Members Present: Robin McAfee, Carol Merrill, Mona McCready, Jennifer Morin, Gabby Daneault, Dan Howe, Thomas Gilligan, Tom Irzyk, Larry Anderson, David Eaton and Peter Viar

Excused Absent: Brian Duchesne

Unexcused Absent: Robin Pelletier and William Barnett

Others Present: Betsy Cox Stebbins (Principal ARD), Terri Kenny (Principal AES), Tom Haley (Superintendent of Schools)

Troop 97: Nick Raciti, Nathan Raciti, Marilyn Raciti, James Cassidy, Aaron Cassidy, Tom O’Donnell, Kris O’Donnell, Corey Lamb, Matthew Eaton, Alex Lavoie, Susan Lavoie, Patrick L'Heureux, Tom Steele, Chris Lee, Debbie Lee

Jennifer called the meeting to order 6:35 p.m.

Peter made a motion to accept the minutes of the November 18, 2004 meeting, Dan seconded. The motion passed with 4 abstaining vote (Mona, Tom G., Dave, and Larry)

Dave mentioned that the Boy Scouts were attending the meeting because they are working on the Citizen in the Community merit badge. One of the requirements is to attend a public meeting.

Tom I. gave a brief discussion of the 5-year tax rate history. The average cost per student for the 2001/2002 school year was $5,994 per student with the state wide average of $7,000 per student. The Allenstown per student average went up to $7,012 in the school year of 2002/2003 with the state wide average of $8,000 per student.

Tom then discussed the budget warrant article. The proposed School Board budget is $8,117,932 with the default budget of $8,094,151. The difference between the proposed budget and the default budget is $23,781.

The proposed budget is made of the SB Fund 1 Budget: $7,835,556; the Fund 2 Budget: $138,176; and the Fund 4 Budget: $144,200. Totaling $8,117,932.

There will be a warrant article for the APA CBA. The School Board is still in negotiations and the total for this article has not been determined yet. There may be warrant articles for Expendable Trust Articles. These have not been determined yet.

The Fund 1 budget is a 3.7% increase from the current year’s Fund 1 budget.

The proposed initiatives include: ARD defibrillator purchase: $3,079; 8^th Grade laptops: $33,886; AES new computers: $10,465; Computer Technician: $48,272. The total cost for the proposed initiatives is $95,702.

The projected tax rate without the APA CBA warrant article is a $1.33 increase over the 2004/2005 tax rate of $13.89. The expected tax rate for the school budget is $15.22 without the APA CBA article.

There was a discussion about student tuition to other districts. The cost per student to Pembroke Academy is $7,453. The school board has set the goal of 65 students moving from ARD to Pembroke Academy, which is 15 students less than are in the 8^th grade at this time.

Line item 001-1100-111-101-000 Title 1 salaries was reduced by $38,381, leaving $1.00 in the line item. They expect to fully fund this line item with a grant.

A question was asked about the social worker salary. The combined salary is for a full time social worker. She is working well. She helps people to sign up for funded programs which helps to cover her costs.

The nurse’s position was added to the NEA contact. Increases in the nurse’s salary is increased by the contract.

A question was asked about the Librarian salary lines. They have been reduced to $1.00 each. At this time there is no librarian. The position has been removed. The Library Aides have taken over responsibility for the Librarian.

A question was asked about the increases in the Principals’ salary lines. The offset to the Principal salary is the elimination of the Assistant Principals’ position. The increase also includes 3-½% increase. There is a Principal at AES, Terri Kenny, and a principal at ARD, Betsy Cox Stebbins.

There was a discussion about the Custodian salary lines. At this time there is a full time custodian during the day. The school has contracted out the night cleaning and this is working very well. It is difficult to fill the part-time positions. There is a high turn over rate. Therefore the use of the contract cleaning is a good alternative.

Lou mentioned that there was a possibility of approximately a $100,000 savings with the possibility of a reduction of 2 teachers, one may retire and one on leave of absence. The cost savings would be in salary and benefits.

There is an increase in the Field trip lines which mainly comes from the Gifted and Talented line items which was decreased by $3,000.

A handout was given to show the affects of the addition proposal on AES. The estimated cost will be $3,300,000. The state will cover 60% of the cost.

The 10-year bond shows an the tax rate increase for the first year increase of $0.32 (paying only on interest), 2^nd year would be the highest with an increase of $1.04 and decreasing every year afterwards.

The 15-year bond shows a first year increase of $0.34, 2^nd year increase of $0.92 and decreasing each year afterwards for the life of the bond.

The 20-year bond shows a first year increase of $0.36, 2^nd year increase of $0.87 and decreasing each year afterwards for the life of the bond.

The least cost to the town for the life of the bond would be the 10-year bond.

There was a discussion of having a joint information meeting, to explain and educate the community of the proposed police station and the proposed school addition.

The Budget Committee decided to wait until December 16 to discuss in detail the proposed school budget. The meeting will be at the Town Hal and start at 7:00 PM. The budget committee members were urged to send their questions to Jennifer and she would forward them to Tom I. for a heads up for the December 16 meeting.

The Budget Committee scheduled their next meeting for December 9 at the Town Hall, meeting at 7:00 PM to discuss the Sewer, Highway (if available) and Personnel (if available).

Tom I. mentioned that the School Board has a meeting December 9, so there will be no representative from the School Board at the December 9 Budget Committee meeting.

Tom G. made a motion to recess, Robin seconded.

The meeting recessed at 7:56 p.m.