December 15, 2009
Hopkinton School District School Board
School Administrative Unit #66
Meeting Minutes
December 15, 2009
IN ATTENDANCE:
School Board: Chairman: David Luneau, Vice Chairman: Elizabeth Durant, Kim Fuller, Louis Josephson Larry Donahue (absent), Student Representatives: Emma Brown, Noah Meister (absent)
Administration: Superintendent: Steven Chamberlin, Business Administrator: Michelle Clark Director of Student Services: Dr. Valerie Aubry, Director of Technology: Matthew Stone, Principals: Michael Bessette, William Carozza, Christopher Sousa, Assistant Principal: Christopher Kelley (absent)
CALL TO ORDER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
School Board Chairman, David Luneau, called the meeting to order at 6:30pm. School Board Member Kim Fuller led the meeting in the Pledge of Allegiance.
SUPERINTENDENT ADDITIONS/DELETIONS TO AGENDA:
8a: add warrants to this item
CORRESPONDENCE:
None
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Motion to approve the minutes of December 1, 2009. This was tabled until the next board meeting. Correction to: In Attendance – Mrs. Fuller was absent from this meeting.
PUBLIC COMMENT (1):
Harrison Nelson Thibault Jr., community member, presented a petition to modify HEA medical insurance contributions (70/30 split – no caps on the insurance premiums) to the school board with 123 signatures. He also brought a copy of his original letter to the Concord Monitor. Mr. Thibault suggested that we drop the laptops, the attendance bonus, and get rid of the caps and negotiate a percentage.
Mr. Luneau thanked Mr. Thibault for coming to the meeting.
Merle Dustin, community member, stated that people thought it should be 50% vs. 30%.
Brenda Quinn, community member, stated that she wanted to speak to middle school sports. She is a mom, HYSA member and coach, and a psychotherapist that works with children and focuses on adolescent middle schoolers. Ms. Quinn believes the middle school programs are in jeopardy if the school does not play a part soon in assisting in running middle school sports.
Ms. Quinn is going to talk about basketball, but she thinks that softball is the most damaged of the prospects in HYSA. In middle school, it is all about self-esteem. When they get to middle school they are vulnerable and are looking to feel good about themselves. When the middle school programs reflect a high level of commitment, performance and effort (kids and adults) – it reflects. The reason to have the school support is the self-esteem issue – they know when the program is sub par. We have good years and bad years, and the reason we have bad years is because we can’t get consistent coaching. The boy’s program has a miracle called Barry Gruttemeyer, but the girl’s program does not have this consistency. If the consistency of the coaching and effort is not there they don’t feel challenged and proud, the kids fall away. Ms. Quinn stated HYSA would donate uniforms, whistles, basketballs, and scorebooks.
Mr. Luneau asked how soon they thought the middle school program would be in jeopardy. Ms. Quinn stated that she already felt that we are in jeopardy now. Only Barry Gruttemeyer’s program is not in jeopardy.
David White, community member and HYSA softball commissioner for two years, stated that coaches need to know what they are doing, especially once you get into middle school. Mr. White also stated that we have lost countless girls over the last three to four years, and believes the girls would stay if the program were better.
Dan Meserve, athletic director, looked at the impact if the athletic fee was revised. He came up with the following data:
If we change the athletic fee to $35 per season, it would offset the majority of the cost for middle school basketball next year. If in two years we raised the athletic fee to $40 per season, the cost for middle school basketball, soccer, (boys and girls), baseball, and softball would be under $10,000. On a $300,000 house it would be approximately $5.
Mr. Meserve asked Emma Brown, Student Representative to the School Board, for her comments on the level of play for the kids coming up. (Emma is a four-year player and umpire for grades 3 and 4 teams.) Emma stated that at a young age it is important to learn all the rules – the coaches have no idea about the calls she would make.
COMMENTS FROM THE HOPKINTON SCHOOL BOARD
Mr. Josephson stated that he is supportive regarding all the developmental reasons stated. His son ran middle school cross-country and track – he got a lot of self-esteem from this. He would like to see the middle school embrace a more inclusive program.
