Non-approved minutes

MONADNOCK REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

Board Meeting Minutes

                                                 August 14, 2007

                            Monadnock Regional MS/HS Library, Swanzey, NH.

                      

 

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

Also present: K. Dassau, Superintendent, D. Hodgdon, Assistant Superintendent and D. Most, Assistant Business Manager.  Principals: B. Tatro, K. Craig, J. Smith, L. Sutton and D. Mousette.

 

1.      CONSENT AGENDA: MOTION: W. Felton MOVED to accept the July 10, 2007 Board Meeting Minutes as amended.  SECOND: T. Pelequin. DISCUSSION: T. Aho asked that his comment that the Board was not to use the health care savings for the non-union wage increases for 06/07 be included. He asked that the motion to approve the non-union wages increase for 07/08 in the amount of $40,537.00 should be clear that includes the principals, nurses, physical therapist, elementary schools librarian, maintenance director, middle/high technology support, school custodian supervisor, etc. He also asked that his comment that the Board is not suppose to be using the health care savings for this item. VOTE: 10.253/0/2.547/2.2.  Motion passes.  MOTION: W. Wright MOVED that the Board accept the July 10, 2007 non-public minutes as presented. SECOND: J. Fortson. VOTE: 10.195/0/2.605/2.2. Motion passes. MOTION: K. Cota MOVED to accept the July 24, 2007 Board Minutes as presented. SECOND: S. Oerman. VOTE: 7.801/0/4.999/2.2. Motion passes.

 

2.      CORRESPONDENCE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS: K. Dassau informed the Board that the reporter from the Keene Sentinel is taping the meeting.

 

K. Dassau asked that the Board have a moment of silence for three members of the school community who have passed away over the summer: Nettie Thackston, Derek Denico and Steve Dille.

 

Alex Trombley will be honored as an Eagle Scout on August 29, 2007.

 

The Annual Certification School Board Association information was put in the packets.

 

L. Sutton informed the Board that there would be a Middle School open house on Aug 27, 2007 and a Cyber-Bullying presentation on Sept. 6, 2007.

 

 

Linda Rumba wrote a letter to the Board on behalf of the nurses thanking the Board for the previous action at the last meeting providing the nurses with an increase. 

 

3.      STUDENT GOVERNMENT REPORT:

 

4.      Public Comments: Deb Starratt asked that the board support the Wells Memorial program in which her daughter attends. G. White informed her that the issue would be addressed during Old Business.   

 

5.   Curriculum Report: Curriculum and Grant Information:

1.      Curriculum and Grant Update: D. Hodgdon informed the Board that the district did not receive the grant. He has asked for reviewer remarks to see what happened. They have been trying to work out standard placements, which will be discussed during Old Business.

 

He commented that they have been waiting for AYP information. There is a possibility that there may be some schools in need of improvement. We should be receiving notification on Aug. 28, 2007. He will try to get the information to the Board before the newspaper receives it. There will be a report at the Sept. Meeting.

 

D. Hodgdon passed out a timeline and plan for the curriculum work for 2007-2008. He discussed the work that has been completed, the work that will be done and how it relates to AYP. He reviewed the timeline and explained how it will address the 3 curriculum areas throughout the year.

M. Suarez will be training about 27 teachers for the mentoring program. D. Hodgdon commented on a wonderful job she has done with the training.

 

G. White thanked D. Hodgdon for all the work he had done on the grant.

 

K. Cota asked for information on the connection between AP Classes and colleges. She asked if there is any feedback from the colleges and the students. J. Smith said that there could be a follow up on the AP Students.

 

2.      NEASC: J. Smith thanked the Board for the votes at the last meeting: the virtual high school, teacher for MC2 and B. Pickering to a year round status. These are all recommendations from the NEASC.

 

Teachers attended an Authentic Assessment presentation to improve the senior projects even more. They have attended Pinkerton Academy and a Reading and Spelling Seminars over the summer.

