MONADNOCK REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

Board Meeting Minutes

                                                          March 18, 2003

Monadnock Regional Junior and Senior High School Library

 

7:00 PM CALL TO ORDER

 

Present: Don Arguin, Winston Wright, Dixie Gurian, Gene White, Alan Gross, William Felton, John Morin, Robin Marra, Patricia Smith, Gus Lerandeau, Richard Thackston, Sam Johnson, Geordie Fifield Absent: L. Colby and Steve Mettling

Also present : C. Cardine, Supt., K. Dassau, Asst. Supt., R. Cloutier, Asst. Business Manager and T. Warner, Dir. Of Technology. Principals: D. Stockwell, D. Mousette, D. Dahl and B. Tatro.

 

Supt. Cardine called the meeting to order. He explained to the audience and the Board the reason why he was calling the meeting to order instead of the Chair. He said that it is an organizational meeting. New Board Members will join the Board and then the Chair and Vice Chair will be nominated. He explained the 15 member board and how much each member from each town counts as a vote. Supt. Cardine introduced Sam Johnson the new Board Member.  He introduced Kathy Schneider the new School District Clerk and then swears her into the office. Supt. Cardine swears S. Johnson in as the new School Board Member. As a group Supt. Cardine swears in R. Marra, A. Gross and G. White back into office. Supt. Cardine reads the Board’s Policy: School Board Member Board of Ethics Code to the members in attendance and than asks each member to sign the policy.

 

Supt. Cardine asks for nominations for the Board’s Chair. MOTION: D. Gurian MOVED to nominate R. Marra as the Board’s Chair. SECOND: W. Felton. DISCUSSION: R. Thackston commented that he knew coming through the door that this nomination was a done deal. He feels that R. Marra has much vested in Article One. He said that he respects and likes R.Marra but he will not be voting for him because of the situation. VOTE: 10.63/1.02/1.11/2.24. Motion passes.

 

Supt. Cardine swears in the School District Clerk Nancy Carlson to office.

 

R. Marra takes over the meeting and asks for nominations for the Vice Chair. MOTION: D. Gurian MOVED to nominate D. Arguin as the Board’s Vice Chair SECOND: J. Morin. DISCUSSION: R. Marra commented that he would abstain unless his vote is to decide a tie. VOTE: 9.76/1.11/1.89/2.24. Motion passes.

 

R. Marra handed out a sheet to the Board Members with the list of committees. He commented that the list had been changed by the Policy Committee by approval of the Board. He asked that the Board Members list their preferences for the committees by indicating the most preferred to least. He said that each Board Member would be assigned to at least two committees each. R. Marra read the list to the members and the audience. He would like the handout back no later than next Wednesday. R. Marra also passed another handout to the Board Members. He would like to get the views of the each Board Member on what they think are the two most critical issues of the district.

 

1.            CONSENT AGENDA:

Minutes of March 4, 2003and February 1, 2003, the Deliberative Session. MOTION: D. Arguin MOVED to approve the minutes.  SECOND W. Felton  VOTE: 11.58/0/1.18/2.24 Motion Passes.

 

2.                   CITIZEN COMMENTS: N. Moriarty read a letter in which he had prepared for 

the Board. It read as follows: In December I asked you to put in $60,000.00 to design the modernization of the existing high school and you ignored me. In January I asked the Budget Committee to put in the $60,000 and they voted me down. At the Deliberative Session I made the amendment to add $60,000 and the amendment passed with the support of your people. It also passed on March 11. From what I have heard and read after the vote, I expect that the Board will continue to support the high school. However, you have $60,000 dollars to design the modernization of the existing school- and I expect you to come up with a modernization plan for the voters in March 2004. There will be calls for studies and probably delaying tactics. I realize that every solution provided by the modernization of the existing school takes a bullet out of your gun. However, the students deserve your completion of this design-i.e.,replace the two trailers, a new and separate cafeteria, modernize the science labs, etc. Something needs to be done and done quickly. This is an alternative that is far greater than a band-aid that will meet the vast majority of the objectives and requirements. Signed Neil Moriarty. Dated 3-18-03.

