MONADNOCK REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

Board Meeting Minutes

December 16, 2003

Monadnock Regional Junior and Senior High School Library, Swanzey,N.H.

Present: Don Arguin, Dixie Gurian, Chairman Robin Marra, Sam Johnson, Winston Wright, Alan Gross, Karen Cota, Gus Lerandeau, John Morin, Richard Thackston and Bruce Tatro, Larry Colby, Patricia Smith and William Felton.

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

R. Marra mentioned that the Board would interview the Swanzey candidates for the vacant seat at the first January meeting. He assured the audience that the board was listening to their comments and concerns. He would like to remind everyone why they are here. “The Monadnock Regional School District will strive to provide the best education for every child.”

1. CONSENT AGENDA:

Minutes of December 2, 2003 Board Meeting. MOTION: D. Gurian MOVED to approve the minutes. SECOND: W. Wright. DISCUSSION: VOTE: 11.163/0/1.179/2.658 Motion Passes.

2. CORRESPONDENCE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS: C. Cardine announced that Bob Gallaway has had an article accepted for publication in the New England Mathematics Journal.

The ITTE Association has awarded W. Bartells as an Outstanding Tech. Teacher.

C. Cardine passed a letter from an alumni student thanking Mr. Smith, Mrs. Page, Mr. Butterfield and W. Bartells for preparing him for his future career.

[P. Smith arrives at 7:10 PM.]

S. Davis – Gleminakis invited Andrew Clements, a well-known author to her classroom.

C. Cardine sent a letter to John Paul Nikoforakis who will be receiving the Eagle Scout Award congratulating him on his accomplishment. The letter was sent on behalf of the Board.

R. Marra commented on the wonderful job that was done on the Holiday Show.

A Gross wanted to thank the teachers, parents and coaches for the time and patience that they give to the intramural program at Cutler especially the inclusive environment they provide for special needs students.

S. Rashid announced that the 4^th grade will be performing their Holiday Concert on Dec. 17, 2003.

3. STUDENT COUNCIL CONCERNS: No report.

4. PUBLIC COMMENTS: N. Moriarty commented that he would like to see the two trailers removed and replaced within the $590,000.00.

D. Connell asked about the sewer warrant article. C. Cardine explained that the Sewer project was being removed from the warrant.

B. Pinney was concerned about the tone at the December 4, 2003 public meeting on the building projects. He was concerned that the renovations would not move ahead. He said that if they are obstructed that would be an injustice to the district.

5. Other School Board Business:

A. Board Committee Reports:

1. Community Relations Committee: D. Gurian reported that the committee met last week and talked about different topics. The next meeting will be on Tuesday Jan. 13 at 5:30 PM. The place will be determined.

2. Facilities Committee: G. Lerandeau reported to the Board that the committee met and L. Biron gave a presentation on the projects being done. The next meeting would be on Jan. 5, 8:30 AM.

3. Finance Committee: The committee met and forwarded a recommendation on the Surry School situation. The next committee meeting has not been set.

4. Policy Committee: No report.

B. New Business:

Committee Appointments: MOTION: A. Gross MOVED to appoint L. Colby and W. Wright to the Finance Committee and appoint B. Tatro and D. Gurian to Negotiations Committee. SECOND: J. Morin. DISCUSSION: K.Cota does not feel that B. Tatro should be on negotiations because of his wife’s position at the school. B. Tatro said that he would withdraw. C. Cardine commented that principal’s contracts are not negotiated. B. Tatro said he would not withdraw. MOTION: A. Gross MOVED to withdraw B. Tatro’s name from the appointments. SECOND: K. Cota. VOTE on amendment: 11.928/1.114/0/1.958. Amendment passes. VOTE on main motion: 13.042/0/0/1.958. Motion passes.

Wilcox Property Cost Impact: C. Cardine passed out information to the Board explaining the impact if the Wilcox Building was to go to the Town of Swanzey. He explained that the revenue being generated from the Wilcox Spec. Ed. Program was a net gain to the district and that the district is avoiding the cost of placement for its own students in the program ($60,000 each). He also discussed revenue that will be coming to the District next year from the Gilsum Program. W. Wright asked if the money in the Spec. Ed. Emergency account would be used in the case if the Town assumed ownership of the building. C. Cardine explained that there is only about $50,000.00 to $60,000 which would only cover the cost of replacing the building with rented modular buildings. He was unsure whether the Sped emergency could be used for this contingency. B. Tatro commented that we are only talking about $60,000.00 to replace the Wilcox building. C. Cardine corrected Mr. Tatro and asserted that the cost of renting the modulars would be $54,000 per year with $6,000 in the first year for a foundation. C. Cardine said that he was asked to discuss the impact of losing the building on the district’s finances. .

