Approved minutes

MONADNOCK REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

Board Meeting Minutes

December 19, 2006

Monadnock Regional Middle/High School Library, Swanzey, NH.

                      

Present: Colline Dreyfuss, Jonathan Kenyon, Gene White, Karen Cota, Tim Peloquin, Kenneth Colby, Susan Oerman, William Felton, Phyllis Peterson, Gerald Mazza and James Carnie. Absent: Charles Johnson, Tim Aho and Jason Hill.

Also present: D. Hodgdon, Assistant Superintendent and K. Chambers, Business Manager.  Principals: B. Tatro, K. Craig, M. Young, S. Rashid and D. Mousette.

 

C. Dreyfuss called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM.

 

MOTION: K. Colby MOVED to accept the resignation of B. Tatro. SECOND: J. Carnie. VOTE: 8.922/0/0/6.078. Motion passes.

 

MOTION: P. Peterson. MOVED to accept Gerald (Jerry) Mazza as the new School Board Member from Swanzey. SECOND: K. Colby. VOTE: 8.675/0/.247/6.078. Motion passes.

 

B. Tatro swore J. Mazza in as the new Board Member.

 

MOTION: J. Kenyon MOVED to accept the resignation of B. McCulley. SECOND: K. Colby. VOTE: 10.101/0/0/4.899. Motion passes.

 

1.      CONSENT AGENDA: MOTION: K. Colby MOVED to accept the December 5, 2006 Board Meeting Minutes as presented.  SECOND: J. Kenyon. DISCUSSION: S. Oerman explained that the money to repair the stage comes out of the special fund when paid in full. The 9th and 10th grade Honors classes will no longer be offered - not the AP classes, which are not offered until the 11th grade. VOTE on the amended minutes 10.101/0/1.179/3.720. Motion passes.

 

MOTION: S. Oerman MOVED to accept the first page of the Dec. 5, 2006 Non-public Minutes as presented. SECOND: K. Colby. VOTE: 10.101/0/1.179/3.720. Motion passes.

 

MOTION: J. Kenyon MOVED to accept the second page of the Dec.5, 2006 Non-public Minutes. SECOND: S. Oerman. DISCUSSION: J. Carnie asked about the vote on the minutes. The non-public minutes are out of order. K. Cota never voted for any of the non-public minutes. VOTE: 11.033/0/0.247/3.720. Motion passes.

 

MOTION: J. Kenyon MOVED to accept the third page of the Dec. 5, 2006 Non-public Minutes. SECOND: K. Colby. VOTE: 11.033/0/0.247/3.720. Motion passes.  

   

CORRESPONDENCE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS: D. Hodgdon explained that K. Carter has been asked by the U.S. Dept. of Ed. to give a presentation in February.

 

B. Tatro read a letter from a parent about the service learning project at Mt. Caesar. The parent said that she was grateful that her first grader had the experience with the community kitchen project.

 

K. Craig commented that it is enjoyable at Emerson. K. Craig explained that she spoke to a child whose family was involved with the program to adopt a family. It was a very powerful experience.

 

S. Rashid commented on the two great performances done by the 4th graders and the 6th graders. He explained a project that the children are doing in a group of four. They are doing a presentation on the computer. Two out of the four children are identified. If you saw the children doing the work, you could not see the difference. He wanted to thank the School Board for the equipment to do this project. He reported that the children have fundraisers in order to send gifts to a child in which they have been in contact with in Egypt.

 

D. Mousette reported that his students attended the Community Kitchen for community service. He reported that the school had a sing-a-long in which 200 people attended. He informed the Board that he had received 2 grants from the Healthy NH Foundation. One grant in the amount of $900.00 was for the Kindergarten and the other $900.00 was for snowshoes for the children in the Northern Schools in support of the Wellness Policy. MOTION: J. Kenyon MOVED to accept the two Healthy NH Foundation Grants in the amount of $1800.00. SECOND: P. Peterson. DISCUSSION: D. Mousette explained that these grants had been brought to his attention by a parent. VOTE: 11.280/0/0/3.720.

 

3.      STUDENT GOVERNMENT REPORT: L. Cota and M. Giroux informed the Board that the Student Government is interested in joining the NH Association of Student Councils. She said that there is a small fee of $15.00 and the council would be discussing that with J. Smith. They have also been discussing allowing the students to bring MP3 and CD players to study hall, the senior hallways back and a suggestion box. K. Cota reminded the girls that the Board had asked for the minutes to be placed in the Board’s packets.   