 

J. Smith informed the Board that the Modern Dance Class had to be dropped because of the grant’s expiration. They are still looking to see if they can find a way to continue.

 

J. Kenyon asked J. Smith if the NEASC has changed their view on the alternative credit. J. Smith answered that they have not changed.

 

8.       NEW BUSINESS:  None

 

9.       OLD BUSINESS:

1.      Insurance Bid-Action of Board attorney/ULP: K. Dassau informed the Board that the information in the packets is the Board attorney’s action. There has been no hearing date set.

2.      Wells Memorial: K. Dassau explained that the Board chose some of the Choice Programs to be funded but not the Harrisville Program. The Harrisville School Board has accepted a new policy on this issue and will charge the sending districts $3500.00.There will be an additional $1000.00 from the MRPSOC grant, which ends in October for each student. The tuition will then be $2500.00 per student for this year. At the last meeting the Board budgeted for 5 students to attend the KMS Program but there are only 3 attending. The additional money to send the 5 students to Harrisville would be covered by offset. T. Aho asked that this be in writing before he votes on it. K. Dassau explained that he has emails on the Harrisville Policy, the Harrisville School Board minutes and a letter from the acting Superintendent. K. Cota suggested that the emails be passed around and this agenda item should be discussed after the committee reports. MOTION: K. Cota MOVED to move the Harrisville agenda item after the committee reports. SECOND: J. Kenyon. DISCUSSION: J. Carnie asked how many years the children have been going to this program. The answer was 2 years. He questioned the fact that with the grant the District has paid $18,000.00 then when a previous decision from the Board and then the new figure is $3500.00. J. Carnie commented that if this figure does not stand then it would go back to the original vote. VOTE: 12.8/0/0/2.2. Motion passes.

 

10.      SCHOOL BOARD COMMITTEE REPORTS:  

1.      Community Relations Committee: K. Colby reported that the committee is having problems with the point of origin and have doubts about televising the meetings on Channel 8. They have discussed getting positive press releases out in a timely manner. The next meeting is on August 28, 2007. K. Cota asked that the CCC to have a regular agenda item on the NEASC on how we can inform the public.

2.      Facilities Committee: K. Cota passed out an update on the Project List’s, Master Plan and CIP. She explained the history and where the District is now. She reported that the committee met with the Budget Committee Members on July 24, 2007 and the Selectmen on July 31, 2007 and Aug. 2, 2007. At the regular meeting on Aug. 8, 2007 the committee saw two possible options from KB that they are working on. She gave an update on what is being done at the various schools. K. Chambers and B. Beliveau are looking into getting a resident who is also a roofer to help with the specs for the roof projects. K. Chambers spoke to the NH Tech people who are interested in renting space at the high school. That information would be brought to the committee at the next meeting. The next meeting is scheduled for Aug. 5, 2007. K. Cota reported that the duct cleaning has been completed and that she believes that there was a saving. J. Fortson asked if the comments from the chair of the Budget Committee during the joint meeting would be answered. K. Cota answered yes.

3.   Finance Committee: J. Carnie reported that at the meeting prior to this meeting the committee reviewed financial reports and legal reports in which they had questions. He reported that most of the discussion was related to the cost of MC2. There was a motion made to present the fact that the Finance Committee would like people to know that if the cost is $520,000.00 for MC2 and if you had 25 students the cost would be $25,000.00. He was asked to present this information to the full Board. To determine how it is calculated in order to charge other districts. K. Dassau explained that it would be covered in the Choice Policy. K. Cota said that it would be good practice to think of the financial end with the Master Plan. Start with working on the NEASC, the tax impact and any other ideas to finance. We will need that. T. Aho thought that was a great idea. MOTION: W. Felton MOVED that the Finance Committee be alerted to provide what are possible changes to the building next year. SECOND: K. Cota. VOTE: 11.991/0/.809/2.2. Motion passes.

