Board Meeting Minutes
Present:
Also present: K. Dassau, Asst. Supt. and L. Biron, Business Manager, T. Warner, Dir. of Computer Tech. Principals: D. Mousette, K. Craig, D. Dahl and B. Tatro; Joe Smith, and Adrienne Noel. Student Council Representative: Allison Dreyfuss
R. Marra reminded the Board of its mission statement: to provide the best education for every child.
1. CONSENT AGENDA:
Minutes of
2.
CORRESPONDENCE
AND ANNOUNCEMENT:
Tour of Gilsum Elementary: D. Mousette welcomed everyone to the
R. Marra announced that at the NH Bradley F. Kidder Educational Law Conference, Doug Hatfield was the recipient of the Outstanding Service to the field of School Law Award.
The Supt. and R. Marra had received formal requests from members of the audience to be placed on the agenda. R. Marra felt the agenda was light so it was not necessary.
Attny. Joe Hoppock attended the Board Meeting on a request of the Superintendent to discuss the Wilcox property.
C. Dreyfuss announced that she recently became a student mentor and asked that any other Board Member interested in mentoring contact her.
J. Friedman thanked the
3.
STUDENT COUNCIL
CONCERNS: A. Dreyfuss reported to the Board that there will be a high
school dance on
4. SCHOOL BOARD COMMITTEE
REPORTS:
Board Committee Reports:
1. Community Relations Committee: D.
Gurian informed the Board that the Communications Committee has not met but
will meet on
2. Facilities Committee: B. Tatro informed that the Board that the Facilities Committee has not met but will meet on Oct. 22, 2004 with the Finance Committee and hear a presentation on the addition to the high school.
3. Finance Committee: W. Wright confirmed
too that the Finance Committee will be meeting on
4. Policy Committee: W. Felton reported that the 7 page document on the hazing policy had been passed out to the Board at the last meeting. MOTION: W. Felton MOVED to accept the updated policy on hazing as presented by the Policy Committee. SECOND: C. Dreyfuss. DISCUSSION: R. Marra commented that hazing has recently been a serious issue in the state. VOTE: 13.979/0/0/0. Motion passes. MOTION: W. Felton MOVED to accept Proposal 2 as received in writing as Policy. SECOND: C. Dreyfuss DISCUSSION: It was explained that the process is part of the product. W. Felton commented that the proposal is in response to R. Marra’s mandate to the Policy Committee. W. Felton explained that the board committees could modify the form .R. Thackston objects to the intent and the design of this policy. He feels that this policy’s intent is to close discussion. C. Dreyfuss responded that the Board will make the motion and there will always be discussion. This is to eliminate the confusion of the proposals and to put everyone on the same page. M. Mathis said that she is not able to attend every committee meeting and feels this proposal would make everything a lot easier. W. Wright agreed with R. Thackston. K. Cota explained an effort to eliminate the confusion the difference of opinion would be in the minutes of the meetings. R. Thackston said that he has no problem with the form. D. Gurian said that she does not feel that this policy would limit discussion or concerns. C. Dreyfuss said that the discussion tonight has been going on in this format. VOTE: 9.889/2.135/1.955/0. Motion passes. W. Felton informed the Board that the committee would be discussing nutritional concerns at the next meeting.
ADHOC Committee: R. Marra wanted to
clarify the Sentinel saying that the Policy Committee was not taking up the
Northern Schools Issue. The ADHOC Committee will meet on
5. PUBLIC COMMENTS: D. Connell asked R. Marra questions about the composition of the administrative negotiating team and the impact of the contracts on the taxes. He asked questions of other board members.
J. Carnie asked questions on the administration of the MRPSOC Grant. He passed out a packet concerning the MRPSOC Grant to the Board. He believes the grant stated the SAU as the grantee not the MRSD Board. R. Marra will review the interpretation with the superintendent.
R. Bauries commented that he felt there may be conflict of interest on the MRPSOC Grant.
6. OTHER SCHOOL BOARD BUSINESS:
A. New
Business:
1. NH Law Conference Update: R. Marra: R.
Marra reported that on
B. Old Business:
1.
Wilcox
Update: Attorney J.
Hoppock updated the Board on the situation on the
2. Board Retreat Sept. 11 Board Goal 4 Discussion: R. Marra read Goal 4 to the Board “Every child in the MRSD will be provided a safe, clean, effective facility in which to learn.” No changes were suggested by the administration review. Changes will be to update the capital improvement plan and develop, a 5-10 year facility update and continue to update maintenance.
3. Changing the Date of Nov. 2, 2004 Meeting: W. Wright explained that he would be counting ballots and R. Marra explained that he has been asked to give an analysis on the outcome of the vote. After discussion the Nov. 2, 2004 will remain as scheduled.
C. Curriculum Report: No report.
D. 21st Century Report: No report.
E.
Action on the Manifest: MOTION: B. Tatro MOVED the
manifest in the amount of $ 1,699,293.83. SECOND:
W. Wright. DISCUSSION: The
charge for a criminal check was asked. L.
Biron said that they are $34.00 each and average
about $3300.00 a year. C. Dreyfuss asked about an Easter Seals payment. That is
a special ed. tuition payment. L. Biron would look up Vendor 79, not sure off the top of his
head. J. Carnie asked if there were any payments for
F.
.3this time. VOTE: 12.958/0/1.021/0.
Motion passes.
7.
Superintendent’s Report: Assistant
Supt. K. Dassau stated that the Superintendent was regretfully unable to attend
due to health reasons. The HS Principal Search Committee had its
first meeting last week. They will be meeting on Oct. 27 and Oct. 29 to discuss
the qualities they will be looking for in the applicants.
K. Dassau noted that the MC2 School was featured in
the Sunday Keene Sentinel for its part in being a member of the First Amendment
Schools.
8. PUBLIC
COMMENTS: D. Connell asked L. Biron
what amount of money the district would loose if a child was to leave the
school district. L. Biron said it is $3300.00 per student. D. Connell asked W.
Wright, who was the chair of negotiations at the time, if he took into account
the repercussions of the increased taxes. W. Wright said that they had but they
also looked at the fact that the staff deserved the increases. The people voted on it and we negotiated in
good faith. T. Aho commented that in 1999 and before the step raises were
included now they are separate and a 3˝ % raise turns into a 5% raise. L. Biron
explained that the step is included in the percentage voted on. There is no
additional increase. R. Thackston commented that the contracts were brought to
the Deliberative Session and voted on. It was one of the most successful votes on
the ballot passed by the voters. R. Marra commented that the Board and the
Budget Committee supported the contracts. J. Gomarlo supported the contracts
and said that without the teachers the children would have nothing. R. Marra
informed the Board that he had received a salary schedule of the teachers in NH
and the teachers in Monadnock school district are not out of line. L. Biron commented
that the potential impact was written out. R. Thackston said that no one could
have anticipated the dramatic decrease in state aid.
9. Board Chair Report: No report.
10. SETTING UP THE NEXT MEETING’S AGENDA:
1.
Committees
2.
Curriculum Report
3.
21st
Century Report
11. NON PUBLIC SESSION: None
12. ADJOURNMENT: 9:25 PM J. Friedman MOVED to adjourn. SECOND: A. Gross. VOTE: Unanimous
for those present. Motion Passes.
Laura L. Aivaliotis
MRSD Secretary