Lyme School District
Special School Board Meeting
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Meeting Minutes
(approved with changes 1/24/08)

Board Members Present: Peter Glenshaw, Audrey Brown, Kevin Kerin, Kathy McGowan, Dan Parish, Mark Schiffman. Staff Members Present: Gordon Schnare (on phone), Jeff Valence. 1 member of the public. Recorder: Roger Lohr
1. Call to Order The regular Lyme School Board meeting was called to order at 6:12 p.m. by Board Vice Chair Kathy McGowan.

2. Approval of Minutes
A motion was made and seconded (Brown, Schiffman) to approve the minutes from the November 15, 2007 Lyme School Board Meeting, as submitted with amendments. The motion was passed unanimously. The change on item 3B second sentence was to replace it with “He reported the preliminary budget numbers. Item 3C the two students were new. Item 4, section 5 was the Leddy Group.
A motion was made and seconded (McGowan, Brown) to approve the minutes from the November 29, 2007 Lyme School Board Special Meeting, as submitted with amendments. The motion was passed unanimously. The changes on the roster were to add Board member Mark Schiffman and 4 members of the public, who were in attendance
A motion was made and seconded (Schiffman, Brown) to approve the minutes from the December 6, 2007 Lyme School Board Special Budget Meeting, as submitted with amendments. The motion was passed unanimously. The changes on item 2, section 1 in the last sentence the word “will” to be replaced with “may.” Item 2, section 3: the Hanover High tuition is “estimated” to increase. Also add the phrase “in the budget” to the sentence about vocational students. The number 83 to be replaced with 84. Item 2, section 4 the cost increases are based on new enrollment; replace “salaries and 1.5 new staff” with 1.1 FTE. Item 2, section 6: replace nonunion staff with “contractors” and eliminate “guidance,” and add “occupational therapist.” Item 2, section 8: replace sentence with Audrey with “Kathy McGowan will check interdepartmental agreement between the library and school.”
A motion was made and seconded (Parish, Kerin) to approve the minutes from the December 6, 2007 Lyme School Board Non-Public Special Budget Meeting, as submitted. The motion was passed unanimously.

3. Communications and Reports
A. Chair Report: Chair Glenshaw commented about the budget presentations that were held with the public and the faculty. It was felt that the forums helped to increase awareness about the budget. Another meeting to discuss the school budget is scheduled with Lee Larson. Other community members have made comments to the Board regarding the budget.
The Board needs to recruit prospective new Board members by mid-January, so they can be elected. Kathy McGowan and Maggie Minnock are not returning to the Board. Kevin Kerin volunteered to head the recruitment effort and all the Board members will look at the parent list and residents that do not have kids in school to make recommendations for new Board members. There is a need for someone with financial interest or experience, too.

B. Superintendent’s Report:
Superintendent Schnare reported that the surplus has declined somewhat but that it should still be enough for the $50,000 or $100,000 transfer to the High School Trust Fund. The Food Service account is projected to be a $4,500 deficit.

C. Principal’s Report: Principal Valence reported that a new student is starting in January in the third grade and there has been an inquiry about a kindergarten tuition student for next year. There is a need to consider the service costs that are beyond the tuition and it was decided that a contract would be created that has similar stipulations to the Hanover High School tuition agreement. This would be discussed by the Board in a future meeting.

D. Committee Reports
The Finance Committee spoke about health insurance options with an insurance consultant and it was recommended that there is nothing more to be saved and that the size of the school staff is too small to consider self insurance.
The Building Committee met to discuss the solar power proposal. The panels would be purchased and owned independently and there would be no cost to the school, but the school would contract for electricity associated with the system. After the system is paid for in about 10 years, the system owners would give the system to the school. On another matter, a consultant is looking at the boiler and will give a proposal to the school.

4. Business Requiring Discussion
Budget Discussion
The Board considered the revised budget and discussed the changes that were made to the budget. The budget was up approximately up 6.2 percent or $74,000 but the total budget (including high school tuition and special education) was up only 1.2 percent. Major budget items that might be under consideration for change included:
Aide salaries - $5,000
Lower amount in high school reserve fund - $50,000
Differentiated instructor - $28,400 ($34,000 with benefits)
Computer replacements - $12,000 (does not include server, which is additional)
Teacher summer stipends for curriculum work - $4,800
Substitute for professional development - $2,500
Curriculum coach - $15,000
Curriculum supplies - $500
Building renovations - $10,000
Fuel - $3,000
Food Service - $3,000
If the CPI is 3.2 percent, the budget would need to be trimmed by $67,000. There are nonpublic issues that will also have budget ramifications.
It was felt that the budget could be approved not to exceed $4.6 million and the increase above last year’s budget was not to exceed the CPI rate plus one percent. The CPI rate will be known on December 15. Aspects of the budget that were felt to be important included the security (proximity key project), a new server, and computer replacements and these items were valued about $20,000.
The proposed school budget would be given to the Budget Committee on the last day prior to the Christmas vacation. The principal and superintendent will meet to propose a list of recommended changes to the budget. The Board decided to hold a meeting on Tuesday, December 18 at 6:30 PM.

5. Business Requiring Action
Superintendent Schnare nominated Judy Barker as a regular education aide for 5.5 hours per day.
A motion was made and seconded (McGowan, Kerin) to approve Judy Barker as regular education aide for 5.5 hours per day. The motion passed unanimously.
A motion was made and seconded (Parish, Brown) to approve Policy IJOC Volunteers as proposed and distributed at the Board meeting with amendment. The motion passed unanimously. The amendment was to eliminate the phrase “background investigation.”

6. Non Public Session
A motion was made and seconded (Kerin, Brown) to enter nonpublic session in accordance with RSA 91-A3 ll (c) for discussion of matters relating to personnel and pupils. The motion passed unanimously. The Board roll call was conducted and the Board entered nonpublic session at 8:35 PM. The board returned to public session at 8:47 PM (Parish, Brown)

7. Adjournment: There was a motion and approval to adjourn the meeting at 8:48 PM. (Brown, McGowan). The motion passed unanimously.
The manifests were reviewed and signed by the authorized Board members. The next Regular Board meeting is scheduled for Thursday, January 24, 2008 at 7:00 PM.