MONADNOCK REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

Board Meeting Minutes

                                                 June 20, 2006

Monadnock Regional Middle / High School, Swanzey, NH.

                      

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

Also present: K. Dassau, Superintendent, D. Hodgdon, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum, T. Warner, Dir. of Technology, L. Biron, Business Manager, K. Chambers, New Business Manager.  Principals: K. Craig, B. Tatro, J. Smith, M. Young, S. Rashid, D. Mousette, K. Carter, and D. Gagne. 

 

C. Dreyfuss called the meeting to order at 7:10 PM. She introduced the Surry Selectmen and their nominee for the vacant Board seat from Surry. They would nominate Tim Peloquin as the new Board Member for Surry. MOTION: R. Thackston MOVED to nominate T. Peloquin as the new Surry Board Member. SECOND: J. Kenyon. VOTE: 9.456/0/0/5.544. Motion passes. R. Thackston swears in T. Peloquin.

 

1.      CONSENT AGENDA: MOTION: W. Felton MOVED to accept the June 6, 2006 Board Meeting Minutes as presented.  SECOND: K. Colby. DISCUSSION: J. Kenyon commented that he did not replace R. Thackston on the Budget Committee but was nominated to fulfill the position as an alternate.  VOTE: 8.342/0/1.817/4.841. Motion passes.

 

2.      CORRESPONDENCE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS: J. Smith reported on the recent graduation. He explained that Jed Butterfield was the speaker and C. Dreyfuss and K. Dassau passed out the diplomas. There are pictures of the graduation on the web site. C. Dreyfuss commented she liked the affection of students for the teachers as some graduates hugged teachers as they left from the ceremony.

 

J. Smith reported that the chair of the NEASC Visiting Team came for the first visit, which was the same day that the students cleaned out their lockers. She was in the building for about 4 hours. She did say that she was impressed by the appearance of the building and complimented the maintenance department.

 

K. Carter reported that the 2 students from MC2 walked with the graduating class at Monadnock.

 

B. Tatro reported that the third graders had a celebration. She reported that they dedicated the sign at Mt. Caesar, which was a service learning project.

 

K. Dassau introduced K. Chambers the new SAU 38 Business Manager to the Board.

 

S. Rashid reported that the students almost doubled their challenge to read 5500 books. The students managed to read more than 10,000 books. He informed the Board that the students had field day today. He reported that the entrance to the school has greatly improved thanks to 12 children and the art teacher.

 

K. Craig reported that 22 students graduated from Emerson School. P. Peterson and J. Hill were present. As a service learning project the children prepared a brochure to help with the transition from 6th to 7th grade. The brochure is kid friendly. The children worked with a member of The Keene Sentinel. The children had field day and an awards assembly. She informed the Board of a parent letter, thanking our new male teacher for being a wonderful influence on their child, she had received. 

 

D. Mousette had Recognition last night with a Dr. Seuss theme. He commented that he has a great group of kids going to the middle school. He reported that they had a field day and a cook out at Gilsum for all the children of the three towns. He commented that it has been a great year for the staff and the parents. 

 

K. Dassau reported that he received a thank you from the Fish and Game Department about the work that M. Morrison and his students did on stocking of the salmon.

 

K. Dassau read a letter from C. Cardine officially giving his weight lifting equipment to the district. The sum of the donation was estimated at $4,804.00. MOTION: R. Thackston MOVED to accept the donation of equipment to the district. SECOND: W. Felton VOTE: 10.159/0/0/4.841. Motion passes.

 

J. Smith reported that the master schedule is complete. T. Warner passed out samples of the schedule to the Board. M. Young said that the 7th grade schedule has been completed and 8th grade will be done by the end of the week.    

 

3.      STUDENT GOVERNMENT REPORT: No report. C. Dreyfuss commented that the most recent minutes of this committee on the web site are dated Oct.

