SCHOOL BOARD AGENDA
February 5, 2008
Monadnock Middle/High School,
Present: Jonathan Kenyon, Gene White, Jane Fortson, Colline Dreyfuss, Karen Cota, Ed Jacod, Phyllis Peterson, Winston Wright, Doug Lyman, William Felton, Susan Oerman, Tim Peloquin and James Carnie. Absent: Tim Aho and Ken Colby.
Also Present: Ken Dassau, Superintendent, David Hodgdon, Assistant Superintendent and Katie Chambers, Business Manager. Principals: J. Smith, D. Dahl, B. Tatro and K. Carter.
C. Dreyfuss reminded the group that it is the Chair�s job to keep the meeting moving and on task.
����� 1. CONSENT AGENDA: MOTION: E. Jacod MOVED to accept the January 15, 2008 Board Meeting Minutes as presented.� SECOND: W. Felton DISCUSSION: The Board discussed the correction to the minutes. VOTE: 9.179/0/3.866/1.955. Motion passes.� MOTION: J. Kenyon MOVED to accept the January 8, 2008 Board Meeting Minutes as presented. SECOND: W. Felton. DISCUSSION: The Board discussed the corrections to the minutes. VOTE: 7.907/0/5.138/1.955. Motion passes. �
2.�� STUDENT GOVERNMENT REPORT: Sara Dick and Rob Strocky reported that the Student Government is working on the Mediation Council. They are close to bringing the information to the faculty. The group discussed the Mediation Council with one of the guidance counselors. The committee presented their minutes to the Board.�
3. CORRESPONDENCE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS: J.
Smith reported that the money raised at Turkey Tussle between Monadnock and
K. Dassau reported for Emerson principal K. Craig that the target goals on writing has paid off according to the recent NECAP scores. The PTA at Emerson sponsors after school enrichment activities for the students.
K. Dassau reported that there is a need for a non-public session.
K.Cota informed that Board that there is a spaghetti supper on Feb. 16, 2008 sponsored by the American Heritage Tour students.
Feb. 12, 2008 is the date for the Kaestle Boos presentation.
4. PUBLIC COMMENTS: J. Carnie commented that he was upset at the Deliberative Session. He was referring to Article Four. He said that it is a serious situation. The Board has received the minutes up to the Deliberative Session and at no point was there ever mention of the evergreen clause. The Board is responsible by law on how it goes into the warrant to the Budget Committee and the Deliberative Session. He said that he asked in November and December for a copy of the teacher’s contract. He received it on January 3, 2008 at the closing of the meeting. The proposed warrant is different from the proposed warrant that was given to the Budget Committee. The proposed warrant had the evergreen clause included. It was asked if it existed and the PELRB said no. We won the case. He wanted to know how it got changed from Jan. 3, 2008 to Jan. 10, 2008. He asked how it was changed and asked who is answerable to this. He said it might constitute a possible resignation. If you go along with this you are condoning this. C. Dreyfuus started to reply to J. Carnie’s comments and D.Lyman called a point of order. He reminded C.Dreyfuss that there is no debating with the public and J. Carnie was speaking as a citizen.
E. Kaplan commented that he was disappointed with what was said. He commented that whether one agrees or disagrees with a decision of the Board they have an ethical obligation to support the decision or resign. He commented that T. Aho mentioned the evergreen clause and so did C. Kahn in the Jan. 8, 2008 minutes. You can not say that it was not mentioned. No one has tried to sneak this in.
C.
Kahn said that it was in the best interest to have an evergreen clause. The
evergreen clause is not an incentive not to bargain. Some teachers have left
the district and others are looking for new jobs. It is in the best interest of
the district to have the evergreen clause. Everything was proposed at the first
negotiating meeting from the School Board and the
J. Smith asked if the meeting on Feb. 12, 2008 is being posted as a Board Meeting. It was answered that it would be posted as a Board Meeting.
M. Hoeffer commented that he does recall speaking to the evergreen clause at a Budget Committee Session. He commented that the meeting was video taped.
5.
NEW BUSINESS:
1.
Drawing for
determination of candidate order on the ballot: Carolyn Bennett asked C.
Dreyfuss, G. White and K. Cota to draw letters from a bowl to determine the
order. The letters C, W, M were drawn in
that order.
2. Rental of Voting Machines: MOTION: K. Cota MOVED to spend up to $3700.00 for the rental and programming of the
ballot counting machines. SECOND: J.
Kenyon. DISCUSSION: E. Jacod asked
about hand counting. K. Cota commented that the machines were the only way to
go. K. Chambers explained that the funding would come from the School Board
Account. C. Bennett explained what towns would have the machines. It was
commented that possibly
3.
Potential
Unfunded Litigation: The Finance Committee discussed this issue earlier. D.
