Minutes
Michael Waddell – vice-chairperson, Gorham
Leona Guay – Gorham
Lark Wood – Randolph
Charles Brown –
David Carlisle – Shelburne
Steve Welford – Interim Superintendent, SAU #20
Pauline Plourde – Business Administrator, SAU #20
Keith Parent – Principal,
Jacqueline Tetreault – Professional Development Assistant, SAU #20/
Recording Secretary
Members of the press
Michael Waddell, vice-chairperson of the Cooperative School
District Planning Board, called the meeting to order at
No corrections were noted, but approval was held until the next meeting.
Ms. Plourde presented a handout breaking down different
scenarios as requested by the Cooperative School District Planning Board. Ms. Sarah Browning from the NH Department of
Education was unable to attend this meeting due to the possibility of severe
weather, so Ms. Plourde will contact Ms. Browning to possibly attend the next
scheduled meeting on
Ms. Plourde adjusted the current year as follows: Gorham – removed New Building Capital Reserve Fund; Shelburne – removal of Fund Balance. Ms. Plourde spent time explaining to the members in attendance the breakdown of the three scenarios. Ms. Plourde will spend some time re-examining the formulas which would comprise the ‘cooperative’ formula.
Ms. Plourde will verify if in fact the RSA addressing rental charges has been discontinued.
A few additional scenarios will be formulated as requested by the Board for the next meeting. Sally Fellows from the Department of Revenue Administration will be asked to verify the formulas.
Mr. Welford entered the meeting at
Members from Gorham questioned the benefit of forming a cooperative school district if there was not a drop in the tax rate as the town would be giving up property and governance, and then sharing its governance with Randolph and Shelburne. It was shared that Randolph and Shelburne would have to ‘buy’ into Gorham’s properties of the Ed Fenn Elementary School and the Gorham Middle/High School.
Mr. Waddell shared that ‘driving the tax rate down’ before proposing a cooperative school district may be a direction to head in to gain ‘the trust of the people’. The question was posed as to if the cooperative school district was held off for approximately five years, what would happen with Gorham Middle High School’s accreditation. Mr. Parent commented that the work taking place with the roofs and having the cooperative school district planning board meeting does show some movement.
Mr. Welford shared that with any building aid assistance, reimbursement through the state would only be for 20 years no matter how many years a bond were to last if one were to be passed.
Ms. Plourde had discussions with Barbara Loughman and Sarah
Browning, both of whom agreed that the distribution of votes (
At the organizational meeting, should the cooperative district be voted in, would have voters of the checklist from each town would be present to verify its membership. Nominations would be made from the floor and voting would follow. The Board decided that any further questions be reserved for Ms. Browning at her attendance at the next meeting.
It was the consensus of the members in attendance to table this discussion until the next meeting.
It was recommended for the Cooperative School District Planning Board to proceed as far as possible at the December 30th meeting, as this Board may not be able to meet again before the second week in February. It was also recommended that it be discussed at the December 30th meeting to vote to place warrant articles on the ballots for all three communities to continue the cooperative school district study into the coming school year.
Mention was made to possibly make a progress report to the
community of the cooperative school district planning board, and to possibly
add this to the town report in each community.
An alternate meeting date of
The
Respectfully submitted
Jacqueline J. Tetreault
Professional Development Assist./Recording Secretary
SAU #20/