MINUTES OF MEETING
JACKSON SCHOOL BOARD
Jackson Grammar School
December 17, 2012
1. Call to Order: The Dec. 17th meeting of the Jackson School Board was called to order at 6:00 p.m. Present were Genn Anzaldi, Keith Bradley, Fred Nemeth, Lauren Synnott, William White, Dr. Carl Nelson, and Principal, Gayle Dembowski. There were 7 members of public/staff present.
2. Approve Minutes (11-19-12) – Motion by Ms. Synnott, second by Mr. Nemeth, to approve the Minutes of the Nov. 19th meeting as circulated. Motion carried by unanimous vote.
3. Citizen Comments: Chief Myers requested an audience to discuss his son, a student at JGS. Dr. Nelson advised that, on advice of counsel, discussion regarding a student should be conducted in non public session.
4. Presentation of School Programs/FYI Items:
A. SAU – Other School Board Reports - Dr. Nelson announced the SAU budget was approved by the Board on 12/13/12, carrying a 1.15% increase and the amount of total increase back to the District is less than 1/3%.
5. Old Business:
A. Whitney Oversight Committee – Mr. Bradley suggested this be postponed until the January meeting in that Tish Hanlon was not able to be present and there are issues which need to be resolved regarding how the yearly funding is handled. Ginger Bailey, a representative of the Committee, was in agreement.
Ann Bennett said she would like to go back to the original language in the signed agreement. Mr. Bradley noted it is interpreted differently every year and there are several issues that need to be resolved. It was agreed this would be addressed under old business at the January 22nd meeting.
6. Instructional Issues: None.
7. Consider Personnel Actions: None.
8. Business Affairs:
- FYI – 2012-13 Budget Status Report – Dr. Nelson provided copies of
updated budget. There were no questions or comments.
- Review 1st Draft of 2013-14 Proposed Budget – Dr. Nelson stated the
budget is down by 7.43%, the SAU Share went down as well. The final proposed budget is $2,230,390., a decrease in the budget of more than 7%, or $178,575. Dr. Nelson reviewed decreases and increases as follows: Decrease in salaries because of a Special Ed Aide position which was reduced. Health insurance decreased because they have one less position; there was a health insurance rate increase of 8.69%. Retirement is up $11,000 because the State has asked the Districts to contribute, as employers, 3% more than last year.
Special Education tuition is down due to less demand. Regular Tuition is for 12 students at $20,500 per student; last year there were 13 students at $17,500. KHS tuition is a combination of equalized value dropping, and enrollment being down slightly.
Contracted Services-Incinerator is down because the snowplowing line has been moved; Op/Maint Plant is for ceiling tiles in the classrooms. There is an increase in grounds for the snowplowing that was previously under contracted services and also includes repaving the parking lot. Fuel for buses is budgeted at $4.00 per gallon for diesel and is up slightly.
Revenues – Dr. Nelson noted this is off slightly from last year – there was a fund balance last year of $251,055, this year it is down. State Education Funding is down ($78,127 previous year), estimated 95% which would be $74,221.
Tax Rate – Dr. Nelson noted a decrease in the tax rate of $.40 per thousand, if the budget stands as proposed; if all warrant articles pass, the rate would still go down by $.28, or nearly 5.5%.
Motion was made by Mr. Nemeth, seconded by Ms. Synnott, that the Board approve bringing the proposed budget forward for a total of $2,230,390. Motion carried by unanimous vote.
C. Review 1st Draft of Warrant Articles –
Article 1. Budget - $2,230,390 - (Recommended by the School Board 5-0-0)
Article 2. To authorize, indefinitely until rescinded, to retain year-end unassigned general funds in an amount not to exceed, in any fiscal year, 2.5% of the current fiscal year’s net assessment, in accordance with RSA 198:4-b,II. Such fund balance retained may only be used to reduce the tax rate or for emergencies (to be approved by the DOE). Mr. Bradley requested that the Board postpone action on this article.
Article 3. Capital Reserve Fund (School Buses) - $15,000. It was reported that fund currently has a balance of $58,000.
Article 4. Expendable General Trust Fund (School Building Maintenance Fund) – $10,000. It was noted there is currently $8,000 in that fund.
Article 5. $10,000 to be added to the Whitney Maintenance Trust Fund. It was reported there is currently $11,000 in that fund.
