MONADNOCK REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

Board Meeting Minutes

August 5, 2003

Monadnock Regional Junior and Senior High School Library, Swanzey Center, NH

 

7:00 PM CALL TO ORDER

 

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

Also present: C. Cardine, Supt., K. Dassau, Asst. Supt. and L. Biron, Business Manager Principals: D.Mousette, D. Stockwell and K. Craig.

 

R. Marra reminded the Board that they have assembled because of its Mission Statement The Monadnock Regional School District will strive to provide the best education for every child.

 

1.         CONSENT AGENDA:

Minutes of July 15, 2003 Board Meeting. MOTION: D. Gurian MOVED to approve the minutes. SECOND: L. Colby. DISCUSSION: Corrections: The word should be “adequacy” instead of  “accuracy” top of page 5, the word “where” was used instead of “were”on para. 2 page 3, and G. White wanted the minutes to be more specific when he commented on his school concerns. G.  White would like the minutes to say that his primary concern, and what he thought was the general consensus, is the separation of the 7th and 8th grades from the high school students, and that the elementary schools in the southern towns, Swanzey especially are already overcrowded.    VOTE: 8.313/0/0/6.687. Motion Passes.

 

2.       CORRESPONDENCE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS: C. Cardine that the district ran a reading program for children who were entering fourth grade but not yet on grade level that had been held at Mt. Caesar over the summer. The program was to make sure that the students going into third grade were reading at a third grade level. The program consisted of 3 teachers and 20 students. The program was paid for through the Monadnock Region Public Schools of Choice Grant and 85% of the students identified.took advantage of it.

 

3.         STUDENT COUNCIL CONCERNS: None

 

4.         PUBLIC COMMENTS: R. Bauries commented that on July 15, 2003 the Board agreed to hire a consultant and suggested that the funds come out of the additional monies voted on in Article 8. He asked that the Board view the video of the Deliberative Session so that they could see what the additional money was voted for.  G. White questioned why the tape should be shown.  R. Marra commented that it is a request from a citizen. The Board and people in attendance viewed the portion of the tape dealing with Article 8 at the Deliberative Session. After viewing the tape R. Bauries commented that it is very clear how the money should be spent. He said that the extra money was to solve the problems. He said that if the money is not used the way it was indicated then they would have to go to the Supreme Court. D. Gurian commented that the Board voted for a consultant but they did not indicate where the money was coming from. L. Biron commented that the money could be used for a consultant because it is maintenance. L. Biron did say that he contacted R. Therrault and that he could not answer the question. R. Bauries said that the Board could be in violation of RSA 32:8 and RSA 32:10 which talks about a single purpose and also RSA 91 A and RSA 64:17 which talks about tampering with public documents. He said that the additional $60,000.00 was not mentioned on the ballot. R. Bauries commented that not allowing the ballot to separate the article was wrong. The voters did not have a choice. R. Marra asked R. Bauries if the Article had been separated would Article One have passed. R. Bauries commented that it would not have passed but the voters would have had a choice. He said it did not show up and it was wrong. R. Bauries said that if the consultant was paid for it would be a violation. He said that the district has the resources and the people to be the educational consultant. 

 

5.  Other School Board Business:

 

A.      Board Committee Reports:  

1. Community Relations Committee: No report.

 

2. Facilities Committee: R. Marra reported that the committee did not have

a quorum. L. Biron will be giving a tour of the improvements to the school later. A copy of the Capitol Outlay was given to the committee members. R. Marra commented that the Facilities Committee was having a problem getting a quorum.  Anyone who would like to be added to the committee let R. Marra know.

      

3. Finance Committee: W. Wright reported that there are “no black marks” on the

Auditor’s Report and the numbers will be given out at the next meeting. He reported that many projects are in motion but none of the emergency money will be needed.

 

D. Gurian suggests that a committee be formed from tradesmen from the 8 towns to discuss the educational consultant and talk it up in the community. She would be referring to plumbers, electricians, contractors, etc.  She commented that an educational plan is needed to combine with the design.   

