MONADNOCK REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

Board Meeting Minutes

June 3, 2003

Veteranï¿½s Hall, Richmond, NH

7:05 PM CALL TO ORDER

Present: Don Arguin, Dixie Gurian, Gene White, Alan Gross, Chair Robin Marra, Sam Johnson, Winston Wright, Patricia Smith, William Felton, John Morin and Richard Thackston. Absent:ï¿½ Larry Colby, Gus Lerandeau and Geordie Fifield

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

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

Minutes of May 20, 2003 Board Meeting. MOTION: D. Gurian. MOVED to approve the minutes.ï¿½ SECOND: W. Wright.ï¿½ VOTE: 10.883/0/0/4.117 Motion Passes.

2.ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ CORRESPONDENCE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS: C. Cardine reminded the

ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Board that the Service Learning Fair will be on June 5, 2003.

ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½

C. Cardine had pictures of the Building Construction Crew’s annual project. This

Year’s project was a shed.

C. Cardine complimented the Monadnock Regional Junior and Senior High School band for a wonderful performance in Marlboro.

C. Cardine complimented the Destination Imagination Team on their fifth place finish at the DI World Championship held in Knoxville, Tennessee.

C. Cardine noted to the Board that he had received a letter from B. Tatro about a student teacher that had had a very positive student teaching experience at Mt. Caesar.

Mr. Stockwell had received a letter from the Fish and Game Commission thanking the 20-30 students who helped with the salmon stocking.

C. Cardine explained that the Board members are receiving about half of the average statewide stipend for Board members.

R. Marra passed around a thank you card from the students in Fitzwilliam, thanking the Board for their decision on their proposal.

C. Cardine informed the Board that the state would be discussing the 50/50 petitioned article on June 18, 2003.

A. Gross commented on the spectacular elementary band performance that was held in Troy by some 200 4^th, 5^th, and 6^th graders.

3. STUDENT COUNCIL CONCERNS: B.Dahl reported that the Student Council

will be having their last dance of the year on June 6, 2003. They are looking for chaperones. She reported that she has been elected to the Executive Council and will no longer be reporting to the Board. R. Marra thanked B. Dahl for her service to the Board.

4. PUBLIC COMMENTS: None.

5. OTHER SCHOOL BOARD BUSINESS:

A. Board Committee Reports:

1. Community Relations: D. Gurian explained that at the last meeting she had mentioned a plan to promote the district and community goals. She would like to ask that the Board take action on this issue tonight. She introduced the two representatives that will be explaining the project. K. Cota and C. Dreyfuss. K. Cota explained that she had concerns on the information being distributed to the community. Facts, figures and feedback were issues in which she wished to address. The newsletter, the MRSD INFORMER, is the way in which the information will be distributed. C. Dreyfuss had the original idea for the newsletter. She explained that it would be prepared by the journalism class after school. The paper is donated by Monadnock Paper Incorporated. R. Marra asked if the papers would go home with the students or by mail. C. Dreyfuss replied that they would be sent home by the students: additional copies will be placed at several drop-off places in the district. MOTION: D. Gurian MOVED to allow the Community Relations Committee to move ahead with the MRSD INFORMER. SECOND: J. Morin. DISCUSSION: W. Felton was concerned with the second read on the newspaper. R. Marra explained that he believed the second read was for policies only. R. Marra would like to charge the Policy Committee into looking at this issue for clarification. R. Thackston commented that the Board has been historically inconsistent on this issue. VOTE: 10.404/0/1.179/3.417. Motion passes. D. Gurian passed a sheet around for the Board to sign up for attendance at graduation. She reminded the Board of the public forum on June 17, 2003. About 300 people who served on the different committees and the selectmen have been asked to attend. The meeting will be held in the auditorium. R. Marra has asked the A-Team to schedule graduation events on the days when it does not conflict with the Board Meetings for next year.

