Lyme School District
Regular School Board Meeting
Wednesday, November 20, 2008
Lyme Elementary School
Meeting Minutes
Approved w/changes 12/18/08

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

1. Call to Order
The regular Lyme School Board meeting was called to order at 7:01 PM by Board Chair Peter Glenshaw.

2. Approval of Minutes
A motion was made and seconded (Parish, Goodrich) to approve the minutes from the October 8, 2008 Lyme School Special Board Meeting, as submitted. The motion was passed unanimously.

A motion was made and seconded (Brown, Kerin) to approve the minutes from the October 23 2008 Lyme School Board Regular Meeting, as submitted and amended. The motion was passed with 6 in favor and one abstention (Goodrich).

The change to item 3D replaces the second sentence with “the school board appreciated the option of the librarian continuing her school certification if the upcoming budget cannot support the cost of the library coordinator position being a certified one.” In item 4, change the first sentence to “the Board discussed student health and safety issues and the responsibility of the school to insure student health and safety. With regard to training, the entire faculty and staff have received CPR. Ms. Woodmansee and Principal Valence are certified to instruct CPR and AED.
A motion was made and seconded (Kerin, Parish) to approve the minutes from the October 23 2008 Lyme School Board Non Public Meeting, as submitted. The motion was passed with 6 in favor and one abstention (Goodrich).

3. Communications and Reports
A. Chair’s Report
Chair Peter Glenshaw stated that the meeting with himself, Kathy McGowan, and representatives from Dresden has had a positive conclusion. Dresden will reimburse Lyme an additional $30,000. A letter is expected from Dresden to outline the details of the agreement. Dresden will provide Lyme with the high school tuition estimate amount in late December and the revised final amount in May.

The Board expressed its appreciation to Kathy McGowan for her involvement with the Dresden issues and recognized her for the service to the Lyme School and community.

The 2009-10 budget books were distributed and Chair Glenshaw explained the schedule for the Board’s budget proceedings. A special Board budget meeting will be conducted on December 4 when the members of the Board will review the budget line items. The budget will be reviewed by the Board again at the next Board meeting in December and then the Finance Committee will develop a presentation for the Budget Committee. In January, the School Board votes on the budget and a public hearing is held on the third Wednesday in January.

Emily Dentzer and Tom Goodrich will meet with the Superintendent for a budget process orientation. The Board discussed the budget guidelines based on the Northeast CPI that were released in the early fall. It was suggested that the Board consider three budgets and tax impact in a comparative manner using the CPI + 1 point, CPI – 1 point, and a zero based budget.

B. Superintendent’s Report:
Superintendent Schnare commented about the state’s intention to reduce catastrophic aid and building aid with school districts during this fiscal year and next year, too.

The Superintendent gave an overview of the budget, which included no pay raises, but did include a full time nurse, librarian as a professional, an additional math tutor, an increase in high school tuition, and a substantial decrease in special education costs. It was announced that if the school budget increase needs to be under three percent, that a decrease in staff will be necessary. A document about the budget effects of pay raises was distributed to the Board members. Negotiations with the faculty are ongoing. It was understood that the town Budget Committee agrees to not include special education and high school tuition in the budget guideline parameters.

Superintendent Schnare reviewed highlights of the current financial report and said that the surplus is due in part to fewer high school students, lower tuition for Hanover High School, and fewer out of district placements. It is still early in the school year but there is a concern about revenues. The Board requested the Superintendent prepare a report about projected state revenues.

The Risk Assessment Survey was signed by Chair Glenshaw and the Superintendent postponed the discussion about open meeting law updates for a future meeting.

C. Principal’s Report
Principal Valence discussed enrollment and announced that two-three students are expected to arrive in December. The lunch sales have ranged from 120-130 per day. Parent conferences were held this week and new report card formats are being reviewed.

D. Committee Reports
Audrey Brown reported that the Library Trustees are in agreement with the School Board positions about the library staffing. It was suggested that an information sheet about the history of the library/school relationship be created.

4. Business Requiring Discussion
There was a first reading of the following policies and motions were made to approve some of the policies as written.
A motion was made and seconded (Schiffman, Parish) to approve policy BHB Records Retention and Disposition as submitted and amended. The motion passed unanimously.
A motion was made and seconded (Schiffman, Brown) to approve policy DIB Liability Insurance as submitted and amended. The motion passed unanimously.
It was decided that Policy EBC Crisis Prevention and Response would be returned for a second reading.
A motion was made and seconded (Schiffman, Kerin) to approve policy EBCD Emergency Closings as submitted. The motion passed unanimously.
A motion was made and seconded (Kerin, Goodrich) to approve policy EBF Compliance with Health, Fire, and Safety Regulations as submitted. The motion passed unanimously.
The Board discussed additional changes to policy EEA Student Transportation Services and it will be returned for a second reading. Additionally, EEAE School Bus Safety Program was discussed and would be returned for a second reading.

5. Business Requiring Action
A motion was made and seconded (Schiffman, Brown) to approve policy BDE School Board Committees and Representatives as submitted and amended. The motion passed unanimously.
A motion was made and seconded (Kerin, Schiffman) to rescind policies BDEA School Board Standing Committees and BDEB School Board Advisory Committees. The motion passed unanimously.
A motion was made and seconded (Schiffman, Brown) to approve Procedures for Policy BDE. The motion passed unanimously.
The Board decided to return policy BEDH Public Participation at School Board Meetings for another reading at the next meeting.
A motion was made and seconded (Parish, Kerin) to approve policy BG School Board Policy Process as submitted. The motion passed unanimously.
A motion was made and seconded (Brown, Goodrich) to approve policy BIA New Board Member Orientation as submitted and amended. The motion passed unanimously.
A motion was made and seconded (Brown, Parish) to approve policy DGA Authorized Signatures as submitted. The motion passed unanimously.
A motion was made and seconded (Brown, Parish) to approve policy DH Bonded Employees as submitted and amended. The motion passed unanimously.
A motion was made and seconded (Brown, Parish) to approve policy DJEJA-3 Bill Payment Authorization as submitted. The motion passed unanimously.

6. Business Requiring Discussion
The Board discussed its representative on the Thetford Academy Board. It was felt that a Lyme parent, who has a student in the Thetford school could be designated to act as Lyme representative on the Thetford Board. The Lyme School Board would authorize such a designee after Kevin Kerin, who is the current Lyme representative on the Thetford Academy Board discusses the idea with the Thetford superintendent. Kevin Kerin and the Lyme Board would consider the selection process, length of term, and how the representative would report to the Lyme Board.

7. 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 9:15 PM.

Non Public Session Minutes

Public session was reopened at 9:43.

8. Adjournment: There was a motion made and seconded to adjourn the meeting at 9:45 PM. (Parish/Dentzer). The motion passed unanimously.

The manifests were reviewed and signed by the authorized Board members. There is a Special Board Meeting scheduled for Thursday, December 4 and the next Regular Board meeting is scheduled for Thursday, December 18, 2008 at 7:00 PM.