MONADNOCK REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

Board Meeting Minutes

April 5, 2005

Cutler Elementary School, Swanzey, NH

Present: Robin Marra, Richard Thackston, Colline Dreyfuss, Gene White, Bruce Tatro, Alan Gross, Karen Cota, John Morin, Bruce McCulley, Jonathan Kenyon, Jason Hill, Jeff Friedman and James Carnie. Absent: Charles Johnson, Tim Aho.

Also present: K. Dassau, Asst. Supt., D. Hodgdon, Dir. of Curriculum and L. Biron, Business Manager. Principals: D. Mousette, K. Craig, S. Rashid, J. Smith, K. Carter, and B. Tatro.

R. Thackston reminded the Board of their mission to strive for the best education of every child.

1 CONSENT AGENDA:

Minutes of March 15 2005, public minutes and March 22, 2005 public and non-public minutes. MOTION: C. Dreyfuss MOVED to approve all minutes. SECOND: K. Cota. VOTE: 11.533/0/.703/2.764. Motion passes.

2. CORRESPONDENCE AND ANNOUNCEMENT: R. Thackston handed out and read an invitation to the Board inviting them to the CCC Open House.

R. Thackston handed out and read the board policy concerning the adjourning of a Board Meeting when the motion to continue after 10:00 PM is defeated.

R. Thackston informed the Board that the legal action between D. Gurian and J. Carnie, et.al. had been resolved. R. Thackston said that he and all other participants signed the agreement.

R. Thackston said that he had received phone calls and e-mails regarding the early dismissal at Mt. Caesar. He informed the Board that K. Dassau and Betty Tatro have addressed new procedures for the building.

K. Dassau reported on the health of Supt. Cardine. C. Cardine continues to recuperate from pneumonia.

K. Dassau informed the Board that the SAU had received a letter from parents at Cutler congratulating S. Rashid and the staff for the most recent evacuation due to smoke in the building.

K. Dassau informed the Board that a local artist on the level of work commended Deb Crowder and the high school art class on their exhibit at the Colony Mill.

Assistant Principal Smith passed out an anonymous survey to the Board and asked that it be returned at the next Board Meeting. The survey is part of the NEASC Report.

The Emerson Newsletter and the Curriculum Notes from D. Hodgdon were passed out to the Board Members.

R. Thackston reminded the Board that the NHSBA will be hosting a 2005 Board Orientation in Concord and Littleton.

3. STUDENT COUNCIL CONCERNS: No representative present.

4. PUBLIC COMMENTS: Terri Macie-Kenny was concerned about the fact that when Mt. Caesar had an early dismissal a child was sent home to a house where the parents were not home. She met with many people and thanked R. Thackston and B. Tatro and the others involved.

W. Imon would suggest video taping the committee meetings.

R. Bauries thanked the Board for the tapes of the Deliberative Session. He was wondering if the agenda was going to stay the same as tonight. He was concerned that the Public Comments were no longer after the Committee Reports. He also feels that the whole Board should be involved in the items of the committees not just 5 or 6 people. R. Thackston said that he rearranged the agenda just in case the meeting was adjourned at 10:00 PM.