Recommendation on MRHS Building Capacity: G. Lerandeau reported that F. Maranace gave a recommendation to the Facilities on the capacity situation. He recommended the core facility be upgraded for up to 930 students based on a 75% utilization rate. C. Cardine said that the 75% figure is not a state recommendation as they do not use a percentage in the minimum standards but describe spaces required. The 75% figure is from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges recommendation. L. Colby asked if the architect’s recommendation is coming from the State Board of Education. C. Cardine explained that it is coming from the New England Schools recommendation. MOTION: B. Tatro MOVED to postpone taking any action on the capacity situation. SECOND: L. Colby. VOTE: 10.660/ 2.382/0/1.958. Motion passes.

C. Old Business:

Report on Cost per pupil at Each School: C. Cardine passed out a packet to the Board titled Analysis of Costs at Sites, Cost per Towns’ Students, and Budget for the Current and Previous Year of Monadnock Regional School District. C. Cardine also gave a power point presentation on how he gathered his information.

[Don Arguin arrives at 8:03 PM.] C.Cardine explained that he divided the cost for Spec. Ed. in the District among the whole district. C. Cardine explained what it would cost each town to educate their own kids. C. Cardine also explained how individual towns bring a certain amount of money to the district through their state grant. He explained the cost of each student at each school.

Action on Surry School: R. Marra explained that the Finance and the Facilities Committee met and the recommendation was to keep the Surry School open. MOTION: A. Gross MOVED to accept the recommendation from the Finance and the Facilities Committees. SECOND: W. Felton. DISCUSSION: C. Cardine said the possible savings would be $120,000.00. He will be talking to the staff to figure out a few ways of cutting costs at the Surry School. He said that they would never be in line with the rest of the schools. C. Cardine said that the plan keeping the Surry kids in Surry next year. VOTE: 12.797/1.021/0/1.182. Motion passes.

2004-2005 Budget: C. Cardine explained that the Board had asked the administration to bring back the cuts from the budget that would result in a 4% net increase, 5% net increase and a 6% net increase on the tax rate for 2004-05. C. Cardine passed out the information to the Board. He said that the default budget has been decreased. He explained that the cuts on level A would make the budget a 5.95% net increase in the tax rate, the cuts from level A and B would be a net increase in the tax rate of 4.84% and the cuts from the suggested level A, B and C would bring the net increase in taxes to a 3.83% increase. G. Lerandeau commented that he would like to digest this for a few weeks. R. Marra asked about the budget timeline. The Board decided to meet on January 5, 2004, a Monday, based on Mr. Biron’s response to the question.

D. Curriculum Report: No report

E. 21^st Century Report: No report

F. Action on the Manifest: A. Gross MOVED to approve the manifest in the amount of $1,719,215.35 SECOND: W. Wright. VOTE: 13.818/0/0/1.182. Motion passes.

6. Superintendent’s Report: No report

7. PUBLIC COMMENTS: Mrs. Sportello thanked the Board and the Committees on behalf of the Town of Surry for their recommendation. She said that the school is a very crucial part of the community.

8. SETTING UP THE NEXT MEETING’S AGENDA:

1. Fill vacant Swanzey board seat

2. Committee Reports

3. 2004-2005 Budget

4. 21^st Century Report

9. NON-PUBLIC SESSION

9:08 L. Colby MOVED to enter into non-public session for the purpose of approving the minutes of the non-public session on December 2, 2003, and personnel and legal. SECOND: J. Morin VOTE : 13.818/0/01.182. Unanimous.

9:50 PM D. Gurian MOVED to return to public session and to seal this portion of the non-public minutes indefinitely. SECOND: P. Smith. VOTE: Unanimous for those present.

10. Adjournment

9:50 PM G. Lerandeau MOVED to return to adjourn. SECOND: L. Colby. VOTE: Unanimous for those present.

Respectfully submitted,

Laura Aivaliotis

MRSD Board Secretary