secretary).

J. Dexter who is a state representative expressed his concerns about the Board’s timing. His concern was the fact that the County is asking for a new jail, the Latchis Theater will be renovated; the town will do a revaluation, a new Governor and a new government. He feels that it is not the time and feels that it should be on the ballot next year.

K. Trubiano an English teacher at the high school asked the Board for permission to speak considering she is a non-resident of the district. She spoke in support of the new high school. The three main reasons were time, place and space. She explained that the students and teachers loose time packing and unpacking their teaching materials as some teachers do not have their own classroom they share space with others. She estimated that 3 weeks a year of learning is lost because of the moving. Students are not able to have assignments left on the board because they need to be erased for the next class. Students are forced to have their classes in small, poorly ventilated areas. She concluded by saying that the students need a facility where they can receive the best possible education.

R. Bauries asked the Board to wait a year before putting the article on the ballot. He said that he felt the people do not have the information needed to answer their questions.

J. Hartwell informed the Board that she has collected 20 signatures in support of having the Board put the building article on the ballot. The Surry PTC, on which she is a member, voted unanimously to donate $300.00 towards materials needed to get the information about the new building article out to the public. The Surry PTC has issued a challenge to all the district PTCs to match their donation.

A teacher at the high school commented that the hallways at the high school are very overcrowded, impossible to pass. He said that he cannot understand how they can get that many students in the cafeteria at a time. He also mentioned that the younger children are afraid to pass the high school students they are not threatened but uncomfortable. It would definitely benefit the students to separate the junior high and high school.

J. Lefebvre asked what the cost of the project would be. W. Wright said that the number would be set tonight. He said that the number being given would be 28 million. J. Lefebvre asked how many students it will be built for. W. Wright answered 1200 students. C. Cardine said that the first year it would have 900 students. C. Cardine explained that the information about the new building would be discussed shortly in detail.

J. Dexter asked if the Board had looked at the student population for the past 5 years. C. Cardine said that he could give him the student information for the last 40 years. The Board has also projected for the next 5 years.

STUDENT COUNCIL CONCERNS: B. Dahl informed the Board that they will be holding a New Years Eve Dance and encouraged the Board to chaperone.

J. Gardner asked the Board Chair if the citizens would be able to ask questions during the meeting. W. Wright responded that if he wishes to have a spot on the agenda that he contact the office and will be placed on the next agenda. J. Gardner said that he wished to comment on the new high school. W. Wright explained that G. Lerandeau would be talking about the suggestions made by the Facilities Committee.

CORRESPONDENCE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS: C. Cardine reported to the Board that the Board has received a thank you from the National Mathematics for the presentation done by Bob Galloway at their national conference.

Students at Emerson instead of doing a Secret Santa contributed money to the local Humane Society and other projects. K. Craig explained that the children did a service learning project.

5. OTHER SCHOOL BOARD BUSINESS:

A. Board Committee Reports:

1. Policy Committee: D. Arguin explained that due to the long agenda he would waive his report.

2. Communications Committee. D. Gurian explained that a survey was done by K. Cota and the information was calculated by R. Marra. K. Cota worked with D. Stockwell to come up with survey questions for MRJHS students and teachers after viewing the video at the last Board meeting. She explained that the students were not getting the classes that they chose. Some student comments were: lockers needed to be shared and some students never even received a locker, and there is no time for lunch and not enough food. Some of the comments from the teachers were the danger of the overcrowding in an emergency situation. They said that it is difficult to get special education students through the halls. They said that the 7^th and 8^th grade students should be separated from the high school students.

R. Marra commented that nearly 1,000 students took the survey. One out of 4 students say that they cannot get to their class on time. He was impressed that 13 students wanted to take Latin although they are not able. One out of 4 students reported that they have less than 2 minutes for lunch. Fifty percent of students say that as a 7^th grader they feel intimidated. Eighty percent of the students say “yes” to a new high school. He informed the Board that nearly 100 teachers responded to the survey. Two-thirds of the teachers say that they have trouble getting to class and they move eight times a day. Seventy-percent said that they have no place to work with students. Seventy percent of the teachers said they share a home base. Sixty-five percent of the teachers said that they have no place before or after school to give the students additional help. R. Marra thanked K. Cota for the time it took to do the survey.

A. Gross informed the Board that he did a presentation at Cutler. He gave out leaflets and showed the video. He received signatures from people asking to put the new building article on the ballot.

D. Gurian told the Board that the next communications committee meeting would be Thursday at 5:30 PM at the Wilcox Building. She thanked the members for their work.

