approved minutes

approved minutes

MONADNOCK REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

Board Meeting Minutes

ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Monadnock Regional High School/Middle School, Swanzey, NH.

Present: Colline Dreyfuss, Jonathan Kenyon, Gene White, Karen Cota, Bruce Tatro, Kenneth Colby, Phyllis Peterson, Tim Peloquin, James Carnie, William Felton, Charles Johnson and Richard Thackston. Absent:ï¿½ï¿½ Bruce McCulley, Jason Hill and Tim Aho

Also present: K. Dassau, Superintendent, D. Hodgdon, Assistant Superintendent, T. Warner, Dir. of Technology, K. Chambers, Business Manager.ï¿½ Principals: K. Carter, B. Tatro and J. Smith.ï¿½

C. Dreyfuss called the meeting to order at 7:15 PM.

1. ï¿½CONSENT AGENDA: MOTION: K. Colby MOVED to accept the July 11, 2006 Board Meeting Minutes as presented.ï¿½ SECOND: W. Felton.ï¿½ VOTE: 9.209/1.121/0/3.179 Motion passes.

2. CORRESPONDENCE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS: K. Dassau reported that K. Carter was invited to serve on the Commissioner of Educationï¿½s Educational Leadership Advisory Council. The letter included in your packet recognizes K. Carter as one ï¿½of New Hampshireï¿½s best educational leadersï¿½ and ï¿½a model of advanced educational thinking.ï¿½ Of which no one who knows her or her work would deny!! Congratulations to K. Carter.

Deb Crowder, high school art teacher-has been selected as the NH Art Educator of the Year. D. Crowder will be recognized at the NHAEA Conference in October, and at the EDies next June. D. Crowder will also represent the State at the National Art Educators Association in NYC in March 2007. J. Smith is now 2 for 2 in his nominations for Teacher of the Year.

The Marauders held a dedication of the new goal posts on August 12, 2006 with a firework display. The event was a tribute to Seth Clark.

K. Dassau reported that board member P. Peterson has been hired as the new principal at Perkins Elementary School in Marlow. Congratulations P. Peterson.

3. STUDENT GOVERNMENT REPORT: No report. J. Smith has requested on behalf of the students that MC2 Student government members and the high school student government members rotate meetings.

4. PUBLIC COMMENTS: None.

5. Curriculum Report: Follow that Child Grant Award: D. Hodgdon reported that the state has recalculated the AYP and the results will be available at the next regular Board Meeting. He said that the state testing for the tenth graders would also be available. He informed the Board that at the future meetings he would be reporting on the elementary report cards, the curriculum revisions in the four major areas –language arts, math, science, and social studies, the Follow the Child Grant, the mentoring program and the school to career.

6. Old Business: Marauders: K. Chambers reported that the Marauders have agreed to a one year contract for $3000.00. C. Dreyfuss will be asked to sign the contract tonight.

C. Johnson asked about the request from the Board on Apr. 18, 2006 asking for a cost analysis for the Follow the Child. D. Hodgdon explained that he drafted a letter as directed by the Board. This pilot year would determine the cost analysis. The initial cost is paid for by a grant that the district received and the Board accepted. He said that the process was begun over the summer and would be reported to the Board. C. Johnson asked when he would have the cost analysis. K. Dassau commented that they need to move forward with the pilot to have something to report to the Board. C. Johnson said that, that something always has a number.

K. Chambers reported that the new football goal posts were a donation from the Marauders. Steve Clark made the donation, which is estimated between $5000.00 and $6500.00. S. Clark has also made other donations to the school in the memory of his son Seth Clark. K. Chambers will send a thank you note from the Board. MOTION: R. Thackston MOVED to accept the donation as noted in K. Chambers report for the new goal posts in the football field. SECOND: C. Johnson. VOTE: 12.089/0/0/2.911. Motion passes.

