MONADNOCK REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

Board Meeting Minutes

                                                 July 12, 2005

                              Monadnock Regional Middle/High School, Swanzey, NH

                      

 

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

Also present: D. Hodgdon, Dir. of Curriculum, L. Biron, Business Manager and T. Warner, Dir. of Technology.  Principals: J. Smith, D. Dahl, K. Carter, S. Rashid, B. Tatro and M. Young.

 

R. Thackston called the meeting to order at 7:10 PM.

 

1          CONSENT AGENDA:

Minutes of June 21, 2005 Board Meeting. MOTION: C. Johnson MOVED to approve the minutes.  SECOND: J. Carnie. DISCUSSION: A. Gross commented that he attended a gateway not a graduation as stated in the minutes. VOTE: 5.505/0/2.129/5.362. Motion passes. 

 

            MOTION: B. McCulley MOVED to amend the agenda and allow the Minutes of June 27, 2005 to be taken up at this time. SECOND: J. Kenyon. VOTE: 9.638/0/0/5.362. Motion passes.

 

            Minutes of June 27, 2005 Board Meeting. MOTION: K. Cota MOVED to approve the minutes. SECOND: J. Carnie. DISCUSSION: K. Cota commented that the minutes stated that A. Gross’s motion passed but that was a typo. VOTE: 9.638/0/0/5.362. Motion passes.

 

CORRESPONDENCE AND ANNOUNCEMENT: D. Hodgdon introduced the new Middle School Principal Matt Young to the Board. Matt Young thanked the Board for the opportunity and said that he and his family are very excited.

 

R. Thackston informed the Board that he had received a resignation from C. Dreyfuss concerning the Community Relations Committee. A. Gross commented that he would like to replace her position. B. McCulley commented on the quorum problem on that committee. B. Tatro stated the Board’s policy on a quorum. MOTION: A. Gross MOVED to accept the resignation of C. Dreyfuss from the Community Relations Committee. SECOND: B. McCulley. DISCUSSION: A. Gross commented that he regrets loosing C. Dreyfuss on the committee.  She has a lot of experience. VOTE: 9.638/0/0/5.362. Motion passes.

 

3.            STUDENT COUNCIL CONCERNS: No representative present.

4.         PUBLIC COMMENTS: No comments.

 

5.        SCHOOL BOARD COMMITTEE REPORTS:

             

1.            Community Relations Report: A. Gross informed the Board that he did not have any minutes to pass out. He informed the Board that the committee discussed their goals. The committee has a meeting scheduled but because of vacation conflicts it might be changed.

 

2.  Facilities Report: K. Cota read the report prepared by C. Dreyfuss. She informed the Board that the committee met on July 1, 2005 and will be meeting on July 13, 2005. On July 1, 2005 the committee discussed the Facilities Dir. position qualifications and job description. The committee had a discussion on the septic situation. Linwood Patnode owner of SUR was the guest speaker and gave information on the sewer line project. The boiler was discussed and the committee received 3 bids from M. Pratt. MOTION: K. Cota MOVED to recommend to the full board that Dillon do the re-tubing and refractory work as needed on the boiler for a bid not to exceed $25,400.00. SECOND: C. Johnson. VOTE: 9.638/0/0/5.362. Motion passes. R. Thackston commented that he spoke with C. Dreyfuss and she felt that by following Board Policy and receiving 3 bids the Board would be saving money.  

 

