Monadnock Regional School District
Budget
Committee Minutes
Monadnock Regional MS/HS, Swanzey,
NH
December
10, 2007
Present Budget Committee Members: W.Lechlider,
N. Moriarty, J. Kenyon, J. Gomarlo, A. Weber, J. Ells, P. Stuhlsatz, N. Dion,
D. Ott, C. Lothrop, E.Stanley, P. Richmond and R. Smith.
Absent Budget Committee Members: T.
Parker,J. Tommila and G. Trembley.
Administration Present: K. Dassau, Superintendent, K. Chambers, Business
Manager and C. Boyle, Director of Technology.
N. Moriarty opened the meeting at 7:05 PM.
1. Approval of the November
27, 2007 Meeting Minutes: MOTION: R. Smith MOVED to approve the November 27, 2007 Minutes as presented. . SECOND: E.Stanley. VOTE: 10.112/0/2.476/3.412. Motion
passes.
1a.Communication:
1b.Default Budget Committee
Report: E. Stanley reported that the committee
had their first meeting. The next meeting will be on December 13, 2007 at 1:30
PM. Some principals and other staff members are not able to attend due to prior
engagements. K. Dassau will be in attendance.
2. Public Comment
Period
3. Other Costs to the Taxpayer: N.
Moriarty commented that the home values would decrease by 5%. If your house is
worth $200,000.00 in 2008 it would be worth $190,000.00. He does not think that
the NEASC would affect it anymore than the economy. Surry Withdrawal would have
an average of a 4% increase for each town. The County jail would have an
increase in the 2008 tax bill. A MRSD building program will have an effect on
the tax bill. The price of gas and oil are up and will affect the voters. E. Stanley commented on the value of property if the
taxes go up an incredible amount. The NEASC and the property value both have an
impact. We need to think about that.
4. MRSD Budgets for FY 2008-09:
Staff and
teachers contracts: K. Dassau explained that N. Moriarty has requested a hardcopy of the
total contract. The Board’s attorney will review the contract and than the
Staff and Teacher’s attorney will review the contract after that point it will
be available for the Budget Committee to review. He asked if there were any
questions. N. Moriarty asked about the step increases. K. Chambers explained
that the information has been prepared it is waiting for review and than
available to the Budget Committee.
New Hires
(also see high school):
Technology Trainer: This is an elementary
position. N. Moriarty commented that we keep adding staff and the population
decreases. A.Weber commented that when you fund a position for say $100,000.00
you are funding it for $500,000.00 over a 5 year period. It is important to
keep this in mind. P. Richmond commented that we are not looking at new staff
to the number of students but what is best for the MRSD students. We need to
prepare these children for after graduation. J. Ells commented that it is good
to start them in the 3rd grade. K. Dassau explained that this is not
a new position. This is replacing the position at Mt. Caesar.
It is State Standards that we have a technology integration position.
Technology Assistant: This
is a Monadnock support staff position not an SAU position.
SPED Supervisor: N.
Moriarty commented that this is a Middle School position. The population is
down and the staff is up. He said that the SAU staff should be able to help now
that Winchester
does not have a high school. K. Dassau explained that there is a significant
increase in Spec. Ed. There are 28 Spec. Ed. Students at Cutler. This proposal
is from L. Sutton. She explained that increasing intervention effects AYP in
all the schools. She will be sending 27 Spec. Ed. Students to the high school
and 44 Spec. Ed. Students will be coming to the Middle School. There are
increased needs of the students and intense self-contained settings. S.Rashid
commented that 4 of those students are EH Collaborative and there needs are
intense. K. Dassau explained that K. Hurst has a caseload of 216 students and
she supervises 45 individual tutors. By having the extra position they hope to
look at the IEPs and hopefully reduce in the high school.
Facilities
Director: K.
Dassau explained that at the last School Board Meeting the Board voted to use
some of the health insurance money to hire the position. The facilities issues
are huge. There are between 300 and 500 code violations in the buildings alone.
Since the absence of this position the district has not kept up with the
buildings. This position is critical. We would be looking to hiring some time
this month. J. Kenyon commented that the State
will no longer allow the districts to fall by the waste side. We need
someone to work the buildings and grounds. We need to take care of business. N.
Moriarty does agree with the position but not with the back up of a $60,000.00
contractor. The Director of Building and Grounds will report to K. Chambers.
MC2: N. Dion commented that he
has great difficulty with a large budget for 20 students. There are over a
thousand students that have needs. This committee should say no. E. Stanley commented that MC2 is a great program for a
district that can afford it. J. Kenyon commented that the NEASC commented on
MC2 in many positive ways. Getting rid of MC2 and trying to keep the
accreditation is not wise. We need an alternative program. The number is a
School Board issue. The parents did not support it because they were not sure
if it was going to stay. The School Board voted to support the program. No one
has said that the program does not work. The students love it. Educators not
involved in the program go away impressed. It was commented about having all
day kindergarten in the schools. P. Richmond would agree but not at the expense
of MC2. She said that it is a shame that people are making their decisions
about MC2 without even observing the program. D. Ott commented that he supports
MC2 and felt that if it were located closer to Monadnock High School
it would attract more southern students. C. Lothrop commented that she supports
MC2. She commented that the 36 million-dollar jail is for the children that we
have failed. It was commented that MC2 had received commendations in the NEASC
Report. If there is a significant change such as MC2 they need to be notified
immediately. Monadnock
High School had a drop
out rate of 40 students last year. This is not a one size fits all mentality.
