DELIBERATIVE SESSION VERSION
The School District Meeting was held in the cafeteria of
the
Board Members: Colline Dreyfuss, Chair
Gene White, Tim Aho, James Carnie, Douglas Lyman, Susan Oerman, Winston Wright,
Jane Fortson, Karen Cota, Kristin Goodenough, Robert Smith. Absent: Ed Jacod, Phyllis Peterson and
William Felton.
Budget Committee Members:
SAU Members Present: K. Dassau, Superintendent.
Others Present: Attorney Paul Apple and
Keith Thibault, Assistant Moderator.
MRSD
Board member Doug Lyman led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance.
The
School Board and the Budget Committee introduced themselves to the audience.
People
who wished to speak were asked to sign up. Each person would be given three
minutes to speak.
Board
Chair G. White and Budget Chair W. Lechlider each read part of the following
warrant:
STATE OF
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WARRANT FOR SPECIAL DISTRICT MEETING
PURSUANT TO RSA 197:3
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TO THE
INHABITANTS OF THE
You are hereby notified to meet at the Monadnock Regional Middle/High School on Saturday, the ninth (9th) day of August, 2008 at 10:00 o’clock a.m. for the purpose of hearing an explanation of the following subjects and to carry on any discussion or debate with respect thereto, with said subjects to be open to amendment:
NOTICE: The
second session of the Special District Meeting will be conducted on the ninth
(9th) day of September, 2008, pursuant to a Decree of the New
Hampshire Superior Court for
The polls will be open to voters in their towns of residence on the ninth (9th) day of September, 2008 as follows:
Fitzwilliam - Town Hall: 8:00 am – 7:00 pm
Gilsum
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Roxbury - Meeting House: 11:00 am – 7:00 pm
Sullivan - Town Hall: 8:00 am – 7:00 pm
Swanzey
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ARTICLE ONE
To see if the
The Agreement includes provisions that eliminate the early retirement program, established in 2000, on June 30, 2009. The existing participants in the early retirement program will be fully compensated and the program will cease to exist by June 30, 2016.
The elimination of early retirement will result in a reduction of cost over the term of the Agreement.
The Agreement also includes provisions that require teachers to pay more for their health insurance. Currently, the District pays ninety percent (90%) of the cost of the Blue Choice Plan. Over the course of the Agreement, The District will pay eighty-eight percent (88%) of the cost of the Blue Choice Plan in the first, year, eighty-four (84%) in the second year, eighty-two percent (82%) in the third year and eighty percent (80%) in the final year of the agreement.
The Agreement eliminates the so-called “evergreen” clause.
The estimated increase in the costs for wages and benefits under the collective bargaining agreement are as follows:
Year Estimated Increase:
2008-09 $ 492,000 Salaries
$ 63,000 Longevity Payments
$ 52,237 Regular Retirement
$ 91,085 Wage-driven benefits(Social Security, NHRS, W/C,
etc.)
$ 0 Tuition
Reimbursement
$ 0 Loan
Reimbursement
$ 0 Personal
Leave Days
($ 18,016) Health insurance sharing to 88/12 (POS driver)
/$2500 opt-out
$ 680,306 Total
2009-10 $ 358,550 Salaries
$ 100,000 Longevity Payments
$ 0 Regular Retirement
$ 53,783 Wage-driven benefits(Social Security, NHRS, W/C, etc.)
$ 5,000 Tuition
Reimbursement
$ 2,500 Loan
Reimbursement
$ 0 Personal
Leave Days
($ 96,033) Health insurance sharing to 84/16 (POS driver)
/$2500 opt-out
$ 423,800 Total
2010-11 $ 349,200 Salaries
$ 50,000 Longevity Payments
$ 0 Regular Retirement
$ 59,880 Wage-driven benefits(Social Security, NHRS, W/C, etc.)
$ 5,000 Tuition
Reimbursement
$ 2,500 Loan
Reimbursement
$ 7,500 Personal
Leave Days
($ 48,016) Health insurance sharing to 82/18 (POS driver)
/$2500 opt-out
$ 426,064 Total
2011-12 $ 379,800 Salaries
$ 0 Longevity Payments
$ 0 Regular Retirement
$ 64,470 Wage-driven benefits(Social Security, NHRS, W/C, etc.)