3.  Finance Committee: B. McCulley passed around the unapproved minutes of the June 21, 2005 meeting. Earlier this evening the committee reviewed the balance sheet, which was passed out to the Board. He explained to the Board that the cash on hand is about $419,000.00 and the manifest is in the amount of 1,158.000.00 +. On August 1, 2005 the district will be receiving an Adequacy payment. The committee looked at the MRPSOC grant and other items. R. Thackston asked if the Board would need to renew the line of credit. L. Biron commented that the Board should authorize that today. He said that the district had been strapped for cash twice last year but it was only for a very short time. MOTION: A. Gross MOVED to authorize the School Administration to have a line of credit extended to the School District not to exceed 1 million-dollars. DISCUSSION: B. Tatro questioned whether the motion is appropriate because this item was not on the agenda. R. Thackston asked the will of the Board. B. Tatro thought that the other members who are absent should be able to voice their opinion. B. McCulley asked if the Board would authorize the withdrawal after the line if in place. R. Thackston said no. K. Cota suggested bringing this topic up under “New Business”. A. Gross asked if it would be a problem to wait another meeting. L. Biron said that he would feel more comfortable if it was done tonight. B. McCulley commented that the cash on hand is down and the Board is dependent on the note or the towns. R. Thackston commented that there is no motion to table so he will call for the vote. VOTE: 8.459/1.179/0/5.362. Motion passes.  

 

4.  Policy Committee: G. White passed out Policy BDE for the Board to use as a reference only.

 

G. White explained that the Food Service had requested a policy on the school lunch payment. At the present time there is no policy in place. He said that the committee would like to have the new policy published in the student handbook. T. Stepenuck commented that the books go to the publisher by the beginning of August and the next board meeting would be too late. R. Thackston suggested that this item go under “New Business”.

 

5.  The Cheshire Career Center: A. Gross informed the Board that there was nothing new to report.

 

            6.OTHER SCHOOL BOARD BUSINESS:

             

A. Action on the Manifest: Board still reviewing.

                       

B. New Business:

        Formation of a facilities committee to study use of Surry School: R. Thackston created the following motion: MOTION: C. Johnson MOVED to create a committee called the Special Committee to study use of Surry School and charge this committee to determine the most immediate and beneficial use of the Surry School facilities for the benefit of the School District’s students and the town of Surry. The return date was set for December 15, 2005. The composition of the Committee will be as follows: Board Vice Chair-pro tem, Chair of Facilities, Member of Facilities, Member from Surry, Surry Select board member or their representative, Budget Committee Chair or appointee, Dir. of Curriculum and the Principal of the Northern Schools. DISCUSSION: K. Cota asked if there was a member from the public. R. Thackston commented that the select board would cover that. A. Gross commented that it should be a parent from Surry on the committee. B. McCulley said that was a good move. B. Tatro asked if there was a member from the Finance Committee. J. Carnie is on that committee. R. Thackston would make a friendly amendment and add a voting resident from Surry. B. Tatro asked about a timeline. R. Thackston had December 15, 2005. K. Cota explained that the Budget Committee would not entertain any money issues after November 28, 2005. R. Thackston would amend the motion to the timeline being November 28, 2005. R. Thackston suggested that the select board choose the Surry resident. VOTE on motion with two friendly amendments: 8.935/0/.703/5.362. Motion passes.

 

