Minutes
Cooperative School District Planning Board
Thursday, May 20, 2004 Gorham Middle High School Library
Donna Goodrich Gorham, chairperson
Carol Gagnon Randolph
Robert Leclerc Randolph
Leona Guay Gorham
Charles Brown Randolph
David Carlisle Shelburne
Steve Welford Interim Superintendent, SAU #20
Pauline Plourde Business Administrator, SAU #20
David Goyette Transportation Coordinator, Gorham School District
Jacqueline Tetreault Recording Secretary, Cooperative School District
Members of the public
Members of the press
Donna Goodrich, chairperson of the Cooperative School District Planning Board, called the meeting to order at 6:33 pm.
Motion by Michael Waddell, second by Donna Goodrich
Motion: to approve the minutes of the May 6th work session as presented.
Vote on motion: all were in favor; motion carried.
Motion by Michael Waddell, second by Charles Brown
Motion: to approve the April 15th minutes as corrected.
Discussion: the following changes were noted:
-pg. 3, paragraph 6 - Cooperative School Board would need to evaluate .
Vote on motion: all were in favor; motion carried.
Ms. Plourde reported that the valuation of the schools did not take place over April vacation as planned, but did happen on May 13th and took a few hours. She will request a breakdown of the valuations from the Department of Revenue Administration. Ms. Plourde also shared that at a meeting she attended recently, she was able to make some contacts with a few people who may be able to evaluation of the equipment in the schools to provide an independent cost analysis.
D. Carlisle entered the meeting at 6:43 pm.
The Board discussed how to go about naming the cooperative district if so voted, and it was agreed that the students of Gorham Middle/High School should be asked again to devise some names. Ms. Goodrich has begun a synopsis to send to voters in all three towns, and would like to see this sent out before school ends. D. Carlisle suggested leaving the name as Gorham-Randolph-Shelburne Cooperative School District until such time as it is possibly voted in, and then perhaps changing it.
Ms. Goodrich stated that neither her nor Mr. Leclerc are available for a meeting on June 3rd, and suggested meeting on June 4th, June 17th and July 1st. She stated that the next two to three meetings will be held in Gorham for ease in presenting budget workshops.
It was stated that this is an article that needs to be included. Mr. Goyette, transportation coordinator for the Gorham School District, stated that currently there are 8 full size busses and one mini-bus in Gorham-Randolph-Shelburne districts. Routes for a cooperative school district would need to be coordinated by Mr. Goyette, school principals, and the superintendent. It may be able to eliminate dual runs in Randolph and Shelburne. Mr. Goyette stated that he will work through this more and report back to the Board.
Ms. Plourde presented to the Board binders which included the budgets for the three towns included in the coop, as well as a snapshot of a cooperative district budget. As the Board worked through an explanation of these budgets, it was agreed upon that a definition of what a capital expense is and what an operating expense is needs clarification.
S. Welford arrived at the meeting at 7:34 pm.
Ms. Plourde stated that an operating expense is defined as a piece of equipment with a life span of over one year, but that there is no strict definition. Capital expenses are defined as major repairs, etc. The Board recommended getting better definitions for both operating expenses and capital expenses, as well as what defines a fixed asset.
As discussion progressed, it was also mentioned that an article of agreement would need to be composed on how the trust funds would be handled in the event of a coop being approved.
It was agreed to by the Board to begin with scenarios now that it was understood how the budget numbers were created, and how they may change. Ms. Plourde was asked to project capital and equipment for the past five years, and come up with the average figure.
It was asked what Randolph and Shelburne would begin paying for in a cooperative district that they have not been paying for in the past. A reprint of student population based on 100% was asked to be reprinted.
The agenda for the Friday, June 4th meeting is to be as follows:
I. Call to Order
II. Approval of May 20the minutes
III. Transportation update
IV. Budget workshop part 2
V. Other
VI. Agenda for next meeting
VII. Adjournment
The May 20th, 2004 meeting of the Gorham-Randolph-Shelburne Cooperative School District Planning Board was unanimously adjourned at 8:32 pm.
Respectfully submitted
Jacqueline Tetreault
Recording Secretary