N. Moriarty commented that when we are saving one or two students we have 40
other dropouts. MC2 has a drop out rate greater than those she is graduating. E. Stanley commented that if the program was to come to
Monadnock would there be cost savings and why would it work coming to Monadnock
now and not before. K. Carter explained that as of Dec. 19, 2007 there would be
12 graduates. She does not believe that she has had 12 dropouts. She explained
that with some of these students we are the last, last resort. They are on
their way of dropping out. If we can get them in the 7th and 8th
grades we can save them. J. Smith explained that it is not specifically here
that the students want the program. There is no room here at the high school.
K. Carter commented that it is a social issue. N. Moriarty commented on having
MC2 in the potables. K. Dassau commented that in the revised plan the portables
are gone. NEASC said no to the portables. K. Dassau commented that the standard
is to meet the district goals. Removing the portables is more favorable.
High School: N. Dion commented on the 11
department heads and the fact that no other schools this size has those many.
He commented that the NEASC said that there is no communication between the
dept. heads. We need to change that to an innovative curriculum and we would
not need to have MC2. The dept. heads are not working together. We have 11 dept. heads and we need to hire
people to cover these shifts. The School Board keeps asking for money from the
voters. N. Moriarty asked if the new course offerings could be on the internet.
J. Smith explained that 4 of the 11-dept. heads do not have a full load. They
teach 1 less class. They pick up additional teaching responsibilities.
Middle School:
L. Sutton
explained that she has team leaders and she explained what they do. They do not
have dept. heads at the middle school. They carry a full teaching load but get
a small stipend.
Other Items: Computers: C. Boyle
explained that the computers come with a 3 year warrantee. It would be less
expensive if we keep the warrantees. The Budget Committee asked about the price
of a computer. C. Boyle explained the price and that because of the net working
they have to have an upgrade. K. Dassau explained that there is a lot of use on
these computers not the same as in your home.
Update to the
budget: K.
Chambers explained that the School board made updated changes to the operating
budget. There is still some pending. The Health and Dental has increased by
$50,000.00 due to the dependent and partner coverage. There is a $5914.00
increase in the Life and Disability, Retiree Pay has decreased by $75,736.00,
the 2 year contract software is due in the amount of $10,487.00, the hiring of
4 Spec. Ed. Aides at Mt. Caesar for an increase of $154,530.00 and the hiring
of the Director of Building and Grounds is still pending, there is a reduction
of $52,000.00 for the Surry transportation and the location of MC2 is still
pending.
5. Recommend
increases or decreases.
6. Superintendent’s
Report: K. Dassau reported on the fact that
the Town of Sullivan
has voted $25,000.00 last March to study the feasibility of withdrawing from
the district. They will be appointing a committee to study that issue. The town
of Sullivan is
also challenging the early retirement benefits. They said it was improper and
illegal. The letter has been forwarded to the desk of Criminal Affairs. They
are also challenging the tuition rate and the Board being able to manage the
bottom line. The information has been forwarded to Attorney Apple in which a
response is required. The early retirement issue will be going to the Superior
Court. The Board has assumed it to be a negotiating item. Attorney Apple will
be in attendance at the next Board Meeting. K. Dassau warns that there will be
a significant amount of money needed for attorney fees. E.
Stanley asked if we go out for three bids on the attorney. To get
the best bang for our buck. K. Dassau explained the reputation of Upton and
Hatfield. He commented that he believed the selectmen in Sullivan have exceeded
their authority. J. Kenyon asked where these issues are coming from. The early
retirement will be going away. N. Dion commented that when complete it would
cost the district 5 million-dollars. K. Dassau said that we need to have an
Attorney Firm that has the expertise we need. Attorney Apple wishes we did not
need him as much as we need him. The Monadnock Taxpayers Association could have
driven the Sullivan issue. K. Dassau commented on one meeting in which D.
Connell was present and 6 other meetings in which other members of the
Monadnock Taxpayers Association were present. D. Connell commented that there
is no link. J. Gomarlo commented that D. Connell, N.
Moriarty and R. Bauries in attendance would seem connected to her.
She asked if N. Moriarty should even be here
being part of the lawsuit.
7. Chairman
comments:
8. Setting
agenda: The next meeting is in the library on
Dec. 11 2007 at 7:00 PM.
K. Chambers passed out the updated warrant articles
list.
K.
Dassau commented that the Town of Sullivan
is studying the feasibility to withdraw from the District, there are 3 lawsuits
against the district, we will be going to Superior Court for a full blown trial
if the district looses there will be repercussions from the teachers. This
should have been a negotiating issue. E. Stanley
asked if the budget Committee would like to put money in a Building Account. J.
Kenyon asked N. Moriarty if he gave any testimony about Sullivan and there was
no response from N. Moriarty. K. Dassau explained the new Cap. Reserve Article
being proposed. K. Chambers explained it to the Budget Committee.
9. Public
Comments: C. Dreyfuss said that we need to
move forward and help the students learn in any grade. She explained that she would be sending a list of
things that have been completed at the high school to N. Dion.
D.
Connell asked if there were any SAT scores for the MC2 students.
W.
Imon commented that there is something lacking in the schools. He asked what we
want for our community. The schools are the center of our community. We can
only blame ourselves for getting in this position. We need to see what we can
do to improve the situation. We need to move forward and make a change.
N.
Dion would like to know what terms are up in March.
R.
Smith asked people to get behind the teachers and support the contracts.
J.
Gomarlo asked K. Chambers for the tax impact. K. Chambers will get that
information.
11. Motion to adjourn: MOTION: J. Gomarlo MOVED to adjourn the
meeting at 8:45 PM. SECOND: E. Stanley. VOTE:
Unanimous for those present. Motion
passes.
Respectfully submitted,
Laura L. Aivaliotis
MRSD Recording secretary