 

4.   Public Comments:

 

5.   Curriculum Report:

 

MOTION: J. Carnie MOVED to have the New Business section on the agenda moved up on the agenda. SECOND: K. Colby. VOTE: 11.280/0/0/3.720. Motion passes.

 

 

6.  NEW BUSINESS: Insurance Report-Peter Chapel, Local Government Center: K. Chambers introduced P. Chapel and J. Yeaton. She asked them to explain the reason for the double-digit increase for three years and then the 1.9% increase. They passed out information to the Board and explained it. The reasons for the decrease were due to the reduction in the risk fee and the prescription drug reported claims and the transition to Caremart would be part of it. They commented that this group has done extremely well. K. Cota asked how many companies were asked to give proposals. They explained that that was done at the Board level, but could get that information. G. White said that it is frustrating to have a 23.8% increase and than 2% increase the next year. He said that it would make more sense to average over the five years. P. Chapel said that he is not aware of long-range averaging. R. Bauries asked if the retiring employees are costing the district more. P. Chapel said that they are part of the figure. P. Chapel explained that there are a number of SAUs that are grouped together and the risks are spread across the board. P. Chapel explained that they could offer plans that would cost the SAU less. J. Ells asked if it was reasonable to say that to save money is to educate the employees on how and when to use it. P. Chapel said that he could give an educational presentation to improve and reduce the health claims. E. Stanley asked if the district left this group could they go back. P. Chapel said that there is a 2-year rule out. 

 

7.  Old Business:

Budget Development 2007-2008: K. Chambers reminded the Board of the January 9, 2007 meeting and the January 11, 2007 Budget Hearing. She passed out information on the default. She asked for a discussion on the finalizing of the warrant articles tonight. K. Chambers explained that Article Two has new language and the original language she would ask that the Board decide on the new or original. MOTION: J. Kenyon MOVED to accept the new language for Article Two on the Draft Warrant. SECOND: K. Cota. DISCUSSION: J. Carnie asked J. Kenyon’s reasoning. J. Kenyon explained that it is more descriptive for the average reader. J. Carnie asked J. Kenyon to describe the last sentence. J. Carnie was told that if he does not like the motion to vote against it. J. Carnie said that the language is just as easy to understand. K. Chambers explained that this suggestion was done by Hinsdale. They asked that the other two districts follow suit. J. Kenyon said that it is perfectly clear and does not change anything. VOTE: 6.681/3.414/1.179/3.720. Motion passes. K. Chambers explained that on Article Eleven the Board has a choice:  it can use the 2005 Expendable Trust Fund which the Board can approve to take the money out because they were named the agents to expend, or they can create a new 2007 School Building Capitol Reserve which would require a vote of the School District meeting to expend the funds, or they could use the 2005 Expendable Trust Fund and remove the board’s authority to expend which would thereafter require a vote of the School District meeting to expend the funds. K. Cota is concerned on the timing on the vote for the architectural spending when School District meeting votes are required to access the funds to pay for an architect or do testing, etc., that waiting a year every time for the next School District meeting is very inefficient. G. White explained that the account would be a savings account. MOTION: K. Cota MOVED to raise and appropriate $200,000.00 to be put into the 2005 Expendable Trust for the purpose of funding architectural and engineering plans, and construction for building projects within the District. SECOND: W. Felton. VOTE: 6.687 yes/3.414 no/1.179 abstain/3.720 absent.  Motion passes.

 

J. Carnie asked for a point of order. He explained that the vote on Article Two was illegal. He said that this Board has no right to change the wording. C. Dreyfuss said that she was sorry that he disagreed. J. Carnie asked that the Board overrule the chair. J. Carnie explained that P. Peterson had requested the letter from the DRA prior to the vote.  He believes that reading the letter would have made a difference in the vote.  K. Chambers said that DRA would not recommend the changes, but would not disallow them. MOTION: J. Carnie MOVED to overrule the interpretation of the chair. NO SECOND: MOTION: K. Cota MOVED to reconsider the vote on Article Two. SECOND: S. Oerman. VOTE: 4.682/5.419/1.179/3.720. Motion fails. K. Cota asked if DRA knows the history of the vote. K. Chambers explained that this is statutory, but they may not know the history.

 

The Board reviewed the gym article.

 

K. Chambers asked if the Board would like a statement for clarity on Article Five and Article Six saying that there is no tax impact. The Board agreed and asked for it to be in bold. She explained that the Board would need to sign the final warrant. G. White explained that usually the members go to the SAU to sign. K. Cota asked when the Board would have their discussion on the final number for the budget. K. Chambers said that the final number would not be set until after the Public Hearing. K. Cota was not in favor of discussing the Budget and the warrants on the same night. K. Chambers suggested that the Board have their discussion on the budget on January 2, 2007. K. Chambers commented that at the joint meeting the Budget Committee made an advisory vote to have the current budget plus 3% as the final budget.  The administration would be meeting with the principals to see what the $659,000.00 decrease would look like. The default is at a 3.3% increase but not approved by the Budget Committee.