5. SCHOOL BOARD COMMITTEE REPORTS:

A. Review of Committee Membership and Chairs

B. Finalization of Committee Appointments: R Thackston reviewed the voted committee chairs and appointed himself as the legislative rep. and the budget committee rep. He appointed J. Carnie as the MC2 rep. and A. Gross as the CCC rep. G. White asked about Community Relations appointing a rep. to the legislature. He also commented that J. Morin had said that he was interested in continuing to be the MC2 rep. R. Thackston said that he had asked the Board to sign up for committees that they wanted with two exceptions. He asked what the will of the Board would be on these assignments. C. Dreyfuss said that she was unaware that when signing up they were to choose the 4 committees in question. She wanted to know if anyone else interpreted it that way. MOTION: C. Dreyfuss MOVED to appoint K. Cota as the budget rep. SECOND: J. Morin. VOTE: 12.394/0/1.021/1.585. Motion passes. MOTION: K. Cota MOVED to remove herself from the negotiations committee. SECOND: C. Dreyfuss. DISCUSSION: J. Carnie pointed out that removing K. Cota the total would be back to six members. VOTE: 12.394/0/1.021/1.585. Motion passes. MOTION: G. White MOVED to appoint J. Morin to be the MC2 rep. SECOND: A. Gross. DISCUSSION: J. Morin informed the Board that any member can attend the meetings but they feel that one member is enough. K. Carter discussed the advisory committee and explained that the makeup of the committee originally had been one School Board Member. R. Bauries asked if the MC2 was a course as C. Cardine had explained at a budget meeting. K. Carter explained that the MC2 under current standards is a program under the MRHS. The students graduating from the MC2 will be receiving a diploma from MRHS. R. Thackston would recommend that the Policy Committee review the handling of the committees. MOTION: J. Carnie MOVED to amend the motion to recommend that 2 members be placed on the MC2 Advisory Committee. SECOND: J. Hill. DISCUSSION: J. Carnie explained that he has concerns and it says no place were there has to be only one member. B. McCulley asked if the member to the MC2 Advisory Committee has voting rights. K. Carter explained that it is not a formal vote, it is not a decision making advisory. Vote on amendment: 5.456/5.830/2.129/1.585. Motion fails. VOTE on the main motion: 10.094/1.121/2.2/1.585. Motion passes. MOTION: G. White MOVED to appoint R. Thackston as the Leg. Rep. and A. Gross as the CCC Rep. SECOND: C. Dreyfuss. VOTE: 12.394/0/1.021/1.585. Motion passes. B. McCulley suggested that the Board form a formal committee to oversee the MC2 Program. J. Morin commented that the MC2 committee is an advisory committee they follow the School Board guidelines. A. Gross and C. Dreyfuss commented that it is a program within the MRSD. B. McCulley commented that the Northern Schools Committee was formed. J. Carnie suggested that the Board form an education committee. K. Cota commented that the Northern Schools Committee is short term and she is not in favor of a committee to oversee just the MC2 but she will support an education committee. MOTION: B. McCulley MOVED to review the existing committees and their methods of appointments. SECOND: J. Carnie. DISCUSSION: B. Tatro commented that R. Thackston was not following the agenda. He apologized for the oversight. VOTE: 5.703/5.354/2.358/1.585. Motion passes.

C. Board Committee Reports:

1. Facilities Committee: C. Dreyfuss commented on a newspaper article which commented on the NEASC Report in 1996 which did not mention the cafeteria. AN earlier version of the report did mention the cafeteria. C. Dreyfuss reported to the Board that she was named Chair, K. Cota, Vice Chair and J. Kenyon secretary of this committee. They met on March 25, 2005, April 1, 2005 and will be meeting on April 7, 2005. The committee discussed space at the high school for the Autism Program. They discussed the Life Skills space was cited by the dept of education’s recent special education program approval process as not permitting grades 7-12 to be in the same program. To address this issue the committee was suggested the use of short term temporary trailers. She informed the Board that J. Fortson is the official budget member with no voting rights.

2. Policy Committee: G. White reported that the committee met on March 22, 2005 and will be meeting on April 12, 2005. The committee is working on the Gilsum issue, a purchase policy, Food Service and Nutrition and Section I. They will be working on Article 14 and Article 16 from the Deliberative Session and now the committee assignments.

3. Community Relations: A. Gross reported that the committee has not met but will be meeting on April 12, 2005.

4. Northern Schools Committee: B. McCulley reported that the committee met

this past Wednesday in Surry and agreed to distribute a survey to all the parents in

the Northern towns. The next meeting is in Sullivan on April 13, 2005.

5. The Cheshire Career Center: A. Gross said that he would wait until the next

Board Meeting to give his report.

6. Ad Hoc Advisory Committee: R. Thackston said that he has no plans to call this committee until he hears from a Committee Chair. This will no longer be on the agenda.

6. SCHOOL BOARD FINANCES:

A. Report of Finance Committee: B. McCulley reported that the committee met and reviewed the budget expenditures. They discussed the outcome of the vote and the budget proposals. He explained that the District has a very good cash position. B. McCulley reviewed the numbers with the Board. B. McCulley was named the chair of this committee.

B. Impact of Budget as Passed by District:

1. Recommendation of Administration: B. McCulley explained that L. Biron presented the recommendations from the administration to the Finance Committee. B. McCulley informed the Board that the committee voted to recommend to the Board the support and adoption on the recommendations made by the administration.

2. Action of Board: S. Rashid made copies of the recommendations for the Board and the Board will discuss this later.

C. Action on the Manifest:

1. Review Balance Sheet: B. McCulley already reviewed the numbers with

the Board Members.

2. Discussion & Vote on Manifest: MOTION: C. Dreyfuss MOVED the

manifest in the amount of $1,773,785.70. SECOND: J. Morin. DISCUSSION: K. Cota asked about Tri State Acoustics. L. Biron said it was probably the cafeteria. Harrisville School District was a MRPSOC payment for the aspiring principals program. Masiello Travel previously was for the Community School Initiative Grant. B. McCulley informed the Board that he is employed by American Express and he will abstain on the manifest when it appears. VOTE: 7.801/0/5.614/1.585. Motion passes.