Lyman explained that he attend a legislative meeting in reference to potential
retirement healthcare. The fire, police, state and teachers are filing a class
action suit on the way health care is being removed. As of July 2008 you have
to be in the retirement system to be eligible. They are asking the District for
½ of 1% of the amount we contribute. If this amount were not used for the legal
fees it would be returned to the Districts. They plan to get a total of
$500,000.00. J. Carnie commented that the Finance Committee would like a legislative
opinion before we commit. They would like to do this at the Finance Meeting. K.
Chamber would be contacting the legislative representative. W. Wright commented
that the whole Board should be present for the discussion to save time. C.
Dreyfuss asked if the Board would entertain a special meeting if necessary. All
of the Board agreed. K. Chambers passed out a flier from LGC for their regional
dinner. This would be in
6. OLD BUSINESS:
1.2008-2009 Budget Warrant: The 2008-2009 Budget Warrant was signed and passed around by the Board.
2.Surry Transition: K. Dassau commented that the
7. CURRICULUM REPORT:
1. AYP Report: D. Hodgdon passed out basic information to the Board
on the State Testing Results. He would like to reserve most of the discussion
for the next meeting when the Board has time to read the information. D.
Hodgdon commented that it is one thing to look at the District but it is made
up of individual schools. D. Hodgdon reviewed the scores with the Board. E.
Jacod asked if there was a preferred way to teach math over the past 10 years.
It seems that the upper grades are having more trouble. D. Hodgdon explained
that there have been shifts. The district has adopted the Every Day Math
Program. It is real world hands on. We need to look at our own improvement
plan. We will see if there is any progress or digression. He commented that
they have not received the scores for the high school. T. Peloquin asked if we
are getting smarter kids because of all this and when do we get the answer. D.
Hodgdon commented that we are measured by this one test. We have tried to
emphasize that there are other methods of improvement. We have other tests and
common assessments. The end result would be with the high school student to see
how well they succeed. The ability to do math and reading in various
capacities. That would be the determining factor. We are expected to look at
our graduation rate and the dropout rate. They get reported to the State. J. Smith
commented that they do a 3 year and 5 year follow up on graduates. K.Cota
commented that these tests came from NCLB. We should investigate if we should
be in the NCLB and what the consequences would be. D. Hodgdon commented that
the special education and the influx of students from other districts could
attribute to the scores. There has been progress in some areas. We want to look
at the individual child. There is a range of factors that we need to look at.
D. Hodgdon commented that if we withdraw from the NCLB we could loose the Title
One funding. These funds are for the children that are most at risk. D. Hodgdon
commented that the testing curriculum is incorporated in our curriculum. He
said that the work that has been done is in place currently. He said that we
would not see the results of incorporating the curriculum until next year. W.
Felton commented that the scoring might be different due to the quality of the
teachers. At this point we do not have a program to show the quality of
instruction. D. Hodgdon explained that there are a lot of human factors.
Supervision and evaluation models and staff development. There are a lot of
factors. He would not pretend that we could address all the factors. E. Jacod
commented on the quality of the preparation of the student by the parent. He
asked what concept is presently being taught in math. J. Fortson thanked D.
Hodgdon for the information on the tracking of the students grade to grade.
1. NEASC: J. Smith included in the Board
packets a copy of the response from the Commission on Public Secondary Schools.
They wrote that the school is still on probation. They also listed the items in
which they were pleased with. The Commission asked for three additional items
to be addressed in the October 1, 2008 response in the Two-year Progress
Report. K.Cota explained that the Facilities Committee took a tour of the
nurse’s office to look at possibilities.
J. Smith explained that any changes in principals or substantive changes
would need to be reported to the
Commission. J. Smith explained that he had a conversation with T. Aho
concerning the air quality testing. There was a concern in the NEASC Report. K.
Dassau explained that it was in the modulars. J. Carnie asked why addressing
the nurse’s office has not been done. He said that it was in the NEASC Report
with D. Stockwell’s name on it. K. Cota said that she would check it out.
8. SCHOOL BOARD COMMITTEE REPORTS:
1. Community Relations Committee: G. White explained that the committee met prior to the Deliberative Session to finalize the handouts. Childcare was provided thanks to B. Tatro who organized the sitters. There were 151 people at the meeting. The next meeting is on Monday February 11, 2008.
2. Facilities Committee: K. Cota reported
that the committee met on Jan. 23, 2008. The committee had a brief discussion
on the location for the MC² Program. J. Smith and K. Carter would be bringing a
recommendation at the next meeting. Kaestle Boos has been awarded the
3. Finance Committee: J. Carnie reported
that the Committee met and brought up most of the issues that were discussed
tonight. The Surry Withdrawal was discussed and should be looked at. The next
meeting is on Feb. 19, 2008 at 6:00 PM.
