BELLOWS FALLS UNION HIGH SCHOOL
School Board Meeting
March 8, 2010
Present:
Daniel Axtell, Jack Bryar, David Clark, Stephen L. Fine, Matthew Guild, Stephen Major, Margaret Perry, Jan Mitchell-Love
Also Present:
Johanna Harpster, Christopher Kibbe, Andrea Allbee, Sharon Reynolds, Christopher Hodsden, John Broadley, James DeBell, Michael Empey, Robert Lockerby, FACT-TV
1. Call to Order:
Superintendent Harpster called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
2. Reorganization of the Board:
A. Election of Chairperson
Jan Mitchell-Love nominated David Clark to serve as Chairperson, seconded by Jack Bryar. Jan Mitchell-Love moved to close nominations and have the Superintendent cast one ballot for David Clark to serve as Chairperson, seconded by Jack Bryar. The motion passed. David Clark was declared elected Chairperson.
B. Election of Assistant Chairperson
Jan Mitchell-Love nominated Jack Bryar to serve as Assistant Chairperson, seconded by Stephen Major. Jan Mitchell-Love moved to close nominations and have the Chair cast one ballot for Jack Bryar to serve as Assistant Chairperson, seconded by Margaret Perry. The motion passed. Jack Bryar was declared elected Assistant Chairperson.
C. Election of Clerk
The Chair nominated Jan Mitchell-Love to serve as Clerk, seconded by Stephen Major. Matt Guild moved to close nominations and have the Chair cast one ballot for Jan Mitchell-Love to serve as Clerk, seconded by Stephen Major. The motion passed. Jan Mitchell-Love was declared elected Clerk.
D. Election of Assistant Treasurer
Matt Guild nominated Russ Capron to serve as Assistant Treasurer, seconded by Jack Bryar. Margaret Perry moved to close nominations and have the Clerk cast one ballot for Russ Capron to serve as Assistant Treasurer, seconded by Stephen Major. The motion passed. Russ Capron was declared elected Assistant Treasurer.
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E. Election of Representatives to the WNESU Board
Margaret Perry moved to have the Chair appoint representatives to the WNESU Board, seconded by Jan Mitchell-Love. The motion passed.
F. Appoint Truant Officer(s)
Jan Mitchell-Love moved to appoint the Windham County Sheriff’s Department as Truant Officer(s). The motion passed.
G. Appoint Representative to the Technical Center Advisory Councils
The Chair will serve as representative to the River Valley Technical Center Advisory Council and appointed Stephen Major to serve as representative to the ______________.
H. Set Time, Day and Location of Regular Monthly Meetings
There being no objection, the Chair declared that regular monthly meetings will be held on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of each month at the Bellows Falls Union High School, beginning at 7:30 p.m., with standing committee meetings being scheduled on 6:30 p.m. on the same dates, to the extent possible.
I. Establish Specific Media to be used to Announce School Board Functions and Activities
There being no objection, the Chair declared that specific media to be used to announce school board functions and activities will be as included in the agenda packet, a copy of which is attached to these minutes. Jack Bryar asked to have notices published in community newspapers (Grafton, Westminster) if possible. The Chair asked the administration to include support to these community newspapers on a future agenda for discussion.
J. Committee Assignments
Board members were asked to review the list of current assignments, and the Chair will consider them to stand unless they notify the Chair that they would like to be considered for another committee. Jack Bryar moved to consolidate sub-committees into the Instruction and Educational Effectiveness Committee (Alternative Education Program, School Resource Officer), School and Community Relations Committee, Facilities and Infrastructure (Hadley Field Representative, Transportation), Budget/Finance (Cost Containment), Policy, and Negotiations (Teacher Negotiations, Support Staff Negotiations), and let remaining sub-committees lapse until such time as needed to be
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reactivated by one of the standing committees. The motion passed on a vote of six in favor (Axtell, Bryar, Guild, Major, Mitchell-Love, Perry) and one opposed (Fine). The Chair did not vote
A Food Service Committee will be formed in the fall, as the current contract expires June 30, 2011. In the interim, Jack Bryar suggested that any pre-planning can be handled by the Facilities and Infrastructure Committee.
