Minutes

Cooperative School District Planning Board

Thursday, April 15, 2004 – Randolph Town Hall, Randolph, NH

 

Attendees

Donna Goodrich – Gorham                               Carol Gagnon – Randolph

Michael Waddell – Gorham                              Robert Leclerc – Randolph

Wendy Niskanen – Shelburne               Charles Brown – Randolph

 

Others

Steve Welford – Interim Superintendent, SAU #20

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 6:36 pm.  At this time, a quorum was not present.

 

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 introduced themselves.  Ms. Goodrich also mentioned members of the Board whom were not present at the current time.

 

ITEM IV – QUESTION/ANSWER PERIOD WITH PUBLIC

Background of the Cooperative School District Planning Board’s status and decisions that have been made were shared with members of the public.  The final decision on governance was explained by Mr. Waddell.

 

W. Niskanen arrived at the meeting at 6:42 pm

 

Mr. Waddell shared that a legal opinion has been sought regarding this method of governance, and this does legally meet all the necessary criteria.  He also shared that it is important to not have ‘three separate school boards in the same room, but a unified one’.

 

Regarding the financial piece, the Cooperative School District Planning Board is looking at both operating and capital costs in a variety of scenarios having to do with ADM and property valuation.  It was shared that the second year of any financial commitment will be when the tough decisions and compromises will have to be made.

 

When asked about the status of the current school buildings, it was shared that these buildings will undergo appraisals by the Department of Revenue Administration during April vacation.  An article of agreement addressing the buy-in will need to be structured.  It was shared that it is important to have all the towns agree on what would be done with the buildings; otherwise, Gorham will have to make the decision and the other towns will not get a say.

 

Ms. Plourde shared that the need to have an evaluation of the Gorham schools is actually an RSA and state mandated.  Ms. Plourde also commented that it will be a good thing to have the evaluations completed, that way when the Board is making up the articles of agreement, there will be factual information to go on.  It was also shared that it is important to get past the capital issues, as there are other issues such as curriculum that would be important in a coop.

 

Charles Brown entered the meeting at 6:51 pm.

 

Some members of the public shared their concern regarding the school choice policy that Randolph currently has, and that this flexibility may be lost with the formation of a cooperative district.  Members of the Board shared that if the community values that school system that most to all of the children attend, then that school district will need to lend a hand in any decision making processes that will take place.

 

Ms. Niskanen shared that the formation of a cooperative district will be separate from any decisions that need to be made regarding the buildings.  Tuition contracts for Randolph and Shelburne will expire at end of fiscal year 2005, and a decision will need to be made as to whether a cooperative district is formed, or if the districts continue to pay rent with an increase that may be requested by Gorham. 

 

It was asked if Gorham could charge fees for use of the schools, to which the response was that a rental charge comes up when there is discussion of replacing the current buildings. 

 

Steve Welford arrived at the meeting at 7:06 pm

 

When asked if Gorham required the concurrence of the other towns for a rental agreement, it was shared that the receiving school would set the rate for rental charges.

 

Another concern that was shared was Randolph becoming a ‘bedroom’ community of Gorham.  Members of the community shared that Randolph and Shelburne are their own communities, and the Coop Board should keep in mind the identity of the three towns.

 

Members of the community asked what the advantages would be in forming a cooperative school district.  The ability to speak about a child’s education legally, having a voice in how the school operates and functions from an educational standpoint, elimination of redundancy among the three school boards regarding multiple meetings, multiple budgets, etc. were mentioned as to the advantage of forming a Coop.  Pooling the various towns resources will make the system much more effective and eliminate multiple tasks.

 

One Randolph School Board member shared that after reviewing multiple sets of Randolph School Board minutes, she has seen a variety of times when Gorham made educational decisions that effected Randolph and Shelburne students without consulting either school board.

 

Mr. Leclerc shared that in the formation of a cooperative district, it may be possible to have a set up so that the expenses will be the same as they currently are, and that the Randolph School District will be able to have a voice in the system.

 

Some discussion was shared regarding the current status of the roofs at Gorham Middle High School.  Members of the Board shared the roof recently was shored up, but new roof decking will need to be done.  It would be a waste of money to fix the roofs, and the only solutions would be a pitched roof or a new building.  It was also shared that any school bond will not pass without assistance from the other towns.

 

When asked what the ‘bottom’ line would be for the formation of a cooperative school district, it was shared that Randolph would have ownership and a voice in the system.

 

Members of the Board also shared that they understand the importance of school choice in Randolph.  One member of the public questioned as to whether his children would still be able to continue to go to school in another district, and members of the Board shared that this would more than likely be able to continue.  The language for an article of agreement addressing this concern and grandfathering those students, has been drafted by our attorney.  Some members of the Board questioned as to if a school choice policy was adopted by the Cooperative School District, there could possibly be a mass exodus of students going to other districts.  “RSA 193:3,III allows school boards to establish a change of School Assignment to petition the School Board under a different legal standard, Manifest Educational Hardship, for a change in school assignment.”, according to legal opinion.

 

Some members of the Board shared that the Cooperative School Board would need to evaluation all requests, and that these requests would need to have solid reasons for a child attending school in another district.  Mr. Welford shared that the Board may need to develop a ‘change of school assignment’ policy, with a variety of restrictions stated by state RSA’s.

 

Members of the community asked if that one vote of the cooperative district should fail in a town, what would happen to this vote in the other towns.  It was shared that should the vote fail in any one town, it would be passed over in the other two towns.  When asked when this would be voted on, members of the Board shared that the possible formation of a cooperative school district would be brought to the towns for a vote in March of 2005.

 

ITEM II – APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Since a quorum had been reached at this time, the Board agreed to go back to this agenda item.

 

                        Motion by Michael Waddell, second by Wendy Niskanen

                        Motion:  to approve the minutes of April 8th, 2004 as presented.

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

 

ITEM V – UPDATE ON VALUATION

Ms. Plourde stated that the assessment of the two school buildings in Gorham would take place during the week of April vacation.  It will take approximately three weeks from the time of the valuations until the report is completed.  Ms. Plourde is still looking for someone to do an evaluation of the furniture and the fixtures at both schools.

 

Ms. Plourde shared a variety of information regarding possible funding of the cooperative district and tax impact with members of the community.  Various handouts were presented to members of the Cooperative School District Planning Board for their review.

 

ITEM VII – OTHER

No other information was shared at this time.

 

ITEM VIII – AGENDA FOR NEXT MEETING

The following agenda was recommended for the next meeting to be held in Shelburne on Thursday, May 6th, 2004:

 

I.                    Call to Order

II.                 Approval of Minutes

III.               Question/Answer period with Public

IV.              Update on valuation

V.                 Methods of appropriation

VI.              Other

VII.            Agenda for Next Meeting

VIII.         Adjournment

 

A meeting was also scheduled for Thursday, May 20th in Gorham.

 

ITEM IX – ADJOURNMENT

 

Motion by Charles Brown, second by Wendy Niskanen

Motion:  to adjourn the April 15th meeting of the Cooperative School District Planning Board.

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

 

Meeting adjourned at 8:39 pm.

 

Respectfully submitted

 

 

Jacqueline Tetreault

Recording Secretary