Board Meeting Minutes
Present: Richard Thackston, Colline Dreyfuss, Alan Gross, Bruce McCulley, Jonathan Kenyon, Gene White, Bruce Tatro, Charles Johnson, Jeff Friedman, Tim Aho, Karen Cota, Robin Marra and James Carnie. Absent: John Morin and Jason Hill.
Also present: K. Dassau, Superintendent, D. Hodgdon, Dir. of Curriculum, and L. Biron, Business Manager. Principals: D. Mousette, D. Dahl, B. Tatro and D. Gagne. Alison Dreyfuss, Student Government Rep.
J. Carnie called the meeting to
order at
1 CONSENT AGENDA:
Minutes of
2.
CORRESPONDENCE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS: K. Dassau informed the Board that
he had received an opinion from the attorney regarding Warrant Article Ten on
the 2005 Ballot. He would explain the opinion under “Old Business”.
3.
STUDENT
GOVERNMENT REPORT: A. Dreyfuss reported the results of the Student
Government Election. The list of names for each grade was handed to the Board
Members. The Student Government had their first meeting on
4. Public Comments: None.
5. Old Business:
a. Discussion on Accreditation-Mr. Butterfield: J. Butterfield reported to the Board that he is the Chair of the Steering Committee for the Self-Study. He explained that MRHS is a member of the NEASC and every 10 years will be evaluated. He said that there are 7 standards that the school is measured on. He explained that the process began 3 years ago with the Mission Statement, which the School Board approved in December. The staff is divided into standard teams (about 120 to 130 people). There are also members on a School Climate Committee and a Civic and Social Group Committee. During the self-study this year, staff members are focusing on the school’s level of compliance on each standard, writing reports, and collecting data. In the spring the faculty will review and approve the reports and then send the information to the visiting team. The group will be preparing panel discussions, meals, and hotels for 15 people while the team is present beginning on September 24. The team will visit the administration, School Board Members, and parents, as well as staff members. They will interview people, walk through the school, and write reports. The report back to the school from the team should arrive sometime in January of 2007 and then the school will receive their status. The report will include the strengths and the areas of improvement.
R. Thackston
arrives.
K. Cota asked about the letter due from R. Thackston. R. Thackston said that it was his intention to share the letter with the Board during the current meeting. K. Cota asked about the designations such as probation for a high school. J. Butterfield explained that schools are assessed on the standards and receive a designation of exemplary, acceptable, limited, or deficient. K. Cota asked if the space issue could result in a designation of “deficient.” J. Butterfield said that it was possible to receive “deficient” on Standard 7, but, although such a designation could result in the high school receiving probation, it is very unlikely for just one standard. He said that there are various degrees of accreditation - currently on warning status. The NEASC organization does not want to withdraw accreditation. K. Dassau commented that the NEASC board would review the Board Chair’s letter telling the Accreditation Team what will be happening with the space issue. J. Butterfield noted that the school will be viewed more favorably if it and district are in the process of addressing an issue like space and have developed plan to deal with it. C. Dreyfuss asked if the teachers are expected to live up to the expectations in Standard 1. J. Butterfield said that there are specific means of measuring such as by supervising and assessing. K. Dassau explained that all teachers need to have staff development plans and are part of a new supervision/ evaluation model. T. Aho asked if Standard 3 was the quality of teachers. J. Butterfield explained that it is the quality of the instruction. A. Gross commented on J. Butterfield doing a good presentation on a most important issue. He said that a lot of work is being done and said that he had participated in some of the meetings. He thanked J. Butterfield.
b. Matrix for Per Student Cost Calculation: J.
Carnie reminded the Board about a motion In Roxbury to meet as a group (along with
K. Carter) to development per-pupil cost criteria. R. Thackston commented that
he thought it should be more universal than MC2. R. Thackston proposed the
options of forming a special committee or sending the topic to Finance. K. Cota
suggested that the administration arrive at a proposed per-pupil cost and work
through the Finance Committee. R. Thackston reminded the Board about C. Cardine’s
cost breakdown. C. Dreyfuss proposed a Saturday meeting to figure out the
formula. After a discussion about the need for a clear understanding about what
is trying to be accomplished, the challenge of getting a consensus, and the
value of having models, J. Carnie suggested that the Administration, the Board,
the Budget Committee, and K. Carter attend a special Saturday board meeting to
establish the criteria. B. McCulley requested any pertinent RSA’s be available
prior at the meeting. R. Thackston proposed
c. MRPSOC Update-Ms. Gurian: D. Gurian
reported to the Board that the grant is in the 4th year. She asked
that the Board give ideas to ensure that all people have information about the
grant. After distributing information to the Board, she informed the board that
the cost per pupil from the grant is $8000.00 for a non-special-education
student with the possibility of an increase in tuition being discussed. A.
Gross commented on the quality of the School Board Training sessions and D.
Gurian said that Fred Bramante will be invited again to speak about the new
state standards. J. Carnie asked when the steering committee meets. D. Gurian
said on the second Monday of the month at
d. Opinion on Warrant Article Ten: K.
Dassau reported that he had received a two-page opinion from the attorney at
6. SCHOOL BOARD COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Board Committee
Reports:
1. Community Relations Committee: A. Gross
handed out a survey that the committee gave to the building principals. The
next meeting will be on
2.