3.      Policy Committee: G. White presented three policies to the Board. MOTION: K. Colby MOVED to accept Policy IKF High School Graduation Policy as proposed by the Policy Committee requiring a minimum of 20 credits to graduate. SECOND: J. Kenyon. DISCUSSION: The Board discussed what other schools required and asked why they have to accept the minimum standards. K. Dassau explained that many seniors graduate with more than the minimum. J.Kenyon asked if they are receiving the skills they need after graduation. MOTION: J. Kenyon MOVED to move the question. SECOND: T. Pelequin. VOTE: 12.8/0/0/2.2. Motion passes. VOTE on the original motion: 12.8/0/0/2.2. Motion passes. G. White explained that the committee would be looking at this policy in a year to make the requirements better. W. Felton asked for information on the credit requirements throughout the state. J. Smith commented that the average senior graduated with 23 or 24 credits this past June and one graduated with 32 credits. MOTION: K. Colby MOVED to accept the changes proposed by the Policy Committee to the Procedure for Current Non-Special Education Out-of –District Students in MRSD Programs. SECOND: J. Kenyon. DISCUSSION: T. Aho questioned the cost per pupil for MC2 students. J. Kenyon commented that the NEASC mentioned MC2 2 times and 1 recommendation to continue with the program. T. Pelequin commented on the amount of money to run MC2 with a small amount of students and the fact that the number fluctuates. K. Dassau commented that the Board approved another teacher for MC2 but students are reluctant to enroll in the program because they are not sure what will happen to MC2. J. Carnie commented that the Finance Committee took a position on the back page they question the first page. He felt that the Board is unwilling to face the fact that the voters of the district do not want to educate out of district students. K. Dassau explained that if MC2 were to be deleted, the NEASC would have to be notified of that change. He said that the Board has the authority to set any rate to see the program move forward. P. Peterson felt that it is a lot of money for a small amount of students. S. Oerman mentioned that we have already approved MC2 for 2007-2008 and does not see why the Board is discussing this now. T. Aho said it is a good program. People went on a feeding frenzy with the grant. The administration has to revamp the program in order for it to continue. T. Pelequin suggested changing the state formula part of the procedure to what the Board sets for tuition. G. White commented that was a whole different policy. K. Cota explained that it says that the sending district would pay the difference in the tuition. We need to set this procedure to have some direction, so other districts can decide what they are going to do. MOTION: S. Oerman MOVED to move the question. SECOND: P. Peterson. VOTE: 6.793/6.007/0/2.2. Motion fails requires a 2/3 majority. MOTION: J. Carnie MOVED to amend the motion to read: The sending school district or the parent/guardian must agree to pay the tuition rate for that program as determined by the MRSB for participation at any level of the program. SECOND: S. Oerman. A friendly amendment: MOTION: J. Fortson. MOVED a friendly amendment The sending school district or the parent/guardian must agree to pay the tuition rate for that program as determined by the MRSB or the state formula, whichever is higher for participation at any level of the program. SECOND: W. Wright. VOTE on amendment: 12.8/0/0/2.2. Amendment passes. VOTE on amended motion with the changes: 12.8/0/02.2. Motion passes.   

 

MOTION: S. Oerman MOVED to accept the Policy Committee’s proposed changes to Policy IGDJ Interscholastic Athletics. SECOND: J. Fortson. DISCUSSION: E. Cronin explained that the sport might be football in question. S. Oerman commented that it is a good moral issue. E. Cronin explained that this is for a middle school student and in the policy middle school is not mentioned. VOTE: 10.903/0/1.897/2.2. Motion passes. The next Policy Committee Meeting is on August 27, 2007 at 5:45 PM.

