Approved minutes

MONADNOCK REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

Board Meeting Minutes

April 1, 2003

Cutler Elementary School, Swanzey, NH

7:04 PM CALL TO ORDER

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

Also present: C. Cardine, Supt., K. Dassau, Asst. Supt., L. Biron, Business Manager, and D. Hodgdon, Dir. of Curriculum. Principals: D. Stockwell, D. Mousette, D. Dahl, K. Craig and B. Tatro.

Chair R. Marra swore in S. Mettling for another term as a Monadnock School Board Member.

1.ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ CONSENT AGENDA:

Minutes of March 18, 2003.ï¿½ MOTION: D. Gurian. MOVED to approve the minutes.ï¿½ SECOND: L. Colby VOTE: Unanimous. Motion Passes.

2. CITIZEN COMMENTS: K. Cota of Roxbury read a letter that she had written to the Board. She thanked the members of the Board and the administration for all their hard work in trying to build the new high school. She continued to say that she believes that the District will get no where with being divided. Everyone needs to work together. She gave suggestions on having an independent company come in and examine the school on a daily basis. Next she suggested a marketing company to promote the new plan. She said that it worked in Keene and it would be a good idea. She asked that a copy of her letter go out to all the Board Member. A copy will be placed in their packets.

ï¿½

3. STUDENT COUNCIL CONCERNS: None.

MOTION: D. Gurian MOVED to change the order of the agenda and allow the Gilsum students to give their presentation. SECOND: L. Colby VOTE: Unanimous. Motion passes.

CORRESPONDENCE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS: C. Cardine reported that many students from Monadnock did a wonderful job and placed at the Destination Imagination Contest hosted by Monadnock Regional High School.

C. Cardine informed the Board that Charlotte Lesser would be spending part of the next school year in Japan. She has been awarded the Fulbright Award.

C. Cardine commented on the wonderful job of lights and sound done by Alex Tremblay during a service for the Ferris Children.

C. Cardine told the Board that he had sent a letter to the members of the Hockey Team for a great season.

K. Craig informed the Board that Emerson has been touching on the War in Iraq but with not a lot of attention. The children have questions and the staff answers. A safety plan is in place.

C.Cardine was contacted by Syracuse University, that a senior from Monadnock had received the highest-ranking portfolio possible from the Dean.

C. Cardine explained that House Bill 608 would have effects on the District. The District would receive $317,425.00 less and that would be a tax burden. He said if the Bill was successful it would also mean $256,000.00 of lost revenue from the adequacy amount given for home schooled children to each town.

D. Gurian reminded the Board that the No Child Left Behind Lecture will take place on April 14, 2003. This dinner presentation will be at Antioch. This meeting is for the Board Members and the administrators. This is not open to the general public.

R. Marra said that Andrew Willenski would be at Franklin Pierce College the week of April 14, 2003.

5. OTHER SCHOOL BOARD BUSINESS:

A. Board Committee Reports:

1. Policy Committee: No report.

2. Finance Committee: The Finance Committee was to meet but found no time. Mt. Caesar has received a $16,000.00 Here, There and Every Where Grant from the East Hill Foundation. This will be matched. B. Tatro said that the money would go towards 10 new computers and 15 new flat screen monitors. This business will come under New Business.

3. Community Relations Committee: D. Gurian reported that the Committee has been working on thank you notes, to people that helped with the drive for a new high school.

4. Facilities Committee: G. Lerandeau explained to the Board that the Committee has been discussing Article Six, Seven and Eight. He said that it is in the discussion phase. The committee will see what needs to be done. They will have another meeting, no vote has been taken. The next meeting will be Monday at 8:45 AM.

5. CCC Center: C. Cardine reported that the next meeting would be on Wednesday at 7:00 AM. He said he has received notice from V. Sokul and Wayne Cotton from the CCC Center that the Center would be able to offer Auto Certification to the students after school hours. Keene, Monadnock, Winchester, and Hinsdale would be able to benefit from this offering.

