approved minutes

MONADNOCK REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

Board Meeting Minutes

                                                September 5, 2006

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

                      

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

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

 

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

 

1.  CONSENT AGENDA: MOTION: K. Colby MOVED to accept the August 15, 2006 Board Meeting Minutes as presented.  SECOND: J. Kenyon.  DISCUSSION: J. Carnie commented on the Budget Committee Report. He explained that N. Moriarty stated that it was said that the Chair of the Budget Committee would appoint the vacant position. C. Dreyfuss and K. Cota were at that meeting and that was not stated. The Chair of the School Board will appoint the vacant seat. K. Dassau said that Jean Williams will be retiring in 2008, not 2007, as stated in the minutes. J. Kenyon wanted the minutes to reflect the fact that he suggested the calendar changes in order to find creative ways to cut without cutting teachers or anything that would affect the kids. K. Chambers indicated that she stated that there were no traces of asbestos in the air at Mt. Caesar.  VOTE: 11.068/0/.776/2.135 Motion passes.

 

CORRESPONDENCE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS: K. Dassau asked each principal present to report on the opening day of school. M. Young explained that there are a lot of changes. Things are headed in the right direction for the middle school and it has been a smooth start so far. K. Craig said that it was also a smooth start. She is proud of the faculty. The staff is addressing the greatest needs’ areas. The preschoolers arrived today. D. Mousette said that things are off and running to a great start. The faculty is setting the school goals. S. Rashid reported that the collaborative is now in the main building and music is in the trailer. The school has had a wonderful start, energized and ready to go. B. Tatro reported that Mt. Caesar has 406 students, which is up from last year. The kids are great. D. Dahl reported that it was too smooth a start. The population is up as well in Troy. It has been a great start. K. Carter thanked the Monadnock Maintenance staff for their work moving MC2 to Surry. She reported that she has 44 students attending the school. They are very happy at Surry. She handed out an article, which she wrote and was published in the Journal of the Coalition of Essential Schools. J. Smith was not feeling well and not in attendance. K. Dassau reported on his behalf. He reported that things are running smoothly. The Student Government Elections will be on October 16, 2006. The student handbook is on line. The Visiting Team will be here on Sept. 24, 2006. They would like to have the Board represented if they are available. He also reported that Steve Streeter went to Ireland with a curriculum group.

 

3.      STUDENT GOVERNMENT REPORT: Tabby Ball from MC2 reported that she is one of the two representatives as of now. Matt Spree is the other representative. She explained that the Governance Council would be reviewing the policy and procedures tomorrow. They will be looking at a new fund raising policy. They are trying to implement ARC and Students in Action.

 

4.      PUBLIC COMMENTS: D. Gurian commented that the Board should take another look at the policy for the first and second reading of a new proposed policy. She also suggested having the Board Meetings videotaped and broadcasted on public television. This would allow more people to be involved.

 

R. Bauries commented on the $500,000.00 for MC2 and the fact that there is no budget and that it is not due yet.

 

R. Bauries commented on the administrators using their health insurance as compensation the last three years prior to retirement in order to increase their retirement. He said that he has looked into this and that it is not legal.

 

5.      Curriculum Report: AYP-Dr. Hodgdon: D. Hodgdon reported that he had included in the packets the scores of the AYP and the State Testing. He informed the Board that Emerson did make AYP. He reported that the high school has been identified as a school in need of improvement. They would need to draft a plan for review. C. Dreyfuss asked what that means to the high school. D. Hodgdon said that MRHS would be on a watch list, 2nd year allow for tutoring by organizations sanctioned by the state, and in subsequent years the consequences escalate after that. W. Felton asked if the school is in trouble. D. Hodgdon said that we are in trouble in a sense. There are concerns set up by the federal government. We are providing a good education, but for some students in a particular population there were difficulties. W. Felton asked what would be done for those students.  D. Hodgdon explained that the results just came back, so that the school hasn’t had much time to reflect on the next steps.  It is currently focusing on the NEASC visit. This is going to be on hold for now. P. Peterson asked if there are teams of educators that follow the student at risk. D. Hodgdon explained that we do have some of that in place now. P. Peterson explained what they had done for the at risk students at her last school.

 

