MONADNOCK
REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
Board
Meeting Minutes
������������������ Monadnock Regional High
School Library, Swanzey, NH
Present: Chair Robin Marra, Richard Thackston, Winston Wright, Colline Dreyfuss, Tim Aho, Bruce Tatro, Alan Gross, Gene White, Bruce McCulley, Karen Cota, Marianne Mathis, William Felton and Jeff Friedman. Absent: John Morin and Dixie Gurian.�
Also present: C. Cardine, Supt., K. Dassau, Asst. Supt., D. Hodgdon, Dir. of Curriculum and D. Most, Asst. Business Manager.� Principals: D. Mousette, D. Stockwell, K. Craig, D. Dahl and B. Tatro.�
R. Marra reminded the Board of its mission to strive for the best education of every child.
1.�������� CONSENT AGENDA:
Minutes of January 4, 2005 Board
Meeting. MOTION: W. Wright MOVED to approve all the minutes. SECOND:
B. Tatro. VOTE: 8.524/0/1.179/5.118. Motion passes. ����������� T.
Aho arrives. �
2. ������� CORRESPONDENCE AND ANNOUNCEMENT: C. Cardine passed out the policy committee report.
R. Marra announced that 6 seniors have been named Female Scholar Athletes. To qualify these students must receive 2 varsity letters in their senior year and maintain a B+ average. Congratulations to E. Hill, S. Hinz, S. Smith, R. Richmond, L. Marra and L. Dragon.
�
3.�������� STUDENT COUNCIL CONCERNS: No report.
4.� ���School
Board Committee Reports:
������� Board Committee Reports: �
1. Community Relations Committee: R. Marra informed the Board that D. Gurian the chair of this committee wishes to step down. R. Marra asked A. Gross to organize a meeting to appoint a chair. R. Marra will appoint B. McCulley to the Communications Committee and the Finance Committee.
2. Facilities Committee: B. Tatro reported that the committee met with the Finance Committee and discussed Capital Improvements. K. Cota distributed information to the Board and would appreciate comments. K. Cota said that the committee is looking at approving the draft which will be in the next Board Packet for approval at the Feb. 1 meeting in order to distribute it at the Deliberative Session. The next meeting will be on January 21, 2005 at 8:00 AM.�
3. Finance Committee: W. Wright reported that the Finance Committee met for a joint meeting with the Facilities Committee and the report was given. The next meeting will be on Jan. 28, 2005 at 8:00 AM.
4. Policy Committee: W. Felton read the report, which had been distributed to the Board. He said that there are no new motions just a report on what had been done.�
5. Ad Hoc Advisory Committee: R. Marra reported that the committee has not met and that they will plan a future meeting.
5. PUBLIC COMMENTS: P. Bauries commented that she found it refreshing that the Board and the Budget Committee worked together for the benefit of the children and the taxpayers. She commented on the position of the chair of the Board on the budget. R. Marra responded that he was going to give his personal stance on the budget. He said that at the last meeting he passed the gavel and gave his opinion. He explained that when a motion is passed it is the policy for the whole Board to support it. And he will support the board’s decision.
6. A. New Business:
Preparation for Deliberative Session: C. Cardine informed the Board and Budget Committee Members that the warrants need to be signed tonight.
C. Cardine informed the Board that the final comments are coming from the State and the attorney on the Deliberative Session information. L. Biron passed out information to the Board containing the Warrant Articles and the MS-27. He explained that on Article One the first interest payments could not come out of the Capitol Reserve. R. Marra commented that the warrant article does state the 22 classrooms. Article Two was changed by DRA. T. Aho commented that the Supt. had received letters from DRA. He said that C. Cardine built a default budget off an illegal budget. He said that the secretaries and custodians received a raise because their time was increased. The principals received an increase which you had no right to offer even if the Board said to because you did not have the funds.
B. McCulley arrives.
T. Aho also said that the funds for the Win Star and the software for it over a quarter of a million dollars was not in the previous budget. He again told C. Cardine that you have an illegal budget. C. Cardine responded that T. Aho is accusing the Supt. in public of committing an illegal action. C. Cardine said that he told T. Aho the law and asked T. Aho to provide the accusations in writing.
