SCHOOL ADMINISTRATIVE UNIT #70 BOARD
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2006
7:05 P.M., HANOVER HIGH SCHOOL LIBRARY
Minutes
Present: Board members Asmus, Bruce, Carpenter, Carter, Chamberlin, Cheney (7:07), Fleischer (7:24), Gray, Pilchman, Sachsse (7:45), Vitt, Williams; Administrators Gersen, Aubin; and approximately ten members of the public.
1. Call to order
Chair Gray called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m.
2. Approval of Minutes
Nancy Carter moved and Kari Asmus seconded a motion to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of May 8, the special meetings of June 20, September 26, October 23, and the nonpublic sessions of May 8 and October 23, as submitted. The October 23 minutes were amended to delete the word, “process,” from the Chair’s report. The amended motion passed unanimously.
3. Reports and Communications
a. Report of the Chair – Chair Linda Gray updated the Board on the nominees for the Quality of Education Committee, saying that the following people have been selected to serve on the Committee: Board members Bruce, Asmus, Williams, Sachsse; parents Bill Mlacak (Ray School), Marjorie Rose (RMS), Linda Addante (HHS); and community members Jan Assmus and Marilyn Blight.
Chair Gray announced members of the Assistant Superintendent for Student Services Search Committee as Board members Carter, Pilchman; community members Kirsten Murphy, Bob Snyder; Principals Finer and Edson; Administrators Gersen, Aubin; and one teacher representative from Ray and Hanover High Schools.
b. Superintendent’s Report – Wayne Gersen briefed the Board on the extension he sought from the Department of Education for submitting the SAU Staff Development Plan. He reported that the extension has been granted until June 2007. Dr. Gersen asked for the extension in order to be able to include the work of the Teacher Evaluation Study Committee and the Quality of Education Committee in the final document. Further discussion about the Staff Development Plan followed the Superintendent’s Report on the Follow the Child Growth Model proposal.
Follow the Child Growth Model proposal – Dr. Gersen reported that following a presentation on the Follow the Child initiative by Commissioner Tracy, he exchanged emails with Tim Kurtz, the Department of Education’s Assessment Director, to discuss various applications of the NECAP tests that are the basis for the Follow the Child initiative. In summary, this initiative would change the way school performance is measured, replacing an annual review of cohort performance with an annual review of individual student progress against established growth targets. He said he is working with Mr. Kurtz to try to find a way to use NECAP results, which are expected in January. A discussion followed in which Board members asked questions and discussed concerns.
Staff Development Plan – Dr. Gersen and Staff Development Committee Board representative Nancy Carter reviewed the anticipated timeline for updating the Master Plan. Board members expressed concern that there be more community participation in the process and requested that the current Master Plan and feedback from the State be posted on the web. Nancy Carter will report on the progress of the Committee at the Dresden Board meetings.
4. Business requiring discussion
a. Proposed job description, application process for SAU 70 Director of Technology and Assistant Superintendent for Student Services – Dr. Gersen began the discussion with a presentation of the proposed job descriptions and rationale for the two positions. Each position was then discussed separately.
Directory of Technology – Board members had a lengthy discussion about the need for technical support as well as program support, and whether one person could successfully perform both functions. Also of concern was what would happen to current staffing, how existing duties would be reassigned, compensation, and shared services among districts and the SAU. The consensus of the Board was not to pursue the proposed job description as presented, but to look at the position as two separate jobs, to investigate contracting for technology support and also contracting for consultant work to better understand the needs of the schools and SAU. It was suggested that a committee could be formed to utilize local expertise in this area. A figure of $101,000 – the proposed salary and benefits - was retained in the budget as a place holder while the Board continues to discuss this matter.
