Monadnock Regional School District

School Board Finance Committee

Meeting Minutes

July 10, 2007

MRMS/HS Teachers Room

Non-Approved

 

 

Committee members present:  Jim Carnie (Chairman), Sue Oerman (Vice-Chairman), Tim Aho, Jane Fortson, Gene White, and Doug Lyman.  Administrators Present: Katie Chambers, Business Manager, and Dr. Kenneth Dassau, Superintendent, Dr. D. Hodgdon, Assistant Superintendent.  Public:  L. Rhumba, D. Mousette, L. Sutton, J. Smith, B. Tatro, J. Miller, and R. Bauries.

 

The meeting was called to order at 5:34 pm.  

 

Approval of Minutes: Motion to approve the June 19th minutes by S. Oerman, seconded by J. Carnie, with one amendment, to change the first initial of one of the members of the public in attendance.  Discussion:  none.  Motion passes, with one abstention (T. Aho).

 

 

Old Business: 

2. 2006-2007 Budget Transfer Proposals:  1 Handout with revisions:  (1) High School-various:  J. Fortson asked where the request for J. Samperisi and P. Aarons were since they were in the proposed budget as they were coming out of the MRPSOC grant the year before and would not be in the default budget which was the budget that took effect upon the failure to pass the proposed budget.  K. Chambers stated they were absorbed into the budget using savings in the 1100 Reg. Ed. Account with replacement teachers being hired in at amounts less than the employees leaving. 

T. Aho asked, “How did we get to where we are?”  Why are we using the healthcare savings, for two years to put things into the default budget that weren’t there?   He didn’t even feel these monies should be in the default, we have over budgeted the amount in health insurance for the last two default budgets and then spent the overage on other items.  K. Chambers explained that the default budget is set using the Guaranteed Maximum Rate (GMR) provided in the November preceding the March vote, and that it’s the best information available at the time the budget is set.  J. Fortson explained that the amount for insurance for the proposed budget is the same as in the default budget, as no better information is available.  K. Chambers explained that the managing of the spending of the amounts in the default budget is what we are doing by making the recommendations. D. Lyman asked why we are taking money out of core items.  K. Chambers explained that we are trying to better track the actual spending, and that the needs change from year to year.  D. Lyman asked wasn’t it part of our criticism from NEASC?  K. Chambers explained that they are putting the spending where it needs to be.  J. Fortson asked about the removing of $22,650 from various textbook accounts when for the last few years the budget committee has been accused of not funding textbooks, it was part of the “cry” as to why the budgets needed to be passed, now with all the default budgets we’ve had, we have had more than enough for textbooks?  Are we sure we want to take it out of these accounts; there aren’t any classes/subjects that need textbooks?  Response was that the textbooks are up to date.

 

J. Carnie asked how the committee wanted to handle the various H.S. transfers, one at a time or even at all?  S. Oerman made the motion to table the transfers until we’ve had discussion with J. Smith.  Seconded by D. Lyman.  Motion passes with one abstention (T. Aho).

 

T. Aho made the motion to get a legal opinion from the DRA of the appropriateness of taking health insurance savings and using (spending) them for other than in the manner stipulated in the budget.  D. Lyman seconded it for discussion.  Discussion:  T. Aho stated, “if we take, we need to give back” He wanted an opinion to see if the spending is valid.  He would like an opinion from someone who is unbiased, which is why he wants an opinion from the DRA rather than from Paul Apple.  K. Chambers commented that getting a legal opinion from any state department wouldn’t happen and that you may want to restate it such that you want an opinion not a legal opinion.  T. Aho agreed to restate the motion to state opinion not “legal opinion”  K. Dassau asked, “Does the board have the authority to manage the bottom line?”  K. Chambers stated it was the board’s authority to spend the money approved in the budget.  Public comment from R. Bauries, he doesn’t feel that raises should be given when there is a default budget.  S. Oerman moved the question, seconded by G. White.  Motion passes unanimously.  Vote on original motion as restated:  Motion fails, 1 yes (T. Aho), 3 no’s (D. Lyman, S. Oerman, and G. White), 2 abstentions (J. Carnie and J. Fortson). 

 

B. Tatro arrives at 6:02 pm.

 

(2) High School – Assistant Principal to year round status:  Motion to table until J. Smith could explain to full board by D. Lyman, seconded by J. Carnie.  Motion passes unanimously.

 

(3) Mount Caesar  - Reading Teacher:  G. White made the motion to accept the reading teacher, seconded by S. Oerman for discussion purposes.  J. Fortson stated she was in favor of having the third reading teacher at Mt. Caesar (which has been the practice there for several years) but didn’t like how we got here.  She stated that when the third grade population decreased and rather than decreasing one teacher, the administration opted to move the 5th teacher that wouldn’t be needed to first grade (to increase from 5 to 6 the number of teachers in the first grade thereby reducing from 5 to 4 the number of teachers in the third grade).  When the population moving into third grade this year was again up a 5th teacher was again needed, but instead of moving the 1st grade teacher back to 3rd grade which would have still kept each first grade class at or under 20 students, the administrators opted to add the third grade teacher and not keep the third reading teacher (one had retired in June, 2007), which is now the request before us.  J. Fortson felt the reading teacher should have been replaced and that the 6th first grade teacher should have been put back to the third grade to cover the shortage there.  She didn’t feel the actions taken were appropriate, but feels the reading teacher now being requested is necessary.  Motion fails:  2 votes for (G. White and J. Fortson) 4 votes against (J. Carnie, S. Oerman, D. Lyman and T. Aho).

