Minutes
Attendees
Donna Goodrich – Gorham, chairperson
Carol Gagnon –
Charles Brown –
Tuesday
Michael Waddell – Gorham
Wendy Niskanen –Shelburne
David Carlisle - Shelburne
Pauline Plourde – Business Administrator
Barbara Reid –Department of Revenue Administration
Barbara Robinson –Department of Revenue Administration
Jacqueline Tetreault – Recording Secretary
Donna Goodrich, chairperson of the Board, called the meeting
to order at
Ms. Goodrich and Ms. Plourde welcomed Barbara Reid and
Barbara Robinson from the Department of Revenue Administration, whom had
traveled from
D.
It was explained that the three towns of Gorham, Randolph, and Shelburne had voted to conduct a study to see if a cooperative district could be formed. Each town wanted its assets, as well as its tax rates, to be protected if a cooperative school district should be formed. It was also shared that the taxpayers of Gorham had raised monies currently set aside in a maintenance/renovation fund which they wanted to hold on to.
Ms. Reid and Ms. Robinson commented that they were glad to be able to participate at this early time in the cooperative board’s discussion, as there had been difficulties with other districts who had asked for DRA’s assistance at later times in the process, and had often ended up with court challenges, or difficulties on how auditing would occur. It was shared that the Department of Education would just need to see the articles of agreement that were proposed by the cooperative school district; the Department of Revenue Administration would have more to do with the apportionment formulas.
It was shared that any monies currently in restricted funds, such as scholarship funds, can stay in place as they are; these are treated very differently than school district created funds or capital reserve funds. It was shared that members of the Board were interested on how to protect the capital reserve fund in each of the three towns.
Ms. Reid and Ms. Robinson shared that when a cooperative
school district is formed, all school district capital reserve funds are
dissolved, and new capital reserve funds would need to be voted in by the newly
formed
It will also be looked into as to whether the town of
Motion by Michael Waddell, second by Charles Brown
Motion: to approve the minutes of 9/2 as presented.
Vote on motion: all were in favor; motion carried.
Article 5 – Purchase of Real Property
Discussion was held regarding this article, and it was
requested that this article be legally looked into by an attorney.
Article 17 – Trust
Funds
Motion by Wendy Niskanen, second by Michael Waddell
Motion:
to approve Article 17 as follows:
All trust funds held by pre-existing school districts shall be held and
applied as the terms of the trust indicate. If such trust allows, the funds may be applied
for the same uses and purposes of (in?) the cooperative district.
Vote on motion: all were in favor; motion carried.
Article 18 – Capital Reserve Funds
After some discussion on this article, it was recommended for it to be tabled until a legal opinion could be given.
Article 19 – Grandfather Clause
Motion by Michael Waddell, second by Charles Brown
Motion:
to approve Article 19 as follows, amended:
Two
Vote on
motion: all were in favor; motion
carried.
Article 20 –
Construction of New Facilities
Motion by Carol Gagnon, second by Michael Waddell
Motion:
to approve Article 20 as follows, amended:
A building committee will be established to study the conditions of
both schools and bring forth a proposal at an annual
Vote on
motion: all were in favor; motion
carried.
Article 10 – Transfer Schedule
Motion by Wendy Niskanen, second by Carol Gagnon
Motion:
to approve Article 10 as follows:
A schedule of monthly payments based on the sum of the respective
shares of the towns of Gorham, Randolph and Shelburne for operating expenses
and capital expenses shall be established and revised as necessary by the
school board of the
Vote on motion: all were in favor; motion carried.
Article 11 –
Policies and By-laws
Motion by Michael Waddell, second by David Carlisle
Motion:
to approve Article 11 as follows:
The
Vote on motion: all were in favor; motion carried.
Article 15 – Sites of Meetings
Motion by
Wendy Niskanen, second by Tuesday
Motion:
to approve Article 15 as follows:
Vote on motion: all were in favor; motion carried.
The Board was asked to review articles 5, 18, 19, 21, 22 and 23 for ratification at the meeting to be held on September 30th.
Article 3 – Date of Operating Responsibility
Motion by Charles Brown, second by Carol Gagnon
Motion:
to amend Article 3 as follows:
The date of operating responsibility of the Gorham
Vote on
motion: all were in favor; motion
carried.
Ms. Goodrich reviewed the articles of agreement to inform members in attendance which articles had been ratified by the Board:
Article 1 – Composition and Name
Article 2 – Grade Levels
Article 3 – Date of Operating Responsibility
Article 4 – School Board Composition
Article 6 – Purchase of Furnishings and Equipment
Article 7 – Operating Expenses
Article 8 – Capital Expenses
Article 9 – State Aid
Article 10 – Transfer Schedule
Article 11 – Policies & By-laws
Article 12 – Existing Contracts
Article 13 – Transportation
Article 14 – Community Use of Facilities
Article 15 – Sites of Meetings
Article 16 – Indebtedness
Article 17 – Trust Funds
Article 19 – Grandfather Clause
Article 20 – Construction of New Facilities
A final draft of the articles of agreement will be presented
at the meeting currently scheduled for October 14th. A joint meeting with the school boards of Gorham,
Randolph and Shelburne is being planned for October 20th. The next meeting of the Gorham Randolph
Shelburne Cooperative School District Planning Board is scheduled for Thursday,
September 30th commencing at
Motion by Michael Waddell, second by Charles Brown
Motion: to adjourn the September 15th
meeting of the
Vote on motion: all were in favor; motion carried. Meeting adjourned at
Respectfully submitted
Jacqueline Tetreault
Recording Secretary