 

J. Tommila congratulated the Board Members for their appointments and commented that he had been there at one time. He said that the people had spoken, the votes counted and now we need to work together to find the best solution for the high school. He would offer voluntary participation. He would like to meet with the administration to brainstorm. He commented that this offer was made in good faith and he wished it would be received in the same spirit. He suggested non-cost management issues. He suggested homeroom classrooms, separate jr. and sr. high, the junior high bells offset from the high school by 10 minutes, interchange the classrooms and eliminate the courses that are not important to our students. He suggested use of the CCC Center. He asked about the Monadnock Connection. Where is it going and how can we use it. He said that negative connotations are out there. Comments such as: if you don’t vote on the new high school you are anti-education. He feels that there is no doubt something has to be done but he feels it can be smaller and affordable.

 

G. Johnson a member of the Budget Committee commented that his first year on the Budget Committee was a learning curve and the second year an enlightening and frustrating experience. He said that there are people who are constantly voting against taxes and they are not considering what is best for the children. He said that there is bickering, the Sentinel prints a story and the people believe it. He said that he was going to make a statement that sounded bizarre but he would suggest dissolving the Monadnock Regional School District.

 

R. Stivington told the Board that she is a widow on a fixed income. Her taxes have gone up $800.00, she can not afford them and would suggest the Board going along with N. Moriarty’s plan.

 

W. Hasbrouck said he had a lot of concerns as well as the others. He has two or three suggestions. He feels that it is cost vs. education. He said that it almost seems that you can not have a good education with out money. It is not the pie in the sky. He said that we need to provide a good basic education. We do not need to compete with the private schools. This education is force education by the taxpayers. Some of the taxpayers do not even have children in the school system. He said we need to balance needs and wants. He commented that a good school is what we make of it. He was flabbergasted when he heard what the science teacher had said about the science labs. These issues should have been dealt with by the regular maintenance staff and should have been in the deferred maintenance account. He suggested that the Board look at this. He suggests that the Board look at the courses being offered. There is a Film Class. He asked if the district could really afford to offer this class. He commented on the default budget and the fact that he wanted it cut but not as much as it was. He was considering the elderly. He said he was well off and could handle it but he had concerns for the others. He said that the way he sees it if you combine the Northern Schools you can save two teachers which is about $100,000. He also suggested that the Board look at class size and unless there is a minimum of 10 or 12 children don’t offer the course.

 

3.               STUDENT COUNCIL CONCERNS: None.

 

4.               CORRESPONDENCE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS: C. Cardine would like to congratulate the Monadnock Regional Varsity Hockey Team for their State Champion Title.

 

C. Cardine commented on the outstanding job done by the cast and crew of Guys and Dolls.

 

C. Cardine received a letter from K. St. Pierre regarding the comments that the paper had written about what she had said. She wanted to make sure that the Board knew she has concerns about the overcrowded conditions but she supports the Board.

 

The forth grade at Cutler School received a thank you note from the Governor’s office. The students had sent suggests on how NH could be a better place.

 

R. Thackston asked R.Marra when he could address the comments made by the citizens. R. Marra said when reviewing the Warrant Articles. 

 

 

 

 

    5.        OTHER SCHOOL BOARD BUSINESS:

      A.  Board Committee Reports: 

1.      Communications Committee: D. Gurian commented that the committee’s new name would be Community Relations. She said that the next meeting would be Thursday. At that meeting thank you notes would be written and sent. The committee will regroup later. C. Cardine informed the Board that there were 35 donations for the advertising of the new high school plans. A total of $4290.00 was donated, $1812.00 used and several outstanding bills.

 

2.      Policy Committee: None. 

 

3.      Facilities Committee: P. Smith told the Board that the next Facilities meeting would be Monday at 8:45 AM at the Maintenance Building. 

 

4.      CCC Center: C. Cardine informed the Board that he is going to negotiate with Keene and double the amount of time in which the students would be at the CCC Center. They would leave about 10:30 AM or 11:00 AM and have two full periods. Math or English would be added to their schedule. The number of students that attend the CCC Center has decreased from 120 students to 29. The grant will pay for the extra teacher and Keene, Winchester, Hinsdale and Monadnock will benefit from this. C. Cardine said that he is talking to the auto dealers to institute an after school certification program.

 

R. Marra asked if the same members of the Finance Committee could hold their meeting as scheduled until the new members are assigned. The members are W. Wright, D. Arguin and D. Gurian.

