BELLOWS FALLS UNION HIGH SCHOOL
School Board Meeting
June 8, 2009
Present: Daniel Axtell, Jack Bryar, Russell Capron, David Clark, Stephen L. Fine, Matthew Guild (7:15 p.m.), Stephen Major, Jan Mitchell-Love, Margaret Perry, Laurie Rowell
Also Present: Johanna Harpster, Christopher Kibbe, Andrea Allbee, Sharon Reynolds, Christopher Hodsden, Ryan Parkman, Michael Empey, Priscilla Lambert, Megan Lyman, students and faculty who traveled to Costa Rica, FACT-TV
1. Call to Order:
The Chair, David Clark, called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
2. Adjustments to the Agenda:
· Communications by Mike Empey and Audrey Forrest will be added to Item 4, Communications and Public Comments;
· Russ Capron will provide a Legislative Update;
· Executive Session to discuss a contract matter will be added prior to Item 12, Adjournment; and
· Item 8(G) will include two Multi-Year Plans.
3. Consent Items:
In the minutes of May 25, 2009, the following changes were noted:
· The date of the public hearing at the State House referenced in Item 8(D) was May 27, not May 17; and
· The Chair asked that the minutes reflect the fact that a moment of silence was observed out of respect for the meaning of Memorial Day.
There being no objection, the Chair declared that the minutes of the meeting of May 25, 2009 are accepted as modified.
4. Communications and Public Comments:
A. Entergy employee Mike Empey found that as a Rockingham school board member, he was prohibited from accepting a stipend for coaching football, but was then able to submit his volunteer hours to Entergy’s Community Connector program, which resulted in BFUHS becoming eligible for a $750 monetary award. Mr. Empey presented this check to Principal Hodsden, and noted that although there are no restrictions on the way the money is spent, he would like to see it used on the football program.
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B. Costa Rica Trip Presentation
Julie James-Torres, Martina Mattison, and students provided details and slide show of their recent trip to Costa Rica.
C. Student Council President Audrey Forrest expressed her concern about students having been asked to participate in the selection of colors for new carpeting, only to find out that their decision had been overridden at the last board meeting. Jack Bryar and Jan Mitchell-Love apologized for their involvement in getting the decision overturned and gave reasons for why they felt more time was needed to be spent on the decision.
5. Special Education Report:
Sharon Reynolds provided the board with her January/April combined quarterly report and reviewed work plan updates.
6. Reports:
A. Financial
A current financial statement provided to board members indicates an anticipated surplus of $42,235.
B. Principal
In response to Russ Capron’s request, the board received a breakdown of expenses incurred in the production of Guys and Dolls.
Jan Mitchell-Love moved to approve a Memorandum of Agreement between the board and WNEA that provides for modifying the teacher work schedule for the final week of the 2008-2009 school year to provide for either a work schedule on June 15, 16, and 17 or to accommodate the school’s graduation schedule by working on June 16, 17, and 18, as a result of using three fewer snow days than anticipated during the 2008-2009 school year. The motion passed on a vote of eight in favor (Axtell, Bryar, Capron, Guild, Major, Mitchell-Love, Perry, Rowell) and one abstention (Fine). Mr. Fine pointed out that taking action without the matter being on the agenda is in opposition to what open meeting laws are about.
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The names of local students receiving awards at RVTC were announced.
The “Terrier Times” was distributed and Community Relations Committee members noted that they will be asking the board to consider appropriating funds from this year’s anticipated surplus to support future issues of the newsletter.
Principal Hodsden congratulated local students receiving awards at the recent State Track Meet Championships, and encouraged board members to attend the upcoming Class Night (June 17th) and Graduation (June 18th).
C. Superintendent of Schools
Superintendent Harpster thanked Rockingham School Board member Joe Brissette for training with FACT-TV staff so that he can tape future WNESU board meetings.
D. Technical Center Representatives
The Chair attended RVTC’s recent graduation exercises.
E. Student Representatives
No discussion
F. WNESU
No discussion
G. Committees and Special Projects
(1) Instruction and Educational Effectiveness Committee
Minutes of the May 25, 2009 meeting were included in the agenda packet.
(2) Policy Committee
No discussion
7. Adopt Senior Privileges:
Laurie Rowell moved to adopt Open Campus Policy (Code F32) as presented. The motion passed unanimously. Stephen Major asked to include discussion about privileges for students who are not driving on a future agenda.
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Board members received an updated Table of Contents for their Policy Manuals.
Graduation Requirements (Code F30) is ready to be warned for first reading.
