MRSD School board minutes

MONADNOCK REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

Board Meeting Minutes

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

Also present: K. Dassau, Superintendent, D. Hodgdon, Assistant Superintendent and K. Chambers, Business Manager.ï¿½ Principals: B. Tatro, S. Rashid, D. Dahl, K. Craig and D. Mousette.

1. CONSENT AGENDA: MOTION: J. Kenyon MOVED to accept the May 15, 2007 Board Meeting Minutes as presented.ï¿½ SECOND: K. Colby. DISCUSSION: T. Aho said that during the Curriculum Report he had asked if the teachers step increases and the additional teacher education is helping the children to improve on the test scores. He said that he would like that in the minutes.ï¿½ VOTE: 10.777/0/1.121/3.102. Motion passes.ï¿½ J. Carnie asked that the letter that he read on May 1, 2007 be part of the minutes. There were no objections.

2. CORRESPONDENCE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS: MOTION: C. Dreyfuss informed the Board that they have been invited to the Music Room at Mt. Caesar on June 14, 2007 at 6:00 PM for Poetry Cafï¿½.

The Keene Sentinel is taping the meeting.

The administration has not heard from the NH Volunteer Public School of Choice Grant.

The Second Annual National Exhibition Month Certificate of Excellence was presented to MC2. MC2 was one of five schools in the country selected.

Patricia Cressy from MC2 has been awarded the Cheshire Health Foundation Scholarship in the amount of $1500.00.

There will be an SAU Board Meeting in Winchester on June 6, 2007 at 7:00 PM.

Once again the Fish and Game is thanking M. Morrison and his students for helping to stock the Atlantic salmon.

The Monadnock Center for Successful Transitions thanked K. Thompson and the employees of SAU 38 for their work at the job fair.

K. Dassau distributed the Emerson Newsletter.

C. Dreyfuss informed the Board that there is a need for volunteers to help listen to the senior projects.

3. STUDENT GOVERNMENT REPORT:

4. Public Comments: M. Hoefer welcomed the Board to Camp Takodah on behalf of the Board of the YMCA. He hopes to continue the school and YMCA relationship. T. Aho asked about Camp Unity.

5. Curriculum Report: Curriculum and Grant Information: D. Hodgdon explained to the Board that the elementary principals would be giving a 10 minute presentation on how they are addressing the AYP issue. S. Rashid was the first to speak. He had a handout for the Board. He commented that the teachers are dedicated to helping the students succeed and it has nothing to do with the contract. He commented that Cutler did not make AYP and it had to do a lot with the sub groups. He explained to the Board what is being done to help the students improve. He explained that there is an increase in Spec. Ed. and that is due mostly to the low housing in Swanzey. The Board asked questions about the Spec. Ed. process and K. Dassau suggested that the Board place the Spec. Ed. Process as an agenda item at one of the future meetings. He commented that the students could not be judged only on one or two assessments. S. Rashid said that one student in the collaborative is from Hinsdale the rest are from the Monadnock district.

D. Dahl reported on AYP to the Board. He commented that the social economical disadvantaged group did not make AYP. To help the children improve they have given the children uninterrupted reading and math each day and they are doing more training with the Spec. Ed. Aids.

K. Craig reported on AYP to the Board. She informed the Board that Emerson did make AYP but they have a deficiency in reading. They still need to work. They will be working on a new handwriting program next year, building the vocabulary and working on constructive responses with the children.

B. Tatro reported on AYP to the Board and explained that Mt. Caesar did not make AYP due to the Spec. Ed. population. They are working to improve by increasing the amount of instructional days from 4 to 5 for the Spec. Ed. Students. She met with K. Craig to see what she is doing at Emerson. They are planning on increasing the reading support and students from KSC will be reading to the children at Mt. Caesar. B. Tatro commented that her staff member that was involved in the aspiring principals program has returned to Mt. Caesar with additional skills that she gained through the program. B. Tatro commented that she has acknowledged the fact that there is a need to do more to enrich the above average readers.

D. Mousette distributed information to the Board on AYP and MAP Testing. He reported on both topics to the board and commented that the Northern Schools did not make AYP. He commented that poverty places a big role in how children learn. D. Mousette commented that the more education the staff gains the better educated the children are.

NEASC: K. Dassau reported that J. Smith did submit the letter of probation. The letter has been sent to the Board either by email or mail.

