MRSD School Board

Approved Minutes

Review of 2007-2008 Budget

Work Session

MRHS Library

October 10, 2006

 

Present Board Members: K. Cota, C. Dreyfuss, J. Kenyon, G. White, J. Carnie, B. Tatro, B. McCulley and P. Peterson.

 

Principals: D. Mousette, M. Young, J. Smith, K. Carter, D. Dahl, B. Tatro, K. Craig and S. Rashid.

 

C. Dreyfuss called the meeting to order at 7:10 PM.

 

1.      Introductions: K. Dassau welcomed the Board, the administration and the public to the first look at the draft for the 07-08 budget. Most of the credit is to go to K. Chambers. There are enough budget books for each Board Member and Budget Member.

2.      Overview of 2007-2008 Budget-K. Chambers: K. Chambers reviewed the first sheet of the budget book. She explained that the most significant increase would be the 25% added in for the health care. That would be an increase in 1 million-dollars. The dental is up 5%, 57% contribution to the NH Retirement and 28% for non-teachers to NH Retirement. There are no step increases because there is no contract. There would be a separate warrant article. All the other required items by the contract are in the budget. There is also an extra pay week for the full time employees. There is a 3  ˝% increase for non union staff members. The SAU cost is the same as they are now. The Surry line item is down to zero. MC2 is $150,000.00 plus the net of the operation of the building cost. This budget does not include the Middle School Choice Program or virtual high school. She said that the maintenance line was underrated. Fuel and oil are the same as last year. Purchased services and goods had been under budgeted and are increased. K. Cota asked if the 57% on the retirement are across the state and asked the dollar amount. K. Chambers said that it is sweeping the state. She does not have the amount but can get it. J. Kenyon asked J. Smith about the decrease in math. J. Smith said that they have been purchasing books right along.

3.      Discussion Items:

  1. Mt. Caesar Trailer: It was explained that they are requesting adding two more teachers at Mt. Caesar, one in second grade and one in third grade. They are looking for one trailer with two classrooms. The location is in question. The Facilities Committee does not have a recommendation yet. The option would be to have the teachers and the trailer in the budget or to separate the trailer in a warrant article. K. Chambers explained the issue with the location. K. Chambers said that it makes sense to put the teachers and the trailer in the budget. K. Cota asked about aids for the increased numbers of students. B. Tatro said that she would prefer to have certified teachers and smaller classes. K. Cota would like to know if the aids would work. P. Peterson asked the number of students that would be in each grade for next year. B. Tatro gave P. Peterson the numbers and she will answer K. Cota’s question at the next meeting. J. Carnie asked about the 399 students. B. Tatro said that number is from the beginning of this month. To project the next year’s numbers is very difficult.  This year the number jumped 30 students because of a new development in town. J. Carnie asked if the net increase is 17 students and B. Tatro agreed not knowing about Kindergarten. K. Chambers is asking the Board for direction on the trailer. B. McCulley would like to have the information prior to the vote.
  2. HS Choice Programs: Arts Academy, GIS and Law and Public Safety: These options are a result of the MR Public Schools Choice Grant. Not knowing if the grant will be renewed the high school is asking for a net increase of 1.25 positions to continue these options. 
  3. Tuition form sending districts (revenue): K. Dassau recommended that the Board table this issue until Tuesday. The Policy Committee will be presenting a Choice Policy to the full Board. J. Smith explained the positions needed for the choice programs.
  4. MC2: K. Dassau explained that the budget has the 3 positions from MC2 in the budget. K. Cota asked about the support staff. K. Carter explained that it is tech support, 15 hours a week. There is a summer receptionist, a multi-task person and two people that are attached to spec. ed. who are paid by other districts. J. Carnie asked if this was just the staff and no cost to the program. K. Chambers explained to J. Carnie the bottom line. J. Carnie asked if there are any spec. ed. teachers in the budget. K. Carter explained that the IEPS for the students are done by the main office at Monadnock. The SAU person fills out the IEPS for the students. J. Carnie asked how they make sure the IEPS fit. K. Carter explained that 7 students came with IEPS. The spec. ed. person from the district sits at the table. The meeting is required in order to go to MC2. J. Carnie asked if there was a review. K. Carter explained that there is a quarterly progress report and an annual report. J. Carnie commented that the bottom line is that the budget is $729,277.00, which services 45 students. Is that correct? K. Carter responded that it was correct. She said that they could add students. It could go up to 60 students. B. McCulley asked what the barriers if any from increasing the number of students. K. Carter said that there is nothing stopping the program from growing. J. Smith and M. Young are working with K. Carter to identify students and you should see an increase. She said that she could increase to 75 students with the present staff but would need laptops. J. Carnie asked how many of the 45 students were Monadnock students. J. Carnie asked if 18 were correct. K. Carter said yes. J. Carnie asked for the break down for each of the years. K. Carter answered. J. Carnie commented that the initial program was to be over a hundred students by now and the second year should have been 50, which has never been met. J. Kenyon commented that there is a lot of focused effort to make sure that the program does not succeed. The program is growing but not by the numbers we would like but the students are going and speaking up for the school in spite of the adversity. K. Dassau commented that the Board needs to answer if they want it in the budget. K. Dassau suggested placing a new agenda item on the regular agenda: Budget Item 2007-2008. K. Chambers explained that she needs direction from the Board on all the programs MRPSOC has provided. She asked the Board what they need to make their decisions. At the November Board Meeting the decisions need to be made on all the choice programs.
  5. Tuition to receiving district (appropriation): K. Cota asked who establishes the tuition amount. The individual districts will set their own tuition rates. J. Carnie asked about the program in Harrisville. K. Dassau explained that it is a world language program. Spanish is embedded on a daily basis. J. Carnie asked if we could do that with our elementary schools. K. Dassau explained that you would have to designate one elementary school and hire a full time language teacher. B. McCulley asked if the Board has a policy on tuitioning students. K. Dassau said no. K. Cota asked for clarity on the upcoming policy and would the numbers be coming with the policy. K. Dassau said yes. D. Hodgdon explained that the policy gives guidance. C. Dreyfuss asked the Board to have the questions ready for Saturday to give to the administration. 

 

4.      Budget Summary/Board Questions and Answers: C. Dreyfuss asked why nothing was spent on a particular line but the same amount was budgeted. K. Chambers asked that specific question be asked on Saturday.

 

K. Chambers explained that the pages are not in order because they had to split the Middle School out. Maintenance is also pulled out and separated. The bottom line is a 7.40% increase. K. Cota asked if the Board comes to an agreement with the teachers would that amount need to be added in. K. Chambers said that would be a separate warrant article.

 

5.      Public Comments: None

6.      Meeting with Budget Committee Saturday 10/14: K. Dassau explained that the Budget Committee requested a full day agenda. K. Cota thanked K. Chambers for her hard work on the budget.

7.      The Board adjourned at 8:30 PM.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

Laura L. Aivaliotis

MRSD Recording Secretary