 

4.Policy Committee: MOTION: D. Arguin MOVED to accept the changes to Policy BDE Committee and Delegates as policy. SECOND: J. Morin. DISCUSSION: W. Wright commented that it would be strictly Board Members. VOTE: 8.313/0/06.687. Motion passes. MOTION: D. Arguin MOVED to accept Policy BEAA School Board Meeting Preparation as policy. SECOND: J. Morin. DISCUSSION: W. Wright had a concern if an immediate issue or pressing matter came up. R. Marra commented that it would give flexibility. If an issue came up that needed to be addressed and was not received 48 hours ahead the Board could make a decision if need be.  R. Marra commented that Policy BGB Policy Adoption has the emergency procedure. J. Morin commented that any Board Member has the right to table and issue. R. Marra said that any item could be postponed to another date. D. Arguin said that the policy being discussed now is School Board meeting preparation. He also said that Policy BGB is specifically about Board policy and he would not like to get the two mixed up.  VOTE: 7.199/1.114/0/6.687. Motion passes. MOTION: D. Arguin MOVED to accept Policy BGB Policy Adoption as policy. SECOND: L. Colby: DISCUSSION: R. Marra explained that by accepting the changes to this policy there would no longer be two reads to change a policy. This would allow the Board to agree or disagree with one vote. D. Gurian stated that she would not support the change. She would like the public to have notice. R. Marra passes the gavel to D. Arguin. R. Marra commented that he would be in favor of this motion. He said that at any time a motion to postpone on an issue would be allowed.    VOTE: 4.493/3.0447/.776/6.687. Motion passes.   

 

B.      Old Business: Frank Marinace, the architect with whom the Board has been working with addressed the Board about the possible division of grades 6,7,8 or 7and 8 in the present junior/senior high school building, and that a 5 year plan should be established for the other facilities. He also commented on what kind of help would be needed to complete this. He feels that hiring an educational consultant would be a very good idea.  He would use the educational consultant to set the educational  specifications - what it is you want to teach the children, and what classes will be offered.  It would be foolish not to upgrade the curriculum if you are upgrading the building. He commented that it is important to design a project that the kids would enjoy and learn better in.

[P. Smith arrives at 7:58 PM.]

J. Morin asked if F. Marinace has an educational consultant on staff. F. Marinace responded he did not. D. Gurian asked if he had worked with any. F. Marinace commented that he brought some names along with him. F. Marinace said that they range from $5,000.00 and above. R. Marra asked that the resumes be given to the Superintendent.

 

James Jelliffe is a school architect and educational facility consultant, but not an educational consultant. He works with the educational consultant to establish a program that the school would like to offer. The Board and the audience viewed a power point presentation by Fanning and Howey. He explained the awards that have been presented to the company, the books that have been written and the process in which they would work with the Board to get the bond passed. He explained that he is 8 hours away from Monadnock and a local associate would need to be hired to work with Monadnock if the project was awarded to Fanning and Howey. P. Smith asked if J. Jelliffe has ever worked with a school that has 8 different schools. He said that he has worked with a district that consisted of three schools with the enrollment and financial situation the same as MRSD. R. Marra asked if the Board is making a decision now. C. Cardine would like the Board to direct him on what he should get a bid on.

 

C. New Business: Tour of Repairs at Monadnock High School: L. Biron took the Board and the audience on a tour through the school to show the needed improvements the maintenance dept. has been done. The chemistry lab has not been touched in 40 years. The asbestos flooring will be replaced, a new ceiling will be installed, more efficient lighting, new window treatments and safety issues will be addressed. The walls in the cafeteria have been painted, the banners and plants will be hung, a fire hazardous wall will be replaced, ceiling tiles will be replaced to absorb the sound, the air handling system now works, different products are being tested for the floors and the lunch line is being redesigned. The auditorium entryway has been painted, a plaque will be replaced, the stage floor has been refinished and the stage has been painted. Emerson has a new computer lab with 26 work stations, Surry and Sullivan have new boilers and all the Northern Schools have new paint jobs. Cutler is enlarging the parking lot and painting the interior of the school. Troy is getting a new roof on their gymnasium. Emerson is also getting a new roof. S. Johnson asked if non-auditorium students use the auditorium. D. Stockwell answered that about 100 students use it for a study hall. S. Johnson hopes that it can be turned  back into an auditorium. G. White asked about the ceiling in the gym. L.Biron said that they have not touched that this year. The track went out to bid. SRI Incorporated detected structural deficiencies. Gar Wal Irrigation has integrated the field hockey and the football fields with the baseball fields. Bidding is going out on the tennis courts. The entrance to the high school has been paved and stamped by Arlington Paving, a husky is painted in the center and the rest will then be painted green. D. Gurian commented on a great deal that has been worked on and how impressive it all is.