Article 6. Expendable Trust Fund (Tuition Trust Fund) - $10,000. Dr. Nelson noted in a year when we have a decrease in the tax rate, the budget committee wanted to put in $10,000. There is now $52,000 in that account.
Article 7. A sum to be added to the Whitney Maintenance Trust Fund, previously established for this purpose in 2010. Note: Money will come from the remaining Whitney Construction Fund.
Dr. Nelson stated presently the Whitney Construction account has $9,000, this article would take whatever is left in that account and move it to the Whitney Maintenance Trust Fund. Ms. Bennett stated it is a bit of a surprise. Dr. Nelson explained we have the $9,000 and have to do something with it. Ms. Bennett stated those funds were to be for the construction and not for ongoing maintenance – they are for wear and tear and maintenance items happening to that building. Ms. Dembowski noted the tile has been destroyed with the moving of the tables in one of the rooms. Ms. Bennett said she would like to postpone a decision on this until the January meeting, noting it is the Whitney Foundation money, it is the original funds from the Whitney Foundation, but not in the
Maintenance Trust Fund. Dr. Nelson stated the funds are in a construction fund, a balance that was left over. Mr. Dougherty stated those funds would be signed for by the School Board. Dr. Nelson said he will check with DRA to find out what we can do with them.
Motion was made by Mr. Bradley, seconded by Mr. Nemeth, that the Board approve Articles 3, 4, 5 & 6 as recommended by the School Board 5-0-0. Carried by unanimous vote.
Ms. Anzaldi noted Articles 2 & 7 will be moved to the next Agenda, that being on January 22nd.
Discussion of Article 2: Dr. Nelson stated the School Districts have always zeroed out their money at the end of the year; however, there is a new RSA which allows the School Districts to hold up to an amount not exceeding 2.5% of their current fiscal year’s net assessment; if left over at the end of the year, that could be put in a savings account to be used to lower taxes or for an emergency (which must be approved by the DOE). This year there would be $51,400.
Dr. White, seeking clarification, said you are holding a certain amount of money to reduce next year’s taxes, like a “rainy day fund.” Dr. Nelson stated you build your budget and, hopefully, end up with money that you did not have to spend. Dr. White questioned the definition of “emergency.” Dr. Nelson said an example would be the failure of a boiler. Mr. Bradley asked that Dr. Nelson inquire as to whether the District can use those funds without DOE approval to reduce the tax rate.
D. Maintenance Items – Doors and Security – Ms. Anzaldi acknowledged that this is a very emotional subject due to recent happenings in Ct.; however, the Board had recently already begun discussing this and it is still in discussion. Ms. Dembowski provided a packet exploring security estimates for several different options, as well as a letter from the staff expressing that they do not support the concept of locking the front door. She briefly reviewed the options: A) Siemens, offering 3-phase installation of “key card” security system in use in other SAU 9 schools; B) a quote from Intervale Lock and Safe with a price for just the interior classroom doors. [She noted they cannot currently be locked from inside.] This would be with a key so
students cannot potentially lock themselves in. C) an estimate from Intervale Lock & Safe for just the front door for only a lock and key set up. It can be connected to an intercom system for an additional $1,000 to $1,500 above the $1,385 quoted. She noted it is battery operated so it would work in the event of a power failure.
Ms. Dembowski noted that all new offices can be locked. Option A is for four classrooms and currently all of the doors, except for the front door, are locked. She said her concern is that there are times of the day when there is no one watching that front door. Ms. Bennett wished to be on the record with members of the staff that “this was sent to Jim Hill on Friday morning and it is still the sentiment that it would not be our preference to work in a school with a locked door.”
Ms. Synnott said she would like to see all the classroom doors be able to be locked from the inside and would consider some sort of buzzer for people to enter the building, and the ability to lock down the building from the inside. Mr. Bradley said he would like more information about locking the front door from a phone, and whether it is possible to have a panic button that someone could hit.
Fire Chief, Jay Henry, suggested a panic alarm to operate the security system that would be hooked up to Carroll County. Ms. Dembowski pointed out one of the things to consider with that is that there is a response time.
Kim Dougherty, who works at John Fuller School, noted they have a key card system for several of the exterior doors, it is not currently locked during the school day. There is a button that they can lock it down with. They do have to go outside of the classroom to be able to lock the door; the mag lock is just for the exterior doors.
