MINUTES OF THE
HANOVER SCHOOL DISTRICT ANNUAL MEETING
BERNICE A. RAY SCHOOL MUSIC ROOM
MARCH 9, 2005
Present were School District Assistant Moderator Cary Clark; School Board members Kari Asmus, Nancy Carter, John Chamberlin, Dennis Goodman, Larry Pilchman, Anne Segal; Administrators John Aubin, Jane Weissmann, Bruce Williams, Janice Lavoie; School District Attorney David Bradley (7:28), District Clerk Anne Chamberlin; approximately 60 voting members of the public, and approximately 12 guests.
Assistant Moderator Cary Clark called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. Mr. Clark read the Warning, Certification of Postings, and results of the March 1 voting. The voting results are as follows:
For a one year term - Thomas Csatari, Moderator
Anne Chamberlin, Clerk
Joan Collison, Treasurer
For a three year term - Nancy Carter, School Board
Chip Fleischer, School Board
Matt Slaughter, School Board
For a two year term - Bob Bruce, School Board
Article 2 - change method of voting - yes 475, no 178, blanks 77
Mr. Clark then introduced the Chair of the Hanover School Board, Anne Segal, who introduced the members of the Board and Administration.
Moderator Clark explained the School District structure and reviewed the guidelines for the District Meeting before proceeding to the business of the meeting by recognizing the members of the School Board, who made the motions to bring the Articles to the floor:
ARTICLE 1. Nancy Carter moved and Steve Woods seconded a motion that the District vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000) from the Don S. Bridgman Fund during the 2005-06 fiscal year for the regular instructional programs which will provide appropriate advantages to the students of the District not provided by taxes.
Ms. Carter explained the terms of the Bridgman Trust and reported a Trust Fund balance of approximately 1.4 million dollars. She mentioned some of the past uses of the Bridgman Trust moneys and the proposals for 2005-06.
One member of the public asked a clarifying question about the structure of the School District.
The Article passed by voice vote.
ARTICLE 2. Anne Segal moved and Joan Collison seconded a motion that the District vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Twenty Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00) to be added to the Capital Reserve Fund for the Educationally Handicapped established at the District Meeting of March 19, 1986 in accordance with RSA 35:1-b.
Ms. Segal explained that the contingency fund was established to fund unanticipated expenses. The current balance in the fund is $184,025. She said the Board thinks it would be prudent to have at least $200,000 in the fund, as the special ed budget is currently overspent by $99,000.
No public comment was offered.
The Article passed by voice vote.
ARTICLE 3. Larry Pilchman moved and Steve Woods seconded a motion that the School District vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Twenty Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00) to be added to the Expendable Trust Fund known as the School Buildings Maintenance Fund created at the District Meeting of March 14, 2001 in accordance with RSA 198:20-c.
Larry Pilchman reported a balance in the School Building Maintenance Expendable Trust Fund of $64,374. He said that this fund is needed in the event serious problems arise.
Three members of the public asked clarifying questions and made comparisons to the similar Dresden Warrant article. When asked, the Hanover Finance Committee Chair, Athos Rassias, said that the Finance Committee did not deliberate on this article.
The motion passed by voice vote.
ARTICLE 4. Kari Asmus moved and Kim Perez seconded a motion that the District vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Two Hundred Four Thousand, Six Hundred Eighteen Dollars ($204,618) to be placed in the Expendable Trust Fund known as the Tax Stabilization Fund created at the District Meeting of March 10, 2004 for the purpose of partially offsetting Hanover's future Dresden assessment related to the 2003 Dresden building project. Note: The Department of Revenue Administration disallowed the appropriation to this fund in 2004. Passage of this Article will be effective only if Senate Bill 45 (pending in the New Hampshire Legislature at the time of posting of this Warrant) becomes law.
Kari Asmus explained that the purpose for this Fund is to hold excess revenues as a result of Dartmouth payments and the receipt of NH building aid by Dresden which is then credited to Hanover for the remaining four years of the bond. She said that the Department of Revenue disallowed the appropriation for this year, so the current balance is $0.
Members of the public asked how the fund would be managed and expressed concerns about short term versus long term benefits to individuals who may or may not be living in Hanover in five years.
