Monadnock Regional School District

School Board Finance Committee Meeting Minutes

February 19, 2008

Mt. Caesar Elementary School

Approved

 

Committee members present:  Doug Lyman, Jane Fortson, Gene White, Sue Oerman and Phyllis Peterson.  Administrators Present: Katie Chambers, Business Manager, and Dr. Kenneth Dassau, Superintendent.

 

Vice Chairperson, S. Oerman, called the meeting to order at 6:02 pm.

 

1.  Approval of Minutes: Motion to approve the February 5th minutes by D. Lyman, seconded by G. White.  One spelling change added.   Motion passes:  unanimous for those present.

 

 

2. Public Comments:  None.

 

3.  Old Business:

a.  Debt Financing- Facilities Committee Request:  The presentation has now been made to the full board.  S. Oerman asked what is being asked for as a package from the finance committee?  K. Chambers responded that it would be prudent to look at the budgets etc so that we don’t kill the tax rate with the building proposal.  D. Lyman commented that we are looking to get a second building proposal for a middle school with lighter high school renovations, so we may want to hold off until we get that proposal.  He asked how long that would take.  K. Chambers stated that they are finalizing the specifics now.  G. White stated that it has to be before summer.

 

b.      SAU Withdrawals – Who pays for long-term liabilities of original district-should state legislation be proposed. The administration has not had time to proceed with putting together a separation package for the Surry withdrawal.  This item is pending the administration preparing a separation agreement. G. White asked if the amount requested by J. Fortson at the previous meeting for an amount paid for the special election had been determined yet and did the administration look into whether or not the $3,000 from Surry had been received?  K. Chambers replied that she doesn’t yet have those numbers.

 

c.       Unfunded Mandate Lawsuit: Pending.  G. White wanted to know whether or not LGC knew about the findings from the 1994 audit.  Did they want to fight the proposed passing on of costs?  What have they done about it?  These are questions we do not have the answers for at this time.

 

K. Dassau arrives at 6:15 pm.

 

New business: 

4a.  Budget Transfer Request (handout) – This is for MC2’s wilderness trek.  K, Chambers is asking for a line item change from purchased services to the teacher’s salary line as it will be (or is) employees accompanying the students on the trek.  G. White asked if the trek was still taking place in Arizona?  If so, with the grant going away, they should look at a cheaper alternative.  D. Lyman asked if the trek has already happened.  G. White is concerned that this is a trip to Arizona.  D. Lyman made the motion that if the trek has already happened then we approve it, but in the future have these treks take place in NH or somewhere else locally.  Seconded by P. Peterson.  Motion passes:  Unanimous for those present.  The finance committee would like to get some answers from K. Carter if she’s present at the board meeting.

 

 b.  2006/2007 and 07/08 Monthly Expenditure Summaries and Expense by Function worksheets – K. Chambers handed out the worksheet tracking expenditures to date.  S. Oerman asked if there were any questions, there were none since we just received it; she asked to have any questions ready for the next meeting. 

 

c.  Financial reports – Reports handed out.  J. Fortson asked why the total for Account 00000 on page 1 of 5 does not tie to page 1 of 1 1st line MRPSOC Grant Revenue.  There were monies received in excess of what we’ve expended.  They are being looked into, they may be adjusting entries.  S. Oerman asked if the paperwork and funding for the 21st century grant was up to date?  K. Chambers responded that it was. 

 

d.  Legal Bills – Handout:  there were two legal charges, one for 117.50 related to the NHRS Appeal for work performed in October and the other was for 695.00 work on the warrant articles review.

 

K. Dassau handed out a handout regarding the adequacy funding detailing education costing.  J. Fortson asked to have adequacy on a future agenda for finance and to have the finance committee take the lead in education funding and costing analyses.

 

5. Second Public Comments:  None.

 

6. Next Meeting:  March 4, 2008, at the Monadnock Regional MS/HS in Swanzey at 6:00 pm.  Agenda item details for the monthly expenditure summary and costs relative to the special election held for the Surry withdrawal.

 

7.  Adjourn:  Motion to adjourn by P. Peterson, at 6:52pm, seconded by D. Lyman.  Motion passes:  Unanimous for all present.

 

 

 

Respectfully submitted by Jane Fortson