 

G. Lerandeau arrives at 7:40 PM.

 

 

     B.  New Business: P. Smith asked if the warrant article that was passed should effect         

            the votes of the individual towns. C. Cardine responded that the weighted vote

           was approved by the state. It would need to be a petitioned article possibly to

           change the formula. He believes the formula is based on population. R. Marra

commented that the weighted vote is based on the 2000 census.

 

Board Calendar. R. Marra mentioned that he did not see a meeting set for the MC2 School. C. Cardine mentioned that the meetings are to be held at schools in the district. A. Gross thought it was a great idea to have a meeting at Antioch. It will be placed on the next agenda.

 

Warrant Items: Review of Vote. R. Marra commented that the number of voters from Roxbury on Article Three jumped significantly. He asked that the numbers be checked. K. Schneider commented that not everyone voted on every article. R. Marra commented that contrary to the Sentinel voters in Troy had average support to Article One. Sixty-five percent of Surry voters voted yes on Articles One-Ten. R. Marra commented on the support from the voters on the Teachers Contract and the MESSA Contract. R. Thackston addressed the issue of the $60,000 in Article Eight. He said that he would follow the Board and the Chairs lead. With the recent articles by the Sentinel he said it is difficult to get anything done. He would like to see the district move forward and he does not feel that he is shooting from the hip as commented by the previous Chair. MOTION: R.Thackston MOVED to have the Board accept his proposal as follows: Monadnock Regional School Board will appoint a Select Committee of not less than three nor more than five school board members to carry–out the study for renovations and expansion at the existing Monadnock Regional Jr/Sr High School in Swanzey. This committee shall be empowered to expend with full board approval amounts up to sixty thousand dollars as approved by the voters in the district in Article Eight of the District’s 2003 Warrant to complete the following tasks:

1.      First sixty days contact stake holders in the district’s educational needs and determine support for the following areas at the Jr/Sr High School: Building, Curriculum, Program Development and any other areas of concern. The stake holders in this process should include but not be limited to the following all eight Select Boards, PTO’s, School Administrators, Former Members of the Monadnock in the 21st Century Committee, Voters in the District; any other interested parties.

2.      Report back to the full board at first meeting in June.

3.      Second sixty days meet with design firms develop written plans.

4.      Report back to board for review and acceptance of proposal. Board to vote on proposal at first meeting in September.

5.      Third sixty days committee to go back to stake holders it me with in the first sixty days for advice, input and consent.

6.      Board to review and formulate final version of proposal vote on wording for 2004 Warrant at first meeting in November. 

SECOND: W. Wright. DISCUSSION: G. Lerandeau asked if the full board, the 15 votes, was what R. Thackston had in mind. R. Thackston commented that he did not mean the full board as a vote but to bring it back to all the members for a majority vote. W. Felton thought it needed a first and second read. R. Marra commented that it was true only to policy. Under new business the Board can decide whether they want to take action or not. G. White asked if there were a specific number of people for the committee. R. Thackston said that all eight Select Boards would be asked. He commented that it would be a large group and it would be a lot of work. J. Morin asked if there was any accounting for this vision that all parties get to the final decision of a new high school. R.Thackston responded by saying that it is like asking the people who started the Constitution if they are coming out with a king or a president. He continued to say that it could be a possibility but the $60,000 was not allocated for that purpose. D. Gurian commented that the Board was asked to write down the two most pressing issues in the District, at the risk of what the audience said, the Board should delay the vote on this motion and have a retreat to discuss the issues. G. Lerandeau said that he would like to have a retreat to look at the issues and also when forming the group have the interested parties come to the Board. W. Felton feels that a retreat is a good idea because the Board needs to get their own issues in order before we talk to these people. He said that he would like something to present and get input on. Have two approaches the Boards and the Selectmen. He would rather not vote tonight. D. Arguin commented that any approach is a predisposed position He feels that if you look at renovations and expansions you are saying that’s the best way to go or the new high school. Find out why the people voted the way they did, go out to the towns. A. Gross agrees with the value of the retreat to discuss our vision. He would strongly recommend everyone attending the meeting. R. Marra commented that there is a motion and a second, are there any other questions. MOTION: W. Wright MOVED to postpone the vote on the main motion until the April 15, 2003 meeting. SECOND: A. Gross DISCUSSION: R. Thackston warned of the wording in Article Eight dealing with the $60,000. R.Marra read the amendment to Article Eight for those whom where not at the Deliberative Session. G.White would vote against the postponement. He said that the Board does not need to wait 30 days. He does not like the fact that R. Bauries agrees with him. He does not want to wait. G. Lerandeau said that he would like to postpone but would like to have the retreat soon. R. Marra said that every effort would be made to have the retreat early. G. White asked to speak. R. Marra explained to him that everyone needs to be able to speak once on the issue before the second bite of the apple. G. White commented that the attendance at the last retreat was pathetic. R.Marra said that 8 people showed up. W. Felton said that he feels that there are some Board Members that know what it is like not to attend a retreat. They will attend the meeting. VOTE on the motion to postpone: 7.65/4.16/2.13/1.06. Motion passes.

