Approved minutes

MONADNOCK REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

Board Meeting Minutes

November 21, 2006

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

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

Also present: K. Dassau, Superintendent, D. Hodgdon, Assistant Superintendent, T. Warner, Dir. of Technology, K. Chambers, Business Manager. Principals: B. Tatro, K. Craig, D. Dahl, S. Rashid and Matt Young.

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

1. CONSENT AGENDA: MOTION: K. Colby MOVED to accept the November 7, 2006 Board Meeting Minutes as presented. SECOND: P. Peterson. DISCUSSION: K. Cota said that K. Chambers had explained why the health insurance rate was down. That was not reflected in the minutes. J. Carnie did not remember her answer. VOTE on amended minutes: 8.519/0/1.179/5.302. Motion passes. MOTION: K. Cota MOVED to accept the November 15, 2006. SECOND: K. Colby. VOTE: 7.801/0/1.897/5.302. Motion passes.

2. CORRESPONDENCE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS: C. Dreyfuss explained that she had received a letter of resignation from Bruce Tatro. C. Dreyfuss read the letter to the Board.

The principals have no formal reports but would like to wish the Board a Happy Thanksgiving.

3. STUDENT GOVERNMENT REPORT:

4. Public Comments: D. Connell commented to the Board that he had gone to a Facilities Meeting and there was no quorum. When the quorum was made an hour later they started the meeting. He asked if there was a policy on rescheduling of the meeting. C. Dreyfuss commented that there is no policy but an extended courtesy to the public on when the quorum would be made. D. Connell asked about the appeal concerning the NH Retirement. K. Dassau explained that it was in process but with no resolution yet. D. Connell asked if the appeal was made with the School Board approval. K. Dassau explained that the issue was in non-public and the minutes were sealed. D. Connell asked who made the appeal. K. Dassau explained the Board.

N. Moriarty would recommend that the Board place the AlertNow on a separate warrant article. The voters should have a chance to vote. N. Moriarty also commented on the upcoming budget and the warrant articles being one amount. He said that the Board should set priorities.

5. Curriculum Report: D. Hodgdon passed out an Aspiration Survey done by the students in the Middle School, High School and MC2. This survey was state financed and the results provided by the state. He explained that the student aspirations are the keys to success. The intention of the survey is to take those results along with other information to see if we want to make shifts for those students. M. Young, K. Carter, J. Smith and D. Hodgdon will be going to the state for training. S. Oerman asked if this information would be given to the parents. D. Hodgdon said yes but not now. D. Hodgdon explained that there is only a small amount that feel that they are not looked at positively and only a small amount that do not feel that they are getting recognized.

6. Old Business:

1. Budget Development 2007-2008: K. Chambers passed out the budget changes to the Board. She explained that the budget has changed from a 7.4% increase to a 4.36% increase. J. Carnie asked if it included the health care change. K. Chambers said yes. The amount is a $1,172,902.00 difference. K. Chambers explained that she would have the list of expected revenues at the next meeting. K. Chambers passed out a pie chart on the budget to the Board.

K. Chambers asked the Board about 4 warrant articles. K. Chambers asked the Board if they would like the Special Ed. Expendable Trust Fund on the ballot in the amount of $50,000.00. K. Cota asked when this could be used. K. Chambers explained that the Board could vote to use the funds. C. Dreyfuss asked if this amount is adequate. K. Dassau said no. K. Chambers explained that aides are between $35,000.00 and $40,000.00 a year. MOTION: K. Cota. MOVED to place a warrant article on the 2007-2008 ballot in the amount of $50,000.00 to be raised an appropriated to be placed in the Special Ed. Expendable Trust Fund. SECOND: J. Kenyon. DISCUSSION: K. Dassau explained that a level of comfort in that account would be about $300,000.00. J. Carnie asked at what level the federal government would be meeting their part. K. Dassau said about 12%. VOTE: 8.577/0/1.121/5.302. Motion passes. K. Chambers asked the Board if they only wanted the school district funded on the warrant article for the AlertNow. C. Dreyfuss thought that the $7,038.00 was for the district and we were only informing the towns. K. Cota agreed. The Board agreed only for the district. K. Chambers explained the balance in the Maintenance Expendable Trust Fund and what it would be used for such as repair of the stage roof and the cleaning of the oil tanks. The Finance Committee recommended placing $32,000.00 into the Maintenance Expendable Trust Fund. MOTION: S. Oerman MOVED to place a warrant article on the 2007-2008 ballot in the amount of $32,000.00 to be raised and appropriated to be placed in the Maintenance Expendable Trust Fund. SECOND: P. Peterson. VOTE: 8.577/1.121/0/5.302. Motion passes. K. Chambers explained to the Board that there is a statute that allows the School Board to accept and expend revenue for the purposes to which it was given. She asked if the Board has any recollection of this article being on the ballot. She said that it is a housekeeping item. She asked the Board if they would like to see this as a warrant article. T. Aho commented that the taxpayers are concerned that the revenues come in and they vaporize. He does believe that it was done to accept but no to expend. She would suggest that the Board accepts everything under $5,000.00 and have a public hearing for anything over. K. Dassau explained that they are asking for the go ahead to draft this article for the Board’s consideration. K. Cota asked how the Board accepted the donation for the music and art. K. Dassau explained that they are crossing their T’s and dotting their I’s. MOTION: S. Oerman MOVED to have K. Chambers look into this matter more and to bring a warrant article draft to the Board. SECOND: K. Colby. VOTE: 9.098/0/0/5.302. Motion passes.

