December 21, 2010
Hopkinton School District School Board
School Administrative Unit #66
Meeting Minutes
December 21, 2010
IN ATTENDANCE
School Board: Chairman: David Luneau, Vice Chairman: Elizabeth Durant, Board Members: Larry Donahue, William Jones, Louis Josephson, Student Representative: Samuel Helrich
Administration: Superintendent: Steven Chamberlin, Business Administrator: Michelle Clark
CALL TO ORDER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mr. Luneau called the meeting to order at 5:30pm; Janet Krzyzaniak, community member, led in the Pledge of Allegiance.
SUPERINTENDENT ADDITIONS/DELETIONS TO AGENDA
None
CORRESPONDENCE
None
PUBLIC COMMENT (1)
None
COMMENTS FROM THE HOPKINTON SCHOOL BOARD
Mr. Jones commented on how wonderful the high school concert was.
ITEMS FOR BOARD DISCUSSION
- a. Monthly Financial Report – November
Mr. Luneau asked if there were any particular anomalies or shifts.
Ms. Clark stated that when she estimated the additional expenditures, she did not factor in the anticipated $25,000 from reduced spending.
Mr. Luneau stated that the anticipated unreserved fund balance should be $25,000 more.
- b. 2011-2012 Hopkinton School District Budget (Action Item)
Mr. Chamberlin thanked Ms. Clark for all of her work on the budget packet and negotiations. He stated a second draft of the 2011-2012 budget will be out for the January 5, 2011 Budget Committee meeting.
- i. Hopkinton School Board 2011-2012 Budget Packet (Draft 1)
Mr. Chamberlin explained that this is the first draft for review and feedback from the board. The second draft will be included in the board packets sent out on December 28, 2010
Mr. Luneau asked if the proposed budget was on the website. Mr. Chamberlin stated no, but it will be posted tomorrow morning.
Mr. Luneau asked how the Summary by Budget Components (page 5) line up with the numbers on the spreadsheet, particularly the increases and decreases.
Ms. Clark stated that because of the contingency, there is a $25,000 difference (last year the contingency was $50,000 and this year it is $75,000).
Mr. Luneau stated when you are looking at the totals line on page five, how do we note the increase from federal projects, money we are not raising locally? Mr. Chamberlin stated that this will be addressed.
Mr. Josephson stated that on page four, he questioned that the last two bullets should be major increases on a 16 million dollar budget.
Mr. Josephson stated that with the six new middle school sports teams we show the increased expense, but we do not show the offset in revenue.
Mr. Donahue stated that we should indicate the number of kids that will be involved in the six new sports and specify the increased revenue.
- ii. Expenses/Revenues
Mr. Chamberlin discussed the revenue and expense side with the board.
Expenses:
Mr. Chamberlin explained that the expense side includes six additional middle school teams. Adding the Alpine team would include the following expenses:
$1712 – coach salary
$500 – race fees
$1200 – transportation
$750 – mountain rental
Mr. Chamberlin stated that this is what is best for the vast majority of kids, providing a strong academic connection.
Mr. Donahue asked if this leaves any kids in a worse place?
Mr. Chamberlin stated that he spoke with Mr. Meserve and he has great faith and experience in the middle school staff to do what is best for each youngster.
Mr. Donahue asked why the b team, run by a school, could not play in a recreation league?
Brenda Quinn, community member, stated that the bylaws indicate that a school team cannot participate in the recreation league.
Mr. Donahue asked Mr. Meserve how many kids they were hoping to carry in the six new sports?
18 each (boys/girls) soccer
14 each (boys/girls) basketball
16 each (boys/girls) softball
Revenues:
Mr. Donahue asked if we could have another high level summary by budget components report for revenues (parallel to page 5/expenses), showing the decrease from state aid and other sources.
Mr. Luneau stated that this is what people are most interested in (what we are planning on spending and how we are going to pay for it).
Mr. Luneau asked the board members if they had a strong opinion, pro or con, to the ($50/year) parking fee.
Mr. Donahue stated that he does not understand the rationale behind the parking fee.
Mr. Luneau indicated that there is risk/liability to running a parking lot, e.g. if a car is hit by a falling tree limb.
Mr. Donahue stated that he appreciates the collaborative discussions between the school and community athletics – he recommends a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) agreement.
- a. School Board Meeting Start Time
Mr. Chamberlin asked the board if they wanted to continue starting the board meetings at 5:30pm. The board agreed to continue the 5:30pm start time – they will look at this again in February.
