DRESDEN SCHOOL BOARD
REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, APRIL 26, 2005
7:00 P.M., HANOVER HIGH SCHOOL LIBRARY
Minutes
Present: Board members Asmus, Bruce, Carter, Chamberlin, Cheney, Fleischer, Gray, Kaplan, Pilchman, Sachsse, Vitt; Student rep Wallace; Administrators Gersen, Weissmann, Brush, Gillespie, Finer; and 12 members of the public. Recorded by R. Lohr
1. Call to order – Chair Cheney called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
2. Approval of minutes
Linda Gray moved and John Chamberlin seconded a motion to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of March 22, as submitted with corrections. The motion was passed unanimously. Changes:On item 3 it was requested that the fund amount of $285,000 be included in the fifth paragraph. On item 6C, the Dresden Fields Committee chair Kathy Parsonnet was recognized by the Board.
3. Communications and reports
a) Report of Chair:
Chair Cheney announced that the next Board meeting was scheduled for May 24, 7:00 p.m. in the Hanover High School Library. Robert Sokol was recognized for his work on the Fields Survey and he was given a Hanover High jacket and jersey by the Board. Chair Cheney recommended the committee assignments for 2005-06 as outlined in a document that was distributed to the Board at the meeting with the addition of Deb Kaplan to the Alternative Funding Committee.
b) Reports of Administrators
Superintendent’s Report – Superintendent Gersen reported that the Richmond Middle School 7-day waiver for early dismissal was approved by the Acting Commissioner of Education. He reminded Board members that May 2-5 was Teacher Appreciation Week. John Chamberlin announced that he would send an email to the Board regarding its role in Teacher Appreciation Week. The superintendent also cited the documents in the Board packet including the quarterly financial report with the presently projected fund balance of $43,000. The Board discussed the food service , which led to a suggestion that the food service issue be put on a future meeting agenda.
Superintendent Gersen also noted a supplemental packet he distributed that included a memo he received earlier that day indicating that Dartmouth wished to discuss the storm drain issue described in the Board packet. He also reported that the supplemental packet included a personnel change to correct the appointment of learning specialist Mary Grondin, who was mistakenly appointed to Hanover School District rather than Dresden. Dr. Gersen also announced that the Upper Valley Business Partnership invited Board members to attend its next meeting scheduled for May 11.
Director of Facilities and Assistant Superintendent’s Reports – Jonathan Brush reported progress on the middle school building project continues to be on
schedule. He reported that the movers are not interested in using volunteer help to load their trailers. Susan Finer indicated there is a campaign to recruit volunteers for the packing and unpacking of boxes of library books that is being coordinated by Hope Davis the RMS Media Specialist. Jonathan Brush indicated that the Board expects to receive an Occupancy Permit for RMS by August 1, 2005.
Principals’ Reports – High School Principal Gillespie reported on planning for the spring fling and the senior prom. The Committee on Instruction is currently discussing how to coordinate school field trips in an effort to minimize school absence. On June 11-13 the moving will begin at the middle school and the asbestos removal work is scheduled to begin on June 16.
RMS Principal Finer reported that there will be student tours scheduled to occur in the new building during the late summer. She expressed appreciation to Jay Davis for organizing two days of staff development at Rockefeller Center on Dartmouth campus. She confirmed that each staff person will owe eight days of work (relating to the 7 day early dismissal) that will include the two staff development days, two days for packing in June, and four days of unpacking in August. Susan Finer gave an overview of how these days would be scheduled at the end of this year and during the summer. RMS staff may be able to tour the building on June 13; it was suggested that Board members join that tour if possible.
c) Report of Council Representative
Tanner Wallace reported that the elections for 2005-06 are set. He mentioned that students were involved with the packing project at RMS. The new student representative will be introduced to the Board in the next meeting.
d) Reports of Committee Representatives
Dresden Fields Committee –John Chamberlin reported that the goal is to deliver a recommendation report at the June Board meeting. This report should include suggestions for fields on Lebanon Street and at the Norwich site. The Committee has formed several subcommittees: for the Lebanon Street site, for the Norwich site, for Communications, and for sharing between school and community. The parking proposal related to the Lebanon Street location will be resubmitted and lighting at the site will be discussed with the local community prior to going to the town planning board. Other issues under consideration include sharing existing fields with the towns and the effect of Lebanon Street drainage pipes on the fields. The committee will report the survey findings to the Hanover and Norwich town boards and Conservation Commissions. The next meeting date is scheduled for May 12.
Quality of Education Committee
This committee met in early April and will meet again on May 6 at 9:00 a.m. at the SAU office to decide direction.
