MONADNOCK REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

Board Meeting Minutes

April 15, 2003

Monadnock Regional Junior and Senior High School Library, Swanzey, NH

                        

7:00 PM CALL TO ORDER

 

Present: Don Arguin, Dixie Gurian, Gene White, Alan Gross, William Felton, John Morin, Chair Robin Marra, Sam Johnson, L. Colby and W. Wright Absent: Patricia Smith, Gus Lerandeau, Richard Thackston, Stephen Mettling and Geordie Fifield.

Also present: C. Cardine, Supt., K. Dassau, Asst. Supt., L. Biron, Business Manager, Tom Warner, Dir. of Technology and D. Hodgdon, Dir. of Curriculum. Principals: D. Stockwell, D. Mousette, D. Dahl, K. Craig, S. Rashid and B. Tatro. Student Council Representative: B. Dahl.

 

1.         CONSENT AGENDA:

Minutes of April 1, 2003.  MOTION: D. Gurian. MOVED to approve the minutes.  SECOND: W. Felton. DISCUSSION: Chair Marra explained that he would like the minutes to reflect when an item is discussed at another time other than the order of the agenda.  VOTE: 9.56/0/1.11/4.33 Motion Passes.

 

Chair Marra explained that he would request that the agenda be changed as  follows: Correspondence and Announcements, Student Council Report and then Citizens Concerns once again.  He will have a sign up sheet for citizens wishing to speak at the meeting. This way he will be able to allocate enough time for the concerns. Chair Marra will be adding another spot on the agenda for Citizens Concerns at the end of the meeting. These changes will take place at the next meeting.

 

2.       CITIZENS CONCERNS: R. Bauries asked if persons would be possible to sign up before the meeting. R. Marra responded there would be a sign up sheet at the SAU office.

 

3.       STUDENT COUNCIL CONCERNS: B. Dahl gave a list of the upcoming events. Saturday there will be an Easter Egg Hunt for the children of Swanzey. Saturday will be the performance of I Never Saw Another Butterfly. The Prom will be held on May 3. Project Graduation will be hosting an open microphone. On May 13th and 14th there will be two spring choral concerts. Season openers for baseball, softball, tennis and track. Everyone is welcome. J. Morin asked if the Board could have a list of the events.  A list will be included in the Board’s packet.

 

4.       CORRESPONDENCE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS: C. Cardine reported that the New School Board Orientation would be on May 18, 2003 at Bow High School.

 

C. Cardine reported that he would be sending a letter to the editor of the Keene Sentinel concerning House Bill 608. He distributed a copy of the letter, information on the cooperative school district, and a spreadsheet explaining the effects of HB 608 and 717 out to the Board.  C. Cardine then explained the effects of House Bill 608 and House Bill 717. The passage of both these Bills would take funding away from the district. He told the Board that he contacted the representatives and recommended that they do so also.  C. Cardine went to Concord to get information on the cooperative district and has historic information on the Monadnock Regional School District provided by the state department.  This is a compilation of past studies of the district initiated by various member towns.

 

    5.       OTHER SCHOOL BOARD BUSINESS:

      A.  Board Committee Reports: 

1.      Policy Committee: No report. D. Arguin will meet with the members to establish a meeting time.

 

2.      Finance Committee: A chair was elected and the budget was discussed. The next meeting will be on May 2, 2003 at 8:45 AM in the Maintenance Bldg.

 

3.      Community Relations Committee: D. Gurian distributed the minutes from their last two meetings to the Board Members. A committee chair has not as yet been elected. The committee has decided to hold their meetings on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month at 5:30 PM in the Board Room in the Wilcox Building. D. Gurian reported that the reorganization meeting would be on May 3, 2003 from 9-12. The place will be determined.

 

4.      Facilities Committee: L. Biron reported that the committee did not have a quorum. General discussion.

 

5.      CCC Center: A. Gross reported that the demolition work has started to the facility. For the next year and a half the classes will be shuffled around. The completion of the project should be in August of 2004. C. Cardine reported that the CCC would like to extend the amount of time in which Monadnock, Hinsdale and Winchester students are at the CCC Center. It is not possible to have the additional teacher this year but it will next year. The auto certification class will be available and will extend the participant’s school day.

 

W. Felton asked about the difference in the calendar for Keene and Monadnock. C. Cardine said there was only one day that was different.

 

L. Colby asked how the faculty would get the information about the Staff Development. R. Marra commented that the committee has not met. L. Colby was sent an agenda in order for someone to receive it. 

