Approved Minutes

MONADNOCK REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

SCHOOL BOARD AGENDA

March 3, 2009

Monadnock Regional High School, Swanzey, NH

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

Also Present: K.Dassau, Superintendent, D. Hodgdon, Assistant Superintendent and E. Wammack, Business Manager. Principals: J. Smith, K. Craig D. Mousette and B. Tatro.

“The goal of the Monadnock Regional School Board is to improve student achievement. “

The Keene Sentinel is recording the meeting.

1. MOTION: D. Lyman MOVED to accept the nomination from the Select Board of Troy for Richard Thackston to replace Susan Oerman on the School. SECOND: T. Aho. DISCUSSION: J. Carnie asked if the motion was for the last meeting before the election or the upcoming year. It was explained that S. Oerman’s position was not announced due to the timing. The board discussed the last meeting and the upcoming year. MOTION: D. Lyman. MOVED to amend that the term of the motion would be for tonight only. SECOND: T. Aho. DISCUSSION: J. Carnie commented that he felt that the Select Board from Troy appointed R. Thackston for the remainder of S. Oerman’s term. W. Wright would agree. VOTE on the amendment: 5.367/5.707/.776/3.150. Motion fails. MOTION: J. Carnie MOVED to amend the motion to accept the appointment for another year. SECOND: B. Barlow. VOTE on the amended motion: 11.850/0/0/3.150. Motion passes. G. White swore in R.Thackston as the Troy School Board Member.

2. CONSENT AGENDA: MOTION: J. Fortson MOVED to accept Feb. 17, 2009 School Board Meeting Minutes as amended. SECOND: D. Lyman. VOTE: 8.781/0/1.021/2.219. Motion passes.

3. STUDENT GOVERNMENT REPORT: None.

4. CORRESPONDENCE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS: K.Craig read a letter from the Heiss Family thanking Emerson for their support. Emerson held a fundraiser dinner to defray the cost of their son going to the Presidential Inauguration.

5. Public Comments: Pat Bauries asked about the minutes on line and the agenda on line regarding tonight’s meeting.

6. NEW BUSINESS:

1. Sullivan Elementary School: G.White explained that he would like to discuss this issue after March 10, 2009 with the new Board. He would like to see this tabled until March 17, 2009. MOTION: D.Lyman MOVED to table the discussion on MC2 and the Sullivan Elementary School until March 17, 2009. SECOND: P.Peterson. DISCUSSION: G. White explained that the Board had given B.Pickering a year for MC2. T. Aho explained that D.Mousette was in attendance and there should be a bit of a discussion on the Sullivan School. VOTE: ???????????. Motion fails. D. Mousette explained that when a decision is made in the Northern Schools he invites the input of the parents. He said that any closing or consolidation of the Northern Schools without the consent of the parents would under mind the trust of the parents. D.Mousette commented that they do not have the room at Gilsum to provide a better education. He welcomes a study committee. He said that the community has to be on board with us. T. Aho commented that there are 21 students at Sullivan with a $525,000.00 budget. D.Mousette explained the two budgets for Gilsum and Sullivan and explained that the students float between the two schools. D. Mousette would suggest that the Board look at the electrical and the septic as well as the whole facility. E.Jacod asked the capacity of Gilsum. T. Aho commented that it is about 86. E. Jacod commented that he understood that there was no overload in a classroom. T.Aho commented that if the students go to Gilsum there would have to be an addition built. The addition would cost over 1 million dollars. There is no financial gain. He suggested putting a survey out to the town of Sullivan. It was suggested that this issue be put on the March 17, 2009 agenda.

2. MC2: MOTION: W.Felton. MOVED to table the MC2 issue until March 17, 2009. SECOND: J. Fortson. DISCUSSION: MOTION: E.Jacod. MOVED Friendly amendment to table the motion until April 7, 2009. SECOND: J. Fortson. VOTE: 12.876/0/0/2.219. Motion passes.

3. SAU & Monadnock Regional Audit: E. Wammack presented the SAU Audit to the Board. He explained that the audit was not ready for the past SAU Board Meeting so it was decided that the individual Boards would review them at their separate meetings. He explained that there is a positive end balance with no negative findings. E. Wammack reviewed the Monadnock Audit. He explained that the operation ended in the black for the year. There were no significant findings. He explained that the $617,801.00 would be returned to the taxpayers. E. Wammack would find out about the capital leases. He explained that the year ended June 30, 2008 and the Board is reviewing the audit now. He said that he would look to improve for next year. W. Wright asked the cost of the audit. E. Wammack said that it is a 3-year contract and we are in the last year. He would find out the cost.

7. OLD BUSINESS:

1. 2009/2010 School Calendar: D.Hodgdon explained that the teachers, administrators, union and others have reviewed the calendar. R. Smith arrives. D. Hodgdon was asked about the use of the schools for voting day. He said that there was not enough impact in the past. MOTION: T.Aho. MOVED to approve the 2009-2010 School Calendar as presented. SECOND: R. Thackston. VOTE:13.029/1.021/0/.950. Motion passes. D. Hodgdon explained that the administration is looking at options to consider the length of the school year due to the snow days. To maximize instructional time. The administration would suggest using March 20, 2009, which is a scheduled workshop day as a normal day of instruction and eliminate 2 early release days. J. Fortson asked about the extra day missed by Emerson. K. Dassau explained that the State requires 180 days. Emerson would have 180 days. MOTION: P. Peterson. MOVED to accept the proposal from the administration and use March 20, 2009 as a normal day of instruction and eliminate 2 early release days for the rest of this school year. SECOND: W.Wright. VOTE: 14.050/0/0/.950. Motion passes. K. Dassau reported that B.Pickering informed him that the Student Government was in support of using the workshop days as curriculum days.

