Monadnock Regional School District

                                                  Budget Committee Minutes

                                              Gilsum Elementary, Gilsum NH

                                                          April 22, 2008

                                                            Approved

 

Present Members: James Ells, Neil Moriarty, Richard Smith, Norm Dion, George Tremblay, Peg Richmond, John Tommila, Peter Stuhlsatz, Wayne Lechlider, David Ott, Tony Ellsworth, Kathleen Stark and Mike Morrison.

Absent Members: Jen Gomarlo and Lynn Russ.

Others Present: K. Dassau, Superintendent.

 

K. Dassau opened the meeting at 7:00 PM.

 

The School District Moderator swore in the new member, Tony Ellsworth and Kathleen Stark.

 

MOTION: R. Smith MOVED to nominate W. Lechlider as Chair of the Budget Committee. SECOND: P. Stuhlsatz. VOTE: 13-yes. Motion passes. MOTION: R.Smith MOVED to nominate J. Tommila as the Vice Chair of the Budget Committee. SECOND: J. Ells. VOTE: 13-yes. Motion passes.

 

1.      Approval of the January 10, 2008 Minutes: MOTION: N.Moriarty MOVED to approve the January 10, 2008 Minutes. SECOND: R. Smith. VOTE: 12-yes and T. Ellsworth abstained. Motion passes.  

 

2.      Public Comments:

 

3.      Budget Oversight: K. Dassau reported that there were no monthly expense reports prepared. The School Board Finance Committee is looking at budget transfers in the Default Budget but not yet. MOTION: J.Ells. MOVED to table the MRSD Monthly Expense Report discussion and all items included until the next meeting. SECOND: R. Smith. DISCUSSION: N. Moriarty asked that the reports go out prior to the next meeting. J. Tommila asked if the District was on budget. K. Dassau reported that they anticipate a half a million-dollars to the good. VOTE: 13-yes. Motion passes.

 

4.      Appoint Default Budget Sub-Committee: N. Moriarty explained that they have not always had this committee. He said that there are usually 3 or 4 members and J. Fortson attends as a non-voting member. The Default Budget Committee prepares the budget and brings it back to the full committee for approval. N. Moriarty, N.Dion, D. Ott and J. Tommila volunteered to be on the committee.

 

5.      Review/Adjust/Set Budget Committee meeting schedule: K. Dassau explained the School Board Finance Committee approved the schedule passed out to the Budget Committee. He explained that there is no joint meeting scheduled with the School Board and Budget Committee. He explained that the School Board Meetings are open to the public. N. Moriarty asked why this process. He commented that the Budget Committee does not receive a budget until November. W. Lechlider commented that the Budget Committee would like to receive the budget prior to the all day work session. J. Ells asked about the presentation by the principals that they received last year. K. Dassau explained that the all day meeting is clearly a School Board Meeting. J. Ells commented that it is important that the Budget Committee have a chance to ask questions. MOTION: J. Ells. MOVED to plan a meeting on September 27, 2008 at 8:30 AM at the same spot the School Board has with the budget in hand. SECOND: N. Mortiarty. VOTE: 13-yes. Motion passes. The Committee commented that they do not have any other scheduled meetings. K. Dassau explained that the Budget Committee could attend the Sept. 27, 2008, October 28, 2008 and the Nov. 4, 2008 School Board Meetings which deal with the budget. MOTION: J. Ells MOVED to schedule a Budget Committee meeting on May 27, 2008 and to bring a proposal to set the meetings there after. SECOND: R. Smith. DISCUSSION: N. Moriarty asked about having the meetings at different buildings. VOTE: 13-yes. Motion passes. The next meeting is on May 27, 2008 at the MRHS Library.

