Non-approved minutes
Board Meeting Minutes
Multi-purpose Room at
Emerson Elementary,
Present: Colline Dreyfuss, Jonathan Kenyon, Gene White, Tim Peloquin, James Carnie, Karen Cota, Phyllis Peterson, Jane Fortson, and William Felton. Absent: Winston Wright, Susan Oerman, Douglas Lyman, Kenneth Colby, Tim Aho and Robert Mitchell.
Also present: K. Dassau, Superintendent, D. Hodgdon, Assistant Superintendent and K. Chambers, Business Manager. Principals: B. Tatro, M. Young, K. Craig, D. Mousette, D. Dahl and K. Carter.
1.
CONSENT AGENDA:
MOTION: W. Felton MOVED to
accept the
2. CORRESPONDENCE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS: MOTION: W. Felton MOVED to accept the resignation of R. Mitchell from the School Board. SECOND: P. Peterson. VOTE: 9.080/0/0/5.920. Motion passes.
3. STUDENT GOVERNMENT REPORT:
4. Public Comments: W. Imon commented on how important the NEASC probation issue is and that it needs to be addressed by the Board.
N. Moriarty asked that the Board reconsider the decision not to disclose the names of the employees on the health packages.
The reporter for the Keene Sentinel is recording the meeting.
5. Curriculum Report: Professional Learning Communities: K. Craig and staff members presented the Board with a power point presentation as well as a DVD. Packets were passed out to the Board as well. The staff explained what takes place in the meetings, the gathering of information of the child, how once a week the children are divided into groups of learning and how the children really enjoy the change. The pre-testing of a lesson is about 5 minutes. Progress and improvement of the children’s learning is the goal.
NEASC Update: K. Dassau explained that the letter of intent to show cause to the accreditation status needs to be submitted by May 11. The actual report needs to be submitted on June 1st.
6. New Business: NH Retirement System: J. Carnie had asked that this item be put on
the agenda. He explained the history of the NH Retirement issue regarding the
Board and administration issues and the fact that he said the appeal time to
the NHRS had lapsed and was covered up because of the administration. He said
that this issue had nothing to do with non-public session. MOTION: J. Carnie MOVED that
the MRSB stop and refuse to fund any money for the attorney fees in pursuit of
the administration appeal of the NHRS decision of
The Board took up the request by N. Moriarty to reconsider a vote taken by the Board regarding the names of the employees and their health benefits made public. The three members present tonight who had voted against the motion refused to reconsider. MOTION: J. Fortson MOVED that the insurance information be available to the public. SECOND: P. Peterson DISCUSSION: J. Fortson commented that she found a $450,000.00 transposition error and it would have been easier to find with the additional information. K. Cota asked why the names if you are checking the numbers. T. Peloquin commented that the public is paying the salaries. K. Dassau attended workshops and consulted an attorney on this issue. J. Carnie commented that if the employee was paying 100% of their health benefits there would be no question but they are not. K. Chambers commented that the School Board has always been able to review the names in non-public session. W. Felton commented that nothing the Board is discussing would help Monadnock get off of probation. He would like to hear less of this conversation. VOTE: 3.003/6.077/0/5.920. Motion fails.
7. OLD BUSINESS:
1.
2. Board Orientation: The orientation will
take place on
8.
SCHOOL BOARD COMMITTEE REPORTS:
1. Community Relations Committee: G. White
reported that the committee met on
2. Facilities Committee: K. Cota reported that the committee heard from Kaestle Boos and Beliveau Consultants. There would be a monthly update if they feel it is necessary. The facilities reminded both on the importance of the items in the NEASC Report. The Beliveaus spent the day looking at the high school roofs. K. Cota reminded the public and the Board that these companies are being paid by the hour. If there are questions the contact is K. Cota or K. Chambers. The Facilities heard that the bleachers are unsafe and requested that the bleachers be roped off. K. Chambers explained that they had contacted three companies regarding the repair of the bleachers. One company never responded and the other two companies will not be giving a quote unless the bleachers are anchored and permanent. MOTION: K. Cota MOVED that the District no longer move our bleachers anywhere. SECOND: J. Kenyon. VOTE: 9.080/0/0/5.920. Motion passes. K. Cota reported that the NEASC would be a standing item on the facilities agenda.
