Deerfield School Board

Deerfield Community School

Deerfield, New Hampshire

Thursday, April 17, 2008

MINUTES OF MEETING

PRESENT: John Harrington, Bonnie Beaubien, Kevin Webber, Kevin Barry, Don Gorman, Paul Yergeau, Peter Warburton, Tom Haley, Kandy Davitt

1. Call To Order-Mr. Harrington

The April 17^th, 2008 Deerfield Community School Board meeting was called to order at 6:30 PM by Chairman John Harrington.

2. Pledge of Allegiance

Mr. Harrington led those present in the Pledge of Allegiance.

3. Minutes of Previous Meetings

A motion was made by Kevin Barry to accept the minutes of April 1st, 2008

as corrected, seconded by Don Gorman.

All In Favor

Motion Carried

4. Immediate Business

A. Agenda Review

B. Citizens’/ Staff Comments

Mr. Krist Nelson came forward to share with the board several ideas that he had concerning space needs at DCS. In his proposal Mr. Nelson suggested the following:

Move cafeteria, computer lab, art room and music room into first floor of gym. Gain 5 classrooms with windows.

Add second floor in gym gaining 6 classrooms=8 room gain

Construct 100’ x 200’ field house on the lower playground to house soccer, basketball, early baseball and night rentals to sport leagues and town activities.

Mr. Nelson stated that the estimated cost for the field house at this time would be $663,200.00.

Mr. Nelson stated that this would allow the school district to remove the modulars and place rooms within the building. The rooms that would be re-located in the gym would not have any windows but Mr. Nelson stated that the students are not in those rooms for the whole day just for their specials, which are an hour, or less.

The board members reviewed the plans with Mr. Nelson and thanked him for taking the time to review and make suggestions concerning the space needs at DCS.

Senator Barnes was invited to sit with the board to discuss Deerfield’s high school transportation issue.

Senator Barnes stated that the minutes from the previous meeting were rather harsh in tone concerning the Governor. Senator Barnes ensured the board that the Governor is interested in school issues but that transportation has always been considered a local issue.

Senator Barnes informed the board that he would be willing to set up a meeting between the parents and Commissioner Tracey to discuss their concerns. He also stated that at this time there is no money in the state budget to take any type of action but he would continue to monitor the situation. Senator Barnes also informed the members that the new school-funding bill is out. There is a $160,000 loss in funding for Deerfield, Allenstown is losing 1 million dollars and Bedford will be getting a 4 million dollar increase. Senator Barnes stated that he did not vote to support the bill.

In closing Senator Barnes informed the members that he would be willing to bring legislation forward if that was the route that the residents of Deerfield wanted to take.

Representative Mann came forward to discuss the transportation issue. She informed the members of the school board that the State School Board determines what is an adequate education and that contacting that board might be considered. Representative Mann also stated that she supported SB 539-Ed. even though she did not agree with everything in the bill. It was her opinion that SB 539 was better than a constitutional amendment. Representative Mann stated that she would support bringing legislation forward in the fall if that was what the board wanted done but hoped that a solution could be found before then.

Mr. Gorman wanted it noted in the minuets that the entire Deerfield delegation had come forward with a lot of information and ideas that the board could review and he also noted that all of them took the high school transportation for the town of Deerfield seriously.

C. Transportation Issues – Mr. Gorman, Mr. Harrington

Chris Dail from Dail transportation was present and brought forward information concerning collapsing bus routes for the town of Deerfield. The changes for Deerfield if 8 buses were used instead of 10 would mean.

Some stops would be eliminated and students would need to come out to the ends, which would save on time.

Ø Oak & Maple Rds. (off of South rd.)

Ø Birch Rd. (off of South Rd.)

Ø Reservation Rd.

Ø Cole Rd. (until the bridge is fixed)

Ø Cotton Rd Estates

Ø Pleasant Hill Dev. (off Rt. 107)

· Nottingham Rd.

Ø Bus would only go as far as Cate Rd. (this would affect 8 students, who would have to travel to the bus. (would save about 15 min. travel time.)

· Roads that would involve combining bus stops:

Ø Middle Rd. (currently have 30 bus stops. Combine and cut stops #’s in half which would save time)

Ø Ridge Rd.

A letter from Michael Kennedy from Dail Transportation stated that the proposed changes would break up some cross-utilization of the buses that Dail relies upon to make the overall pricing structure financially sound. The elementary routes would be longer, even with the consolidation of some bus tops, and would have more students on each bus. The two buses that could be used for high school transportation would have to travel to Concord and back each day, resulting in significant additional mileage, fuel and driver wages and Dail would lose the revenue on the high school parent pay bus- about $40,0000 per school year.

Further Mr. Kennedy stated that Dail would not be able to defray increased costs, recover lost revenue and keep the contract on the current level of financial performance, which already has been negatively affect by sharp increase in diesel fuel, without totally restructuring rates. Mr. Kennedy stated in his letter that Dail Transportation would be willing to absorb some losses in order to give Deerfield the service that was wanted. They would do the 8 elem. Routes with a small increase from $204.00 to $210.00 per bus per day and chard $235 per bus per day for each of the 2 high school buses.

The board listed the options that they had formulated:

Leave the situation at Status Quo
Cut the routes from 10 to 8
Cutting the budget by $80,000 to finance the transportation needs of Deerfield.
Approach legislators
Talk to Commissioner Tracey
Special School District Meeting
Purchase a bus
Parents pay

Mr. Gorman stated that with liability concerns, fuel, and repairs that having the district purchase two buses was not prudent and the other members of the board agreed.

