MONADNOCK REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

Board Meeting Minutes

February 28, 2006

Monadnock Regional Middle School/High School, Swanzey, NH

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

Also present: K. Dassau, Superintendent of Schools; D. Hodgdon, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction; L. Biron, Business Manager; and T. Warner, Director of Technology.� Principals: D. Dahl, D. Mousette, and B. Tatro.

 

R. Thackston called the meeting to order at 7:06 p.m.

 

1.�������� CONSENT AGENDA:

Minutes of February 14 meeting.� MOTION:� A. Gross MOVED to approve the minutes of February 14, 2006.� SECOND:� J. Kenyon.� VOTE:� 8.98/0/3.878/2.142.� Motion passes.�

 

2.�������� CORRESPONDENCE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS: No correspondence or announcements were brought before the school board.

 

3.                  STUDENT GOVERNMENT REPORT: No representative was present.�

 

4.                  PUBLIC COMMENTS: In the capacity of a citizen, K. Cota read an email about athletics at the high school and the pay-to-play concept.� This topic was scheduled to be discussed later in the meeting.

 

5.                  OLD BUSINESS:� There was no old business at this meeting.

 

6.������� SCHOOL BOARD COMMITTEE REPORTS:

A. Community Relations Report: A. Gross indicated that the community relations committee had not met since the last meeting.  He highlighted the MRSD School District Bulletin composed by D. Hodgdon and the letters to the editor about the warrant articles. 

 

B.     Facilities Report: C. Dreyfuss said that the facilities committee met on February 15, reviewed the F. Marinace invoices, and discussed the letters to the editor pertaining to warrant articles relating to the facilities. The next meeting was scheduled for March 15 at 7 p.m.

 

C.     Finance Committee: The finance committee had not met since the previous meeting.

 

D.     Policy Committee: G. White informed the Board that the policy committee was scheduled to meet before the board meeting, but didn’t have a quorum for a good portion of the meeting.  He highlighted the work required of the new policy committee and distributed a sample policy on competency-based assessments for the members to peruse.

 

E.     Budget Committee: K. Cota explained that the budget committee had not met since the last meeting.  The next meeting was scheduled for March 28.    

 

F.      Cheshire Career Center (CCC): A. Gross explained that, even though the search committee to hire a new CCC director had not yet been formed, Superintendent Munson from SAU 29 said that the advisory committee would be represented.

 

G.    SAU Search Committee:  R. Marra indicated that the committee had met with two finalists for the business manager position the evening before the school board meeting and two more the following evening. He explained that the process was consistent with the procedures listed in the SAU manual. In response to an inquiry at the previous meeting, R. Marra explained that a SAU board meeting is not required to establish a search committee. The Superintendent has the authority to set up the committee and its composition. 

 

6.           OTHER SCHOOL BOARD BUSINESS:

A. New Business: Athletics Program: K. Dassau reminded the board that members had requested a presentation on athletics.  E. Cronin agreed to attend the meeting to answer the board member’s questions.  In response to questions, she indicated that she was not aware of any team that practiced seven days a week; the cheerleaders use the gym on Sunday for practice during the winter because of space issues during the week, but they don’t practice one or two days during the week; at the middle school level, all interested students have a chance to play; at the JV level, everybody plays at some point; at the varsity level the opportunity to play is competitive. She explained that the only team that had bought uniforms was the hockey team, because the boosters purchased them when the team was a club. If a student needs a uniform, it will be purchased using school funds.  Students on the swim team practice early in the morning in order to take advantage of the generosity of Keene State College, which doesn’t charge the district for the use of its pool.  The district paid only $216 this past year.  K. Cota asked how much it would cost to get better hours for practice.  E. Cronin did not know, but could check on the price. 

 

A. Gross commented on the value of sports to motivate students.  He talked about the importance of getting more space for athletics, physical education, and intramurals.  He expressed his concern about Sunday sports and commented on the quality of the teams and individual players.  D. Thackston emphasized the value of wrestling.  E. Cronin explained that space was the main reason not to offer this sport.  She highlighted D. Stockwell’s having to turn down a gift of a mat for this purpose because of space issues.  P. Bauries proposed the use of the Mt. Caesar multi-purpose room, although Betty Tatro explained that the multi-purpose room was in use many afternoons and evenings.  D. Thackston suggested that, when D. Stockwell was considering the wrestling program, the cafeteria annex had not been built.  That space might be usable at this point.   K. Cota emphasized the need for a sports program that is fair and balanced for all students – one where students maintain a strong academic performance.  C. Kahn expressed concern about the eligibility requirements and the possibility that students could play while failing.  J. Kenyon MOVED that the school board adopt a policy of a “C” average in at least 5 subjects and a passing grade in all subjects, if the student is enrolled in more than five.  SECOND: A Gross.  J. Kenyon agreed to rescind the original motion and A. Gross the second.  J. Kenyon then MOVED that the policy committee review a policy of a “C” average in at least 5 subjects and a passing grade in all subjects, if the student is enrolled in more than five.  SECOND: A Gross. VOTE:  12.858/0/0/2.142.  Vote passed.