6.   Old Business: MC2/MRPSOC request for total monies breakdown-K. Chambers: R. Thackston arrives. K. Chambers passed out the information requested by the Board. She explained that the top of the second page addresses the transportation. She explained that if the MRPSOC Grant were to go away, the cost to the district would be $153,841.35. That is for the salaries, van fuel, and mentors. T. Aho asked for the handout from the last meeting. T. Aho asked if there were any work plans before Work Plan number 16. K. Chambers said that they had nothing to do with MC2. J. Kenyon asked if the $153,841.35 would be the number if there were no grant. K. Dassau suggested putting this on the next agenda. J. Carnie asked if these are all of the work plans that affect MC2 from the MRPSOC Grant. K. Chambers said they were to the best of her knowledge. J. Carnie asked if P. Bocko bills us for his work that he does. K. Chambers explained that under project management his would be included in that line. J. Carnie would like to know the charge if any from P. Bocko and the cost. J. Carnie commented that the money budgeted was more than what was spent. D. Gurian explained that any money not spent would go back to the federal government. It cannot be used in another year. R. Thackston commented that he does not care about Antioch. They are our vendor. He is interested in the facts. He wants to know if students are being well-educated at MC2. He asked how many students are being educated for the $154,000.00. K. Dassau cautioned that the budget is in the development process. R. Thackston said that he does understand that.  K. Carter said that there are 44 kids. Eighteen of those students are from Monadnock. C. Johnson asked about the $46,000.00 in transportation. K. Chambers said that all the transportation was included in that number last time. The $18,000.00 for transportation is correct for MC2. She explained that this figure would not be brought forward because it is for out-of-district students. J. Kenyon commented that no one has said anything against MC2. Everyone who has visited as well as the federal government has approved. He has not heard that the program does not work. J. Carnie commented that the bottom line is that the $154,000.00 is not the total cost. The $500,000.00 needs to be added. The fact that there were only 22 students last year is a problem. T. Aho asked if the $500,000.00 should be added to the $154,000.00. K. Dassau explained that at this point in time the budget is not done. K. Dassau commented that the number is $486,000.00, but it is premature to assume it is a final figure. K. Cota asked when the grant expires. D. Gurian reported that it expires on Sept. 30, 2007. J. Carnie asked what charges in WP 33, WP 29, WP 21 and WP 22 are for MC2. He would also request what additional charges there are for PE, foreign language, sports and Paul Bocko. R. Thackston said that he would support the request made by J. Carnie. K. Chambers asked what specifically he wants. J. Carnie said any money contributed to the MC2. J. Carnie said that he has a real problem with the transportation number. K. Carter explained that number is for out-of-district students. K. Chambers explained that in the requested work plans there are no charges to MC2, to the best of her knowledge. K. Carter explained that PE, foreign language and sports receive nothing from the MRPSOC Grant. PE is from the YMCA and foreign language is taught by a KSC Student for $10.00 an hour. These charges would show under purchased services. C. Dreyfuss commented that this is a Board discussion. J. Kenyon commented that he feels that the attention to numbers is warranted. We have a business manager and a superintendent who are working hard to give us the numbers. They have stated that the budget has not been finalized and that this is not the actual picture. The reality is no matter what the number you don’t like any number. W. Felton commented that some members would like to crucify MC2 and they are hunting. He wanted the Board to know that he was not part of the hunting expedition. C. Dreyfuss asked K. Chambers if she has J. Carnie’s request. K. Chambers said she does, but will have no new information.

 

 

7.  SCHOOL BOARD COMMITTEE REPORTS:

1.      Community Relations Committee: K. Colby reported that the committee met and they are exploring the best ways to communicate with the public pertaining to the warrant articles. He said that he would like to explore D. Gurian’s suggestion and broadcast the meetings. The next meeting will be on Sept. 12, 2006 and Sept. 26, 2006. 

2.      Facilities Committee: K. Cota reported that the committee met on Aug. 29, 2006. W. Kassotis gave a report on the security at MRHS. The top concerns are the Master Key System, theft and locking the electrical rooms, storage rooms and boiler rooms. The committee looked at the amount of space they could build for the money in the capitol reserve - the result being less than 8 standard classrooms. Ron informed the committee that the hot water heat exchanger at the high school has failed and the repair would not be cost effective. The committee agreed to get a hot water design from WV Engineering with a cost not to exceed $1,200.00. The committee reviewed information on the sidewalks in Troy. The committee approved Jay Roy in the amount of $10,450.00. MOTION: K. Cota MOVED to accept the bid of Jay Roy for $10,450.00 to fix the sidewalks and add drainage. SECOND: J. Kenyon. DISCUSSION: K. Cota read the rationale to the Board. R. Thackston said it was a good idea.  VOTE: 12.865/0/0/2.135. Motion passes. K. Cota passed out information to the Board about the amount of work the committee did regarding the curriculum needs of the middle school.  R. Thackston asked if building aid would be received for the building project. K. Chambers said there would be no building aid because the project is too small. The next meeting is on Sept. 11, 2006.

3.      Finance Committee: B. Tatro reported that the committee received the answers to the questions asked on the over expenditures for 2005-2006. It was either bookkeeping or coded wrong. There is no line of credit and it is not anticipated that they would be needing one. K. Chambers is preparing a new mileage reimbursement to come before the Board.   

4.       Policy Committee: G. White reported that the committee has not met. The next meeting is on Sept. 18, 2006.  

5.      Budget Committee: J. Kenyon reported that the Budget Committee has not met. The next meeting is on Sept. 26, 2006 at Emerson.

