Cooperative School District Planning Board

Meeting Minutes

June 4, 2004

Gorham Middle High School

 

 

Members present:  Charles Brown, Dave Carlisle, Carol Gagnon, Donna Goodrich, Leona Guay, Robert Leclerc, Michael Waddell

 

Others present:  Keith Parent- Principal- Gorham Middle/High School, Pauline Plourde- SAU Business Administrator,  Julie Renaud Evans – recording secretary;  Members of the Public (Ken Lee,)  and Members of the Press (Chad Dryden)

           

Call to Order

D. Goodrich called the meeting to order at 6:40 p.m.

 

Approval of minutes

D. Goodrich asked for approval of or corrections to the minutes for the May 20 meeting.

Amendment:  M. Waddell present as attendee.

 

            Motion by L. Guay, second by M. Waddell.

            Motion:  To accept the minutes of May 20, 2004 as amended.

            Vote:  All in favor.  Motion passed.

 

Transportation

P. Plourde presented a report by Dave Goyette on transportation including a proposed transportation schedule for a cooperative district along with bus routing maps.

The report included one possible change in the existing routes that is to add Gorham Hill pickups to the Randolph bus.  The Board discussed the routes at length, noting specifically the challenge of scheduling routes with different arrival and dismissal times at the elementary and high schools.  The present inventory of buses and vehicles was also reviewed, and the transportation needs for athletics and field trips discussed.  The Board asked P. Plourde to check with D. Goyette about the possibility of having 2 separate runs for younger and older children in the afternoon, as Shelburne currently does in the morning.  The board understood that potential route changes may not impact the cost of transportation, but it may be an opportunity to improve service.

 

D. Carlisle arrived at 7:02

 

Property Assessment

P. Plourde gave Board members a copy of the letter received from S. Dickman and G. Pettell at the NH Department of Revenue Administration regarding current market value for the school properties.  The total value of the two schools and two multi family houses on Mechanic Street was $ 3,430,000.00.  This market value of the real property (land and buildings) is necessary for the establishment of a cooperative school district.  It was confirmed that this is a state estimate; the actual figure used by the three towns is entirely negotiable.    The Board also discussed the necessity of having an equipment appraisal done; it is not required by the state.  The Board directed P.Plourde to get some cost estimates to conduct an equipment appraisal throughout the schools.

 

Budget Workshop Part 2

P.Plourde presented a second workshop on budgets and how it would work with a cooperative district.  She outlined the components expected in a Cooperative Budget including all expenditures and revenues.  Tax rate calculations were also presented with district assessments, state education grants, and the state education tax discussed.  Finally P.Plourde explained the tax bill’s school portion including both state school tax and local school tax.  This was further broken down and discussed within the context of the town valuation’s role.  The Board discussed fully the equalization rate, where the state comes up with the tax base, and where the rate actually takes affect within the formulas.  P.Plourde then presented the elements of the distribution formula.  There was a long discussion about assessments, equalization, state vs. local assessment figures, and most importantly how this all works when three towns are combined into a cooperative district. 

 

D.  Goodrich left the meeting at 7:35 p.m.

 

The Board also discussed operating costs and capital costs, specifically they wondered about separating out equipment and capital from the operating costs and how these are prorated for the towns.  Grants were also considered. P. Plourde reminded the Board that grants are treated as both revenue and cost and therefore will not affect budget calculations or tax rates. 

 

For the next meeting the Board asked P. Plourde to prepare

  1. a cooperative district budget sheet using equalized assessment numbers
  2. a budget sheet showing split between capital and equipment.

 

 

Other

The Board expressed concern about Shelburne’s representation and participation on the board.  D. Carlisle offered to check with the Shelburne School Board on this matter.

 

Next Meeting

The Board decided to continue the focus on finance issues for the next meeting scheduled for June 17.   They asked P. Plourde to prepare a presentation on calculating the operating costs using 100% ADM and breaking out “operating capital” – equipment/furniture, etc. using 100% evaluation.  A second presentation will be provided using the figures for a new school building.

 

Adjournment

 

            Motion by C. Brown, second by L. Guay

            Motion: To adjourn meeting.

            Vote:  All in favor. Meeting adjourned at 8:35 p.m.

 

 

Respectfully submitted

 

Julie Renaud Evans

Recording Secretary