Minutes

Cooperative School District Planning Board

Thursday, April 8, 2004 – Gorham Middle High School Library

 

Attendees

Donna Goodrich – Gorham, chairperson

Leona Guay – Gorham

Tim Collia – Shelburne

David Carlisle – Shelburne

Charles Brown – Randolph

Michael Waddell – Gorham

 

Others

Pauline Plourde – Business Administrator, SAU #20

Jacqueline Tetreault – Recording Secretary

 

Members of the public

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 6:42 pm.

 

ITEM II – APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MINUTES

 

                        Motion by Michael Waddell, second by Charles Brown

                        Motion:  to approve the March 24, 2004 minutes as presented.

                        Vote on motion:  all were in favor; motion carried.

 

ITEM III – INTRODUCTION OF BOARD MEMBERS TO PUBLIC

Ms. Goodrich explained to members of the public in attendance the Board’s decision to rotate meetings among the three towns in order to gain public input.  The members of the board, as well as the public, introduced themselves. 

 

ITEM IV – QUESTION/ANSWER PERIOD WITH PUBLIC

Some inquiry was made by the public as to the method of governance of 6-1-1, with three members voted at large.  Mr. Waddell offered an explanation as to this method of governance, and that the Board had originally hoped to keep the members for a coop board the same as they are currently.  However, the state has laws which strictly state how the method of governance should be determined for cooperative school districts.

It is hoped that the basis for votes will be issues and not geography.  Some inquiry was made as to the possibility of an AREA agreement, but it was clarified that outlying districts would have no membership.

 

 

 

It was asked if a legal opinion had been obtained regarding this method of governance, and Ms. Plourde stated that she had been in touch with Sarah Browning, but Ms. Browning declined to give an opinion.  Ms. Plourde will obtain the opinion from Ms. Barbara Loughman, an attorney for the school district.

 

ITEM V – METHODS OF APPROPRIATION

It was asked if Randolph, which currently has an option for school choice, would still be able to have this within a cooperative school district setting.  Ms. Plourde stated that in a note from Sarah Browning ‘no school district is authorized to provide vouchers’, but that they can pay tuition to another district.  Further inquiry was made as to if a student has an IEP or ‘educational hardship’, would the cooperative school district manage the plan.

 

Ms. Plourde informed the Board that she has recently been in contact with various cooperative school districts to explore different methods of appropriation.  Handouts were distributed, and discussion was held regarding this item.  A final decision was made to ask Ms. Plourde to comprise figures on 100% ADM/100% evaluation for capital only.  Ms. Guay commented that the Board needs to ‘latch on to a formula and work with it’.

 

David Carlisle entered the meeting at 7:13 pm.

 

Ms. Plourde will begin compiling figures starting with 100% ADM, and will then add in capital costs.  Ms. Plourde will also add in bonding costs, and it was agreed to work with the same state grant figures until the state makes a final decision.  She was asked to review the ADM figures of the last five years for Gorham, Randolph and Shelburne when compiling these figures.

 

Ms. Plourde also informed the Board that the state does not have a formal group to appraise equipment, but she will look in to this, as the SAU has to complete this due to a new set of auditing standards.

 

Time check – 7:55 pm.

 

ITEM VI – UPDATE ON VALUATION

Ms. Plourde informed the Board that she had recently been in contact with Scott Dickman at the State’s appraisal department.  A scheduled assessment of the two schools in Gorham is planned for the week of April 25th, which is during school vacation.  A report should then be available within a three-week time period.  Pauline will coordinate this assessment with Dave Goyette so the appraisers will have access to the school.  A quote of $3200 has been given for these appraisals.

 

ITEM VII – OTHER

The Board was reminded of the next scheduled Cooperative School District Planning Board meeting to be held in Randolph on Thursday, April 15, 2004 at 6:30 pm at the Randolph Town Hall.

 

 

It was asked if the Cooperative School District Planning Board planned to have an educational forum on curriculum and other concerns.

 

It was asked if Mr. Welford or Ms. Hebert-Sweeny could attend the next coop meeting to inform the Board how laws have changed due to IDEA and issues with school choice.  Some answers will be needed as to some of the school choice questions.

 

ITEM VIII – AGENDA FOR NEXT MEETING

It was asked that this agenda be posted as soon as possible.

 

              I.                              Call to Order

           II.                              Approval of Minutes

         III.                              Introduction of Board Member to Public

        IV.                              Question/Answer Period with Public

           V.                              Methods of appropriation

        VI.                              Update on valuation

      VII.                              Other

   VIII.                              Agenda for Next Meeting

        IX.                              Adjournment

 

Members of the Board agreed to develop more meeting dates at the next meeting.

 

ITEM IX – ADJOURNMENT

 

                        Motion by Leona Guay, second by Michael Waddell

                        Motion:  to adjourn the April 8, 2004 meeting of the Cooperative

School District Planning Board.

Vote on motion:  all were in favor; motion carried.

 

Meeting adjourned at 8:05 pm.

 

 

Respectfully submitted

 

 

Jacqueline Tetreault

Recording Secretary