 

      Recommendation for Vocational Coordinator: K. Dassau requested the Board approve the hiring of a full time vocational coordinator to coordinate vocational placement and mentor services per special education student transition plans. He explained that the budgeted amounts for vocational services is in the related service line of the district budget. By hiring a full time person it would allow the consolidation of various vendors and more be more efficient for budgeting control. He explained that the money for the position is there in the budget and that any difference would be offset through federal grants.  With Board approval K. Dassau will draft a job description, post the position and advertise. MOTION: W. Wright MOVED to approve the recommendation and have K. Dassau draft a job description for a Vocational Coordinator and post and advertise the position with intent to hire. SECOND: D. Gurian. DISCUSSION: J. Morin asked if this will save the district money. K. Dassau explained that was definitely the intent. W. Wright asked if the person being hired would be an SAU or Monadnock employee. K. Dassau said that the person would be Monadnock but would contract out to the other districts. W. Wright asked what the salary would be for the person being hired. K. Dassau said depending on experience and qualifications between $40,000.00 and $50,000.00. K. Dassau explained there are 17 –18 developmentally disabled students that need to be transitioned to the workplace. L. Colby asked if it would be possible that some of the students may still be contract out. K. Dassau responded that yes we would honor existing agreements where  parents are comfortable with present service providers. VOTE: 9.013/0/0/5.987. Motion passes.

 

R. Marra received a request to go back to Old Business, dealing with the educational consultant. MOTION: D. Arguin MOVED to have the Board ask Frank Marinace to work with the Board, the faculty and the administration come up with plans and a design for this building using up to $60,000.00 approved by the voters in March for that purpose. SECOND: W. Wright. DISCUSSION: G. White does not feel that the Board would need to spent the whole $60,000.00. He said that if you say $60,000.00 they would spend that amount. An amendment of up to $60,000.00, pointing out that this is where the funds should come from but not advocating all of it. S. Johnson asked if the Board or the administration had a wish list. C. Cardine explained that he is charged with going to the administration and the principals and coming back to the Board with recommendation. He said that this would be done by the next meeting. J. Morin asked to specify the use of an educational consultant. R. Marra said that both F. Marinace and J. Jelliffe said they work with educational consultants and sub out. D. Arguin said that they subcontract the engineering etc. but will work principally with F. Marinace. D. Gurian commented that if we would decide to work with F. Marinace the other firm would work with the community.  If we decide to work with F. Marinace we need to be willing to put money aside to do the community work. This is not an amendment but we need to think about putting money aside. L. Colby commented that the Board knows F. Marinace, he does good work and would be acceptable to all groups.  R. Marra commented that at the last meeting we voted to hire an educational consultant. L. Colby commented that we need to get something going. D. Gurian commented again that the other firm was willing to sell to the community. VOTE: 7.892/0/1.121/5.987. Motion passes.

 

L. Biron reported that Mr. Stevenson the structural engineer looked at the blueprints of the high school and said that the walls were not designed to carry a second floor.

 

R. Marra commented on the situation at the SAU building. There is excessive weight on the second floor. On Aug 11 they will be cleaning out the files.

 

D.    Curriculum Report: None.

 

   E.    21st Century Report: None.

 

F.      Action on the Manifest: P. Smith MOVED to approve the manifest in the amount of  $1,328,472.90 SECOND: J. Morin. DISCUSSION: J. Morin wanted to know about the charge for the pizza. C. Cardine said it was an old bill.   VOTE: 7.834/0/1.179/5.987.Motion passes.

 

6.      Superintendent’s Report: Supt. Cardine brought the Board’s attention to the

school lunch increases.  L. Biron commented on the fact that parents may use their  credit cards to pay for their child’s lunch. J. Morin pointed out that the increase percentages were not correct. L. Biron will correct and they will be ready for the next meeting.

 

Superintendent Cardine commented on how well the Monadnock Region Public Schools of Choice Grant was going and will report in detail at the next meeting.

 

G.White asked if Emerson was on a list of failing schools. C. Cardine explained that it is not a list of failing school rather schools that did not make year to year progress.  The Keene Sentinel reporter C. Weisberg will be doing a follow up story on this issue.

 

  1. PUBLIC COMMENTS: N. Moriarty thanked the Board for their vote on the plans and designs. He asked the Board to get out this design.

 

8. SETTING UP THE NEXT MEETING’S AGENDA:

1.      Committee Reports

2.      Administration Recommendation-regarding grade configuration.

3.      Architect Report

4.      Forming a public school foundation

5.      Report on Monadnock Region Public Schools of Choice Grant

 

9. NON-PUBLIC SESSION

9:45 PM John Morin  MOVED to enter into non-public session for the purpose of approving the minutes of the non-public session on July 15, 2003, and for discussion of personnel, and legal issues. SECOND: D. Gurian  VOTE : Unanimous.

10:10  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. Motion to adjourn. 10:10PM  D. Arguin   MOVED to adjourn the meeting.

      SECOND: D. Gurian. VOTE: Unanimous for those present.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Laura Aivaliotis

MRSD Board Secretary