MONADNOCK REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

Board Meeting Minutes

May 4, 2004

Emerson School, Fitzwilliam, NH

 

Present: Dixie Gurian, Chair Robin Marra, Karen Cota, Richard Thackston, William Felton, Winston Wright, Tim Aho, Gene White, Colline Dreyfuss, Bruce Tatro, Alan Gross, Jeff Friedman, Marianne Mathis and Sam Johnson. Absent: John Morin. 

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

 

R. Marra reminded the Board they are here to strive for the best education of every child.

 

R. Marra asked for a change in the agenda. Two candidates have come forward to fill the vacant Gilsum Board seat. He asked the candidates to tell about themselves.  Marianne Mathis is a parent of a first grader at Gilsum.  Chuck Johnson has been a Board Member before.  C. Dreyfuss asked about any concerns that M. Mathis had about Gilsum. M. Mathis explained that she had concerns about the triple classrooms. W. Felton asked M. Mathis about the Northern Schools learning experience. She replied that so far it has been a positive experience.  R. Thackston asked C. Johnson about the Northern Schools. He said that it is very broad but the schools can work together and solve the problems.

T. Aho arrives.

 

K. Cota asked C. Johnson if he had any children in the District. He replied that he did not. K. Cota asked M. Mathis if she thought of the Northern Schools as part of the whole or a separate issue. M. Mathis said that she considered it part of the whole picture because eventually the children would be going to the high school. She commented that she does not have a problem bussing the children to other schools. She does not think that it is important to stay in the town, what is important is a good education. C. Johnson commented that he disagreed. He feels that it would be important for the children to stay in their own towns at least until 3rd grade. VOTE: 8.922/1.179/2.911/3.167. R. Marra swears in M. Mathis as the new Gilsum Board Member. He explained that the Gilsum vote is .81%.

 

1.         CONSENT AGENDA:

Minutes of April 20, 2004 Board Meeting. MOTION: W. Felton MOVED to approve the minutes. SECOND: T. Aho.  VOTE: 9.475/0/4.046/1.179. Motion passes.

 

CORRESPONDENCE AND ANNOUNCEMENT: C. Cardine informed the Board that J. Goodell, B. Toye and M. Lorenzo had earned the National Merit Awards.

 

C. Cardine mentioned that the paper will be reporting on the Service Learning project that had been completed. This story will be about the new sign in front of the SAU.

 

The Sentinel featured an article on the Colony Cabin Cleanup led by Ms. Lambert and MC 2 students.

 

C. Cardine mentioned the spring clean up that will be taking place on May 15, 2004 from 9 AM-12 PM. He is asking for help.

 

C. Cardine handed out the high school calendar of events for the rest of the year to the Board.  He will be emailing the schedule of elementary graduations.

 

C. Cardine informed the Board that the Budget Committee had questions about the posting of the Board’s meetings. C. Cardine handed a list of the posting places to the Board Members in case any constituents had questions about postings.

 

C. Cardine informed the Board that the latest information from D. Hodgdon on the Schools of Choice is going out to all the students in the District and SAU 29.

 

R. Marra asked that the teachers in attendance stand and be recognized.

 

R. Marra mentioned that this past Sunday students from Troy and Emerson were involved in steel drum concert. 

 

STUDENT COUNCIL CONCERNS: R. Marra reported that the prom was a great success. 

 

PUBLIC COMMENTS: D. Connell asked if there was any information on the amount of children that are moving into the new apartment building across from Gomarlo’s. R. Marra commented that if students move in they will have to register and then information would be available.

 

J. Carnie questioned the Board on the reasons for going into non-public session and requested non-public minutes.  R. Thackston responded that the Board had been advised by legal council to seal the minutes.

 

N. Moriarty commented on the vote that will be taken later in the meeting concerning the students of Winchester. He said that it was not the voters of this District or this Board that decided to shut down Thayer High School. He says he feels bad but it is not the District’s problem. He expressed the concern that MRHS is already overcrowded.

 

R. Bauries asked for information on the upcoming SAU Board Meetings.  The meetings are on May 11, 2004 (Monadnock Regional School District SAU Committee) and May 19, 2004 (SAU Board Meeting).  He also commented on how the MRHS could take more students from Thayer when the District is running on a default budget. R. Marra commented that the meeting on May 11, 2004 is for the Monadnock Board and the meeting on May 19, 2004 is the SAU Board Meeting for the three schools: Monadnock, Hinsdale and Winchester. Both of the meetings are open to the public.  

