Pelham Board Members Present
Cindy Kyzer, Eleanor Burton, Linda Mahoney, Bruce Couture

Windham Board Members Present
Barbara Coish, Beverly Donovan, Beth Valentine, Al Letizio

Superintendent
Dr. Frank Bass

Assistant Superintendent
Roxanne Wilson

SAU Business Administrators
Toby Eaton – Windham and Kathleen Sargent – Pelham

Special Education Director
Tina McCoy

SAU Board Chair, Cindy Kyzer called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m.  SAU Board Clerk, Eleanor Burton, requested a call of the roll:  Beverly Donovan – aye; Barbara Coish – aye; Beth Valentine – aye; Al Letizio – aye; Linda Mahoney – aye; Bruce Couture – aye; Cindy Kyzer – aye and Eleanor Burton – aye.

Motion to go into non-public session under RSA 91A:3II(A) at 7:04 p.m was made by Barbara Coish with 2nd by Beverly Donovan.

Motion to come out of non-public session was made at 7:32 p.m. by Barbara Coish with a 2nd by Beverly Donovan.  Approved 8-0.

Chairperson, Cindy Kyzer announced the recognition of Assistant Superintendent, Roxanne Wilson with a $2,500 a salary adjustment and recognized an approved administrative assistant position with a salary of $32,327.00.

Approval of Minutes

Motion to accept the non-public minutes from May 16, 2007 was made by Barbara Coish with a 2nd by Beth Valentine.  Approved 7-0-1 (Linda Mahoney abstained).

Motion to accept the public minutes from May 16, 2007 was made by Beth Valentine with a 2nd by Eleanor Burton.  Approved 7-0-1 (Linda Mahoney abstained).

Motion to accept the public minutes from August 1, 2007 was made by Barbara Coish with a 2nd by Linda Mahoney.  Approved 7-0-1 (Al Letizio abstained).

Audit Report

Dr. Bass preceded the audit report presentation by noting Business Administrator; Toby Eaton did a wonderful job in preparing said audit, along with help from Kathleen Sargent.

Mr. Eaton noted there were no findings with regard to the SAU audit and that he was waiting for the exact number from the auditor.  He noted the ending fund balance was about $21,000.

Public Hearing

Chairperson Kyzer opened the hearing portion of the meeting.

Bill Scanzani addressed the board by recommending that they show the Pelham Budget Committee what line items were changed/what amounts taken out of the SAU Budget.

Mr. Eaton noted about 89% came from transfers of money to different line items.

Chairperson Kyzer closed the public hearing portion of the meeting.

New Business/Budget Presentation

Toby Eaton outlined why the SAU funding is separate from school district budgets.  Mr. Eaton noted SAU governing laws stating it is critical they get the Department of Education correct in order to obtain funding.  He stated they work closely with the Department of Education and Department of Revenue.

Mr. Eaton then highlighted the line by line changes in the proposed budget.  Mr. Eaton clarified why some money was taken out of each individual school fund.

Eleanor Burton questioned if the entire performance money was spent this year.  Mr. Eaton responded with yes.  Mrs. Burton also questioned the Human Resource salary.  Beth Valentine explained this was due to the percentage increase from last year.

Beverly Donovan questioned the increase in the travel line item and why it was such a big jump from last year.  She noted they should put a cap on that amount.

Mr. Eaton stated he looks at a realistic budget and that is what he submits.

Roxanne Wilson noted her travel expenses average $150/month – usually for gas.

Mr. Letizio stated it was his understanding that this item was funded someplace else and that Mr. Eaton is trying to give a realistic picture.

Dr. Bass commented that conferences are there for a reason and they attend only because they feel it is important.  He noted they do not have to use the conference money if they do not feel it would benefit them.

Mr. Eaton then noted conferences and publications did not previously have funding. 

Mr. Eaton noted a 3.5% increase was proposed for all SAU staff.  Mr. Eaton stated he researched what other town employees were proposing before coming to the board.

Mrs. Mahoney stated she appreciated the extra work Mr. Eaton has done to explain the budget more clearly.

Beverly Donovan questioned the big increase in postage costs.  Mr. Eaton responded by stating he used actual numbers for this line item – noting it was previously under- budgeted in the past.

Dr. Bass commented that the line items did not always add up in previous budgets but now the board can see exactly what is needed.