3. Facilities Committee: G. Lerandeau reported that the Board charged the committee to look at the feasibility of a new school. Twenty-five architects were contacted and 12 architects responded. The committee interviewed six, narrowed it down to three then chose Frank Marinace. The committee will look at a few more of the schools he has built before the Feb. 1, 2003 date. G. Lerandeau commented that so far there has been no cost to the district. The building is about 200 sq. ft. which by the price of the sq. footage the cost is 28 million dollars. The building project is a year away and the committee is asking permission from the Board to continue to work with Frank Marinace. W. Felton asked why the committee chose Marinace and asked why the committee felt he was superior to the others interviewed. G. Lerandeau told W. Felton that the vote was unanimous to choose Frank Marinace. The buildings he has built are structurally sound. They are made out of brick. The company only does schools and they have done over a half billion dollars in schools. This company was also cheaper than the others. This could save the district several million. The $140.00 a sq. ft. is equipped ready to go. The process would take about a year he would have to talk to the Board the principals and the teachers. The bids would need to go out. W. Wright said that if the group has any questions they could contact G. Lerandeau. W. Wright said unless the Board says differently the Facilities Committee will still stay working with Frank Marinace on the project. L. Colby thanked the committee for hours worked on this project. W. Wright commended the committee for being able to get to the final three and make a good choice. W. Felton asked if this was the father and son company. G. Lerandeau said it was and that they had done Newfound High School and perhaps that would be the style the MRHS is looking for.

4. Finance Committee: W. Wright reported that the committee met and R. Cloutier, SAU 38 assistant business manager gave the report. W. Wright thanked R. Cloutier for sitting in for L. Biron tonight. As of the end of December the district has spent 50.44% of the budget. The budget is tight and that is how it will be run until June. The Finance Committee is recommending the warrant article for 28 million dollars for a new high school.

5. Cheshire Vocational Center: None

B. New Business: None

C. Old Business: MOTION: G. White MOVED to accept the $5,000.00 grant from the Walker Foundation for the project being done at the Emerson School. SECOND: D. Gurian. VOTE: 13.98/0/0/1.02. Unanimous for those present.

C. Cardine went over the budget with the Board he explained that at the last meeting he passed out version II of the 2003-2004 budget. The amount of the operating budget was $26,559,120.00. He explained to the Board that he will pass out the warrant articles to be reviewed and voted on and would go over the operating budget for review and a vote. The new building project will be gone over with the information needed to decide if the Board will place it on the ballot.

C. Cardine told the Board that the first payment on the new high school would be $714,250.00 that is at a rate 4.55%. The payment for the first year should be $714,250.00 but he believed that $500,000.00 of that amount will be coming out of the Capital Reserve Account. (Note: Department of Revenue has since disallowed this.)

C. Cardine commented that if the Board does not make any cuts to the budget it will be up over 13%. The amount of warrant articles are 28 million for the bond for the new school, the operating budget, the $60,000.00 for maintenance, $225,000.00 for capital reserve, $50,000.00 for the special ed. surplus account, $199,120.00 for the athletic fields, $377,937.00 for safety code violations, $249,000.00 for capital improvements, monies for the teachers contract and monies for the support staff contract. C. Cardine commented that a positive impact on the tax rate is the property reevaluation. C. Cardine reviewed the MS27. The increase in tuition because of the MC² school by $80,000.00. He passed out the MS 27 to the Board and once the Board and the Budget Committee decide on the figures this is the form they will be submitting to the State of N.H.C. Cardine explained the revenue sheet to the Board. A simple summary of the MS27 should be posted for the citizens.

