Approved  Minutes

MONADNOCK REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

SCHOOL BOARD AGENDA

February 17, 2009

Mt. Caesar Elementary School, Swanzey, NH

 

Present: Jane Fortson, Doug Lyman, James Carnie, Robert Smith, Eric Stanley, Ed Jacod, Tim Aho, Bruce Barlow, William Felton and Winston Wright. Absent:Phyllis Peterson, Gene White, Susan Oerman. 

Also Present: K.Dassau, Superintendent and E. Wammack, Business Manager. Principals: B. Pickering, J. Smith, K. Craig D. Mousette and B. Tatro. B. Mitchell, Buildings and Grounds.

 

1.   RSA 91-A:3 (e)-Non-Public Session. MOTION:  D.Lyman MOVED to enter into non-public session at 6:00 PM for the purpose of  pending litigation. SECOND: R. Smith. VOTE: 7.660/0/1.897/5.443. Motion passes.

 

2.      CONSENT AGENDA: MOTION: D. Lyman MOVED to accept Feb. 3, 2009 School Board Meeting Minutes as presented. SECOND: E. Stanley. VOTE: 7.760/0/2.2/5.040. Motion passes.  J. Fortson announced that G. White is out ill and has not missed a Board Meeting in 3 1/2 years. The Keene Sentinel is recording. 

 

3.      STUDENT GOVERNMENT REPORT: R. Skrocki reported that members of the Student Government met with the administration regarding students being tardy to school. They would like to change the in school suspension punishment to a morning detention. The Student Government met after school and discussed getting the word out to the voters. 

 

4.   CORRESPONDENCE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS: K. Dassau had received an email from a MRHS graduate from the Class of 1972. He recognized the effect teachers and coaches had on his education. He fondly remembered B. Soucy and Mr. Brennan.

 

      J. Fortson reported that she had been asked by 3 boy scouts to be interviewed as part of their citizenship in the community project. Two of the boy scouts were in attendance.

 

5.   Public Comments:

 

6.      NEW BUSINESS:

1. 2009/2010 School Calendar: J. Fortson reported that the approval of the calendar would be postponed until the next meeting.

 

7.      OLD BUSINESS: None

 

8.      CURRICULUM REPORT:

       1.   AYP Report- B. Tatro: B. Tatro welcomed everyone to Mt. Caesar. She thanked the Board for all their work. She explained that D. Hodgdon had asked her to share the scores from Mt. Caesar. The Board had received a handout in the packets. She reviewed the results of the 4^th graders in math and reading. She explained that the tests as well as other documents are used to give a broad direction on where they need to improve. She explained the SINI Plan. She explained that there are 5 teams that meet monthly. There are plans to improve student achievement. They go child by child. She also explained that PLC work being done.

       2.   NEASC Report- B.Pickering: B. Pickering reported on the 2 years progress report that they had received. He said that he is feeling really good about the progress. There were no curriculum items that would need a report, which indicated that the NEASC is happy with the progress. The next report is due in 2011. We need to develop a lot of positive programs. The school probationary status would be reviewed in August. There would be a report on what happens in March regarding the facilities plan. He said that he feels really good and that we have taken a giant step forward to change the status. The gymnasium and the auditorium have been noted and they have been recognized. R. Smith commented on the fabulous job done by the administration and the students.  

8.   SCHOOL BOARD COMMITTEE REPORT:

            1.  Community Relations Committee: B. Barlow commented on a few articles in the Keene Sentinel regarding members of this community. He commented on the well-behaved members at the Deliberative Session. He reported that the next meeting would be in 2 weeks at 6:00 PM.

            2.   Facilities Committee: R.Smith reported that the committee would continue to discuss the 5-year plan. They would be waiting to see the vote in March. The committee discussed past projects and the sprinkler system, which they would be waiting for a report on. The next meeting is on Feb. 18, 2009 at 4:00 PM. R.Smith reported that the committee is working on the next part of the 5-year plan.

                        a. BeTTYS Subcommittee: E. Stanley reported that the committee met on Feb. 16, 2009. The total today is $8700.00. A fundraiser tonight was postponed due to sickness. The next fundraiser would be a breakfast at Applebees on March 14, 2009.