One citizen noted the advantage of being able to see a person coming, suggesting shoring up the safety of a building before you lock it down. It was noted Kennett Middle School and the Kennett High School have locked doors whereby a person has to sign in in order to gain entrance. Ms. Anzaldi noted a doorbell is a fairly simple inexpensive option whereby a chime goes off every time someone opens the door. Dr. Nelson said at the SAU Office a chime will sound when someone needs to come in.
Mr. Nemeth asked Ms. Dembowski whether she has a recommendation or position on these options. She said, as the person ultimately responsible, she felt she had to recommend that there is some way to get this building locked quickly and to make sure that everyone who comes in is known some how. She said in the event we know something is a threat, there could be a camera out front to record someone coming – we need to have a way to get the front door locked quickly and four classrooms need to be able to be locked. Mr. Dougherty stated that is something that is easy to do, and as regards the P.R. aspect, some people might think it is a great thing and want to send their child here even more. He suggested the Board strongly consider to at least do the bare minimum. Mr.
Nemeth agreed that at least the part of the proposal that relates to the internal classrooms should be done; that maybe the front door is a little trickier. It was noted that presently Ms. Dembowski has to go outside to lock the front door. Ms. Anzaldi said she has gotten feedback from people who come from areas where the schools are locked. She felt we should move forward with the interior doors being locked, and the front door being locked when we want it to be. Ms. Anzaldi said she has some concerns with the school being a safe haven, knowing the building is open during business hours, it is a place children can come to.
Ms. Dembowski suggested Paul Robert of Intervale Lock come to the meeting next month since he is well versed in how these locks work, noting that just because we have the capability to have the doors locked does not mean we necessarily have to always lock them – we can still leave options open for the future.
Ms. Bennett said her concern about the Board waiting until the January meeting to have a discussion with Mr. Robert, is that then it would be into the February meeting before something could be done. She felt there is some background work that could be done by him beforehand. Dr. Nelson said the only time the doors would be locked would be in an emergency situation. Ms. Dembowski said these doors are fire doors and we have been told not to leave them open. Mr. Nemeth stated there needs to be some mechanism to lock the front door.
It was agreed Ms. Dembowski will contact Mr. Robert to find out if it is easy to add the wiring for the front door.
Motion was made by Dr. White, seconded by Ms. Synnott, that the Board approve option (B), increasing it to include five doors. Motion carried by unanimous vote.
Motion was made by Ms. Synnott, seconded by Mr. Nemeth, to approve the option providing for the front door to be able to be locked from the interior. Carried by unanimous vote.
Dr White questioned signage. Ms. Dembowski said there is a wooden sign that is posted now, to the effect that visitors must check in with the office. Mr. Henry suggested “cracking down” on that directive. Ms. Anzaldi suggested reinstating the policy in place and installing a bell letting someone know someone is entering. Mr. Bradley questioned what is to be done when there is no one in the office. Ms. Anzaldi noted a buzzer is very inexpensive. Mr. Bradley noted a camera is also inexpensive. Ms. Bennett said it is reasonable to think that we would have a protocol. Ms. Anzaldi stated it should be re-established, and suggested including it in a newsletter. Dr. White suggested getting a sign up as soon as tomorrow to start the training
process. Dr. Nelson reported that SAU-wide they are meeting with law enforcement officials to review safety issues.
9. Administrator’s Reports:
Superintendent – covered above.
- Principal – Ms. Dembowski noted there is “a lot of stuff” going on in the
school: kids’ craft fair, Wounded Warrior event, Dexter Harding’s C.D. of classroom songs for sale to raise money for a village in Africa.
1. Transition Data – Heather Woodward – Postponed to January Agenda.
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10. Citizen Comments: None.
11. Board Member Issues:
- Set Date for Next Meeting – January 22, 2013 at 6:00 p.m.
12. Signing of Manifest: Manifests were duly signed.
13. Nonpublic Session: At 7:15 Motion was made by Mr. Bradley, seconded by Mr. Nemeth, that the Board adjourn to non public session under RSA 91-A:3, II. The motion passed unanimously.
Nonpublic Session Minutes
The Board heard from a parent regarding his child and requested additional information from the SAU.
Mr. Bradley moved to return to Public Session and adjourn. The motion was seconded by Mr. Nemeth and passed unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Gail T. Currier, Recording Secretary
Agenda 1/11/13:
Consider Proposed Warrant Articles 2 & 7
Transition Data – Heather Woodward
Old Business: Whitney Oversight Committee
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