Bellows Falls Union High School
School Board Meeting
October 22, 2007
Present: John Porter, Margaret Perry, Paul Obuchowski, Stephen Major, Jack Bryar, David Clark, Stephen L. Fine, Matthew Guild, William Harmon, Russell Capron
Also Present: Johanna Harpster, Christopher Kibbe, Michael Ricci, Kathleen Callahan, Christopher Hodsden, Ryan Parkman, Ruth Griffin, Chelsea Berry, Caroline Kirkpatrick, Peter Naitove, Susan Speranza, Priscilla Lambert, Susan Swan, Jan Mitchell-Love, FACT-TV, Eagle Times
1. Call to Order:
The Chair, David Clark, called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m.
2. Adjustments to the Agenda:
Co-Curricular appointments will be added to Item 4(B), Principal’s Report
Budget Committee will be added to Item 4(H), Committees and Special Projects
Ruth Griffin will be recognized after Item 3, Consent Items, and items 4(H)(3), 5(B), and 4(B)(1) will follow.
3. Consent Items:
A. Review and Approve Minutes
Paul Obuchowski moved to approve the minutes of October 8, 2007 as presented. The motion passed.
B. Reconsideration of 9/24/07 Minutes re: Paul Obuchowski’s Motion on Block Grant
Paul Obuchowski moved to correct the intent of the motion adopted by the Budget Committee and reported in the minutes of September 24, 2007 in Item 5(A), by making clear that the Budget Committee’s resolution was to limit the budget for 2-3% below the penalty threshold. The motion passed, with one member opposed (Porter).
4. Communications:
During the meeting of October 8th, Russ Capron stated that he was making his 4th request for information regarding teacher certifications from the administration. Ruth Griffin pointed out that this information was included in the September 10th agenda packet. Mr. Capron acknowledged his error and apologized for his remarks.
5. Transportation Issues:
A. Bus Accident
A traffic accident occurred while the field hockey team was being transported to a game in Brandon. No injuries were reported, but there was significant damage to the bus and guard rails.
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B. Request to Transport Fall Mt. Regional High School Student to Brattleboro
Stephen Fine moved to accept the figure of $2,131.50 per year for the transportation of a Fall Mt. Regional High School student to/from BFUHS and the vocational center in Brattleboro. The motion passed. Discussion ensued regarding a similar situation involving a Compass School student being transported to Springfield. Stephen Major moved to use the same transportation formula to calculate the charge for transporting a Compass School student to/from BFUHS and the vocational center in Springfield. The motion passed with one member opposed (Porter).
6. Reports:
A. Financial
Board members received a financial report as of October 19, 2007, and a schedule of payments to be made in FY08 for retirement and grievances. Mr. Ricci was asked where the money was coming from to pay for the drainage stones placed at the driveway entrance.
B. Principal
Repairs are complete and the guidance office has returned to its original area. Improvements to the baseball field are complete. Paul Obuchowski moved to authorize the Chair to sign a letter of thanks on behalf of the board to Rockingham Charities and Wayne Ryan for his donation to improve the baseball field. The motion passed.
John Porter asked about the septic system at Hadley Field. The Chair moved the matter to the Building & Grounds Committee.
John Porter moved to approve the following coaching contracts for the 2007-2008 school year, providing that a contract is not signed until a sufficient number of students have enrolled in the respective program:
· Wrestling – Claude Weyant
· Basketball – (Head Girls) Jayne Barber, (Asst.) Corrie Smith Haskell, (JV Girls) Justin Aube, (Head Boys) Matt Willis, (JV Boys) Jayson Wright, (Freshmen) vacant
· Indoor Track – Brad Hammond
· Winter Cheerleading – Monica Curtis Dunn
· Drama - (Musical Director) Matt Burke, (Spring) Mary Westbrook
The motion passed.
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C. Superintendent of Schools
Board members were provided with School Choice information for the 2007-2008 school year and a copy of Act 82 which relates to Education Quality and Cost Control in their agenda packets.
The Chair suggested that the administration invite a member of the Department of Education to a board meeting to discuss changes that will occur as a result of implementing Act 82.