3.   Finance Committee: D.Lyman reported that the committee met on Feb. 12, 2009. They had thoughts on the budget and they were glad that the process was complete. They discussed the consolidation of the Northern Schools and other items. MOTION: D.Lyman MOVED to ask the School Board to ask the CRC to use a member as a resource before any press release involving numbers. SECOND: J.Carnie. DISCUSSION: B. Barlow questioned the motion. J. Fortson explained that she made the motion. D.Lyman commented that this has to go to the Policy Committee. J. Fortson said that she is asking for a CRC point person. R. Smith commented that there should be a point person for facilities as well. J.Fortson suggested that the point person be E. Wammack. B.Barlow asked what happens if the point person and the chair disagree. W. Felton commented that it should go right to Policy. B. Barlow commented that the next time you go after him get your story straight. This has been handled rudely. If the Board votes for this I would be taking it with a signing statement. The School Board needs credibility. J. Carnie commented that B. Barlow is taking this too personally. He said that they wanted to make sure that there are over lapping members at the different meetings the intent is to make sure any financial information is looked at by Finance Committee to have a little input. He does not believe that this needs to be so formal. MOTION: J. Fortson MOVED to amend to make E. Wammack the point person for all the committees. SECOND: E.Jacod. DISCUSSION: E.Jacod asked if it is strictly numerical why not come from E. Wammack. It is a non-issue. We are looking for facts. W.Felton commented that there should not be information coming out of any committee to the public. The information needs to be considered by the Board. E. Jacod agrees. Having a point person is redundant. B.Barlow asked when the chair disagrees with the Business Manager who wins. It was explained that the Board would be voting. E. Jacod commented that everything out of the CRC has to go before the School Board before going out to the public. VOTE on the amendment: 4.130/0/5.830/5.040. Motion passes. VOTE on amended motion: 4.130/5.830/0/5.040.Motion as amended fails. B.Barlow commented that he would have done it any ways. W.Wright felt that there was a policy that the Superintendent had to review all press releases before going to the public. The next meeting is on March 5, 2009 at 8:45 AM.

4.   Policy Committee: W.Wright reported that the committee met and discussed a purchasing requirement policy. The policy has to be looked at by B.Mitchell before going to the Board. The committee is also discussing two other policies. The next meeting is on March 2, 2009 at 5:30 PM.

5.   Budget Committee Rep.: The committee has not met since the Deliberative Session.  

6.   Cheshire Career Center: W.Wright reported that he did have a meeting with excellent food at The               CCC. B. Pickering, Dr. Crisafulli and W. Wright were in attendance. There are 14 advisory committees meeting to improve the programs. W. Wright reported on the Perkins Fund Grant. There are 60 students in attendance from Monadnock.  

7.   Education Committee: J. Carnie reported that the committee met last week and discussed the school mission statement. They also discussed the state test scores, what the scores were and how the paper interpreted them. There was a discussion on what is going on in Sullivan, a discussion on the education aspect and future administration aspect to see if it is justifiable. The administration felt that there was progress being made on the test scores and how to get that information out to the public. The next meeting is on March 5, 2009 at 10:00 AM. B. Barlow asked about the draft mission statement. He also said that the District and the Board need a mission statement. 

9.   Action on the Manifest: MOTION: D.Lyman   MOVED to accept the manifest in the amount of  $ 1,254,099.90. SECOND: R.Smith. DISCUSSION: The Board asked specific questions concerning the manifest and E.Wammack answered them or would be looking for the answers. VOTE: 7.760/0/2.200/5.041. Motion passes.

 

10. Superintendent’s Report: K.Dassau asked permission from the Board to participate in a grant for the Monadnock Family Services. This would allow the surrounding districts as well as Monadnock a clinical therapist to work with the students with mental disturbances. Keene would be the fiscal agent. This is an opportunity to be supportive with the surrounding areas. MOTION: W.Felton. MOVED the approval to participate in the application of the grant.  SECOND: R.Smith. DISCUSSION: K.Dassau explained that the person would be an employee from Monadnock Family Services. The grant is for two years with no sustainability. VOTE: 8.839/0/1.121/5.040. Motion passes.

 

      MOTION: R. Smith MOVED to accept the letter of retirement from Ellen Cronin as of June 30, 2009. SECOND: D. Lyman. VOTE: 8.839/1.121/0/5.040. Motion passes.  

 

11. BOARD CHAIR REPORT:

 

12. SETTING NEXT MEETING AGENDA

1.      2009/2010 Calendar

2.      NEASC

3.      AYP

 

Members of the Board would like the Finance Committee to report on the Sullivan situation as well as MC2. J. Carnie commented that the Finance Committee needs to look at the Sullivan situation and MC2. It needs to be discussed in at least the next 4 weeks. All the committees need to look at Sullivan and MC2 from all aspects and bring information to the full Board. R. Smith commented that B. Pickering explained that he had a plan for MC2 next year. 

 

13. Motion to adjourn: MOTION: R. Smith MOVED to adjourn the meeting at 8:29 PM. SECOND: J. Carnie. VOTE: Unanimous for those present. Motion passes.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Laura L. Aivaliotis

MRSD Recording Secretary