SAU #70 - Hanover School Board

Present: Board members Asmus, Bruce, Carter, Chamberlin, Fleischer, Pilchman; Administrators Gersen, Aubin, Williams; 7 members of the public; Recorded by R. Lohr

1. Call to Order – Chair Chamberlin called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m.

2. Approval of Minutes

Larry Pilchman moved and Chip Fleischer seconded a motion to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of December 14, and the budget meetings of January 4 and January 11. The motion passed unanimously.

3. Public Hearing on Proposed 2006-07 Budget (RSA 32:5)

Chair Chamberlin opened the Public Hearing on the budget for the Hanover School District in accordance with NH RSA 32:5. Included in the public packets is a line item budget, which contains all purposes and amounts of appropriations to be included for proposed 2006-07 expenditures. A notice of the Public Hearing was published in the “Valley News” on January 10, 2006.

4. Approval of Contracts

Assistant Superintendent John Aubin announced that there had been an agreement with the teachers on the new health plan (Harvard Pilgrim Insurance), which would lower the proposed budget by $88,489. The lower rates resulted from having four insurers vying to become the school district’s health plan provider. The budgeted amount for health care includes a contingency to cover costs that may be incurred with the switch to a new insurer. Specifically, the Board may have to provide an upgraded plan to some VT residents whose doctors are not currently covered by the new plan and may need to introduce a District funded and operated wellness program.

Mr. Aubin distributed documents comparing the SchoolCare plan and the new Primex plan. Additionally, a document on an overview of the service employee settlement by Kari Asmus was distributed. It showed custodial and preventive maintenance wage scales, incentive pay increases and health insurance premium and co-pays.

In response to a question from a Board member, John Aubin stated his understanding that if the teacher contract was rejected the District would revert to the old contract which specified the more costly SchoolCare health plan. Mr. Aubin also noted that a corridor has been established with the contract so that salaries may not increase more than 5.25 percent or be under 4 percent.

An important aspect of the contract with the teachers is the creation of a study group including representatives of the teachers, administration, school board and the public to consider alternative compensation plans. The group will jointly try to develop a compensation plan intended to provide an alternative to the traditional step-and-track system.

Chip Fleischer moved and Larry Pilchman seconded a motion to approve the three (3) year (2006-07 through 2008-09) collective bargaining agreement between the Hanover School Board and the Hanover Education Association, NEA-NH, as proposed and attached to the original meeting minutes. The motion passed with five in favor and one opposed (Kari Asmus).

Nancy Carter moved and Kari Asmus seconded a motion to approve the four (4) year (2006-07 through 2009-10) collective bargaining agreement between the Hanover School Board and Local #1348 of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, Council 93, AFL-CIO, as proposed and attached to the original meeting minutes. The motion passed unanimously.

5. Adoption of 2006-07 Budget

The Board noted that a substantial portion of the budget increases resulted from increases in special education and sixth grade tuition costs. The remainder of the budget was less than a three percent increase above the previous budget.

The Board discussed the withdrawal of $100,000 from the Special Education Reserve Fund, which was included in the budget proposal. The staff recommended this withdrawal given the extreme increase in special education tuition costs, indicating that the fund was designed to help cover such extreme costs. Wayne Gersen distributed a memo and spread sheet which indicated that the Board would be able to replenish the fund with a higher than normal amount next year if the state Catastrophic Aid is fully funded and is received by the School District. Some Board members worried that the combination of special education cost escalation and the unpredictable legislative process might compromise future budgets. Some Board members felt that a clear set of guidelines for using the fund was necessary in the future. A straw poll indicated a majority of the Board supported the withdrawal of $100,000 from the Special Education Reserve Fund.

Larry Pilchman moved and Robert Bruce seconded a motion to adopt the 2006-07 budget in the amount of $9,992,767 to be placed on the warrant and voted on at the Hanover School District Meeting on March 7, 2006. The motion passed unanimously.