$ 0 Tuition
Reimbursement
$ 0 Loan
Reimbursement
$ 0 Personal
Leave Days
($ 48,016) Health insurance sharing to 80/20 (POS driver)
/$2500 opt-out
$ 396,254 Total
And further to raise and appropriate the sum of $680,306 for the 2008-09 fiscal year, such sum representing the additional cost attributable to the increase in wages and benefits over those of the appropriation at current staffing levels paid in the 2007-08 fiscal year. The School Board supports this appropriation. The Budget Committee also supports this appropriation. (Majority vote required).
BY THE
MONADNOCK REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD, pursuant to authority granted
by the New Hampshire Superior Court for
WITNESS our hands and seals this 24th day of July 2008
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A true copy. Attest: __________________________________________
District Clerk
MOTION: G. White MOVED to accept Article One as
presented. SECOND: C. Dreyfuss. DISCUSSION: Attorney Apple explained
that the voting time for Gilsum was incorrect. The correct time is Gilsum
Elementary School 8:00 AM-7:00 PM. It was also explained that the cash-back on
the contract should be opt-out instead as voted previously by the School
Board. C. Dreyfuss explained that she
had been asked to speak due to the fact that she was on the Negotiating Committee
since 2005. She explained to the voters how they got to this point. She
explained the 2005 contract not passing, the 2006 negotiations that went to
mediation and no agreement and the contract not passing in 2007. In April of
2007 the Negotiations Committee and the teachers had a lot of conversation and
came up with a great contract. Once again the contract did not pass this time by
97 votes. The Negotiating Committee went back to the table again with the
teachers and came up with the contract that the voters just heard. It is a very
reasonable contract, one that she would ask the voters to support. It is time
to pay raises. The Superior Court said it is an emergency. We need to move
forward and we need to educate the students.
R.
Bauries of the Monadnock Taxpayers Association explained that he does not
support the contract. He does not agree with the Longevity amounts and the fact
that there is no cap on the health care. There is much pork in the contract. He
commented on the Evergreen Clause and the Early Retirement. He said that
Attorney Apple said that the Evergreen Clause is out of the proposed contract. MOTION: R. Bauries MOVED to change the second paragraph of Article One completely as
follows: The Agreement includes provisions to eliminate Early Retirement,
established in 2008 on June 30, 2008-without prejudice on legal action on what
is known as the Existing Early Retirement. In any case, Early Retirement will
end with the last payment to existing Early Retirement Retirees. SECOND: N. Moriarty. DISCUSSION: R. Bauries commented that
the amendment would eliminate the Early Retirement and would be better for the
District. There would be a better chance of passing the contract with the Early
Retirement removed. C. Dreyfuss asked for a clarification from Attorney Apple.
Attorney Apple explained that it is a 3-step process. There are the
negotiations, ratifying the contract and the appropriation of the funding for
the contract. If this amendment passes the School Board and the teachers need
to go back to the negotiating table. C. Dreyfuss commented that the Court said
it is an emergency. If this amendment passes we do not get our Special Meeting.
Let the voters decide not the Monadnock Taxpayers Association. N. Moriarty
commented that he voted for the amendment. It does require the teachers and the
School Board to go back to the table. Early Retirement is the primary issue to
the vote on the amendment. P. Richmond commented that they are stalling the
vote. We have heard before to get rid of something and they still do not
support. Moderator Hutwelker explained that a secret ballot has been asked for
on this motion. VOTE: yes-12 and
no-103. Amendment fails. DISCUSSION
CONTINUES on the motion:
T.
Aho said that the contract in 2005 did not pass because there was no sharing in
the health care in 2002. He continued to discuss the health insurance sharing
and the fact that it could have been at 76%-24% sharing by this time. He
commented that the longevity and the increase of longevity over the 4 years are
not fair. A teacher with 5 points would get a $5300.00 in the 4th
year of the contract.