6.      Any other item the committee wishes to discuss: K. Dassau reported that the School Board and the Teachers Union have ratified a new contract. They met on April 8, 2008 and have come to an agreement. He passed out the changes to the Budget Committee. The expectation is that the School Board’s Attorney draft a request to the Supreme Court for a special meeting. K. Dassau passed out the 2005-2006 salary schedule and the 2009-2010 salary schedule if it had passed. He commented that the School Board and the Budget Committee all supported the last contract in March. He explained that the Board is not in an attractive position to attract new teachers or ones with experience. They go to Keene and get a lot more money. K. Dassau handed out the highlights of the contract. He is hopeful to receive a motion to support the new proposal from the Budget Committee tonight. G. White explained the changes. He said that the health insurance percentage did not change and the Evergreen is completely gone. N.Moriarty asked about Article 151. He asked if the voters were one of the parties in the article. K. Dassau explained that it is the same language as in the Support Staff contract. N. Moriarty commented that in Article 15.1 it says both parties. He does not know who  both parties are and how to vote. He said that it does not include the voters. N. Dion commented that this is not different. G. White continued to explain that the Early Retirement goes away completely after one year. There would be 7 teachers for 5 years. The Longevity amounts changed. The amounts are as follows: 1st year $100,000.00, 2nd year $200,000.00, 3rd year $250,000.00 and the 4th year $250,000.00. The tuition reimbursement and the loan reimbursement increase over the life of the contract. The personnel days increase to 3 days for the 2nd and 3rd year of the contract. G.Tremblay asked the cost projected out over the new contract. It was commented that the first year is exactly the same. G. White commented that the Longevity is divided among the current employees. G. Tremblay commented that the pool amount is known but how does it offset the Early Retirement. G. White would have to get that figure. C. Kahn gave her figures of what the savings would be. J. Tommila asked about the tuition reimbursement. G. White explained that it is a pool of money available to all the teachers. First come first serve. K. Dassau explained that the amount per credit is capped and the amount can not exceed the amount of a graduate course at UNH. He explained that each teacher could have up to $750.00 each for staff development. N. Moriarty asked the price of a special election. K. Dassau said it is about $8500.00. N. Moriarty suggested voting on the proposal at the next meeting. J. Ells asked for a point of order. He asked K. Dassau to confirm or deny how many teachers have left the School District. K. Dassau explained that 38 teachers are seeking additional employment at the MS and HS. One teacher has already gone to Westmoreland. C. Kahn explained that she received information from a survey that she had emailed each teacher. She said she had not received a response from all the teachers. MOTION: J. Ells MOVED to discuss the teacher contract proposal tonight and to support this document and get behind the teachers. SECOND: P. Richmond. DISCUSSION: N. Moriarty commented that this item was not on the agenda. W. Lechlider explained that the committee is discussing item number 6. K. Dassau explained that the Committee could suspend Roberts Rules. J. Ells and P. Richmond reworded the motion. MOTION: J. Ells. MOVED to discuss the changes made to the Teacher’s contract and to take a vote to support the contract proposal. SECOND: P. Richmond. DISCUSSION: It was asked why wait until the next meeting to vote. W. Lechlider commented that people might want to digest the information. N. Moriarty had a question about the parties in Article 15.1. J. Tommila commented that he is not prepared to take a vote. He has some reservations and questions. J. Tommila asked what criteria does the School Board have to ask for a special meeting. K. Dassau explained that it would be the departing of staff, the inability to retain and attract staff. The Attorney is preparing a letter for an emergency meeting. J. Tommila asked if it is really an emergency. If all the staff is leaving that is an emergency but they are not all leaving. J. Tommila also stated that he has a lot of reservations about Attorney Apple and would like to hire someone who could be fairer. Dr. Kaplan asked for a point of order. J. Tommila was not on subject. J. Tommila agreed. P.Richmond commented that there is an emergency because there is no contract. J. Ells commented that the Monadnock Taxpayers did not support the contract. N. Moriarty called for a point of order. R. Smith commented that the teachers do have a contract it is four years old. K. Dassau reviewed the process for a special meeting. N. Moriarty would ask the administration to keep a true log of exit interviews. K. Dassau explained that they had that conversation. He read the letters of resignation. The letters are in public and in the Board minutes. W. Lechlider commented that it would be nice to have an exit interview. K.Dassau commented that the reason is in the exit letter. The exit interview in private. G. Tremblay asked for the clarification on the “parties” in Article 15.1. C. Kahn explained that she would run it past Mary Gaul. C. Kahn explained that her interpretation is the Union and the School Board. K. Dassau explained that this is in the Support Staff contract. J. Ells commented that if you are uncomfortable move on. That is the purpose of the motion. MOTION: N. Moriarty MOVED to table the motion. SECOND: J. Tommila. (2/3 vote required) VOTE: D. Ott-no, J. Ells-no, W. Lechlider-no, P. Richmond-no, R. Smith-no, K. Stark-no, J. Tommila-yes, N. Moriarty-yes, P. Sthlsatz-no, G. Tremblay-no, N. Dion-yes, M. Morrison-no and T. Ellsworth. Motion failed. MOTION: R. Smith MOVED to suspend the rules and to take up J. Ells’motion. SECOND: P. Stuhlsatz. VOTE: R. Smith-yes, N. Dion-no, T. Ellsworth-yes, D. Ott-yes, J. Ells-yes, W. Lechlider-yes, P. Richmond-yes, M. Morrison-yes, K. Stark-yes, J. Tommila-yes, N.Moriarty-no, P. Stuhlsatz-yes and G. Tremblay-yes. Motion passes. VOTE on motion to support the Teacher’s Contract presented by G. White revised by the School Board and the Union. 10-yes, J. Tommila-no, N. Moriarty-no and N. Dion-no. Motion passes.

