Monadnock Regional School District

School Board Finance Committee Meeting Minutes

November 6, 2007

Sullivan School

Approved

 

Committee members present: Jane Fortson, Gene White, Phyllis Peterson, and Sue Oerman.  Administrators Present: Katie Chambers, Business Manager and Dr. Kenneth Dassau, Superintendent.  Public:  Bill Felton, Joe Smith.

 

The meeting was called to order at 6:18 pm when a quorum was present.

 

1.  Approval of Minutes: Motion to approve the October 16th minutes by S. Oerman, seconded by G. White.  Discussion:  none.  Motion passes with 2 abstentions (J. Carnie, and S. Oerman).

 

2. Old Business: a. Debt Financing:  (handout) No further discussion will be had until the committee is presented with the needs.

 

 b.  MRPSOC Extension - K. Chambers handed out a worksheet provided by D. Gurian.  J. Fortson asked why the tuition amount was not what the board had voted? (The amount per the state website) K. Chambers explained that this is what has always been paid by the grant.  J. Carnie asked about Dixie’s salary and are the other salaries being paid?  He asked the question because her duties are far less, so is the salary the same?  No answer was known. J. Carnie would like to know if all the grant administrators were still receiving the same salaries.  K. Chambers stated that she would check into it.  S. Oerman asked why the tuition for some was 16,000.  K. Chambers explained that this was the amount paid out for SPED students. 

 

New business: 

3a.  Budget Transfer Request – Joe Smith (Handout):  J. Smith handed out a worksheet detailing his proposed budget transfer.  Joe asked to have two aides hired to relieve teachers of a duty period (not a class) on a rotating basis approximately once every ten days so teachers can then use the time to work on curriculum issues (AYP and NEASC).  J. Fortson asked about the costs and whether this is considered to be a one-time expense?  The answer was yes.  J. Fortson further asked where the dollars for the benefits was in the proposal?  J. Smith stated the positions would be the equivalent of two employees but would most likely be 3 to 4 part-time positions with no benefits.  S.  Oerman made the motion to recommend to the full school board that the appropriations for the positions be transferred as detailed in the proposal (within the 1100 account of the HS budget) for the current year only.  Seconded by G. White.  No further discussion.  Unanimous for all present.  J. Smith then explained his next request to fund a .2 position for a dance teacher for the remainder of the school year.  S. Oerman made the motion to recommend to the full board the inclusion of the .2 (full time equivalent) position in the budget for the current year only.  Seconded by G. White.  Discussion:  G. White asked if this position would end on June 30th?  The response was yes, and that this has been included in the proposed budget.  Motion passes:  2 yes (G. White and S. Oerman) 1 no (J. Carnie) and 1 abstention (J. Fortson)

 

3b.  Warrant Article to set aside funding in Capital Reserve Fund for building projects – J. Fortson.  J. Fortson explained she would like to have a capital reserve fund set up for building projects with a possible funding of $500,000.  The committee decided to table until the next meeting.

 

 6:40 pm P. Peterson arrives.

 

3c.  Warrant article to set aside gate receipts for athletic purposes:  K. Chambers handed out RSA 194:3-c (Revolving Funds for Self Supporting Programs and a sample warrant article.  K. Chambers explained that the amount currently received goes into the general fund to offset expenditures.  J. Smith stated that this practice started about 5 years ago until then it was carried in the student accounts.  Motion to recommend to the full board as a warrant article that the amounts from gate receipts be put into a non-lapsing fund for the purpose of supporting athletic and co-curricular programs by J. Fortson, seconded by G. White.  Motion passes with all in favor except for one abstention (P. Peterson). 

 

3d.  Other potential warrant articles: 

i.                    Maintenance projects:  Committee decided to pass until explanations are received from the facilities committee.

ii.                  Roof Replacements:  Same as above.

iii.                Expendable Trust Fund-Special Education-balance-$150,000:  J. Fortson made the motion to recommend to the full board the inclusion of a warrant article to fund $50,000.  Seconded by J. Carnie.  Motion Passes; Unanimous for all present.

iv.                Expendable trust fund maintenance balance - $60,000:  S. Oerman made the motion to recommend to the full board the inclusion of a warrant article to fund the maintenance trust fund for any shortfall at that time up to the $60,000 balance.  Seconded by J. Fortson.  Motion passes:  Unanimous for all present.

v.                  Expendable Trust Fund- Emergency Notification System Balance- $95.00-Discontinue?  S. Oerman made the motion to recommend to the full board a warrant article to discontinue the expendable trust referred to above.  Seconded by G. White.  Motion Passes.  Abstentions:  J. Carnie and J. Fortson

 

3e.  Financial Reports: (handouts) K. Chambers walked the committee through the financial reports. 

 

3f. Legal Bills:  None.

 

4.  Public Comments:  None.

 

5.  Next Meeting:  Tuesday, November 20th, 2007, at 6:00 pm at the Monadnock Regional High School.

 

6.  Adjournment:  S. Oerman made the motion to adjourn at 6:55, seconded by P. Peterson.  Unanimous for all present.

 

 

Respectfully submitted

Jane Fortson