MONADNOCK REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

Board Meeting Minutes

                                             April 17, 2007

                            Multi-purpose Room at Cutler School, Swanzey, NH.

                      

Present: Colline Dreyfuss, Jonathan Kenyon, Gene White, Tim Peloquin, Susan Oerman, James Carnie, Kenneth Colby, Karen Cota, Phyllis Peterson, Jane Fortson, Tim Aho, Doug Lyman, Robert Mitchell and William Felton. Absent: Winston Wright.

Also present: K. Dassau, Superintendent, D. Hodgdon, Assistant Superintendent and K. Chambers, Business Manager.  Principals: B. Tatro, J. Smith, M. Young, K. Craig, S. Rashid, D. Mousette, and K. Carter.

 

1.      CONSENT AGENDA: MOTION: K. Colby MOVED to accept the April 3, 2007 Board Meeting Minutes as presented.  SECOND: G. White. DISCUSSION: T. Aho asked that more information be added to his comments on the letter he wrote to Molly Kelly, which is as follows: He commented on the fact that adequate means barely satisfactory but we have a wide spectrum for satisfactory. VOTE: 13.077/0/0/1.923. Motion passes. MOTION: G. White MOVED to accept the April 3, 2007 non-public minutes as presented. SECOND: D. Lyman. VOTE: 13.077/0/0/1.923. Motion passes. 

 

2.   CORRESPONDENCE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS: K. Craig informed the Board that there is water in the basement at Emerson. They seem to have it under control.

 

     K. Craig informed of the passing of Jodie Poirier who was a paraprofessional at Emerson.

 

3. STUDENT GOVERNMENT REPORT: Kirsten Clark and Sara informed the Board that they discussed the MP3 issue and a proposed plan to allow students to eat outside of the classroom.

 

4. Public Comments: Bill Hamel asked if the video The Inconvenient Truth was being aired to the students. The principals said that it was not.

 

5. Curriculum Report: 1. PUPS Update: W. Chamberlain explained that there are 6 students from this district in the program. She explained the different activities for the individuals and said that the progress is positive. They had sent the application to the state and they returned it with three minors and it was resubmitted. B. Tatro and J. Bischoff spoke about the cost of the program, the cost if the students had to be placed out of district and the expectation of full approval in June. T. Aho asked to see the paperwork from the state. J. Bischoff explained that they have not received any information from the state as of yet. (R. Mitchell arrived)

 

2.      Project Based Learning and Technology Presentation: S. Rashid and Marie explained how technology has moved into the classroom. Marie explained the two 4th grade classrooms that created a web page about facts about NH. A power point presentation was given. A list of Service Learning Projects was handed to the Board. The covers of books prepared by students were shown to the Board. K. Cota thanked Marie and S. Rashid for the presentation.

 

3.  NEASC Report: J. Smith thanked the staff for the thousands of hours preparing for the past October visit. He explained that the school will be accredited but on probation. J. Smith read the recommendations and the commendations. He explained the next steps. T. Aho and K. Cota commented on the air quality and how the team came to their conclusion. K. Dassau commented that air quality is one of 10 items that need to be resolved. The Board asked about the next steps and what happens if the school is not accredited. K. Dassau explained that he is confident on the learning instructional process but not so sure on the facilities. There would be an update on what was asked for 10 years ago and now. 

 

6.      New Business: 1. Health Insurance Bid Process: Two representatives from IPG presented the bids and results to the Board. Cigna showed the most savings to the district while matching the benefits already provided. The Board asked the representatives questions. MOTION: G. White MOVED to accept the Cigna Insurance proposal contingent upon Union approval. SECOND: K. Colby. DISCUSSION: J. Fortson would abstain, Cigna is one of her clients. VOTE: 12.707/0/1.179/1.114. Motion passes.

 

2.  Copier Bid: K. Chambers explained that 4 copier leases in the district have expired. MOTION: S. Oerman MOVED to accept the OCE bid for the 4 copiers. SECOND: P. Peterson. VOTE: 11.684/0/0.247/3.069. Motion passes. (G. White and T. Aho missing during the vote)

 

3.  Board Orientation per Policy BIA: The Board Orientation will be held on May 5, 2007 from 9:00 AM-Noon.

 

4.  Monadnock Mauraders 07/08 agreement: (T. Aho and G. White return to the meeting). MOTION: J. Carnie MOVED to accept the same agreement as last year except for the correction under 4C which will now read as follows: That the Mauraders will use the main football field for games only and that all practices will be conducted on the practice field, or at some other location suitable to the district if practices are to be held upon district property. SECOND: K. Colby. VOTE: 13.866/0/0/1.114. Motion passes.

 

5. Superintendent resident/non-resident tuition through June 30: Policy JFAB will be tabled until a discussion with the Policy Committee on April 30, 2007.

