Board Meeting Minutes
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Middle/High School Library,
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Present: Richard Thackston, Colline Dreyfuss, Alan Gross, Jonathan Kenyon, Gene White, Bruce Tatro, Charles Johnson, Jeff Friedman, Jason Hill, Karen Cota, Robin Marra and James Carnie. Absent: John Morin, Bruce McCulley and Tim Aho.��
Also present: K. Dassau, Superintendent, D. Hodgdon, Dir. of Curriculum and L. Biron, Business Manager.� Principals: D. Mousette, B. Tatro, K. Carter, S. Rashid, J. Smith, M. Young, D. Dahl and K. Craig.
R. Thackston called the meeting to
order at
1��������� CONSENT AGENDA:
Minutes of
2.
CORRESPONDENCE
AND ANNOUNCEMENTS: R. Smith and E. Stanley explained to the Board that they
have spoken to 3 vendors and chose Steve Dibble to construct a new playground
at
J. Hill arrives. �
A. Gross
asked if the playground is being replaced because it is dangerous.
Mr. Majoy,
representing the
3.
STUDENT GOVERNMENT REPORT: No report.
4.
Public
Comments:
5. Old Business:
a. Budget Committee Report: K. Cota
reported that the Budget Committee met on
K. Cota reported that the
Oversight Committee met on
b. Review Warrant Articles: J. Friedman
read Article One to the Board. K. Cota explained that the Facilities Committee
has not heard from H.L. Turner. They would like to wait until the Dec. Meeting.
R. Marra commented that “Junior High” should read “Middle School.”
C. Johnson read Article Two. No action was taken on the article.
B. Tatro read Article
Three to the Board. R. Marra explained that the SAU Board would be meeting on
Article Four was read to the Board. G. White asked about a number from the Facilities Committee. C. Dreyfuss explained that they do not have a number yet. A. Gross asked if the high school gym floor would be included. C. Dreyfuss explained that the funds are being raised through donations. L. Biron commented that they have about ½ the amount of money needed.
Article Five was read to the Board. C. Johnson asked how much money was in the Special Education Expendable Trust Fund. There is a balance of $50,739.00. K. Dassau suggested increasing that number to $200,000.00, suggesting that it come from the undesignated fund balance, which the School Board would have authority to expend. L. Biron explained that Article Five of the 2003 Annual Meeting did that. MOTION: G. White MOVED to accept Article Five as written. SECOND: B. Tatro. DISCUSSION: J. Carnie felt that the article is misleading. K. Cota suggested not having the article linked to Article Five from 2003. R. Marra commented that it was his recollection that they did raise and appropriate the $50,000.00 last year. It was the original intent. VOTE: 7.481/1.121/3.308/2.976. Motion passes.
Article Six was read to the Board. K. Cota asked when they would be receiving the number for this article. L. Biron said that it would be coming soon. This amount would be for the remainder of the Gilsum project. The cafeteria funds would be coming to the district in 2 years.
Article Seven was read to
the Board. K. Cota commented that in past years this article was not funded. MOTION: K. Cota MOVED to modify Article Seven by changing the purpose of funding to
a Facilities Analysis for the Middle and High Schools and to strike the funding
coming from the undesignated funds balance, but to come from taxes. SECOND: C. Dreyfuss. DISCUSSION: L. Biron suggested not limiting it to the
Middle and High Schools. K. Cota and C. Dreyfuss agreed on that friendly
amendment. L. Biron commented that some Budget Committee Members felt that the
number should be $100,000.00. MOTION: C.
Johnson MOVED to table the
discussion until the next meeting. SECOND:
B. Tatro. DISCUSSION: R.
Thackston said that he would not support it at $100,000.00. VOTE: 9.484/1.361/1,179/2.976. Motion passes.
Article Eight was read to the Board. J. Carnie asked if the number was correct. L. Biron explained that the number is correct and it is for informational purposes only.
Article Nine and Article Ten were read to the Board.
K. Dassau explained that N. Moriarty is seeking to add another warrant for City Watch. It is a phone system that would contact every resident in the town. K. Dassau asked to have it on the next agenda.
MOTION: C. Dreyfuss MOVED have
a warrant article drafted and be placed on the ballot in March of 2005 for the
funding of a Facilities Director with a salary of up to $70,000.00. DISCUSSION: J. Carnie expressed concern
about a new position on the ballot. K. Dassau explained that the district has
had a facilities director, so it is not a new position. R. Bauries commented
that the $70,000.00 is only half of the whole cost. R. Thackston said that the
$70,000.00 would have to cover the salary and benefits. VOTE: 7.849/4.175/0/2.976. Motion
passes.
