BELLOWS FALLS UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT
School Board Meeting
June 14, 2010
Present:
Daniel Axtell, Jack Bryar, Russell Capron, David Clark, Stephen L. Fine, Matthew Guild, Stephen Major, Jan Mitchell-Love, Laurie Rowell
Also Present:
Johanna Harpster, Christopher Kibbe, Sharon Reynolds, Christopher Hodsden, John Broadley, Susan Steiner, Bethany Hall, Erica Edwards, Parents, Community Members, and Students, FACT-TV
1. Call to Order:
The Chair, David Clark, called the meeting to order at 7:32 p.m.
2. Adjustments to the Agenda:
Item 6(C), Request to Hear an Appeal about Personnel, will be removed from the agenda as the appeal has been withdrawn.
A student record will be added to Item 11, Executive Session.
Item 7(B), Basketball Program, will be moved to Item 4, Communications and Public Comments.
3. Consent Items:
There being no objection, the Chair declared that the minutes of May 24, 2010 are accepted as presented.
4. Communications and Public Comments:
A. Envirothon Report
Susan Steiner provided background on the formation of the Envirothon Club and how students prepared for this year’s competition. The BFUHS team took first place in the aquatics division and oral presentation, and ended up tying for second place overall. Fourteen students have signed up for next year’s club, and Ms. Steiner is hoping that the board and administration will support her request for funding for next year’s event and subsequent events that follow. The Chair asked that consideration of the request be placed on the next agenda.
B. Letters indicating Evan Chadwick’s efforts in his role as Basketball Coach were read by Susan Bourne and Principal Hodsden.
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5. Basketball Program:
Students, parents, and community members were thanked by Evan Chadwick for their expressions of support. David Moore and former students Tyson Snide and Dammy Mustapha added comments regarding their experience with Coach Chadwick. Laurie Rowell asked for clarification regarding the Division BFUHS was in, and the teams they were playing. Coach Chadwick would like to see the non-conference game schedule amended to include teams in neighboring schools. Jack Bryar noted that the Instruction and Educational Effectiveness Committee has been discussing if there is a need for rubrics to evaluate co-curricular positions. In closing, Coach Chadwick stated that he felt the policy for personnel complaints should be reviewed, and that he would like to participate in the process.
6. Reports:
A.Principal
Trophies won by the chorus at a recent competition held at Six Flags Amusement Park were on display.
B. Superintendent of Schools/Assistant Superintendent
Board members received copies of the final 2010 Legislative Review.
C. Director of Student Support Services
Sharon Reynolds was available for questions regarding the recent Special Education Update.
D. Technical Center Representatives
The Workplace Co-Op position in Brattleboro has been reduced.
River Valley Technical Center’s new director begins in July, and the school is also experiencing staff reductions.
E. Student Representative
No report
F. WNESU
The unapproved minutes of the May 26, 2010 meeting were included in the agenda packet.
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G. Committees and Special Projects
(1) Instruction and Educational Effectiveness Committee
The committee has been discussing co-curricular positions.
(2) School and Community Relations Committee
Minutes of the May 1, 2010 meeting were included in the agenda packet. Participants of the last meeting discussed the idea of having a float constructed for
Saxtons River’s 4th of July parade as a public relations event for the school. The committee has also been discussing feedback on the Youth Risk Survey and ideas for long-term planning.
7. Unfinished Business:
A. Prom Follow-Up
No further discussion
B. Youth Risk Behavior Survey
Bethany Hall and Erica Edwards (VT Dept of Health) were available to answer questions regarding the Youth Risk Survey results. Ms. Edwards suggested that the board look at data from the last ten years and decide what indicators are of particular interest.
8. Business for Discussion/Action:
A. Local Education Agency Plan (LEAP)
Dan Axtell moved to authorize the board’s WNESU representatives to vote for the LEAP at the June 23, 2010 WNESU Board of School Directors’ meeting. The motion passed unanimously.
9. Appointments and/or Resignations:
A. Mathematics
Matt Guild moved to approve a contract for Joseph Goodhue as Mathematics teacher for the 2010-2011 school year. The motion passed unanimously.
B. Summer Home Visit Teachers
Jan Mitchell-Love moved to appoint the following teachers to perform summer home visits to families of incoming freshman students: Kristen Amend, Justin Aube, Andrea Carlson, Gail Christmas, Katheryne Emond, Martina Mattison, Maureen Parker, Kelly Spaulding, and Jennifer Joy. The motion passed on a vote of seven in favor (Guild, Axtell, Major, Capron, Fine, Mitchell-Love, Bryar) and one opposed (Rowell). The Chair did not vote.
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C. Summer Drivers’ Education
Dan Axtell moved to approve a contract for Jack Cohun as Summer Drivers’ Education instructor. The motion passed on a vote of five in favor (Guild, Rowell, Axtell, Capron, Fine) and three opposed (Major, Bryar, Mitchell-Love). The Chair did not vote.
10. Directors’ Comments:
Russ Capron recently attended a VSBA retreat and participated in a discussion regarding legislative actions that will affect schools.
The Chair asked that discussion regarding the formation of a 501(C)(3) organization be on the next agenda.
Stephen Major thanked Principal Hodsden for building up the summer home visit program.
Laurie Rowell asked that Policy Books be updated. In judging Senior Projects, Ms. Rowell noted concern that the second round of presentations was not as good as the first.
Board members offered suggestions for shortening the Awards Ceremony, which took over two hours this year.
11. Date of Next Scheduled Meeting:
The Chair set the date of the next meeting for June 28, 2010. Because of summer projects in the building, the board may be asked to meet in another location in the building.
12. Executive Session:
Jan Mitchell-Love moved to go into executive session at 9:36 p.m. for the purpose of discussing contract matters, personnel matters, and a student record, and invited the administration to attend.
The Chair returned the board to open session at 10:15 p.m.
Steve Major moved to approve a Multi-Year Plan for Student 11134. The motion passed on a vote of five in favor (Axtell, Capron, Guild, Major, Rowell), one opposed (Bryar), and one abstention (Mitchell-Love). The Chair did not vote.
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Jack Bryar moved to offer Christopher Hodsden a two year contract as Principal, with a 15% insurance co-pay and a 5.5% salary increase. The motion passed unanimously. Russ Capron moved to authorize Superintendent Harpster to negotiate a similar contract with John Broadley as Assistant Principal. The motion passed unanimously.
13. Adjournment:
There being no further business to come before the meeting and no objection, the Chair declared the meeting adjourned at 10:20 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Jan Mitchell-Love, Clerk
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