Non-Approved Minutes

MONADNOCK REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

Board Meeting Minutes

October 16, 2007

Gilsum Elementary School, Gilsum, NHï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½

Present:ï¿½ Jonathan Kenyon, Gene White, Tim Peloquin, Phyllis Peterson, Jane Fortson, Winston Wright, Ed Jacod, Tim Aho, Colline Dreyfuss, Doug Lyman and James Carnie. Absent: William Felton, Susan Oerman and Ken Colby.

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

1.ï¿½ï¿½ CONSENT AGENDA: MOTION: D. Lyman. MOVED to accept the October 2, 2007 Board Meeting Minutes as amended.ï¿½ SECOND: J. Fortson. DISCUSSION: D. Lyman had asked what the New England Dairy Grant would be used for and if there were any restriction. K. Dassau read the award letter.ï¿½ VOTE: 10.260/0/0.247/4.493. ï¿½Motion passes.

2.ï¿½ CORRESPONDENCE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS: D. Mousette welcomed the Board to Gilsum Elementary School. He invited them to the pumpkin carving that would be taking place on October 18, 2007. He thanked the faculty for the refreshments.

The Board has set budget work sessions for Oct. 23, Oct. 25 and Oct. 30.

Harvest Night at Emerson is on Oct. 17, 2007. Everyone is invited.

J. Smith reported that he met with LGC along with the Swanzey Police to discuss the new safety requirements. He also reported that the parade participation for the Monadnock Hoopla was a great success. Thursday Night is pumpkin-carving night at the high school. He also informed the Board that the on line calendar is finished with all the school activities.

C. Dreyfuss reported that she went to a Gateway at MC2, which was presented like a game show.

C. Dreyfuss informed that Board that the Negotiating Team and the support staff have reached a tentative agreement. She explained that it is a 3-year tentative agreement, which is not retroactive. She continued explaining the specifics of the tentative agreement.

J. Fortson thanked the School Board Members, Budget Committee Members, staff and community who volunteered to help with the playground at Mt. Caesar.

3. STUDENT GOVERNMENT REPORT: J. Smith reported that the 9^th grade student government elections are coming soon.

4. Public Comments:

5. Curriculum Report: K. Dassau explained that Mt. Caesar and Troy Elementary parents would be receiving a letter from the administration regarding schools in need of improvement. Schools that are identified as in need of improvement are required to do so. All the parents of the students in the district would also be receiving a letter because this is a District in need of improvement. D.Hodgdon and K. Dassau are preparing the letter, which will soon be going out.

NEASC Report: K. Dassau informed the Board that NEASC and AYP would be discussed in the principal presentations.

6. Old Business:

Off-site Program MC2: K. Carter is not present at this time. W. Wright arrives.

7. New Business: 2008-2009 Budget Development:

Senior High School- J. Smith: J. Smith passed out the answers to the 68 questions asked by D. Lyman. He also passed out a budget cover sheet. J. Smith explained that there are 728 students not including MC2 or home schooled children. He explained that currently they do not have a dance position. They are down one science teacher, he is asking for a half time math teacher and two non- certified staff members. He explained that his overall budget reflects a 2% decrease. The budget reflects the recommendations of the NEASC and the state mandated testing for NCLB. It contains textbooks, a part-time math teacher, a science teacher, a part-time dance teacher and an increase in staff development. Many of the accounts had been charged to the high school when in fact they should be shared by the middle school. These changes were corrected in the proposed budget. J. Smith explained that they are asking for a $34,900.00 increase in athletics. B. Pickering explained that they struggle to hold coaches. He would like to have the stipends competitive with the rest of the area. There are 44 high school coaches. J. Smith explained that there is an increase in the electronic media. In previous years there has been an anonymous donation for books. T. Aho commented that J. Smith should be careful about adding staff because no one knows what a pink slip is. W.Wright thanked J. Smith for his time spent on answering D. Lyman’s 68 questions.

Middle School-L. Sutton: L. Sutton passed out a cover sheet, answers to D.Lyman’s questions and attachments to the Board. She explained that there was a saving last year because the new hires replaced teachers with more years of experience. She explained that the 2008-2009 budget is down $84,806.00 from the 2007-2008 proposed budget. She explained that they are proposing a reduction of an English teacher and proposing the hiring of Special Education teachers. There is an increase in books and printed material in the amount of $5600.00. There is an increase in the math studies to purchase algebra books and the electronic information line. Music Studies has increased. Social Studies have increased. She is asking for 2 Special Education teachers and a full time Special Education coordinator. The Athletic Activities has an increase due to the fact that the high school absorbed most of the coaches’ stipends last year. They are adding staff development for the nurses. These are some of the increases and decreases in the proposed middle School budget.

