MONADNOCK REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

Board Meeting Minutes

                                            April 20, 2004

                                          Troy Elementary, Troy, NH

 

Present: Dixie Gurian, Chair Robin Marra, Karen Cota, John Morin, Richard Thackston, William Felton, W. Wright, Tim Aho, Gene White and Sam Johnson. Absent: Colline Dreyfuss, Alan Gross and Bruce Tatro. 

Also present: C. Cardine, Supt., K. Dassau, Asst. Supt., R. Cloutier, Asst. Business Manager, and D. Hodgdon, Curriculum Director.  Principals: D. Mousette, D. Dahl and D. Stockwell.

 

R. Marra reminded the Board why they are here to strive for the best education of every child.

 

1. CONSENT AGENDA:

Minutes of April 6, 2004 Board Meeting. MOTION: W. Felton MOVED to approve the minutes. SECOND: J. Morin. DISCUSSION: W. Felton commented that K. Cota asked to have the location of the Board Orientation be changed but was not sure of the new location. R. Mara explained that the new location would be the MRHS Teacher’s Lounge.  VOTE: 10.654/0/0/4.346. Motion passes.

 

2.   CORRESPONDENCE AND ANNOUNCEMENT: C. Cardine announced that three students at MRHS made the National Merit Scholar list. He will announce the names at the next meeting.

 

The after school annual report was passed out to the Board Members.

 

C. Cardine read a letter to the Board written in response to the Sullivan Selectmen responding to their concerns on the building of the default budget. The letter will be sent to the Sullivan Selectmen. 

 

3.   STUDENT COUNCIL CONCERNS: No report. 

 

4.   PUBLIC COMMENTS: None.  

 

5.  Other School Board Business:

 

A.      Board Committee Reports:  

Community Relations Committee: D. Gurian reported that the committee met on April 8, 2004. They discussed the Annual Committee Goals. The committee discussed talking to students and former students about what they are doing and getting the information out. D. Gurian passed out the minutes from the last meeting. The next meeting will be on May 11, 2004 at 5:30 PM in the Conference Room.

 

2.  Facilities Committee: K. Cota reported that the committee met on Apr. 13, 2004. They discussed the Memorandum of Understanding and the Use of Facilities. The group discussed the CIP Report. They will be meeting on May 1, 2004 at 9:00 AM to discuss any old plans that the district has.

 

3. Finance Committee: No report at this time. D. Gurian informed the Board that the Budget Committee did meet. J. Gomarlo was elected chair. J. Gomarlo suggested that a group of budget members, members of the trade and community members each adopt a school and visit that school throughout the year to see what is needed. More discussion on this topic at the next meeting. R. Marra asked J. Gomarlo to appoint a representative to the Board. The next Finance Meeting will be on Apr. 30, 2004 at 8:45 AM in the Conference Room.

 

4. Policy Committee: W. Felton reported that the minutes of the Apr. 20, 2004 meeting were included in the Board’s Packets. He reported that the committee is still in the process of defining their mission as a committee. The next meeting will be on Apr. 28, 2004.

 

R. Marra would like to remind the members that the ADHOC Advisory will be meeting on Apr. 26, 2004 at 6:00 PM. They will be considering if when holding a grievance hearing it should be held on a separate night than the regular Board Meeting. Everyone is welcome to this meeting.

 

New Business: Memorandum of Understanding: K. Cota reported that the Facilities Committee discussed the generator. The generator was offered and installed for a minimal cost in house. The generator will get fired up once a month. The committee thought it was a good offer. MOTION: K. Cota MOVED to accept the Memorandum of Understanding. SECOND: W. Felton. VOTE: 10.653/0/0/4.346. Motion passes.

 

Use of Facilities: MOTION: K. Cota MOVED to allow the MRHS as a mass care shelter in case of an emergency. SECOND: W. Felton. VOTE: 10.654/0/0/4.346. Motion passes.

 

Supt. Cardine has received a request to offer the Health course during the summer. Ten students were not able to take the Health Course because of scheduling. The cost will be taken out of the Summer School Account. Board action will be discussed at the next meeting.

 

Supt. Cardine received a request from Thayer High School. The Winchester School Board is asking that a portion of the junior and senior classes be permitted to attend MRHS next year. C. Cardine explained that it would be about $250,000.00 in additional tuition to the District. R. Thackston commented that he would like to see the students able to come to MRHS. He would like to see the numbers for next time especially because there would be no additional staff. C. Cardine added that the MC2 School and KSC would also be options. T. Aho asked if this would effect the schools accreditation.