Bruce
Barlow commented that Swanzey has a lot at stake. We need to show community
support for the teachers and education. This is a long-term investment for the
upcoming industry. Swanzey will have a problem bringing in business if we do
not support education. He asked for an explanation of the Evergreen Clause from
Attorney Apple. Attorney Apple explained that the clause is to ensure that the
public employees get their step raises, health insurance and other items. In
2003-2006 the language in the contract qualified as an Evergreen Clause but the
language was not properly warned to the public. The Legislature has passed an
Evergreen Clause for everyone. As of now it is a law in this contract. The
teachers have agreed to give it up and the contract was ratified before the new
law. There is no issue for the four years, the length of this contract. It is
an open question.
Alan
Gross commented that it is not fair to the District, parents, teachers and the
students. There have been no raises for 3 years. We have good teachers leaving.
We need to keep and reward the teachers we have. We need to pass this contract.
D. Coffman
asked the percentage of increase per teacher. G. White explained that in the 1st
year of the contract everyone is brought up to their proper step. G. White also
explained the step process. He also said that the percentage is from .1%-6.7%.
D. Coffman commented that it is a very small number. He asked what the tax
impact would be. G. White explained that the average taxpayer with a
$100,000.00 house would pay an extra $59.00 in the first year which is the
biggest year. The impact would show in the November tax bill. G. White
commented that not all the towns are equal. Some towns would be paying a little
more. D. Coffman commented that it was pretty cheap for a dramatic change. J.
Carnie and T. Aho argued that the information from G. White is his point of
view. Moderator Hutwelker explained that the figures came from the Business
Manager. J. Carnie argued that the Evergreen Clause figures needed to be
calculated. D. Coffman explained that his questions were directed to the Chair
of the School Board, the person who is in charge of everyone that sits at the
table. J. Carnie would be allowed to speak after. D. Coffman commented that the
legal issues are behind us. The proposed contract is less than what was voted
on this past March. The teacher turn over is very high. Getting business in
this district is very difficult. He would suggest that everyone get the message
out there. He would ask that G. White and K. Dassau hold the Board and teachers
accountable to make the changes.
C.
Kahn, the Union President and employee of the District was granted permission
to speak. She commented that if this contract fails the Early Retirement does
not go away. She said that the Evergreen Clause is a new law and it is not
clear if it would apply to the teachers. She said that there are a lot of aging
teachers that are off step. There are about 50% of the teachers on step. The
health insurance increase is at 2.7%. There has been a 25% turnover in teachers
in the last two summers.
J.
Carnie commented that there is misinformation out there. We are all paying the
per pupil cost as well as Swanzey. He said that he is not in favor of the
contract but in favor of teachers getting a raise. He said that the problem is
all the extras. The change from Early Retirement to Longevity. That is back
loading. The cost is as great as the Early Retirement. It is a swap. The
Evergreen Clause could be put in because it was discussed at the State level.
The public voted the contract down. The School Board has come back with a
proposal. He feels that the cost would be the same due to the Longevity and as
long as the Evergreen Clause continues.
Peter
Majoy commented that as a resident of
Doug
Smith a teacher at Monadnock commented that he has heard a lot of positive
comments but would like to inform everyone that we have been educating the
students. We are still teachers. There were never any comments from the public
when we were at the top on the testing. We are going to have our ups and downs.
Our kids are getting into some pretty good schools and we are doing it with no
raises and a budget that continues to get cut. You have a very good school. He
stated that he has not had a raise in 5 years. He also has more than one job.
He said “don’t think that we are not doing our jobs”.
Bonnie
Glass a teacher thanked the School Board. She suggested walking in her shoes.
T.
Aho suggested giving a 2% raise and setting up this contract to accept an
Evergreen Clause in 4 years. Then it would pass.
MOTION: C. Dreyfuss. MOVED to call the question. SECOND: G. White. VOTE: Voice vote yes. Motion
passes. VOTE on the original motion: Voice vote yes. Motion passes.
MOTION: C. Dreyfuss MOVED to adjourn the Deliberative Session at 11:34 AM. SECOND: S. Oerman. VOTE: Voice vote yes. Motion passes.
Respectfully submitted,
Laura L. Aivaliotis
MRSD Recording Secretary