MONADNOCK REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

Board Meeting Minutes

November 15, 2005

Monadnock Regional Middle/High School Library, Swanzey, NH

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 7:05 PM.

1 CONSENT AGENDA:

Minutes of November 1, 2005 Board Meeting. MOTION: A. Gross MOVED to approve the November 1, 2005 minutes. SECOND: C. Dreyfuss. DISCUSSION: G. White commented that he asked the cut off date for petitioned articles rather than warrant articles. VOTE: 10.207/0/0/4.793. Motion passes.

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 Mt. Caesar. The cost would be $85,000.00 and the PTO has already donated $15,000.00. The men are not asking the District for money, but permission to replace the current structure using donations.

J. Hill arrives.

A. Gross asked if the playground is being replaced because it is dangerous. E. Stanley explained that it is the age of the playground (18 years), even though the contractor acknowledged that it was well constructed. MOTION: A. Gross MOVED to grant permission to R. Smith and E. Stanley to go ahead with the fundraising, remove the old playground structure, and replace it with a new playground at Mt. Caesar. SECOND: C. Johnson. DISCUSSION: E. Stanley explained that the bids were all nearly the same, but the committee chose S. Dibble because of his experience. The structure will hold more children, allow for 65 activities and use the same space as the current structure. S. Rashid commented about the opportunity for Mt. Caesar and Cutler to work together. VOTE: 12.024/0/0/2.976. Motion passes.

Mr. Majoy, representing the Ashuelot Charter School, is asking the Board to add his warrant article to their ballot. He explained that 52 people have signed a petition to have the article placed on the ballot. R. Thackston read the warrant article to the Board. R. Thackston said that it is his own feeling that with the signed petition, the article must appear on the ballot, so the board’s does not need to approve the petitioned article. He proposed that the charter school committee rewrite it to make it more understandable. Mr. Majoy explained that the article is written according to the RSA, but an explanation needed to accompany the article. In response to a question from K. Dassau Mr. Majoy explained that the warrant article is asking the voters to approve the completion of the application. The charter school committee decided that, if the voters say no, the process will end. J. Carnie expressed concern about the SAU and Winchester boards rejecting th responsibility of being fiscal agent, but, because the Monadnock board agreed to serve in this capacity, SAU personnel are assuming the responsibility of overseeing the finances. Mr. Majoy said that, if the charter school is instituted, the school would receive 80% of the per pupil cost from the District and 20% of the per pupil cost would be returned to Monadnock’s general fund. C. Johnson questioned this arrangement, since the cost to run the high school could not be reduced. MOTION: B. Tatro MOVED to accept the report as informational with the realization that it will go on the ballot as presented. SECOND: C. Dreyfuss. VOTE: 12.024/0/0/2.976. Motion passes.

3. STUDENT GOVERNMENT REPORT: No report.

4. Public Comments: S. Rashid explained to the Board highlighted a cookbook, for which the students either did the word processing on the project or the art. The funds from the sale of these books will be used for Cutler field trips and the local food pantry.

5. Old Business:

a. Budget Committee Report: K. Cota reported that the Budget Committee met on November 10, 2005, where the committee received a presentation on the special education and maintenance budgets. The committee agreed the move the warrant articles deadline to December 7, 2005. The committee questioned amounts in the individual school budgets for maintenance and indicated that they preferred to establish an expendable trust controlled by the Facilities Committee. The issue about the Gilsum floor was discussed. L. Biron explained that he contacted the installer and, in exchange for the Gilsum problem, the district received a new floor in the Troy school library. There were also concerns about the floors in Emerson and Cutler and undone maintenance items in Gilsum.

K. Cota reported that the Oversight Committee met on November 3, 2005 and received an update from K. Dassau on the septic system price reduction. L. Biron contacted Cheshire Oil. The additional cost to the district for oil would be about $65,000.00. L. Biron also provided an update on the flooding damage in Emerson. The Default Committee will be meeting on November 17, 2005. The Budget Committee suggested that all the maintenance items be included in a separate warrant article. There was continued discussion about the gym floors in the elementary schools in the district and the liability for them.

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 December 7, 2005. R. Thackston explained that the budget figures would be the Budget Committee’s. The amounts can be changed at the Deliberative Session. L. Biron explained that the School Board signs the warrant articles, but the Budget Committee has control of the warrant articles. L. Biron said that the Budget Committee would recommend or not recommend them. L. Biron explained that on the MS27 both the Budget Committee and the Board have columns. R. Thackston commented that the Board could amend the Budget Committee’s budget, if they chose to do so. MOTION: J. Carnie MOVED to change the wording of the last sentence on Article Three. The new sentence would read: (Majority of all the voters in the SAU is required.). SECOND: C. Dreyfuss. VOTE: 9.731/1.179/1.114/2.976. Motion passes.

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 8:40 PM.

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 Winchester and Hinsdale. L. Biron explained that the Facilities Director is in the budget. K. Dassau informed the Board that the Budget Committee would be meeting on November 22, 2005 and November 29, 2005. The joint Board Meeting with the Budget Committee is scheduled for December 13, 2005. The Public Hearing is scheduled for January 12, 2006.

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 Emerson School. L. Biron explained that it is reimbursement to the activity account. K. Craig explained that they use money from their petty cash and then receive reimbursement. VOTE: 9.666/1.179/0/4.155. Motion passes.

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 Washington and shared a poster he received in the mail. K. Carter was also in attendance. She explained to the Board that, on the First Amendment School’s website, the MC2 action plan is showcased. It was regarded as the best they had seen in the 4 or 5 years. K. Carter said that she is very proud of the work that MC2 has done. She has been asked to sit on a panel in Boston.

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 Washington.

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 Dec. 20, 2005.

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 10:18 PM. SECOND: J. Kenyon. VOTE: Unanimous for those present. Motion passes.

Respectfully submitted,

Laura L. Aivaliotis

MRSD Secretary