Regarding postage, it was noted there is some overlap between Pelham and Windham.  Mrs. Mahoney noted her concern that it is equitable.

Dr. Bass noted the board will see a clear rendering next year.

Beverly Donovan requested itemizations. 

Mr. Eaton noted there was never a supply line item for the SAU in previous budgets. 

Beverly Donovan noted her concern over office equipment items.  Questioning why $900.00 was spent on a chair, stressing it is easy to lose control over such items.

Mr. Eaton noted there will be a cap on supplies.

Mr. Letizio suggested a separate line item for furniture and fixtures.  He suggested consumable have a separate line item.  Mr. Letizio noted office furniture can be expensive.

Linda Mahoney questioned if the SAU was still paying 100% of health insurance costs for employees.  Mr. Eaton responded with yes.

Mrs. Mahoney requested this item be placed on a future agenda for further discussion.  Mr. Eaton noted health insurance plans for the SAU staff was different than what was offered to teachers.

Mrs. Mahoney noted her concern that the SAU Operating Budget was not put before the voters in Pelham.  She suggested having a separate warrant article for an SAU.

Mr. Eaton responded by stressing, by law, the SAU must operate under a separate budget.

It was noted the law books housed at the SAU office needed updating.

Mr. Scanzani questioned if raises were reflected in the proposed budget.  Mr. Eaton responded with no.  Mr. Scanzani questioned the amount of money allocated for benefits for the new proposed position.  Mr. Eaton noted $12,000-$20,000 were for benefits. 

Motion to adopt proposed SAU #28 2007-2008 Operating Budget with the addition of approved raises and benefits made under separate motion was made by Al Letizio with a 2nd by Beth Valentine.  Approved 8-0.

Bruce Couture requested clarification of the proposed budget increase.  It was noted the increase was 6.25%.  Mr. Couture noted he hoped the board will look at this again in May. 

Beth Valentine stated it is sometimes confusing in May with a shift in board members. She suggested that they have an orientation meeting with new board members prior to discussion of the budget.

Preschool/Kindergarten Discussion

Tina McCoy explained her responsibility to provide services to children.  She noted the following:
•    Facilities are not ideal
•    Not able to include non-disabled peers to use as role models in programs
•    Children need to receive quality services at a young age
•    The preschool staff is outstanding and dedicated.

Mrs. McCoy noted, at present, a school nurse does not exist at the preschool.  She noted that when the program was small it was not an issue but now she is not comfortable not having a nurse on staff.  She is recommending having a nurse.

Mrs. McCoy then noted at present, 85 students are enrolled in preschool (42 from Pelham and 43 from Windham).  She also noted districts are billed separately for kindergarten.

Cindy Kyzer questioned the split over the next couple of years from Windham and questioned if they could use the numbers provided for an accurate representation of the cost for Pelham.  Tina McCoy noted she envisioned Pelham hiring their own teachers/staff.

Mr. Letizio requested the Business Administrators look at and start to carve out what the impact would be for each of the district’s budgets.

Dr. Bass noted they will be looking at the kindergarten impact very carefully – noting they will have a plan in place with preschool issues and kindergarten.

Mrs. Mahoney questioned why federal funding was less in Pelham.  Mrs. McCoy responded by stating as bizarre as it seems, the figures are based on late 1980’s facts and that it remains the same year after year.

Eleanor Burton questioned if the space currently in Windham would be adequate enough after Pelham leaves.  Mrs. McCoy stated it would help a lot but not solve every problem.

Cindy Kyzer questioned if the staff were trained in CPR.  It was noted they were.

Mrs. McCoy stressed she did not have a good feeling about not having a nurse on staff.  Noting we live in a litigious society and she wanted to protect the kids and the district.  She further noted she would like to look at different options i.e. an LN.

Beverly Donovan noted the downside to not having one central facility, is where a nurse would be housed, noting they would have to be creative.

Setting of Annual Meeting Date – May 14, 2008 at 7:00 p.m.

Roxanne Wilson distributed to the board the Professional Development Plan which was submitted recently to the State.

Motion to adjourn under RSA 91:A3II (b) was made at 9:30 p.m. by Al Letizio with a 2nd by Barbara Coish.  Approved 8-0.

Respectfully,
Diane Figaro