B. New Business: C. Cardine gave a power point presentation on the Vision to

Action. He told the Board that invitations would be sent out inviting Board Members, parents and community members related to the school to sit in on the Vision to Action Committee concerning the $10+ million dollar grant. He commented that Winchester is the school in need. Funds will be used to help Winchester. He said that all parents in the school district would be receiving a newsletter explaining the grant. R. Thackston asked if it would go only to the high school parents. C. Cardine said it would go to all parents. He explained that there are 18 students going to other schools in the district with the majority coming from Winchester. So far 2 vans and a director/super guidance counselor to over see the applications and process have been paid for through the grant, as well as an English teacher at Keene. Winchester has priority in guaranteeing a spot in school. At the CCC Center the second period will be paid for through the grant. Students that are done with their advanced classes will then have an opportunity to attend classes at Keene State College. He explained where the grant is now, where it is going and how it will work. He said that the cornerstone for this grant was the MC2 School. He also explained that a lot of work had been done by David Hodgdon, who gave up his vacation to write the grant. C. Cardine told the Board that he ran into a student that was dropping out of the TNT Program. C. Cardine talked to him and told him that possibly the MC2 School would be good for him. He told him to contact him. D. Arguin asked how the process would work for him. C. Cardine explained that the TNT Program is about $23,000.00. The District would be saving money. W. Felton asked if the grant would impact the Northern Schools. C. Cardine said that before anything happened he would be talking to the parents of the Northern Schools. D. Arguin had a concern that the MC2 had the maximum number of students and one more student being added. C. Cardine explained that there is an interview process for the MC2 School. He explained that Monadnock students who fit the program are accepted first and that oversubscription would result in a lottery being used for open spots.

C. Cardine explained that the Vision to Action Committee’s job would be to see what the future holds for choice schools in the region.

MOTION: L. Colby MOVED to accept the East Hill Foundation Grant for $16,000.00 to purchase computers and equipment with at matching grant. SECOND: D. Gurian VOTE: 13.88/0/0/1.12. Motion passes.

C. Old Business: R. Marra would like to receive a copy of the agenda in advance to make sure that everything is on it.

R. Marra explained that K. Schnyer gave him new information on the numbers from Roxbury. On Warrant Article Three the correct number are yes-50 and no-20.

R. Marra explained that the April 15, 2003 meeting will be at the high school library and the May 20, 2003 meeting would be at Emerson.

R. Marra explained that April 12, 2003 would not be a good time for some for the Board’s Retreat. He said that the A -Team needs more time to look at the budget. The facilitator also can not make the date. There are two additional dates to talk about, ground rules to go over and is it open to the public or not. The new dates could be May 10 or May 17 both on Saturday. R. Thackston explained that he tabled his motion at the last meeting until April 15, 2003 in order for it to be after the retreat. The new date will not work for that. R. Marra commented that the motion was postponed. G. White said that May 10, 2003 is the day before Mothers’ Day and Graduation. He said he would not be able to attend on the 10^th. R. Thackston said that he strongly objects to May 17. MOTION: A. Gross MOVED to have the Board’s Retreat on May 17, 2003. SECOND: W. Felton. DISCUSSION: R. Thackston said that the high school needs to be dealt with and spending money on a facilitator is not good. D. Arguin said that the retreat is to focus on the building and to move forward. The A -Team budget cuts are important but possibly another retreat or presentation. He said that a facilitator might not be needed and should the public be present except not to comment. D. Gurian agrees with John Tommila that we all need to be on the same side of the fence and work together. She feels that it is important to have a facilitator to make things happen. We need to know where we stand on the default. She commented that she would be voting in favor of the motion. R. Thackston commented that he would not be able to attend. W. Felton commented that the Board needs to know the cuts to make a decision. C. Cardine said they need to look at about $200,000.00 more and it will be ready by the 15^th of April. R. Marra said that he feels the Board needs time to heal. He has a conflict and will not be able to attend. He said another option would be on May 31, 2003. A. Gross asked if goal setting would be part of this meeting. R. Marra answered yes. G. Lerandeau suggested having the meeting in the evening because we are getting no where with the Saturday. S. Johnson commented that he agreed with G. Lerandeau because he feels that it is important to have R. Marra and R. Thackston in attendance. L. Colby said that the motion is on the 17^th of May. It should be clear what we are going to be discussing, is it Board Goals, Capital improvement, high school and default budget. R. Thackston said he had a concern about the load of topics and suggested separate retreats. His understanding was that the retreat was to discuss the high school. R. Thackston said he would be happy to attend the retreat but the two new dates he has made plans with his children. J. Morin suggested the last Tuesday of the month. G. Lerandeau suggested an amendment. R. Thackston suggested the first night and possibly a second night if needed. MOTION: J. Morin MOVED to amend the main motion and schedule the Board’s Retreat on Tuesday, April 29, 2003 at 6:00 PM. Place to be determined. SECOND: P. Smith. DISCUSSION: P. Smith suggested April 22, 2003. The Board told her that was school vacation. J. Morin asked where and who would facilitate. L. Colby asked what the agenda for that meeting would be. L. Colby asked if it would be public or private. C. Cardine told him anytime the Board holds a meeting it has to be open to the public to be legal. VOTE: Vote on the amendment. 12.77/0/1.11/1.12. Motion passes. DISCUSSION: R. Bauries began to ask the Board about an open meeting, which he had commented on in December. R. Marra asked R. Bauries if he had a question for the Board. There was no question. R. Marra continued the meeting. S. Mettling asked about the agenda. R. Marra suggested waiting until after the default situation. VOTE: 12.77/0/1.11/1.12. Motion passes.