2. Status of federal grants: K. Dassau explained that they met with Iris Lane from the Federal Dept. of Ed. about the various choice programs. D. Hodgdon asked if there would be a continuation of the Choice Grant. She responded no. She said that she does not believe that there would be a grant proposal in April. K. Dassau explained that we are at a wait and see and the administration will come to the Board when they receive information. T. Peloquin asked what if we get that information and the program is not supported. K. Dassau commented that is grossly hypothetical. We do not know what it would look like. D. Hodgdon commented that we should assume that we are operating without a grant.

3. Choice Program Expenses: K. Chambers explained the Choice Programs that are being funded. The Arts Academy, G.I.S, Law and Public Safety and MC2. There are no funds proposed in the budget for Advance Learner at KSC for the MRHS Students, Virtual High School, World Language at Harrisville Elementary and the students to attend KMS. K. Chambers explained that J. Smith forgot to put the Advance Learner in the budget for the high school. He has been asked by a member of the Budget Committee to consider putting that in the budget along with the Virtual High School. K. Chambers explained that the Virtual High School would cost $10,000.00 if we had our own program. Ten students would be the minimum and 15 students the maximum. MOTION: K. Cota MOVED to accept the Virtual High School into our 2007-2008 budget in the amount of $10,000.00. SECOND: S. Oerman. DISCUSSION: T. Aho would request that the Virtual High School information be in writing for what they would be getting. K. Chambers explained that she would put that together. S. Oerman would with- draw her second and K. Cota would withdraw her motion. This information would be in the Board packets. The Board would like to have more information about the Advanced Learner Program. D. Arguin would recommend that the Board ask for a presentation on the Arts Program at the KMS. T. Aho asked if there was a program that we could trade students with. K. Dassau explained that the Board had that conversation at a meeting before. There are 26 students coming to Monadnock and 5 or 6 going to Keene. The one to one swaps are not appropriate by the state. K. Cota asked what if we put the money in the budget and the Policy Committee comes up with something what happens. K. Dassau suggested adopting the policy contingent to every district accepting our policy. We are asking to put the money in just in case a policy is not adopted. J. Kenyon commented that you could not evaluate the program without knowing what they are doing. P. Peterson suggested that the Board see a presentation from all the programs. K. Cota commented on a time issue and said that the Board supports Choice Programs so we need to fund them. K. Dassau commented that the Board did vote to support the programs. K. Chambers would like to prepare a budget with those line items. J. Smith would be bringing the Advance Learner and Virtual High School to the Board on Nov. 28, 2006. J. Kenyon can in turn report back to the Board. The Board agreed to have K. Chambers plug in the numbers and bring it back to the Board. J. Kenyon commented on the start up costs of the program.

4. Surry Expenses: K. Chambers had handed out information at the last meeting. K. Chambers has no presentation. The Board requested this information.

MOTION: K. Colby MOVED to change the agenda and move New Business before the Committee Reports. SECOND: P. Peterson. VOTE: 9.451/.0247/0/5.302. Motion passes.