7. Public Comment (2)
Mr. Meserve stated that the meeting with HYSA and the soccer club was very productive, discussing what is best for all kids. He stated that they would like to go forward with all six sports.
Mr. Meserve stated that in the future, tryouts for all kids will be run simultaneously: middle school, soccer club, and HYSA.
Jim Scammon stated that from a soccer club perspective, the middle school program sounded like a good thing for the kids and the town; working together so no child is left without a place. Mr. Scammon stated that the conversation was good and they are pulling in the same direction.
8. Materials Included
Hopkinton School District 2011-2012 Budget Packet (Draft I)
2011- 2012 Proposed Budget Summary
Monthly Financial Report – November
9. Important Dates
- 12/22/10 – Half Day of School
- 12/23/10 – 12/31/10 – Holiday Recess
- 01/04/11 – Hopkinton School Board Meeting
- 01/05/11 – School District Budget Presentation: Budget Committee Meeting, 6:30pm, Town Hall
- 01/12/11 – School District Budget Presentation: Budget Committee Meeting, 6:30pm, Town Hall
- 02/02/11 – Public Hearing, 6:30pm, Hopkinton Middle High School auditorium
- 03/12/11 – Annual School District Meeting
ACTON ITEMS
10. The Hopkinton School Board accept the Superintendent’s recommendation to approve the Hopkinton High School Nordic Team overnight trip to AMC Highland Center, White Mountains, NH, December 27-29, 2010.
A motion was made by Mr. Donahue, seconded by Ms. Durant, motion carries, all in favor, not opposed.
11. Hopkinton School Board approve the superintendent’s recommendation to establish an article for the 2011 School District Meeting that authorizes the raising and appropriating of $25,000 and the transferring of $25,000 from the unreserved fund balance to the Health Insurance Trust Fund.
A motion was made by Mr. Donahue, seconded by Ms. Durant, motion carries, all in favor, not opposed.
12. Hopkinton School Board approve the superintendent’s recommendation to establish an article for the 2011 School District Meeting that authorizes the raising and appropriating of $25,000 and the transferring of $25,000 from the unreserved fund balance to the Vehicle Capital Reserve Trust Fund.
A motion was made by Mr. Donahue, seconded by Ms. Durant, motion carries, all in favor, not opposed.
13. Hopkinton School Board approve the superintendent’s recommendation to establish an article for the 2011 School District Meeting that authorizes the raising and appropriating of $75,000 as a Contingency Fund.
A motion was made by Mr. Donahue, seconded by Ms. Durant, motion carries, all in favor, not opposed.
14. Hopkinton School Board adopt the superintendent’s recommended 2011-2012 Hopkinton School District Budget at the $16,523,601 funding level.
A motion was made by Mr. Donahue, seconded by Ms. Durant, motion carries, all in favor, not opposed.
15. Nonpublic Session for the Discussion of Matters as Per RSA 91-A: 3, II (a)
Negotiations
At 6:35pm Mr. Donahue made a motion, seconded by Ms. Durant that the Board enter into nonpublic session in accordance with RSA 91-A:3 (a) for discussion of personnel. Motion passed on a roll call vote: Mr. Luneau (yes), Mr. Jones (yes), Ms. Durant (yes), Mr. Josephson (yes), Mr. Donahue (yes).
RETURN TO PUBLIC SESSION
At 7:25pm a motion was made by Mr. Donahue, seconded by Ms. Durant to return to public session, motion passed, (roll call vote) all in favor, not opposed.
16. Adjournment
At 7:25pm a motion was made by Mr. Donahue, seconded by Ms. Durant to adjourn the meeting, motion passed, all in favor, not opposed.
Respectfully submitted,
Jean Eaton
Maple Street School, Hopkinton, NH
Nonpublic Minutes
December 21, 2010
Nonpublic Session for the Discussion of Matters as Per RSA 91-A: 3, II (a)
Negotiations
During the nonpublic session the Board discussed negotiations.
Mr. Donahue motioned to come out of nonpublic session, seconded by Ms. Durant, motion passed on a roll call vote: Ms. Durant (yes), Mr. Luneau (yes), Mr. Jones (yes), Mr. Josephson (yes), Mr. Donahue (yes) all in favor, not opposed.
The board came out of nonpublic session at 7:25pm.
RETURN TO PUBLIC SESSION