8. CURRICULUM REPORT:

1. AYP Report-No report

2. NEASC Report-No report

9. SCHOOL BOARD COMMITTEE REPORT:

1. Community Relations Committee: B. Barlow reported that Monadnock is a finalist in the Destination Imagination Global Contest. A Monadnock senior has designed the cover of the annual report. B.Barlow reported that they would be receiving a grant to make DVDs that would go to every home. They are also requesting funds from the grant for the postage. They are holding the Albert Awards to award staff members and hope that it would continue to be a tradition. He spoke about the warrant article video. Cheshire Television has been running it on the air. The principals were interviewed regarding their schools budgets. That video would be going to Cheshire Television tomorrow. G. White is in the process of writing a letter to the Sentinel. B. Barlow is also writing a letter to the Sentinel. B. Barlow spoke on the Sentinel article “Stockwell vs. Monadnock”. He commented that it was well written but ill timed. The next meeting is on March 17, 2009.

2. Facilities Committee: R.Smith reported that the committee would be meeting on March 5, 2009. He reported that there is leaking at the Middle School Wing. MOTION: E.Stanley MOVED to replace the heating lines and the main heater in the amount of up to $25,000.00. SECOND: P.Peterson. DISCUSSION: R. Smith reported that there is leaking and the main feeder is rotting. It is extremely thin. This would redo the whole outside line. Seven classrooms. R. Thackston commented that this issue needs to be resolved. E Jacod asked about a motion to get the bids. W.Wright asked if this issue has gone to the Finance Committee. R.Smith explained that he spoke to Finance. E.Wammack explained that the funds would be coming from salary savings or health savings. MOTION: T. Aho. MOVED that the committee receives three bids and go with the lowest bid. SECOND: J. Carnie. DISCUSSION: R. Smith commented that we do not always give to the lowest bidder. J. Carnie suggested that the committee get three bids, not the lowest bidder and bring the bids to the Board R.Smith explained that it is an emergency. K. Dassau explained that the intent is to allocate the bid process. R. Thackston commented that it reinstates the Board’s policy. Does not require authorization from the Board. It is like a blank check. MOTION: T.Aho MOVED to amend the motion to obtain 3 bids and bring them back to the Board on March 17, 209. SECOND: J. Carnie. VOTE on amendment: 8.155/4.716/1.179/.950. Amendment passes. DISCUSSION on the amended motion: J. Fortson commented that she had wished the bids had been obtained by now. She would hate to vote no because we need this. E.Stanely commented that we need to have a commitment to the money to get the three bids. The work would be done April vacation. J. Carnie commented that the normal procedure is three bids, there is $25,000.00 on the table, it has gone to Finance and we have time during April vacation to get this done. VOTE: 12.871/0/1.179/.950. Motion passes.

a. BeTTYS Subcommittee: E. Stanley reported that the committee would be meeting on March 4, 2009. The total today is $8700.00. The next fundraiser would be a breakfast at Applebees on March 14, 2009.

3. Finance Committee: D.Lyman reported that the committee has not met. The next meeting is on March 5, 2009 at 8:45PM.

4. Policy Committee: W.Wright presented Policy DJE Purchasing Requirements. MOTION: J. Carnie MOVED to table the acceptance of Policy DJE Purchasing Requirements until the Board can compare the old policy with the new policy and review the changes. SECOND: J.Fortson. VOTE:12.936/0/1.114/.950. Motion passes. R. Thackston leaves.

5. Budget Committee Rep.:

6. Cheshire Career Center:

7. Education Committee: J. Carnie reported that the committee would be meeting on March 5, 2009 at 10:00AM.

9. Action on the Manifest: MOTION: D.Lyman MOVED to accept the manifest in the amount of $ 1,605,491.46. SECOND: J.Fortson. DISCUSSION: The Board asked specific questions concerning the manifest and E.Wammack answered them or would be looking for the answers. VOTE: 11.850/0/1.179/1.971. Motion passes.

10. Superintendent’s Report: K.Dassau welcomed R. Thackston back to the Board. He also thanked G. White for being the Chair for the past year and for his support. K.Dassau asked K.Craig to read a letter of retirement from Jan Hodgdon. MOTION: D.Lyman MOVED to accept the retirement of Jan Hodgdon as of June 30, 2009. SECOND: P.Peterson. VOTE: 12.253/0/.776/1.971. Motion passes. K. Craig commented that Jan Hodgdon has made a great difference at Emerson.

11. BOARD CHAIR REPORT: G. White commented on the amount of work that the Board completed this year. He said that he appreciated the opportunity to be the Chair. He thanked the members for their service.

12. SETTING NEXT MEETING AGENDA

1. Sullivan School

2. Reorganization

13. Second Public Comments: None

14. 9:47 PM. MOTION: J. Carnie MOVED to enter into non-public session under RSA 91-A:3 © SECOND: P.Peterson. Roll call vote: J. Fortson, D.Lyman, J. Carnie, R.Smith, E. Stanley, E.Jacod, T. Aho, B. Barlow, W.Felton, W.Wright, P.Peterson and G.White. VOTE: 13.029/0/0/1.971. Motion passes.

13. Motion to adjourn: MOTION: T. Aho MOVED to adjourn the meeting at 10:00 PM. SECOND: J. Fortson. VOTE: 12.008/0/0/2.992. Motion passes.

Respectfully submitted,

Laura L. Aivaliotis

MRSD Recording Secretary