Approved minutes

MONADNOCK REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

Board Meeting Minutes

January 2, 2007

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

                      

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

Also present: K. Dassau, Superintendent, D. Hodgdon, Assistant Superintendent, K. Chambers, Business Manager and Tom Warner, Director of Computer Technology.  Principals: B. Tatro and J. Smith.

 

1.      CONSENT AGENDA: MOTION: K. Cota MOVED to accept the December 19, 2006 Board Meeting Minutes as presented.  SECOND: J. Kenyon. DISCUSSION: J. Carnie commented that he believed that K. Chambers said that DRA had approved the warrant article. K. Chambers explained that what is in the minutes is correct. T. Peloquin and C. Dreyfuss also agreed with K. Chambers. J. Carnie explained that P. Peterson had requested the letter from DRA prior to the vote. He believes that reading the letter would have made a difference in the vote. MOTION: J. Carnie MOVED that the minutes should state that the DRA had approved the warrant article. NO SECOND: MOTION: J. Carnie MOVED to amend the minutes reflect that P. Peterson requested the letter prior to the reconsideration. SECOND: P. Peterson VOTE: 9.854/0/1.023/4.123. Motion passes. MOTION: K. Colby MOVED to approve the December 19, 2006 Minutes as amended. SECOND: S. Oerman VOTE: 9.854/0/1.023/4.123 Motion passes.

 

2.  CORRESPONDENCE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS: K. Dassau wished everyone a happy and healthy New Year.

 

     He reminded that Board of the Budget Committee Joint Meeting on Jan. 9, 2007. There would be one non-public to discuss Support Staff Negotiations. There would be a Public Hearing on Jan. 11, 2007. K. Dassau asked if the Board would like to have P. Apple at either meeting. This would be discussed in non-public. The Surry Withdrawal Committee would be meeting on Jan. 4, 2007 and Jan. 10. 2007.

 

     C. Dreyfuss had received a card from the Support Staff wishing the Board Happy Holidays.

 

     J. Carnie explained that he had been in contact with the DRA about Article Two. He read the letter to the Board. C. Dreyfuss explained that this is later on the agenda. 

 

3.      STUDENT GOVERNMENT REPORT:

 

4.   Public Comments: R. Bauries commented that he was disappointed that the Budget Committee has not received the 3rd draft of the warrant. He agreed with the comments made by J. Carnie regarding Article Two. He questioned the language on Article Three and Article Four. He commented that Article Six has a hidden cost of $80,000.00 for architectural work when the public voted that down last year. He said that he is not happy that the Board is hiding it from the public. He commented that as the president of the Tax Payers Assoc. he would not support any contract that had early retirement in it.

 

5.   Curriculum Report: D. Hodgdon asked that the Board to accept a competency based assessment grant in the amount of $8,900.00. He explained that this grant would help the school improvement plan as well as help the teachers write the assessments for the students. MOTION: K. Cota. MOVED that the Board accept the Competency Based Assessment Grant in the amount of $8,900.00. SECOND: P. Peterson DISCUSSION: T. Aho asked why the teachers we have put through the special or added degrees or training do not seem to have a positive effect on our low scoring on NCLB. We are showing 90%. We need to look into the colleges and schools and who are trained or why do we not have a more positive effect. (The previous information from T. Aho was hand written and asked to have it in the minutes.) T. Aho did comment on the lane changes and asked if the wrong people are getting trained. He asked if there is grant money to look at what is going wrong. D. Hodgdon explained that the school improvement plan is focusing on the specific needs of the teachers in order to assess the needs of the children. In terms of the right people being trained he can not speak to that. He explained that this is required to be done by 2009 so with the grant it would be $8,900.00 less. J. Mazza asked who would develop the curriculum. D. Hodgdon explained that the high school teachers would be working on this which would be on their own time. The grant is to support their efforts. VOTE: 10.877/0/0/4.123. Motion passes.

 

      K. Cota voiced her concerns about eliminating the 9th and 10th grade Honors Programs. J. Smith explained that he relied on the English Dept. for their recommendation. The Board has requested a presentation from the English Dept. on this issue at the next meeting.  P. Peterson asked for the criteria for being chosen to the honors program. S. Oerman suggested that the 8th grade teachers attend as well. K. Cota would like to see the number from the past three years and how many would attend next year. T. Peloquin commented that the number of students that did not pass should also be discussed.  