W. Wright asked if there were any questions on the MS27. G. Lerandeau asked if there was anything that the Board could cut out without going through the 60 pages of budget. C. Cardine explained that he has a chart and he needs the last piece of ADA information. He did say that if the Board were to take 1.1 million or 1.2 million of the budget out then it would level it with the bond issue. C. Cardine further went on to say that if the cuts were made new positions would be cut. G. Lerandeau asked C. Cardine if he could find 1.3 million to cut. C. Cardine said that he would have to find what the Board instructed them to cut. D. Arguin said that we are talking about the operating budget. In the past the Board has talked about growth. When we talk about default we have no growth. D. Arguin said that the Board needs to choose between the bond for the new high school or the 13% increase in the operating budget. He asked C. Cardine what the default budget would be. C. Cardine said he did not have the number yet. The Board needs to choose he commented. A. Gross feels the same as D. Arguin. W. Wright commented that the Finance Committee recommended less than a double digit number for an increase in the budget. W. Felton asked where the Budget Committee fits in this picture. C. Cardine said that a figure has not come up yet, the Budget Committee wants to know the tax impact. J. Morin asked if the no increases for the past two years was correct. C. Cardine explained that with the deficit if you go back 4 years starting with the bad numbers the default had grown over the last 2 years. R. Thackston asked C. Cardine if the budget goes up 9% how can we not have a 9% increase. C. Cardine explained that if revenues go up the taxes would not go up. The SAU is aggressive about the revenues. The tax base will go up. R. Thackston commented that when Troy’s property value goes up state aid goes down. C. Cardine told R. Thackston that it would have a positive impact this year for Troy. G. Lerandeau asked C. Cardine if he would like a recommendation tonight. C. Cardine replied that he would like something to be able to give the Budget Committee. G. Lerandeau said that he would like to see 1.3 million dollars cut from the present proposed budget. J. Dexter commented that the new governor would like to cut 5% of the money that will be coming back to the towns. He lives in a donor town. With talk about the default budget he said that if a measure is passed the default budget could only be used for what it is earmarked. C. Cardine said that it would effect us next year. MOTION: G. Lerandeau MOVED to have the superintendent reduce the 2003-2004 operating budget by 1.3 million dollars at his own discretion. SECOND A. Gross. DISCUSSION: S. Mettling would like to know what could be cut. C. Cardine answered by saying that new positions and new equipment. Contractual obligations can not be cut. The default budget does not give us a lot of leeway. The default could possibly be bigger. R. Marra commented that the budget would have a 7.58% increase. D. Arguin said that without knowing the 1.3 million dollar cuts the approach would be to see what the default budget is in contractual obligations and in warrant articles. G. Lerandeau asked W. Wright if the Board wants to know what the default number is they should not vote. W. Wright told G. Lerandeau that he was right and that C. Cardine would come back to us with the 1.3 million dollar cuts. R. Marra would like to consider an amendment to the motion by asking the superintendent to take the 1.3 million dollars out or go down to the default amount which ever is greater. W. Wright would not like to put a warrant article on the ballot where both the numbers were the same. MOTION: D. Arguin MOVED to amend the motion that we use the default for the 2003-2004 operating budget or the reduction of 1.3 million whichever is higher. SECOND: R. Marra. DISCUSSION: R. Thackston is confused. He understands that the Board is asking the superintendent to give us an operating budget with 1.3 million dollars cut or the default budget whichever is higher. R. Marra said that he is troubled by how this is unfolding. The budget the Board thought was too high in good conscience he feels that it would be bad to see some of these cuts because they are important. W. Wright thought the Board was to cut with a list. C. Cardine said that 1.3 million dollars represents about 5% of the budget. He said he could come up with a list but $953,000.00 would be in new positions. R. Marra reminded the group that there is a time line and the budget committee needs a number. R. Thackston would like to vote on the amendment. VOTE: 10.5/3.48/0/1.02 Motion passes. W. Wright commented that this would be added to the motion. W. Felton said he would not vote in favor of the motion because he feels that the budget should not be reduced until the meeting with the Budget Committee. L. Colby would like to vote for the motion because it will give the Budget committee the real numbers and real decisions. R. Thackston said that the people would have the final say. G. Lerandeau would like to move the question. VOTE: 12.9/1.19/0/1.02 Motion passes. C. Cardine said he will work on the new budget Wed., Thurs., and Friday and will send a copy to the Board. He does have a meeting with the A-Team on Friday. He will send the information on Saturday.

C. Cardine passed out the financial implications of the bond issue to the Board. He said that the debt the Board still has is for one more year and it is on the roof and additions. The bond is for 28 million dollars. The rate is 4.5220%. With the reimbursement the district will receive $770,000.00 back a year. Over the life of the loan the average impact on the taxes will be $1.75. The second year will be the highest with $2.48. L. Colby commented that the second year is the highest.