MC2-K. Carter: K. Carter explained that she did not use 20% of her budget 2006-2007 and it was returned. She explained that there are 28 students as of Oct. 1, 2007. There are 14 in the district and 14 out of district. K. Dassau explained that the administration has been having the conversation of where to house MC2 if Surry should be successful. An option would be possible trailers. He explained that it would be part of the Master Plan and architects design. It is not a simple classroom. J. Carnie asked if the number of students from Monadnock High School that is reported to the state include the students from MC2. K. Carter said that she believes that the number includes the out of district students that are reported to the high school. K. Chambers explained that the number reported to the state is the expenditures not the budget. She said that she would check on those numbers. K. Carter explained the accounts that are changing for the 2008-2009 budgets.

Off-site Program-K. Carter: K. Carter explained the detailed packets that were provided in the Board packets. T. Aho asked who recommended Option 1. K. Carter explained that she and J.Smith thought that was the best option. She said that MC2 should be part of the high school. The NEASC has given praise for the program and it should be part of the high school. J. Carnie commented on the fact that some pages of the packet are written Monadnock Community Connections “School” and others Monadnock Community Connections “Program”. He commented that MC2 is not a school with Option 1. He is saying that the state is saying MC2 needs to make a choice. K. Carter explained that the state does not care if it is called a “school” or “program” it is concerned with the health and safety concerns. T. Aho commented that if we become another school and a school of choice than we may have to take out of district students. K. Carter explained that the off site program is eligible for tuition reimbursement for out of district students and transportation. K. Carter explained that there is a whole spectrum of off site programs. MOTION: J. Kenyon MOVED to approve the Option 1 Plan recommended by the administration to be presented to the state. SECOND: W. Wright. DISCUSSION: K.Carter explained that the plan would not be accepted if the attachments were not included. She would suggest that the Board review the plan annually. W. Wright would like to have the fire inspection reviewed by the State Fire Marshall. T. Aho asked if the budget process is the same with the high school. K.Dassau explained that the Board agreed to include MC2 in the high school budget next year. J. Carnie commented that it does not address the major issue, which is an open enrollment school. He commented on the warrant article, which addressed the open enrollment school. C. Dreyfuss commented that it was a petitioned article, which is up to interpretation and the vote was due to lack or misinformation. J. Kenyon commented that there is a motion on the floor. T. Peloquin suggested simply change the letterhead of MC2 changing it from Monadnock Community Connections School to Program. D.Lyman commented that he could not support this unless all the documents are reviewed and included. K. Dassau commented that the Board adopted a Choice Procedure. There is no resolution to J. Carnie’s legal opinion. He explained that the state would not accept the proposal without a complete packet. VOTE: 5.60/4.841/1.179/3.379. Motion passes.

NHSBA Resolutions: The Board agreed to postpone this item until the Nov. 17, 2007 meeting. J. Carnie suggested the Board take a hard look at the resolutions specific to full day kindergarten. It was also suggested to look at the Special Ed. resolutions. MOTION: K. Cota. MOVED to alter the agenda. SECOND: P. Peterson. VOTE: 8.610/3.011/0/3.379. Motion passes.

8. SCHOOL BOARD COMMITTEE REPORTS:

1. Community Relations Committee: the CRC met to discuss the Accelerate outcome date and potential ad possibilities. The next meeting is Oct. 29, 2007.

2. Facilities Committee: K. Cota reported that the Facilities Committee met with KB and the educational team to review different options and educational options. There is a need to drill holes in the Auditorium wall. This would be under $5000.00. B. Beliveau will get the cost and work with KB through the process. The Oct. 19, 2007 meeting is canceled and the next meeting is on Oct. 24, 2007.

3.Finance Committee: K. Chambers reported that the committee met and reviewed the regular finance reports, legal bills and approved the minutes.

4.Policy Committee: G.White reported that the meeting was postponed due to improper posting. The next meeting is scheduled for Oct. 21, 2007.

5.Budget Committee: J. Kenyon reported that the committee would be meeting on Nov. 3, 2007 at 8:30 AM. The principals would be presenting their budgets. The district budgets would also be presented.

6. CCC:

9. Action on the Manifest: MOTION: J. Kenyon MOVED to accept the manifest in the amount of $1,626,355.91. SECOND: D. Lyman. VOTE: 10.500/0/1.121/3.379. Motion passes.

10. Superintendent’s Report: MOTION: K. Cota MOVED to accept Raelene Rust into the Early Retirement Pool. SECOND: G. White. DISCUSSION: K. Dassau commented that this is the third person for the pool that the board would approve. VOTE: 9.021/2.600/0/3.379. Motion passes.

11.BOARD CHAIR REPORT:

12.SETTING NEXT MEETINGS AGENDA:

1.Budget

2.Full day Kindergarten

3.PUPS-Mt. Caesar-placement process

4.Moving the 6^th grade

5.NHSBA Resolutions

13.SECOND PUBLIC COMMENTS:

14. Adjournment: MOTION: D. Lyman MOVED to adjourn the meeting at 10:59 PM. SECOND: P. Peterson VOTE: Unanimous for those present. Motion passes.

Respectfully submitted,

Laura L. Aivaliotis

MRSD Recording Secretary