Lyme School District
Regular School Board Meeting
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Meeting Minutes
approved w/changes on 11/19/09

Board Members Present: Kate Semple Barta, Audrey Brown, Lou-Anne Conroy, Emily Dentzer, Peter Glenshaw, Daniel Parish, Mark Schiffman. Staff Members Present: Gordon Schnare, Jeff Valence; 46 public attendees. Recorded by R. Lohr

1. Call to Order
Chair Schiffman called the meeting to order at 7:03 PM.

2. Special Presentation
The fourth grade class gave a presentation requesting that the Lyme School install a water fountain on the playground. They provided comprehensive details about the water fountain installation and thanked Shepherd Plumbing for the donation offer. The Board discussed filtering the water that would be piped to the fountain and a clean up schedule with the students.

3. Approval of Minutes
A motion was made and seconded (Dentzer, Brown) to approve the Lyme School Board regular meeting minutes for September 24, 2009, as submitted. The motion was passed unanimously.
A motion was made and seconded (Parish, Brown) to approve the Lyme School Board non-public meeting minutes for September 24, 2009, as submitted. The motion was passed unanimously.

4. Communications and Reports
A. Chair’s Report:
Chair Schiffman commented about the town Budget Committee, which met and proposed a zero increase budget. Considering the school district contracts that are already in place, it would require that the school budget be decreased by 1.5-2 percent for 2010-11 to meet the zero percent increase budget guidelines.

B. Superintendent’s Report:
The Superintendent discussed the school financial report commenting that at present there would be a projected $24,000 end-of-the-year surplus, if we cover a deficit in the high school tuition account by withdrawing from the High School Tuition Expendable Trust. The high school tuition is about $39,000 over budget due to two additional students and some other variances in the tuitions. The Board discussed using the High School Trust Fund for the overage and it was decided to wait and see if it would be needed.
The Food Service deficit is projected to be $7,500 and it was reported that there were 118 lunches sold on that day, which is a substantial amount for the Lyme School. It was also reported that there was about $141,000 in revenues that were not anticipated including the Hanover settlement, ARRA funds, the Spanish language program donation, food service grant, and a small grant from Dartmouth.

C. Principal’s Report
Principal Valence reported that enrollment is 190 and he expects to lose one kindergartener. The grade statistics are: K = 26, 1st = 19, 2nd = 19, 3rd = 23, 4th = 26, 5th = 20, 6th = 17, 7th = 16 8 = 24. It appears that there is expanded interest to select Thetford as high school of choice for a larger number of this year’s 8th graders, which will decrease some of next year’s high school tuition costs.
Principal Valance outlined the planning and school activity related to the H1N1 virus. The target is to have vaccinations by December 1st in advance of the expected flu season during January-February.

D. Committee Reports
The Facilities Committee reported that in a recent meeting it was recommended that only regular maintenance and emergency needs should be fulfilled this coming year. Future projects include replacing the doors by the kitchen, roof repair, replacing the kitchen door, installing shutoff valves, replacing the lighting, and considering furnace replacement.

The Personnel Committee met three times to consider the SAU office transition and function in terms of increased state reporting, budgeting, and the potential superintendent retirement. Six options are being considered and other school districts are being contacted.
The Personnel Committee also is expecting the CPI, which is used as guidance for school budget planning, will be announced in late October. It is projected that the CPI impact will result in a 3 percent increase in the teacher contract.

5. Business Requiring Discussion
Plan for the Future
The Board discussed the strategy to consider Lyme’s future growth in terms of school enrollment and options for building expansion to accommodate 200 or more students. It was uncertain that Lyme will continue to see enrollment growth because most of the surrounding towns (except Hanover) have declining enrollments. Various methods of learning about potential enrollments are being contemplated. The Board also considered splitting next year’s first grade class. This year’s large kindergarten class will be kept together and the teacher will increase her day by one hour at a cost of about $5-6,000. Lunch and recess may be altered to accommodate the large kindergarten class.

Bus Transportation
Superintendent Schnare reviewed the bus routes and proposed changes to make bussing more efficient and to provide transportation to more students. It was decided that Superintendent Schnare will discuss the proposed new routes with the bus company and then circulate a proposed revised schedule to parents. The Board will then accept feedback from residents on the proposal and will decide whether to finalize the new routes at the December Board meeting.

6. Business Requiring Action
A motion was made and seconded (Dentzer, Brown) to accept the fourth grade proposal to install a water fountain on the Lyme School playground. The motion was passed unanimously. Mark Schiffman will announce the Board decision to the school.
A motion was made and seconded (Parish, Semple-Barta) to authorize the superintendent to increase the kindergarten teacher salary for one additional hour per day. The motion was passed unanimously.

7. Non-Public Session
A motion was made and seconded (Dentzer, Brown) to enter non-public session in accordance with RSA 91-A3 ll (c) for discussion of matters relating to personnel and pupils. The motion was passed unanimously. The roll call was conducted and the Board entered nonpublic session at 8:38 PM. The roll call was conducted. Present were Brown, Dentzer, Parish, Schiffman, Schnare, and Valence.

8. Adjournment
A motion to adjourn was made and seconded (Brown, Parish). The motion was passed unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 9:03 PM.
The next Board meeting is scheduled for Thursday, November 19, 2009 at 7:00 PM.