 

5.  Other School Board Business:

 

A.      Board Committee Reports:  

Community Relations Committee: D. Gurian reported the Spring Clean-up Day will be held on May 15, 2004 and asked for any donations of annuals or perennials. The next meeting will be on May 11, 2004 at 5:30 PM. C. Cardine mentioned that each elementary school has it’s own established garden club and anyone can contact the schools principal for information. 

 

2.  Facilities Committee: B. Tatro informed the Board that the committee met on May 1, 2004. The committee reviewed all of the plans since 1985 relative to the high school building. He said there was a lively discussion on what the future of MRHS would look like. The committee has several proposals to bring before the Board but they will go before the Finance Committee first. The next meeting will be on May 10, 2004 at 7:30 AM in the MRHS Conference Room.

 

3. Finance Committee: W. Wright reported that the committee met and discussed the request to overspend in the special education account. The over expenditure will be paid from unanticipated tuition revenue.  R. Marra informed the Board that L. Biron discussed the running track at the meeting. The company in which they had contracted with has declared bankruptcy. The track will be going out to bid and the Board will be kept informed. The next meeting will be on May 28, 2004 at 8:45 AM.

 

4. Policy Committee: W. Felton indicated a report had been distributed to the board from the committee. The next meeting will be on May 12, 2004 at 5:30 PM in the Conference Room. W. Felton is asking for comments at the next meeting on the Sexual Harassment and Anti-Harrassment Policies.  W. Felton read the School Board Committee Procedure to the Board and audience.

 

5. Negotiations Committee: R. Marra reported that this committee met on April 30, 2004 and he was named chair. The committee discussed the Superintendent Evaluation. The next meeting will be on May 11, 2004 at 9:00 AM. The committee will be bringing a recommendation to the full Board on May 18, 2004.

 

6. ADHOC Committee: R. Marra reported that this committee is a monthly meeting of the Committee Chairs. They reviewed the purpose of the committee. He asked each committee chair to inform the rest of the group on what is going on in their committee. The group will be discussing changing the start of the elementary and high school. This would not take place for two years if voted on. He has invited a person from Charlestown to come and speak to the ADHOC Committee about Public School Foundation. The committee discussed the use of the building for a wellness program. The next meeting will be on May 24, 2004 at 5:30 PM.

 

New Business: MRPSOC Grant Update: C. Cardine introduced the program by outlining the grant to the Board. He explained that the funds received from the grant would be coming over 5 years. Antioch New England is in charge of managing the grant. SAU 29, SAU 38, KSC and Antioch all receive funding from the grant.  D. Gurian is the Project Manager of the grant at Antioch. D. Gurian passed out information to the Board concerning the grant. D. Gurian explained the information in the folder and requested that any questions posed could be asked at the next meeting. C. Dreyfuss and K. Cota asked when the Board becomes involved in the process of establishing programs. D. Gurian informed the Board that a Steering Committee consisting of the superintendents of both districts is involved in the decision making.  C. Dreyfuss asked if the Board was involved in the grant.  C. Cardine said that most grants are not a part of the regular budget. A. Gross would like to see workshops to increase opportunities in the classroom. C. Cardine explained that the grant pays for a Masters’ Program for teachers and the Aspiring Principals Program. The grant will be sponsoring a summer tutoring program for the 2nd, 3rd and 4th grades.

 

Transition Team Report: Mt. Caesar: B. Tatro passed out information to the Board regarding the Transition to School. She is also asking for a Board Member to join the committee. K. Shanks and P. Evans along with others have been working for two years on this project. The members did a power point presentation to the Board. K. Cota asked if the students from third grade to forth grade are involved. The answer is no. A. Gross commented on the lack of social skills in which he sees in children. He asked when the committee met. B. Tatro said that they meet for a full day once a month. K. Cota asked if the committee is speaking to established childcare providers. B. Tatro answered yes and they have invited many people. She said they have not as of yet invited the in house childcare providers but intend to. 

 

Old Business: Summer Health Course Request: C. Cardine reported to the Board that 13 students were not able to take a required Health Course because of scheduling problems. He is asking permission to run as summer program for this course. R. Thackston asked the cost of the program. C. Cardine said it was $1300.00 no matter how many students. T. Aho asked what it was. C. Cardine said it was a standard health course that is usually taken during the school year. MOTION: A. Gross MOVED to accept the proposal presented by the administration for a summer Health Course. SECOND: R. Thackston. DISCUSSION: K. Cota said that she would abstain because her daughter is involved. VOTE: 12.460/0/1.361/1.179. Motion passes.