7. New Business:

a. Wellness Committee: T. Walsh explained that the Board adopted a Wellness Policy in June and it was implemented in July. He explained to the Board that there are a few areas that need to be addressed in order that we balance the goals and support the people involved in this. He said that they would like to add the words (to include) healthy choices when selling food and beverages as fund- raisers. It is very difficult to have fundraisers and to be in compliance with the policy. C. Dreyfuss asked what healthy choices are. T. Walsh explained that they are the Healthy Kids guidelines. T. Walsh explained that at the Turkey Tussel for instance they would like to sell coffee and donuts, but donuts is not healthy. C. Dreyfuss asked who wants that policy changed. T. Walsh explained that the Wellness Committee asked him to bring it to the Board and a public petition. MOTION: P. Peterson MOVED to make the changes as presented on page 7 and page 9 of the Wellness Policy. SECOND: K. Colby. VOTE: 7.340/2.358/0/5.302. Motion passes. T. Walsh explained that the committee has been working on these changes but will have a report in the near future.

b. PUPS Program proposal at Mt. Caesar School-B. Tatro: B. Tatro explained to the Board that in August they had enrolled 4 children that had needs that the school could not meet. The Special Ed. teacher, the School psychologist and the Occupational Therapist along with B. Tatro came up with a program that would allow those children to stay at Mt. Caesar. B. Tatro explained that 6 students would be the maximum for the program. The PUPS Program is a proactive approach to manage their behavior. She said that she does not feel that they have over extended themselves. B. Tatro described the program to the Board. All six children are in the regular classroom at sometime during the day. The goal is to have theses children in a regular classroom all day long. They are asking to continue the program and are asking for support from the School Board. K. Dassau explained that they are asking permission from the Board to ask the State for approval of the program. Cutler and Wilcox will work together with this program. J. Bischoff explained that there is not another program like this in the area. B. Tatro commented that after the first year it could be a district program. K. Cota asked if there was any additional cost or space. B. Tatro said not at this time. We are using the staff and space that we already have. T. Peloquin asked if there are children out of district that could be in this program and there was a slot would that happen. J. Bischoff said certainly but it is very hard to get an out of district student back. J. Bischoff commented that the State should have no problem with the size of the classroom. C. Dreyfuss explained that they are asking for the Board’s approval to send the application to the State. MOTION: J. Kenyon MOVED the Board’s approval of the PUPS Program. SECOND: K. Colby. DISCUSSION: T. Aho asked for the information from the State on this program after the application has been submitted. S. Rashid commented on what an incredible program this is. He said that with the huge influx of Spec. Ed. students the team took a huge step to fill the needs of the students without other resources and huge savings to the district. J. Carnie asked what if the State asks for more information. J. Bischoff explained what the State might ask for. C. Dreyfuss explained that any cost increase would come back to the Board. VOTE: 9.698/0/0/5.302. Motion passes.

8. SCHOOL BOARD COMMITTEE REPORTS:

1. Community Relations Committee: K. Colby reported to the Board that there maybe a chance that they would be able to have air time on Channel 8. He spoke to the General Manager about the situation. There will be no cost to the district. This is for information only. The next meeting will be on Nov. 27, 2006 at 5:30 PM.

2. Facilities Committee: K. Cota reported that the Board met on Nov. 15, 2006 and approved a recommendation from the Facilities Committee. They approved the amount of $23,608.20 to hire Steelman Productions to replace the rigging for the stage at MRHS. The Board discussed safety items and a Facilities Master Plan for the MRHS. After discussion they came up with the following recommendation to the Board. MOTION: K. Cota. MOVED To recommend to the full Board the 07/08 Project List Revision #7 for a health and safety related maintenance warrant article. The article would total $348,098.00. This total could change upon receipt and evaluation of RFP’s (request for proposals) for the Master Plan. It is recommended by the Facilities Committee that the funding for this come from the “1975 Capital Reserve Fund”. SECOND: J. Kenyon. DISCUSSION: K. Cota explained that the RFP’s are official documents for bidding. The deadline for the bids is Dec. 12, 2006. The Facilities gave rational on why they included the Master Plan with the health and safety issues. The Finance Committee agreed with this recommendation. VOTE: 9.698/0/0/5.302. Motion passes. The committee discussed the roof issue at the high school and Mt. Caesar and came to the Board with the following recommendation. MOTION: K. Cota MOVED to recommend replacing the areas of the roof at the MRHS that are confirmed as presently suffering water damage/intrusion/rot. The "6” classroom hallway" and kitchen areas at Mt. Caesar at an estimated cost of $428,832.00 and that the funds for this come from the “1975 Capital Reserve Fund”. SECOND: J. Kenyon. DISCUSSION: T. Aho asked what the Capitol Reserve balance would be after the withdrawals. K. Chambers explained that it would be $123,000.00. VOTE: 6.319/3.379/0/5.302. Motion passes. K. Cota reported on a survey regarding the mobile classrooms. No parent expressed concern that their child would have to walk outside to get to the classrooms. The next meeting is scheduled for Dec. 4, 2006.