 

4.   Budget Committee: The next meeting is scheduled for Sept. 25, 2007 in Sullivan.

 

5.   Harrisville Wells Memorial: W. Felton commented that the information on this    issue should have been given to the Board prior to this meeting. MOTION: J. Kenyon MOVED to reconsider the motion concerning the Harrisville tuition. SECOND: S. Oerman. VOTE: 12.8/0/02.2. Motion passes. MOTION: J. Fortson. MOVED to accept the Harrisville offer of $3500.00 per student using the $1000.00 per student, which is coming from the MRPSOC Grant for the 5 students who are currently enrolled in the program. SECOND: S. Oerman. DISCUSSION: K. Dassau explained that the Board had previously voted to send five students to the KMS Program and there are now two students. The extra funds could be used to cover the Harrisville tuition. Friendly amendment: That the funds to send the students to the Harrisvile program come from the adjustment from the KMS program. VOTE: 12.8/0/0/2.2. Motion passes.   

 

 

 

11.  Action on the Manifest: MOTION: S. Oerman MOVED to accept the manifest in the amount of $ 1,983,541.48. SECOND: J. Fortson. DISCUSSION: T. Aho asked about Laidlaw, Excelera Research, Pearson education, NH Retirement and a check written to a teacher. D. Most explained. VOTE: 12.553/0/0/2.447. (K. Cota missing from vote.) Motion passes.

12.  SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT: K. Dassau reported that the opening day letters went out. The new teacher orientation will be on Aug. 23, 2007.

 

MOTION: S. Oerman MOVED to accept the retirement of Diane Nicholas as of June 2009. SECOND: K. Colby. VOTE: 11.074/.703/??/2.447. (K. Cota missing from vote.) Motion passes.

    

13.BOARD CHAIR REPORT:  

                                                                         

14.SETTING NEXT MEETINGS AGENDA:

1.      AYP

2.      Phone Survey

3.      Troy Grant

4.      Tuition rate

5.      Surry Withdrawal

 

13.SECOND PUBLIC COMMENTS: Elliot Kaplan thanked the board for being willing to raise the minimum credits. He said that whether the students receive the credit in college they are learning in the AP Classes. He said to focus on the underlining problems regarding the NEASC Report.

 

K. Craig said that she appreciates the NEASC and the Board should focus on improving AYP. She said that she wishes the Board could pay attention to other places in this district other than MC2.

 

14. MOTION to enter into non-public Session: MOTION: W. Felton MOVED to enter into non-public session under RSA 91-A:3 II (b) nominations: SECOND: J. Fortson Roll call vote: J. Kenyon, G. White, J. Fortson, E. Jacod, J. Carnie, W. Wright, W. Felton, T. Pelequin, K. Colby, K. Cota, W. Wright, P. Peterson and S. Oerman. VOTE: 10.845/0/0/4.155. Motion passes. (T. Aho has left the meeting and J. Kenyon is not present for the vote)

 

15. Return to public session: MOTION: S. Oerman MOVED to return to public session. SECOND: P. Peterson. VOTE: 12.024/0/0/2.976.Motion passes.

 

16. MOTION to enter non-public session: MOTION: S. Oerman MOVED to enter non-public session under RSA91-A:3IC leave appeal: Roll call vote: J. Kenyon, G. White, J. Fortson, E. Jacod, J. Carnie, K. Cota W. Wright, W. Felton, T. Pelequin, K. Colby, W. Wright, P. Peterson and S. Oerman. VOTE: 12.024/0/0/2.976. Motion passes.

 

 

16. MOTION to recess for negotiation purposes: Member present: J. Kenyon, G. White, J. Fortson, E. Jacod, J. Carnie, W. Wright, W. Felton, P. Peterson, T. Pelequin, K. Colby and S. Oerman.

 

17. Return to public session: MOTION: J. Carnie MOVED to return to public session: SECOND: P. Peterson VOTE: 10.756/0/0/4.244. Motion passes.

 

18. Adjournment: MOTION: J. Carnie MOVED to adjourn the meeting at 11:20 AM. SECOND: P. Peterson VOTE: 10.756/0/0/4.244. Motion passes.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

Laura L. Aivaliotis

MRSD Recording Secretary

 

 

 

 

 

 

          

 

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