 

Winchester Request: C. Cardine reported that 2 years ago Winchester had asked Monadnock if they could take the Thayer students and now they are requesting that. He said that Pioneer is not interested in the THS Seniors because of the required testing. C. Cardine asked Mr. Smith and Mr. Stockwell to see if it would be possible to take the THS Seniors. The next year 12th graders are at 221 a large class and the 11th graders are at 234 also a large class. He called the guidance counselor from Thayer about the class choices for the seniors and he could not make it work. C. Cardine is recommending that the MRSB does not accept the students from Winchester. He would like to thank D. Stockwell and the staff for searching. MOTION: W. Felton MOVED to accept the recommendation of the administration and not accept the request of the Winchester District. SECOND: T. Aho DISCUSSION: T. Aho requested that the researching information be given to the Board.  R. Marra said that it could be sent to all members of the board.  A. Gross commented that he was disappointed that the Board could not help and wish Winchester well. G. White commented that a parent informed him that she would be paying to send her son to Monadnock. C. Cardine said that they can do it on a one by one basis and only if it fits. K. Cota said that she appreciated the work that was done and is sad at the fact that Winchester is in this position. She said that she is happy that the administration kept the interests of students from Monadnock first.  VOTE: 13.821/0/0/1.179. Motion passes.

 

Adequacy Funding Report: C. Cardine reported that he would be meeting with Mrs. McCullough from Troy and would be bringing a report to the next meeting. T. Aho asked for the information in the next packet.

 

Legal Opinion: Vote of Board Member to Budget Committee: C. Cardine read a letter from Margaret Ann Moran the regarding the vote of a Board Member to the Budget Committee. She is still researching the matter as Monadnock Regional School District has a unique board structure and voting method. T. Aho asked if the committee would then become a 16 member committee. C. Cardine responded “yes”.

 

D. Curriculum Report: Wayne Bartels, Service Learning: The report will be given at the next meeting.

 

C. Cardine passed out the opinion to the Board from the NHSBA on the SAU issue regarding the SAU budget.

 

21st Century Report: Report at next meeting from MC 2.

 

F.      Action on the Manifest: MOTION: W. Wright MOVED the manifest in the amount of $835,685.36. SECOND: W. Felton. DISCUSSION: C. Dreyfuss asked about Layer 3 Technologies. C. Cardine explained that was not in attendance tonight and they would get an answer. At the last meeting a question about COSTA. The account was COSCO a food distributor. K. Cota asked about the Best Western payment last time. K. Dassau explained it was for a seminar. VOTE: 10.512/0/3.309/1.179.

 

6. Superintendent’s Report: C. Cardine reported that the administrators met and discussed the Board’s Goals. They were very much in agreement. The group would like to work on an assessment that would measure the goals. They would like to recommend some minor language changes.  The group appreciated the work that had been done. C. Cardine asked if the Administration and the Board could meet in August or September to talk about the assessments and language changes. R. Marra passed out information to the Board about grouping and tracking. A. Gross would like to add another goal to the list.

 

7. PUBLIC COMMENTS: D. Connell asked why the Board Member to the Budget Committee would have a vote if they had not been elected to the committee.  He also said that on the SAU Budget issue was voted 2 to 1 to keep it separate, the law states it. He also takes objection to limiting the public discussion.

 

J. Carnie read the open meeting law. J. Carnie said that he asked the Board to get a legal opinion and they asked the NHSBA.  He said the Board is illegally going into non-public session.

 

R. Bauries commented that the Board represents 2/3 of the SAU Board. He commented that the Board talks about wanting to get out to the public and urged them to support the SAU ballot issue.

 

8. Board Chair Report: R. Marra commented that the author of the SAU ballot bill says that his intent was different. A subsequential bill has been needed for clarity.  R. Marra commented that any item before the Board is sent to a subcommittee and than a recommendation back to the full Board.  

R. Thackston and T. Aho leave at 9:27 PM. 

 

9. SETTING UP THE NEXT MEETING’S AGENDA:

1.       Committees

2.       MC2

3.       Adequacy

4.       Service Learning

        

Mr. Wright would like the Board to review the Right to Know Law.

 

10. NON PUBLIC SESSION

9:45  PM Wm. Felton MOVED to enter into non-public session in accordance with RSA 91-A:3 for the purpose of discussing  personnel, legal, and approving the non-public minutes of April 20, 2004.  SECOND: B. Tatro. VOTE: Unanimous for those present by a roll call vote. Motion passes

10:40 MOTION: W. Felton MOVED to return to public session. SECOND: A. Gross. VOTE: Unanimous for those present. Motion Passes.

 

11. Adjournment

9:05 W. Felton  MOVED to adjourn. SECOND: C. Dreyfuss. VOTE: Unanimous for those present. Motion Passes

 

 Respectfully submitted,

 

Laura L. Aivaliotis

MRSD Secretary