 

 C. Cardine passed out a packet to the Board Members concerning the current budget situation. He explained to the Board and members of the audience that he is the agent of the Board. He emphasizes that the Supt. has never had a plan or will ever have a plan. He is asking the Board for permission to gather the administrative team together and adjust the budget to reflect the default budget in the amount of $25,266,937.00. C. Cardine read from page 5 of the packet which explained many of the reasons the building is in the condition it is. The Budget Committee has not been supportive in the articles presented by the School Board for additions, expansions and addressing the conditions at the schools. Many times their reason is lack of planning. The Budget Committee did not support the budget presented by the School Board so for the third year in a row the District will be run on a default budget. He explained the per pupil cost of the Monadnock students. The students in the MRSD average a cost of about $7400. Many of the area schools are much higher. The comment that the district compares themselve to Keene is not true. C. Cardine explained the substantial amount of increase in the medicaid reimbursement, the catastrophic aide and the tuition from other districts. The amount of money received has helped decrease the deficit. The district had a student from Winchester that wanted to come to Monadnock but because of space situations the district lost $8000. C. Cardine reported that he would be writing a check in the amount of $90,000 to Keene for the students attending through the grant. MOTION: G. Lerandeau MOVED to give the Supt. authority to gather the administrative team together to adjust the budget to reflect the cuts that we need to make in order to meet the default budget figure of $25,266,937 and recommend the cuts and changes at the first meeting in April. SECOND: R. Thackston. DISCUSSION: C. Cardine commented that he hoped to be ready in April. The team, teachers and Board will refrain from speculative conversation until the cuts and changes are presented.

 

C. Cardine presented the Board with the cost per student of each individual school. R. Thackston had discussed the numbers from Troy. C. Cardine commented on the Autism  Program in Troy. Not all of the students are from Troy. At the next meeting he said he would have this years figures. The figures in the packet are last years. R. Thackston said that it would be $320,000 less if the program were not there.

 

D. Arguin asked if the default number was approved by the state. C. Cardine said it had been approved by the state. L.Biron has contacted the Board of Education in response to the vote on Warrant Article Fourteen. He has not heard back as of yet.

 

S. Johnson asked about the Autism Program. R. Thackston said that not one student was from Troy. The training at Emerson is why the program is in Troy. K.Dassau commented that three of the students are from the MRSD one is not. W. Wright asked if the out of district costs and the regular tuition to operate the school should be broken out. C. Cardine said that the accounting system was not very good and that L. Biron has done it for this year.

 

J. Dexter told the Board and Supt. Cardine that he is aware of the problems. The state Budget Committee meets tomorrow and it does not agree with the governor and they will not vote. They do not believe that the way to go is to cut. Personally he feels that what you are doing in Monadnock is going well. He said that he does not believe that the building gives the good education it is the employees. He said that Supt. Cardine is passionate to deliver a product and it is not going on deaf ears. VOTE: 12.83/0/1.11/1.06. Motion passes.

 

R. Marra asked for any further discussion. A.Gross commented to the Board that as a Board Member we are advocates to inform and to speak to the community in formal and informal meetings. The group took the high road even with difference of opinions and he is proud. He would like to thank the Board and the community for their trust with their votes and he is on the Board for the best interest of the children.

 

C. Cardine informed the Board that an appropriation in the amount of $100,000, to be used to defray costs to the MC2 School has been received by the District. The district has 5 years to spend the money.  MOTION: D. Gurian MOVED to accept the appropriation in the amount of $100,000 which was arranged by Senator Judd Gregg’s office, for the MC2 School. SECOND: R. Thackston. DISCUSSION: J. Morin asked if the district would be receiving $100,000 each year for 5 years. C. Cardine said he asked the same question and the answer was still no. R. Thackston asked if it could be spent in 2002 or 2003. C. Cardine said it starts from October 2 of last year. C. Cardine stressed suppliment not saplant(Curt help)VOTE: 12.83/0/1.11/1.06. Motion passes. D. Gurian would like to thank Supt. Cardine for his work behind the lines. Supt. Cardine would like to thank Senator Gregg. 