 

4.      PUBLIC COMMENTS: T. Small asked questions about the moving of MC2 to Surry and K. Dassau commented that it would be under “Old Business”. He did say that he is a neighbor of the Surry Elementary School and did not want high school aged children at the school. He asked why the Board treats the Northern Schools different. He said that the Board is not interested in the citizens.

 

W. Brown commented that one reason the Board said that Surry Elementary needed to be closed was the lack of a third teacher. Surry was willing to pay for that. But the Board did not want that. He does not think that moving MC2 will save the district money. He said that the building is built for small people and it would cost money to change that. He said that it is wrong to make the move and that the children from MC2 do not fit the norm. He commented that there is no full time police officer and who would they call. C. Dreyfuss responded that she does not fit the “norm” either.

 

Ed Winter commented that the school has always been an elementary school. The charter school would have been a better fit.

 

Jen Hutsciets a mother of three children moved to Surry because she heard great things about the town. She said that she wants her children to be safe and comfortable. She is concerned about the river road. She also commented that the Surry School should be for elementary children.

 

K. Dassau announced that F. Conroy was video-taping the meeting.

 

W. Brown commented that he did not mean any disrespect about the norm comment. He meant that the norm is an elementary school.

 

5.      Curriculum Report:  

a.   AYP Changes - D. Hodgdon: D. Hodgdon reported that after he reported the results to the Board at the last meeting the state and federal government changed the consideration for the subcommittees. He said that the updates from two weeks ago are now non-existent. He said that the new results should be available in August. The results may look similar. K. Cota asked if it would cost the district. D. Hodgdon said that it would be paid for by federal funds. 

6.  Old Business: B. Tatro informed the Board that D. Gurian attended the Finance Meeting earlier today and brought the information that was asked for about the MRPSOC grant. She said that the $11,000.00 could be used for purposes other than rent to Antioch. The short answer is yes. The funds can not be used for support of the building. MOTION: K. Cota MOVED to move the MC2 Program to the former Surry Elementary School Building. SECOND: W. Felton. DISCUSSION: R. Thackston said that he felt it was a bad idea. He said that the Board has spent several hundred hours discussing the MC2 Program, which benefits only a small amount of students. He commented on the NEASC visit. He commented that there was never a plan to organize the Northern Schools. He said that the Board should not spend all this time on MC2 with only 2% of the students. He said that they had discussions about foreign language, science and books. Those conversations drifted because of the debate with MC2. He said that the MC2 is a misallocation of funds. He said that he is opposed to having Surry leave. W. Felton commented that in Gilsum and Sullivan they have single grade classrooms. The issue about Surry leaving came up before and nothing happened. W. Felton doubts that anything will happen. He would suggest that the administration reapply for the MRPSOC Grant and move MC2 to Surry. J. Kenyon commented that moving MC2 to Surry provides educational benefits to the school. T. Peloquin said that he would probably agree with R. Thackston. He said that we do not want a high school. He wants an elementary school. K. Cota commented on the nay sayers holding the Board back. She said that the state supports the MC2 Program. It may not be the best for Surry but it is not what each of the towns want but what is the best for the district. She asked that Surry put their differences aside and welcome the MC2 students and staff. She suggested that the MC2 students and the charter students work together. T. Peloquin commented that Surry would not go quietly. R. Thackston said that he knows the difference between the grant and MC2 and believes that there has been more discussion on MC2 than the NEASC issue. He does agree on the consolidation of the Northern Schools for the single grade classrooms. J. Kenyon commented that the Board has asked that the administration seek continuation of the MRPSOC Grant. He said that he did not oppose the Surry Charter School. He said that the committee did not do anything negative to Surry.  We did what we felt was the best as a committee. He said that he does not see a valid reason not to move the MC2 Program. J. Smith said that the MC2 Program would be evaluated by the visiting NEASC Team. B. Tatro asked to move the question. There were no objections. Vote on main motion: 7.321/2.838/0/4.841. Motion passes.  

