Monadnock Regional School District

Budget Committee Minutes

MRSD MS/HS, Swanzey, NH

May 27, 2008

Present Members: James Ells, Neil Moriarty, Norm Dion, George Tremblay, Peg Richmond, John Tommila, Peter Stuhlsatz, Wayne Lechlider, David Ott, Toni Ellsworth, Kathleen Stark, Jen Gomarlo, Lynn Rust and Mike Morrison.

Absent Members: Robert Smith.

Others Present: K. Dassau, Superintendent, D. Hodgdon, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and K. Chambers, Business Manager.

1. Approval of the April 22, 2008 Minutes: MOTION: N.Moriarty MOVED to approve the April 22, 2008 Minutes as amended. The amended minutes are on file. SECOND: G. Tremblay. VOTE: 12.277/0/1.238/2.485. Motion passes.

2. Public Comments: R. Bauries commented that he would be speaking as a member of the Monadnock Taxpayers Association. He commented on the health care savings from 12.2% to 2.75%. He said that the taxpayers did not support the budget and that there is a default budget. Under a default budget you can not start new contracts or hire people. There is a 2.2 million dollar surplus in the default budget. He said that this could be a legal problem. He said do not worry because the group would be asking questions and putting out materials each week.

P. Bauries asked the Budget Committee to put their minutes on the web site like the School Board does. P. Stuhlatz arrives.

3. Budget Oversight:

3a. MRSD Monthly Expense Report: K. Chambers handed out a sheet on the insurance savings. The total saving for all three districts plus the SAU is $771,893.64. The savings for Monadnock are $478,491.84. K. Chambers explained that the figure put in the budget is the guaranteed maximum rate by the insurance company. The District hired IPG to do the negotiations with the insurance companies for a total of $55,000.00. She explained that the Districts decided to go with LGC and received the rate due to pressure and negotiations from IPG. They have done a great job. K. Chambers handed out a packet of papers. She explained that the remaining amount in the budget is $4,588,644.22. She anticipates hitting the revenue number but not going over. She explained that the packet contained the Federal Grants. She explained that the revenues are lagging but the district would break even.

3b. Major Transfers: K. Chambers explained that the kitchen hood is to be done this summer. The 2007 Capital Projects have been put on hold due to the Kaestle Boos Study. Some would be implemented over the summer, not all but a vast majority. The roofs project is due to start Friday. The gym improvement bids are to be reviewed tomorrow night and recommended to the Board on June 3, 2008. The Food Service has done a terrific job and is expected to break even. K. Chambers passed out transfer information to the Committee. She explained the transfers and that the School Board approved all of them. She explained the improvements and renovations that would be done to the Wilcox building to prepare it for the MC2 program. K. Chambers explained that the School Board Contingency line is the health insurance savings and that the School Board drew on that to get things accomplished. She explained the transfer for the Wilderness Trek Program.

4. Review potential Budget Surplus: K. Chambers explained that the amount remaining is $ 4,588,644.22. She would expect that there would be a $500,000.00 surplus that would be turned back. The Finance Committee would be making recommendations to the School Board for up to $500,000.00 of the surplus. They would recommend that the Mt. Caesar and the high school roofs of 1990 and older be completed and to fill the oil tanks, replace some textbooks and some computers, replace some furniture that is original to the building, install proper storage for hazardous material and other items. K. Chambers explained that she has checked with the Dept. of Revenue and roofs do fit the bill. The School Board has the authority under RSA 30 2:10 to spend the surplus. They have bottom line authority. N. Moriarty commented that the nurse’s office should be fixed. It was mentioned in the last two NEASC Reports. The School Board should take a stand and not let the nurse’s office hang. K. Chambers explained that we need to spend this year, by the end of June. We would not have a final floor plan for the nurse’s office. We are going to ask the NEASC if the plan would fix the problem. If it would we plan to go forward. In the default we do not have the facts and figures. N. Moriarty commented that the NEASC is a group of teachers and administrators. K. Chambers commented that they said they would respond. W. Lechlider asked if we could assume that B. Mitchell is backlogged. K. Dassau commented that he heard a suggestion of avoiding the bidding process and giving the job to a particular vendor. The Board is moving ahead. K. Chambers commented that B. Mitchell is doing a fantastic job. The weight room is complete. He is working at 210%. K. Dassau commented that the budget was developed in Dec. 2006. The surplus is less than 3%.