Assistant Superintendent for Student Services – In reviewing the proposed amended job description, the Board focused on a compensation figure and how to advertise that figure. Dr. Gersen will reword the document. He indicated that $88,000, plus benefits, was included in the budget for the position.
b. Proposed 2007-08 SAU Budget – Assistant Superintendent for Business, John Aubin presented the proposed budget by reviewing a document delineating the 2005-06 actual budget, the 2006-07 budget and anticipated year end expenditure budget, and the 2007-08 proposed budget.
2005-06: Mr. Aubin reported that, with revenues totaling $1,017,237 (including beginning year fund balance) and expenses totaling $1,023,141, the SAU ended the year with a fund deficit of $5,904.
2006-07: Mr. Aubin said that while it is very early to make projections, he estimated a fund balance at the end of the year of $65,354. He said that considering both the income and expense sides of the 2006-07 budget, he anticipates a year end fund balance of $29,996 to offset 2007-08 assessments.
2007-08: Mr. Aubin then reviewed semi-aggregated line items for the proposed 2007-08 budget. The proposed budget shows spending of $1,078,860, a 2.7% increase over the current year’s budget of $1,050,628. The proposed assessment to the Districts would be an increase of 3.2%:
Dresden, increases by $13,978 (share of SAU down from 60.64% to 60.35%)
Hanover, increases by $8,770 (share of SAU up from 24.52% to 24.71%)
Norwich, increases by $5,122 (share of SAU up from 14.84% to 14.93%)
Mr. Aubin also reviewed four proposed policy changes: an increase in employee term life insurance, administrative support health insurance co-pay; definition for termination in the event of disability; and Family Medical Leave.
Discussion centered around adopting a single insurance co-pay for all support staff groups, pegging the District’s contribution for all employees to the HMO rate and the proposed 5.1% pay raise for non-union support personnel. The Board asked Administrators to bring alternative compensation scenarios to the December meeting.
5. Business requiring action
a. Approve proposed 2007-08 SAU Budget to take to SAU Budget Hearing in accordance with RSA 194c:10
Margaret Cheney moved and John Chamberlin seconded a motion to approve a tentative SAU budget in the amount of $1,078,860 to be posted for and presented at the SAU Board meeting and public hearing on December 11. The motion passed unanimously.
b. Adopt Planning Calendar for SAU Districts
Nancy Carter moved and John Chamberlin seconded a motion to approve the Planning Calendar for SAU Districts as proposed and attached to the original minutes of the meeting. The motion passed unanimously.
c. Adopt job description for Assistant Superintendent
Kari Asmus moved and John Chamberlin seconded a motion to approve the job description for the Assistant Superintendent for Student Services as amended and attached to the original minutes of the meeting. The motion passed unanimously.
d. Authorize SAU Administrators to sign manifests
John Chamberlin moved and Margaret Cheney seconded a motion to authorize an Administrator of the SAU #70 to sign manifests on behalf of Norwich, Dresden, Hanover, and SAU Districts. Discussion centered around an apparent contradiction among current policies, the Dresden Compact, and past practice. Board members asked Wayne to seek a legal opinion about their concerns and to review/revise current Policies DJEJA, Bill Payment Authorization. The motion passed unanimously.
e. Accept 2005-06 Evaluation of Superintendent
Margaret Cheney moved and Nancy Carter seconded a motion to accept the 2005-06 Superintendent’s Evaluation. The motion passed unanimously.
6. Future agenda items
Board member Cheney listed several items from the May 8 meeting minutes that were identified for further discussion at the November meeting, but were not included in this meeting’s agenda. She asked that these items be placed on an upcoming agenda so that they will not be overlooked. The topics are: a complete 7-12 science curriculum presentation; an update on early foreign language; and a memo with thoughts on performance pay for SAU staff. A fourth item, follow-up to Round Table discussions, was discussed at the June meeting.
7. Adjournment
John Chamberlin moved and Stan Williams seconded a motion to adjourn at 10:23 p.m. The motion passed unanimously.
The meeting adjourned at 10:23 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Mary B. Davis
Recording Secretary
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