MONADNOCK REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

Board Meeting Minutes

September 3, 2002

Roxbury Town Hall, Roxbury, NH

7:00 PM CALL TO ORDER

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

Also present: K. Dassau, Asst. Supt., D. Hodgdon, Director of Curriculum and L. Biron, Business Manager. Principals: K. Craig and Betty Tatro.

 

1. CONSENT AGENDA:

Minutes of August 13, 2002 MOTION: D. Gurian MOVED to approve only the public minutes. SECOND: G. White. Discussion: On the second page under Policy Committee in the minutes it is stated that L. Colby expressed that a policy change should be "on the web page by the next week." The correction to read "on the web page by the next meeting." VOTE: 9.29/0/2.26/3.46 Motion Passes.

2. CITIZENS CONCERNS:

K. Kenney, parent, informed the board that she had received the Tera Nova scores from C. Cardine as promised and that the results were much higher than she had anticipated. She still has a concern about the tests but she has since moved her child to another school.

K. Kenney asked C. Cardine if the Visitors to the School Policy had been updated on the web page. C. Cardine responded by saying that he gave the information to the Dir. of Tech and asked him to update. She asked if the policy would be different from last year’s policy and if it is in the new student hand book. K. Dassau informed K. Kenney that it is the discretion of the school principal for visitations to take place and that the information in the handbook is not the complete policy. K. Dassau gave K. Kenney a copy of the complete policy.

3. STUDENT COUNCIL CONCERNS:

B. Dahl, the student council representative reported that the student council will be hosting a dance on Friday. She also reported that the Girl’s J.V. and Varsity Field Hockey Teams will have there opening game and welcomed the board to attend.

 4. CORRESPONDENCE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS: C. Cardine informed the board that he had received a newsletter from K. Craig, one from the Emerson School and D. Hodgdon’s Curriculum Notes.

C. Cardine mentioned that the board should have received a copy of the NH School Board Resolutions and to please review for input. C. Cardine mentioned that if anyone was interested in attending the School Board Conference to please contact his office.

5. OTHER SCHOOL BOARD BUSINESS:

A. Board Committee Reports:

 1. Policy Committee: D. Arguin asked the board to accept Policy EDC, Appropriate Use of Technology and Privacy Policy as a first reading. MOTION: R. Thackston MOVED to accept Policy EDC, Appropriate Use of Technology and Privacy Policy as a first reading as proposed. SECOND: A. Gross. VOTE: 11.54/0/0/3.46. D. Arguin pointed out Policy KF, Use of School Facilities. D. Arguin mentioned to the board that this policy has significant changes and is being presented as a first reading. A. Gross asked if the charges would cover all the costs. L. Biron responded that they have discussed the charges and find them sufficient. He said that the charge is mostly for the custodian fees. MOTION: R. Thackston. MOVED to accept Policy KF, Use of School Facilities as amended as a second reading. SECOND: G. Lerandeau. VOTE: 11.54/0/0/3.46. MOTION: R. Thackston MOVED to accept Policy GBAA, Anti-Harassment and Sexual Violence Policy as a first reading. SECOND: G. Lerandeau Discussion: R. Thackston asked why the first paragraph of the old policy which talks about the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is being omitted. K. Dassau will get clarification. C. Cardine informed the board that it was a direction from the board’s attorney. P. Smith asked if this policy is hung on the bulletin board’s. C. Cardine responded that this policy is posted along with other information such as this. VOTE: 11.54/0/0/3.46. Motion Passes. D. Arguin explained to the board that there is a slight modification in the Policy JICA Student Dress Code. He explained that the majority of the changes are at the building level. D. Stockwell has a revised dress code. MOTION: R. Thackston MOVED to accept Policy JICA, Student Dress Code as a first reading. SECOND: J. Morin. Discussion: G. White was curious about the statement that says : Attire must comply with the health code of the State of New Hampshire. C. Cardine offered the example of a requirement for shirt or shoes in public facilities. K. Kenney asked if the policy addressed strap size on shirts and is it going to be particular about how long shorts are. W. Wright explained that this is just a first reading and that K. Kenney should talk to the building principal. R. Marra responded that the board and principals are not altering the way things have been. R. Thackston expressed that he thought this policy should be blank for all that it is saying. A. Gross would encourage building principals to be consistent. C. Cardine said the policy for the elementary schools is. VOTE: 9.24/0/2.31/3.46.Motion Passes. D. Arguin mentioned to the board that the committee has been working with D. Stockwell on building level policies. He mentioned that the policy committee has talked about coming up with easier information on the internet such as a section on the web page indicating a date on the page of the last update..

