February 15, 2007 Minutes of Public Hearing / Marlow School District / John D. Perkins School, 7:00 p.m.

Present:
Joseph Scharf, Chair
Ken Dassau, Board Member
Stephanie Tickner, Board Member
Art Andreasen, Board Member (arrived @ 7:15)
Nancy Tomasko, Board Member
Phyllis Peterson, Principal
William Gurney, Assistant Superintendent of Schools
Timothy Ruehr, Business Administrator for Towns
Jill Wdowiak, Recording Secretary

Also Present: 
Elliott Greenblott
Alice Scharf
Marcia Levesque
Clay Bradley
Kate McNally

PUBLIC HEARING 2007-2008 SCHOOL DISTRICT BUDGET/WARRANT

Mr. Scharf called the Public Hearing to order at 7:05 p.m. Mr. Scharf went over the 2007-2008 proposed School District Budget. The budget was down 1.61% for a total of $1,651,764.00.

Ms. Levesque asked that with the tuition costs going up, will money be taken from the Expendable Trust Account. Mr. Scharf replied, no. Mr. Ruehr explained that the student numbers represent actual students and that funds are taken from the Expendable Trust Account to cover unexpected tuition costs.

Mr. Bradley asked how many students and staff are currently enrolled. Mr. Ruehr replied that there are 49 students at the elementary level, 28 regular ed students and four special ed students at Keene Middle School,
31 regular education students and 4.5 special education students at Keene High School. He also shared that there are four full-time teachers, five part-time teachers, one special educator plus professional staff employed
at Marlow School.

Ms. Levesque asked if the increase was for a 1:1 aide. Mr. Ruehr responded that currently, a 1:1 aide is budgeted based upon a students' IEP.

Ms. Levesque asked if we would be brought into compliance if we were to hire a librarian. Mr. Ruehr explained that we have been in compliance because we've been receiving services from CIRTT (Center for Instructional
Resources, Technology and Training). Ms Levesque asked if there was money put in the budget for classroom storage units. Mr. Ruehr replied, no.

Mr. Bradley asked what is the percentage of students that require transportation? Mr. Ruehr replied that by law, we have to offer and provide transportation for all students through grade 8.

Mr. Bradley asked if lunches were made at school. Mr. Ruehr replied that they are partially made and brought in. Marlow is responsible for heating and serving the lunches as well as cleaning up. Mr. Scharf explained that
they have been doing it this way for years. Mr. Ruehr added that we do not have enough students to run the program any other way.

Mr. Scharf asked why the capital reserve fund of $55,000.00 was not being used to fund the building repair projects. Mr. Ruehr was unaware that is what the Board would like to do but will make the necessary changes.

Mr. Scharf explained that a warrant article is needed in order to discontinue a 1998 playground equipment fund that was set up and never used.

Ms. McNally asked how the $25,000 named in the warrant articles was determined. Mr. Ruehr explained that there was no set amount but that a money amount needs to be established.

Ms. Levesque asked if the $30,000 will purchase computers. Mr. Ruehr said that it will pay for what is needed. He further explained that a server will be installed and used as a terminal therefore the computers will not need to have saving capabilities, it will be saved on the central file server. Ms. Levesque asked if the school would have a computer center or room? Ms. Peterson replied that different areas are being looked into to set up the computers. Ms. Levesque asked if the computers will be up and running in time for spring testing. Ms. Peterson shared that their hope is to install the computers during February vacation and felt that they will not be up and running in time for testing.

Ms. Scharf asked if repairs to the bathrooms are included in the building improvements. Ms. Peterson replied, yes. Ms. Scharf also asked if there were sufficient funds in this year's budget to repair the shed. Mr. Ruehr replied, yes.

Mr. Bradley asked how he would go about volunteering for projects at the school. Ms. Peterson encouraged him to come in and see what needs to be done.

Ms. Scharf stated that last year; the Board was generous and increased her benefits. She would like to ask for three additional paid holidays that fall in her normal work week: Veterans Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
and Memorial Day. Mr. Ruehr stated that this policy will be coming up for review and would suggest that it be brought up then.

Mr. Scharf adjourned the Public Hearing at 7:54 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted,
Jill Wdowiak
Recording Secretary

[Top of Page] [Back to School Board Page] [School Home Page]

February 15, 2007 Minutes of Regular Meeting / Marlow School District / John D. Perkins School, 7:55 p.m.

Present:
Joseph Scharf, Chair
Ken Dassau, Board Member
Stephanie Tickner, Board Member
Art Andreasen, Board Member
Nancy Tomasko, Board Member
Phyllis Peterson, Principal
William Gurney, Assistant Superintendent of Schools
Timothy Ruehr, Business Administrator for Towns
Jill Wdowiak, Recording Secretary

Call to Order

Mr. Scharf called the board meeting to order at 7:55 p.m.

