Moultonboro School Board Minutes August 2008
Note form the MCA: A few points to highlight from these draft minutes.
· Item D of the Chairpersons report references an article on the NH Local Government Center website called "Meeting Minutes 101" a very good reference for all NH public bodies and the board felt that they met those standards ( published on the MCA website July 8th, 2008 by the way).
Now, as members of the public that read this document ( the minutes) you will easily see how difficult it is to get real information as to what is really happening. The school district budget is more the 50% of our total tax burden. Doesn't the public at large deserve better?
The school board believes that they meet the requirements for Meeting Minutes 101. We do not. From the Meeting Minutes 101 document:
"When considering the “brief summary of the subject matter discussed,” the board may want to recall that the purpose of meeting minutes is to promote openness in government and to inform citizens about what their government is doing. Citizens should be able to read minutes of a meeting and get a good idea about what happened. "
Read on .....
· Item A on the School Business Administrative report-.."FY09 Budget will come up short in the fuel line, somewhere between $50,000 to $70,000, depending on the steps that will be taken to conserve energy. She ( Kay Perannelli) feels that we can work within the budget" We assume that this means that there will be no budget overruns due to increased fuel costs.
· Item B on the School Business Administrative report- "It was noted that $78,516 will be returned to the Town to reduce 2008 taxes. She will report on this again next Board meeting." Is this the total surplus or only a portion of it? Where did it come from? No answers in the minutes
· Item C on the School Business Administrative report- "Mark Borrin moved, and Fox Smith seconded a motion, to accept Joanne Coppingerʼs bid for the engineering design of the parking lots. All voted in favor". While not implying conflict of interest, it is interesting that Joanne Coppinger is also the wife of the Moultonboro Academy Principal.
In the public comment session- "Jim Leiterman asked the Board to explain more about the $50,000 fuel deficit and how that is offset, and its relationship to the $50,000 given back to the town"..And the answer is....not in the minutes! Apparently they don't have one.
.Moultonborough School District
Monthly School Board Meeting Agenda
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Town Hall Meeting Room
Present:
Bill Blackadar, Mark Borrin, Fox Smith, Laurie Whitley, Michael Lancor, Kay Peranelli,Lou Goscinski, Scott Laliberte and Laurie Caldwell
Chairman Blackadar called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. and led attendees in the Pledge of
Allegiance.
Public Agenda:
1. Personnel Announcements: The Chairperson announced the following personnel
appointments made during non-public session:
Donna Fodero - SPED Assistant at MA Middle School
Melissa Torressen - Classroom Assistant at MCS
Grace Marino - Spanish Teacher at MA
Public Input:
None.Approval of Minutes:
A. Laurie Whitley moved, and Fox Smith seconded a motion, to approve the minutes from
the July 8, 2008 School Board meeting. All voted in favor.
General Items:
A. Electronic School Board: Laura Maroon assisted Board members and administrators with
the electronic agenda used for the first time.
B. Other Matters: None.
Chairperson's Report:
A. Calendar: The Chairperson announced the following important calendar date:
Tuesday, September 9, 2008:
Monthly School Board Meeting - 7:00 p.m. -Town HallB. 08-09 SB & Admin. Goals*: The School Board and Administration Goals for 2008-2009
were reviewed and discussed. Mark Borrin moved, and Fox Smith seconded a motion, to
accept the goals as presented. All voted in favor.
C. Town Summer Information Meeting: This meeting was held the morning of Saturday, July
19, 2008 in the Community Auditorium. Mr. Blackadar represented the School District and
reported on this event.
D. Meeting Minutes 101: The Board received a copy of the document produced by the Local
Government Center called “Legal Q & A: Meeting Minutes 101” for review and discussion......
It was felt the Board minutes that we currently do fall in line with the guidelines.
Pupil Personnel Services Director
ʼs Report:A. Other Matters: None.
Central School Administrative Report:
A. Other Matters: Principal Laliberte reported that things are coming along very very well at
MCS. He thanked the custodial staff for how well they have done with the shortened
summer.
He also updated the Board on Imagination
ʼs use of the building during this summer and thathas been going smoothly. Mr. Lancor noted that Imaginations is paying rent in advance.
Mr. Borrin observed that tree branches on the west side of the building are encroaching on
the lights. Mr. Pendexter is aware of this and will be dealing with it.
Three student have transferred out and 14 have moved in to bring the total number of
students at MCS to 319.
Academy Administrative Report:
Mr. Coppinger is on vacation and has been excused from attending by Mr. Lancor.