2.School Board Delegates: D. Arguin mentioned to the board that he and J. Morin will be the representatives to the NHSB Delegate Assembly. D. Arguin would like to go over half the resolutions at the next board meeting and the second half at the following meeting. After the resolutions are agreed upon by the board D. Arguin and J. Morin will bring this information to the Assembly. W. Wright asked if there were any objections to going over the resolutions. No objections.

3. Communications Committee. D. Gurian would like to remind the board to bring their binders for updating to the next meeting on Sept. 17, 2002. D. Gurian would like to inform the board that on Sept. 21, 2002 from 9: AM- 11:00 AM the Communications Committee along with the Swanzey Scouts will be working to beautify the grounds around the MRHS. Bulbs will be planted in a number 40 design to help celebrate the 40th anniversary of MRHS.

D. Gurian passed out a sheet with the anticipated amount to be spent on a part-time grant writer and a part-time media person. P. Smith asked if the media person might be able to do publication such as polish up the annual report and the curriculum newsletter. D. Gurian responded that information such as that would be put in the job description. C. Cardine informed the board that D. Hodgdon does the work for the large grants the new position will be for smaller grants. G. Lerandeau asked if the salary was realistic. D. Gurian responded yes. L. Colby asked if another school had a grant writing position and, if so, to be able to look at their job description. D. Gurian told the board that Keene High has a grant writing position. R. Thackston expressed that a grant writing position is not an expense but income for the district. He would like to fund a full time grant writer and still hire a part time media person. S. Mettling asked what the split would be for the two positions. D. Gurian responded that each position would be half-time. D. Arguin asked if it would be possible to gauge the lost opportunities, sum them up and compare it to the salary of $67,805 being presented. The question was asked if this position would be for the Monadnock Community School and D. Gurian responded that the new school is a program in the district and would benefit from this new position. C. Cardine thanked the board for their support but he thought it would be best to prove to the taxpayers the need for the part time position and then go to full time.

D. Gurian reported that the next meeting will be on Sept. 12, 2002 at 7:00 AM in the Wilcox Building. D. Gurian congratulated C. Cardine and L. Colby for their part in the editorial which was printed in the Keene Sentinel. W. Wright would like to thank the staff, the teachers and the board for coming together and reducing the deficit. He would like to thank the Keene Sentinel for the editorial.

 

4. Finance Committee: D. Gurian reported that the remaining deficit is now at $11,542.32 and that $214,000.00 was deposited into the Capitol Reserve account with a new balance of $1,018,000.00. D. Gurian said that the auditors visit lasted 5 days and was due to the fact that L. Biron runs a tight and efficient department. D. Gurian said that new school budget will now take ½ hour rather than 2 hours to load.

C. Cardine reported that the CMH Foundation has made a donation of $5,000.00 to the MC2 School. He said that the temporary home for the MC2 School expense will come out of this donation. W. Wright asked L. Biron if the MS sheets have been filed with the state. L. Biron responded yes.

5. Facilities Committee: The next meeting will be Sept. 9, 2002 at 8:30 AM at R. Thackston’s office.

C. Cardine reported to the board that the work completed around Mt. Caeser was done by the maintenance crew. They did a wonderful job and the parents can go in and out nicely. C. Cardine said that it was funded in part by the money in the budget for repair. Gross remarked that it looks very nice and seems much safer for the children.

 

B. New Business: D. Gurian informed the board that they will be invited to a Recognition Night. The ceremony will take place on Sept. 27, 2002 from 7:00-9:00 PM and awards will be given to board members. R. Marra commented on the stellar job being done by the Monadnock Regional School Board’s Recording Secretary. The full board agreed and asked that the commendation be recorded in the minutes.

C. Old Business: C. Cardine passed out information to the board concerning the expansion and renovation of the MRHS. He asked that every board member become a member of the communications effort in order to ensure the passing of the article to support the expansion and renovation of the school. He is proposing that the board meet on a Saturday to come up with ways to ensure the passing of this article. C. Cardine told the board that the situation is critical at the high school. K. Sportello said that the only article that was not passed,(Article IV ?) the people did not understand. The board needs to get the word out. Maybe people did not understand the meaning of a Capitol Reserve Account. R. Thackston asked if the cost information from the beginning would still be available.C. Cardine commented that he has the information. A. Park of Gilsum commented that she thought that most people did not realize that this article would not impact their taxes. R. Marra said that it was a hurdle because the budget committee did not support this article. R.Thackston corrected R. Marra by saying that the budget committee supported the article but the board did not because of the amount. L. Biron has since found out that on the warrarnt article the words "does not effect the tax rate" may be written. C. Cardine asked that the board consider this a major effort and set a date to brainstorm. MOTION: R. Thackston MOVED plan a retreat to discuss the building future of MRHS to be held on October 5, 2002. The location will be determined at a later date. SECOND: A. Gross. VOTE: 11.54/0/0/3.46. Motion Passes. A. Gross asked C. Cardine when the board will be meeting with the budget committee. C. Cardine said Sept. 24, 2002.