R. Marra explained the committee assignments. He said that everyone got his or her first choice. There is a minimum of 5 people on each committee. If anyone would like to be on an additional committee please let him know. MOTION: G. Lerandeau MOVED to accept the committee assignments as printed. SECOND: L. Colby. VOTE: 12.77/0/1.11/1.12. Motion passes.

Administration Recommendation on Default: C. Cardine explained that the administration has not finished with the suggested cuts but are considering a few. Possibly split scheduling, adding an eighth class period, block scheduling on M-W-F, shortening up offerings, taking the Wilcox Building for Special Education, all supply areas to go to negative, and during non-public discussion on personnel and eliminating programs. He explained that this is the third year with a default budget and the cuts will not be popular. There are tough decisions that will need to be made. He said that there are a lot of excellent programs on the block. He is hoping the medical insurance increase will be lower than what the district was quoted as that would free up some funds. He said there is no play in any of the staff salaries as they have been budgeted exactly to the penny.

D. Curriculum Report: D. Mousette explained to the Board that because of the default budget, he was not able to attend the Kids Consortium in Maine. He than thanked the members that attended and thanked the parents that were in attendance tonight. Last month the 5th and 6th graders from Gilsum Elementary were invited to the Kids Consortium in Maine. Not only were they invited, they were asked to do a workshop on their service project. The first group of students had worked with the Woodward Home. They each have a partner, and they spent time and wrote letters together. The students learned to write poems, speak in front of large groups, write creative stories, take notes and do research and math skills during this whole project. The students have not only become partners but friends with the elderly. They had a final celebration. The students were given a tee shirt with a picture on them and the friends were given a booklet from the students. A. Gross commented on a great job done by the students and asked if he would be able to see a copy of the booklet. R. Marra commented on a great job done by the group. The Director of the Woodward Home would like to thank the Board for the opportunity of allowing the people of the Woodward to see the many different ways that education has changed. She said the people are just amazed. She said that she hopes this project will continue.

The next group of students did a service project with a student from the MC2 School. Their project was with the Monadnock Humane Society. The students participated in a pet food drive and were able to get 147lbs.of dog and cat food. The group has been making brochures on the care of animals. During their service project they learned to speak in front of large groups, take notes, learn study skills, math skills, creativity and imagination. R. Marra asked how many brochures they have produced. The students said that they had done one on cats, dogs, rats, goats, and a few others. R. Marra said when you complete one on a gecko let him know.

R. Marra called for a five-minute recess.

C. Cardine reminded the Board Members that the New Board Member Board Orientation from the School Boards Association would be held on May 8, 2003.

F. Action on the Manifest: D. Arguin MOVED to approve the manifest in the amount of $810,991.74 SECOND: J. Morin. DISCUSSION: J. Morin commented that not everyone was signing all the pages. L. Biron said he would put 15 lines if the Board would like that. VOTE: 10.57/0/3.31/1.12. Motion passes.

SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT: Done previously.

7. SETTING UP THE NEXT MEETING’S AGENDA:

1. Policy Committee

2. Community Relations

3. Facilities Committee

4. Planning Retreat

5. Administrative Recommendations

6. R. Thackston’s Motion

W. Felton thought that it would be a good time to discuss the minutes from the individual committees. R. Marra asked the Policy Committee to come up with a standardization of reports.

R. Marra asked the committees to meet and name a chair and then get back to him with the names.

8. NON-PUBLIC SESSION

9 :15 PM A. Gross MOVED to enter into non-public session for the purpose of approving the minutes of the non-public session on March 18, 2003 and for personnel. SECOND : W. Felton VOTE : Unaniomous.

Respectfully submitted,

Laura Aivaliotis

MRSD Board Secretary