School Business Administrative Report:
A. 2008-2009 Budget Expenditure Update: Mrs. Peranelli presented the end-of-July 2008
Budget Report. She noted that the FY09 Budget will come up short in the fuel line,
somewhere between $50,000 to $70,000, depending on the steps that will be taken to
conserve energy. She feels that we can work within the budget.
B. Preliminary Audit Report: Mrs. Peranelli reviewed a one page preliminary report of 2007-
2008 end-of-year revenues, expenditures, fund balances and encumbrances for June 30,
2008. It was noted that $78,516 will be returned to the Town to reduce 2008 taxes. She
will report on this again next Board meeting.
C. Parking Area Engineering Design*: The Board received a copy of the advertisement
soliciting proposals for engineering services as well as the specifications for the proposals.
This includes the surveyor
ʼs maps estimating the number of parking spaces in the twopotential parking areas. They also received copies of the cost bids for each of the three
proposals received. The Board discussed the budget for this project. Mark Borrin
moved, and Fox Smith seconded a motion, to accept Joanne Coppinger
ʼs bid for theengineering design of the parking lots. All voted in favor.
D. Buildings & Grounds Update: Mrs. Peranelli and Mr. Lancor updated the Board on 2008-
2009 projects scheduled to be completed this summer.
E. Conservation of Energy: The Board received a list of ideas generated by John Pendexter
to conserve energy. The Administrative Team will be discussing these suggestions in the
near future. The Board commented on ideas that were presented. Mr. Lancor will put a
memo together outlining changes that will take place this year in order to conserve energy.
Mrs. Whitley noted that it was a great proactive list.
Superintendent's Report:
Old Business:
A. 2008-2009 Calendar Updates: The Board received a copy of the 2008-2009 calendar
previously adopted by the Board. The end of the first quarter (trimester for MCS) has
been changed to Friday, October 31 rather than Wednesday, November 5. Mr. Lancor
informed the Board that PawPrints will be mailed to parents before school starts. Meredith
News will be publishing the bus routes this year, and that will also be available at MCS,
MA and the SAU offices.
B. School Community Calendar: Mr. Lancor distributed a copy of the School Community
Calendar for Board members. The calendar was sent to the printer the week of August 4.
New Business:
A. Educational Master Plan (Year 3): Mr. Lancor updated the Board on the Educational Master
Plan. It is Year 3 of the Educational Master Plan as revised by the Administrative Team.
Laurie Whitley moved, and Fox Smith seconded a motion, to adopt the Education Master
Plan as presented. All voted in favor.
B. Strategic Planning Process: The Administrative Team has started to develop a strategic
planning process to be implemented in 2008-2009. This process would lead to a new
multi-year Educational Master Plan beginning with the 2009-2010 school year. Mr. Lancor
provided an overview of what has taken place so far. The A-Team will be discussing this
further at their next meeting.
C. Staff Breakfast (Aug. 27): Board members are invited to attend the staff breakfast to begin
at 8:00 a.m. in the MA cafeteria on Wednesday, August 27.
D. Potential Gov. Wentworth Calendar Changes: The Board received copies of two letters
sent to Mr. Lancor by Superintendent Jack Robertson. Mr. Lancor spoke with Mr.
Robertson on August 4 and updated the Board on Governor Wentworth
ʼs proposedoptions for the school week and how that would impact MA students attending the
Vocational Education Center at Kingswood High School. It was noted that we are not in a
fiscal crisis mode and that our issue is with scheduling.
School Board Committee Reports:
A. Buildings and Grounds: No Report.
B. Personnel and Negotiations: No Report.
C. Policies*: The Board received a packet of recommended policies presented by the Policy
Committee to the Board for review during the July 8, 2008 Board meeting. Mark Borrin
moved, and Laurie Whitley seconded a motion, to adopt all policies as presented. All
voted in favor.
D. Transportation and Insurance: No Report.
E. Athletic Committee: No Report.
F. Technology Planning Committee: No Report.
Administration/Community Committee Reports:
A. Moultonborough Taking Action (MTA): MTA will not meet again until September.
B. Wellness Advisory Committee: No Report.
Public Input:
The Board thanked Laura Maroon and Karen Robinson for the work they did inputting the electronic agenda and documents together. It worked out very well.
Jim Leiterman asked the Board to explain more about the $50,000 fuel deficit and how that is
offset, and its relationship to the $50,000 given back to the town.
At 9:00 p.m. Mark Borrin moved, and Fox Smith seconded a Motion to adjourn under RSA 91-
A:3, Paragraph 11(a), (b), (c). A roll call vote was taken with all members answering in the
affirmative.
0 TrackBacks
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry: Moultonboro School Board Minutes August 2008.
TrackBack URL for this entry: http://moultonboroughcitizensalliance.org/blog/mt-tb.cgi/348
Leave a comment