 

7.  SCHOOL BOARD COMMITTEE REPORTS:

1.      Community Relations Committee: K. Colby reported that the committee is beginning goal #2 which is to get the high school students involved with the publishing item. They would like to ask the students to write about their towns. The committee met with J. Smith about this issue. The committee would like to get started in Sept. on this item. He thanked T. Warner for the pictures of graduation on the web page. They are discussing adding sound to the page possibly the band performing. They would like to add stories of alumni students to the web page. The next meeting is on July 10, 2006 at 5:30 PM.

2.      Facilities Committee: K. Cota passed out minutes dated June 20, 2006 to the Board. She went over the minutes. MOTION: K. Cota MOVED to accept the bid from Melanson for $21,144.00 plus a 10% contingency for the reconstruction roofing on the Mt. Caesar modular building. SECOND: J. Kenyon. VOTE: 10.159/0/0/4.841. Motion passes.

3.      Finance Committee: B. Tatro reported that the committee had a non-meeting due to lack of a quorum. They reviewed the assets and the financial status, which remain unchanged. MOTION: B. Tatro MOVED to carry forward the funds in the amount of $240,975.31 to be earmarked for maintenance projects to be carried forward. SECOND: G. White. VOTE: 10.159/0/0/4.841. Motion passes. The next meeting will be on July 11, 2006 at 6:00 PM.

a. Action on 2006-2007 Operating Budget: K. Dassau explained that the same information was passed out at the last meeting. He reviewed the information. He explained that adjustments would be made within the bottom line of the operating budget. W. Felton asked if they were replacing an English position with a new Spec. Ed. position. K. Dassau answered yes. MOTION: J. Kenyon MOVED to accept the MRSD Budget Adjustments for 2006-2007 presented by the administration. SECOND: K. Cota. DISCUSSION: K. Cota asked if there was room to purchase textbooks and if there is a plan for purchasing textbooks for the future. She also asked about the reduction of an administrator. K. Dassau explained that the Budget Committee commented on cutting an administrator but we can not be compared to the state average having D. Mousette and K. Carter. He said that the high school exceeds the number of students. K. Cota asked if the secretaries are being looked at. K. Dassau asked for the direction of the Board. J. Smith said that the books asked for would be purchased. M. Young said that the Middle School is in great shape for books. VOTE: 7.098/0/3.061/4.841. Motion passes. R. Thackston commented that our administration, set up and the state average is not a relevant question. 

4.      Policy Committee: MOTION: R. Thackston MOVED to accept the Principal Retirement Benefits Policy SECOND: J. Kenyon DISCUSSION: G. White reported that this was reviewed by the attorney. This package has been given to the principals for 5 years but had not been put into policy. K. Dassau commented that there is presently no retirement package for the principals. K. Cota commented that she hoped B. Tatro would not vote on this motion. VOTE: 8.277/0/1.882/4.841. Motion passes. The next policy meeting is June 26, 2006 at 5:45 PM.

5.      Budget Committee: There was no meeting. The next meeting is in Gilsum.

6.      The Cheshire Career Center: J. Smith reported that the selection committee has chosen a director for the CCC Center. An offer has been made and accepted.

7.      Tech Committee: J. Kenyon reported that this committee met on May 24, 2006. T. Warner, B. McCulley, J. Friedman and J. Kenyon were present. They looked at a plan that is a requirement of the state and E-rate. They also met on June 14, 2006. T. Warner, B. McCulley and J. Kenyon were present. They discussed network security, the staff survey and that the student information is accessible from the web. The next meeting will be held on June 28, 2006 at 6:00 PM.

 

8.  OTHER SCHOOL BOARD BUSINESS:

 New Business: W. Felton commented that it would be a good idea that any committee reports indicate the members on the committee. He would ask that the reports be written. He commented that an oral report is in one ear and out the other.