5. School Board Liaison Report:

5a. Curriculum: D.Hodgdon reported that the School Board has established an Education Committee, chaired by J. Carnie. The first topic was the NEASC. D.Hodgdon explained the results of the tests that were taken last fall. He said that there are some significant improvements. They do not get us out of a School In Need of Improvement status but we are moving toward 100% proficiency by 2014. There have been strong improvements in Sullivan and at Emerson. Troy has made a significant improvement in reading. Gilsum was added to the list of Schools in Need of Improvement due to the economically disadvantaged students but still improved. He is working with the teachers and the administration to make sure the curriculum is K-12. He is very pleased that we are making progress. We have a lot of work to do. He reported that grades 4, 8 and 11 did science testing in May the results would not be back until the fall. The high school made a conservative effort to work with the students and let them know how important this test is. Dr. Kaplan commended J. Butterfield for his efforts stressing the importance of the test. There were help sessions after school offered to students. Overall a higher number of students took it more seriously. We will continue our efforts. J.Tommila congratulated Emerson and asked why not the other schools. D.Hodgdon explained that each school has tried to analyze that. We focus on certain aspects. We are planning on adopting some of the approaches from Emerson. We will make sure that the curriculum is aligned. The state tests are very demanding. They are constantly looking to raise the standards. K. Dassau explained that K. Craig, K. Dassau and the principals from the other schools would be meeting. B. Tatro explained that 20% of her students are identified as special ed. students. D. Hodgdon explained that the 11^th graders at MC2 take the test as part of the high school and that MC2 curriculum is aligned to the state standards.

5b. Facilities: K. Dassau reported that the gym floor and the roofs are going to be worked on and the weight room is complete. The Education Committee voted to support the NEASC. The Facilities Committee also uses the NEASC Report to support their projects. On June 3, 2008 there would be a Kaestle Boos presentation.

5c. Direction: K. Dassau commented that it is premature. This is the first time through a Facilities Study. K. Chambers explained that the Master Plan is built on an educational program. What we have and need in the future and what facilities we need to support it and bring it up to code. It is not a proposal but it identifies items. N. Moriarty has volunteered to be the liaison to meet with the Finance Committee.

6. Vision 2008-09:

6a. Public opinion: P. Stuhlsatz reported that historically Roxbury has supported the budget and education. They have a good voter turn out. Personally it is very easy to support spending. This is a District in trouble and we need to fix it. You can not fix it without spending money. We need to spend the money.

J. Tommila commented that the funding formula District wide is unfair.

K. Stark commented that they have the second highest assessment.

G. Tremblay commented that Troy did not support the budget. They have talked with the selectmen. There is not a lot of direct communication. We are not hearing what P. Stuhlsatz is hearing. Economically Troy is different. He said that the Troy representatives should do better with communication to the voters.

J. Gomarlo commented that she hears things at meetings. She said that parents are willing to spend the money. It is an accountability issue with the people that grew up here. The key is communication. She can not believe that things keep tanking themselves.

D. Ott commented that Gilsum is one of the Northern towns a distance from Swanzey. There is a feeling of hopelessness. The town is carefully looking at Surry. People are at a wait and see attitude. There are a lot of people who do not care.

T. Ellsworth commented that in Sullivan there are some that are very much in support of the District. Information is an issue. The selectmen’s fire is lit by one voice. The Northern Schools are a half an hour away. The barrier is a problem.

N. Moriarty commented that K. Chambers and K. Dassau produce a lot of information, more than ever. Richmond is a conservative town. We need to get together with the selectmen. We are spending the money. We out spend Keene, Fall Mountain and Hinsdale per pupil. We have given maintenance every dollar they have asked for. If we do not do a thing the increase is 4 % in the budget. Oil has increased and there might be a potential bond. How much more do you want to spend? The refrigerator is a killer and not returning the $500,000.00. N. Moriarty commented that he has the real numbers from DOE. W. Lechlider commented that it is not fair to project if you do not have the documentation to what is driving the numbers.

Lynn Rust asked if we could request the numbers and why we are spending more than the state average. K. Dassau explained that he is willing to do an analysis. He said that they do support education.

N.Dion commented that a lot of people in Troy have pride for their elementary school and Monadnock. There is mistrust at the high school. Paying a superintendent whom was not working. People in Troy want good schools. They support the maintenance articles. The School Board knows there is a lot of extra money in the default. There is a lot of waste in the District.

P. Richmond commented that Swanzey voted to support. The voter turn out was not a landslide. We need to get more people involved.

J.Ells commented that he does not feel that Swanzey or the District gives a damn. He said that it is sad but he does not know the answer. Everyone commented on the support of the maintenance items but the buildings are falling down. There are problems in curriculum, education and taxes. There is no quick fix. We need to get more people involved.

M. Morrison commented that the kids did badly on the test. That is the end result for the dollar. The teacher’s contract is a potential problem. We are not keeping teachers. We have a problem with leadership in the schools. He hoped that the science tests are higher and a pitch can be made.

J. Ells commented that the parents need to be more involved in their child’s education.

6b. Goals/Direction: W. Lechlider commented that there is not enough information yet. N. Moriarty commented on a petition that he said would kill any bond issue that comes up. W. Lechlider asked if this group is willing to make the budget flat and get behind a bond or get behind something to pick away at the problems. What are you people willing to get behind. J. Ells commented that the Budget Committee needs to receive the budget early. T. Ellsworth suggested hammer it out here and get united before the public. P. Stuhlsatz explained that the function is not to make policy but to analyze the numbers as proposed by the School Board. This Committee has been meddling in policy. N. Moriarty commented that the committee has done it different ways. J. Gomarlo commented there are so many things in the budget set. Is there something big we want to get behind but we are not sure of what is coming up.

