Non-approved Minutes

MONADNOCK REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

Board Meeting Minutes

November 6, 2007

Sullivan Elementary School, Sullivan, NH                    

 

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

Also present: K. Dassau, Superintendent and K. Chambers, Business Manager.  Principals: D. Mousette.

 

C. Dreyfuss reminded the Board that the Chair will keep the meeting moving and to stay on topic. If the discussion should go off topic she would end discussion.

 

1.   CONSENT AGENDA: MOTION: J. Fortson MOVED to accept the October 16, 2007 Board Meeting Minutes.  SECOND: P. Peterson. DISCUSSION: The correct spelling is Accelara. VOTE: 9.899/0/2.200/2.911.  Motion passes. MOTION: J.Fortson MOVED to accept the October 23, 2007 Board Meeting Minutes as presented. SECOND: G. White. VOTE: 8.284/0/3.805/2.911. Motion passes. MOTION: J. Kenyon MOVED to accept the October 25, 2007 Board Meeting Minutes as presented. SECOND: J. Fortson VOTE: 8.284/0/3.805/2.911. Motion passes. MOTION: J. Kenyon. MOVED to accept the October 30, 2007 Board Meeting Minutes as presented. SECOND: S.Oerman. VOTE: 8.284/0/3.805/2.911. Motion passes.

 

2.  CORRESPONDENCE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS: D. Mousette welcomed the Board to the Sullivan Elementary School. He invited the Board to a Veterans Day Program to be held on Nov. 13, 2007 both at Gilsum and Sullivan. He also thanked the staff for the refreshments.

G. White commented that Monadnock had knocked out Conval in the NH Granite State Challenge.

G. White commented that the Keene Sentinel mentioned the candle light vigil for Darfor presented by the some of the students from Monadnock. For some this is a senior project.

K. Dassau introduced and welcomed Mr. Allen Webber the new Budget Committee Member from Sullivan. 

 

3.      STUDENT GOVERNMENT REPORT:  

4.      Public Comments:

5.      Curriculum Report: K. Dassau reported that the Cutler Team, The Middle School Team and the District Team Committees have formed and there would be a report at the next meeting concerning AYP.

 

NEASC Report: J.Smith passed out the first official progress report that he has submitted. The report also contained 100 pages of documentation. This letter would be available to the public on line tomorrow.

 

J. Smith passed out his list of the proposed new courses for the high school. He is asking the Board for the permission to add these courses. The Board asked various questions about the different courses. The Board would be reviewing the proposed courses and place this item on the next agenda.

 

6.  OLD BUSINESS:  

Off-site Program MC2: K. Dassau explained that K. Carter was not able to attend the meeting. She has reported that she is working on the paperwork.  The health inspection is complete. They are waiting for the fire inspection to take place. She should be ready with a complete packet on Nov. 20, 2007.

 

Support Staff Contracts: C. Dreyfuss passed out information to the Board on the Agreement between the MRSB and the Monadnock Education Support Staff Association. It is a three-year agreement. C. Dreyfuss explained the Agreement with the Board. T.Peloquin asked for the total increase in dollars. K. Chambers would have that information at the next meeting. The buy out for the health insurance has increased from $0.00 to $2500.00.    

 

7.   New Business:

      NHSBA Resolutions: MOTION: J. Kenyon MOVED to agree with the NHSBA 2008 proposed continuing resolutions. SECOND: P. Peterson. VOTE: 8.733/0.809/2.547/2.911. Motion passes. MOTION: W. Felton MOVED to accept the recommended resolutions recommended by the NHSBA. SECOND: J.Kenyon. VOTE: 10.663/0/1.426/2.911. Motion passes. C. Dreyfuss would let D. Lyman know that the Board would like to continue with the not recommended resolutions.

 

      Amendment of Section 218 Agreement: K. Chambers explained that previously the paperwork stating the $1200.00 amount had not been filed with the State of NH. This would take care of the paperwork. MOTION: K.Colby MOVED to accept the amendment to the Agreement between the State of NH and the MRSD. SECOND: J. Kenyon. DISCUSSION: It was mentioned that other Articles in 2004 should be looked at. VOTE: 12.089/0/0/2.911. Motion passes.