7. SCHOOL BOARD COMMITTEE REPORTS:

1. Community Relations Committee: K. Colby reported that the committee did not meet. The next meeting will be on August 28, 2006.

2. Facilities Committee: K. Cota passed out the minutes to the Board. K. Cota reported that the committee met twice since the last Board Meeting. A proposal from D. Dahl was presented to the committee. He is asking for a handicapped accessible bathroom. The cost is $2200.00, which he will find in his budget and the maintenance will be doing the work. The committee also discussed emergency lighting. MOTION: K. Colby MOVED to accept the bid for $5994.00 from Allston Supply Co. for emergency lighting and exit signs for the MRHS. SECOND: J. Kenyon. DISCUSSION: K. Cota read the rational to the Board. VOTE: 12.089/0/0/2.911. Motion passes. The committee also met on August 8, 2006. Ron reported on the project going on in Surry. The committee had a discussion on a possible MPR for the Middle School. K. Cota passed out blueprints from Hinsdale, Cutler and Fitzwilliam. All three of the blueprints are smaller than required for a middle school. K. Cota commented that a small group of citizens were talking about a MPR for the Middle School and the Facilities Committee agreed to address it. K. Cota passed out the blueprints of the other schools to the Board. She asked for comments from the Board. W. Felton said that he is in favor of classrooms and asked if the rooms would replace the trailers. K. Cota said that the committee was not that far. C. Dreyfuss commented that there is no funding to do anything. R. Thackston commented that the entrance to the high school had been talked about in the past and asked if that had been considered. C. Dreyfuss said that it had never come up at the Facilities Meetings. K. Cota explained that would probably come up under a Facilities Analysis. C. Dreyfuss asked for comments on the MPR. G. White asked if this would be instead of the classrooms. C. Dreyfuss explained that this item was suggested by a group of citizens. J. Carnie asked if the Facilities Committee felt this was number one priority on the list. J. Carnie said that the Board needs to get the public to support a project. R. Thackston commented that the Board needs to address the last proposal and explain the new one. K. Cota explained that the high school and the middle school are the top priorities. The needs would have been established with a facilities analysis, which was defeated. She suggested that the Board ask for an analysis again from the voters. She explained that a separate MPR, which would mean the high school would not need to be up to code. If you join them then the codes would be enforced. B. Tatro commented that the administrators have said that there is a need for additional PE space. MOTION: R. Thackston MOVED to instruct the Facilities Committee to come back to the Board with a proposal for maximum classroom space with the money available in the Capitol Reserve. SECOND: W. Felton. DISCUSSION: C. Johnson asked how much for drawings. It was suggested that the Board receive bids for the project in the amount of money available and they submit the drawings. VOTE: 8.675/1.988/1.426/2.911. Motion passes.

3. Finance Committee: B. Tatro reported that the committee reviewed the financial status of the district. The final payment has been made on the long-term debt. The committee voted unanimously to bring the following motions to the full Board: MOTION: R. Thackston MOVED to allow the transfer to occur from the high school athletics to the middle school in the amount of $70,251.00. SECOND: C. Johnson. VOTE: 10.910/0/1.179/2.911. Motion passes. MOTION: C. Johnson MOVED transfer funds from Sullivan School to the Gilsum School for the moving of a student requiring a tutor. SECOND: P. Peterson. VOTE: 10.910/0/1.179/2.911. Motion passes. B. Tatro explained that the next transfer is within the high school budget with no change to the bottom line. W. Felton explained that he was abstaining because of lack of rational. K. Chambers reviewed the RSA that allow the budget transfer. The change is to purchase books. MOTION: K. Colby MOVED to allow the transfer between accounts within the high school budget, with the bottom line staying the same. SECOND: P. Peterson. VOTE: 8.980/0/3.109/2.911. Motion passes. The next meeting is scheduled for Sept. 5, 2006 in Surry.

