Exeter Region Cooperative School Board Budget Work Session Minutes

Saturday, January 6, 2007 – 8:00 AM

Exeter High School (Epping Road) – Roy Morrisette Alumni Room

 

 

Present: Greg Kann, Lucy Cushman, Kim Casey, Robin Scott, Kris Magnusson, Sally Oxnard,
Patty Lovejoy, Ray Trueman and Townley Chisholm (arrived late)

 

Absent: N/A

 

Administration: Arthur Hanson, Walter Pierce, Nathan Lunney, Richard Wendell, Victor Sokul, Tom O’Malley and Margaret Callahan

 

 

1.   CALL TO ORDER/PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Chair Kann called the meeting to order at 8:08 AM followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.  Board members and administrators introduced themselves.

 

2.   OVERVIEW OF THE DAY

2.1  Timeline & Guidelines for the Day – Greg Kann:  Chair Kann reviewed timelines and guidelines of meeting.  No questions. 

2.2  Overview of the FY 2008 Budget – Arthur Hanson: Superintendent Hanson gave a brief overview of the budget process for 2008.  No questions. 

 

3.   UPDATE ON OCCUPANCY PLANS OF TUCK LEARNING CAMPUS –
       Walter Pierce / Dick Wendell / Skip Hanson: Mr. Pierce explained that he sees the primary focus will be for board to determine what budget they would like to work within for this renovation.  In working with the architects, Team Design, Mr. Pierce handed out the latest floor plan (see Attachment #1 pdf) and passed out a five-year cash flow based on using a $500,000 budget (see Attachment #2 pdf).  He hopes to get renovation done within 2006-07 fiscal year; in 2012, without building aid, looks like there will be about a $60,000 positive cash flow.  Discussion followed with explanation that the project does not get exact “final” cost figures, i.e., bids from contracts, etc., until the board approves the project with “estimated” figures.  If the board chooses to put the building aide monies back into the maintenance trust fund, then will need to have a warrant article for that purpose. 

3.1  Vote on Use of Maintenance Trust Fund Monies for SAU Renovation –
 Greg Kann: Motion by Patty Lovejoy with a second by Sally Oxnard to use up to $300,000 of Maintenance Trust Fund for construction and renovations at Tuck Learning Campus for the SAU offices.  Discussion followed.  With no further discussion, Chair Kann called for a vote: 6-2 (Trueman, Magnusson).

 

4.       SUPERINTENDENT’S RECOMMENDED BUDGET - Nathan Lunney: Superintendent reminded board of a couple of things in the budget they may not be aware of: reviewed history of 6-12 curriculum coordinator position and after discussion with Mr. Sokul/O’Malley, he and administration are recommending full time curriculum coordinators at both CMS and EHS.  Chair Kann called for a five minute recess and board reconvened at 8:50 AM.  Mr. Lunney reviewed his Power Point presentation on the budget (see Attachment #3 pdf).  Mr. Lunney also pointed out that with regard to transportation costs for this year, the administration is investigating consolidating the late buses for second semester.  Additionally, in response to a question in early fall from a board member on what the effect would be, time wise and monetarily, to change the bus routes to accommodate driving into about 40 additional subdivisions to pick up students who currently walk less than one mile to their stop, he reviewed the estimated additional bus costs and changes in morning pick up times to earlier than 6:30 AM. No further questions on transportation.  He then discussed the other pages in his handout.

4.1   Dick Wendell – Maintenance: Mr. Lunney and Mr. Wendell discussed the maintenance budget.

4.2   Tom O’Malley – CMS: Mr. O’Malley discussed why he was able to recommend budget with little increase and responded to questions from board.

4.3  Victor Sokul – EHS: Mr. Sokul reviewed the staffing requests for EHS and answered various questions from the board. 

 

Break for Lunch at 11:45 AM: Robin Scott left the meeting.  Tom O’Malley left the meeting.

 

Resumed session at 12:25 PM

 

Superintendent and Mr. Wendell discussed the three security options for CMS (see Attachments #4A, 4B and 4C pdf) and answered board questions.  On a motion by Ms. Lovejoy, seconded by Dr. Oxnard and board voted 7-1(Trueman) to place option #2 (Attachment 4B) for $17,623 into the proposed budget.  Mr. Trueman questioned what has been done about having an SRO (School Resource Officer) for CMS and Superintendent responded that having an SRO at CMS was not an ERCSD goal and, therefore, the administration has not invested time in pursuing this.

 

5.   TAX IMPACT OF FY 2008 BUDGET – Nathan Lunney: Mr. Lunney noted revenues and expenses and reviewed the tax impacts for the towns.  Mr. Chisholm arrived at 1:05 PM.  Chair Kann explained that the board needs to approve budget as presented for public hearing on Thursday when we will get public input and at that time the budget could be moved up or down.  At the board meeting following the public hearing, the board would then have a final vote on the budget.  Motion by Ms. Lovejoy and seconded by Ms. Casey to accept the FY 2008 budget as presented with earlier amendment for change at CMS for $17,623.  Discussion followed.  Since no further discussion, Chair Kann called for a vote on the budget: unanimous.  At 1:10 PM, Chair Kann called for a five minute recess; board reconvened at 1:15 PM.

 

6.   SST RENOVATION – Walter Pierce: Mr. Pierce noted Mrs. Callahan, Assistant Principal at SST who has been and will continue to be quite involved with this project as it goes forward, is here to review the plans.  Mr. Pierce reviewed the information at the September 26^th meeting regarding the financing for this project.  Mrs. Callahan noted updates since last meeting with board; NH legislators as well as the Governor has to approve this funding for the renovation as they have done with all previous vocational schools in NH; $8.5 million dollar budget for project.

 

7.   WARRANT ARTICLE(S) – Walter Pierce / Nathan Lunney:

7.1  SST Renovation:  SST Warrant Article (see Attachment #5 pdf) was reviewed by Mr. Pierce.  Chair Kann explained that we will speak to the article at the Public Hearing and then board will have a vote on this at the board meeting that follows.  Board will vote on this article today since for purposes of stating “(The School Board recommends this appropriation)”.  Motion by Ms. Lovejoy, seconded by Ms. Cushman and with no further discussion, board voted 7-1 (Trueman).

7.2  FY 2008 Budget: Mr. Lunney noted this warrant article (see Attachment #5) will be changed to reflect the CMS $17,623.00 addition to budget amount and board agreed the preface to article one noting where the Deliberative Session will be held should state the “Tuck Learning Campus (formerly Exeter High School)” not “Exeter High School” as currently stated on the Draft Warrant. 

 

8.   ANNOUNCEMENTS/PUBLIC INPUT: None at this time.

      Mr. Trueman spoke to having a third warrant article stating that any building aide received on the renovation of the SAU Office be put back into the maintenance trust fund.  Discussion followed on how much needs to be in the maintenance trust fund.  Motion by Mr. Trueman, seconded by Ms. Lovejoy and unanimously voted (8-0) with no further discussion to have a third warrant article stating that any surplus funds up to $40,000 are to go in the Maintenance Trust Fund.

 

9.   NON-PUBLIC: None at this time.

 

10.  ADJOURNMENT:  Motion by Dr. Oxnard, second by Ms. Casey and unanimously board voted with no discussion to adjourn at 1:51 PM.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Sally Boyd, Secretary