 

8.  SCHOOL BOARD COMMITTEE REPORTS:  

1.      Community Relations Committee: W.Felton had suggested a Committee Communications Proposal, which should consist of a written proposal, written committee vote, rational and meet the 48-hour deadline. W. Felton explained that this proposal has been in the works for 2-3 months. This is in addition to the minutes. This would be a summary of the committee results. The committee would decide who does the work. J. Carnie commented that the committees are stretched as it is and suggested that a member from the CRC attend the other meetings if they would like the information. K. Colby commented that the purpose is not to make more work for anyone but to get the information out to the public. MOTION: K. Cota MOVED to accept the CRC Committee Communications Proposal. SECOND: J.Kenyon. MOTION: J. Carnie MOVED to amend the motion with the following changes: “Each School Board Committee may submit a summary of substantive discussion and decision making activity as these events occur on an ongoing basis.  Each Committee may elect one of its members to serve as that Committee’s Communication Specialist, responsible for writing up a summary of the Committee’s activities for submission to the appropriate person as indicted above. SECOND: P. Peterson. VOTE on the amendment: 9.484/2.695/0/2.911. Amendment passes. VOTE on the amended motion: 12.089/0/0/2.911. Motion passes. Finance would be adding K. Colby’s name to the Finance email.

 

2. Facilities Committee: K. Cota reported that the committee met on Oct. 24, 2007. They went over and finalized the 08-09 Project List. They heard from the engineer who reported that the construction of the exterior walls is unsatisfactory and should have further testing. District wide security camera work would start next week. The Troy reading room egress is underway. The High School kitchen hood and vent are out for bid. The Committee met again on October 29, 2007 and received information on complete renovations and new constriction, which would cost $37,584,000.00. The Committee would suggest that the Finance Committee look at possible funding possibilities. On Nov. 5, 2007 the Committee discussed the need for a Facilities Director. They suggest a stand-alone warrant article. The Committee reminded the Board that the Committee has two other suggested warrant articles other than what they are asking for tonight. MC2 Health and Safety Items for $24,681.30 and $58,905.00 for a roof, heating and carpeting at the SAU. MOTION: K. Cota. MOVED to accept the 08-09 Roof Warrant Article as presented in the amount of $824,340.00 to be placed on the ballot. SECOND: J.Kenyon. DISCUSSION: J. Carnie asked the size of the Wilcox roof. No one had that information. This is one estimate. After passage of the article than it would go out for 3 bids. This article would cover 2/3 off the roof. VOTE: 12.089/0/0/2.911. Motion passes. MOTION: K. Cota. MOVED to accept the 08-09 Health and Safety Warrant Article as presented in the amount of $822,617.00 to be placed on the ballot. SECOND: J. Kenyon. DISCUSSION: It was suggested that some of these items come out of the health insurance savings. This would alleviate the warrant shock. It was suggested that the Board revisit this article at the next meeting and with a recommended list. There is about $500,000.00 in the health savings.  VOTE: 12.089/0/0/2.911. Motion passes. MOTION: K. Cota MOVED to award the kitchen hood bid to Stromgren Plumbing and Heating in the amount of $76,755.00 and to authorize the expenditure of up to 10% of that amount of $7675.00 as contingency, funding as follows: $53,000.00 from the 06/07 Maintenance Warrant Article and $31,430.50 07/08 operating budget as a transfer to maintenance from the Health Insurance savings. SECOND: J. Kenyon. VOTE: 10.968/1.121/0/2.911. Motion passes. The next meeting is scheduled for Nov. 14, 2007. 

 

