SCHOOL BOARD AGENDA
September 16, 2008
Monadnock Regional Middle/High School,
Present: Gene White, Jane Fortson, Karen Cota, Ed Jacod, Doug Lyman, Susan Oerman, James Carnie, Phyllis Peterson, Kristen Goodenough and Winston Wright. Absent: Tim Aho, William Felton, Colline Dreyfuss and Robert Smith
Also Present: K. Dassau, Superintendent, D. Hodgdon, Assistant Superintendent and E. Wammack, Business Manager. Principals: J. Smith, K. Craig and B. Tatro. Director of Buildings and Grounds: B. Mitchell.
G. White read the new Board Goal, which is to improve student achievement. The Keene Sentinel recorded the meeting.
1. CONSENT AGENDA: MOTION: J. Fortson MOVED to accept the September 2, 2008 Board Meeting Minutes as amended. SECOND: S. Oerman. VOTE: 8.870/0/1.114/5.016. Motion passes. MOTION: S. Oerman MOVED to accept the September 16, 2008, 2 sets of Non-Public Meeting Minutes as amended. SECOND: P. Peterson. VOTE: 7.849/0/2.135/5.016. Motion passes.
2. STUDENT GOVERNMENT REPORT:
3. CORRESPONDENCE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS: G.
White read the letter of resignation from Colline Dreyfuss to the Board. MOTION: E. Jacod. MOVED to accept the resignation of C. Dreyfuss as of September 16,
2008. SECOND: D. Lyman. VOTE: 9.373/.247/0/5.016. Motion passes.
The Human Resources Director would be making the adjustments to the teacher’s salaries over three pay periods. The first to adjust the steps, the second to adjust the longevity and the third to make the adjustments to the health insurance sharing.
K. Dassau explained the scheduling conflicts on September 27, 2008 and asked if the board would like to move the all day budget work session to October 4, 2008. MOTION: K. Cota. MOVED to change the all day budget work session from September 24, 2008 to October 4, 2008. SECOND: S. Oerman. VOTE: 7.033/0/2.951/5.016. Motion passes. G. White informed the Board that the Budget Committee is in agreement. MOTION: K. Cota. MOVED to have the Finance Committee receive the first show of the budget on September 26, 2008. SECOND: S. Oerman. VOTE: 9.175/0/0/5.016. Motion passes. P. Peterson informed the Board that K. Craig took a day off from school to stand outside polls to answer questions about the teacher’s contract. She commented that was a great commitment to the teachers and the staff.
K. Dassau thanked everyone that helped get the teacher’s contract passed.
K. Goodenough has received hundreds of emails from people grateful to receive information on the contracts.
K. Cota commented on what an amazing person Colline is, and what a great School Board Member C. Dreyfuss was.
S.Oerman asked for the sizes from the School Board Members for a new shirt that would be provided by the Climate Committee “MRHS on the Rise”. Each Board Member would be receiving a shirt.
G. White thanked the students that were out getting people to vote for the contract. He said that they represented the school and District very well. We should be very proud.
G. White thanked Kids First Monadnock for there help in promoting the teacher’s contract. Kids First Monadnock Members were out on the street reminding people to vote and there signs were everywhere.
G. White thanked the CRC. He said that the newsletter that went out to the public was something to be proud of. C. Dreyfuss and K.Goodenough did a majority of the work on the newsletter.
G. White also thanked Dr. Dassau for the effort he put into promoting the teacher’s contract in selectman’s offices and on radio and public access television station.
3. Public Comments: Jeff Craig read a letter, which he wrote the day after the teacher’s contract vote. He congratulated the School Board, teachers and public for the support on education. He said that he is concerned with the property taxes and would ask the School Board to creatively cut where they could. He would like to see the MRSD be the envy and to have families move in for the education.
Dr. Kaplan thanked the entire School Board for the help with the passing of the teacher’s contract.
Mr. Prunier thanked the Board for rescinding the vote at the last meeting concerning his wife Ana Gonzales. He explained that she did not take the job and is seeking other opportunities. He commented that a School Board Member might have been in violation of an RSA. He would appreciate an answer.
C.Kahn wished to thank everyone on behalf of the teachers. She would also like to thank the Negotiating Team.
K.
Craig commented that she is very happy the contracts passed. She explained that
it was a good exercise to be outside of the Town Hall. You learn a lot. You
need to pay attention to what people have to say and find a common ground.