6. New Business: 2007-2008 Budget: K. Chambers explained that in the default budget there are two additions. MC2 would need to add one teacher to meet the minimum staffing requirements and Mt. Caesar would like to add a 3^rd grade teacher. The wages and benefits come to $101,047.00, which will be able to come out of the health insurance savings. Also the Tech Ed. position at Mt. Caesar will now be shared at Emerson and Troy. K. Chambers reported that the School Board Contingency Fund is the saving of the health insurance. These are next year funds. K. Chambers explained that if the 3^rd grade teacher is not added you would need to drop a reading teacher and MC2 would not be in compliance if they did not add a teacher. K. Dassau explained that there would be rational in the Board packets prior to the next meeting.

7. OLD BUSINESS:

1. Surry Withdrawal Update: MOTION: K. Colby MOVED to accept the resignation of Susan Farrell as the School District Clerk. SECOND: J. Kenyon. VOTE: 11.898/0/0/3.102. Motion passes. MOTION: K. Colby MOVED to appoint Helen Smith to School District Clerk. SECOND: S. Oerman. DISCUSSION: G. White commented that maybe the Board should put this off. D. Lyman asked her qualifications. She commented that she is committed to the cause, organized and has problem solving skills. The Board asked questions about the date being possible. K. Dassau informed the Board that this discussion is to see if H. Smith is qualified. J. Carnie is concern with the order that the Board is doing things. He suggested that the Board set the date. MOTION W. Wright MOVED to move the question. SECOND: T. Peloquin. VOTE: 10.001/1.897/0/3.102. Motion passes. VOTE on original motion: 7.801/2.200/1.897/3.102. Motion passes. C. Dreyfuss read a letter from E. Fox with concerns of the July 31, 2007 voting day. K. Cota commented that she received a fax from the Town of Roxbury with voting concerns as well. C. Dreyfuss commented that she was not aware that the Board had agreed on the July 31, 2007 voting day. J. Carnie asked for the dates on the letter from E. Fox, which was June 4, 2007 and the Roxbury fax was dated May 29, 2007. K. Dassau informed the Board that P. Goodell of Richmond left a voice message stating their concerns. G. White commented that the towns are upset and have been contacted and the Board had never agreed to the July 31, 2007 date. S. Oerman suggested a November election. K. Cota explained that it could be done in one town. W. Wright suggested keeping the voting in the individual towns. R. Todd explained that the statute was not read correctly and that the voting has to take place within the year. She did comment that the Town of Surry will not be happy with the Nov. date. K. Dassau commented that there was a meeting with R. Todd, S. Farrell, K. Dassau and P. Apple by speaker phone. He said that there was no date determined. MOTION: K. Cota. MOVED to have the MRSB approve the deliberative Session for Oct. 6, 2007and the vote on Nov. 6, 2007 in the individual towns for the Surry Withdrawal Warrant. SECOND: G. White. DISCUSSION: It was mentioned that there is no voting in Nov. The next time is Jan. It was also asked if Surry would honor their deal concerning the $3000.00 toward the election process. R. Todd informed the Board that if the vote is taken in the summer she would encourage Surry to pay. K. Chambers informed the Board that she does not know where the money for the special meeting is coming from. K. Dassau said somewhere in the budget. MOTION: G. White MOVED to amend the motion and make it conditional on the Town of Surry to be willing to pay the $3000.00 toward operation of the election. SECOND: K. Cota. DISCUSSION: T. Peloquin commented that if Surry won’t pay the Board won’t go along with it. VOTE on amendment: 5.919/5.979/0/3.102. Motion fails. VOTE: 8.126/3.772/0/3.102. Motion passes.

2. Budget Transfer: MOTION: K. Cota MOVED to accept the Budget Transfer dated May 15, 2007, which was proposed at the last meeting. SECOND: J. Fortson. DISCUSSION: The Board asked about the cost of the televisions. K. Chambers explained that it is a transfer and if it came in low the remained stays in the bottom line. VOTE: 8.277/1.021/2.600/3.102. Motion passes.

8. SCHOOL BOARD COMMITTEE REPORTS:

1. Community Relations Committee: K. Colby reported that the committee met on May 30, 2007. He said that the committee was disappointed that the Keene Sentinel withdrew their intent to follow the senior projects. The committee will be working to get the Surry Withdrawal information out to the voters.

