Draft: Subject to Board Approval

     WINCHESTER SCHOOL BOARD MEETING                

WINCHESTER SCHOOL LIBRARY

JUNE 19, 2008

Board Members Present: C. Duquette, B. Moser, G. O'Neal, V. Cole

Absent:  W. Hildreth

Administration Present: D. Crisafulli, T. O'Connor

The meeting was called to order at 6:30 pm by Chair, C. Duquette.

MINUTES:

G. O'Neal MOVED to approve the minutes of the June 5, 2008 Board as printed; SECONDED by: V. Cole,

V. Cole amended the motion correcting the sentence V. Cole doesn't find reliability in testing; for example, the third grade is tested in one year and the same group is not tested the next year; SECONDED by: G. O'Neal, VOTED: 3-1 (B. Moser - no), MOTION PASSED.

BOARD BUSINESS:

Approval of Policies:

G. O'Neal MOVED to accept the Evaluation of the Board policy and Evaluation of School Board Operational Procedures amending Hinsdale to Winchester, after discussion, VOTED: 4-0, MOTION PASSED.

FAST FORWARD:

D. Crisafulli explained if the Board can give $10,000 this year it would get the amount down that would be owed for Fast Forward and we would almost have it bought it in two years.  Not looking for an excessive amount, but if we have $10,000 over what we want to give back to the Town that would be good; don't know what the number is at this point.

                T. O'Connor advised right in the $100,000 range at this point.

Dr. Crisafulli will get information to V. Cole regarding Fast Forward; she wasn't here when it was originally distributed.

G. O'Neal advised the Governor is looking to cut Special Ed and catastrophic aid; what will we do?

                                Dr. Crisafulli explained need to make decisions when September comes, i.e,. oil, etc. 

B. Moser - asked are we using money not specified for Special Ed for Special Ed?

                                Dr. Crisafulli advised that's how you balance the budget.

B. Moser feels don't know what kind of lease will be set up; can't vote on a lease until he sees it.

                                T. O'Connor advised in the normal course of business he wouldn't bring the lease to the Board.

                                C. Duquette advised that is T. O'Connor's job.

B. Moser - What if in August we're short of money for the year we're in.

                                Dr. Crisafulli explained can do for $25,000; in Special Ed Fund account we have $25,000.

                                C. Duquette would do the same thing we always do, take from another account.

V. Cole is not comfortable voting right now for this extra money.

                C. Duquette gets the feeling the Motion would not pass unless someone abstains.

After discussion, G. O'Neal MOVED to approve $20,000 for Fast Forward perpetual license; SECONDED by: C. Duquette, VOTED: 2-1-1(B. Moser - no, V. Cole - abstained).

                T. O'Connor feels will have $100,000 + left in those accounts to return to taxpayers.

B. Moser feels it was inappropriate that anyone offered substaining as an option for the vote.

                                V. Cole explained that she doesn't understand the information.

G. O'Neal advised to get this going need to get in the water with it.  Thinks if we can return $100,000, but had to take $20,000 to $30,000 out and explain it; that is doable.

Access Information:

The Board received information in their packet and reviewed it with Dr. Crisafulli and J. Miller.

C. Duquette has an objection to the SAU making a job description for a program not in the District and not part of the SAU.  She's not sure who would do it.

                                Dr. Crisafulli advised they are trying to tighten things up.

                C. Duquette - What if Winchesterr doesn't want to be part of it?

                                D. Crisafulli - Some funds and rates for the number of students would change.

C. Duquette advised she has  nothing against the program, but there is a significant increase in salary.  Need to see a job description and she still has questions on the van.

                                D. Crisafulli advised he will get the job description for the Board.

D. Crisafulli advised any cost of the van is being shared.

                C. Duqutte - Feels the van should be used here; was purchased by the Winchester School District.

                D. Crisafulli explained there were some common threads; was done this way so equipment would not be replicated. 

D. Crisafulli explained the monies for the van came out of Grant monies from Winchester and the the mileage is billed out to applicable districts.

