APPROVED 2-7-07

MINUTES

STRATHAM SCHOOL BOARD

Wednesday, January 24, 2007 – 6:30 PM

STRATHAM MEMORIAL SCHOOL

 

 

BOARD PRESENT:  Bob O’Sullivan, Luke Breton, John Hazekamp, Jim Dubela

 

BUDGET COMMITTEE PRESENT:  Tim Brothers, Susan Canada, Maria Emanuel, Susan Hunter, Alison Scamman

 

ADMINISTRATION PRESENT:  Tom Fosher, Steve Gagnon, Margaret Driscoll, Mary Ellen Palmer, Nathan Lunney

 

 

1.       CALL TO ORDER – The meeting was called to order by Chair O’Sullivan at 6:37PM.

 

2.       NON-PUBLIC SESSION – None.

 

3.       REVIEW OF PROPOSED FY 2007-08 BUDGET – The administration and board offered answers to the list of questions that had been presented by the Financial Advisory Committee.  Those questions addressed the following general topics:

a.       Budget impact of new teacher hires

b.       Efforts to secure grant funding

c.        Modular classrooms

d.       Budget for electricity

e.       Special education

f.         Leased automobile

g.       Budget for laptop computer

h.       Cost of SAU services

i.         Charter school tuition

Following the review of questions and answers, the school board and advisory committee discussed seat belts on buses and the potential for upgrading fire suppression at SMS.

 

There was reference made to a recent article in the Exeter News-Letter concerning the proposed budget.  The board addressed some of the comments in the article attributed to Mrs. Scamman of the committee.  Two accounts in particular were reviewed.  The Miscellaneous account in function 2400 School Administration was explained by Mr. Fosher.  That account funds the artist in residence program, presenters at school assemblies, and mini-grants to support staff development of curriculum and instruction tools.  The Field Trips accountin in function 2700 Transportation was also explained.  Trips are now made with school buses only instead of volunteer parent drivers because of liability concerns so the amount of that line has risen in the last two years.

 

Mr. Lunney reviewed with the school board and the advisory committee a brief list of budget adjustments that are pending in review.  The deadline for staff to announce intention to retire is the end of January.  If there are no additional retirements, the budget line for that purpose may be reduced.  There was discussion about the budget impact of changes in special education direction due to a retirement and in enrichment due to a potential sabbatical.  Possible budget changes in health insurance were also reviewed.

 

Members of the committee and school board shared comments about the budget development process and the sharing of information at this meeting.  In closing comments, Mrs. Scamman expressed concern that the proposed budget of more than $9 million was an enormous budget.  The board chair asked what changes she or the committee might recommend.  Mrs. Scamman offered the elimination of the miscellaneous and field trips budget lines mentioned previously and suggested that new teacher hires be less experienced, less expensive new teachers, possibly recent college graduates, who could be mentored by SMS veteran teachers as a cost saving step.  There were no additional budget recommendations offered.

 

4.       NEXT SCHOOL BOARD MEETING:         Public Hearing on the Budget – Wed., February 7, 2007 at 6:00PM

Followed by Regular Board Meeting at 6:30PM

 

5.       ADJOURNMENT – On a motion by Luke Breton, seconded by Jim Dubela, the board voted unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 9:28 PM.

 

Respectfully submitted: 

Nathan Lunney, CFO