The motion passed by voice vote.
ARTICLE 5. Dennis Goodman moved and Steve Woods seconded a motion that the District vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Twenty Thousand Dollars ($20,000.00) to establish a contingency fund, under the provision of RSA 198:4-b, to meet the cost of unanticipated expenses that may arise during the 2005-2006 school year.
Dennis Goodman spoke to the motion saying that this fund is a cushion for over expenditures and, if not needed, would be used to reduce taxes in the next fiscal year.
No public comment was offered.
The Article passed by voice vote.
ARTICLE 6. Larry Pilchman moved and Steve Woods seconded a motion that the District determine and fix the salaries of School District Officers as follows: School Board members $500.00 per member; School District Treasurer $1,600.00; School District Clerk $100.00; and School District Moderator $100.00, in accordance with RSA 194:10, and further to raise and appropriate the sum of Fifty Three Hundred Dollars ($5,300.00) to fund these salaries
Larry Pilchman explained that this is a housekeeping article.
One member of the public asked what the current salaries are.
The motion passed by voice vote.
ARTICLE 7. John Chamberlin moved and John Cassidy seconded a motion that the District vote to approve the cost items in the three year collective bargaining agreement reached between the Hanover School Board and the Hanover Support Staff, NEA-NH, which calls for the following increases in support staff salaries and benefits:
Year Estimated Increase
2005-2006 $55,950
2006-2007 $64,230
2007-2008 $69,411
and further, to raise and appropriate the sum of Fifty-Five Thousand Nine-Hundred Fifty Dollars ($55,950), such sum representing the estimated increase in support staff salaries and benefits for the 2005-2006 fiscal year brought about by this collective bargaining agreement. (The School Board recommends this appropriation.)
NOTE 1. The sum necessary to pay the so-called status quo salaries and benefits for support staff if this article is defeated is included in the operating budget in Article 8.
NOTE 2. A favorable vote on this article shall be considered the approval of the cost items in all three years of the proposed collective bargaining agreement.
John Chamberlin presented the article by reviewing the proposed contract. He highlighted comparisons with other districts and stressed the need to hire and retain qualified staff. Mr. Chamberlin said that the turnover rate at the Ray School this year is 29.3%.
Members of the public expressed concern that the wage levels were still too low, while others said that the total compensation is the issue. The question of amending the article was raised, but Attorney Bradley explained that this is a negotiated article and can only be voted up or down.
The motion passed by voice vote.
ARTICLE 8. Kari Asmus moved and Sandra Hoh seconded a motion that the Hanover School District vote to raise and appropriate the amount of Eight Million, Eight-Hundred Seventeen Thousand, One Hundred Thirty-Six Dollars ($8,817,136) for the support of schools, for the payment of salaries for teachers and other school employees, and School District officials and agents, and for the payment of the statutory obligations of the District. This sum does not include the funds appropriated in any of the preceding articles.
Kari Asmus presented an overview of the budget which included a review of the budget process, budget guidelines, expenditure summary, significant changes to the budget, revenue sources, enrollment projections, and class size impact on the budget. She also spoke to the Hanover School District tax impact.
Hanover Finance Committee Chair Athos Rassias reported that the Finance Committee voted unanimously to support the budget because the guidelines for the budget are sound and fiscally responsible, the significant effort to meet the guidelines is clearly demonstrable in the budget, and the budget places the SAU Administrators and the School Board in a mindset that is looking forward.
Members of the public congratulated the Board on keeping the increase as low as it is and urged the Board to continue this in the future. Two individuals spoke as consumers of the special educational services, and one person asked for an explanation of the auditor’s report.
The motion passed by yes/no ballot: 68 yes, 5 no.
ARTICLE 9. To transact any other business that may legally come before this meeting.
Hanover Board Chair Anne Segal recognized Dennis Goodman for his service on the Board and his commitment to education. She also recognized two retiring teachers, Jack Wilde and Margaret Taylor.
Nancy Carter recognized and thanked Anne Segal for her many years of service and leadership on the Board.
Steve Woods moved and Athos Rassias seconded a motion to adjourn at 9:15 p.m. The motion carried unanimously.
The meeting adjourned at 9:15 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Anne G. Chamberlin
School District Clerk
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