D. Gurian commented the dates on the warrant articles need to be fixed.

There are 14 warrant articles. C. Cardine read all the articles to the Board. W. Felton would like to recommend the articles as stated. A. Gross would like Article One to state the fact that reimbursement comes to the district from the state. L. Colby would like Article 7 to read “does not effect tax rate” be added. C. Cardine said that this could not be done because the funds had been raised by the people previously. G. Lerandeau commented that the last date for petitioned articles was Jan. 14, 2003 and have to have 25 signatures from legal voters. J. Morin commented on the wording in Article 7 and Article 8 concerning the bank account. C. Cardine said that the bank account is the Capital Reserve and that the wording had been changed because the Board had instructed him. W. Wright commented that the Board would ask the attorney for the final wording. D. Gurian commented that the last time the articles were not understood they did not pass. One sentence that says it will not effect taxes needs to be included. R. Thackston said that he disagrees with D. Gurian. The Board and everyone else have the opportunity to change the wording at the Feb.1, 2003 meeting. D. Gurian does not feel that the Board should look as if they are unprepared at the meeting. W. Wright commented that even though we may have our ducks in a row some still feel that we are unprepared. L. Colby asked if the appropriation part of Article 7 could be second instead of first. C. Cardine said it would not be legal. R. Thackston asked if the Board would like to vote on the articles individually or as a mass. J. Lefebvre asked about the reimbursement of building aid if a change in government takes place. C. Cardine said that if the state agrees to reimburse in 2003-2004 they are held to a contract. G. Lerandeau said that the people need to raise the 28 million in order to be reimbursed, J. Lefebvre asked if the district gets paid back yearly. R. Marra told the audience that the district does not get reimbursed for the interest only the principal. J. Hartwell commented that it is important to clarify the warrant articles. J. Gardner asked C. Cardine if the 55% reimbursement is included in the tax per 1000. C. Cardine responded yes. J. Gardner asked if it is an investment. C. Cardine said any investment would show on the MS27. J. Gardner asked if the dividends go to the project or to the taxpayer. He said that it depends it has happened both ways. MOTION W. Felton MOVED to accept the warrant articles as presented to be placed on the ballot. SECOND: A. Gross DISCUSSION: G. White thought the Board voted on Article 2. W. Wright corrected him and said no. R. Marra said that the Board has not agreed to the support staff increases and would be taking action in non-public session. D. Arguin said that people would have questions on the articles. R. Thackston said that he would agree with D. Arguin and that the Board should take each article. MOTION: R. Marra MOVED to amend the motion to have Article 1 and Article 10 be voted upon separately. SECOND R. Thackston. DISCUSSION: D. Arguin would like to know if the amender would also pull Article 6 out as well. R. Marra and R. Thackston have no problem pulling out Article 6 along with Article 1 and Article 10. P. Smith would also like to see Article 5 be pulled out. R. Marra and R. Thackston responded no. The motion will read to accept all the warrant articles as presented to be placed on the ballot excluding Article 1,6 and 10 to be individually discussed and voted on. Voting on the amendment. VOTE: 8.62/4.18/1.18/1.02. MOTION: P. Smith MOVED to exclude Article 5 from the original motion. SECOND L. Colby DISCUSSION: J. Dexter asked if she was combining as one vote. D. Arguin asked P. Smith what her concern was. P. Smith said that she is not sure that the people will know the language of the article. She feels that the article is good but the language is a problem. VOTE: 5.69/8.29/0/1.02 Motion fails. W. Wright commented that there should not be a problem with Article 14. D. Arguin commented that if the Board had gone through all the individual articles in the beginning the Board would be done. Voting on the original motion which states to accept all the warrant articles as presented to be placed on the ballot excluding Article 1, Article 6 and Article 10, to be individually discussed and voted on. VOTE: 9.8/4.18/0/1.02 Motion passes. MOTION: W. Felton MOVED to accept Article 1 as printed and be placed on the ballot. SECOND L. Colby DISCUSSION: R. Marra told the Board that he is very much in favor of the motion. He explained that the interest rates are low and he does not see the rates going much lower. He feels that this is the time to take advantage of the good rates. R. Marra commented the Building Into the Future Committee was in effect and discussed many options. D. Arguin would like the phrase “by the state “ to be added to the article. G. Lerandeau commented on the amount of people who came before the Board. He feels this is a one shot deal, one bite at the apple. The Facilities Committee recommends placing this article on the ballot. A citizen in the audience told the Board that if they were to build a high school that looked like a fire truck it would pass in Swanzey. The Board laughed. J. Gardner asked if the Board would consider placing a sub article that would release an amount for studying the plans for the new high school. W. Wright said that it would need to be a separate article. G. Lerandeau said that it could be a petitioned article. He also said that this was addressed by the Facilities Committee. The article being presented is a one shot deal. D. Stockwell commented that he does not feel that this is a one shot deal, it is up to the taxpayers and can be placed on the ballot next year. G. Lerandeau said that he meant it was one good shot this year. R. Marra said that he does not agree when people say the Board does not have the answers about the building. The Board and the Facilities Committee have the answers. MOTION: R. Marra MOVED to table the motion in order to extend the meeting beyond 10:00 PM and to vote on the main motion SECOND D. Gurian VOTE: 12.8/1.18/0/1.02 Motion passes. The Board will now vote on the main motion which is to accept Article 1 as printed and to be placed on the ballot. VOTE: R. Marra is very proud to go first by voting yes. 12.15/1.83/0/1.02 Motion passes. MOTION: W. Felton MOVED to accept Article 6 as printed to be placed on the ballot. SECOND: L. Colby. DISCUSSION: D. Arguin does not feel that this article should be on the ballot because there is only so much money that can come from the savings account. He feels that tough cuts need to be made. He is not against the article but feels there has to be a limit. L. Colby tends to agree with D. Arguin unless someone on the Board can tell him the impact. R. Thackston explained that from experience on the Facilities Committee in years past a huge amount was placed on the ballot in one article this year they decided to break it down. J. Morin asked where the money was coming from. C. Cardine told the Board that Mr. Thackston is correct. He feels that the people want a chance to vote on this separately. B. Fowler said that this is a push from the athletic director because the money budgeted last year was not enough. G. White asked about the money from the Marauders. B. Fowler said that the money promised from the Marauders for the upkeep of the fields was used. J. Morin asked if the tennis courts were in the article. C. Cardine responded yes. G. Lerandeau asked to move Article 6. D. Arguin did not want the Board to take his comment the wrong way. He said that the Board wants a lot this year and adding more is not realistic. G. Lerandeau asked to move the question. VOTE: 12.14/1.84/0/1.02 Motion passes. R. Marra would recommend entering non-public session to discuss the MESSA contract before voting on the article. MOTION: R. Marra MOVED to table Article 10 until after non-public session. SECOND G. Lerandeau DISCUSSION: J. Lefebvre asked the rate of increase. R. Marra explained that the teachers increase is under 4% and the support staff increase is under 5%. VOTE: 13.98/0/0/1.02.