                B. Moser asked who pays the insurance.

                                T. O'Connor - the Winchester School District.

                B. Moser is concerned if there was an accident that the Winchester School District would be the one who pays.

J. Miller advised no students besides Winchester students are transported in the van.  He explained in addition to Winchester students, it is used for staff transportation to and from meetings and programs.

B. Moser - Doesn't feel the van was ever intended for Administrative purposes.  It was bought for one reason, to transport Winchester students. 

                C. Duquette - Does not have a problem as long as it doesn't take away from the Winchester students.

C. Duquette had a question about the salary increase.

                                                J. Miller advised the State restructured the job description and the number of areas to be overseen.

V. Cole from review, it is less money then last year and we are getting the same services as last year.

                                J. Miller - If anything, they are expanding services.

C. Duquette asked for an organizational chart and who the members are overseeing the Grant.

                J. Miller will do that.

B. Moser asked why Board Members weren't asked to be on the Committee overseeing the Access Grant.

                J. Miller feels that is a great idea.

                                Dr. Crisafulli advised we could do that.

Computer Quote:

D.  Crisafulli advised would like to move away from Apples and towards PC's.  Explained when they had the discussion with the Budget Committee there was a question of whether we would stay with Apples or PC's.  Based on that discussion there was a strong play to say can we go back to PC's?

                                B. Moser - We were told when we bought the computers that because they were Apples they would be equivalent to the computers in Keene.

                                Dr. Crisafulli - No difference in operating systems.  Went based on what was discussed with the Budget Committee.  Feels can get competitive pricing on both.  At this                  point feels can go either way.

G. O'Neal left the meeting at 7:30 pm.

C. Duquette asked Dr. Crisafulli to ask Chris or Megan for a plan for the old computers.

                T. O'Connor - They are working on it.

The Board feels the computer issue is very confusing.  Unless they receive computer information prepared and signed, will not vote for it.

Dr. Crisafulli explained there is very little difference in DOS system and Microsoft windows.  This stemmed from a discussion with the Budget Committee regarding Apples vs. PC's. 

Dr. Crisafulli advised has had two or three discussions with the Budget Committee.  They asked what system we would get.  It could be PC or Apple.  Kids will adapt no matter what the system is.

Summer Board Schedule:

After discussion, the Board agreed they would hold one meeting in July on the 17th.  Will see where they are in July to see if one or two meetings are needed in August.

C. Duquette asked T. O'Connor when he will have the budget balance.

                T. O'Connor advised when he receives the audit sometime in the Winter.  Will keep monitoring it.

FINANCIAL REPORT:

The Board received the Revenue and Expense Reports in their packets.

G. O'Neal had to leave the meeting, but reviewed and approved the manifest prior to that.

V. Cole MOVED to approve the manifest in the amount of $623,390,89; SECONDED by: C. Duquette, VOTED: 2-1 (B. Moser - no), MOTION PASSED.

PRINCIPAL'S REPORT:

The Board received D. Funkhouser's report in their packets.

D. Funkhouser was attending graduation.  V. Cole and C. Duquette had questions; they will ask them at another meeting.

BOARD BUSINESS:

C. Duquette advised Margaret Sharra wanted the Board to be aware of the charrette happening this weekend in Town.

V. Cole asked about aides salaries; they are in a deficit.  W. Hildreth asked her to question it.

                T. O'Connor will come back to the Board with an answer.

Committee Reports:

The SAU Board meeting will be held on 6/30/08 at the Ford Building.

V. Cole MOVED to go into non-public session at 7:35pm; SECONDED by: B. Moser: C. Duquette - yes, B. Moser - yes, V. Cole - yes, MOTION PASSED.

B. Moser MOVED to leave non-public session at 8:06 pm; SECONDED by: V. Cole, C. Duquette - yes, V. Cole - yes, B. Moser - yes, MOTION PASSED.

B. Moser MOVED to adjourn the meeting at 8:07 pm; SECONDED by: C. Duquette, VOTED: 3-0,  MOTION PASSED.

Respectfully submitted,

Peggy Higgins