Mr. Webber noted that going to the state for assistance did not take care of the immediate need, parent funding was not feasible, and a special district meeting would not resolve the issue.

Mr. Webber noted that the only options left were:

Collapsing the bus routes
Finding $80,000 in the budget
Do nothing.

A motion was made by Kevin Webber to collapse the Deerfield Community School’s bus routes from 10 to 8 for the 08-09 school year and to use 2 buses for high school transportation, seconded by Kevin Barry.

Mr. Gorman spoke against the motion stating that the townspeople had spoken in the last two elections not to finance high school transportation. He also stated that the board also did not have the legal authority to do so.

Ms. Beaubien stated that it was her opinion that the budget was voted down this year due to the economy.

Kevin Barry stated that once Concord became Deerfield’s school of record that legally the district could transport students.

Mr. Gorman agreed that this year the budget probably failed due to the economy but when it stood alone as a warrant it also failed.

Ms. Beaubien stated that if we wanted students to stay in school we should assist that student getting to school.

Mr. Webber stated that in the worse case scenario if a 3^rd bus were to be need it would cut deeply into the Deerfield Community School’s budget.

It was noted that 35 students have renewed their rider ship and that letters would be mailed by the 1^st of May to the 8^th grade parents.

The motion was re-stated and a roll call vote was taken:

A motion was made by Kevin Webber to collapse the Deerfield Community School’s bus routes from 10 to 8 for the 08-09 school year and to use 2 buses for high school transportation, seconded by Kevin Barry.

Don Gorman-No

Kevin Webber-Yes

Bonnie Beaubien-yes

John Harrington-Yes

Kevin Barry-Yes

Motion Carried

D. Wetlands Plan-Mr. Gorman

Mr. Gorman informed the members that information has been turned over to the attorney and that a reply would be forthcoming in 4 to 6 weeks.

E. N.C.L.B. Update-Mr. Gorman

Mr. Warburton brought information forward from several areas concerning No Child Left Behind legislation. He informed the members that he would collect information on legislative activities and any correspondence that he could find concerning this issue. Mr. Warburton then stated that the information would be placed in a binder that would be in the library for the board members and interested community members to review.

F. Action Items- Mr. Webber

None at this time

5. Old/Unfinished Business

A. Default Budget

Mr. Haley passed out to the members of the board a budget summary sheet that Mr. Aubrey made for them with the information that has been given to him so far.

-$56,651 (not replacing a teaching position)

-$3,000 (drop in interns)

₊$9,354 (salary increases)

-$17,500 (supply cuts)

-$17146 (Technology items)

-$2,203 additional from surplus due to advance purchases

The board noted that a surplus in the 07-08 budget which could be expended in the 07-08 offsetting purchases for the 08-09 budget would be approximately $87,398.

It was also noted $20,000 would need to be expended for high school transportation.

The board will continue to discuss school funding at their next meeting.

B. Modular Plan-Mr. Harrington

Mr. Haley reminded the board that they had extended the modular lease for another year. Mr. Gorman stated that he did not believe that taking any of the modulars away at this time was a good idea because the board is still reviewing the wetlands next to the school, the proposal that was brought forward this evening by Mr. Nelson, and the fact that the modulars cannot be replaced without numerous costly upgrades.

Mr. Webber stated that the number of classrooms has been decreased by two and that the board needs to justify the space use.

Mr. Yergeau stated that there is ongoing discussion with staff members concerning space needs and space allocations. Their input will be brought to the board.

C. Energy Conservation Project-Mr. Harrington

Discussion was tabled for the May 1^st meeting.

6. Other Business

A. Informational Items-Administrators and Board Members

Mr. Yergeau informed that board that Mrs. Knee had been selected as the Technology Teacher of the Year for the State of NH and was nominated for an international award sponsored by the International Society for Tech. Ed. and was the recipient of the 2008 Kay L. Bitter Vision Award for Excellence in Technology based PK 2 Ed. Award. Mrs. Knee will be featured on the ISTE website and their publications. She has also been invited to receive her award at the annual National Ed. Computing Conference in Antonia Texas.

Paul Yergeau brought to the board’s attention a correction in the 08-09 calendar. The calendar should reflect that the spring break should be April 20^th – the 24^th instead of the last week of April.

A motion was made by Kevin Webber to amend the 08-09 calendar to state spring break April 20^th-24^th seconded by Don Gorman.

All In Favor

Motion Carried

John Harrington – Mr. Harrington read a letter to the members of the board from Mr. Bruce Turnquist. Mr. Turnquist stated in his letter that he would be resigning from his teaching position for the 08-09 school year. The members of the board accepted with regrets Mr. Turnquist’s letter of resignation.

The board received a letter from Rebecca Adams stating that she would not be returning for the 08-09 school year and would be moving to Chicago.

B. Agenda Preparation

Energy Conservation

DCS 08-09 Default Budget

Transportation

Public Information-put on the agenda the 1^st meeting of every month (requested by Kevin Webber)

C. Citizens’/Staff Comments

Maria White thanked the board members for their time and efforts that have been spent in trying to resolve the high transportation issue.

8. Adjournment

At 8:35 P.M. a motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Kevin Webber, seconded by Don Gorman.

All In Favor

Motion Carried

The next Deerfield School Board meeting is scheduled for Thursday, May 1st, 2008 at 6:30 P.M.