2. Facilities Committee: None.

3. Finance Committee: W. Wright reported that the committee met on Monday and was told that there is about 9.2% of the budget left for the year. There is still a freeze on the budget. He explained that if there is any money left over that they would like to pave an area over at Mt. Caesar and the SAU. They would also like to replace windows at the high school. This information will be presented to the Board before beginning. W. Wright commented on the wonderful cabinets at Mt. Caesar. W. Wright commented on the advertising on the fences at the athletic fields. R. Marra would like clarification on our policy regarding advertising. He would like the Policy Committee to look into this issue. D. Arguin would like any surplus money, to be used for issues that were cut on the deferred maintenance list. C. Cardine cautioned that any expectation of a surplus may be being too optimistic. They are looking closely at the Special Ed. Account and believe that they may have to ask the budget committee permission to overspend the account. W. Wright informed the Board that the District has received $5000.00 from the CMH Foundation for use at Monadnock Regional Junior and Senior High School. C. Cardine said the Board would need to make a motion to accept. MOTION: D. Gurian MOVED to accept the $5000.00 from the CMH Foundation. SECOND: A. Gross. VOTE: 10.807/0/.776/3.417. Motion passes.

4. Policy Committee: MOTION: D. Arguin MOVED to accept Policy IHAL Teaching about Religion as a second reading. SECOND: G. White. VOTE: 11.583/0/.776/3.417. Motion passes.

MOTION: A. Gross MOVED to allow the Curriculum Report to be given at this time on the agenda. SECOND: J. Morin. VOTE: 11.583/0/.776/3.417. Motion passes.

CURRICULUM REPORT: S. Rashid congratulated the students and the teachers for their work with the NH Dance Institute. They presented 4 shows at KSC. All the performances had received standing ovations. He also mentioned the success of the Cutler Chronicle. Marie Szymcik, technology teacher at Cutler has entered the classrooms to assist students with the integration of technology for presentations. Three students presented to the Board what they had accomplished on the computer. One student gave a power point presentation on Native Americans. Another student made an invention, gave a power point presentation on it which included a slogan for the invention, an advertising brochure and a letter to investors. A whole classroom created a newspaper dated 1840. They researched and came up with advertising, articles and want ads that would have been done in 1840. M. Szymcik explained that she also does keyboarding with the students.

B. New Business: Internship (Alternative Credit Program): Deb Patria, MRHS internship coordinator explained that the students go to local businesses during school and after school. In addition to the learning experience, some students have paid internships. The students go through an interview process prior to acceptance into the program. She presented a video of a student who has an internship at the Swanzey Police Station. D. Arguin commented on the fact that the program had been considered for cutting in the 2003-2004 budget. A. Gross explained that an intern had gone to an elementary school and taught his son’s class how to speak French. He commented that it has benefits on each end. W. Felton asked what the percentage of student body participate in this program. J. Smith commented that it would be about 15% of the eligible juniors and seniors. R. Thackston commented on the interns that he had working in his office. He said they did a good job and earned fair wages. J. Morin commented on the formal interview guide and was wondering about body piercing. D. Patria explained that she encourages the students to dress nicely but has not addressed piercing and probably should. Chris Hall, a junior in the program, addressed the Board. He said that he has an internship at the Melanson Corporation preparing materials for the roofers. He told the Board it is a great program and that when he graduates he will have the knowledge and the skills to become a roofer. D. Gurian complimented Chris on his presentation.

Mentoring Program: D. Patria next spoke to the Board about the Mentoring Program. She explained that it is in cooperation with the Monadnock Volunteer Center and the Keene Rotary Club. The first year the program was opened to juniors. The program is strictly on a voluntary basis. The mentors must pass a fingerprint check, a criminal record check and an interview. The students and mentors participate in an orientation. The adults must commit to 1 hour a week. The first meetings are at the school and then may be at different sites with parent permission. This year the program will be recruiting 7^th and 8^th graders.

School-to-Career: Sue Kessler passed out a brochure to the Board with the NH Development Career Frameworks. She highlighted the recent activities such as the 6^th grade job shadowing. She showed a poster on the Vehicle Day at Mt. Caesar. She passed out Connections, which included job shadowing at the Cheshire Medical Center. She said she had positive feedback from the Cheshire Medical Center.

