SAU #35 EXECUTIVE BOARD DATE: FEB. 6, 2008
SAU CENTRAL OFFICE TIME: 5:30 PM
262 COTTAGE STREET
LITTLETON, NH 03561
MINUTES
PRESENT: Chairman James Payette; Board Members Barry Liveston, Tina Peabody, Ollie Cole; Superintendent Patrick Low; Business Administrator Sally Waterhouse.
Chairman Payette called the Board meeting to order at 5:40 PM.
PUBLIC INPUT – None
MOTION BY TINA PEABODY, SECONDED BY OLLIE COLE TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE JANUARY 2, 2008 MEETING AS WRITTEN. ALL IN FAVOR, MOTION CARRIED.
FINANCIAL REPORT
Manifests were distributed for Board review and approval.
Business Administrator Sally Waterhouse distributed copies of the Financial Report for Board information and review noting that the current projected year end balance is $16,564.16.
Mrs. Waterhouse advised the Board that the first two rounds of the E-Rate process have been completed and posted. Round three will involve vendors vying for the District’s accounts. She will keep the Board apprised of the progress.
Mrs. Waterhouse advised the Board that the SAU had not included sharing of health insurance costs in the 2007-2008 budgets. It was thought at the time that this was an agreement with the Littleton District and as they had withdrawn from the SAU, it was no longer in force. Since that time it has been ascertained that other Districts had participated and that currently there are employees in Bethlehem, Lafayette, Lisbon and Profile whose spouses are employed in other Districts within the SAU. Tina Peabody advised that this had been a long standing agreement between all Districts and the withdrawal of Littleton should not have negated this agreement. The time for this question would have been when the current budgets were being prepared. Following a brief discussion, MOTION BY TINA PEABODY, SECONDED BY OLIVER COLE TO REAFFIRM THE SPLITTING OF INSURANCE COSTS FOR EMPLOYEES BETWEEN THE DISTRICTS AS IN THE PAST. ALL IN FAVOR, MOTION CARRIED.
SUPERINTENDENT’S EVALUATION UPDATE
Chairman Payette has been advised by Linda Gaitskill that the submission of completed evaluation forms has been slow. He requested that Board Chairmen encourage their members to return their completed evaluations by the February 15th deadline.
MARTIN LUTHER KING HOLIDAY DISCUSSION
Chairman Payette updated the Board on the status of the observance of this holiday as discussed at the previous meeting. Chairman Payette and Jim Colongeli, Chairman of the Profile Board, met with representatives of the Teachers Association at Profile to discuss this issue. They felt that the staff raised some very strong reasons as to why the observance of this holiday should be added back into the school calendar. Following this meeting the subject was presented to the Profile Board along with the recommendations of Mr. Payette and Mr. Colongeli. They felt that the calendar for the current school year should remain as is with classes in session on Martin Luther King Day with educational units on civil rights being stressed. They agreed to reaffirm the observance of the holiday for the 2008-2009 school year and adjusted the calendar to include this. The staff agreed to provide educational issues on civil rights prior to the observance of this holiday. A brief discussion ensued. It was noted that Bethlehem School Board has also approved the observance of this holiday in the 2008-2009 school year and that it will be discussed at Lafayette’s next meeting. Barry Liveston commented that the Lisbon Board is also discussing this issue.
Tina Peabody requested that the calendar for the 2008-2009 school year be added to the Full Board May meeting for discussion and possible re-adoption to include the Martin Luther King Holiday..
SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT
Superintendent Low updated the Board on his discussions with the SAU Office Landlord, Daniel Trombly to possibly reduce the space currently occupied by eliminating the conference and storage rooms. He read the following reply from Mr. Trombly received earlier today:
“Your lease is updated each year on June 1st. I would give you the opportunity to change your space at that time each year. This coming June you rent will go to $10.61 per sq. ft. If you removed the storage and conference rooms which is a total of 722 sq. ft. that would be $548.00 per month savings in rent for year 06/08 to 05/09. There would be a one time charge to close off these rooms estimated to be $1,000.00 to $1,500.00. The storage space in the basement that we looked at rents for $8.00 per sq. ft. and that room is 255 sq. ft. for a total of $170.00. Your net saving with the one time charge would be $343.00 per month.”
