The Lyme School • Lyme, New Hampshire
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Lyme School District
School Board Meeting
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Meeting Minutes
Approved w/changes 2/13/08


Board Members Present: Peter Glenshaw, Audrey Brown, Kevin Kerin, Kathy McGowan, Dan Parish, Mark Schiffman. Staff Members Present: Gordon Schnare, Jeff Valence. 2 faculty; 1 member of the public. Recorder: Roger Lohr

1. Call to Order The regular Lyme School Board meeting was called to order at 7:02 p.m. by Board Vice Chair Kathy McGowan.

2. Approval of Minutes
A motion was made and seconded (Parish, Brown) to approve the minutes from the December 13, 2007 Lyme School Board Meeting, as submitted with amendments. The motion was passed unanimously. The change on item 4 in the third line to add that the budget was the proposed Lyme School K-8 budget; and to add that the Annual School District Meeting is scheduled for March 6, 2008 at 7:00 PM in the last document comment.
A motion was made and seconded (McGowan, Parish) to approve the minutes from the December 13, 2007 Lyme School Board Non Public Meeting, as submitted. The motion was passed unanimously.
A motion was made and seconded (McGowan, Minnock) to approve the minutes from the December 18, 2007 Lyme School Board Special Budget Meeting, as submitted with amendments. The motion was passed unanimously. The change on the fifth section was to eliminate the duplicate word “of.”
A motion was made and seconded (Minnock, McGowan) to approve the minutes from the December 18, 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 distributed and reviewed the materials for the Town Report that he will submit tomorrow. It was suggested that the chart delineate that the elementary school is nine grades and the high school is four grades. The Board discussed incorporating the costs associated with the SAU administration into the report and also whether the introduction should be warmer.

The Board discussed the prospective new Board member positions that include two 3-year seats (McGowan, Minnock) and one 1-year seat (Schiffman). Filing dates continue until February 1. It was suggested that the list of those filing be checked on Wednesday.

B. Superintendent’s Report:
Superintendent Schnare reported that the financial status is going well because of lower high school tuition and special education costs. There are two fewer high school students than projected. The revenue is lower than expected and the surplus is also expected to be lower. The food service is at a $4,100 deficit and is projected to be above $8,000 for the year. It was suggested that perhaps a 3-5 percent savings could be found in purchasing food. The Superintendent and Principal will discuss the food service options.

Superintendent Schnare reviewed the Warrant Articles. Audrey Brown will review the articles by Tuesday. Board members will need to sign the warrant documents.
A motion was made and seconded (Parish, McGowan) to approve the Lyme School District Warrant Articles for the March 6 Annual School District Meeting, as attached to the original Board meeting minutes, and further to authorize the administration to make whatever technical changes are necessary in order to ensure that the Warrant is legal and that the intent of the Lyme School Board is conveyed. The motion passed unanimously.
A motion was made and seconded (Parish, Kerin) to approve the Lyme School District Election Warrant Articles for the March 11 Town Meeting, as attached to the original Board meeting minutes, and further to authorize the administration to make whatever technical changes are necessary in order to ensure that the Warrant is legal and that the intent of the Lyme School Board is conveyed. The motion passed unanimously.

The Superintendent commented that he is expecting state approval for the school after some additional policies are finalized by the Board.

C. Principal’s Report: Principal Valence reported that two families are considering moving to Lyme with third and fifth graders. Enrollment is 181. The proposed graduation date is Monday, June 16 and that will also be the last day of school if there are no additional snow days. Principal Valence asked for Board feedback on his Town Report.

D. Committee Reports
Kathy McGowan discussed the Budget Committee issues. The town spending is increasing $170,000 and the school is increasing $107,000 up 8 percent and 2.4 percent, respectively. But the school budget is slightly above 60 percent of the total town budget, which has declined in the last few years.
It was suggested that the Board split the grades up and call each family to encourage them to vote. Peter Glenshaw will prepare talking points for the next meeting.
It was suggested that a representative of the Lyme School Board speak with the Dresden School Board regarding high school tuition. Peter Glenshaw will speak with the Dresden Board chair to schedule a meeting.
It was also suggested that a community education forum be held prior to the School District Meeting, perhaps after the February school vacation.

4. Business Requiring Discussion
There were first readings of Policy JFAB on Non-Resident Tuition and JIC Student Conduct. The JFAB needs a procedure to accompany it and Superintendent Schnare will draft one for the next Board meeting. It was suggested that specific numbers be used to define the space that is available in the school by grade. The Policy JIC uses new verbiage dictated by the state for Lyme Elementary School to be an approved school.

Maggie Minnock updated the Board regarding Thetford Academy. The renovation project will be scaled back in light of the enrollment declines. The enrollment is projected to decrease by 10 percent next year to 360 students and perhaps as low as 330 students in the coming years. Additionally, the Lyme Board will need to appoint a new Thetford Academy liaison.

5. Non Public Session
A motion was made and seconded (Glenshaw, Parish) 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 8:55 PM. The board returned to Public Session at 9:15 PM (Glenshaw, Parish). No action was taken in Non Public Session.

6. Adjournment: There was a motion and approval to adjourn the meeting at 9:16 PM. (Kerin, Minnock). The motion passed unanimously.
The manifests were reviewed and signed by the authorized Board members. The next Regular Board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at 7:00 PM. The Annual School District Meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 6, 2008 at 7:00 PM.