C. Cardine informed the board that it is policy that the Supt. Report to the board the population of the district after Oct. 1 of each year. C. Cardine passed out sheets to the board that had the total number of students as of opening day for the past 11 years. This year 1314 students entered MRHS compared to the 1300 students last year. C.Cardine encouraged the board members to take a look and see where the increases and decreases are.

C. Cardine would like to have a meeting with the parents who have opted to send their children to Northfield Mount Hermon. He would like to know what would have to be different in order to have their students return to MRHS. K. Craig asked why not ask student of other private schools.

R. Thackston commented that the high tax rate for the town of Troy is a major concern for the taxpayers. C. Cardine responded by saying that when the towns joined the school district they knew that the small schools would cost more to run per student.

D. Curriculum Report: C. Cardine complimented D. Hodgdon for his outstanding work with the SAU Staff Development Plan. These plans are so well put together that they are being used in other districts. D. Hodgdon was also complimented on for his large part in the 14 million dollar grant that has been submitted for acceptance. Nice job Dr. Hodgdon!

D. Hodgdon passed out information to the board on what curriculum development had been done over the summer. The summer was used to work with teachers on performance based assessment. He remarked that it had been a positive experience for the teachers as well as himself. About 65 teachers from the district were involved in this process. D. Hodgdon told the board that 30 teachers attended a 2 day workshop hosted by Anthony Fredericks. He mentioned that teachers from each building will go back to their schools and share the information that they had obtained over the summer. L. Colby commented that preschool is not mentioned and wondered if eventually it would be. D. Hodgdon explained that he does the curriculum for the K-12 grade. L. Colby asked if the new MC2 School will use this information. D. Hodgdon said that they will receive a copy of the booklet. S. Mettling asked if this performance based curriculum is compatible to the integrated curriculum he had discussed at a previous meeting. D. Hodgdon said that this curriculum will draw from other areas, and yes it is compatible.

E. 21st Century Report: D. Gurian reported that some parents from the new program along with K. Carter, director of the MC2 school, will be attending the next board meeting.

C. Cardine read a letter he had received from Judd Gregg concerning the Public Pro Choice Grant that had been written by the district. He commented that the grant was well written and that he was very supportive of the efforts. Notice of acceptance of the grant will be on Sept. 19, 2002. The grant will be in the amount of 14 million dollars over 5 years. The first year will be the planning year and the money will start to come to the district immediately. C. Cardine commented that it was an impossible time frame in which to apply but the grant writing team was able to pull it off. D. Gurian mentioned that this was the only district from N.H. that had applied for this grant and that it might help knowing that the district is a partner with the Dept. of Education. S. Mettling asked if the grant writing position would have feelers to go out and find grants such as this. C. Cardine answered yes. This grant is only for public schools.

D. Gurian reported that the MC2 School hosted a potluck dinner on Aug. 25, 2002 at Stonewall Farm for the students and their parents. She mentioned that opening day was Aug. 29, 2002 , the only problem was that there were kinks in the transportation situation. D. Gurian reported that the ground breaking for the additional Antioch space will be on Sept. 20, 2002, not sure of the time as of yet. R. Thackston wondered how students from the Keene School District could attend the MC2 School. C. Cardine informed him that the students were paying tuition.

F. Action on the Manifest: G. Lerandeau MOVED to approve the manifest in the amount of $1,336,329.53 SECOND: R. Thackston DISCUSSION: J. Morin asked if the Clukay payment was an installment. L. Biron answered yes. VOTE: 11.54/0/0/3.46

6. SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT:

7. SETTING UP THE NEXT MEETING’S AGENDA:

  1. Grant Writing Position
  2. Policy Committee
  3. Finance Committee
  4. Facilities Committee
  5. NHSBA Resolutions
  6. Communication Committee
  7. 21st Century

Non-Public

Approval of Non-Public Minutes: August 13, 2002; September 3, 2002

 

9:00 PM Chair Wright declares a recess.

 

8. NON-PUBLIC SESSION

9:10 PM G. Lerandeau MOVED to enter into non-public session for the purpose of discussing personnel. SECOND: D. Thackston. VOTE: Unanimous.

9:30 PM D. Gurian MOVED to return to public session and to seal this portion of the non-public minutes indefinitely. SECOND: J. Morin. VOTE: Unanimous.

 

9. Motion to Adjourn.

9:30 PM G. Lerandeau MOVED to adjourn. SECOND: R. Marra. VOTE: Unanimous.

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

Laura Aivaliotis

MRSD Board Secretary