5. NEW BUSINESS:
MS22 (Revised): E. Wammack passed out
an updated MS22 to the Board. He explained that the teacher’s contract total
was added and the
MS24: E. Wammack passed out the new MS24, which is for information only. He explained that School Building Aid was down. The auditors declared that there is a fund balance. The MS24 is used to set the tax rate. D. Lyman asked if the District received what they had anticipated in Catastrophic Aid. E. Wammack explained that the District received $765,000.00 last year. K.Dassau explained Catastrophic Aid. He explained that you need to spend 3 ½ or 10 times the per pupil cost. It is a floating number. You have to spend it to get it. To find the comparison you need to know what a student would be in June 2010, a projection.
District Apportionment: E.Wammack explained that the Apportionment change is due to the impact of the MS22 and the MS24. The new figure is $30,520,992.00.
MS25 and DOE 25: E. Wammack asked to explain the MS25 and the DOE 25 at the next meeting when he’ll have the information for the Board and is more comfortable explaining the forms. E.Jacod commented that it is more important to be accurate and would support the request to wait for the next meeting. W.Wright asked if this information impacts the setting of the tax rate. E. Wammack said that it has no impact. J.Fortson commented that you need the MS 22 and MS 24 for setting the tax rate. J.Carnie asked if the information has been submitted to the auditors. E. Wammack explained that the auditors prepared most of the information. J.Carnie asked if they have approved the final MS 25. E.Wammack explained that it has not been signed and sent out. J. Carnie would like something signed by the Auditors. He said that he does not want to sign until he has a confirmation from the Auditors. E.Wammack explained that they presented the numbers but could get something documented. K. Cota explained that the Board received the information with the help of the auditors and it was presented to the Board. She asked if it was protocol that we need documentation to say they approve. She asked for the will of the Board. J.Carnie explained that he would like to have something signed from the auditors to make sure we have the exact numbers as submitted. E. Wammack explained that the numbers came as a result of the audit. D. Lyman asked if anyone contacted the State on the information being late. E.Wammack believes that there was communication but would be doing that. S.Oerman commented that the form was not submitted on time last year.
Fuel Oil Bid: E. Wammack explained that the oil went out to bid and the Facilities Committee received three bids. The lowest bid was Webber Fuel. MOTION: K. Cota MOVED to accept the Webber Fuel as the supplier for oil for the 2008-2009 school years. SECOND: K. Goodenough. DISCUSSION: B. Mitchell explained that each company gave a fixed bid price and a market price. B. Mitchell explained that they would like to hold the price open before they lock in. They would recommend going with Webber and hold off until we get a better price. He explained that the tanks were filled in June and they have time until we need to lock in. He would recommend awarding Webber and look at the price. J. Carnie asked about the vendor last year. It was Cheshire Oil. E. Wammack explained that they were invited to bid but they missed the bidding time frame. VOTE:8.863/1.121/0/5.016. Motion passes.
6. OLD
BUSINESS:
1. Board Goals: None
7. CURRICULUM REPORT:
1. NEASC Report: K. Dassau explained that the
NEASC committee had met for the first draft of the report. The report is due on
October 1, 2008. AYP Report-D. Hodgdon explained that the science test results would
be out on September 18, 2008. This is baseline data. This is the first
assessment. This was a different type of test.
It was more hands on. There is a plan to focus on science this year.
Science does not affect AYP but is required for the No Child Left Behind. D.
Hodgdon, B. Pickering and L. Alexander attended a session “High School Redesigned”.
A former student from MC2 was invited to speak to between 500-750 teachers and
administrators. He did an excellent job. He received a standing ovation.
8. SCHOOL BOARD COMMITTEE REPORT:
1. Community Relations Committee: G. White reported that the committee met this evening and are planning ahead between now and March. The committee would need to reorganize due to C. Dreyfuss’ resignation. We need to plan properly and space things out. The next meeting is at 6:00 PM on October 7, 2008.
2
Facilities
Committee: K. Cota reported that the committee met on September 10, 2008
and heard a report from B. Mitchell on the roofs and on the punch list. The gym
floor should be finished in the next few weeks. B.Pickering would be making
sure that any outside users of the gym floor understand the importance of
protecting the floor. The
a. BeTTYS Subcommittee: K. Goodenough reported that the committee
has been meeting every Wednesday at the high school at 4:30 PM. They are
getting ready for the mini-golf tournament. K-Rock would be doing a live remote
at the tournament. She has received information from Engrave It that they would
like to donate the trophies for the tournament. The funds from the BeTTYS
challenge are to be spent at the Facilities Committee discretion. A survey went
out to the students asking them what they would like done. They would like the
ceiling tiles replaced. The BeTTYS challenge is specific to the MS/HS.
