BELLOWS FALLS UNION HIGH SCHOOL
School Board Meeting
May 11, 2009
Present: Russell Capron, Margaret Perry, Jan Mitchell-Love, Stephen L. Fine, David Clark, Stephen Major, Daniel Axtell, Matthew Guild, Laurie Rowell
Also Present: Christopher Hodsden, Ryan Parkman, Johanna Harpster, Sharon Reynolds, Andrea Allbee, Brian O’Regan, Timothy Doherty, Christopher Kibbe, FACT-TV, Kenneth Dufort, Michelle Banning, Priscilla Lambert
1. Call to Order:
The Chair, David Clark, called the meeting to order at 7:35 p.m.
2. Adjustments to Agenda:
The following items will be removed from the agenda: Item 8(D) Approval of Multi-Year Plan and Item 8(E) Request for Leave of Absence from Maureen Donovan.
Item 8(A), Leave Request from Michelle Banning will follow Item 4.
3. Consent Items:
There being no objection, the Chair declared that the minutes of April 27, 2009 are approved as presented.
4. Communications and Public Comments:
According to Ken Dufort, Grafton residents expressed an interest at this year’s annual meeting to explore the expansion of options for their high school students. A committee has been formed to gather facts and open dialogue. It was requested that the administration place this topic on the board’s June 8th meeting for further discussion.
5. Leave Request from Michelle Banning:
Michelle Banning has requested four paid professional development days to complete a classroom observation assignment as a part of her requirements to obtain a teaching degree. Stephen Major moved to grant Ms. Banning four unpaid professional days during the 2008-2009 school year. The motion passed on a vote of seven in favor (Rowell, Guild, Axtell, Major, Mitchell-Love, Perry, Capron) and one abstention (Fine). The Chair did not vote.
6. Article 6 Study Committee Presentation:
Rockingham School District’s Article 6 Study Committee consultant, Brian O’Regan, provided an overview of the work of the committee and outlined two options the committee has decided to explore: renovating the Middle School with or without joint contract or union with another entity, or build a new building on the high school grounds with joint contract or union with another entity. Either option will likely include the
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moving of fifth graders back to the elementary school. The committee would like to know if districts within the supervisory union are interested in collaborating with Rockingham, and Committee Chairperson Tim Doherty encouraged board members to attend the next Article 6 Committee meeting at 5:30 p.m. on May 18th, in Room 200 at the Middle School. The administration was asked to remind board members of this meeting via e-mail.
7. Reports:
A. Financial
(1) Surplus Discussion
The Business Manager reports a current surplus of $136,225, and believes even with spending throughout the remainder of the fiscal year, there will still be a surplus. Board members were asked to consider what they would like to do with the anticipated surplus – authorize it to be spent on needs; roll the surplus over to reduce the tax rate; or a combination of both. The Maintenance Director discussed a list of needs with the Building & Grounds Committee, estimated to cost approximately $70,000. After polling the board, the Chair noted that it was the sense of the board that the Maintenance Department should expend their entire FY09 budget and then come back to the board with a proposal for items that have not been addressed.
B. Principal
(1) Costa Rica Trip
Students who traveled to Costa Rica will be invited to share their experience with the board during a future meeting.
(2) Action Plan Update
New England Association of Schools & Colleges, Inc. has informed Principal Hodsden that its Commission on Public Secondary Schools has voted to recommend to the Board of Trustees of the Association that Bellows Falls Union High School be accepted as a Candidate for Accreditation through the calendar year 2012. The letter outlined areas that will require focused attention in order to ensure a successful accreditation visit and an endorsement by the Commission for unencumbered status as an accredited school.
As a part of the school’s action plan, a comprehensive climate survey will be conducted over a two-week period beginning May 27 for students, parents, and staff.
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Matt Guild moved to include literacy and math goals within the Action Plan language that supports use of Medicaid funds for a preschool program so these students will be ready to learn when they enter elementary school, and therefore be better prepared for high school. The motion passed unanimously.
C. Superintendent of Schools
Board members received copies of the fully executed support staff Collective Bargaining Agreement.
Principals have been asked to submit proposals to Assistant Superintendent Kibbe that will allow the district to access federal stimulus funds.
D. Technical Center Representatives
No report
E. Student Representatives
No report
F. WNESU
No report
G. Committees and Special Projects
(1) School and Community Relations Committee
Minutes of the March 7 and April 4 meetings were included in the agenda packet.
(2) Building and Grounds Committee
The committee has begun to discuss safety issues regarding the traffic pattern at the intersection of the school driveway and Route 5. Installation of traffic islands has been discussed, which will require the involvement of the Town of Westminster and State of Vermont to pursue. If the idea continues to evolve, Jan Mitchell-Love suggested that Vermont Emergency Management be asked to help fund this improvement inasmuch as the school is available to the agency as a Reception Center in the event of a nuclear accident at Vermont Yankee.
(3) Policy Committee
The committee is reviewing the Graduation Requirements and the Volunteer and Work Study Students Policies. Chairperson Laurie Rowell noted that the committee is looking for other schools that have a policy on dedication of school property for significant contributions.
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8. Business for Discussion/Action
A. Newsletter
The School and Community Relations Committee asked if Consolidated Federal Grant funds may be used to send newsletters to the greater community. Assistant Superintendent Kibbe explained that these funds may not be used for publicity, but can be used to defray the cost of sending the information home to parents.
C. Additional Custodial Transition Support
Russell Capron moved to authorize the hiring of a part-time custodian for six hours per school day between now and June 30, 2009 at a cost not to exceed $3,000.00 to allow Jim DeBell to train with Don Astley. The motion passed unanimously.
9. Appointments and/or Resignations:
A. Reappointments
(1) Technology Education
Stephen Major moved to approve a contract for Michael Bennett as Technology Education instructor for the 2009-2010 school year. The motion passed unanimously.
(2) Family and Consumer Science
Moved to Executive Session
B. Appointments
(1) .5 English
Jan Mitchell-Love moved to reassign Maureen Donovan for the 2009-2010 school year by rescinding her full-time Special Education Contract and approve a contract for Ms. Donovan as .5 Special Education and .5 English teacher for the 2009-2010 school year. The motion passed unanimously.
(2) .5 Special Education and .5 Mathematics
Stephen Major moved to approve a contract for Sharon Oszajca as .5 Special Education and .5 Mathematics teacher for the 2009-2010 school year. The motion passed unanimously.
10. Directors’ Comments:
Russell Capron provided the board with an update on legislative issues involving education.
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Laurie Rowell noted that the prom was a success and encouraged voters in Rockingham to support the upcoming school budget vote.
Stephen Major announced that Craig Divis is a Teacher of the Year finalist.
11. Date of Next Meeting:
The Chair set the date of the next regular meeting for May 25, 2009. The board will hold its retreat at the Saxtons River Inn from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on May 16, 2009.
12. Executive Session:
There being no objection, the Chair declared that the board is entering executive session at 9:00 p.m. for the purpose of discussing a personnel matter, and a contract matter, and invited the administration to attend.
The Chair returned the board to open session at 9:55 p.m.
Jan Mitchell-Love moved to approve a contract for Rachel Crawford as Family and Consumer Science teacher for the 2009-2010 school year. The motion passed unanimously.
13. Adjournment:
Jan Mitchell-Love moved to adjourn at 10:00 p.m. The motion passed unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Jan Mitchell-Love, Clerk
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