SAU #70 - Hanover School Board

Present: Board members Asmus, Bruce, Carter, Chamberlin, Goodman, Pilchman, Segal; Administrators Gersen, Aubin, Weissmann, Williams; and one member of the public.

1. CALL TO ORDER: Chair Segal called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m.

2. ADOPTION OF MINUTES:

John Chamberlin moved and Larry Pilchman seconded a motion to approve the minutes of the budget presentation meeting of January 5 as submitted. The motion passed unanimously.

3. CHAIR'S REPORT: Chair Segal announced that the next regular Board meeting will be Wednesday, February 9, 7:00 p.m., in the Ray School Multi. She announced the following dates for the annual Hanover School District Meeting: Tuesday, March 1, 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m., Richmond School Gymnasium, all day voting for Hanover District Officers and the ballot question. Wednesday, March 9, 7:00 p.m., Bernice A. Ray School Music Room, Hanover District Meeting with voting on the budget.

Chair Segal announced that the filing period for the Hanover School District began on Wednesday, January 12, and extends through 5:00 p.m., Friday, January 21. Filing for School District Officers can be done with either the School District Clerk, Ann Chamberlin, or at the SAU Office, 45 Lyme Road, Room 207, Hanover. There is a $1.00 filing fee. Positions open are: Moderator - one year, Clerk - one year, Treasurer - one year, three - three year positions for School Board, one - two year position for School Board.

Chair Segal announced that the Dresden School District has filing dates from Wednesday, January 12 through 5:00 p.m., Tuesday, February 1. 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 207, Hanover. Positions open are: Moderator - one year, Clerk - one year, Treasurer - one year, and Auditor - three years.

Other Matters: Chair Segal said the deadline for Petition Articles for Public Hearing is February 7; if it is a financial matter it is needed by February 1.

John Chamberlin updated the Board on the Ballot item related to voting options. The current option is Town Meeting style; a proposed option is the Dresden Model. If this method of ballot voting were adopted, starting in 2006, Hanover District meetings would consist of two sessions: a discussion session one day and an all day voting session on another day. Discussion followed.

4. PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED 2005-06 BUDGET (RSA 32:5):

Chair Segal called to order the Public Hearing part of the meeting by announcing the following, “I open 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 2005-06 expenditures. A notice for this Public Hearing was published in the Valley News on Tuesday, January 11, 2005.”

Assistant Superintendent of Business Aubin presented an update on the 2005-06 budget. A question and answer period followed. Among the items covered were: proposed three-year contract for the Support Staff; Finance Committee’s tentative approval of presented budget; school tax rate/State aid; and the Don F. Bridgman Fund.

5. BUSINESS REQUIRING ACTION:

After receiving input and having further discussion the Board was asked to adopt the 2005-06 budget to take to the voters at the School district Meeting on March 9.

a) Adoption of 2005-06 Budget:

John Chamberlin moved and Nancy Carter seconded a motion to adopt the 2005-06 budget in the amount of $8,948,386. to be placed on the Warrant and voted on at the Hanover School district Meeting on March 9, 2005. The motion passed unanimously.

b) Ratification of three Year Support Staff Agreement:

John Aubin went over the highlights of the proposed contract for the Board. These included: increase in the base wage over the three years; insurance premium differences and co-pays; and certain Special Education position’s wage. Discussions followed.

Nancy Carter made the following Resolution and John Chamberlin seconded: RESOLVED, the Hanover Board hereby signifies its approval of the proposed tentative agreement reached between the Hanover Support Staff and the Dresden and Hanover School Boards. The vote passed unanimously.

c) Approval of Warrants:

Superintendent Gersen gave the Board final copies of the proposed School District Warrants for the Board’s review and approval. Some of the items covered were the Bridgman Fund and Tax Stabilization Fund. John Aubin provided financial implications on Tax Stabilization. After discussion, it appeared there was support for pursuing Fax Stabilization Fund Legislation and a motion was given for it to be added to the Warrant.

Kari Asmus moved and Robert Bruce seconded a motion to see if the District will vote to create an Expendable Trust Fund under the provisions of RSA 198:20-c to be known as the Tax Stabilization Fund, for the purpose of partially offsetting Hanover’s future Dresden assessment related to the 2003 Dresden building project. No withdrawals from this fund shall be made prior to the 2009-2010 school year. Furthermore for FY 2006, to raise and appropriate the sum of $204,618. to be placed in this fund, and to designate the School Board as agent to expend from this fund. The vote passed four in favor, three opposed.

Nancy Carter moved and John Chamberlin seconded a motion to approve the March 9 School District Warrant and the March 1 Election Warrant as proposed by the Administration, and to authorize the Administration to make whatever technical changes that might be necessary in order to ensure that Warrants are legal and accurately address the intent of the School Board. The motion passed unanimously.

6. ADJOURNMENT

John Chamberlin moved and Larry Pilchman seconded a motion to adjourn at 9:05 p.m. The motion passed unanimously.

The meeting adjourned at 9:05 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Althea B. Clogston

Recording Secretary