Facilities
Committee: C. Dreyfuss informed the Board that the committee met on
3.
Finance
Committee: B. McCulley reported that the committee met earlier that evening.
The information on the financial status was passed out to the Board. The
committee requested that they have information on the status of the cash
balance after the manifest. L. Biron explained that the manifest would need to
be closed earlier. The Finance Committee said that would be an orderly way to
do things and have designated Friday
4. Policy Committee Report: G. White
informed the Board that they have not met. The next meeting would be on
5. Use of
6. Budget Committee: K. Cota reported that
the Budget Committee met on
C. Dreyfuss leaves.
7. The
8. Steering Committee from MRPSOC Grant-Dr. Marra: R. Marra reported that the committee has been meeting when he has been in class. He said that he would help with the lottery for the students.
9. MC2 Advisory Committee-John Morin: R. Thackston asked about the difference between the Steering Committee and the MC2 Advisory Committee. K. Dassau explained that the Steering Committee is connected to Public Choice Grant. Betty Tatro, who is a member of the MC2 advisory committee, explained that it is advisory to the Director of MC2. Each month a topic is brought to the committee and they brainstorm about it.
10. Negotiation Committee: R. Thackston
reported on negotiations, reporting that the teachers and the district would go
to mediation on
7. New Business:
a.
Board Policy
on continuing meetings past
b. Warrant Articles (draft) - L. Biron: L.
Biron informed the Board that the Budget Committee has said that the deadline
for Warrant Articles from the School Board was
8. Curriculum Report: Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP)-Dr. Hodgdon: D. Hodgdon reported to the Board that MRHS did not make AYP and explained what that means. The goal is for all students to be at 100% proficient by 2014. If a subgroup of students does not make the proficiency level, the entire school does not make AYP. The rationale for this requirement in the federal legislation is to ensure that all groups of students are going to be successful. Monadnock did well overall, but not as well in the special education subgroup. He explained the consequences of becoming a school in need of improvement after not making AYP for two years in a row. It would include an improvement plan for the school. K. Dassau and D. Hodgdon will be working proactively with the principals to develop improvement plans for schools before being in this status. The Board discussed the various assessments (such as the MAP and state tests).
9. Action on the Manifest: MOTION: T. Aho MOVED the manifest in the amount of $1,364,271.08. SECOND: J. Kenyon. VOTE: 8.307/0/3.221/2.293. Motion passes.
10. SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT: K. Dassau
explained that there would be a non-public session tonight for a student issue.
L. Biron reported that there was a great deal of water from flooding in the Emerson
basement, which includes the library and classrooms. The insurance company had
K. Dassau reported
that the SAU would be meeting on
K. Dassau explained
that Mr. Fleming had submitted his early retirement last year and would like to
rescind it and submit his early retirement request for June of 2007. MOTION: C. Johnson MOVED to rescind the motion of
MOTION: C. Johnson MOVED to
accept Mr. Fleming’s request for early retirement in June of 2007. SECOND: G. White. DISCUSSION: K. Cota asked if the Board could know the reason for
the change or if there would be a pay raise. K. Dassau explained negotiations would
have an impact on salaries for the 2006-07 school year. R. Thackston asked if
anyone was unable to receive early retirement because of Mr. Fleming. K. Dassau
said no. VOTE: 11.528/0/0/3.472. Motion passes.
MOTION:
J. Kenyon MOVED to accept the
resignation of A. Cunningham from the MC2 as of
8. BOARD CHAIR REPORT: R. Thackston
explained that he was asked by J. Smith to write a letter the NEASC Accrediting
Committee. He explained to the Board
that it is a draft and would like the Board to read it. He was open to input via email. He then read
his letter to the Board. K. Cota
commented that his letter doesn’t mention the problem with the building, as
requested by NEASC. Based on the district’s history, R. Thackston was not
optimistic about the building warrant articles and wanted to focus in the
letter on other issues. K. Cota asked that the word “steep” be omitted in
describing declining enrollment in the district. R. Thackston said that he
would take it under advisement. A. Gross corrected the letter to say CCC, not
CVC, in referring to the
12. SETTING NEXT MEETINGS AGENDA:
1. Minutes
2. Correspondence-Mr. Majoy
3. Student Government
4. Public Comments
5. Review Warrants
6. Review proposed budget
K. Cota asked about the final
day to approve articles for the warrant. L. Biron explained that the last day would
be on
13. SECOND PUBLIC COMMENTS: None.
14. 10:12 PM Non Public Session. MOTION: C.
Johnson MOVED to enter into
non-public session for the purpose of discussing a student issue under RSA 91
A:3©. SECOND: A. Gross. Roll call: A. Gross, C. Johnson, J.
Carnie, B. McCulley, J. Kenyon, G. White, K. Cota, J. Friedman, B. Tatro, R.
Marra, and R. Thackston. DISCUSSION: It
was asked if the student requested the meeting. K. Dassau explained what the
parents requested. J. Carnie asked if the parents are aware of this discussion.
K. Dassau said no. J. Carnie asked if they have an option and K. Dassau
explained that the motion could be tabled.
VOTE: 7.660/3.092/0/4.248. Motion passes.
12. ADJOURNMENT: MOTION: C. Johnson MOVED to adjourn at
Respectfully submitted,
Laura L. Aivaliotis
MRSD Secretary