4. Policy Committee: G. White reported
that the Committee has finished a new policy on volunteers in the schools. This
policy would be brought to the full Board before the elections. The next meeting
is on Feb. 18, 2008 at 5:45 PM.
5. Budget Committee: J. Kenyon reported that the Committee met at the Deliberative Session. There is not another meeting scheduled.
6. Cheshire Career Center: W. Wright reported that he would be attending a meeting at the Cheshire Room on Feb. 13, 2008 at 5:30 PM. K. Dassau reported that he spoke to J. Logan regarding a meeting. The contract has not been finalized. W. Wright commented that the Board might want the Director of the CCC to come and speak to the Board.
7.
Legislative
Representative Report: D. Lyman reported that he attended a meeting in
J. Smith mentioned that J. Logan from the CCC would be making a presentation to the 10th graders during the day. It was mentioned that it would be early in the morning.
9. Action on the Manifest: MOTION: S.
Oerman MOVED to accept the manifest
in the amount of $ 1.909, 686.93. SECOND:
J. Kenyon. DISCUSSION: K.
Chambers would be checking on the checks that have a zero amount. D. Lyman
asked why there were four checks written to the same business. K. Chambers
explained that they could have different due dates. K. Chambers explained that
the check to the Cheshire Fair was for game security and a check to the NH DOT
Finance was for gas that the District gets at the pumps. VOTE: 12.024/0/1.021/1.955 Motion
passes.
10. Superintendent’s Report: K. Dassau reported that W. Wright, P. Peterson and K. Craig had written for the Fitzwilliam Newsletter. A copy was distributed earlier.
K. Dassau explained that the proposed 2008-2009 calendar is a draft. Board approval will be for the next meeting.
K. Dassau explained that Ralene Rust had asked to resign in 2009, which the Board approved, but instead would like to resign at the end of this school year in 2008. MOTION: D. Lyman MOVED to accept the resignation of Ralene Rust contingent upon the money being available in the budget. SECOND: P. Peterson. DISCUSSION: K. Dassau explained that this was for regular retirement. K. Dassau explained that the contract states that the benefits are paid with 18 months of notice. T. Peloquin commented that she might not get the money if we do not have the funds. She might have to wait the 18 months. E. Jacod asked if the Board has seen this direction before. C. Dreyfuss explained each situation is different. MOTION: J. Kenyon. MOVED to amend the motion to contingent on the funds being available for her retirement in June 2008. SECOND: E. Jacod. DISCUSSION: D. Lyman commented that he does not want to set precedent. K. Dassau explained that she did follow the contract and we received the letter in January for the June 2008 retirement. C. Dreyfuss explained that we go case by case. The precedence setting should not be an issue to hold the request up. VOTE on amendment: 8.456/1.021/3.568/1.955. Motion passes. VOTE: 8.456/0/4.589/1.955. Motion passes.
MOTION: J. Fortson MOVED to rescind the resignation of Joyce LeClair for June 2008. SECOND: W. Felton. VOTE: 12.024/0/1.021/1.955. Motion
passes. MOTION: J. Kenyon MOVED to
accept the resignation of Joyce LeClair for June 2009. SECOND: W. Felton. VOTE: 12.024/0/1.021/1.955.
Motion passes.
11. BOARD CHAIR REPORT: C. Dreyfuss responded to the Public Comments. She responded to J. Carnies’s comments. She reviewed the minutes and on November 6, 2007 in Sullivan the Board moved to recess to discuss teacher negotiations. This was a non-meeting so there are no minutes. She commented that J. Carnie voted for the teacher’s contract that night. On November 20, 2007 the board approved the November 6, 2007 Minutes. J Carnie asked to see the teacher’s contracts. On December 4, 2007 there was no discussion on the contracts. J. Carnie asked again for the contract in its entirety. He was really upset. C. Dreyfuss explained that Attorney Apple was busy with the Sullivan legal issues. J. Carnie requested in writing the contracts. C. Dreyfuss said that P. Apple would do it as quickly as possible but there was no mention of the evergreen clause from J. Carnie. At the January 8, 2008 Meeting J. Carnie tried to shut the meeting down by saying it was illegal. This was the meeting to review the contracts. E. Kaplan commented that the January 8, 2008 meeting minutes were approved. C. Dreyfuss commented that if J. Carnie had complaints he could have asked questions at the November 6, 2007 meeting. J. Carnie was asked to be on the Negotiating Team and he refused. J.Carnie interrupted and said that was a lie. She said that he could have been part of the solution but instead he is part of a timely issue in this district.
