Non-approved minutes
MONADNOCK REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
Board Meeting Minutes
Troy Elementary School
7:14 PM CALL TO ORDER
Present: Winston Wright, Chairman, Don Arguin, Dixie Gurian, Patricia Smith, Gus Lerandeau, Robin Marra, William Felton, Larry Colby, John Morin, Alan Gross, Jonathan Kirstein and Gene White. Absent: Richard Thackston, Stephen Mettling and Geordie Fifield.
Also present: C. Cardine, Supt., K. Dassau, Asst. Supt.; L. Biron, Business Manager; D. Hodgdon, Dir. of Curriculum; B. Fowler, Director of Buildings and Grounds. Principals: D.Mousette, D. Stockwell, K. Craig, B. Tatro, S. Rashid and J.C. Russell.
1. CONSENT AGENDA:
Minutes of April 16, 2002 MOTION: D. Gurian MOVED to approve the minutes. SECOND G. Lerandeau VOTE: 5.94/0/3.45/5.61 Motion Passes.
2. CITIZENS CONCERNS: None
3. STUDENT COUNCIL CONCERNS: C. Cardine wanted to let the Board know that they are welcome to attend the upcoming Prom.
4. CORRESPONDENCE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS: L. Colby passed out information regarding a Father�s Day Essay contest to the board members.
C. Cardine passed out the finalized Committee Appointments to the board members.
C. Cardine passed out a calendar of the year-end events to the board members.
C. Cardine sent a letter to the Swanzey Police, Mutual Aid and the Emergency Services from the board expressing the board�s gratitude for the efficient and speedy response to the gas explosion at the high school.
C. Cardine shared a letter in which D. Stockwell had received from the YMCA about a recent American Heritage Tour praising the leadership and guidance of Steve Streeter and Allison Robinson. The letter also praised the students for their behavior on the tour.
C. Cardine received a letter from David Kamleiter letting the district know that Wayne Kassotis had successfully completed his practitioner application and has earned the designation of School Resource Officer Practitioner.
C. Cardine received a memo from B. Fowler with an attached certificate. The certificate is from the Northeast Rural Water Association that recognizes and thanks the Monadnock School District for ten years of Continuous membership in their association.
C. Cardine announced that D. Hodgdon was published in KIDS with his article, KIDS INVOLVED IN SERVICE and Bob Galloway was published in the New England Mathematics Journal. Congratulations.
W. Wright thanked the teachers and staff still in attendance for the musical performance earlier in the meeting. He wishes to have extended thanks go out to the teachers and staff that left prior to the meeting.
5. OTHER SCHOOL BOARD BUSINESS:
A. Board Committee Reports:
1. Policy Committee: D. Arguin explained to the board that the committee is still working on policies mentioned at the last meeting and that in this packet was Policy KF. MOTION: D. Arguin. MOVED: to have the first reading for Policy KF. SECOND: R. Marra VOTE: 10.13/0/0/4.87.Motion Passes.2. Communications Committee. D. Gurian passed out the minutes of the previous communication committee meeting. At this meeting the committee discussed the past year�s work and discussed next year�s goals. The next meeting will be Thursday, May16 at 7:00AM at the Wilcox Building.
D. Gurian passed a sign up sheet for attendance at graduation for the board members. The committee feels that a board member should be in attendance at every graduation.
C. Cardine mentioned that tours will be given during the school day and he would like board members to give the tours rather than staff. Please let him know if any board member is available.
3. Finance Committee: L. Biron informed the board that for the first time in a very long time the board will hear the treasurer�s report. L. Biron announced to the board that as of tonight the district is $3 million to the good, the check book and the computer finally match and balance and they are at 19.9% which is 3% more than average. Everything is flowing nicely.
Nancy Carlson, the treasurer thanked L. Biron for finally reconciling the account. N. Carlson informed the board that each month they will be receiving a copy of the statement. D. Gurian wanted to thank Nancy, L. Biron and the business office, and C. Cardine for a job well done.