School Resource Officer (SRO): Joseph Smith: Before beginning his presentation J. Smith thanked C. Cardine, D. Stockwell and D. Gurian for allowing him to participate and complete the Aspiring Principals Program at KSC.

J. Smith commented on how successful the program is. He believes there is a difference in the school with just the physical presence of the SRO W. Kassotis. He said that without a doubt the position is a huge benefit. W. Kassotis also coordinates the D.A.R.E. Program, he Bicycle Safety Program, and is a football coach. D. Arguin commented that the creation of the SRO position was one of the better things in which the Board has done.

R. Marra said that the combined experience on the Board was a total of 53 years. He commented on the fact that Jack Olkowski was cited in the National School Board Association Newsletter on leaving the Three Lakes, Wisconsin Board after 54 years of service. R. Marra asked permission to draft a letter to of commendation J. Olkowski for his remarkable dedication. There were no objections.

C. Old Business: R. Marra passed out a Southwest Regional Planning Commission

Report on population growth (2000-25) to Board members. He noted that the district has a projected growth rate 28%.

R. Marra passed out a Weighting Exercise for Principles Articulated at MRSD Board Retreat (4/29/03). He would like the Board to complete the exercise and return to him before the next meeting. This information will be very helpful at the upcoming retreat on the 17^th of June.

C. Cardine passed out a copy of the members on the MRPSOC Steering Committee and the members of MC 2 Advisory Committee to the Board. D. Arguin said that he was not so concerned with the Steering Committee as he was the Advisory Committee. He wanted to know who formed the committee and who appointed the members. C. Cardine commented that the committee may eventually become a Parental Advisory Committee.

D. Curriculum Report: This report was done earlier.

E. 21^st Century Report: K. Carter reported on student interviews, portfolio development, and staff advertisement. She commented that the Keene Sentinel had been at the school for an entire day. She explained that C. Cardine, R. Marra and D. Gurian receive weekly reports from the school and wondered if the rest of the Board would like to receive them. They would. A. Gross asked to see a student portfolio with the student name removed. K. Carter will make the arrangements.

F. Action on the Manifest: A. Gross MOVED to approve the manifest in the amount of $685,945.00 SECOND: P. Smith DISCUSSION: G. White asked what the disbursement LA County was. L. Biron said he was not sure and would have the information for the next meeting (Payment to send S. Kessler to a Service Learning Conference in sponsored by LA County). VOTE: 10.562/0/0/4.438.Motion passes.

6. SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT: C. Cardine passed out information to the Board concerning House Bill 608, comparing it to the Senate version and existing funding.

7. PUBLIC COMMENTS: None

8. SETTING UP THE NEXT MEETING’S AGENDA:

1. Community Relations Committee

2. Policy Committee

3. Facilities Committee

4. Board Retreat

9. NON-PUBLIC SESSION

9:17 PM W. Wright MOVED to enter into non-public session for the purpose of approving the minutes of the non-public session on May 20, 2003 and personnel. SECOND : P. Smith VOTE : Unanimous for those present.

9:41 PM D. Gurian MOVED to return to public session and to seal this portion of the non-public minutes indefinitely. SECOND: S. Johnson. VOTE: Unanimous for those present.

9:59PM D. Arguin MOVED to extend the meeting beyond 10:00. SECOND: Wm. Felton. VOTE: Unanimous for those present.

9:59PM D. Arguin MOVED to enter into non-public session for the purpose of personnel. SECOND: Wm. Felton. VOTE: Unanimous for those present.

12:15 AM D. Arguin MOVED to return to public session and to seal this portion of the non-public minutes indefinitely. SECOND: J. Morin. VOTE: Unanimous for those present.

Motion to adjourn. D. Gurian MOVED to adjourn the meeting. SECOND: S. Johnson VOTE: Unanimous.

Respectfully submitted,

will be having their last dance of the year on June 6, 2003. They are looking for chaperones. She reported that she has been elected to the Executive Council and will no longer be reporting to the Board. R. Marra thanked B. Dahl for her service to the Board.

Laura Aivaliotis

MRSD Board Secretary