 

6.  NEW BUSINESS: MRSD Audit Report: D. Clukay explained the report that was in the Board Packets. He said that there were no findings and it was smooth sailing. D. Clukay explained that non-budgetary deficit, which is the result of the early retirement if it was to be paid today. S. Oerman asked if the student activity account balance was too large to be in one account. D. Clukay answered no. K. Chambers explained that the early retirement amount was for about 15 people now with a 35 person maximum plus any exceptions. J. Carnie asked when the public was informed about the early retirement issue. K. Dassau said that Attorney Apple does not have the decision on this issue but should on Jan. 11, 2007. C. Kahn explained that this issue took place at the 1999 teacher negotiations. J. Carnie asked about the indirect costs for the first 2 years of the MRPSOC. K. Chambers explained that the indirect costs were charged in the 3rd year.

 

7.  SCHOOL BOARD COMMITTEE REPORTS:  

1.      Community Relations Committee: K. Colby reported that the committee would be scheduling a meeting. TBA.

2.      Facilities Committee: K. Cota reported that the committee did not meet. They had received 3 bids per policy for the stage curtains for the Middle/High School. K. Chambers explained that the funds would come out of the Carlton Trust Fund when approved by the Trustees, which are the principal and two teachers. The students are having a production on March 8, 2007 so the Board needs to move forward. MOTION: K. Cota MOVED to approve Steelman Productions in the amount of $15,966.00 with a $500.00 contingency to purchase and install the stage curtains for the Middle/High School stage. SECOND: P. Peterson DISCUSSION: K. Chambers explained that treating the present curtains would be close to the price to purchase new ones. They are very high quality at a great price. S. Oerman asked if there was a warrantee.  K. Chambers said that she was not sure. VOTE: 10.877/0/0/4.123. Motion passes.        

3.   Finance Committee: MOTION: J. Carnie reported that the committee met earlier this evening. They discussed the expense revenues, status of assets and the grants. They also questioned the indirect costs in the MRPSOC Grant and the interest on the Student Activity Account. The committee never got to the letter from Antioch. They reviewed the legal expenses that had been submitted last month. S. Oerman explained that the committee would be discussing putting funds in an interest favor account. J. Carnie explained that no decisions had been made. J. Smith informed the Board that he has put some funds in an interest favor account and would work to improve that.

4.      Policy Committee: The Policy Committee would be meeting on Jan. 3, 2007 at 5:45 PM.

5.      Budget Committee: J. Kenyon reported that the Budget Committee would be meeting on Jan. 9, 2007.

6.      The Cheshire Career Center:

7.      Surry Withdrawal Committee: T. Peloquin reported that the committee would be meeting on Jan. 4, 2007.

 

8.       Old Business: Budget Development 2007-2008: K. Chambers reported that there is only $50,000.00 in the Special Ed. Expendable Trust. She explained that Warrant Three and Warrant Four are boilerplates and the language would be changed to fit the agreement. She reported that the opinion on early retirement should be received shortly. K. Chambers informed the Board that they had approved the new language on article Two. S. Rourke from the DRA explained that the word “weighted” at the very least had to be removed. MOTION: J. Carnie MOVED to rescind the action we took at the last meeting on Article Two. SECOND: P. Peterson DISCUSSION: J. Carnie said that he would then make a motion to go with the statutory language as proposed by the DRA. VOTE: 10.877/0/0/4.123. Motion passes. MOTION: J. Carnie MOVED to use the language stipulated in the RSA for Article Two. SECOND: J. Kenyon. DISCUSSION: K. Chambers explained that Hinsdale and Winchester have agreed on the new language with the word “weighted” removed. J. Carnie commented that this is an SAU article and there had been no discussion at the SAU meeting. He commented that we would deal with Winchester and Hinsdale if they do not use the correct language. The state statutory language is required by law. K. Chambers explained that DRA would not disallow it. J. Carnie said that he had three letters from S. Rourke and had asked that they would be forwarded to K. Chambers. K. Chambers would contact Winchester and Hinsdale on the decision from Monadnock. G. White asked if the vote would be valid with one using the new language. K. Chambers explained that the DRA would not disallow it. She would contact S. Rourke. K. Dassau heard hinting that there may have to be a SAU Meeting to deal with this issue or contacting the other Boards could do it. VOTE:  10.877/0/0/4.123. Motion passes. K. Chambers explained that the budget is 4.9% over the current years operating budget. She said that the issue concerning the evening classes has not been acted on by the School Board. J. Fortson had asked if the Board might consider this addition. No action. J. Smith explained that they are restructuring the secretaries and would be eliminating one over the summer. M. Houle would be retiring. K. Cota asked questions to J. Smith concerning the budget. MOTION: K. Cota MOVED to remove $47,835.00 from the proposed budget, which is the amount of M. Houle’s salary. SECOND: J. Kenyon. VOTE: 8.519/0/2.358/4.123. Motion passes. K. Chambers explained that there was a change in the early retirement amount. It was asked if the opinion on this issue came back could the money be returned. K. Chambers said that she would like to get an opinion. J. Kenyon commented that if it comes back we could probably use the money for attorney fees when we get sued. K. Dassau explained that there could be a contingency. K. Cota asked how much of the 4.9% increase is not in contracts. K. Chambers said that the best estimate would be comparing it to the default.