 

B.     New Business: No new business.

 

Old Business: Additional Committee Appointments.  R. Marra reported that the following Board Members will be added to the following committees: S. Johnson and G. White to the Community Relations Committee, D. Gurian to the Finance Committee, W. Wright and R. Marra to the SAU Committee and R. Marra to the Policy Committee. A. Gross asked to be added to the Facilities Committee. W. Felton asked how many members are on the SAU Board. C. Cardine explained that every Board Member is a part of that committee. D. Gurian explained that each of the three Boards have only three votes. R. Marra explained that the SAU Board meeting would be at Emerson on May 7, 2003 preceded by dinner. It is the Hinsdale Boards turn to hold the Board chair. MOTION: D. Gurian MOVED to accept the appointments as presented by Chair Marra. SECOND: J. Morin VOTE: 9.56/0/1.11/4.33. Motion passes. 

 

Motion Postponed from March 18, 2003 Meeting: MOTION: R. Marra

read the motion presented by R. Thackston on March 18, 2003. At that time the motion had been moved by R. Thackston, seconded by W. Wright. After much discussion a motion to postpone was moved by W. Wright and seconded by A. Gross. DISCUSSION on the postponed motion: D. Arguin commented that there were problems in the wording and wished that the person who made the motion were here to explain. He would like to discard the motion. R. Marra explained that the article would need to be voted on. W. Felton felt that it would be premature to vote on the motion before the retreat. R. Marra asked if that was a formal amendment. L. Colby agreed with W. Felton and will vote no on the motion. W. Wright had a question about the spending of the $60,000.00. It seemed to him that the Board has no control of the money. He does not agree with that. VOTE: 0/9.56/1.11/4.33. Motion fails.

 

Default Budget: C. Cardine explained the work that had been done by the A Team and the SAU concerning the cuts to bring the budget to the default number.  He also handed out a packet to the Board Members.  This was followed by a Power Point™ presentation.  He said that they are looking at the following options: scheduling at the high school, using the Wilcox building to reduce the special education out of district costs, eliminate the Alternative Credit Program, eliminate the School-to-Career Program, eliminate the auto shop, discuss buses and denying requests for additional staff.  D. Stockwell explained that he would be looking at split scheduling. 

 

Scheduling: A team visited a Junior-Senior school in Vermont that has split schedule.  They have 450 students and 25 rooms. Monadnock has a slightly different situation with 1200 students and 56 rooms. D. Stockwell commented that the elimination of the Alternative Credit Program, elimination of the School-to-Career Program, eliminating the auto shop and send the children to the CCC would make two classrooms available.  Mr. Smith, the person who does the scheduling said that each and every teacher would need to be identified as either a high school teacher or a junior high teacher.  Mr. Smith handed out a diagram.  On the second page of the hand out were the foot prints for the high school.  The shaded areas showed the high school classes and the junior high classes.  The areas that were not shaded will be used by both.  Another possibility would be an 8th class that would be on M-W-F. This class would extend the day to 3:50 PM.  D. Stockwell explained that there would not be any new counselor, science teacher or math teacher. W. Felton asked how many classes the teachers usually have. D. Stockwell explained that they usually have 5 classes. A stipend is paying the teachers that are teaching the extra class, because of the lack of another teacher. A. Gross asked about the ISS classroom.  D. Stockwell explained that the class is shared between the junior high and the high school students. He also said that it is actually a half a classroom. D. Hodgdon commented that the School-to-Career effects grades K-12. J. Morin asked about the extra math and science teachers. D. Stockwell explained that the teachers are currently teaching 6 classes by hiring the extra teachers they would each have a normal workload. J. Morin asked about the class size. D. Stockwell explained that about 12-30 students are in the classes. R. Marra said that by looking at the foot prints of the high school and with the split scheduling the classes would be disrupted with the passing of students. C. Cardine explained that the school they toured had 450 students and 2 floors, which made the split scheduling easier. R. Marra suggested lengthening the passing time for less congestion in the hallways. C. Cardine said that at the district meeting the split bells were suggested.  This is not in concrete.  They are honoring what was suggested. D. Stockwell commented that there is not a good alternative.  S. Johnson commented that the administration is reacting to the commands of the people but would like to know if in D. Stockwell’s experience he feels this is a good idea. J. Smith commented that the administration has to look at each individual teacher and see if they are a junior high teacher or a high school teacher. The junior high academics will be forced to a morning schedule. He said that educationally he is not sure how sound this would be.  D. Stockwell said that it is not a positive experience in a school of this size.  The simpler the better.  He said that they are charged to look at this.

