Attendees

Donna Goodrich – Gorham, chairperson

Charles Brown

Others

Steve Welford – Interim Superintendent, SAU #20 (arrived at 7:40 pm)

Pauline Plourde – Business Administrator, SAU #20

Kathleen Kelley – School Board Member, Randolph/SAU #20 Chairperson

Jacqueline Tetreault – Professional Development Assistant, SAU #20/

Recording Secretary

Members of the press

ITEM I – CALL TO ORDER

Donna Goodrich, chairperson of the Cooperative School District Planning Board, called the meeting to order at 6:40 pm. Members in attendance were given a tour of recent renovations that had taken place at the high school before the meeting.

Due to a limited number of members in attendance, this session was held for discussion purposes only. It was recommended that another meeting be scheduled for January 9^th, January 28^th, or January 30^th.

Ms. Goodrich shared that she had recently received some feedback claiming that the Cooperative School District Planning Board had ‘hit a wall’, and that the co-op was a ‘dead issue’. It was the consensus that the ‘wall’ is financial issue, and it was recommended that any assumptions need to be ‘flushed out’, and financial figures need to be as clear as possible.

Other discussions centered around making sure that all community members received a synopsis of the Cooperative School District Planning Board in the town reports.

Ms. Plourde clarified an earlier statement made by Mr. Welford on School Buidling Aid . If a project is not bonded, then building aid is received over a five-year minimum time frame. Should bonding be sought, building aid would be received over the time frame of the bond - either 10, 15, 20 or 30 years, for example.

ITEM II – APPROVAL OF MINUTES

This item was held until the next meeting due to unavailability of a quorum.

ITEM III – METHODS OF APPROPRIATION

Ms. Plourde presented new handouts to those in attendance which simplified methods of appropriation based on 100% and 50/50%, operating costs only.. The members in attendance went through this in detail, suggesting possible adjustments and formatting.

Ms. Plourde commented that she would like to have a small finance committee to go over financial figures and make suggestions as necessary. Members in attendance requested that Ms. Plourde comprise the same scenarios going back a few more years.

Mr. Welford entered the meeting at 7:40 pm.

Members in attendance commented how easily these numbers seemed to work, and suggested presenting these at the next meeting to the other members of the Board. Ms. Plourde clarified that fund transfers include food service, grants and Capital Reserve Funds. Fund balances are monies left over at year end that are turned over to the town to reduce taxes.

ITEM IV – METHODS OF GOVERNANCE

In the last minutes, the method of governance was incorrectly called out as 7-1-1; the correct number is 6-1-1, with three members at large. Gorham would still remain with the largest number of votes, based on its percentage of population.

It was recommended that at the next meeting, a vote should be taken regarding methods of governance. Ms. Goodrich commented that she would be in touch with all members to confirm a meeting date.

ITEM V – MISSON STATEMENT

Members in attendance commented that this Board seems to be progressing well without a mission statement.

ITEM VI – AGENDA FOR NEXT MEETING

The agenda for the next meeting, currently scheduled for Friday, January 9^th, will be as follows:

I. Call to Order

II. Approval of previous minutes

III. Methods of appropriation – update

IV. Methods of governance – update

V. Synopsis and cover letter

VI. Mission statement?

VII. Agenda for Next Meeting

VIII. Adjournment

ITEM VII – ADJOURNMENT

The December 30, 2003 meeting was unanimously adjourned at 8:10 pm.

Respectfully submitted

Jacqueline J. Tetreault

Professional Development Assistant/Recording Secretary

SAU #20/Cooperative School District Planning Board