4. Policy Committee: G. White apologizes for the policies in the packet not having the rational attached. MOTION: G. White MOVED to accept the Competencies and Competency-Based Assessment Policy as presented by the Policy Committee. SECOND: W. Felton. DISCUSSION: G. White explained that by 2008-2009 a program for every class and topic would be required. K. Carter commented on the sentence stating “Except for special circumstances approved by the principal.” K. Cota had a problem with the grade. If it is a “C” then state a “C”. MOTION: K. Cota MOVED to amend the motion and award a credit. NO SECOND: Motion fails. J. Smith suggested taking out the last paragraph. W. Felton suggested sending the policy back to the committee. W. Felton withdrew his second on the motion and G. White withdrew his motion. J. Carnie commented that they should receive credit. He suggested sending this back to committee. MOTION: J. Carnie MOVED that the Competencies and Competency-Based Assessment Policy be sent back to the Policy Committee. SECOND: W. Felton. VOTE: 9.731/1.179/1.179/2.911. Motion passes. G. White reviewed the Policy Alternative Credit/Extended Learning opportunities. MOTION: P. Peterson MOVED to accept the policy as written. SECOND: J. Kenyon. VOTE: 12.089/0/0/2.911. Motion passes. The next policy meeting is scheduled for Sept. 18 at 5:45 PM.

5. Budget Committee: J. Kenyon reported that the Budget Committee met in Roxbury. The committee discussed letters to the editor from private citizen but signed by the elected seat held. The committee also discussed the fact they voted against alternates to the Budget Committee from the Board. If the position becomes vacant the Chair of the School Board will appoint the vacant seat until the next election. There is no August Budget Committee Meeting.

6. The Cheshire Career Center: No report

8. OTHER SCHOOL BOARD BUSINESS:

New Business: MC2/MRPSOC request for total monies breakdown-K. Chambers: K. Chambers passed out the information asked for by the Board. R. Thackston suggested that the information be reviewed by the members and discussed at the next meeting. K. Dassau asked K. Chambers to explain the sheets. The Board will review the sheets at the next meeting.

07-08 School Calendar Proposal: K. Dassau explained that he had a proposal from J. Kenyon on the school calendar. He suggested adjusting the mid winter schedule in order to save on heat. J. Kenyon is suggesting the calendar changes in order to find creative ways to cut without cutting teachers or anything that would affect the kids. K. Dassau explained that it might be an issue for the CCC. R. Thackston said that he would not like the Board to monkey with the calendar. K. Cota suggested getting rid of the April vacation, extend Christmas vacation and allow the students to end the school year sooner. W. Felton explained that KSC did that and they did not save as much as they thought they would. R. Thackston said that the Board is not looking at the whole picture. K. Dassau said that he would discuss it with the other superintendents.

9. Action on the Manifest: The Board is not ready to vote on the manifest at this time in the meeting.

10. SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT: MOTION: B. Tatro MOVED to correct the minutes of July 11, 2006. Under the Curriculum Report the Board should have accepted the Follow the Child Grant instead of the No Child Left Behind Grant. SECOND: K. Colby. VOTE: 12.089/0/0/2.911. Motion passes.

K. Dassau informed the Board of two non-public sessions.

Red Cross Update: MOTION: R. Thackston MOVED to allow the Board Chair to sign the contract with the American Red Cross on behalf of the Board. SECOND: W. Felton. VOTE: 12.089/0/0/2.911. Motion passes.

K. Chambers reported on an incident that happened at Mt. Caesar. A chalkboard was removed and asbestos was suspected. The demolition stopped, the building was closed down and emptied. A company came and took samples of the air and the materials and there were no traces of asbestos in the air at Mt. Caesar School. The area is now cleaned up and the air has a very low dosage.

Resignations: MOTION: C. Johnson MOVED to accept the following resignations: Reuben Duncan, Nancy Elliott, Wayne Bartels and Kate Adams. SECOND: B. Tatro. VOTE: 12.089/0/0/2.911. Motion passes.

