Budget Committee Meeting

                                                         Non-approved Minutes

                                                            November 28, 2006

                                        Sullivan Elementary School, Sullivan, NH

 

Members present: Jane Fortson, Eric Stanley, Neil Moriarty, Norman Dion, Andrew Bueckner, Jim Ells, Thomas Parker, Stephen Russell, Don Arguin, George Tremblay, Richard Bauries, Robert Mitchell, John Tommila and Jonathan Kenyon.

Absent: Robert Smith and Surry Representative.

Administrators Present: K. Dassau, Superintendent, D Hodgdon, Assistant Supt., T. Warner and K. Chambers, Business Manager. 

 

1.      Approval of the November 14, 2006 Minutes: MOTION: J. Fortson MOVED to accept the November 14, 2006 Minutes as presented. SECOND: R. Bauries. DISCUSSION: R. Mitchell was not present at the Nov. 14, 2006. The minutes reflected that he was present. VOTE as amended.  10.869/0/0.815/4.316. Motion passes.  

 

Public Comments: D. Connell commented that there might be a conflict of interest if a Budget Committee Member may have a child in a program that the Budget Committee might vote on. He would suggest that they abstain from the vote.

 

Jan Ray Thompson encouraged the Budget Committee to include that Virtual High School and the Advanced Learner classes at KSC to be included in the budget. She also commented on the incredible program at MC2.

 

J. Tommila and T. Parker arrive at 7:10 PM.

 

2.   Large Expenditures for December 2006 and key oversight items: K. Chambers passed out information to the committee. She reported on Special Ed. in district and out of district. She explained the emergency expense for the stage. The Board approved this recommendation from the Facilities on Nov. 15, 2006. The amount is approximately $23,600.00. This amount is coming from the Expendable Trust Maintenance Account. Another issue is the oil tank. The tank is contaminated. This issue will go in front of the School Board at the next meeting. The cost will be between $6,000.00 and $10,000.00. R. Bauries asked if the Board had a warrant article that they would be proposing to replace the emergency fund. K. Chambers explained that it was included in the list of proposed warrant article.

3.   Other Items to be Discussed: R. Bauries commented that an elected official such as a Budget Committee Member or a School Board Member should not be charged for copies from the district. J. Fortson agreed with R. Bauries. R. Mitchell commented that the policy was put in place because of the amount of information being asked for and that the information was not all about the budget.

 

R. Mitchell asked why the PTG was paying for the transportation of the children to Gilsum during the winter months. D. Mousette explained that the PTG gave the school $1000.00 to offset the Granite Gorge PE Program or the transportation.

 

4.   2007-2008 Budget Items:

a.      2007-2008- Budget Additions and Adjustments: K. Chambers passed out the new master budget and a 3-page list of the changes to the budget. She also passed out a pie chart in order to get a visual of the new budget and a list of the proposed warrant articles.

b.      High School: K. Chambers passed out information on the Choice Programs. J. Smith explained that for a possible night program they would need to offer 6 courses per semester at $2330.00 per course. J. Smith explained that the students that go take the KSC courses are juniors and seniors. It is a regular college course so they attend the same hours. The charge is $450.00 per class. He explained that the students have to apply to KSC in order to take the class. There would be 10 students per semester for a total of 20. M. Young said that he has 5 serious students for the MC2 Program. J. Smith said that he has 4 or 5 students interested. There are others that are interested but are not willing to commit until they see what is going to happen.

c.       Emerson: K. Craig passed out her enrollment numbers to the committee. She explained that her 6th graders are reading at grade level and that Emerson did make AYP. She passed out information on the Professional Learning Community and explained that to the committee. The change in the health insurance is $85,000.00. She explained that the reading teacher is the major change in the budget. Prior it was funded by the grant. R. Bauries asked how many special ed. students that K. Craig has at Emerson. K. Craig replied 40 students. K. Craig said that all students in the 6th grade are reading at grade level except the special ed. students. R. Bauries asked since the grant is gone how much do we have to pick up. K. Craig explained about $30,000.00. K. Craig reported that she has 13 aides. If they work over 30 hours they receive benefits. K. Craig explained that grades 3-6 have computer time with a technology integrated specialist and then all the students use the computer lab.