                                                                       

2.      “SRO” M.O.U.-K. Chambers explained that she brought the issue to the attention of the Town of Swanzey. K. Cota commented that the letter refers to the SAU #38 but it should be Monadnock. K. Cota commented that in the annual town report the Town of Swanzey budgets for W. Kassotis. W. Kassotis explained that the town budgets for the position and the school repays. If there is not a school position he would have a position on the police force in Swanzey. K. Dassau explained that this issue was dealt with by L. Biron and now the practice. K. Chambers recently reviewed this issue. MOTION: J. Kenyon MOVED to restructure the M.O.U. to incorporate the cost attributed from the Town of Swanzey back to the District in the amount of $8,000.00. SECOND: K. Cota. VOTE: 9.756/0/1.121/4.123. Motion passes.

3.  District Clerk: K. Chambers informed the Board that the Secretary of State okayed K. Cota doing the clerk position. J. Carnie explained that he felt it was a conflict. He had coached tennis and could not take the money being on the Board. MOTION: T. Aho MOVED to hire K. Cota to the District Clerk position. SECOND: G. White. VOTE: 9.509/0/1.368/4.123. Motion passes.  

9. Action on the Manifest: MOTION: S. Oerman MOVED the manifest in the amount of  $1,216,858.36. SECOND: P. Peterson. DISCUSSION: The Upton and Hatfield charge was for an opinion on the disclosing of certain information. The opinion was that it is the discretion of the employer. K. Dassau commented that the issue was brought up and the employer took no action. Cheshire Medical charge was for Spec. Ed. and LGC was workers compensation insurance. VOTE: 10.877/0/0/4.123. Motion passes. MOTION: T. Aho MOVED to have the health care in the line items as they did last year. SECOND: J. Carnie. DISCUSSION: K. Dassau explained that the Union is willing to take the challenge on. K. Dassau explained that he met with J. Fortson and S. Oerman. They reviewed the information and were satisfied. K. Dassau explained that it is the will of the board and that the Union is willing to challenge the decision. J. Carnie commented that the information was given out last year with no problems. VOTE: 3.779/4.805/2.293/4.123. Motion fails.  

10. SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT: K. Dassau informed the Board that there has been a request from the negotiating team on regular retirement. J. Mazza asked if the language takes into consideration the number of years someone was in the service prior to employment. C. Kahn said no. J. Carnie asked why this was being discussed in public session. T. Aho asked what the teachers were going to trade. This issue is tabled for the non-meeting.

11. BOARD CHAIR REPORT:

12. SETTING NEXT MEETINGS AGENDA:

1.      Calendar

2.      Curriculum English

3.      Warrant Articles

 

13. SECOND PUBLIC COMMENTS: P. Bauries commented that it is the responsibility of the CRC to get the information out to the public concerning the upcoming Deliberative Session and help organize the session. She suggested that the CRC help K. Cota. P. Bauries asked D. Hodgdon for an official report on the results of the grant over the past summer.

 

14. Adjournment: MOTION: K. Colby MOVED to adjourn the meeting at 10:10 PM. SECOND: J. Kenyon. VOTE: 10.877/0/0/4.123. Motion passes.

 

15. Return to Meeting:  MOTION:  At 10:37 PM  J. Carnie MOVED to return to public session after the recess.  SECOND:  P. Peterson.  VOTE:  8.219/0/1.179/5.602.  Motion passes.  In attendance were C. Dreyfuss, G. White, K. Cota, J. Kenyon, S. Oerman, J, Carnie, P. Peterson, J. Mazza, and K. Colby.

 

MOTION:  J. Kenyon MOVED to accept the support staff proposed with the addition of the phrase “or less” in the final statement. (“Third, the proposed contract holds the increase in wages and health insurance costs for both years to 6% or less. . .”)  SECOND:  S Oerman.  VOTE:  8.219/0/1.179/5.602.  Motion passes.

 

16. Adjournment: MOTION: K. Colby MOVED to adjourn the meeting at 10:53 PM. SECOND: P. Peterson. VOTE: 9.398/0/0/5.602. Motion passes.  

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Laura L. Aivaliotis

MRSD Recording Secretary