 

C. Cardine explained that the budget was cut 1.3 million dollars and then an additional $962,183 to reach the default number for a total of $2,262,183.  The SAU reloaded the staff lists with the changes that have occurred since January, i.e. teachers leaving, new hires, and changes in insurance packages and checked the members benefits they were able to come up with about $62,500 and the bond payment (which was in version 2) of $214,250 for a total of $276,750 extra dollars. The administration and SAU managed to cut most of the 1,985,433.00 additional out but are still missing $13,719.00. He explained that if an aide had to be hired tomorrow there would be no designated money. C. Cardine read a list of the cuts to each school.  C. Cardine also read a list of programs that are included as dropped in the list. There will be no new staff hired.  There will be no new grant writer position.  They recommended keeping the preschool at Emerson.  They listed cutting the School-to-Career Program and the Alternative Credit Program. C. Cardine explained that he is asking the Board about the possibility of cutting the late buses, the mid-day buses and the auto shop.  L. Biron passed out a sheet of paper to the Board Member with the possible cuts listed. C. Cardine explained that he is looking for help with the $13,719.00 in additional cuts. W. Wright asked what the effects would be with cutting the mid-day and the late buses. C. Cardine said that the mid-day buses would affect the Kindergarten. W. Wright commented that the mid-day buses would impact the parents. C. Cardine asked D. Stockwell how many children would be effected by absence the late buses. D. Stockwell replied that about 200 student use the late buses. Some of the students are receiving extra help with their studies. C. Cardine commented that the health insurance is to the dime and there is no play. C. Cardine said that $100,000.00 of the private tuition costs was reduced in anticipation of developing a special education program at the Wilcox Building and Northern Schools.  C. Cardine said that they would take the maximum benefits coming from the federal grant.  The seniors would be able to take college classes at Keene State.  This would be available to the seniors in Monadnock, Hinsdale, Winchester, and Keene and Transportation would be available from the grant. W. Wright commented that he understood that the cuts were coming from academics not from sports. C. Cardine explained that sports are taking a substantial cut.  L. Biron informed W. Wright that it was Account 1420 in the budget. C. Cardine commented that he would not let the science labs go another year the way they are now, they will be repaired. G. White asked what purchased services in the athletics account included.  C. Cardine explained that they are physicals for the athletes and the referees. G. White commented on the new sports. D. Stockwell responded by saying that hockey had already been added. C. Cardine said it would be funded next year. R. Marra asked when the Board needs to decide on the additional cuts. C. Cardine said that he would like to know the Board’s opinions now. D. Arguin commented that with cutting the Alternative Credit Program and the School-to-Career Program the Board is loosing site of its goals. R. Marra asked if version 7 had the cuts already taken out. L. Biron commented yes. W. Felton asked about the Northern Schools. C. Cardine said that he had a meeting with about 50 parents for about three hours to discuss the budgets and cost of each student. He explained that the parents clearly want their own schools. G. White suggested that they eliminate the 2:30 PM bus and just have the late buses. C. Cardine said that he needs to look into this suggestion. K. Dassau explained the possibility of having a Behavior Support Program in the district. He said it would be for students in grades 3-8 with emotional and behavior needs.  These children make up the largest portion of the out of district placements. He explained that the Wilcox building was discussed as a possible location. The foodservice and Title One would be relocated. This would house the 7-8 grade students. The Northern Schools would be a consideration for the 3-6 grade students. There would be a maximum of 6 students in each class. K. Dassau has invited Dr. D. LaFleur to be in attendance at the next Board meeting. G. White asked if the federal government gave the district the amount of funding that they had promised what would the percentage be. K. Dassau said that the amount would be “huge.” R. Marra asked for a motion to allow K. Dassau to prepare a program proposal for the full Board. MOTION: W. Wright MOVED to allow K. Dassau to prepare a special educational program proposal for the full Board at the next meeting. SECOND: W. Felton. VOTE: 8.44/0/2.24/4.33. Motion passes. R. Marra reminded the Board that C. Cardine has asked the Board to make a choice from the screen. L. Biron explained that the insurance rates would be set in mid May. S. Johnson asked about an answer on G. White’s proposal. C. Cardine said it was a contractual issue. L. Colby commented that he would like to know the impact of not having the midday buses. C. Cardine said he would have that information by the next meeting. A. Gross asked how many students the auto shop closing would effect. J. Smith said that it is a junior high and high school course. The course changes every six weeks. There are about 100 students with about 15 high school students. K. Craig asked if it was possible for her to move ahead with the preschool registration. C. Cardine said that he is not recommending cutting the preschool. J. Hartwell was concerned with the babysitting situation with the possibility of a bus situation. J. Gomarlo commented that the parents who can not bring their children to kindergarten are the children who need it the most. The Board is shooting itself in the foot. K. Craig commented that the students still showed up with the cuts 7 years ago.

