Minutes

Dummer School Board – Public Hearing

Wednesday, February 11, 2004 – Dummer Town Hall

 

Attendees

Joane Belleau – chairperson

Marianne Letarte

Diane Labbe

 

Others

Steve Welford – Interim Superintendent of Schools, SAU #20

Pauline Plourde – Business Administrator, SAU #20

Rebecca Hebert-Sweeny – Director of Special Services, SAU #20

Jacqueline Tetreault – Recording Secretary

 

Members of the public

 

ITEM I – CALL TO ORDER

Joane Belleau, chairperson of Dummer School Board, called the School Board Annual Budget Hearing to order at 6:35 pm.

 

ITEM II – PRESENTATION OF BUDGET

Ms. Plourde began a presentation on the Dummer School Budget.  She mentioned using a ‘crystal ball’ approach to the tax rate, and that these are an estimate only.  Ms. Plourde presented a handout which displayed the tax impact using last year’s adequacy grant, and the tax impact using a variety of scenarios currently being worked through at the state level.  Ms. Plourde explained that by October or November, the method of education funding will need to be known in order to set the tax rate.  Currently, the town of Dummer is looking at an estimated tax increase of $3.27 per thousand.

 

On the revenue summary, Ms. Plourde estimates a year-end balance of approximately

$ 17,000.00.  She explained that last year’s fund balance was due to the discontinuation of a capital reserve fund, and that this large fund balance does not always materialize.  The total amount of appropriations for the 2004-2005 budget is calculated to be

$ 517,541.00.  It was also shared that last year, the Dummer School Board put $ 28,000 into a Tuition Expendable Trust Fund.

 

When Ms. Plourde began explaining the actual budget, she shared that the Dummer School District General budget is down by $ 22,277.00.  Tuition costs are down due to nine less students that tuition is being paid for.  Special education costs have risen, along with the stipends paid to school board members.  Transportation costs have risen by 2%.

 

Ms. Hebert-Sweeny gave a thorough explanation of the 2004-2005 Dummer Special Education budget, which showed an increase of $ 9,809 for the coming school year.  Many students are moving up in grades, and more services require one-on-one attention.  Ms. Hebert-Sweeny continued to go through the special education budget and offered explanations on a variety of items.  

 

 

 

 

School administrators continued to go over various information with school board members and community members, such as the names of students in the Dummer School District for the 2004-2005 school year, and tuition rates.  Ms. Plourde explained that within the last few years, the Dummer School District has had a drop in the number of students, which explains a rise in per pupil costs. 

 

Some inquiry was made in to the rise in the stipend paid to school board members.  It was stated that this raise was to keep the amounts paid to school board members in all the communities fairly consistent.

 

The school warrant for the town of Dummer was reviewed, and school administrators stated that article 9 showed salary adjustments for various positions.  Article 10 stated the amount to be raised and appropriated for the school district’s budget.  Article 11 stated the amount to be raised and appropriated to add to the Tuition Expendable Trust fund, and to authorize the transfer of the amount of $17,000 from the year end undesignated fund balance (surplus) available on July 1st of this year.

 

                        Motion by Diane Labbe, second by Marianne Letarte

                        Motion:  to close the Dummer School District public budget hearing.

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

 

Public hearing closed at 7:12 pm.

 

 

Respectfully submitted

 

 

Jacqueline J. Tetreault

Recording Secretary (substitute)

Dummer School District

 

Minutes

Dummer School Board

Wednesday, February 11, 2004 – Dummer Town Hall

 

Attendees

Joane Belleau – chairperson

Marianne Letarte

Diane Labbe

 

Others

Steve Welford – Interim Superintendent of Schools, SAU #20

Pauline Plourde – Business Administrator, SAU #20

Rebecca Hebert-Sweeny – Director of Special Services, SAU #20

Jacqueline Tetreault – Recording Secretary

 

ITEM I – CALL TO ORDER

Joane Belleau, chairperson of the Dummer School Board, called the meeting to order at 7:15 pm.

 

ITEM II – APPROVAL OF JANUARY 12, 2004 MINUTES

 

                        Motion by Marianne Letarte, second by Diane Labbe

                        Motion:  to approve the January 12, 2004 minutes as written.

                        Vote on motion:  all approve; motion carried.

 

ITEM III – APPROVAL OF VOUCHER

Mary Guay, new treasurer for the Dummer School Board, will need to sign a signature card at Berlin City Bank, and Angela Jewett will need to sign as the backup treasurer.  Ms. Plourde will coordinate this. 

 

One check was noted to be in error:  a check made out to Foreast Transportation, which the correct amount is $58.61.

 

                        Motion by Diane Labbe, second by Marianne Letarte

Motion:  to approve Dummer Voucher #10 with the exception of a check to Foreast Transportation.

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

 

Board members agreed that a new check could be issued to Foreast Transportation without the need for board members to sign the new voucher.

 

ITEM I V– COMMUNICATIONS

No communications were presented at this time.

 

ITEM V – SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT

 

-Mr. Welford shared that he had recently attended a workshop by the New Hampshire School Administrator’s Association which explained the current school funding plans before the state government.

 

-The Milan School Board recently adopted their budget for the 2004-2005 school year.  The current difficulties in Milan have to do with the building, and the fact that the entire school may need to be re-roofed.  There are still some items on the punch list which have not been completed.  Currently, $37,000 is being withheld from WRENN by SAU #20, and five sub-contractors have attached on to their bond.  The current consensus is to withhold the monies due to WRENN and have another contractor complete the work.

 

-No capital projects are projected for the 2004-2005 school year.

 

ITEM VI – NEW BUSINESS

 

                        Motion by Diane Labbe, second by Marianne Letarte

                        Motion:  to appoint Mary Guay as treasurer for the Dummer School

District.

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

 

-Discussion was held regarding a file cabinet for Dummer School District documents.  Various vendors were consulted for prices, but there is a possibility of having the lock on a current file cabinet fixed.  Ms. Belleau will make inquiries as to possibly having this lock repaired.

 

-The Dummer Town Meeting will be held March 8, 2004 at 6 pm.  The Dummer School Board will not meet during the month of March.

 

                        Motion by Diane Labbe, second by Marianne Letarte

Motion:  to accept the Dummer School budget and warrant articles as presented.

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

 

ITEM VII – NEXT MEETING

The Dummer School Board will not meet during the month of March.

 

ITEM IX– ADJOURNMENT

 

                        Motion by Diane Labbe, second by Marianne Letarte

                        Motion:  to adjourn the February meeting of the Dummer School

Board.

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

 

Meeting adjourned at 7:51 pm.

 

Respectfully submitted

 

 

Jacqueline Tetreault

Recording Secretary (substitute)

Dummer School Board