12. SETTING NEXT MEETINGS AGENDA:
1. Calendar
2. Surry Transition Meeting
3. Cost of Education (K.Cota requested)
13. SECOND PUBLIC COMMENTS: J. Carnie commented that there was nothing proposed in writing. In November his comment was not that there was not an evergreen clause but on the evergreen clause. The issue is the wording on the Article. On Jan. 8, 2008 we approved the language on the 1-3-08 draft. The minutes and the warrant did not mention the evergreen clause. On Jan. 10, 2008 the evergreen clause was mentioned. The Warrant Article that was voted on did not mention the evergreen clause. He commented that C. Dreyfuss and the negotiating team knew the decision of March 13 delivered by the PELRB. That the evergreen clause was non existent and could not be forwarded. You never presented the evergreen clause to the full Board. We voted on the 1-3-08 Draft. He said that if necessary he would take the issue to the Attorney General.
K. Dassau commented that Attorney Apple responded to question of the evergreen clause at the Deliberative Session. J. Carnie said that we did not get the 1-10-08 Draft. E. Kaplan commented that the School Board has an obligation.
J. Carnie said that Attorney Apple has a conflict of interest because he was paid to help negotiate that contract. We voted on the 1-3-08 Draft there was not an evergreen clause.
T. Peloquin commented that he does not remember hearing the mention of the evergreen clause. He did say that he was absent one meeting.
C. Dreyfuss commented that the language is valid and was properly warned. T. Peloquin said that he understood that the evergreen clause was not part of that moving forward.
C. Dreyfuss commented that T. Aho had commented that the evergreen clause needed to be mentioned and it was.
C. Kahn commented that the language in the contract was not questioned but the proper warning of the language. The evergreen clause was brought up during negotiations. The School Board wanted to take it out but the teachers refused. C. Kahn said that she spoke to J. Carnie and he told her that he would not speak against the contract and would vote for the contract. J. Carnie said that he said he was in favor of the contract.
E. Kaplan said that he was insulted that we paid an Attorney and now J. Carnie has a law degree and can change that. The Article discussed at the Deliberative Session is the same as the Jan. 10, 2008 Draft. It was done properly in a warning manner. It is an ethical obligation to support the vote of the majority of the Board. No one gets everything they want.
P. Bauries asked for a handout sheet from the Nov. 6, 2007 Meeting in Sullivan. C. Dreyfuss commented that there are no minutes kept on a non-meeting for negotiations. P. Bauries asked if the 1-03-08 Draft included the evergreen clause. C. Dreyfuss commented that it did not include the evergreen clause. C. Dreyfuss said that the evergreen clause was mentioned at that meeting but not in that draft that was handed out.
N. Moriarty commented that the March vote by the PELRB the evergreen clause part of the contract went away. He thought that T. Aho had been trying to explain that. We all felt that it was written correctly. The board should seek guidance from an attorney that has Union language and law. You need a labor lawyer. This was not handled correctly.
D. Lyman commented that the 1-3-08 Draft was voted on. He does not feel that School Board Members should make comments about other School Board Member. This should be done in private.
K. Cota commented that she was speaking as a taxpayer. She said that C. Dreyfuss reported the facts. She is tired of the Board Members being belligerent. The Negotiating Team worked hard and the remarks are coming from members of an outside group. They do not want anything. They should get off the board. They are acting as part of the Monadnock Taxpayers Association.
T. Peloquin commented that the contract is good but he did not feel informed. When he saw the Article he went wow because he did not realize that the Evergreen Clause was in there.
K. Dassau commented that at this hour this discussion is a waste of every ones time. Paul Apple gave you an opinion. You are not hearing what he told you. It was in the contract. We are beating a dead horse.
W. Felton said that the Board should be getting back to discussion of education.
P. Peterson commented that she would like the Board to go forward in a positive direction. She also said that she was not informed of the evergreen clause until the hearing.
C. Dreyfuss said that she is amazed that the minutes state the evergreen clause but members can say that there is no mention of the Evergreen Clause. It is shocking.
14. Non-public Session: MOTION: D.
Lyman MOVED to enter Non-public
Session under RSA 91-A: 3- Litigation. SECOND:
S. Oerman. Roll Call Vote: E. Jacod, W. Wright, P. Peterson, K. Cota, T.
Peloquin, W. Felton, J. Kenyon, J. Fortson, G. White, D. Lyman, S. Oerman and
C. Dreyfuss. J. Carnie voted no. VOTE: 11.924/1.121/0/1.955.
Motion passes.
15. Adjournment: MOTION: J. Kenyon MOVED to adjourn the meeting at 10:20
PM. SECOND: W. Felton VOTE: Unanimous for those present. Motion passes.
Respectfully submitted,
Laura L. Aivaliotis
MRSD Recording Secretary