6. Approval of School District Warrant

The Board discussed the location of the discussion phase of the budget meeting, which is scheduled for Saturday, March 4 at 1:00 p.m. A live broadcast of the meeting can occur if the meeting is held at the Richmond Middle School, but not if it was held at the Ray School. Superintendent Gersen was willing to contact CATV to discuss the airing of the taped broadcast with regard to times and if it could be repeated a few times. The Board decided to hold the meeting at Richmond Middle School with the live broadcast on CATV.

Nancy Carter moved and Larry Pilchman seconded a motion to approve the March 7 School District Warrant as proposed by the Administration, as attached to the original meeting minutes, and to authorize the Administration to make whatever technical changes that might be necessary in order to ensure that the Warrant is legal and accurately addresses the intent of the School Board. The motion passed unanimously.

After the Board motion and vote on the School District Warrant, the Public Hearing was then closed at 9:07 p.m. and the Regular Board Meeting was begun.

7. Communications and Reports

a) Report of Chair

Chair John Chamberlin announced that the next Hanover School Board meeting was scheduled for Wednesday, February 15, 7:00 p.m. in the Ray School Multi-room. It was further announced that the Annual School District meeting will be held on Saturday, March 4, 1:00 p.m., at the Frances C. Richmond School. This will be the discussion phase of the meeting; no voting will take place at the meeting. The voting phase of the meeting will take place on Tuesday, March 7, 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., at the Richard W. Black Community Center.

The Chair announced that there are three (3) School Board seats open in March (Larry Pilchman’s and John Chamberlin’s seats are three year terms while the vacated seat of Matt Slaughter’s is for a two year term. Filings take place any time from Wednesday, January 18 until 5:00 p.m., to Friday, January 27, 2006. Other positions that are open include District Moderator, Clerk, and Treasurer, all one year positions. Filing for School Board and School District Officers can be done with either the School District Clerk, Anne Chamberlin, or at the SAU Office, 45 Lyme Road, Room 27, Hanover. There is a $1 filing fee.

The Dresden School District has filing dates from Tuesday, January 17 through 5:00 p.m. to Monday, February 6. Filing for School District Officers can be done with either the School District Clerk, Deborah Carter, or at the SAU Office, 45 Lyme Road, Room 27, Hanover. Positions that are open include Moderator, Clerk, and Treasurer, each for one year; and an Auditor for three years.

It was also announced that petition warrant articles are due by February 2 but if they are to be included in the public mailing, then they would need to be submitted by January 25. The Board also requested that Matt Slaughter’s name be removed from the Board email list.

b) Reports of the Superintendent

Superintendent Gersen reported about a meeting that he had with Town of Hanover representatives regarding use of school gymnasiums. The town has $4,900 budgeted for such costs this year, but given the Town’s desire for the residents to have access to more extensive use of the gyms additional funds might be needed.

8. Business Requiring Action

Chip Fleischer moved and Robert Bruce seconded a motion to approve Policy IJ, Instructional Materials, as proposed and attached to the original meeting minutes. The motion passed unanimously.

Larry Pilchman moved and Kari Asmus seconded a motion to approve Policy EBH, Facility Use Categories & Rental Schedule, as proposed and attached to the original meeting minutes. The motion passed unanimously.

Nancy Carter moved and Larry Pilchman seconded a motion to approve Policy ILBA, Assessment, as proposed and attached to the original meeting minutes. The motion passed unanimously.

The Board discussed Policy ILBB about Curriculum Evaluation with regard to early grade testing and its value. It was decided to table this policy until Principal Williams and some teachers can consider whether language requiring such testing take place.

Nancy Carter moved and Larry Pilchman seconded a motion to accept the resignation of Jennifer Risley effective June 30, 2006. The motion passed unanimously.

9. Adjournment

Kari Asmusmoved and Larry Pilchmanseconded a motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:35 p.m. The motion passed unanimously.

The meeting adjourned at 9:30 p.m.