Cardine commented on Article Three and said that this could be amended down to zero as not to risk the other warrant articles. T. Aho commented that he does not feel this article could wait. R. Marra commented on the changes to the law on the state building aid. He also commented that this is one article that the Board and the Budget Committee did not agree on. MOTION: T. Aho MOVED to ask the Board how they feel about this article. SECOND: B. McCulley. DISCUSSION: W. Felton commented that the Board already voted on this article. A. Gross commented that this article would benefit the children and the staff. He said that the ventilation systems are inadequate. He would hate to see this go. T. Aho said that he feels this is a good program and it is unfortunate about the building aid. K. Cota said that it would not be a problem to postpone for a year. B. Tatro said that there were 2 options presented by Honeywell. He said that the first option is a lot less money and would address a lot of the items now. He would like to see option one to start. R. Marra explained the parts of the buildings that would be affected and the cost to the district after reimbursement. W. Wright would agree with B. Tatro and have the Board consider option one. C. Dreyfuss commented that the Board does not need to jump with Honeywell and it is written in the Capitol Improvement Plan. A. Gross said that it is an issue of safety and health. He would like to move Option One.
R. Thackston arrives.
T. Aho and B. McCulley withdraw their motion. L. Biron said that he would ask Honeywell for the information on the Option One. K. Cota said that they could bring the information to the Finance and Facilities Meeting.
C. Cardine explained that the list of Capital Improvements in Article Five are on the web site. R. Marra read the list to the Board. T. Aho commented that the asbestos from last year at Cutler is not on the list. C. Cardine explained that a carpet extracting unit was used and the administration was satisfied with the results.
R. Marra mentioned that the Budget Committee did not support Warrant Article Eight. R. Marra explained the rational of the article.
The rest of the Warrant Articles are by petition. C. Dreyfuss asked about the legality of the petitioned articles. C. Cardine explained that the article is voted on as presented. W. Felton asked who determines the legality of the article. C. Cardine explained it is the State Board of Education. A. Gross asked if Article Ten was legal. R. Marra commented that the Board has not asked council and that the Board does not take sides on petitioned warrant articles. B. McCulley feels that it is the responsibility to the district that the Board ask council. W. Wright said to see what the voters say. If you ask council first you are taking sides. B. McCulley said that he is concerned if the Board reacts after the vote that there is a perception that the Board is choosing articles. A. Gross said that he is uncomfortable that the Board does not take a position on the petitioned articles. He feels that it is a disservice to the MC2 Program. It is a great program. R. Thackston commented that the Board has the opportunity to speak at the Deliberative Session. T. Aho asked if it was possible to pass it to Winchester because it is still in the SAU. C. Cardine explained that the MC2 Program is part of the Monadnock school district and you can not reassign the grant. J. Friedman commented that the Board does not have to argue before the vote. C. Cardine said that Attorney Hatfield, Attorney Prigge and the DRA would be reviewing the information for the Deliberative Session. C. Cardine explained that Attorney Prigge would be attending the meeting.
R. Marra commented on the changes made to the MS-27. L. Biron explains that this needs to be posted shortly. B. McCulley commented on a number on the MS-27. A. Gross said to treat the Deliberative Session in a proactive way. When thinking about strategy, keep the public informed.
State Board of Education January 19, 2005: C. Cardine explained that the Board would have their meeting here at Monadnock. The meeting will run all day and an agenda will be available. They will be taking public comments at night on the changes purposed for the state standards. They will meet in the auditorium for the questions and answers. A. Gross asked if the Board wanted to endorse any of the recommendations. R. Marra commented that they would be proposing mandatory Kindergarten. C. Cardine commented on the other changes that would affect them and said that the changes may be mandatory starting in 2006. R. Marra said that everyone is welcome to attend. MOTION: A. Gross MOVED to endorse the mandatory Kindergarten, endorse the changes in state standard class size and to endorse the math and technology credit requirements. SECOND: G. White. DISCUSSION: K. Cota asked if there was any reference to mirroring small schools of choice. C. Cardine explained that there would be a plan where every child will have a program to mirror their interest. W. Wright asked if there was anything pertaining to staff. C. Cardine explained Option 4 and Option 5. VOTE: 6.574/0/6.126/2.3. Motion passes. R. Marra explained when a member abstains.
MOTION: W. Wright MOVED to assign B. McCulley to the Community Relations Committee and to the Finance Committee as recommended by the Board Chair. SECOND: B. Tatro. VOTE: 10.658/0/2.042/2.3. Motion passes.
B. Old
Business: Sullivan Parents Request: D. Mousette explained that at the last
meeting he came with a request from a group of parents from Sullivan asking
that their children use the Gilsum facilities. After that meeting D. Mousette
had an informational meeting to explain the request. The meeting was not well
attended and the concern was the safest route of transportation. The bus
company will decide on the safest route and the charge would be $69.00 a week.