 

District Clerk Position: At this time there was no District Clerk. K. Cota was talking to someone about the position and asked if there was a job description. K. Chambers said that there was a job description and it was on the website. K. Cota explained that she would take the position if no one else were interested. G. White gave the job description to someone. There was no objection from the Board if K. Cota took the position. P. Peterson leaves.

 

Health Insurance Bids: K. Chambers included the two proposals in the packets and explained each to the Board. The two proposals were from Dublin Health and IPG. The cost for IPG was $55,280.00 if all three districts and the SAU were included. If only Monadnock and the SAU joined in, it would be $65,000.00. Dublin Health would charge a flat fee for all 4 entities in the amount of $54,756.00 plus 10% on any premium savings. G. White explained that this discussion took place at the SAU meeting and he explained that IPG offered a lot more than Dublin Health. MOTION: G. White would recommend that the Board hire IPG to investigate what is available to us for insurance purposes for no more that $40,000.00. SECOND: K. Cota. VOTE: 8.987/0/1.179/4.834. Motion passes.  

   

8.  SCHOOL BOARD COMMITTEE REPORTS:  

1.      Community Relations Committee: K. Colby reported that the committee suggested the annual report be printed prior to the Deliberative Session. D. Hodgdon explained that the administration learned that it is not possible to publish the annual report until the articles are set. The committee discussed the fact that the Board Meetings are long and need to get moving. The next meeting would be January 9, 2007.

2.      Facilities Committee: C. Dreyfuss reported that two members have not been coming to the meetings and asked that they be taken off the committee. MOTION: J. Kenyon MOVED to remove J. Hill and T. Aho from the Facilities Committee. SECOND: G. White. VOTE: 9.045/0/1.121/4.834. Motion passes. K. Cota reported that the committee met on December 12, 2006 for a 45-minute meeting. They opened the RFPs. They received eight proposals. The Master Plan bids ranged from $23,700.00 to $134,000.00. The committee along with Ron Parent and K. Chambers would review the proposals and interview architectural firms.    

3.   3.   Finance Committee: MOTION: J. Carnie reported that the committee met earlier that evening and had a discussion on the monthly expenses and the status of the grants and federal funds. The committee asked about the indirect costs in the MRPSOC grant. K. Chambers would find out that information. MOTION: G. White MOVED to confirm J. Mazza to the Finance Committee. SECOND: K. Colby. VOTE: 10.166/0/0/4.834. Motion passes.

4.      Policy Committee: The Policy Committee did not meet. The next meeting would be scheduled for January 3, 2007 at 5:45 PM.   

5.       Budget Committee: J. Kenyon reported that at the joint meeting the Budget Committee had an advisory vote of a budget less than the default. The next meeting is scheduled for January 9, 2007 at 7:00 PM.

6.      The Cheshire Career Center: C. Dreyfuss asked if anyone was interested in the committee to let her know.  If not, she would remove the committee report from the agenda.

7.      Surry Withdrawal Committee: T. Peloquin reported that the committee took an advisory vote of 7-yes, 7-no and 1 abstain. Three people were not present. The official voting is until 7:00 PM on December 21, 2006.

8. Action on the Manifest: MOTION: S. Oerman MOVED the manifest in the amount of $ 1,617,218.62. SECOND: K. Colby. DISCUSSION: K. Chambers explained that Bay Ring Communications is the internet provider. She said that we were waiting until we got the erate discount. K. Chambers explained Combustion Services, Catamount and Boston Pizza and American Tank.    VOTE: 10.166/0/0/4.834. Motion passes.

10. SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT: D. Hodgdon informed the Board that there would be no non-public session. He thanked the Board, the staff and the community for their work and efforts for the children in the district. Happy Holidays! The Board would hold its next meeting on January 2, 2007.

11. BOARD CHAIR REPORT:

12. SETTING NEXT MEETINGS AGENDA:

1.      Calendar 07-08

2.      Budget Operating

13. SECOND PUBLIC COMMENTS:

14. Adjournment: MOTION: K. Colby MOVED to adjourn the meeting at 10:15 PM. SECOND: J. Kenyon. VOTE: 10.166/0/0/4.834. Motion passes.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Laura L. Aivaliotis

MRSD Recording Secretary