3. Finance Committee: J. Carnie reported that the committee met earlier prior to the meeting. MOTION: J. Carnie MOVED to transfer from the Staff Account to the Aid Account equivalent to 2 full time Aids to fill 2-3 part time positions. SECOND: J. Fortson DISCUSSION: W.Felton explained that he is opposed to the process. There is nothing in writing. That is why there was confusion on stating the motion. He said that the committees should plan their meetings to meet the 48- hour deadline. VOTE: 9.731/2.358/0/2.911. Motion passes. MOTION: J. Fortson MOVED to recommend the inclusion of the dance instructor for the remainder of the school year. SECOND: J. Carnie. VOTE: 7.801/3.109/1.179/2.911. Motion passes. MOTION: J. Carnie MOVED to have a warrant article placed on the ballot to set aside the gate receipts for athletic purposes for the high school. SECOND: E. Jacod. DISCUSSION: J. Kenyon asked why the money couldn’t go to education. G. White commented that this money could be used to fix things that have to do with athletics. K. Dassau explained that this revenue now is to offset taxes. VOTE: 10.910/1.179/0/2.911. Motion passes. MOTION: J. Carnie MOVED to approve a warrant article to be placed on the ballot to raise and appropriate $50,000.00 to be placed in the Special Education Expendable Trust Fund. SECOND: S. Oerman. VOTE: 10.101/1.988/0/2.911. Motion passes. MOTION: J. Carnie MOVED to approve a warrant article to be placed on the ballot to raise and appropriate any additional funds to keep the Maintenance Expendable Trust Fund balance at $60,000.00. SECOND: J. Fortson VOTE:10.910/1.179/0/2.911. Motion passes. MOTION: J. Carnie MOVED to approve a warrant article to be placed on the ballot to discontinue the Emergency Notification Expendable Trust Fund. SECOND: S. Oerman. DISCUSSION: K. Chambers explained that these funds are not needed they are in the budget. VOTE: 10.910/1.179/0/2.911. Motion passes. The next meeting is prior to the School Board Meeting on Nov. 20, 2007. The committee has asked K. Chambers to look into the proposed Surry withdrawal impact to the district. 

 

4.      Policy Committee: MOTION: G.White. MOVED to accept Policy DJE Bidding Requirements as amended by the Policy Committee SECOND: E. Jacod. VOTE: 12.089/0/0/2.911. Motion passes. The next meeting is on Nov. 13, 2007 at 5:45 PM.  

 

8.   Budget Committee: The next Budget Meeting is scheduled for Nov. 27, 2007 in Gilsum. 

 

9.      Action on the Manifest: MOTION: S. Oerman MOVED to accept the manifest in the amount of $ 2,833,154.77. SECOND: J. Kenyon. DISCUSSION: Elm City Glass is the windows for Troy.  VOTE: 10.910/0/0/4.090. Motion passes. (J. Kenyon missing from vote).

 

10.  Superintendent’s Report: K. Dassau thanked the staff at Sullivan. He announced that    there would be a SAU Board Meeting in Winchester tomorrow. He also announced the Surry Withdrawal Vote. The results were 1084-yes to 473-no.

 

11. BOARD CHAIR REPORT:              

12. SETTING NEXT MEETINGS AGENDA:

1.      Adjust Warrants

2.      List all warrants for high school

3.      Course Approval for high school

 

13. SECOND PUBLIC COMMENTS: N. Moriarty commented on the Maintenance Expendable Trust Warrant Article. He commented that the $38,000,000.00 would touch every class room and that would be a nightmare. He asked that the Board have offerings for the non-remedial students and not always the special ed. students.

 

      E. Kaplan, high school chemistry teacher, commented that changing the course name to Survey of Chemistry would not scare the kids off.

 

14. MOTION: S. Oerman MOVED to recess to discuss teacher negotiations. SECOND: J. Kenyon. VOTE: 12.089/0/0/2.911. Motion passes. MOTION: G. White. MOVED to accept the District Teacher Contract Agreement as proposed by the Negotiating Committee. SECOND: K. Colby. VOTE: 10.910/0/1.179/2.911. Motion passes.

 

15. Non-Public Session: MOTION: G. White. MOVED to go into non-public session under RSA 91-A:3 II (e). SECOND: K. Colby. Roll call vote: E. Jacod, P. Peterson, J. Carnie, K. Cota, T. Peloquin, K. Colby, W. Felton, J. Kenyon, J. Fortson, G. White, S. Oerman and C. Dreyfuss. VOTE: 12.089/0/0/2.911. Motion passes. 

 

16. Adjournment: MOTION: T. Peloquin MOVED to adjourn the meeting at 9:38 PM. SECOND: K. Colby VOTE: Unanimous for those present. Motion passes.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

Laura L. Aivaliotis

MRSD Recording Secretary