4. Facilities Committee: B. Fowler reported things are running smoothly. W. Wright asked when the Gilsum Project would be done. B. Fowler responded by saying that there is still a "punch list" but things should be completed by the end of the month. L. Biron reported that the Monadnock Marauders have been talking to him about the use of the football field and have an agreement that will be presented to the facilities committee at the next meeting.B. New Business:
C. Cardine mentioned the board goals that had been passed out at a previous meeting. He asked the members if they would like to make any changes.
C. Cardine mentioned that the results of the board�s input would go to the administrative team meeting on July 8 and 9. Then they will make recommendations to the board. L. Colby asked to put it on next meetings agenda. C. Cardine suggested to start the meeting earlier. D. Arguin would like to start the meeting at 6:00PM on May 21, 2002. MOTION: A. Gross. MOVED: to meet at 6:00PM on May 21, 2002 for a Goals and Objectives Meeting. SECOND: D. Gurian. VOTE: 9.42/1.15/1.85/2.58. Motion Passes.
C. Cardine gave a report on the Northern Schools situation. He reported that he and K. Dassau had met with the Sullivan and Surry PTOs, D. Mousette has been directed to contact members of the public and put together a Plan of Communication which the board will have at the next meeting. D. Hodgdon is meeting with all grade 5 and 6 teachers in the Northern School District to map how they are teaching the MRSD curriculum and assessing their work with the students.
K. Dassau along with the recommendation from the administrative team is proposing to implement a half -day preschool to be housed at the Emerson Elementary School. This preschool will have special education students as well as regular education students. It will consist of 3 and 4 year olds on a half- day basis. The money for the first year will come from a grant to pay for the staff. A teacher is retiring and the position will not be filled so an empty classroom will house the children. The team will ask for the board�s approval at the next meeting. A. Gross asked how many children would be attending this program. K. Craig said that they wish to have no more than 15 students. D. Gurian asked if K. Dassau was looking for a motion. W. Felton was under the impression that the issue needed to come before the board at least 72 hours or in their packet for review before a motion was made on it. C. Cardine explained that only topics on the agenda that have an asterisk (*) can be voted on at this meeting. J. Morin asked if the grant will be covered in the years to come and K. Dassau said that it is his best estimate that the grants will continue to cover the salaries. P. Smith asked about transportation and if the district would be responsible. K. Dassau said that the special education children are but not the regular education students. D. Arguin expressed this was a good idea and that early intervention may save money down the road. W. Wright asked if there is data showing that students that go to preschool do better in school then those children who do not. C. Cardine said he will research the data.
C. Old Business: C. Cardine mentioned that he had to go out four decimals for the weighted vote but it is installed and can be use when the board wishes. W. Wright suggested is be put into effect in September. R. Marra said that because the 2000 census is in that he is in favor of adopting it immediately. MOTION: R. Marra MOVED to have the new calculation for the weighted vote be used immediately. SECOND: A. Gross. VOTE: (last vote on the old calculation) 11.60/0/.82/2.58. Motion Passes.
Treasurer�s report given earlier. C. Cardine commented that no matter who runs the business office the previous money problems cannot happen because of the statements that the board will be receiving.
D. Curriculum Report: .NoneE. 21st Century Report: C. Cardine reported that the MC2 program will be housed at Antioch New England. The college will be providing the space for the program. The MRSD will help with fundraisers when asked . Baybutt Construction is in charge of the plans free of charge. About 24 students from Monadnock and 6 tuitioned students as well as their parents have been interviewed. D. Gurian mentioned that the project should be completed by August 15, 2002 and should begin in June. C. Cardine will be bringing the hard copy of the program�s finances at the next meeting.
C. Cardine passed out a calendar for the budget season.
F. Action on the Manifest: D. Gurian MOVED to approve the manifest in the amount of $ 880,444.44 SECOND: G. Lerandeau VOTE: (first vote on the new calculations) 12.55/0/0/2.45.
6. SUPERINTENDENT�S REPORT: C. Cardine will present the board with information on where taxes come from and would like to present it to the selectmen and suggested by Gus, the local legislature. The board will hear the information at the June 4th meeting.
7. SETTING UP THE NEXT MEETING�S AGENDA:
9. Motion to Adjourn.
9:41 PM D. Gurian MOVED to adjourn: SECOND: R. Marra. VOTE: Unanimous.
Respectfully submitted,
Laura Aivaliotis
MRSD Board Secretary