3. Finance Committee: MOTION: J. Carnie reported that there were no legal bills to review. They reviewed the financial reports. They would be discussing sports and concert funds received and spent at the next meeting. The committee voted to renew the Federal Food and Surplus Agreement with the State. MOTION: J. Carnie MOVED to approve the Federal Food and Surplus Agreement with the State as presented. SECOND: J. Fortson. DISCUSSION: 9.080/0/0/5.920. Motion passes.
4. Policy Committee: The committee met on
5. Budget Committee: J. Kenyon reported
that the committee met on
6.
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. The committee would be meeting on May 14, 2007
to discuss new information prior to the Board Meeting.
8. SAU #38-Board Meeting: The SAU #38
Board Meeting is scheduled for May 2, 2007, dinner at 6:30 PM and the meeting
at 7:00 PM. The location is
9. Action on the Manifest: MOTION: J. Kenyon MOVED to accept the manifest in the amount of $ 1,701,091.90. SECOND: G. White. DISCUSSION: K. Chambers explained that Manchester Radisson statement was for staff members on a Title One Workshop. This is grant funded. VOTE: 9.080/0/0/5.920. Motion passes.
10. SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT: K. Dassau thanked K. Craig and staff for their presentation.
He thanked T. Parker, a Fitzwilliam selectmen for attending the meeting.
He commented that the NEASC responsibility is a cooperation of the Board, the administration and the community. There are other issues as well that need to be addressed such as the staff contracts, the AYP results and the facilities.
11. BOARD CHAIR
REPORT: C. Dreyfuss reminded the people that volunteered for the middle
school semi-formal that it is Friday night and the volunteers need to be there
at
12. SETTING NEXT MEETINGS AGENDA:
1. NEASC
2. Surry (K. Chambers explained that it is not possible to have a special meeting within the deadline requested by Surry.)
3. NCLB. Why different schools score differently?
4. Revisit an education committee with a focus.
The Board members commented on the emails to certain Board Members and the Board needs to understand that there is a chain of command. Everything should be put through the board Chair.
13. SECOND PUBLIC COMMENTS: W. Imon commented on the letter to the NEASC. He said don’t wait to start the work because the letter would probably not change the decision. He said that video taping the meetings would help to inform the community.
C. Dreyfuss reassured the public that the facilities are working on the NEASC issues. The administration is working on their part. The information will go out to the public as soon as possible. She had asked the Budget Committee at the last meeting to help and support the Board’s effort regarding the NEASC.
J. Carnie commented that an education committee is needed.
K. Cota commented that the individual committees should have the NEASC on their agenda. She commented that the entire Board is an education committee. She asked if each elementary school is taught the same when eventually going to the middle school they are all on the same track.
K. Dassau commented that there are school presentations at the Board Meetings but he knows everyone is sensitive to the length of the meeting. There is a lot more curriculum work that is being done. He suggested that the Board goals be looked at since they have not been updated for some time. He said that the Board Orientation is a policy issue.
D. Hodgdon commented that they have been spending a lot of time taking the elementary school curriculum and aligning it with the other schools to have consistency.
K. Craig commented on the goals and how they are meeting the goals.
C. Kahn commented on her shirt which read, “Proud Monadnock Teacher.” The shirts were given to the teachers Teacher Appreciation Week.
G. White suggested that the Board have a goal setting meeting with the principals.
J. Kenyon suggested future agenda items as follows: update on NCLB and the testing requirements, revised state funding, NEASC curriculum recommendations, the short comings, going forward and do we agree, and a discussion on Follow the Child.
W. Felton asked if there is any information on the telephone survey. K. Dassau explained that he anticipates that the results would not be available till fall.
W. Felton asked about a letter from a Swanzey parent. K. Dassau explained that he would contact the parent and explain the Board’s complaint policy.
K. Dassau explained that on the distict’s web page there is much information that the new members could read to bring them up to date on many of the items discussed tonight.
14. Adjournment: MOTION: K. Cota MOVED to adjourn the meeting at
Respectfully submitted,
Laura L. Aivaliotis
MRSD Recording Secretary