Approval of Minutes

A motion was made by Mr. Andreasen to approve the regular Board Minutes of January 10, 2007. Mr. Dassau seconded the motion. A unanimous vote in favor was taken.

Hearings of Individuals and/or Groups

Ms. Levesque submitted a letter to the Board. She shared with the Board that she's happy with the way that things have been going in the past year. She did state a few of her concerns. She would like to know who the "go to person" in the school would be with Ms. Peterson only there two days a week. Another concern is the amount of clutter that still remains, even though a lot has been cleaned out. She felt that it would be nice to have storage units in the classrooms to alleviate the clutter. Ms. Levesque also felt that students should attend Keene Middle School in the 6th grade, in order to be exposed to so many wonderful things. She shared that her experience at KMS has been a very good one. She explained that if students were sent to KMS as 6th graders, it would allow things to be restructured at the school. Ms. Levesque felt that there are a lot of options to look at. She added that it would open up another classroom in a school that is over crowded and would also cut teacher/aide costs. She is also concerned that families will pull their children out of the school and decide to send them elsewhere.

Bills and Manifests

A motion made by Mr. Andreasen to approve the bills and manifests (cks # 5000892-5000927) in the amount of $51,681.03. Mr. Dassau seconded the motion. A unanimous vote in favor was taken.

Financial Report

Mr. Ruehr presented his report showing a net available balance of $131,950.00 as of February 15, 2007. He shared that this is the healthiest surplus there has been in a long time. Mr. Ruehr presented the newly proposed 2007-2008 budget amount of $1,633,564.00; the decrease in the budget is due to the elimination of the building repair line item. A motion was made by Mr. Scharf to adopt the new proposed budget amount for the 2007-2008 school year. Ms. Tomasko seconded the motion. A unanimous vote in favor was taken.

Mr. Scharf asked Mr. Ruehr to add the following warrant articles. Article #6 should be written for building projects up to $35,000 and the funds to be taken from the Capital Reserve Account. Article #7 should be written
in order to discontinue the Playground Equipment Fund that was established in 1998 and never used.

A motion was made by Mr. Scharf to adopt Warrant Articles 1-7. Ms. Tomasko seconded the motion. A unanimous vote in favor was taken.

Reports

1. Principal

Ms. Peterson presented her report and updated the Board on the building and the phone system that will be installed during February vacation.

Mr. Elliott Greenblott presented a brief overview of Marlow's state testing results from October. Mr. Scharf asked if the scores reflected the transient population or the special education issues. Mr. Greenblott replied that the students who were assessed have attended Marlow School for two years. If not, the scores would return back to the previous school they had attended. Mr. Scharf asked if special education students were incorporated in the numbers. Mr. Greenblott replied, yes, but that special education students represent only 1% of the population.

2. Assistant Superintendent

Mr. Gurney shared that Keene had its first budget session with no cuts to the budget being made. He updated the Board on the relocation of 34 West Street and said that there should be a resolution within a month. He also shared that special education on-site visits will take place February 21-22. They will be taking a look at schools and their special education services. Mr. Gurney shared that one student was absent from Keene High School for five days due to an out of school suspension and illness and no students were absent from Keene Middle School for five or more days.

3. Special Ed

None

4. School Board Members

Ms. Tomasko updated the Board on special school projects. Mr. Dassau suggested that we look at the numbers and look into sending students to Keene Middle School. Mr. Scharf is concerned that enrollment will drop if students are sent to KMS as 6th graders. Mr. Gurney suggested that a study group be formed to look into this issue. He will look into the changes to the AREA agreement if Marlow students were to be sent to Keene Middle School as 6th graders.

5. S.A.U. 29 Committees

None

6. Technology Committee Update

Ms. Peterson shared that the Technology Committee has not met.

Old Business

Other – None

New Business

Other –None

Future Agenda/s

District meeting - Thursday, March 15th - 7:00 p.m. Non-Public Session - R.S.A. 91-A:3 A motion by Mr. Scharf that the Board move into non-public session at 9:08 p.m. under the provisions of R.S.A. 91-A:3 to discuss staff personnel. Mr. Andreasen seconded the motion. A unanimous vote in favor was taken. Accompanying the Board was Ms. Peterson, Mr. Gurney and Ms. Wdowiak.

A motion by Mr. Scharf that the Board return to open session at 9:36 p.m. Mr. Dassau seconded the motion. A unanimous vote in favor was taken.

11. Adjournment

Mr. Scharf adjourned the meeting at 9:37 p.m. A unanimous vote in favor was taken.

Respectfully Submitted,
Jill Wdowiak
Recording Secretary

[Top of Page]