K.Chambers gave a donation to the BeTTYS challenge before she left. Thank you
Katie.
3. Finance Committee: J. Fortson reported that the committee met and went over all the documents received tonight. She would suggest that the rest of the Board receive the sheets on the bond issue for the 2 warrant articles. The next meeting is on September 30, 2008 at 8:30 AM.
4. Policy Committee: Next meeting is on September 22, 2008 at 6:00 PM.
5. Budget Committee Rep.: Next meeting on September 23, 2008.
6.
7. Education Committee: J.Carnie explained that the committee met but there was no quorum. D. Hodgdon was present and gave the data on AYP and Follow that Child. The information would be going to the full Board. He commented that it would be helpful to get a full committee at the upcoming meetings. He would like to expand the NEASC discussion. K. Cota asked for the committee to undertake the following items: review graduation credits and look at academic rigor; the NH Scholarship Program; the Education Master Plan to effective learning; is the current Master Schedule best for our students and the NEASC.
9. Action on the Manifest: MOTION: S. Oerman MOVED to accept the manifest in the amount of
$1,279,427.96. SECOND: J. Fortson. VOTE: 8.963/0/1.021/5.016.Motion passes.
10. Superintendent’s Report: K. Dassau welcomed E. Wammack as the new Business Administrator and extended best wishes to K. Chambers. He explained that the pre hearing for Sullivan regarding the Early Retirement had been canceled and the other hearing was either postponed or canceled. There are two non-public sessions.
11. BOARD CHAIR REPORT: G. White commented that in his 8 years on the Board this has been the busiest year, a lot due to the teacher’s contract. The attendance of the Board has been great at the regular meetings but in the last 30 days some of the sub committees have not had a quorum. He would suggest that members not able to attend should contact the subcommittee chair and let them know. He would suggest that the chairs of the committees contact the members and remind them of the upcoming meeting. He said that the contract passed even in these tough economic times. He said that many of the voters he spoke to are expecting an improvement in student achievement. The voters expect to see improvement in the schools. The school board supports the efforts of the administration and teachers. Please let us know if there is anything we can do to help. We are all in this together.
12. SETTING NEXT MEETING AGENDA:
1. Committee reports
2. MS25-DOE 25
3. Warrant article bond information
13. SECOND PUBLIC COMMENTS: Dr. Kaplan commented that the feeling in the schools on September
10, 2008 was great. We got the contracts now let’s get to work. This is the first step not the final step. This will not happen over night it takes awhile to turn things around and we will get there.
J. Smith commented on the work being done to the gym floor by D.Crowder. She has put in about 50 hours and would be working about 40 more to complete the job. She is not receiving any pay. He suggested a public notice and a gift or compensation. K.Dassau commented a letter is going to Evan Barlow and Deb Crowder for their work and contributions. The discussion on the gift is duly noted. Any suggestions contact G. White.
C.Kahn commented that the communication between the School
Board and the
14. 9:07PM-Non-Public
Session: MOTION: D.Lyman. MOVED to
enter non-public session under RSA 91-A:3 II (b) Parent Issue: SECOND: E. Jacod. Roll call vote: E. Jacod, W. Wright P. Peterson, K. Goodenough, J.
Carnie, K. Cota, J. Fortson, G. White, D. Lyman and S. Oerman. VOTE: Unanimous for those present. Motion
passes.
15. 9:26 PM-Non-public Session: MOTION: S.Oerman.
MOVED to enter non-public session
under RSA 91-A:3 II (c) Pending Litigation: SECOND: D. Lyman. Roll call
vote: E. Jacod, W. Wright, P. Peterson, K. Goodenough, J. Carnie, J.
Fortson, D.Lyman, K. Cota, G. White and S. Oerman. VOTE: 11.386/0/0/3.614 Motion
passes.
17.
Adjournment: MOTION: J. Carnie MOVED
to adjourn the meeting at 9:45 PM. SECOND:
E.Jacod. VOTE: Unanimous for
those present. Motion passes.
Respectfully submitted,
Laura L. Aivaliotis
MRSD Recording Secretary