MOTION: K. Colby MOVED to accept the early retirement of Jean Williams for the end of 2008. SECOND: P. Peterson. VOTE: 10.721/0/1.368/2.911. Motion passes.

Unfair Labor Practice filed- K. Dassau: K. Dassau reported that there has been an unfair labor practice filed against the Board because of the decision not to provide the “step increase” raise for the teachers. There is no date for the hearing as of yet. J. Carnie commented that the Board did not do the violation. The voters did this. J. Carnie commented that he felt it was improperly filed.

Action on the Manifest: MOTION: T. Peloquin MOVED to accept the manifest in the amount of $1,686,439.46. SECOND: W. Felton. VOTE: 9.889/1.021/1.179/2.911. Motion passes.

11. BOARD CHAIR REPORT: C. Dreyfuss informed the Board that the first meeting of the Surry Withdrawal Committee will be on August 17, 2006 at 7:00PM. She would recommend that Atty. Paul Apple attend the meetings. There are no objections.

12. SETTING NEXT MEETINGS AGENDA:

1. Financial Planning was suggested

2. The voting procedure was suggested, but explained.

13. SECOND PUBLIC COMMENTS: P. Bauries asked questions about the Follow the Child Grant and the work being done over the summer with the grant funds. D. Hodgdon explained that the pilot course is going on. The cost analysis would be coming out of the pilot. The administrators and the teachers are meeting over the summer to develop a personalized education. They have not completed the pilot and they do not know what the impact would be on personnel. The Follow the Child Grant is a high school grant and the teachers have met twice. The expenditures are minimal -mostly for stipends, which are not paid until the end of the process in September. He said that they have preliminary information but not the whole picture.

P. Bauries also asked about the vans and if the district owns them. C. Dreyfuss explained that the three vans are owned by the district.

N. Moriarty commented that the Board does not give the voters a chance on their opinion but you expect the voters to support the Board.

14. NON-PUBLIC SESSION: RSA 91-A: 3 II b: Hiring Public Employees: MOTION: G. White MOVED to go into non-public session under RSA 91-A:3 II b-Hiring of public employees. SECOND: T. Peloquin. Roll call vote: K. Colby, K. Cota, P. Peterson, J. Carnie, J. Kenyon, B. Tatro, G. White, R. Thackston, C. Johnson, T. Peloquin, W. Felton and C. Dreyfuss. VOTE: 12.089/0/0/2.911 Motion passes.

15. NON-PUBLIC SESSION: RSA 91-A: 3 II a: Student Issue: MOTION: J. Kenyon MOVED to go into non-public session under RSA 91-A: 3 II a - student issue. SECOND: R. Thackston. Roll call vote: K. Colby, K. Cota, P. Peterson, J. Carnie, J. Kenyon, B. Tatro, G. White, C. Johnson, T. Peloquin, W. Felton, R. Thackston and C. Dreyfuss. VOTE: 12.089/0/0/2.911. Motion passes.

16. NON-PUBLIC SESSION: RSA 91-A: 3 II e: Litigation: MOTION: J. Kenyon MOVED to go into non-public session under RSA 91-A:3 II e - litigation. SECOND: B. Tatro Roll call vote: K. Colby, K. Cota, P. Peterson, J. Carnie, J. Kenyon, G. White, C. Johnson, T. Peloquin, W. Felton, R. Thackston and C. Dreyfuss. VOTE: 12.089/0/0/2.911. Motion passes. MOTION: K. Cota MOVED to appoint T. Peloquin to the Negotiations and Facilities Committee. SECOND: J. Kenyon VOTE: 10.910/0/0/4.09. Motion passes.

17. Adjournment: MOTION: J. Kenyon MOVED to adjourn the meeting at 10:15 PM. SECOND: C. Johnson. VOTE: 10.910/0/0/4.09. Motion passes.

Respectfully submitted,

Laura L. Aivaliotis

MRSD Recording Secretary

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