K. Cota commented on the maintenance issue that the Budget Committee brought up. She suggested placing all the maintenance issues from the individual schools in one special warrant article, which would be controlled by the Facilities Committee of the Board.
A.
Gross leaves at
K. Cota explained that it
would be strictly for maintenance, not just in the budget. R. Thackston
suggested that K. Cota come back at the next Board Meeting with a warrant
article for the Board to vote on. L. Biron expressed concern about the number
of warrant articles.
c. Review proposed Budget: K. Cota asked
why the yellow administrative budget is different than tonight’s budget. L.
Biron explained that the principals’ salaries, a number of corrections, step
payments, and three retirees were added. He explained that the Health Trust has
set their guaranteed maximum rate of nearly 28% and explained the reasons for
the increase. Because of the amount of the increase in health benefits the
budget would need to be adjusted. C. Dreyfuss asked about shopping out. L.
Biron explained that he has. R. Thackston said that the rates are not out of
line. K. Cota commented on the 6 different plans. L. Biron said that they offer
only three plans to Monadnock. The others may be offered to
d. Septic Update: L. Biron explained that he worked with Mr. Hitchcock to verify the amount of water flow for the size of the project. It is correct. SUR is progressing well.
e. Right to Know Workshop: R. Thackston asked for a motion to cover the $55.00 expense for J. Carney to attend a Right-to-Know conference sponsored by the NH School Administrators Association. MOTION: C. Johnson MOVED to allow J. Carnie to attend the Right-to-Know Workshop and to have the Board cover the $55.00 expense. SECOND: C. Dreyfuss. VOTE: 9.477/0/1.368/4.155. Motion passes.
6. New Business:
7. Curriculum Report: No report.
8.
Action on the Manifest: MOTION:
R. Marra MOVED the manifest in
the amount of $ 959,786.52. SECOND: C.
Johnson. DISCUSSION: G. White
questioned a payment to WalMart. L. Biron explained that it was probably a
credit card charge for supplies. B. Tatro asked about a check to
9. SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT: K. Dassau explained that there would be a need to have two non-public sessions. They would be for an update on a student issue and a nomination.
K. Dassau
explained that he had attended the First Amendments Schools Conference in
K. Dassau said he had been asked by K. Craig and D. Dahl for a steel drum presentation to the Board by E. Merrifield and company. After the presentation there will be a request. Because of a conflict in usage of the building it will not be taking place at the next meeting but sometime in January.
MOTION: C. Dreyfuss MOVED to accept the early retirements of Robert Galloway, Chana Robbins, and Marjorie Shepardson in June 2007 with regrets. SECOND: J. Kenyon. VOTE: 10.845/0/0/4.155. Motion passes.
10.
BOARD CHAIR
REPORT: R. Thackston explained to the Board and audience that the
government is kicking around the idea of eliminating the interest on mortgages
to be written off on taxes. The last time they did this was in 1986. He is
making everyone aware that the value of homes will decrease, if the legislation
passes. Then it would be very hard to fund any school district. He would
encourage everyone to contact the legislative representative in
11. SETTING NEXT MEETINGS AGENDA:
1. Minutes
2. Committee Reports
3. Tabled Article
4. Warrants
5. City Watch Presentation
6. The
States Standards will be done on
12. SECOND PUBLIC COMMENTS: M. Imon commented on the quick decision on the Northern Schools, the ineffectiveness of the subcommittees, and the fact that many do not have a quorum. She asked if the focus was to cut the expenditures or to focus on the children. She would like to see the Board act in a timely manner on issues and to have the Board and the Budget Committee work together.
R. Thackston requested a 10-minute recess.
13. 9:41 PM Non Public Session. MOTION: J.
Kenyon MOVED to enter into
non-public session for the purpose of discussing a student issue under RSA 91
A: 3©. SECOND: C. Dreyfuss. Roll call: J. Kenyon, C. Dreyfuss, J.
Carnie, G. White, K. Cota, J. Friedman, B. Tatro, J. Hill, C. Johnson, R. Marra
and R. Thackston. VOTE: 10.845/0/0/4.155.
Motion passes.
14. 9:53 PM Non Public Session. MOTION: R.
Marra MOVED to enter into non-public
session for the purpose of a nomination under RSA 91 A: 3 (b).SECOND: C. Dreyfuss. Roll call: J. Kenyon, C. Dreyfuss, J.
Carnie, G. White, K. Cota, J. Friedman, B. Tatro, J. Hill, C. Johnson, R. Marra
and R. Thackston. VOTE: 10.845/0/0/4.155.
Motion passes.
15.
ADJOURNMENT: MOTION: J. Hill MOVED to
adjourn at
Respectfully submitted,
Laura L. Aivaliotis
MRSD Secretary