 

W. Lechlider asked for any additional items. N. Dion commented that there was a lot of distrust on the School Board and that he was happy that R. Smith was the liaison for the School board. He said that it got really bad at the end of the end of the year with the name calling, anti-education that was done by the School Board. He said there was no purpose and not productive. He commented that people give the Monadnock Taxpayers Group way too much credit. He said that the group supported the Support Staff Contract and it passed. The Default Budget has a lot of wasted money in it. The group supported the Education Committee. Education has to be a priority. If we had the committee in place the shuffle of principals would not have happened. If we tended to business as the School Board and the administration things would be better. R.Smith commented that there is an Education Committee. J. Ells hoped that the comments are not against Kids First pro-education committee. He said that the District needs new leadership, it is not a one way street. He ran because of the negativity. He said that when the Monadnock Taxpayers go away he would resign from the Kids First Group. He speaks for everyone that has a child in education. R. Smith commented that every time the School Board or the Budget Committee mentioned the Monadnock Taxpayers Association it is empowering them.

 

N. Moriarty commented that the principals should not be asked back a second time for their budgets. J. Gomarlo’s way was best. Bringing back the principals for additional meetings is not necessary.

 

M. Morrison commented on the technology in the budget.

 

J. Tommila commented that we try to portray through emotion but not through facts. The NEASC Report focuses on reorganization. The voters passed a roof article. They want to see that done. Emotions are black marks. J. Ells commented that you could not buy technology with 6 default budgets. The School Board spends accordingly. He said that the new people need to understand the process. We seem to focus on hacking away at the budget. The principals have been directed by the administration to have a 0%increase. We always have the approach of what we can cut. It is what we need to educate our kids. R. Smith commented on facing the voters with at $500,000.00 savings. Whose fault is it? N. Moriarty commented that having a 32 million-dollar budget and a $500,000.00 savings is not bad. R. Smith would suggest going to the administrators with the $500,000.00 savings to see if it is needed before going to the voters.

 

K. Dassau commented that there is an Education Committee. R. Smith is on the Facilities Committee and the work is getting done. W. Lechlider commented that he would not oppose spending the money due to the test scores that came out. K. Dassau explained that the budget is done 18 months out. The School Board and the Budget Committee tell us what you want to do with the extra money.

 

R. Smith reported that the weight room and the roofs are going forward. The gym floor is going out to bid. W. Lechlider commented that the School Board liaison should have a spot on the agenda.

 

T. Ellsworth commented that she hoped that the committee does not have redundancy with the budget and cooperate. What can we do as far as money to run the school system. There are 2 different groups it does not make sense. J. Tommila explained that the Budget Committee serves as an asset. They review the budget. There could be mistakes. T. Ellsworth commented on the redundancy of the Committee. She believes in the Budget Committee.

 

7.      Superintendent’s Report: K. Dassau welcomed the new Budget Committee Members. He explained that most of the information in on line. He said that it is very frustrating about the roofs. It had been answered 50 times. He commented that there are reading experts from the State that went to the elementary schools. The importance of the science state testing was stressed to the students. He commented that we need to get pass the politics. It is huge to get the teacher’s contracts passed. It is huge for morale and huge for the District.

 

8.      Chair Comments: W. Lechlider thanked the Committee for the opportunity as the Chair. We are at a crossroad and we need to listen to all. The 2 groups have good ideas, which we should bring together and do what is best for the kids. The curriculum improvements could come within. It is a credibility issue with the Budget Committee and the School Board. He was at the school on Black Friday and they know the importance of AYP. The next meeting is May 27, 2008. Come with a vision and ideas to support with the School board.

 

9.      Public Comments: Dr. Kaplan thanked the Budget Committee for supporting the Teacher’s Contracts. He said that the teachers are a great group that wants to bring the school around. He commented on the visit from Governor Lynch. Governor Lynch asked the students what they learned and they responded that they received a good education.

 

C. Kahn commented on the number of teachers that are leaving the District and that there are not many applying for the positions. She said that they are leaving because they are not appreciated.

 

D. Ott commented on the condition of the District. He said that Surry is gone. Sullivan has the funds to withdraw and Gilsum being the lonely Northern District is not far behind. He would like to see the school produce entrepreneurs instead of service workers. We are in a crisis to change. Congratulation on the vote to support the School Board concerning the contract. It is a wise choice to make.

 

J. Tommila commented on the economy and how we are to fund education.

 

P. Richmond would agree with not giving credit to other groups. We need to let everyone know what is going on.

 

A parent commented that she is deeply concerned with the schools. She along with 10 other parents has started a web site. It is around what they want to do as Gilsum parents. They can not send their children to a school that is in the paper all the time. This year is very crucial. Children need to be supported.

 

K. Stark commented that all of her children have received a good education in Monadnock and it is important to protect what her children got.

 

K. Dassau explained that the Board is in contact with the accreditation people. The School Board Facilities Committee is working hard. We have not had an architectural study ever. R. Smith commented that he is confident that we are making progress.

 

MOTION: J. Tommila. MOVED to adjourn at 9:30 PM. SECOND: R. Smith. VOTE: 13-yes. Motion passes.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

Laura L. Aivaliotis