Superintendent Harpster is working on identifying committee members to serve on the Special Education Committee. John Porter withdrew his previous offer to serve, and Jack Bryar volunteered.
D. Student Representatives
Board members were encouraged to sign up for a day they are willing to shadow a Student Council member.
E. Faculty
Susan Speranza and Peter Naitove will serve as faculty representatives for board meetings. Two additional faculty members will be identified as alternates.
F. Technical Center Representatives
Discussions have begun about developing a statewide calendar. Springfield’s board recently held a facilitated board retreat.
G. WNESU
The WNESU Board will meet on October 24th. Paul Obuchowski, Russ Capron, and Matt Guild will represent BFUHS.
7. Committees and Special Projects:
A. Policy Committee
Stephen Fine moved the policies on Students (Section F, F17 through F27) for adoption as presented. The motion passed.
Stephen Fine moved to accept the policies on Instruction (Section G, G1 through G11, excluding G2) as presented, for first reading. The motion passed.
Stephen Fine moved to table consideration of the Graduation Policy to the next meeting. The motion passed.
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Minutes of the committee’s October 8th meeting were enclosed in the agenda packet.
B. School and Community Relations Committee
A power point presentation for use in the committee’s presentations to civic organizations was viewed.
C. Instruction and Educational Effectiveness Committee
The committee will be discussing High Schools That Work and the action planning process.
D. Teacher Negotiations Committee
Minutes of the October 17th meeting were enclosed in the agenda packet.
E. Building and Grounds Committee
A meeting was scheduled for October 25th, 5:00 p.m., at the high school.
F. Budget Committee
The meeting of October 23rd has been cancelled.
The committee would like direction from the board on the idea of special articles to provide funding for new buses and major capital expenses through bond funding. Stephen Fine suggested that the board look into selling bonds locally if it decides to proceed, as a possible cost-saving measure.
8. Unfinished Business:
A. Jack Porter’s Tabled Motion
No action
9. Appoints and/or Resignations:
A. Don Astley
Russ Capron moved to accept Don Astley’s letter of resignation effective June 30, 2009, with regret, and to ratify and confirm the letter of understanding with Mr. Astley, previously excecuted by him, and to authorize the Chair to execute that letter of understanding on behalf of the board. The motion passed, with one member abstaining (Bryar).
10. Communications and Public Comments:
Stephen Major announced that the Windmill Hill Pinnacle Association has scheduled a work day on Saturday, October 27th, and this would be an opportunity for students to earn community service hours.
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The public is invited to attend a district-wide meeting on diversity which is scheduled for Thursday, October 25th.
11. Other Business:
A. Assistant Principal Parkman explained the differences in student count numbers between that reported by the school and the state’s website posting.
B. Legal Requirements of Minutes
Stephen Fine reviewed provisions of 1 VSA §312 as it relates to requirements of minutes of public meetings.
C. Trip to Italy
The Foreign Language Department is interested in organizing a trip to Italy.
D. Village of Bellows Falls, Fire Protection Fee
Russ Capron has questions about a fire protection fee being levied by the Village of Bellows Falls on the school property. Stephen Major moved that the Bellows Falls Village Corp. be asked to provide the basis for their $18,000 water charge and informed that there appears to be an error in their fire protection billing, which the school does not intend to pay. The motion passed.
12. Directors’ Comments:
John Porter continues to be concerned about the student count discrepancy.
Margaret Perry asked Principal Hodsden about information from the Middle School on graduates.
Paul Obuchowski commented on fall sports and the fact that budget decisions are not made solely by him, but by a committee of ten.
Jack Bryar is looking forward to shadowing a Student Council member.
The Chair thanked the board for working efficiently through a lengthy agenda.
13. Date of Next Meeting:
The next meeting will begin at 8:00 p.m. on November 12, 2007.
14. Executive Session:
There being no objection, the Chair declared that the board is entering executive session at 9:27 p.m. to discuss Special Education records, a student record, and a personnel matter, and invited the administration and Dr. Naitove to attend.
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The Chair returned the board to open session at 9:47 p.m. No action was taken as a result of executive session.
15. Adjournment:
There being no further business to come before the meeting and no objection, the Chair declared the meeting adjourned at 9:48 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Margaret Perry, Clerk
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