 

Planning for Board Retreat: A. Gross asked what the Board would be discussing at the retreat?  R. Marra told him that this was the purpose of the discussion. D. Arguin commented that it should be one clear and specific goal. Too many will only receive half the attention. He feels that the discussion should be around Article One failing. C. Cardine agrees with D. Arguin. The biggest problem is space, space, and space. He said that this would be a full night of discussion. J. Morin asked if they are saying that we are not allowed to discuss anything else. A. Gross feels that the Board needs to review the goals and look at where we are going. R. Marra suggested discussing the goals at the next meeting.  W. Wright asked how many Board Members would be attending the meeting. R. Marra said that everyone said that they would make every effort to attend. MOTION: W. Felton MOVED the junior high and high school facility needs as the primary discussion at the Board’s Retreat on April 29, 2003. SECOND: W. Wright VOTE: Motion passes.       

  

C.     Curriculum Report: Mr. Barth explained to the Board that the teachers would be holding a Learning Fair. The fair would be held on May 5, 2003 which is an early release day. The fair will be preceded by a lasagna dinner to allow the teachers to add money to their student scholarship fund. Twenty teachers have agreed to participate in this fair. The band members will perform and the junior national honor society will be present.  The presentations for the night will range from computer to math presentations. The group hopes to some day make the Learning Fair into the Senior Presentation Night. The flier whom the Board has received will go out with the student report cards.

 

E.  21st Century Report: C. Cardine updated the Board on the Schools of Choice grant.  Keene Middle School would be forming a Fine Arts Academy with limited access to 6th graders from Monadnock, Hinsdale and Winchester next year.  Hinsdale would receive $20,000.00 for a virtual high school on the Internet that all schools in the program will have access to.  The auto certification program at CCC would be funded. He explained that the member districts were invited to a gathering featuring Paul Ezen, Asst. Commissioner of Education for NH, to hear about No Child Left Behind on Monday evening. There were about 55 people in attendance. The topics at the meeting were MC2, virtual high school, academy, KSC, parents outreach letter, D.Hodgdon’s letter to staff, aspiring principals fellowship, Joe Smith, education by design run through, Antioch, Masters degree profession, new staff and the fact that every school would at sometime have a full color brochure of their school. 

 

F.  Action on the Manifest: D. Gurian MOVED to approve the manifest in the amount of $1,197,246.67 SECOND: L. Colby VOTE: 9.49/0/1.18/4.33 Motion passes.

 

SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT: C. Cardine reported that since Oct. there have been 7 drop outs, two from the 9th grade, three students from the 10th grade, one from the 11th grade and one from the 12th grade. C. Cardine passed out a list of suspensions. There were 9 in the 7-8 grades, 20 in the 9-10 grades and 5 in the 11-12 grades. C. Cardine did say that some were repeats. J. Morin asked if there were any physical assaults. C. Cardine said there was hitting of a student by a student. A. Gross explained that for years studies have shown students pairing up with a staff member in a mentoring program works. He said that there is a mentoring program within the school now. D. Arguin said that the last time mentoring was mentioned you said that a member would come and speak to the Board. R. Marra said that someone would come on May 20, 2003 to explain the program. D. Stockwell mentioned to the Board about a Youth Risk Behavior Survey. He explained that the survey gives the district statistical data for grants. Parents may opt out of having their children take the survey. The student names are not used. R. Marra asked when the survey would be conducted. D. Stockwell had concerns because the survey would be the same week as the state testing. C. Cardine commented that the administration was telling the Board about the survey in case there were any questions.

 

CITIZENS CONCERNS: Mrs. Bauries was concerned with the number of students who had dropped out and was under the impression that the MC2 School would help this problem. C. Cardine explained that there were 7 students for the whole year that dropped out. He explained that Monadnock’s dropout average is at 4.5% with the state average at about 6.5%. He said that he would like to see 0%. T. Warner commented that the dropout rate reflects withdrawals.  

 

 

 

7.   SETTING UP THE NEXT MEETING’S AGENDA:

1.      Policy Committee

2.      Community Relations

3.      Facilities Committee

4.      Finance Committee

5.      Special Education Presentation

6.      Default Budget Discussion

7.      MC2

8.      Board Goals

                                                                                            

8. NON-PUBLIC SESSION

 

9 :50 PM A. Gross MOVED to enter into non-public session for the purpose of personnel. SECOND : W. Wright VOTE : Unaniomous.

 

10:45 PM  A. Gross MOVED to return to public session and to seal this portion of the non-public minutes indefinitely. SECOND: L. Colby VOTE : Unanimous for those present.

 

Motion to adjourn.  W. Wright  MOVED to adjourn the meeting at 10 :50 PM.  SECOND : G. Lerandeau VOTE: Unanimous.

Respectfully submitted,

 

Laura Aivaliotis

MRSD Board Secretary