Attendees

Donna Goodrich – Gorham, chairperson

Leona Guay - Gorham

Michael Waddell – Gorham

Robert Leclerc – Randolph

Charles Brown – Randolph

Carol Gagnon – Randolph

Tuesday Willow – Shelburne

Wendy Niskanen – Shelburne

Others

Patrick Low – Superintendent, SAU #20

Pauline Plourde – Business Administrator, SAU #20

Jacqueline Tetreault – Recording Secretary

ITEM I – CALL TO ORDER

Donna Goodrich, chairperson of the Board, called the meeting to order at 6:30 pm.

ITEM II – APPROVAL OF MINUTES

The minutes of August 18^th were reviewed by members of the Board.

Motion by Michael Waddell, second by Wendy Niskanen

Motion: to approve the August 18^th minutes as presented.

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

ITEM III – BUY-IN LEGALITY

Ms. Plourde had recently received a written opinion from Barbara Loughman regarding some questions that the Cooperative School District Planning Board wished to get a legal opinion. The Board discussed this opinion in depth. Ms. Plourde also presented a handout which detailed the current trusts and capital reserve funds that are established in the towns of Gorham, Randolph, and Shelburne. Ms. Plourde explained that in the formation of a cooperative school district, capital reserve funds would need to be dissolved. Ms. Plourde was directed to contact the Department of Revenue Administration to ask if there could be a ‘lateral transfer’ of monies, from the separate school districts to the cooperative school district. It was further recommended to invite representatives from the Department of Education as well as the Department of Revenue Administration to future meetings to find out exactly what these state departments will accept in the formation of a cooperative school district.

In further discussion, Mr. Low recommended that if monies such as the Capital Reserve Fund in Gorham were in ‘danger’ of being dissolved, it may be worthwhile to invest these funds with possible repairs/renovations at the Edward Fenn Elementary School.

ITEM IV – METHODS OF APPROPRIATION – ARTICLE 7

Ms. Plourde presented a spreadsheet showing the breakdown of 95% 3-yr average ADM and 5% 3-yr average State Equalized Valuation as most currently available for operating costs and 100% of 3-yr average State Equalized Valuation as most currently available for capital costs.

Motion by Wendy Niskanen, second by Robert Leclerc

Motion: to accept Article 7 as follows:

The operating expenses of the Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District payable in each fiscal year shall be apportioned ninety-five percent (95 %) on a three-year average daily membership (ADM) of the pupils in each pre-existing school district and five percent (5%) on the three-year average State equalized valuation as most currently available as determined by the Department of Revenue Administration of the Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District during the preceding fiscal years.

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

Motion by Michael Waddell, second by Wendy Niskanen

Motion: to accept Article 8 as follows:

The capital expenses of the Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District, payable in each fiscal year, shall be apportioned one hundred percent (100%) on the three-year average State equalized valuation as most currently available as determined by the Department of Revenue Administration of the pre-existing School Districts during the preceding fiscal years.

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

Motion by Wendy Niskanen, second by Michael Waddell

Motion: to accept Article 6 as follows:

All furnishings and equipment of the pre-existing school districts shall become the property of the Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District.

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

ITEM V – PUBLICITY

It has been recommended that the Cooperative School District Planning Board begin to publish a series of essays once a week in the local newspapers. Ms. Goodrich stated that she would begin an email regarding a topic, and members could write ‘back and forth’ about it. Mr. Low also recommended publishing information in the district newsletter, and possibly having information available on the SAU #20 website.

ITEM VI – NEXT MEETING

The next meeting of the Gorham-Randolph-Shelburne Cooperative School District Planning Board will be held Wednesday, September 15^th commencing at 6:30 pm at the Gorham Middle High School.

ITEM VII – ADJOURNMENT

The September 2^nd meeting of the Gorham-Randolph-Shelburne Cooperative School District Planning Board was unanimously adjourned at 8:45 pm.

Respectfully submitted

Jacqueline Tetreault

Recording Secretary