Chairman Payette advised the Board that Superintendent Low took the initiative to see what savings may be available to the Districts in consolidating space needs. This is still in the investigative stage with many aspects to be considered. It does not make sense to give up storage space and rent additional space for added costs. Chairman Payette would like the SAU to look at incorporating the storage of the records in the room under discussion within the existing space. Following a brief discussion, this issue was tabled until the April meeting.
Superintendent Low presented his recommendations for the filling of the Business Administrator Position as of July 1, 2008 with Sandy Stone, currently employed as the Administrative Assistant to the Business Administrator. This would be a two year contract ($60,000 fir the first year and a 3.5% raise for year 2). Superintendent Low called the Board’s attention to the memo summarizing this recommendation which was forwarded to them prior to the meeting. This also includes a provision for the current Business Administrator Sally Waterhouse to return on a per diem basis from November to March three days per week at $298.44 per day. This would result in a net savings to the Districts of $72,241.00 which will be included in the current budget process reducing their District shares. Tina Peabody raised the issue of the need to keep a replacement for Sandy who plans to retire on June 30, 2010 in the forefront along with the need to create documentation and time lines for the position. Following a brief discussion, MOTIN BY TINA PEABODY, SECONDED BY BARRY LIVESTON TO APPROVE THE RESTRUCTURING OF THE SAU BUSINESS OFFICE AS PRESENTED. ALL IN FAVOR, MOTION CARRIED.
Tina Peabody requested that this subject be included on the individual agendas for each Board meeting in order for discussion and approval to also occur at the local level.
Tina Peabody raised the question as to the possibility of Financial Reports being distributed with the Agenda Packets to allow Board members to review and pose any questions prior to the Board meetings. Mrs. Waterhouse will look into this and report back to the Board.
Superintendent Low advised the Board that the Administrative Team continues to work on the update of the Professional Development Plan utilizing the new guidelines provided by the DOE. Virginia Clifford, facilitator from the DOE, attended their recent meeting working with the administrative team on this process.
Superintendent Low advised the Board that the Special Education Team continues to address the Corrective Action Steps needed to be completed by April 23, 2008.
Superintendent Low has completed his meetings with principals regarding the District’s LEIP’s and is providing them with input and feedback resulting from these meetings.
Superintendent Low called the Board’s attention to the except from the NHSBA Legislative Bulletin dated 2/1/08 pertaining to the Funding of an Adequate Education, which was included in their agenda packets briefing them on the contents and fielding questions as necessary. A brief discussion ensued.
Superintendent Low advised the board that Audit’s have been completed and the reports should be forthcoming. The Auditors are awaiting the return of Legal Letters at this time. Unfortunately the audits will not be here in time to be included in the District’s individual reports. A brief discussion ensued.
Superintendent Low advised the Board that Manchester, NH has secured a Job Corps site. NCES and the NCSAA are seeking to have a satellite location for Job Corps in the Littleton area. They met here last week to discuss and are currently penning a letter to all local politicians seeking their support in this endeavor.
Superintendent Low advised the Board that NECAP Scores have been received. He has reviewed all sores and issued feedback to the principals stressing the need to continue to encourage student writing. Superintendent Low commented that many Districts have improved their scores over that of last year. A brief discussion ensued.
OTHER BUSINESS
Tina Peabody advised the Board that she along with other members have received a notification from the Local Government Center pertaining to a lawsuit involving retirement issues. Superintendent Low advised the Board that he has forwarded this to SAU 35’s legal counsel for review and comment. A brief discussion ensued.
Mrs. Peabody advised the Board that she has also received a letter from Senator Joseph D. Kenney of District 3 pertaining to Education and Funding Issues and the sponsoring of a Constitutional Amendment, CACR 43, relating to local public education. She has also received a letter from Rep. Paul Ingbretson, Grafton District 5 Representative on the same issue. She requested that Superintendent Low review and comment on these items.
Chairman Payette distributed copies of a recent communication form McLaughlin Law Office pertaining to an Assented Motion to Extend Deadlines filed by Attorney Teague on behalf of the Littleton School District. Chairman Payette will be participating in a conference call with Attorney’s Phil McLaughlin and Jay Boynton on this data. He will keep the Board updated on this issue.
There being no further business to come before the Board, MOTION TINA PEABODY, SECONDED BY OLLIE COLE TO ADJOURN AT 6:53 PM. ALL IN FAVOR, MOTION CARRIED.
Respectfully submitted,
Marjorie Brown
Board Clerk