MONADNOCK
REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
Board
Meeting Minutes
����������������������� Monadnock Regional
Junior/Senior High School, Swanzey, NH
Present: Chair Robin Marra, Richard Thackston, Winston Wright, Colline Dreyfuss, Gene White, Bruce Tatro, Alan Gross, William Felton, Karen Cota, Dixie Gurian, and Jeff Friedman. Absent: Tim Aho, John Morin and Marianne Mathis and Bruce McCulley
Also present: K. Dassau, Asst. Supt., L. Biron, Business Manager and T. Warner, Dir. of Technology. Principals: B. Tatro.
R. Marra reminded the Board of their mission to strive for the best education of every child.
1. CONSENT AGENDA:
Minutes of
February 15, 2005 Board Minutes. MOTION: W. Felton. MOVED to approve all the minutes. SECOND: B. Tatro. DISCUSSION: R. Marra
said that R. Thackston was the Board Member that
responded saying that the District was paying the attorney fees for D. Gurian not C. Cardine as stated
in the minutes. VOTE: 10.194/0/0/4.806. Motion
passes.
2. CORRESPONDENCE AND ANNOUNCEMENT:
K. Dassau reported that the high school principal search process would continue on March 15, 2005. This is when the two candidates will visit the district, meet the administrative team, community members, students, the faculty and staff.
R. Mara wished to congratulate J. Stark for receiving the State Champion in cross- country Skiing.
R. Marra wished to congratulate the swim team on a successful season.
3. STUDENT
COUNCIL CONCERNS:
No report.
4. SCHOOL BOARD COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Board Committee Reports:
1. Community Relations Committee: A. Gross handed out the minutes of the Feb. 28, 2005 meeting to the Board. He reviewed the information passed out. He informed the Board that the committee did not have a quorum. He wanted to thank K. Cota and C. Dreyfuss for all of their work on getting information out to the district voters.
R. Marra mentioned having an orientation for the new Board Members and the full Board. A. Gross mentioned having the session in Gilsum. K. Dassau suggested that someone from the NHSBA come and run the orientation. D. Gurian mentioned that she would be working on getting someone to run the orientation.
2. Facilities Committee: B. Tatro reported that the committee is going under the assumption that the new addition has been approved. He said that some contractors have submitted qualifications and have shown interest. This information will be reviewed at the next meeting on Friday March 4, 2005.
3. Finance Committee: W. Wright informed the Board that the committee has not met. The next meeting will be on March 18, 2005 at 8:00 AM.
4. Policy Committee: W. Felton reported that the committee did not meet because of school vacation. He said that the committee is working on items that will go over to the next committee.
5. Ad Hoc Advisory Committee: R. Marra hopes that the ADHOC Committee continues after the new Board is assembled. He said that the Board had agreed at looking at the starting times of school and a Public School Foundation.
5. PUBLIC COMMENTS: No comments.
6. OTHER
SCHOOL BOARD BUSINESS
A. New Business: 2005-2006 Calendar: MOTION: D. Gurian MOVED to accept the 2005-2006 School calendar as presented. SECOND: W. Wright. DISCUSSION: A. Gross asked how it conflicts with the Keene calendar. R. Marra explained that C. Cardine informed the Board that it was as close as possible.
[R. Thackston arrives.] VOTE:
11.215/0/0/3.785.
Review of the Budget Process: D. Gurian suggested forming a committee to look at the budget process this year and to see how it worked. She said that it could be a committee of about 5 or 6 people and she would be willing to serve as a community member. J. Fortson suggested a lesson on the budget process and what to expect. K. Dassau said that he and Dr. Lafleur could do a presentation on special education similar to the one they did for the Budget Committee.
Leave Extension Request: K. Dassau informed the Board that A. Beaudry-Torrey has asked for an extension of her fellowship at Keene State College. Betty Tatro gave the qualifications for the fellowship. Bruce Tatro asked about past practices. K. Dassau explained that the fellowship was for two years but now the college offered to extend it to a third year.. MOTION: R. Thackston MOVED to grant the extension request to A. Beaudry-Torrey for her fellowship at KSC. SECOND: D. Gurian. DISCUSSION: Betty Tatro said that the cost difference between the teacher and the substitute is about $10,000.00. R. Marra asked what the recommendation of the administration was. K. Dassau believed it was the same as in the past. K. Cota commented that she would not vote against the motion because she feels that there is a time issue. She would like the way of paying looked at. MOTION: Bruce Tatro MOVED to amend the motion to be contingent upon KSC pick up the salary and the district pay the substitute portion. SECOND: W. Wright. DISCUSSION: K. Cota said that she is not comfortable sending this back with a limit. G. White asked why it was good for the district. Betty Tatro said that A. Beaudry-Torrey would return to the classroom with new ideas and models of best practice. VOTE on amendment: 2.293/7.040/1.882/3.785. Motion fails. DISCUSSION: Bruce Tatro asked at what point is the Board going to say no. R. Marra would like A. Beaudry-Torrey to describe her fellowship experience to the Board in the spring. VOTE: 8.154/1.179/1.882/3.785. Motion passes.
Article Letters: C. Dreyfuss has drafted letters to support Article One and Article Three. She has asked that the Board and the Budget Committee support the articles by signing the letters. The letters will then be handed out to the voters or blown up and posted. R. Thackston said that he would be happy to sign the letters.
B. Old
Business: Middle School Principal Search: A. Gross reported that the
committee has met twice to review the applicants and resumes. He explained that
the process will continue and the committee should have a recommendation in a
month. G. White asked how many applicants applied. A. Gross explained that 13
people applied.
C. Curriculum Report: No report.
D. 21st Century Report: No report.
E. Action on the Manifest: MOTION: A. Gross MOVED the manifest in the amount of $761,611.35. SECOND: J. Friedman. DISCUSSION: W. Felton asked about a payment to the postmaster. He assumed it was the Swanzey post office. He was correct. VOTE: 8.668/0/2.547/3.785. Motion passes.
7. Superintendent’s Report: K. Dassau reported that Superintendent Cardine is not feeling well and was unable to attend tonight. W. Wright asked that information on the superintendent’s health be provided before the meetings.
8. PUBLIC COMMENTS: J. Fortner said that she has a son in the class where A. Beaudry-Torrey teaches. She said the substitute is doing a great job.
9. Board Chair Report: R. Marra commented on the final meeting of the 2004-2005 year
for the present Board. He has enjoyed running the meetings. He appreciates the
cooperation from all of the Board Members and the attendance of the members at
the meetings. He thanked M. Mathis for her service on the Board. He thanked D. Gurian for everything she has done for the district. He
said that she is a passionate voice for every child. D. Gurian
said that it was all worth it and that she enjoyed her service on the board.
10. SETTING UP THE NEXT MEETING’S AGENDA:
1. Swearing in of the new Board Members and district officers.
2. Elect Chair and Vice Chair
3. Committees
4. Review District Vote
5. Mini-orientation
6. Full orientation at a future date
11. ADJOURNMENT: C. Dreyfuss.
MOVED to adjourn the meeting at 7:55 PM. SECOND: K. Cota
VOTE: 11.215/0/0/3.785.Motion passes.
Respectfully submitted,
Laura L. Aivaliotis
MRSD Secretary