D. Mousette said that this would be the most effective educationally. This
would start after Board approval and go until April vacation. K. Cota asked how
many students. D. Mousette said that there are 35 students. She asked if the
travel would be taking away from the learning. D. Mousette explained that the
quality would be better. J. Friedman asked how many parents responded. D.
Mousette explained that 4 parents attended the meeting. A. Gross asked if all
the parents were notified. D. Mousette said yes. MOTION: W. Wright. MOVED
to support sending the Sullivan students to Gilsum for gym as outlined by
D. Mousette. SECOND: T. Aho. DISCUSSION: D. Mousette got the
feeling that the rest of the parents want the same thing. K. Cota asked if this
would be forever. R. Marra said that it was until April vacation and then a
report to the Board on the experience would be helpful. B. Tatro asked about
the funds for the transportation. D. Mousette explained that he could use the
budget as long as not over spending it. He said that it is that important that
he will find it. VOTE: 12.7/0/0/2.3. Motion passes.
C. Curriculum Report: D. Hodgdon the Curriculum Report in the Board Packets. He highlighted the items that he is working on such as the middle school task force, the report card process and the 14 committees that he is a part of. He said that he needs a representative from the Board for the middle school principal search. R. Marra asked that any Board Member interested to contact him and they can decide at the next Board meeting. A. Gross asked when the committee would be meeting. D. Hodgdon said that the committee would be meeting in the afternoon at 4:00 PM. The next middle school task force meeting will be on Jan. 26, 2005.
D. 21st
Century Report: No report.
E. Action on the Manifest: MOTION: W. Felton MOVED the manifest in the amount of $1,062,439.04. SECOND: A. Gross. DISCUSSION: T. Aho asked if the money for Attorney Prigge was for the SAU. C. Cardine said that if it was for the SAU it would come out of the SAU budget. He said the amount was for legal matters. C. Dreyfuss asked what Local Government Center Inc. was. D. Most responded the Municipal Association changed their name. VOTE: 10.5/0/2.2/2.3. Motion passes.
7. Superintendent’s Report: C. Cardine commented that the auditor’s report has not arrived yet. R. Marra asked about the amount and C. Cardine stated that it was on the MS-22.
8. PUBLIC COMMENTS: P. Bauries asked the Board 4 questions: She asked about the policy where the Board has to have a second read before a vote. R. Marra explained that they no longer have that policy. She asked A. Gross about the health incidents at Cutler concerning the ventilation and asked if they were documented. A. Gross said that he has friends that work there and that he does not know if they were documented. She asked about the statute that states that the interest payment for the bond can not come out of the Capitol Reserve. C. Cardine explained that the ruling on the interest payment came from DRA. She asked if the Board would be having a meeting with the moderator before the Deliberative Session. R. Marra explained that the Board would probably be meeting with the moderator at about 9:00 AM prior to the meeting for any last minutes items. R. Marra said that nothing has been scheduled with Mr. Britton.
R. Thackston commented on a seminar that he attended on the recommendation of K. Dassau. The seminar was put on by the NH Housing Authority. He explained to the Board what the growth of population is going to look like for the next 25 years.
9. Board Chair Report: R.
Marra said that he appreciated the vote that was taken last week. He said that
it was not easy. He explained that he voted in the minority and that he will support
the vote of the Board. He feels that it is premature to discuss cuts. The Board
needs to give the administration direction at the next meeting.
10. SETTING UP THE NEXT MEETING’S AGENDA:
1. Committees
2. Facilities Capitol Improvement Plan Recommendation.
3. Assign Warrants
4. 2005-2006 Budget
5. Middle School Principal Appointment
R. Marra informed the Board that the letters to the committee members for the
Northern Schools Committee will be sent for their first meeting on Feb. 2, 2005 at
7:00 PM. R. Marra will check to see if the room is available.
11. NON PUBLIC SESSION
9:15 PM. R. Thackston MOVED
to enter into non-public session for RSA 91-A:3(a) personnel. SECOND: Bruce Tatro. VOTE: 12.765/0/0/2.235.
Motion passes. Roll call vote was taken.
10:00 PM T. Aho MOVED to
return to public session. SECOND: A. Gross. VOTE: Unanimous for those present. Motion passes.
12.
Adjournment
10:00 PM T. Aho MOVED to
adjourn. SECOND: C. Dreyfuss. VOTE: Unanimous for those present. Motion Passes
Respectfully submitted,
Laura L. Aivaliotis
MRSD Secretary