Minutes

Cooperative School District Planning Board

Thursday, November 13, 2003 – Gorham Middle High School Library

 

Attendees

Michael Waddell, vice-chairperson – Gorham

Leona Guay – Gorham

Robert Leclerc – Randolph

Charles Brown – Randolph

Lark Wood – Randolph

Wendy Niskanen – Shelburne

David Carlisle - Shelburne

 

Others

Pauline Plourde – Business Administrator, SAU #20

Keith Parent – Principal, Gorham Middle High School

Jacqueline Tetreault – Professional Development Assist., SAU #20/Recording Secretary

 

Members of the press

 

ITEM I – CALL TO ORDER

Michael Waddell, vice-chairperson of the Cooperative School District Planning Board, called the meeting to order at 5:40 pm.

 

ITEM II – APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM OCTOBER 30, 2003

The following corrections were recommended to the October 30, 2003 minutes:

(changes are highlighted in bold)

 

-pg. 1, under Attendees – change Tom Collia to Tim Collia.

 

-pg. 2, last paragraph – elimination of the following:

There are some disparities between Randolph/Shelburne and Gorham.  which is that Randolph and Shelburne generally have the same cost per pupil, but their cost is approximately double the cost per pupil of Gorham students.

 

-pg. 3, first paragraph – change to the following:

            The Board discussed various methods of operating and allocating expenses.

 

-pg. 3, second paragraph – reword the beginning:

In discussion relating to the building of a new school, it was shared that the Building Committee last year examined all avenues of building a new middle/high school versus renovation of the current high school.  The chairperson commented that ‘the new high school proposed last year was a good building, and that building a new school may be easier than renovating’.

 

-pg. 4, first paragraph under Public Comments – He recommended that in preparation for the next meeting, that the valuation number from the last town evaluation be used for comparison.

 

            Motion by Wendy Niskanen, second by Leona Guay

            Motion:  to approve the October 30, 2003 minutes as corrected.

            Vote on motion:  all approved; motion carried.

 

ITEM III – MISSION STATEMENT

 

            Motion by Charles Brown, second by Lark Wood

Motion:  to pass over discussion of the mission statement until the next meeting.

Vote on motion:  one abstention (Wendy Niskanen); all other members in favor; motion carried.

 

ITEM IV – METHODS OF GOVERNANCE

 

On methods of governance, Ms. Plourde shared that she had spoken with Sarah Browing from the Dept. of Education and Barbara Loughman, an attorney.  Both have very different opinions regarding how the cooperative school district would be governed.  After some discussion, the following proposal was made:  to accept six representatives from Gorham, one representative from Randolph, one representative from Shelburne, and three members elected at large as a form of governance after the legality is clarified.  The makeup of the at-large members still needs to be clarified.  Length and end of terms will be determined at a later time.

 

            Motion by Leona Guay, second by Lark Wood

Motion:  to have the legality of the proposal for governance evaluated by Barbara Loughman and Sarah Browning.

            Vote on motion:  a roll call vote was taken at this time:

Michael Waddell – yes

Leona Guay – yes

Robert Leclerc – yes

Charles Brown – yes

Lark Wood – yes

Wendy Niskanen – yes

            Motion passes unanimously.

 

David Carlisle arrived at 6:31 pm.

 

Two questions will need to be asked:

 

Who determines how the three members at large are voted in?

Who would vote for the first board?

 

            Motion by Leona Guay

Motion:  to have school board representatives make a motion at their next meeting to hold a special district meeting in May for the purposes of establishing a cooperative school district.

Motion was not seconded; motion was withdrawn.

 

Ms. Niskanen volunteered to draft articles of agreement based on what was standard or what the Cooperative School District Planning Board had agreed to date.

 

Time check – 6:35 pm

 

ITEM V– METHODS OF APPROPRIATION

 

Ms. Plourde presented information that Charles Brown had worked on regarding methods of appropriation.  Different options regarding ADM, and the valuation variance were explored.  The following information was requested by the cooperative school district planning board:

 

These above scenarios will reflect 100/100 and 50/50 on ADM and valuation.

 

Time check – 7:38 pm

 

A handout was presented regarding the evaluations for Ed Fenn Elementary School and Gorham Middle High School.

 

ITEM VI – SCHEDULE OF NEXT MEETINGS

 

Next meetings are scheduled as follows:

            -Tuesday, November 25, 2003

            -Thursday, December 11, 2003 – Sarah Browning will attend this meeting.

            -Tuesday, December 30, 2003

 

A mailing of the meeting synopsis should be sent to residents of the towns of Gorham, Randolph, and Shelburne.

 

 

 

 

 

ITEM VII – AGENDA FOR NEXT MEETING

The following agenda was proposed for the next meeting:

I.                    Call to Order

II.                 Approval of Minutes from November 13, 2003

III.               Methods of Appropriation

IV.              Update on Methods of Governance

V.                 Mission Statement

VI.              Agenda for Next Meeting

VII.            Adjournment

 

ITEM VIII – ADJOURNMENT

 

            Motion by Lark Wood, second by Leona Guay

Motion:  to adjourn the November 13, 2003 meeting of the Cooperative District Planning Board.

            Vote on motion:  all were in favor; motion was carried.  Meeting was adjourned at

7:52 pm.

 

Respectfully submitted

 

 

 

Jacqueline Tetreault

Professional Development Assistant/Recording Secretary

SAU #20/Cooperative School District Planning Board