Monadnock Regional School District

School Board Finance Committee

Meeting Minutes

August 14, 2007

MRMS/HS Library

Approved Minutes

 

Committee members present:  Jim Carnie (Chairman), Sue Oerman (Vice-Chairman), Tim Aho, Jane Fortson, Gene White, and Phyllis Peterson.  Administrators Present:  Dan Most, Assistant Business Manager, and Dr. Kenneth Dassau, Superintendent.  Public:  Mary-Kate Carpenter

 

The meeting was called or order at 6:02 p.m.

 

Approval of Minutes:  Motion to approve the July 10th minutes by S. Oerman, seconded by G. White.  Discussion.  None.  Motion passes.  Unanimous.

 

Old Business:

None

 

New Business:

3a.  Financial reports were handed out, S. Oerman questioned the 100.14% amount remaining in the local revenues, as to why it was over 100%.  D. Most answered that it was higher than anticipated.

 

T. Aho asked what amount the current budget was at for MC2 after the board’s approval of the additional teacher for approximately $14,280?  The answer was approximately $530,000. and that there were 11 Monadnock students in the program.  The question arose as to what the tuition amount to be charged to out of district students would be.  K. Dassau stated that the amount of tuition is set by grade level (e.g. High School rate vs. Middle school rate) and that MC2 is a program of the High School therefore, it would be set at the high school rate set by the state.  J. Carnie stated that there was a vote to use the cost based on per pupil cost for MC2 not on what the state set.  T. Aho asked that if the state set the rate at $12,000 why would we then be paying Harrisville $18,000?  K. Dassau explained that Harrisville is offering to accept $4500 tuition for the students currently enrolled in the program (the amount of adequacy that the districts receive from the state), and that this would be discussed more fully in the full board meeting.  J. Fortson asked if this was just for one year, and K. Dassau replied that for now it looks like that, but that it remains to be seen if it will be renewed next year.  S. Oerman state that the vote for the Keene Middle School student was for 5 students, but that only 3 would be attending so that the difference between the amounts voted and the actual to be spent would leave enough to fund the .5 Harrisville students at $3500 each.  K. Dassau stated that neither Keene nor Hinsdale had taken any action regarding their students that were in place in the programs under the MRPSOC grant.

 

J. Carnie asked how many students were expected to be tuitioned into MC2.  K. Dassau stated about 9.  T. Aho stated that brings the cost per MC2 student to about $26,000 each.  K. Dassau questioned the number, and T. Aho explained.  J. Carnie stated that the MC2 has to be considered on a separate cost basis and that its not just a program it’s a separate school and that its costs are not the same as what the per pupil costs are at the High School.  T. Aho stated that he still felt more work should be done to determine whether K. Carter could have been principal of MC2 and the Middle School.  J. Carnie stated that the state sets the policy and not the board.  The district voters have said 3 times that they don’t want to accept out of district students, its an open enrollment policy.  K. Dassau stated that MC2 is a program within the High School that generates revenue.  T. Aho stated that we’re losing money on it, and that it should be a stand-alone school.  K. Dassau stated that he served at the will of the board.  J. Carnie asked what about the service to the taxpayer?  As MRSD has been subsidizing the other districts.  T. Aho commented that the Sullivan selectmen saw the sheet detailing the items being added to the budget using the insurance savings for funding and they weren’t happy with it, and didn’t feel the money should be spend this way.  K. Dassau stated that it is up to the board to determine how the monies will be spent.  T. Aho moved the information regarding the per student costs should be $26500 for 19 students or $48000 for only 11 students and should be brought forth to the full board and the information regarding the 11 Monadnock students and the possible 9 outside students when the board discusses the proposed out of district student policy.  P. Peterson seconded it.  Motion Passes: 4 to 2 (S. Oerman and G. White).

 

3b.  Legal Bills:  Were handed out by D. Most.  It was asked if the committee could get YTD amounts, as well as prior year amounts so that there is more information available for comparison purposes.

 

Public Comments:  None

 

Next Meeting:  Tuesday, September 4, 2007 at 6:00 p.m. at the Monadnock Regional Middle School/High School

 

Adjournment:  S.  Oerman made the motion to adjourn, seconded by P. Peterson.  Unanimous for all present.  Meeting adjourned at 6:48 p.m.

 

 

 

Respectfully submitted

Jane Fortson