Lyme School District
Regular School Board Meeting
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Lyme Elementary School
Meeting Minutes
Approved w/changes 1/22/09

Board Members Present: Peter Glenshaw, Audrey Brown, Emily Dentzer, Tom Goodrich, Kevin Kerin, Dan Parish, Mark Schiffman. Administrators Present: Gordon Schnare, Jeff Valence. 1 public attendee. Recorder: Roger Lohr

1. Call to Order
The regular Lyme School Board meeting was called to order at 7:03 PM by Board Vice Chair Mark Schiffman.

2. Approval of Minutes
A motion was made and seconded (Parish, Brown) to approve the minutes from the November 20, 2008 Lyme School Board Meeting, as submitted and amended. The motion was passed unanimously. Changes include Thursday in the heading; in item B remove bold font in last sentence; in item 2B the second to last sentence should remove the first four words and put “training” on the end. In the last sentence of 2B should be “instruct CPR training and AED use.” In 3B the additional math tutor should be “math enrichment instructor.”

A motion was made and seconded (Parish, Brown) to approve the minutes from the December 4, 2008 Lyme School Board Special Meeting, as submitted and amended. The motion was passed unanimously. Changes include Thursday in the heading; in item 3, 5th section use “math enrichment instructor.” In item 3B, 2nd section, change to “language enrichment instructor.” In 3B, 3rd section change words to “high schools with lower tuition” compared to Hanover High School tuition. In 3B, Board Member Considerations, first paragraph last sentence include NECAP and NEWA. In item 3B second section, $10,000 writing instructor. In 3B section two, the first sentence should say “largely outside the Board’s control.”

A motion was made and seconded (Parish, Goodrich) to approve the minutes from the November 20, 2008 Lyme School Board Nonpublic Meeting, as submitted. The motion was passed unanimously.

3. Communications and Reports
A. Superintendent’s Report:
Superintendent Schnare gave an overview of the current financial report. New requirements for retired teachers’ health insurance are also expected in the near future.

B. Principal’s Report
Principal Valence mentioned that Helen Skelly’s office is being moved upstairs to the middle school. An update of the emergency response was given and a meeting is planned for more discussion (more phone access needed, fewer volunteers, use one location). It was suggested that families in town should be informed about the availability and associated details regarding using the emergency shelter.

It was felt that a warrant article was unnecessary to cover the cost of planned security measures at the school. Information is being compiled on alternative security measures and the project cost will be covered with part of the surplus. The security system will incorporate security, accountability, and openness.

The students have participated in a multiage activity community service sending letters and cards to older residents in town. A literary magazine has been published and is expected to be continued as a student project in the future.

C. Chair’s Report
Chair Peter Glenshaw discussed the upcoming Budget Committee presentation. After the Budget Committee presentation (possibly taking two sessions) work will be focused on the warrant articles and town report.

4. Business Requiring Discussion
The Board reviewed the zero percent increase budget and the major variances from the last proposed budget. This budget includes one less FTE in response to decreased enrollment, a full time nurse, writing instructor, math enrichment instructor, and language enrichment instructor.

A motion was made and seconded (Schiffman, Kerin) to approve a four (4) percent pay increase for Lyme School support staff, and administrators and all those that are not covered by the LEA agreement or existing contracts. The motion passed unanimously.

A motion was made and seconded (Schiffman, Goodrich) to approve the Lyme School budget for 2009-2010 in the amount of $4,595,524. The motion passed unanimously.

A document regarding school revenues was reviewed by the Superintendent. The Board discussed using the high school reserve fund but decided against doing it. The Board decided to include $100,000 in the end-of-the-year fund balance to lower the tax increase to 3.88 percent. If the state aid was level funded the tax increase would be lowered to 3.47 percent.

5. Business Requiring Action
A motion was made and seconded (Brown, Schiffman) to approve policy EEA Student Transportation Services as submitted. The motion passed unanimously.
A motion was made and seconded (Brown, Schiffman) to approve policy EEAE School Bus Safety Program as submitted. The motion passed unanimously.
A motion was made and seconded (Brown, Schiffman) to approve policy EBC Crisis Prevention and Response as submitted. The motion passed unanimously.

6. Non Public Session
A motion was made and seconded (Brown, Schiffman) 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 8:37 PM.

Non Public Session Minutes

Public session was reopened at 9:15 p.m. (Brown, Kerin)

7. Adjournment:
A motion was made and seconded (Brown, Kerin) to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 9:16 PM.

The manifests were reviewed and signed by the authorized Board members. There is a Budget Committee Meeting scheduled on upcoming Wednesdays, January 7 and January 14 and the next Regular School Board meeting is scheduled for Thursday, January 22, 2009 at 7:00 PM.