WINCHESTER SCHOOL BOARD MEETING

WINCHESTER  SCHOOL LIBRARY

JANUARY 3, 2008

The Meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm. by Chair, C. Duquette.

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

Administration Present:  D. Crisafulli,  T. O’Connor, D. Funkhouser

V. Cole MOVED to approve the minutes of the November 15, 2007 Board meeting as printed; SECONDED by: G. O'Neal, VOTED: 3-1-1 (B. Moser - no, C. Thompson - abstained), MOTION PASSED.

V. Cole MOVED to approve the non-public minutes of the November 15, 2007 Board meeting as printed; SECONDED by: G. O'Neal, VOTED: 4-0-1 (C. Thompson - abstained), MOTION PASSED.

G. O'Neal MOVED to approve the minutes of the November 28, 2007 Board meeting as printed; SECONDED by: C. Duquette, VOTED: 2-1-2 (B. Moser - no, C. Thompson, V. Cole - abstained), MOTION PASSED.

C. Thompson MOVED to approve the minutes of the December 18, 2007 Board meeting as printed; SECONDED by: G. O'Neal, VOTED: 4-1 (B. Moser),  MOTION PASSED.

V. Cole MOVED to approve the non-public minutes of the December 18, 2007 Board meeting as printed; SECONDED by: C. Duquette, B. Moser feels the non-public minutes should be in the same format as those of the 11/15/07 minutes, VOTED: 4-1 (B. Moser - no), MOTION PASSED.

The Board discussed the format of the non-public minutes.  They agreed that the generic format created and used for the November 15, 2007 minutes should be used.  C. Duquette advised the title should read Winchester School Board not the Town of Winchester and page numbers should be added.

BOARD BUSINESS:

Policy:

Review of new format for policy book based on NHSBA:

After discussion, the Board advised that they had no problem with A. Diorio changing the format of the policy manual.

Review of Information from Budget Committee:

The Board discussed the budget and the cuts made by the Budget Committee.

Article One:

After discussion, G. O'Neal MOVED to add the additional $150,000 to Public/Private Special Education tuition to the 2008/2009 Budget Committee number of $9,926,235.00; SECONDED by: V. Cole, VOTED: 3-2 (C. Duquette, B. Moser - no), MOTION PASSED.

Article Two:

No changes were made.

Article Three:

C. Thompson MOVED to have Article Three include the prior year's language; SECONDED by: V. Cole, after discussion, VOTED: 4-1 (B. Moser - no), MOTION PASSED.

V. Cole MOVED to reduce $200,000 in the Special Ed Expendable Trust to $50,000; there was no SECONDED, MOTION FAILED.

T. O'Connor clarified that voters will vote on the Budget Committee number.  The number can be changed in deliberative session.

Article Four:

B. Moser asked about the crossing guard; where does he stand?  Feels he should be on the corner waiting for the kids. 

After discussion, the Board made no changes to the Article.

Article Five:

The Board discussed Article Five.  C. Thompson advised the proposed lease agreement is not the same as the previous computer proposal presented to the Board.  After further discussion, no changes were made to the Article.

Article Six:

The Board will leave the Article as is for now.

Review Information Power School:

D. Crisafulli advised that the Student Management System will no longer be funded after this year; a new system is being proposed.  If agreed to by all Districts, Winchester will pay their share of the cost with Hinsdale and Monadnock.  D. Crisafulli feels the Board needs to consider it between now and the end of the year.

C. Duquette asked that when D. Crisafulli meets with the Town Manager to discuss snow plowing, that he also should discuss with him that payment to the school needs to be made in a timely basis.  She feels the school needs to be more proactive. 

                T. O'Connor advised that the State dictates that the Town pays upon the school's request; could ask for the whole amount at once.

                D. Crisafulli would like to meet as an informal discussion. Then if no answer will have the Board draft a letter. 

                B. Moser feels would need a legal opinion, then Attorney could draft a letter.

                T. O'Connor and D. Crisafulli will meet with J. Stetser and report back to the Board.

CITIZEN COMMENTS:

None.

C. Thompson asked about a window that was left open and D. Funkhouser was called at home.  C. Thompson feels the Board should have a contact list in case there is a problem.

D. Chamberlain advised that the Police Department and Mutual Aid have a proper list of the chain of command, but didn't do it correctly.  Advised a maintenance person came in and took care of the problem.

                C. Duquette would like a list of phone numbers as she gets calls at home. 

                Administration will get numbers to the Board.

Financial Report:

G. O'Neal MOVED to approve the manifest in the amount of $1,252,513.39, SECONDED by: V. Cole, VOTED: 4-1 (B. Moser - no), MOTION PASSED.

FUTURE MEETINGS:

                *January 8th - Budget Committee Meeting

                *January 14th - Public Hearing

                *January 10th - Town's Public hearing

                *February 7th - Deliberative Session

V. Cole MOVED to adjourn the meeting at 8:50 pm; SECONDED by: G. O'Neal, VOTED: 4-0, MOTION PASSED.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Peggy Higgins