K. Other
Jack Bryar moved to adopt Robert’s Rules of Order Applicable to Small Boards for the ensuing year, seconded by Margaret Perry. The motion passed.
3. Consent Items:
There being no objection, the Chair declared that the minutes of February 8, 2010 are approved as presented.
4. Communications and Public Comments:
None
5. Committees and Special Projects:
A. Long-Term Planning Committee
Minutes of the February 8, 2010 meeting were included in the agenda packet.
B. Article 6 Study Committee (Rockingham)
Minutes of the February 10, 2010 meeting were included in the agenda packet.
C. Building and Grounds Committee
Minutes of the February 15, 2010 meeting were included in the agenda packet.
6. Unfinished Business
A. Building and Grounds Report on Weight Room Proposal
Bob Lockerby and Mike Empey explained reasons for wanting to expand the school’s weight training facilities. Two proposals were outlined; the preferred proposal is an exterior building expansion (estimated cost to be as high as $120,000), and an alternate proposal offered as a cost savings, to reconfigure a small portion of the boys’ locker room and an area currently being used for storage, at a cost of approximately $15,000 -
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March 8, 2010
$20,000. Volunteer help, organized by Mike Empey, will be used if the interior configuration is approved. Principal Hodsden suggested that the board consider using a portion of the anticipated surplus to fund the exterior expansion, which would also provide space for the athletic trainer’s office. Board members expressed concern about hearing of this need for the first time, and suggested that a project of this size be considered in the long-term planning process and included in budget proposals. Jack Bryar moved to allocate $14,500 from anticipated FY2010 surplus for the construction of a fitness weight room in the high school building. The motion passed on a vote of five in favor (Axtell, Bryar, Guild, Major, Mitchell-Love) and two opposed (Fine, Perry). The Chair did not vote. The Chair asked that the board be provided with an update at the next meeting.
7. Other Business for Board Discussion/Action:
A. Letter of Interest for Google’s Fiber Optic Internet Demonstration Program
Dan Axtell moved to adopt a resolution indicating interest in Google’s Fiber Optic Internet Demonstration Program_____________. The motion passed on a vote of six in favor (Axtell, Fine, Guild, Major, Mitchell-Love, Perry) and one abstention (Bryar). The Chair did not vote.
B. Town Meeting Follow-Up Discussion
Jack Bryar informed the board that Grafton voted to remain in the Union High School District, and thanked Craig Divis for his effort in talking with Grafton voters about the high school.
8. Appointments and/or Resignations:
A. Stephen Major moved to appoint Ryan Stoodley to a long-term substitute position for the 2009-2010 school year. The motion passed.
B. Dan Axtell moved to appoint Martina Mattison as Guidance Coordinator for the 2009-2010 school year. The motion passed on a vote of six in favor (Axtell, Fine, Guild, Major, Mitchell-Love, Perry) and one opposed (Bryar). The Chair did not vote.
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9. Directors’ Comments:
Jack Bryar thanked Grafton voters for supporting the town’s continued membership in the Union High School District.
The Chair expressed appreciation for Stephen Major’s willingness to accept re-election since no other candidates came forward in Westminster.
The Chair would like the board to consider scheduling a retreat.
The public is encouraged to attend Oklahoma! scheduled for performances on March 12 and 13.
Jan Mitchell-Love suggested that Principal Hodsden survey students to find out how concerned they are about thefts that have occurred in the building.
10. Date of Next Meeting:
The Chair set the date of the next meeting for March 22, 2010, beginning at 7:30 p.m. The Long-Term Planning Committee will meet at 6:30 p.m. that evening.
11. Executive Session:
Jack Bryar moved to go into executive session at 8:15 p.m. to discuss a WNESU personnel matter, and invited the administration to attend. The motion passed.
The Chair returned the board to open session at 8:37 p.m. No action was taken as a result of executive session.
12. Adjournment:
There being no further business to come before the meeting and no objection, the Chair declared the meeting adjourned at 8:37 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Jan Mitchell-Love, Clerk
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