 

9. Action on the Manifest: MOTION: T. Peloquin MOVED the manifest in the amount of

$2,633,193.53. SECOND: K. Colby. DISCUSSION: B. Tatro commented on the fact that someone was getting paid but not working. L. Biron explained it to the Board.  VOTE: 6.142/0/4.017/4.841. Motion passes.

 

10. SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT: K. Dassau welcomed K. Chambers and T. Peloquin. He informed the Board that there would be 2 non-public sessions. He also informed the Board that he would not be in attendance at the July Meeting.

 

     L. Biron informed the Board that the Emergency Expenditure and Over Expenditure requested from the Budget Committee by the Board was not valid. It needs to come from the Board. He said that the $210,147.00 requested does not have to be there because it would be paid in surplus. He said that the letter included additional comments and talked about the septic and asked for a letter from the engineer. They asked for information on the leach field, spec. ed. and IEPs. They asked about the revenues and asked why they are not budgeted on the MS24. MOTION: W. Felton MOVED the Emergency Expenditure and Over Expenditures in the amount of $359,985.00. SECOND: B. Tatro DISCUSSION: G. White asked if we needed to rescind the motion. The motion was made by the Budget Committee. VOTE: 9.456/0/.703/4.841. Motion passes.  

    

11. BOARD CHAIR REPORT: C. Dreyfuss thanked L. Biron for all his years at the District. It is much appreciated. She also welcomed K. Chambers to the district. She informed the Board that the Surry Withdrawal Committee would be meeting on Aug. 17, 2006 at 7:00 PM in the MRHS Library. They would be asking the selectmen if that date would be okay.

 

12. SETTING NEXT MEETINGS AGENDA:

1.      Textbook Plan for District

 

13. SECOND PUBLIC COMMENTS: P. Bauries commented on the adjustments proposed by the administration. She is concerned about the textbooks. She is concerned that there was no public hearing for the purpose of the Surry School. She commented that a proposed Education Sub-committee was voted down. It is the Board that is dragging their heels.

 

W. Brown commented that the State of NH is in favor of the charter school. He also commented that multi-grade classroom students test just as well as single grade students. He said that a comment was made that “too bad for Surry”. He said that people are being forced out of the town. He said that no one listens and that they also pay taxes.

 

F. Conroy asked why they did not move MC2 to Surry last year. He said that the Board is not listening to the citizens of Surry and even if we had the whole town here it would not make a difference. He said that they could not hold Surry hostage. He said that there are two schools that will take them and he asked that when the time comes to let Surry go.

 

W. Imon explained that his son goes to MC2 and if anyone has any questions feel free to talk to him. He commented that there is a lot of talk about the MC2 Program at the Board Meetings. He said that if the Board was more positive about the program they could move forward. The Board needs to get behind the program and explain it.

 

Ed Winter commented that Surry would push to the max to withdraw from the District. That is not a threat but what is what is going to happen.

 

14. NON-PUBLIC SESSION: RSA 91-A:3 II a: Personnel: MOTION: G. White MOVED to go into non-public session under RSA 91-A:3 II a-personnel. SECOND: J. Kenyon. Roll call vote: J. Hill, K. Colby, T. Peloquin, K. Cota, W. Felton, J. Kenyon, B. Tatro, G. White, R. Thackston and C. Dreyfuss. Motion passes.

 

15. NON-PUBLIC SESSION: RSA 91-A:3 II b: MOTION: B. Tatro MOVED to go into non-public session under RSA 91-A:3II b-nominations. SECOND: K. Colby. Roll call vote: J. Hill, K. Colby, T. Peloquin, K. Cota, W. Felton, J. Kenyon, B. Tatro, G. White, R. Thackston and C. Dreyfuss. Motion passes.

 

16. Adjournment: MOTION: K. Colby MOVED to adjourn the meeting at 10:15 PM. SECOND: G. White. VOTE: Unanimous for those present.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Laura L. Aivaliotis

MRSD Recording Secretary