3. Finance Committee: MOTION: J. Carnie MOVED to approve the budget transfer request as presented to the Finance Committee and as approved by the Finance Committee. SECOND: S. Oerman. DISCUSSION: K. Chambers explained that the transfers were for a winter PE Program at Granite Gorge and the transportation for the students to go to Gilsum in the winter months. VOTE: 9.698/0/0/5.302. Motion passes.

4. Policy Committee: G. White explained the changes proposed to Policy DN-Equipment and Supplies. MOTION: G. White MOVED to accept Policy DN-Equipment and Supplies as amended and proposed by the Policy Committee. SECOND: J. Kenyon. VOTE: 7.808/1.890/0/5.302. Motion passes.

5. Budget Committee: J. Kenyon reported that the Budget Committee met on Nov. 14, 2006 and reviewed the Middle School budget, the high school budget and MC2 except K. Carter was not present. A Budget Member asked that the summer school be extended. The next meeting is on Nov. 28, 2006 in Sullivan.

6. The Cheshire Career Center: No report.

7. Surry Withdrawal Committee: T. Peloquin reported that the Committee would be meeting on Nov. 30, 2006 at 7:00 PM.

8. Action on the Manifest: MOTION: S. Oerman MOVED the manifest in the amount of $ 2,237,260.51. SECOND: K. Colby. DISCUSSION: K. Cota asked K. Chambers if it is possible to have additional information before the amount on the manifest. K. Chambers explained that it is the software. She could look into it. J. Carnie questioned the fact that Monadnock was paying one-third of the lawyer’s bill. He asked who determined the percentage. K. Chambers explained that there are 3 people involved from the Monadnock District. J. Carnie questioned the amount. K. Chambers explained that the 2 people discussed and 1 pre-existing. K. Dassau suggested that if the conversation was going to continue that they should go into non-public session. J. Carnie agreed. K. Dassau suggested that this be on the Dec. 6, 2006 SAU Board agenda. K. Dassau explained that NH Education Collaboration is a Special Ed. placement. VOTE: 8.577/0/1.121/5.302. Motion passes.

10. SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT: K. Dassau explained that in March of 2006 he was authorized to grant authority for unpaid leave for both the support staff and the teaching staff “for this year”. He is asking if the Board wished to give that authority to him once again. MOTION: J. Kenyon MOVED to grant authority to the Superintendent on unpaid leave under Article 11:13 Teachers and Article 10:13 Support Staff. SECOND: K. Colby. VOTE: 9.698/0/0/5.302. Motion passes.

MOTION: J. Kenyon MOVED to accept E. Colby’s retirement/resignation on August 31, 2008 consistent with the contract requirements. SECOND: G. White. VOTE: 8.519/0/1.179/5.302. Motion passes.

MOTION: K. Colby MOVED to accept B. Kelly’s retirement/resignation at the end of June 2008 under Article 13.1 consistent with the contract language. SECOND: P. Peterson. VOTE: 9.698/0/0/5.302. Motion passes.

K. Dassau informed the Board about a meeting being held on Dec. 4, 2006 at 5:30 PM. The Troy Selectmen, the administration, S. Oerman and the teachers will be invited to attend. The Board is welcome. It is a cooperative meeting.

The SAU Board will be meeting on Dec. 6, 2006 at 7:00 PM in Hinsdale.

The Turkey Tussle is on Thursday at 10:00 AM.

11. BOARD CHAIR REPORT: C. Dreyfuss commented that maintenance has gone unfunded for years and now we are seeing the problems. The Facilities Committee, Maintenance and K. Chambers have done a fantastic job. She hopes that the district will support the projects.

12. SETTING NEXT MEETINGS AGENDA:

13. SECOND PUBLIC COMMENTS:

14. Adjournment: MOTION: K. Colby MOVED to adjourn the meeting at 10:25 PM. SECOND: J. Kenyon. VOTE: 9.698/0/0/5.302. Motion passes.

Respectfully submitted,

Laura L. Aivaliotis

MRSD Recording Secretary