 

7.  OLD BUSINESS:

1.      Surry Withdrawal Update: The Board was notified that the decision concluded the minority report submitted from the Town of Surry was educationally sound. This question will then be put before the voters at a special meeting or in March. R. Todd explained to the Board why Surry would like a special meeting called as soon as possible as stated in the RSA. The Town of Surry would be willing to pay half of the $6000.00 the cost of the special meeting if the vote was before July 1, 2007 and an answer was given tonight. The Board questioned the cost of the special meeting and if it would be possible to get it organized for a vote prior to July 1, 2007. MOTION: D. Lyman MOVED to have the Board investigate facility availability, a moderator, a district clerk and town cooperation by the next meeting. SECOND: P. Peterson. DISCUSSION: S. Oerman asked if the $3000.00 offer would be off the table. C. Dreyfuss said yes. K. Chambers explained that the $6000.00 would not cover all the expenses. MOTION:  J. Fortson MOVED that the MRSB will make a good faith effort to accommodate the town of Surry’s request for a special meeting to be held prior to July 1, 2007 and will accept Surry’s offer to fund the lesser of $3000.00 or half of the cost. SECOND: T. Peloquin. DISCUSSION: P. Peterson would withdraw her second on the original motion and D. Lyman would withdraw his motion. R. Todd commented that the motion does satisfy Surry and would ask that the process allow Surry to assist. K. Cota objected to being pushed into something and J. Carnie said that we have an obligation. MOTION to amend: C. Dreyfuss MOVED to have a good faith effort by May 12, 2007. SECOND: W. Felton. DISCUSSION: The Board discussed the posting for the meeting. K. Chambers would be bringing the costs of the last March meeting. T. Peloquin will be the person that the Town of Surry can contact on issues related to these efforts. VOTE on amendment: 8.648/2.938/2.300/1.114. Motion on amendment passes. VOTE on amended motion. 11.281/2.605/1.114. Motion passes.

2.      MS-22: MOTION: S. Oerman MOVED to accept the MS-22 as presented. SECOND: J. Carnie. VOTE: 11.686/0/0/3.314. Motion passes. (D. Lyman and G. White missing during vote)

 

 

8.  SCHOOL BOARD COMMITTEE REPORTS:  

1.      Community Relations Committee: C. Dreyfuss informed the Board that there are too many people on the Policy Committee. MOTION: K. Colby MOVED to remove D. Lyman from the Policy Committee. SECOND: S. Oerman. VOTE: 13.183/0.073/0/1.114. Motion passes. MOTION: K. Colby MOVED to appoint D. Lyman as the Legislative Rep. for the Board. SECOND: G. White. VOTE: 13.886/0/0/1.114. Motion passes. C. Dreyfuss reported that the chair of the CRC has not been appointed. The committee discussed the television connection and the goals where PR is concerned. The next meeting is on April 24, 2007 at 5:30 PM.

2.      Facilities Committee: K. Cota reported that the committee approved Stromgren in the amount of $25,243.90 with a 10% contingency for the Domestic Water System.

3.      Finance Committee: MOTION: J. Carnie reported that the committee reviewed the financial reports, received the legal bills and requested a total and the monthly legal bills. The next meeting is prior to the May 1, 2007 Board Meeting at 6:00 PM.

4.      Policy Committee: G. White passed around the Members Ethics Policy for the Board Members to sign. The next meeting is scheduled for April 30, 2007 at 5:45 PM.  

5.      Budget Committee: The Budget Meeting is scheduled for April 24, 2007.

6.      Cheshire Career Center:

7.      Negotiations: C. Dreyfuss explained that on May 7, 2007 and May 8, 2007 there would be a meet and greet with the support staff and the teachers.

8.      SAU #38-Board Meeting: The SAU #38 Board Meeting is scheduled for dinner at 6:30 PM and the meeting at 7:00 PM. The location is Emerson Elementary School.

 

9.      Action on the Manifest: MOTION: S. Oerman MOVED to accept the manifest in the amount of $ 1,394,017.80. SECOND: K. Colby. DISCUSSION: T. Aho asked about Mt. Prospect, Kendall Farm and PFG. VOTE: 13.639/0/0/247/1.114.  Motion passes. 

10. SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT: MOTION: J. Kenyon MOVED to accept the resignation of Samantha Fish as of September 30, 2008. SECOND: K. Cota. DISCUSSION: Support staff receives $100.00 for each year of service. The contract requires an 18-month notice. VOTE: 13.110/0/0.776/1.114. Motion passes. The NHVPC Grant proposal is on line. K. Chambers passed out Basic Law of Town Budgeting to Board Members.  

11. BOARD CHAIR REPORT:  

12. SETTING NEXT MEETINGS AGENDA:

1.      Surry

2.      NH Retirement Appeal Process

 

13.SECOND PUBLIC COMMENTS: S. Oerman commented that the Troy Selectmen are requesting that the minutes be sent to them at no cost in the time stated in the RSA.

 

W. Imon commented on the fact that the Board spent more time on the $3000.00 Surry issue than the NEASC issue.

 

14. NON-PUBLIC SESSION: MOTION: D. Lyman MOVED to enter into non-public session under RSA 91-A:3 II Teacher Nominations. SECOND J. Kenyon. DISCUSSION: J. Carnie commented that the time frame for negotiations has past. K. Dassau explained that this non-public would allow the Board to see the names. K. Dassau explained that once April 15 has passed the teachers are renewed. J. Carnie commented that the purpose of the non-public is to nominate and we are not. VOTE: 2.358/10.349/1.179/1.114.  Motion fails.

 

15. Adjournment: MOTION: K. Colby MOVED to adjourn the meeting at 10:50 PM. SECOND: T. Peloquin. VOTE: 13886/0/0/1.114. Motion passes.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

Laura L. Aivaliotis

MRSD Recording Secretary