 

Meeting with Legislators. C. Cardine informed the Board that he met with the legislatures and what J. Dexter says is true. The legislature is not in agreement with the Governor. There were about 100 people in the audience and the selectmen expressed their concerns. G.White was very disappointed that a lot of people that said they did not agree but nothing about what they were going to do. J. Dexter expressed that you can not imagine how the system works. R. Marra commented that the letter to the legislature would remain dormant until the committees reorganize.

 

C. Old Business: C. Cardine informed the Board that he would be handing a Memorandum of Understanding from Antioch New England to be signed and returned. This document explains the rights of the children while at the school and the relationship of the two parties.

 

The final report for the reimbursement to the Gilsum Project was handed to the Chair.

 

R.Marra wished to express his feelings to the Board and the people in attendance on the stellar job done by W.Wright as he held the position of Chair of the Board. R. Marra explained that over the past two years he has learned a lot from W. Wright but the fact that he is a decent person and has the children best interest at heart. He wishes to thank W. Wright.

 

D. Gurian explained the yellow sheet she handed out to the Board Members. It is an invitation to a dinner presentation. Dr. Paul Ezen will be there to help consider the implications of the No Child Left Behind Act. It will be held on Monday, April 14, 2003 at 6:00 PM at Antioch New England.

 

 

D. Curriculum Report: D.Mousette wished to thank the community for the support that was shown to the Teachers and the MESSA Warrant Articles. He wanted to say that he feels that he has the best job working with the students and thanks the Board for that. D. Mousette reported that the 5th and 6th graders from Gilsum have been invited to attend the KIDS Consortium in Gorham, Maine. Not only are the students attending the event, they will be presenting their service learning project. The opinion was that the 6th graders would be attending the KIDS Consortium. The students will be receiving free room and board because they will be presenting and the transportation will be covered by a grant. The grant was received by the effort of D. Hodgdon. School Board policy says that a maximum of eight students can be in a van so the school will take two vans. D.Mousette will be away for the consortium and Supt. Cardine has promised no cuts until he returns. C.Cardine commented that he was glad he likes his job. The Board told the members to have a great trip.

 

MOTION: G.Lerandeau MOVED to conduct a Board Retreat at the Monadnock High School on April 12, 2003 at 9:00 AM for the purpose of Board orientation and planning session. SECOND: R. Thackston VOTE: 13.24/0/0.7/1.06. Motion passes.

 

F.  Action on the Manifest: D.Gurian MOVED to approve the manifest in the amount of $1,259,908.72 SECOND: G.Lerandeau VOTE: 12.92/0/1.02/1.06 Motion passes.

 

SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT: C. Cardine responded you have it already.

 

7.   SETTING UP THE NEXT MEETING’S AGENDA:

1.      Policy Committee

2.      Vision to Action

3.         Facilities Committee

4.         21st Century

5.  Administrative Recommendations

6.  Curriculum

7.  Meeting at MC2

8. Communications

 

R.Marra asked that anyone wishing to have something on the agenda please get it in a week before the packet.

 

G. White asked how often the MC2 Report would be available. C. Cardine said every other week.

 

G.White said he was curious about the group that meets to discuss the grant. He asked if the meetings are regular and public. C. Cardine said the group is called Vision to Action. C. Cardine said that details need to be worked out first, it is a very complicated process.   

8. NON-PUBLIC SESSION

 

9 :20 PM            G. Lerandeau MOVED to enter into non-public session for the purpose of approving the minutes of the non-public session on March 4, 2003 and for personnel. SECOND : W. Wright VOTE : Unaniomous.

 

9 :25 PM            W. Wright MOVED to return to pulic session. SECOND : G.Lerandeau. VOTE : Unanimous.

 

Motion to adjourn. W. Wright MOVED to adjourn the meeting at 9 :30 PM. SECOND : G. Lerandeau VOTE : Unanimous.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Laura Aivaliotis

MRSD Board Secretary