4. Business Requiring Discussion
High School Renovation
The status of the high school renovation was reviewed and related documents were part of the Board packet. Changes to the project scope and associated cost discrepancies with the GMP (guaranteed maximum price) were highlighted. The removal of unsuitable soils was the largest addition at a cost of $280,000. Another significant additional cost was the drainage system upgrade, which may be offset in part by Dartmouth College since the drainage serves 40 water catchments associated with the college. Cost reductions to the project included using utility bricks, eliminating parking on Hovey Lane and using fewer layers of gypsum on the new interior partitions. Superintendent Gersen indicated that he hoped to use only the $4 million of the supplemental bond funds sold thus far. Budget “overruns” will be covered through the project contingency. He hoped that the District would be able to avoid using the $1.5 million approved but not sold as yet. Superintendent Gersen also stated that the administration assumes that the steel price increase will be absorbed by Eckman Construction. Full financial details will be presented to the Board with comparisons to the budgeted project in the next meeting. The major bids have been received and there are smaller bids that remain to be received. When the Richmond Middle School project is completed the Administration intends to use any unspent contingency funds to help fund the high school project. Superintendent Gersen also indicated the administration is requesting that Hanover decrease the sewer fee related to the schools. He noted that decisions regarding the location of the parking lot will depend upon decisions related to the Lebanon Street fields. Jonathan Brush indicated that a local citizen, Bob Riessen, has contributed ideas with regard to the Lebanon Street fields that are promising and they are under consideration.
Dresden Athletic Advisory Committee Recommendations
The members of the DAAC were introduced. 12 people serve on the committee, which holds monthly meetings. Mike Jackson reviewed a document regarding the DAAC recommendations which was attached to the original Board minutes. In summary, the DAAC suggests that new sports be sanctioned by the school district if an associated group agrees to pay expenses and permanently continue sustaining payment of those expenses. This sanctioning would allow the teams to represent Hanover High School when they compete against other schools. Some of the teams affected by this recommendation include JV boys ice hockey, boys crew, boys soccer and swimming. The Board raised the issue of non-competitive recreation and offering recreational alternatives to traditional team sports. This concept was intended to expand non-competitive recreational program student offerings that might be funded using an off-budget mechanism. The Board wants to add discussion of the issue to the June meeting agenda. There was a request for more information regarding how spending for current teams is supported by the District and by outside supporters.
5. Business requiring action:
Tuition for 2005-2006
The Board discussed setting the tuition rates for both RMS and the high school and the concept of accepting and encouraging additional tuition students at both schools. Projected student enrollments are declining and this will effect the per pupil cost, which could result in state budgetary penalties in Vermont. The Board also discussed the additional tuition charge related to the school construction debt service.
Kari Asmus moved and Larry Pilchman seconded a motion to set the RMS tuition amount for the 2005-06 school year at $12,642 plus an amount to be determined by the Assistant Superintendent of Business for the debt service payment. The base rate for Hanover sixth graders would be $12,642. An additional amount will be paid by Hanover for its sixth graders in accordance with contract provisions related to capital costs for construction of RMS. The motion passed unanimously.
Nancy Carter moved and John Chamberlin seconded a motion to set the Hanover High School tuition amount for the 2005-06 school year at $14,678. The motion passed unanimously.
6. Consent Agenda
The Superintendent placed in nomination Diane Guarino-Bherke as Health Educator at Hanover High School at track 4, step 11, salary $55,527, for the 2005-2006 school year.
Larry Pilchman moved and John Chamberlin seconded a motion to elect Diane Guarino-Bjerke as a Health Educator at Hanover High School at track 4, step 11, salary $55,527, for the 2005-2006 school year. The motion passed unanimously.
The Superintendent placed in nomination Elizabeth Murray as a Social Studies teacher at Hanover High School at track 1, step 2, salary $37,510, for the 2005-2006 school year.
Larry Pilchman moved and John Chamberlin seconded a motion to elect Elizabeth Murray as a Social Studies teacher at Hanover High School at track 1, step 2, salary $37,510, for the 2005-2006 school year. The motion passed unanimously.
The Superintendent placed in nomination Mary Grondin as a Learning Specialist at Richmond Middle School at track 5, step 4, salary $47,328, for the 2005-2006 school year.
Larry Pilchman moved and John Chamberlin seconded a motion to elect Mary Grondin as a Learning Specialist at Richmond Middle School at track 5, step 4, salary $47,328, for the 2005-2006 school year. The motion passed unanimously.
6. Non-public Session
Mary Sachsse moved and John Chamberlin seconded a motion to enter nonpublic session in accordance with RSA 91-A:3(II.e) for discussion of pending claims or litigation, and RSA 91-A:3(II.d) for discussion of matters related to acquisition/sale/lease of property. The motion passed unanimously by roll call vote.
7. Adjournment
Geoffrey Vitt moved and Larry Pilchman seconded a motion to adjourn at
10:50 p.m. The motion passed unanimously.
The meeting adjourned at 10:50 p.m.
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