S. Oerman asked B. Tatro what she would do if she doesn’t get the 3rd reading teacher?  B. Tatro stated that they would make do with the other two, and use volunteers.  J. Carnie asked why they don’t take the 1st grade teacher and move them back to 3rd grade?  B. Tatro stated that they needed to look at the ability of the younger children and that they would like to have the lower student to teacher ratio.  D. Lyman commented that we should be looking at putting our spending towards items that will help us get our accreditation back rather than here.  J. Fortson again stated that she disagrees with how we got here, but that the reading teacher is necessary especially with AYP not made in reading at Mt. C. J. Carnie asked about having a half time reading teacher.  B. Tatro stated she would take anything.  S. Oerman made the motion to fund a ½ time reading teacher for Mt. Caesar at a cost of approximately $28,400, seconded by J. Carnie.  G. White stated that it is difficult to compare the number of reading teachers to student population with the other elementary schools because Mt. Caesar is just K-3 where as the others are not and the needs of just K-3 are different than they are for say Grades 4.6.  B. Tatro stated they are striving towards getting the children to read on grade level before leaving Mt. Caesar.  J. Fortson moved the question, seconded by G. White.  Unanimous for all present.  Vote on original Motion:  Motion passes with 4 in favor and 2 against (D. Lyman and T. Aho)

 

(4) Mt. Caesar/Troy/Emerson- reallocation of the Technology teacher position: J. Fortson made the motion to accept the transfers as proposed.  Seconded by G. White.  T. Aho asked if there was any cost for this?  K. Chambers stated it was just reallocating the expenses to the appropriate school accounts to reflect actual.    Motion passes:  unanimous for all present.

 

(5) Emerson- various, district Wide- maintenance project manager:  S. Oerman made the motion to move these two items together and recommend them to the school board, seconded by G. White.  T. Aho asked if we were moving the amounts from the payroll accounts to finance the contracted services for the project managers.  K. Chambers stated yes.  Motion Passes:  Unanimous for all present. 

 

(6) MC2-Third teacher:  G. White made the motion to recommend to the school board, seconded by S. Oerman.  T. Aho asked what the current budget for MC2 was?  K. Chambers replied that it was $515,998.  S. Oerman stated that she has questions and would like to get answers from K. Carter. S. Oerman made the motion to table until the board can ask K. Carter the questions, seconded by D. Lyman.  Motion passes:  4 in favor and 2 abstentions (T. Aho and J. Carnie).

 

(7) Gilsum/Sullivan-Hiring of Nurse:  G. White made the motion to recommend to the board the hiring of the nurse for the Northern schools, seconded by J. Fortson.  K. Chambers stated that it would be an additional amount of $14,675.  Motion passes:  Unanimous for all present.

 

L. Sutton and J. Smith arrive at 6:30pm.

 

(8) Cutler-Special Education Teacher:  S. Oerman made the motion to table until S. Rashid could answer questions.  Motion Passes:  Unanimous for all present.

 

D. Hodgdon leaves at 6:40pm.

 

(9) All Schools-Non-Union Wage increases 06/07:  K. Chambers stated this was to bring forward the one-time bonuses approved for the 06/07 budget year, and include them in the base wages of these employees for the 07/08 budgeted year.  G. White made the motion to recommend passage of this increase to the full board, seconded by S. Oerman.  T. Aho stated that we should not be giving these raises.  S. Oerman stated she agreed with bringing them up to speed, but doesn’t agree with giving them a raise for 07/08.  K. Chambers said this adjusts the pay scale so that they are being paid appropriately.  D. Lyman states that the money should go to ensuring AYP and retaining our accreditation.  J. Fortson stated she spoke to J. Smith after the last board meeting and asked him to be considering what was needed monetarily to keep accreditation.  Motion fails:  vote 3 in favor (G. White, S. Oerman and J. Fortson) and 3 opposed (J. Carnie, T. Aho and D. Lyman).

 

(10) All Schools-Non-Union Wage Increases for 07/08:  Motion made by G. White to recommend to the full board wage increases for 07/08.   Seconded by S. Oerman for discussion purposes.  Motion fails, 1 in favor (G. White) 4 Opposed and 1 abstention (J. Fortson)

 

(11) Choice Programs:  G. White made the motion to recommend approval of the choice programs in the amount of $170037.00.  Seconded by S. Oerman.  T. Aho asked why if these were approved why we are voting on them.  K. Chambers stated they were approved by the Board for inclusion in the proposed budget, but they are not included in the default budget that kicked in when the proposed budget failed.  S. Oerman asked what happens to the children that are already in the programs?  That still remains a question for the board and administrators, and work being done in the policy committee.  G. White asked about putting the programs in our district.  K. Dassau stated that we would have to be a “dedicated” school.  Motion fails:  2 in favor (S. Oerman and G. White) and 4 opposed. 

 

New business: 

3a.  C21-After School Programs Grant (Jeremy Miller):  Motion to bring the C-21 Program grant to the full board with no finding by G. White, seconded by J. Fortson.  Motion passes:  Unanimous for all present.

 

3b. Financial reports were handed out, no discussion due to lack of time.

 

3c. Legal Bills:  handed out, but not discussed due to lack of time.

 

Public Comments:  Not enough time.

 

Next Meeting:  Tuesday, August 14, 2007, at 6:00 pm at the Monadnock Regional Middle School/High School.

 

Adjournment:  T. Aho made the motion to adjourn, seconded by D. Lyman.  Meeting adjourned at 7:02pm.

 

 

Respectfully submitted

Jane Fortson