d.      Cutler: S. Rashid explained that he has 280 students and 60 are identified and 50 could be identified. He explained that the Gilsum Special Ed. Program took a huge chunk but Cutler is holding their own. J. Fortson asked about the 1203 Account. S. Rashid explained that it is a district program to provide a school psychologist. J. Fortson asked how many Special Ed. Students are integrated to the regular class. S. Rashid answered none. N. Moriarty asked S. Rashid about the Gilsum Program. S. Rashid explained that he does not feel overburdened. We have special ed. needs and we need to accommodate that in order not to affect the regular ed. students. N. Moriarty asked what we could be changing. S. Rashid commented that was a question for the administration team to tackle. K. Dassau explained that is on the administration team’s agenda for the next meeting. J. Tommila asked if the special needs students were lack of reading skills. S. Rashid explained that is not the case. He said he has children with mental retardation, psychological needs, speech, autism and more, a huge spectrum. We are required by law to service as many as possible. D. Arguin commented that the state is suppose to fund 40% of special ed. and they fund 12%. Special Ed. is 25% of the budget. R. Mitchell requested the percentage for the special ed. student trend over the last 10 years. S. Russell commented on the fact that a third complex with subsidized apartments is being built in Swanzey. That has to have a significant impact. S. Rashid explained that the Special Ed. Program was brought back into the school and the music program is now in the trailers. The children only go out once a week.

e.       Mt. Caesar: B. Tatro explained that they have 410 students, which is up 40. They have over 100 students in the first grade. She is requesting a 2nd grade teacher and a 3rd grade teacher. Reading and the library will be in the trailers and that will free up the two classrooms for the teachers being asked for. B. Tatro said that she has 63 special ed. students as of today. She explained that the students are moving into the district with IEPs. J. Fortson read the enrollment numbers from 1995, which were 496 students. N. Moriarty asked about managing the students then. B. Tatro explained that she was not the principal in 1995. J. Ells asked if the schools have any input on building projects. B. Tatro answered no. J. Kenyon asked the legal occupancy for Mt. Caesar. B. Tatro does not have that information. J. Kenyon asked with the current population are we up to code?

f.       District: K. Chambers explained the changes to the district on the list she had handed out earlier. R. Bauries commented on the amount of early retirement and hoped that the Negotiating Team could consider this issue. They get paid and they do not pick up a pencil or speak to a child. N. Moriarty asked why the legal expenses were doubled. K. Chambers explained that she looked at this year and the prior year. We are at $22,500.00 and tracking for the $85,000.00. N. Moriarty commented on the fact that the attorney gets paid $300.00 for showing up. J. Fortson asked about the 68.38% increase in retirement. K. Chambers explained the contract wording. K. Dassau explained that there can be up to 5 people who can apply for early retirement. The School Board could approve additional people. J. Fortson asked if they are looking at the increase because the Board approved additional people. K. Dassau said no. The School Board approved one additional person recently. K. Chambers explained that there are also other numbers in that total. K. Dassau explained to R. Mitchell that the School Board’s rational for the early retirement.

g.      SAU: K. Chambers passed out the proposed budget, which would be voted on at the Dec. 6, 2006 Meeting.  R. Bauries commented on the fact that the administration at the SAU received 100% of their health benefits. He said that it is inconceivable.