        MOTION: G. White MOVED to amend the agenda and take action on Policy EFCA School Lunch Payment Policy. SECOND: B. Tatro. DISCUSSION: It was asked if a principal was present. The answer was no. S. Rashid explained that it was mentioned at the retreat and that he was comfortable with the phone calls. A. Gross commented that $5.00 seemed low. G. White explained that the children will not be denied lunch. He said that this is the recommendation of Tom Walsh. It was mentioned that the Board is discussing the agenda change. VOTE: 9.638/0/0/5.362. Motion passes. MOTION: B. Tatro MOVED to accept Policy EFCA School Lunch Payment Policy as presented by the committee. SECOND: G. White. DISCUSSION: K. Cota suggested that the phone calls be documented. That a regular form be used every time. S. Rashid commented that it does not have to be the principal it could be the designee. A friendly amendment to add #5 that would say all contact be documented. J. Carnie commented that he would vote against this recommendation. He commented that they are going after the children that pay and nothing about the children that receive free lunch. B. Tatro commented that the state reimburses the district for the free lunches. L. Biron explained that the district was not paid for $5,000.00 worth of lunches. J. Friedman commented that the amount owed has tripled. L. Biron said that is what contributed to the school lunch deficit. K. Cota was concerned about special circumstances in the home. R. Thackston said that we need to give them someplace to start and if there is a problem than they can come back. A. Gross commented that any principal or counselor should be aware of the family situations. J. Friedman commented that free and reduced lunch is available. G. White informed the Board that the principals could sign a child up for an emergency 45 days of free lunch without the parent’s signature. J. Smith commented that he was not hired to be a bill collector. T. Warner said that he discussed this with T. Walsh. He said that there are parents who feel that they do not have to pay because there is no penalty. T. Walsh is looking for a procedure to make them pay. B. Tatro said that the language was brought about for consistency between the buildings. J. Carnie said that this is nit picking and he would agree with J. Smith. He said that this is absurd and micromanaging. He said that this is ridiculous and that there are a lot better things to do with the time. K. Cota asked if it was brought up at an A-Team meeting. D. Dahl explained that the policy reflects the principal’s changes. S. Rashid said that they are already doing the steps. R. Thackston did seem to think that $5.00 is a small amount. He would like to eliminate 1, 2, and 3 and have steps 4 and 5. B. Tatro commented that the steps needed to be done before the total reaches the $75.00. B. McCulley stated that the Board is making a mountain out of a molehill. He said that there is no policy in place it only makes sense to have one with a degree of flexibility. J. Kenyon commented that it is better to be warned earlier than to get a $75.00 bill. K. Cota suggested that there be a cover letter in the handbook explaining the reason for the policy. A. Gross would agree with K. Cota. R. Thackston said that he would support the policy as amended. B. McCulley said that he would agree and he is not concerned about being soft on the deadbeats. VOTE: 7.496/1.121/1.021/5.362. Motion passes.

 

        Action on the Manifest: MOTION: A. Gross MOVED the manifest in the amount of $1,158,115.39. SECOND: J. Kenyon. DISCUSSION: It was asked if there was a recommendation from the Finance Committee. B. McCulley said that the committee looked at an item but did not vote on it. VOTE: 8.459/0/1.179/3.362. Motion passes.

       

C.    Old Business:

1. Superintendent Search Committee: R. Thackston informed the Board that the committee has met and has interviewed candidates. They will be bringing a recommendation to the SAU Board at a special meeting scheduled by the SAU Chair or Committee Chair.

 

                D. Curriculum Report: No report at this time.

 

7. Interim Superintendent’s Report: D. Hodgdon informed the Board that K. Dassau is on vacation and sends his wishes to the Board from Hawaii.

 

D. Hodgdon informed the Board that information being passed out to the Board concerning the Northern Schools was also distributed to all the Northern Schools parents.

 

D. Hodgdon explained that he has a nomination that needs to be taken care of in non-public tonight.

 

9. Board Chair Report: R. Thackston explained that he was still meeting with the selectmen from the different towns but is still unable to contact the Town of Roxbury. He commented on the striking similarity of the select-boards comments and concerns. He said that he would be producing a written collection of the thoughts at the September meeting. He said that he would like to contact the PTOs in the different towns to see what their thoughts are.

 

         10. SETTING UP THE NEXT MEETING’S AGENDA:

1.      Committee Reports

2.      Manifest

3.      Discussion on the Facilities Director and vote

 

11. SECOND PUBLIC COMMENTS: R. Thackston congratulated the Budget Committee Chair for being appointed to the Surry School Committee when she was out of the room.

 

12. 8:53 PM Non Public Session. RSA 91-A3 II (a)-nominations: C. Johnson MOVED to enter into non-public session for the purpose of nominations. SECOND: A. Gross Roll call: C. Johnson, J. Kenyon, A. Gross, J. Carnie, B. McCulley, K. Cota, G. White, J. Friedman, B. Tatro and R. Thackston. VOTE: 9.638/0/0/5.362. Motion passes. 

 

13. ADJOURNMENT: MOTION: C. Johnson MOVED to adjourn at 8:54 PM. SECOND: B. Tatro. VOTE: 9.638/0/0/5.362. Motion passes.

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Laura L. Aivaliotis

MRSD Secretary