 

C. Old Business: Asbestos Issue: R. Marra asked the Facilities Committee and the Finance Committee to bring a recommendation to the Board for the next meeting. There is no urgency.

 

C. Cardine passed out information to the Board in regards to how the staff will be assigned in the Northern Schools next year. R. Thackston commented on the number of aides and asked if it was proportional to Troy. C. Cardine said it was. W. Wright asked how the teachers felt about teaching two or three grades. C. Cardine explained that this would not be their choice. D. Mousette explained that the teachers are willing to give it a try and that they will be receiving training for teaching within multi-grade classrooms. R. Marra read a letter from C. Dreyfuss to the Board explaining her idea on how the Northern Schools could be used. K. Cota would like to send C. Dreyfuss’ request to the Finance Committee. R. Marra explained that this is not a money saver and was not sure what committee to send it to. R. Thackston suggested sending this request to the Facilities Committee because it has to do with the buildings. D. Gurian is concerned about the timing of the request. C. Cardine explained that Board action was taken to keep the schools open. This administration is working on that promise. He would like to see this proceed and then would report to the Board on how it is working. R. Thackston commented that he agrees the administration needs to move ahead. Possibly send the request to the Facilities Committee as a long-term solution. J. Morin commented that he did not believe that C. Dreyfuss is asking for a specific time. R. Marra would like the Facilities Committee to look into this request and bring the transportation part into this discussion. R. Marra would urge T. Aho and J. Friedman to attend the Facilities Meeting when this is being discussed. 

 

D. Curriculum Report: Wayne Bartels Service Learning: The report will be given at the next meeting.

  

E.     21st Century Report: C. Cardine passed out information to the Board regarding the NEASC Report dated April 5, 2004. He explained that he was pleased with the information that was given at the last meeting and that the ventilation in the gymnasium and the auditorium are okay. Any information that his office receives on this accreditation issue will be given to the Board and the Budget Committee.

 

F.      Action on the Manifest: (The original vote was taken at the end of the meeting before non-public) MOTION: J. Morin MOVED the manifest in the amount of $1,667,996.91. SECOND: W. Wright. DISCUSSION: Questions were asked on the Do It School. This is a school for special needs children.  Granite State Billing is the agency that collects medicaid money. Rise an early intervention program for three and four year olds. C. Cardine was asked at the last meeting about a charge at the Best Western. He informed the Board that a conference was held for teachers on managing difficult students.  K. Cota asked about a new charge to the Best Western in the amount of $781.00. K. Dassau explained it could be a similar conference. T. Aho asked what the charge in the amount of $6500.00 to COSTA was for. C. Cardine was not sure but will check into it. VOTE: 8.610/0/2.044/4.346. Motion passes.  

 

6. Superintendent’s Report: C. Cardine handed out information to the Board regarding the Legislative Bulletin from the NH School Boards’ Association. He discussed a bill currently being looked at by the legislature to allow cooperative school districts to apply the funding received from the state of NH prior the costs being split out to the towns. He suggests getting a group together to look at this bill. He explained that the law regarding cooperative districts originally was set up in this manner. K. Cota asked when it changed. R. Thackston explained that it changed in 1972. C.  K. Cota asked if this had to be voted on. C. Cardine explained that it would need to be approved by the voters.  Mr. Cardine will be presenting a report with examples at the May board meeting.

 

7. PUBLIC COMMENTS: No Comments.

8. Board Chair Report: No report.

9. SETTING UP THE NEXT MEETING’S AGENDA:

1.      Committee Reports

2.      MRPSOC Grant

3.      MC2 Report

4.      Health Course Request

5.      Winchester Request

6.      Service Learning Mr. Bartels rescheduled

7.      Supt. Report on Adequacy

8.      Transition Team from Mt. Caesar.

 

K. Cota would like to discuss the middle school concept. D. Hodgdon explained that the administration team feels as if they have made a recommendation and now would like to hear from the Board.

 

10. NON PUBLIC SESSION

8:35 PM R. Thackston MOVED to enter into non-public session for the purpose of discussing a legal issue, personnel , and approving the non-public minutes of April 6, 2004.  SECOND: J. Morin  VOTE: Unanimous. Motion passes

9:05 MOTION: D. Gurian MOVED to return to public session and to seal this portion of the non-public minutes indefinitely. SECOND: R. Thackston. VOTE: Unanimous for those present. Motion Passes

 

11. Adjournment

9:05 R. Thackston  MOVED to adjourn. SECOND: W. Wright. VOTE: Unanimous for those present. Motion Passes

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Laura L. Aivaliotis

MRSD Secretary