h.      MC2: K. Dassau introduced D. Gurian and P. Bocko. He explained that he had asked them to be in attendance if questions were asked. R. Mitchell asked D. Gurian if she was aware of any grant extensions. D. Gurian explained that if congress votes the money in there would be a competitive grant possibly. R. Bauries asked K. Carter if she was planning on 45 kids for next year. K. Carter answered yes. R. Bauries commented that is $50,000.00 per pupil. He also commented that MC2 is taking tuition illegally in accordance to an RSA in which he read. He said that Monadnock should have taken the money. He said that MC2 is too expensive and that it is taking away from the other students. He said that he is not arguing the program he felt that the program should come to the high school. He also stated that the School Board has to apply for a school of open enrollment and the voters need to vote on it. J. Kenyon commented on the numbers that R. Bauries is using. He also commented that he would look at the cost of the program and not the value. We have an overcrowding problem at the high school and we have children that are identified for MC2. K. Dassau explained that he spoke to SAU#29 about the Choice Programs. There is no formalization. There is no answer. R. Mitchell commented that the committee should focus on the budget and the numbers. T. Parker commented that he would support the program but you need to cut the expenses. Put the program in two rooms at Monadnock and the director should be a vice principal. There are 5 teachers for 44 students. Cut the program expenses and make it viable. Save costs and maintain the program. K. Carter explained that there is a special ed. program and we have poverty, which impact the student ability to succeed. She has 10 5th year students. They are still in school. The open enrollment issue at Monadnock has been grandfathered. MC2 is part of Monadnock. K. Carter explained that she has 6 special ed. students. One student in district and does not require an aide. K. Carter explained the grant funded positions. R. Mitchell asked about the measurements of success. K. Carter explained that they set their own matrix. They look at success after school and student aspirations. K. Carter explained that they are optimistic on the drop out rate. She does admit she has been disappointed but they are tracking it. G. Tremblay asked if the MC2 students were students that do not succeed in a traditional environment. K. Carter commented that she does not buy that they will not get through high school. We are serving over and under achievers. There are about 90 students in this category but with the question of closing the program it is difficult to enter the program. R. Mitchell asked why not have MC2 at Monadnock. J. Smith commented that we do not have the space at the high school. He asked about combining the principals. J. Smith and K. Carter have not had that conversation yet. N. Moriarty asked if there was a contingency plan, if only the 16 students went to MC2. K. Carter explained that it was up to the School Board. K. Carter said that they would meet as a team and present a proposal to the School Board. N. Moriarty commented about the number of students for MC2 in the budget. C. Dreyfuss asked the Budget Committee to support the program. K. Carter explained that she would be at the many meetings were students and parents would be attending in order to get the information out about the MC2 program. N. Moriarty asked if the 45 would all be from Monadnock. K. Carter commented that is not her preference. K. Carter commented on other contingency plans such as scholarships provided by businesses, grants and others. K. Carter explained the computer increase and the warrantee on them. K. Carter explained the foreign language program and the physical education program. J. Kenyon asked about the first gateway at MC2. K. Carter explained that it is a wilderness orientation track for 8 days with a 50 lb. backpack. J. Tommila questioned the laptops. K. Carter explained that research supports the laptops. Kids write better and colleges require the use of laptops. When taking them home the parent must sign a form of liability. R. Bauries commented that there are students saying why don’t  I get what they get at MC2. There are kids that are not getting a fair shake. K. Carter explained that the students go to school 5 days a week and go more hours in the week than those at Monadnock. The State Board of Education said that mentoring is a way of education. S. Russell commented that he supports MC2.  He said not all the pile of manoosh is being spread by the budget committee. Hopefully we will be able to recruit 30 or 40 students because we have an overcrowding problem. J. Ells asked the budget committee to support MC2 and then we could get the 45 students. Iris Lane was so impressed with the program she wanted one in her town.

i.        Facilities Warrant: J. Kenyon informed the budget committee about the roof issue. He explained that parts of the roof are leaking and the insulation is dripping wet. These repairs are necessary and need to be done now. He said that the gym is going out to bid. The Health and Safety Issues include the master plan. The bids for the master plan will be in on Dec. 12, 2006. J. Tommila asked about the gym floor in Gilsum and Emerson. J. Kenyon reported that L. Biron handled the situation and it has been resolved. There is no recourse and no warrantee. J. Fortson asked why not raise and appropriate the funds. J. Kenyon explained that they are Facilities and the Finance suggested the funds come out of the Capital Reserve Fund. R. Bauries commented that there would be a problem getting this through DRA. K. Chambers has been in contact with them. No final resolution. K. Chambers handed out an updated default budget.            

 

 

5. Superintendent’s Report: K. Dassau thanked the Sullivan staff, thanked the members of the public, D. Gurian and P. Bocko.  Happy Birthday K. Carter!

 

6.  Board Chair Report: N. Moriarty commented that they need more parking and streetlights.

 

7. Setting the Agenda:

1.      C. Dreyfuss and N. Moriarty will meet to plan agenda for the Dec. 12, 2006 Meeting

 

8. Public Comments: W. Imon commented on the importance of the KSC courses. He said that it was a good meeting, very informative. He said that it would be a shame to see MC2 go away.

 

Elliot Kaplan commented on the figures R. Bauries said regarding the early retirement. He said that it is misleading to the public.

 

C. Dreyfuss commented that she was sad that the funds for the maintenance were coming out of the Capital Reserve Fund. She commented that maintenance is under funded, either repair or let it fall down.

 

J. Kenyon said that MC2 is a First Amendment School or the Choice Program and are not replicated anywhere else. The voters will set precedence.

 

J. Carnie commented that 1 month ago the MC2’s budget was $100,000.00 more than today. He is concerned that no one asked any questions about this. He said that if the students go to MC2 then reduce the high school budget by that amount. He said that the budget committee should have challenged the numbers but did not.

 

D. Gurian commented in favor that the members should be able to receive copies of information at no charge.

 

K. Dassau commented that he has heard several times about the MC2 kids coming out of the high school budget. He said that if you have 2 less on the bus we still run the bus.

 

R. Mitchell asked if it was too late on the maintenance issue regarding the Capital Reserve Fund. It was commented that is the will of the Budget Committee.

 

MOTION: J. Tommila MOVED to adjourn at 10:09 PM. SECOND: J. Fortson. VOTE: Unanimous for those present.

 

Respectfully submitted, 

 

 

Laura L. Aivaliotis

MRSD Recording secretary