8. Legislative Update
Provided by Russ Capron
8. Business for Discussion/Action:
A. Award Audit Bid
Stephen Fine moved to award a three-year contract to Fothergill, Segale & Valley to perform audit services as recommended by the Business Manager. Margaret Perry moved to table the motion, seconded by Jack Bryar. The motion to table passed on a vote of six in favor (Capron, Guild, Perry, Bryar, Major, Rowell) and three opposed (Axtell, Fine, Mitchell-Love). The administration was asked to provide a list of companies who received the invitation to bid and the total cost of the FY08 audit. If board members have additional questions relating to this matter, they are asked to relay them to the administration through the Chair between now and the next meeting.
B. Approve Additional Fuel Oil Purchase
Dan Axtell moved to discuss approval of Additional Fuel Oil Purchase in executive session, because premature general public knowledge would clearly place the public body involved at a substantial disadvantage. The motion passed unanimously.
C. Local Educational Agency Plan (LEAP)
Stephen Fine moved to authorize WNESU representatives to vote for the Local Education Agency Plan (LEAP) at the June 24, 2009 WNESU board meeting. The motion passed unanimously.
D. Information Request from the Grafton Committee
The administration would like Grafton’s committee charged with exploring options for their high school students to be
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more specific with their request for data. The committee’s target is to have an informational meeting in Oct in Grafton.
E. School Board Retreat
Tabled to next meeting
F. ED Program Staffing Needs
Principal Hodsden plans to recommend a shift of personnel for the 2009-2010 school year, with a cost-neutral effect, by hiring one full-time teacher for the LFS program instead of two Special Education paraprofessionals.
G. Multi-Year Plan
Jan Mitchell-Love moved to approve multi-year plans for students #1084838 and #1203335 as recommended by the administration. The motion passed unanimously.
H. Exit Interview
Jan Mitchell-Love moved to authorize the Chair, in conjunction with the Superintendent, to conduct an exit interview with Assistant Principal Parkman. Stephen Fine noted that the Chair’s request for this interview does not need board approval, and once given, will set a precedent of needing board approval in the future. It was the sense of the board that they did not want to set this precedence. Ms. Mitchell-Love’s motion was withdrawn.
9. Appointments and/or Resignations:
A. Appointments
(1) Summer Contracts
Russ Capron moved to approve the following 2009 summer contracts: Peter Naitove (additional 7 days), Priscilla Lambert (additional 2 days), and Linda Prinsen (additional 30 hours). The motion passed unanimously.
(2) Senior Project
Justin Aube, Matt Burke, Gail Christmas, Craig Divis, Maureen Donovan, Marilee Huntoon, Ron King, Fred Marin, Peter Naitove, Harvey Nystrom, Susan Speranza, Susan Steiner, Susan Swan, Mary Westbrook, and Matthew Willis participated in
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observing and evaluating senior projects. Russ Capron moved to have individuals who worked on senior projects during the 2008-2009 school year paid for all hours worked. The motion passed unanimously.
(3) Co-Curricular
Jan Mitchell-Love moved to aprove a contract for Justin Aube to serve as Girls’ Varsity Basketball Coach for the 2009-2010 school year, beginning at Step 0. The motion passed unanimously.
(4) Custodian
Dan Axtell moved to approve a contract for Stuart Dansereau as Custodian for the 2009-2010 school year, beginning at the 24 months level of the Staff Collective Bargaining Agreement’s Wage Schedule. The motion passed unanimously.
10. Directors’ Comments:
In response to comments made by Sharon Reynolds regarding difficulty Special Educators have in compiling reports as a result of computer deficiencies in the building, Jack Bryar noted he would like to see a plan in place to resolve technical issues.
Margaret Perry asked about board involvement in Senior Projects. Principal Hodsden explained how evaulators were selected this year and suggested they can return to the original process of sign-ups during board meetings if preferred.
Russ Capron agreed with Jack Bryar’s concern about technology issues, and thanked those involved in the planning of Don Astley’s recent retirement party.
Stephen Major thanked Russ Capron for keeping the board updated on legislative matters.
Stephen Fine re-emphasized the fact that the board must be careful about taking action as it did about modifying the Collective Bargaining Agreement this evening without proper notice on the
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meeting agenda. Also, as the board has discussed in the past, “Communications and Public Comment” is not the forum for answers from the board as a result of questions being asked.
Jan Mitchell-Love noted that the School Climate Survey has gone out via the internet, and responses are due by June 10.
The Chair acknowledged his public disclosure of comments made during executive session regarding the Business Manager’s performance and apologized for his actions.
11. Date of Next Meeting:
The Chair set the date of the next meeting for June 22, 2009, beginning at 7:30 p.m.
12. Executive session:
There being no objection, the Chair declared that the board is entering executive session at 9:36 p.m. for the purpose of discussing a contract matter, and invited the administration to attend.
The Chair returned the board to open session at 9:55 p.m.
13. Adjournment:
There being no further business to come before the meeting and no objection, the Chair declared the meeting adjourned at 9:56 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Jan Mitchell-Love, Clerk
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