 

Surry Charter School Request:  F. Conroy explained that the Surry organization he represents had spoken with the state Commissioner of Education and had applied to the state to get a charter school approved.  He was optimistic that it would be approved and was seeking the use of the Surry School building to house the charter school beginning with kindergarten through grade 5 in the fall of 2006.  He explained that the charter school committee would consider other options, but would prefer using the school building and wanted to inform the state of a possible building site for the charter school by mid-March.  D. Thackston explained that the request was complicated by the town’s move to withdraw from the district and to secure the school as part of the withdrawal.  He recommended that the charter school group speak to the members of the withdrawal group.  He indicated that it would be imprudent for the board to make a decision at the current meeting.  C. Dreyfuss agreed with D. Thackston and suggested that making a decision on the building at this meeting was not consistent with the normal procedures of the school board.  G. White asked about the issue of going directly to the state for approval of the charter school, the funds coming from the state money for the district for the charter school ($3,500 for each student), and the use of this money to pay for the rent of the Surry School.  R. Marra MOVED to support the charter school’s entering into a discussion to explore the feasibility of using Surry School as a charter school. SECOND:  K. Cota.  VOTE:  10.903/.776/0/3.321.  Vote passed.  J. Kenyon MOVED to request the policy committee develop a policy to guide the school board as it deals with charter school requests. SECOND:  C. Johnson.  VOTE:  11.744/0/1.114/2.142.  Vote passed.

 

Use of Funds Potentially Available If Insurance is Lower Than Anticipated:  T. Aho MOVED that, when the district gets the exact figure for insurance, if the figure is lower than the estimate, there be an accounting of where the additional money is spent.  SECOND: J. Kenyon.  K. Dassau explained that the school board will be notified of all accounts through the business manager’s monthly expense reports. In addition the budget oversight committee, a subcommittee of the budget committee, would be monitoring such expenditures.  G. White expressed concern that the motion suggests that something dishonest would be occurring with the additional funds.  VOTE:  3.316/9.542/0/2.214.  Vote failed. 

 

C. Curriculum Report:  D. Hodgdon indicated that no curriculum report was planned.

 

D. Action on the manifest: MOTION: A. Gross MOVED the manifest in the amount of $1,038,286.75. SECOND: R. Marra. DISCUSSION: Members asked about SymQuest, GA Bell, Amer Electric, Consolidated Electric, Stromgren and Melanson.  VOTE: 8.768/0/4.09/2.142. Motion passes.

 

7.                  SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT:

K. Dassau informed the board that there was the need for a non-public session regarding a student issue.  He also mentioned the power outage the previous Friday; and the request from Bruce Bohannon, Swanzey’s Emergency Management Director, to use the high school as an emergency location, if needed. K. Dassau complimented the work of B. Bohannon and the value of engaging in the process of planning if an emergency were declared in the future.  He also distributed data on the ratio of administrators to students for each school in the district, since the budget committee had quoted figures on administrator-to-student ratios included on the state website.

 

8.                  BOARD CHAIR REPORT:

R. Thackston thanked A. Gross and R. Marra for their service to the board.  He also asked if the board wanted another meeting before voting day.  The consensus was to not to add another meeting before March 21.  

 

 9.        SETTING UP THE NEXT MEETING’S AGENDA:

1.            Committee Reports

2.            Election of Officers

3.            Adoption of Calendar

4.            Transportation Negotiations

5.            Review of Vote

 

10.       SECOND PUBLIC COMMENTS: R. Marra thanked D. Thackston for his gracious remarks.  He talked about the challenging year and underscored no regrets at serving on the board.  One of his proudest accomplishments was helping to shepherd the middle school in the district.  He wished the board the best of luck during the upcoming year. 

 

11.       Non-public Session. MOTION: C. Dreyfuss MOVED to enter into non-public session for the purpose of a student issue under RSA 91 A:3 II ©. SECOND: J. Kenyon. Roll call: T. Aho, K. Cota, K. Colby, C. Dreyfuss, J. Friedman, A. Gross, J. Hill, C. Johnson, J. Kenyon, R. Marra, B. Tatro, R. Thackston, Gene White.  VOTE: 12.858/0/0/2.142. Motion passes.

 

12.       ADJOURNMENT: MOTION: J. Kenyon MOVED to adjourn at 9:31 P.M.     SECOND: C. Dreyfuss. VOTE: 12.858/0/0/2.142. Motion passes.

  

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

Dr. David G. Hodgdon

Acting MRSD Secretary