7. OTHER SCHOOL BOARD BUSINESS:

A.New Business: J. Carnie would like to request that all new School Board Members receive a complete copy of the Accreditation Report. C. Dreyfuss commented that the report was 61 pages long. J. Carnie would like the most recent report. C. Dreyfuss and K. Cota have copies the rest of the Board will be receiving them. L. Biron suggested that it be sent to Marathon because it is a big job.

B. Old Business: D. Hodgdon updated the Board on the Middle School Principal

Search. He explained that the committee has narrowed it down to two candidates. John Barth and Matthew Young are the candidates. The committee will discuss the site visit process and will be making a recommendation at the end of April to the Supt. and then the Supt. will recommend to the School Board.

Action by the Board on the recommendations by the administration under 6-B: MOTION: B. McCulley MOVED to accept and adopt the recommendations made by the administration. SECOND: B. Tatro. VOTE: 11.033/1.114/1.268/1.585. Motion passes.

C. Curriculum Report: S. Rashid updated the Board on the Behavior Program at

Cutler. He said that there are 5 students. The goal is to include them with

other students. The student classroom is in a modular. J. Morin asked if it was “short term or temporary.” S. Rashid commented that he would like to have 1 instructional teacher for every two students but finding qualified people is difficult. He said that a total of twelve students would be the cap for the program. A. Gross said that he was disappointed that he felt the program could not be housed inside Cutler. S. Rashid said that a two-story addition in the front of the building would give him the space. He commented that he presently is using the basement as classroom space.

8. Superintendent’s Report: Assistant Supt. K. Dassau informed the Board that he has two items under non-public. He welcomed the new Board Members and the new Budget Committee Members.

9. Board Chair Report:

A. Goals & Aspirations: R. Thackston commented his goal as chair is that as time passes members will work together and everyone will be on the same page working toward the same goal. That goal is to help the district move forward.

B. Board Training & Orientation: R. Thackston suggested Saturday April 16, 2005 at 9:00 AM for the meeting in the Monadnock High School Library. K. Dassau reminded the Board that at one point they had considered a member from the NHSBA attending to facilitate the meeting. A. Gross thought it was a great idea. MOTION: C. Dreyfuss MOVED to schedule the Board Training and Orientation on April 16, 2005 at 9:00 AM in the MRHS Library, even if the administration can not find an outside consultant. SECOND: K. Cota. DISCUSSION: J. Morin asked if there was a fee to the consultant. It was explained that there would be. R. Thackston suggested that the consultant be someone from in house. R. Thackston asked K. Dassau and D. Hodgdon be available. They responded that they would. VOTE: 11.180/1.21/1.114/1.585. Motion passes.

10. SETTING UP THE NEXT MEETING’S AGENDA:

1. Committees

2. Manifest

3. Review Board Orientation

R. Thackston explained that he would be emailing the proposed agendas and submitting them to the Supt. for finalization. He asked that if anyone has any ideas to e-mail him.

11. SECOND PUBLIC COMMENTS: S. Rashid corrected a comment he had made about class size.

Terri Macie-Kenny asked that the Board to put the safety of the children first and deal with the policies second. She asked if this would ever happen again. K. Dassau said that EBCD is very vague and the Board may want to be review and modify for the unique circumstances and incorporate the additional information. B. McCulley had a micromanage concern. R. Thackston suggested sending it to Policy. K. Craig suggested that all schools be able to give input. MOTION: K. Cota MOVED to refer the early dismissal situation to Policy. SECOND: C. Dreyfuss. DISCUSSION: J. Morin commented that in some cases they need to listen and react at different times. VOTE: 11.122/0/2.293/1.585. MOTION passes.

12. 9:15 PM Non Public Session. RSA 91-A:3(b) Teacher Nominations 2005-2006. R. Marra MOVED to enter into non-public session for the purpose of teacher nominations. SECOND: C. Dreyfuss VOTE: Roll Call Vote. Unanimous for those present.

9:45 PM A. Gross MOVED to return to public session. SECOND: J. Hill. VOTE: 13.415/0/0/1.585. Motion passes.

9:47 PM. A. Gross MOVED to enter into non-public session for RSA 91-A:3II(i) to discuss litigation. SECOND: J. Morin. VOTE: 13.415/0/0/1.585. Motion passes. Roll call vote was taken.

10:10 PM B. Tatro MOVED to return to public session. SECOND: K. Cota. VOTE: 13.415/0/0/1.585. Motion passes.

13. 10:15 ADJOURNMENT: B. Tatro MOVED to adjourn . SECOND: A. Gross. VOTE: Unanimous for those present. Motion passes.

Respectfully submitted,

Laura L. Aivaliotis

MRSD Secretary