Mr. Luneau thanked Mr. Meserve for looking at the athletic fees. He believes that there is a tremendous amount of community support in this and he would like to have a larger discussion about this: a forum. He does not believe that this is ready to go on a warrant.
Ms. Durant thanked everyone for coming out tonight – she appreciates the community input. She has given this a lot of thought in the last week. Ms. Durant stated that one of the questions she has been mulling over is – the benefits of consistency. Would we be looking inward for coaches or are we going to be drawing from our community (where we currently pull our volunteer coaches). She stated that she hopes we can gain more understanding on how we would manage the expectations of the middle school coaches.
Mrs. Fuller recognized Coach Martin for his many years of coaching and championships, as he recently announced his retirement as the girl’s varsity soccer coach. Mrs. Fuller is very sorry to see his resignation.
STAFF REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS:
- a. Hopkinton School District Race to the Top Application (action item)
Mr. Chamberlin gave a brief overview of the Race to the Top application. The funds would be used to create an extensive academy in the summer, where half of our teachers would attend a five-day academy for tiered supports, assessments, and to ensure student learning with power standards, competencies, and common assessment. During the school year, a consultant would work two days a month (in classrooms coaching and expanding teachers’ toolbox).
There are also funds to create a model classroom, where the consultant would teach a class and model using an interactive whiteboard.
- b. Budgeting for Federal Projects
Mr. Chamberlin stated that the audit flagged the amount we put in for federal funds (currently $300.000). We are looking to increase the budget line item by $450,000. This would be a closer reflection of actual funds for federal projects. This is sensitive, because it looks like we are raising $450.000, but this is always offset by revenue.
Mr. Luneau asked how do we make sure when we receive money from a recovery grant that we assure we are not getting into something that we can’t fund later. Mr. Chamberlin stated the funding cliff, (not committing the district funds beyond the length of the federal funds).
ITEMS FOR SCHOOL BOARD DISCUSSION
- a. 2010-2011 Hopkinton School District Expendable Trusts: installation and contributions
Mr. Chamberlin passed out copies of the draft Warrant for the 2010 annual Hopkinton School District Meeting. Mr. Chamberlin gave an overview of each of the Articles presented.
Mr. Luneau asked if we were going to have an Article to support the acquisition of a generator. Mr. Chamberlin stated that he is waiting for more information from the town before he can include it. (The town agents do know our timetable.)
Mr. Chamberlin stated that tonight, he would need to know if the board is in favor of creating, at some level, a health insurance expendable trust and a capital reserve fund for vehicles.
Mrs. Fuller asked Mr. Chamberlin to explain Article XI – Health Insurance Trust Fund.
Mr. Chamberlin stated that health insurance costs have made a significant impact on the budget: ranging from $189,000 in 2006-2007 to $50,000 in 2009-2010. Because of the significant change and the impact it has on the budget, he believes that using expendable trusts to reduce peaks and valleys is sound budgeting. This money would come from the overage to reduce the impact.
Mrs. Fuller asked if we will be getting the two middle school teams that were cut from the budget last year back this year. Mr. Chamberlin stated that the current operating budget does not include the reinstatement of the athletic programs.
Ms. Durant asked how many years would it take to get to the recommended funding level for the Health Insurance Trust and the Capital Reserve Fund for Vehicles. Mr. Chamberlin stated at $25,000 per year, it would take three years for the Health Insurance Trust and approximately five years for the Capital Reserve Fund for Vehicles.
- b. 2010-2011 Hopkinton School District Proposed Budget
Mr. Chamberlin stated that the current level of funding in the 2010-2011 budget $15,753,931.00 – .41% increase ($64,283.88) supports the current program with modest forward movement.
Mr. Chamberlin passed around a memorandum on suggested reductions to the Hopkinton School District 2010-2011 proposed budget. Mr. Chamberlin reviewed each item with the school board and the Leadership Team.
Page one is a list of suggested items to bring the operating budget to a zero percent increase over this year’s budget.
Page two suggests an estimate of reductions necessary to be level funded including possible warrant articles.