The Board will postpone the Governor Benson Letter until the next meeting.

D. Curriculum Report: None

E. 21^st Century Report: None

F. Action on the Manifest: D. Gurian MOVED to approve the manifest in the amount of $1,456,910.49 SECOND: J. Morin DISCUSSION: W. Felton commented that he saw two manifests. W. Wright told him that one was for the SAU and the Board is only voting on the MRSD manifest. VOTE: 11.78/0/2.20/1.02

SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT: L. Colby said that he had noticed in the paper that bi-weekly the upcoming meetings for the Supervisory Union 29 are announced. C. Cardine said that the SAU 38 had been doing this for the last two months. C. Cardine told the Board that between Dec.1 and Dec.31, 2002 a total of 26 offenses have occurred with either the consequences being in school or out of school suspension. That is about 1.6% of the population of the high school. One student in the 10^th grade dropped out. The Facilities Committee will have their next meeting in the Maintenance Building at 8:45 AM on Jan. 20, 2003.

7. SETTING UP THE NEXT MEETING’S AGENDA:

1. Policy Committee

2. Communications Committee

3. Finance Committee

4. CCC

5. Facilities Committee

6. Budget

7. 21st Century

8. Benson Letter

9. Planning new school

10. Warrant articles

10:05PM Chair Wright declares a recess.

8. NON-PUBLIC SESSION

10:15 PM G. Lerandeau MOVED to enter into non-public session for the purpose of negotiations. SECOND: D. Arguin. VOTE: Unanimous for those present.

10:45 PM J. Morin MOVED to return to public session and to seal this portion of the non-public minutes indefinitely. SECOND: L. Colby. VOTE: Unanimous for those present.

10:45 PM D. Gurian MOVED to enter into non-public session for the purpose of discussing personnel. SECOND: P. Smith. VOTE: Unanimous for those present.

10:50 PM D. Thackston MOVED to return to public session and to seal this portion of the non-public minutes indefinitely. SECOND: J. Morin. VOTE: Unanimous for those present.

Public Session:

D. Thackston MOVED to approve article 10. SECOND: L. Colby. VOTE: Unanimous for those present.

Chair Wright noted the resignation of the director of building and grounds, Barry Fowler. The resignation was accepted with regrets and the Board thanked Mr. Fowler for his years of service.

9. Motion to Adjourn.

10:55 PM J. Morin MOVED to adjourn. SECOND: L. Colby. VOTE: Unanimous.

Respectfully submitted,

Laura Aivaliotis

MRSD Board Secretary