6.      The Cheshire Career Center: No report.

7.      Surry Withdrawal Committee: R. Thackston reported that the committee met on August 17, 2006. It was an organizational meeting and he was elected to chair the committee. He commented that he seriously doubts that the committee can get through the next agenda items in one night. R. Thackston was asked by the committee to see if the Board would fund a recording secretary position. R. Thackston asked L. Aivaliotis to take the minutes and she accepted. MOTION: R. Thackston MOVED to have the School Board provide funding for a minute taker for the Surry Withdrawal Committee. SECOND: T. Aho. VOTE: 12.865/0/0/2.135. Motion passes. The next meeting is on Sept. 21, 2006 at 7:00 P.M. at the MRHS Library. W. Felton asked if the Surry Withdrawal proposal would go to the full Board after the Committee makes a report. R. Thackston answered no. R. Thackston explained that the committee comes up with a report and it is sent to the NH Dept. of Education. It would then go on the ballot eventually. J. Carnie commented that the Board would need to know the cost or value of the Surry School. R. Thackston explained that the committee would collect the data. J. Carnie commented that the Surry building belongs to the District and the Board should know how much it would be to replace it. R. Thackston explained that we do not need to know that now. C. Dreyfuss commented that it should be part of the conclusion. R. Thackston said that they have multiple opinions on the building. C. Dreyfuss said to have the withdrawal committee ask that question. J. Carnie commented that this is not a Surry Withdrawal Committee question. R. Thackston commented that the Board is the wrong group to ask. 

 

8.  OTHER SCHOOL BOARD BUSINESS:

 New Business: K. Cota asked why her agenda request was not on this agenda. She had asked to discuss financial planning. K. Dassau assured her that it would be on the next agenda.

 

9. Action on the Manifest: MOTION: G. White MOVED the manifest in the amount of $1,740,789.62. SECOND: W. Felton. VOTE: 8.710/1.021/3.134/2.135. Motion passes.   

10. SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT: K. Dassau thanked the support staff, teachers and principals for a successful opening of the schools.

 

     MOTION: W. Felton MOVED to accept the retirement for Joanne Marchand for 2007-2008, with the request of early retirement benefits. SECOND: B. Tatro. VOTE: 9.456/0/3.409/2.135. Motion passes.

 

     K. Dassau reported that the fire dept. was called to the Cutler School when the sprinklers went off. They turned off the system. A pump will be installed in the future to fix the problem that made the sprinkler go off.

 

    K. Dassau reported that there would be two non-public sessions, pending litigation and nominations.

 

11. BOARD CHAIR REPORT: C. Dreyfuss had nothing to report.

 

12. SETTING NEXT MEETINGS AGENDA:

1.      Financial Planning

2.      More MRPSOC and MC2 funding information.

 

13. SECOND PUBLIC COMMENTS: R. Thackston was asked, if he was to resign from the Board, could he successfully complete his charge on the Surry Withdrawal Committee? He commented that it is sad how 8 towns are slowly destroying themselves. They are cheap. They put it off until things get cheaper. The gym floor is 40 years old. He said that if we do not support the schools the poor will stay because they cannot move. Not maintaining the buildings is driving the tax rate up. The district needs to maintain the buildings in a proper manner.

 

J. Kenyon asked each member of the Board why they were here - what their purpose was and what they wanted to achieve. He commented that we have successfully destroyed every building plan that we have proposed.

 

C. Dreyfuss declared a 5-minute recess. R. Thackston left. 

 

14. NON-PUBLIC SESSION: RSA 91-A:3 II b: Nominations: MOTION: G. White MOVED to go into non-public session under RSA 91-A:3 II b-nominations. SECOND: C. Johnson. Roll call vote: C. Johnson, P. Peterson, J. Carnie, K. Colby, T. Aho, T. Peloquin, K. Cota, W. Felton, J. Kenyon, B. Tatro, G. White and C. Dreyfuss. VOTE: 11.844/0/0/3.156. Motion passes.

 

15. NON-PUBLIC SESSION: RSA 91-A: 3 II e : Pending Litigation: MOTION: J. Kenyon MOVED to go into non-public session under RSA 91-A:3II c-Pending Litigation. SECOND: K. Colby. DISCUSSION: J. Carnie asked if there was a pending litigation against the Board in written form. K. Dassau explained that there was.  Roll call Vote: C. Johnson, P. Peterson, J. Carnie, K. Colby, T. Aho, T. Peloquin, K. Cota, W. Felton, J. Kenyon, B. Tatro, G. White and C. Dreyfuss. VOTE: 11.844/0/0/3.156.  Motion passes.

 

MOTION: C. Johnson MOVED to rescind the new policy that deals with the retirement package of the principals until further notice. SECOND: T. Aho. DISCUSSION: G. White asked if it would be retroactive or from now on. C. Johnson commented from now on and K. Chambers recommended retroactive to July 1, 2006. B. Tatro asked if the people are going to stop getting this. K. Chambers commented that it would be the result of the vote. J. Carnie commented that none has taken effect. They haven’t retired except for D. Stockwell. VOTE: 9.239/1.179/1.179/2.382. Motion passes. MOTION: J. Kenyon MOVED to seal the non-public minutes until the conclusion of the pending litigation. SECOND: K. Cota. DISCUSSION: K. Chambers commented that it would affect other school board and individuals. VOTE: 9.7/1.897/0/2.382. Motion passes.

 

16. Adjournment: MOTION: C. Johnson MOVED to adjourn the meeting at 10:30 PM. SECOND: K. Colby. VOTE: 10.476/1.121/0/3.403. Motion passes.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Laura L. Aivaliotis

MRSD Recording Secretary