Mr. Josephson stated the one thing jumped out at him is that we have 15 year old textbooks – is this acceptable? Mr. Josephson stated that having 15 year old test books just does not sound right. Mr. Chamberlin stated that we expect more – we expect better.
Mr. Luneau asked if the new math books support the math curriculum. Mr. Chamberlin stated yes, these support the math curriculum.
Mr. Sousa stated that these new books provide the rigor needed with these new textbooks vs. finding supplemental resources; our students will have a better level of instruction.
Mr. Luneau commented on the GASB 45 – should we lose sleep if we get rid of it? Ms. Clark stated that she does not know of any ramifications. Bow School District (who we are often compared with) is not complying with it.
Mr. Luneau asked about the reduction of Student Services out of the district budget item. Dr. Aubry stated that she believes we will be ok. Mr. Luneau stated that we have an expendable trust that could help if needed.
Mr. Luneau stated, regarding the interactive whiteboards, that when he saw the work in Mrs. Thornley’s classroom – he saw the excitement in her and Mr. Bickford. This may be the most efficient spending: teaching tool, excitement, differentiated instruction, and formative assessment. Mr. Luneau stated that we need to make movement forward on interactive whiteboards even in this economy. He would hate to see us lose the whiteboards.
Mr. Josephson stated that he assumes that there are many items that did not make this list. There are many items that are untouchable. He trusts the Leadership Team to make the right choices.
PUBLIC COMMENT (2)
David Lancaster, community member, stated that Mr. Luneau’s comment about having a layout of the capital reserve fund history, how you’re going to build a fund, and how you are going to spend it, is an absolute must when presented to the Budget Committee. Mr. Lancaster commented that he believes that we are having a bigger problem with funding retirement than healthcare. He stated that we should look at cutting personnel, if you had to.
MATERIALS INCLUDED
- Revised 2010-2011 Proposed Budget Summary (including federal project revenue estimate)
- Hopkinton School District Race to the Top application
IMPORTANT DATES
- December 17, 2009 Hopkinton High School Holiday Concert 7:00pm – 9:00pm
- December 22, 2009 School Board Meeting (Tentative)
- January 5, 2010 School Board Meeting
- January 12, 2010 School Board Meeting (Contracts, Tentative)
- January 13, 2010 Budget Committee Meeting (Town Hall, 6:30pm)
- January 19, 2010 School Board Meeting
- January 20, 2010 Budget Committee Meeting (Town Hall, 6:30pm)
ACTION ITEMS
12. The Hopkinton School Board accept the Superintendent’s recommendation to support the Race to the Top application.
A motion was made Ms. Durant, seconded by Mr. Josephson, motion carries, all in favor, not opposed.
NONPUBLIC SESSION
13. Nonpublic Session for the Discussion of Matters as Per RSA 91-A: 3, II (a)
Negotiations
At 8:30pm, Mrs. Fuller made a motion, seconded by Ms. Durant, that the Board enter into nonpublic session in accordance with RSA 91-A: 3, II (a) and (c) for discussion on negotiations and personnel. Motion passed on a roll call vote: Ms. Durant (yes), Mrs. Fuller (yes), Mr. Luneau (yes), Mr. Josephson (yes), all in favor, not opposed.
RETURN TO PUBLIC SESSION
At 9:30pm, a motion was made by Mrs. Fuller, seconded by Ms. Durant, to return to public session, motion passed, all in favor, not opposed.
14. Adjournment
Respectfully submitted, Jean Eaton
Maple Street School, Hopkinton, NH
Nonpublic Minutes
December 15, 2009
13. Nonpublic Session for the Discussion of Matters as Per RSA 91-A: 3, II (a)
Negotiations
During the nonpublic session the Board discussed negotiations.
Mrs. Fuller motioned to come out of nonpublic session, seconded by Ms. Durant. Motion passed on a roll call vote: Ms. Durant (yes), Mrs. Fuller (yes), Mr. Luneau (yes), Mr. Josephson (yes), all in favor, not opposed. The board came out of nonpublic session at 9:30pm.