2. Facilities Committee: K. Cota reported that the committee met on May 23, 2007. The committee discussed the NEASC Report and will address a facility related topic at each meeting. The committee heard a request from Cutler for lock down locks for the classrooms. They discussed the procedures and the policies regarding changes in any building. The Beliveau’s discussed the bleachers and the repair. M. Pratt discussed getting the track shimmed. This can be done in house. A fence should be put around the transformer. This is a safety issue. The next meeting is on June 12, 2007. The setting up of the new playground has been postponed due to the fact that the place where they planned on putting the playground would be over the septic. A new location is being discussed.

3. Finance Committee: J. Carnie reported that the committee reviewed financial reports but no legal bills. The committee tabled two proposed budget transfers and made the following motion: MOTION: J. Carnie MOVED to accept the budget transfer proposal in the amount of $229,770.00 for contracted professional services. SECOND: S. Oerman. VOTE: 11.122/0/0.776/3.102. Motion passes. MOTION: J. Carnie MOVED to accept the budget transfer proposal in the amount of $92,075.00 for maintenance supervisor salaries and contracted services. SECOND: S. Oerman. VOTE: 10.101/0/1.797/3.102. Motion passes. Information on the two tabled proposals was passed out.

4. Policy Committee:

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

6. Cheshire Career Center: W. Wright reported that there would be a senior recognition night on June, 6, 2007.

7. Negotiations:

8. SAU #38-Board Meeting: There will be an SAU Board meeting on June 6, 2007.

9. Action on the Manifest: MOTION: S. Oerman MOVED to accept the manifest in the amount of $ 1,895,447.63. SECOND: J. Kenyon. DISCUSSION: The Board asked questions and K. Chambers answered. VOTE: 11.898/0/0/3.102. Motion passes.

10. SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT: K. Dassau thanked the YMCA for hosting the meeting.

MOTION: J. Kenyon MOVED to accept the resignation of Greg Lent, the retirement of Mike Morrison and the resignation of Moe Green. SECOND: K. Cota. VOTE: 11.898/0/0/3.102. Motion passes.

K. Dassau reported that Officer Kassotis has resigned and they are going through the process to replace him.

MOTION: J. Kenyon. MOVED to withdraw the resignation of Cindy Dejnak. SECOND: K. Colby. VOTE: 11.898/0/0/3.102. Motion passes.

K. Cota and S. Oerman have volunteered to serve on the Middle School Principal Search Committee.

J. Carnie asked about an exit review. K. Dassau said that the superintendent at the new school said that M. Young would have everything that he needs. T. Aho suggested that the MC2 principal who has 15 students moves and run the middle school. K. Dassau commented that would require an action of the School Board.

11. BOARD CHAIR REPORT: J. Carnie and J. Fortson have volunteered to be on the SAU Procedures Manual Review Committee. MOTION: S. Oerman MOVED to appoint J. Carnie and J. Fortson to the SAU procedures manual committee. SECOND: K. Cota. VOTE: 11.898/0/0/3.102. Motion passes.

C. Dreyfuss listed some of the events which she attends.

12. SETTING NEXT MEETINGS AGENDA:

1. AYP Middle School and High School reports

2. Setting Board summer meeting dates

13. SECOND PUBLIC COMMENTS: J. Craig commended the Board for the AYP Presentation.

N. Moriarty suggested writing a letter to the moderator concerning the date of the election.

14. MOTION to enter into non-public Session: MOTION: J. Kenyon MOVED to enter into non-public session under RSA 91-A:3 11 (b) hiring. SECOND: D. Lyman Roll call vote: J. Kenyon, G. White, T. Peloquin, K. Cota, C. Dreyfuss, D. Lyman, K. Colby, J. Fortson, J. Carnie, W. Wright and S. Oerman. VOTE: 11.811/0/0/3.878. Motion passes (T. Aho not present at the vote.)

15. Return from non-public session.

MOTION: J. Kenyon MOVED to recess. SECOND: D. Lyman. Motion passes.

MOTION: J. Kenyon MOVED to go back into public session. SECOND: T. Aho. VOTE: 11.898/0/0/3.102. Motion passes.

MOTION: J. Kenyon MOVED in response to the Union’s position on the health insurance substitution that the Board direct its attorney to file an appropriate action. SECOND: D. Lyman. VOTE: 11.898/0/0/3.102. Motion passes.

16. Adjournment: MOTION: J. Kenyon MOVED to adjourn the meeting at 10:55 PM. SECOND: T. Aho. VOTE: 11.898/0/0/3.102. Motion passes.

Respectfully submitted,

Laura L. Aivaliotis

MRSD Recording Secretary