7. Teacher’s Contract-Special Meeting: W. Lechlider commented that J. Ells made a motion at the last meeting to support the teacher’s contracts. That motion was not to address the special meeting. We did not give a position on the special meeting. K.Dassau commented that it is a packaged deal. If there is no special meeting there is are no contract. C. Kahn would like to hear a vote for the special meeting and give the support to the teachers. She would ask someone to make a motion. J. Tommila does not agree with it being an emergency. He would like to hold the teachers off until March. The teachers had an opportunity on the health insurance and they refused to vote. The teachers did not get their contracts so they had a walk out. He said to tell him that this is an emergency as he read the salaries of some of the teachers. He said that it would make a lot of people mad to go for a vote now. K. Dassau explained that the Board has filed and the first hearing is on June 12, 2008. It is happening. The School Board supported the contract but the public at large does not. Support your elected officials. N. Moriarty commented that it is correct that it has been filed. The 2008 March warrants are a total. This issue is a real hold up. W. Lechlider commented that Attorney Apple said that this would move through Superior Court. K. Dassau commented that he does not have a crystal ball. Three science teachers are resigning and there have been no raises since 2005. The train has left the station. He thought that the vote to support the teachers done at the last meeting was the same as the special meeting. P. Richmond commented that we might save the teachers that may be leaving. This is perfect timing. We are at risk of loosing teachers. K. Dassau said it sends a positive statement to the teachers. MOTION: P. Richmond. MOVED that the Budget Committee show their support for the special meeting. SECOND: J. Ells. DISCUSSION: MOTION: N. Moriarty. MOVED to table the motion. Failed for lack of second. N. Moriarty would challenge the chair. P. Stuhlsatz commented that any motion needs a second. MOTION: J.Gomarlo MOVED to suspend Robert’s Rules for the duration of the meeting. SECOND: P. Richmond. VOTE: 9.031/3.480/2.501/0.988. Motion passes. Dr. Kaplan read to challenge the chair from the website. J. Ells commented that the request for a special meeting is perfectly legal. We can stand behind them or not. G. Tremblay commented that it feels messy that we the Budget Committee vote on a special meeting. We voted on the contracts. J. Ells commented that was a point well taken. N. Moriarty called to move the question. VOTE on support of special meeting: 8.441/4.329/2.242/0.988. Motion passes. MOTION: J. Ells MOVED to have Robert’s Rules govern the Budget Committee meetings. SECOND: P. Stuhlsatz. VOTE: 12.770/0/2.242/0.988. Motion passes.

8. Review/Adjust/Set Budget Committee Meeting Schedule: The next meeting would be on June 24, 2008 at Emerson. W. Lechlider would encourage the committee to attend the Kaestle Boos Presentation on June 3, 2008.

8a. Annual School Budget Schedule: the Committee would like the proposed budget prior to the Sept. 27, 2008 meeting. J.Ells commented that the Budget Committee needs to make up their own schedule. K. Dassau would like to make sure that a suit does not take place like last year. The Budget committee would receive the exact schedule as the School board and receive the proposed budgets on Sept. 19, 2008.

9. Any other items the committee wishes to discuss: N. Dion commented on the excellent discussion under number 6. He said that it is important that everyone reads the NEASC Report than you have a sense of the most important things. K. Dassau explained that the report is on line.

10. Set next agenda: June 24, 2008 at 7:00 PM at Emerson Elementary.

11. Superintendent’s Comments: K. Dassau commented that he appreciated the candor. He commented that he would suggest a part-time public relations person to get information out to the public.

12. Chair Comments: W. Lechlider commented that the committee is down the right road. There are a lot of positives. He would urge everyone to attend the June 3, 2008 School Board Meeting.

13. Public Comments: C.Kahn thanked the Committee for their support of the special meeting. She had assumed that the Committee was in favor at the last meeting.

C. Kahn explained that the teachers did not take a vote on the Cigna Plan because we needed more time to find out about them. They hoped to find something positive. It did not happen. It took 5 unions and none of them took a vote. The teachers are being singled out. When J. Tommila read the salaries those were teachers with master degrees and years of experience. He commented on 29 teachers calling in sick out of 199 in the District. That is not a huge percentage. She explained some of the excuses that the teachers had. She suggested too let things go. We need to move things forward on a positive note. There are a lot of teachers leaving and the positions to fill difficult.

Dr. Kaplan commented that the teachers are tired of being blamed for not going with Cigna. The Budget committee has not been true themselves. The Budget committee needs to represent the public. Going against your Board is mistrust. When a decision is made you need to back it. You need to present a united front.

N. Moriarty commented that the Support Staff does not have right to refusal.

MOTION: N.Moriarty MOVED to adjourn at 10:00 PM. SECOND: P. Stuhlsatz. VOTE: Unanimous for those present. Motion passes.

Respectfully submitted,

Laura L. Aivaliotis