BELLOWS FALLS UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT
School Board Meeting
June 28, 2010
Present:
Daniel Axtell, Russell Capron, David Clark, Matthew Guild, Stephen Major, Jan Mitchell-Love, Laurie Rowell
Also Present:
Johanna Harpster, Christopher Hodsden, John Broadley, 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:
Principal Hodsden removed Item 8(D), Appointment of Linda Prinsen as Summer School Teacher.
The Chair removed Item 6(A), 501(C)(3), as Jack Bryar is not in attendance.
A contract matter (Food Services) will be discussed in Executive Session (Item 11).
3. Consent Items:
The Chair asked if there were any modifications or corrections to the minutes of the June 14, 2010 meeting as presented. Laurie Rowell felt that the spirit of what happened at the last meeting during discussion of the basketball program was missing from the minutes, and asked that they be modified to include:
(1) Letters read under Communications and Public Comments indicating full support for Evan Chadwick in his role as Basketball Coach were written by Doug MacPhee and Susan Bourne;
(2) When asked how students felt about Coach Chadwick’s efforts with the basketball team, the eight students in attendance simultaneously gave a thumbs up; and
(3) Comments offered by David Moore, Tyson Snide, and Dammy Mustapha all supported their positive experiences with Coach Chadwick.
There being no objection, the Chair declared that the minutes of June 14, 2010 are accepted as modified.
4. Communications and Public Comments:
A. Vermont Graduation Rate
The Department of Education has issued a press release regarding Vermont’s high school graduation rate. According to Education Week, Vermont is the second highest in the country, at 82.3% for 2007, while the national average is 68.8%. The release also noted that Vermont’s graduation rate had one of the highest percentage increases over the past
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ten years in the country. A copy of the release was included in the agenda packet.
5. Reports:
A. Financial
Principal Hodsden reviewed the financial summary as included in the agenda packet. A $38,000 deficit is indicated on the report, but there are still encumbered funds that will not be spent prior to June 30.
B. Principal
(1) Library Configuration
Once the carpet installation is complete, the layout of the library will be modified to better meet needs that have been recognized by the staff.
C. Superintendent of Schools/Assistant Superintendent
No report
D. Technical Center Representatives
Brattleboro – no report
Springfield – a July meeting will be scheduled if necessary
E. WNESU
No report
F. Committees and Special Projects
(1) Policy Committee
Policy Committee members met prior to this meeting and plan to meet again within a month.
6. Unfinished Business:
A. Contract Correction
On June 8, 2009, a motion approving 7 additional days during the 2009 summer months for Peter Naitove, but the intent was for this additional time to attach to his 2009-2010 contract. Jan Mitchell-Love moved to apply Peter Naitove’s 7 additional days as approved on June 8, 2009 to his 2009-2010 school year contract. The motion passed unanimously.
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7. Business for Discussion/Action:
A. Eighth Grade Academy
A proposal for an Eighth Grade Academy to provide appropriate education for students in the appropriate facility in a pre-planned manner has been drafted by Stephen Major, David Clark, Jan Mitchell-Love, and Principal Hodsen and distributed to board members for review and comment. Principal Hodsden would like to see testing in the 8th grade rather than at the end of 7th grade, although he recognizes this won’t allow for the same amount of time for transition and scheduling. It was suggested that testing be conducted on a voluntary basis. Since students entering BFUHS are not necessarily enrolled in BFMS, it was suggested that the procedure extend to other area junior high schools as well. Dan Axtell moved to direct the Superintendent of Schools to circulate
the Eighth Grade Academy Proposal with revisions as noted during discussion to school boards in the Windham Northeast Supervisory Union. The motion passed on a vote of five in favor (Rowell, Axtell, Major, Mitchell-Love, Capron) and one opposed (Guild). The Chair did not vote.
Before the proposal is circulated to school boards, Principal Hodsden noted that Item 1 needs to be pursued (confirming the fact that the high school is approved by the state and/or its charter to educate eighth grade students), and anticipates that the topic of readiness in terms of maturity will come up.
B. Surplus - Envirathon
During Susan Steiner’s presentation at the last meeting, she asked the board to consider allocating $3,272.93 to the Envirathon Club to meet expenses during the coming school year. Jan Mitchell-Love moved to approve Susan Steiner’s request to fund expenses of the Envirathon Club in the amount of $3,272.93, conditional upon there being a FY2010 surplus. Matt Guild moved to amend Ms. Mitchell-Love’s motion by removing the year-end surplus condition and stating that the funds will be supported first through gifted funds, and then through the year-end surplus, if necessary. The amendment passed on a vote of four in favor (Axtell, Guild, Capron, Clark) and three opposed (Rowell, Mitchell-Love, Major). Russ Capron moved to amend the motion to the allocation of $3,000.00
after removing $272.93 designated for pizza. The amendment passed on a vote of four in favor (Axtell, Major, Mitchell-Love, Capron) and two opposed (Rowell, Guild). The Chair did not vote. The motion to support Susan Steiner’s request to fund expenses of the Envirathon Club in the amount of $3,000.00, to be supported first through gifted funds,
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and then through the year-end surplus, if necessary, passed on a vote of five in favor (Capron, Rowell, Guild, Axtell, Major) and one opposed (Mitchell-Love). The Chair did not vote.
8. Appointments and/or Resignations:
A. Fall Coaches
Steve Major moved to appoint the following coaches for fall sports:
Bob Lockerby (Head Football), Ryan Stoodley (Assistant Football),
John Shaw (Assistant Football), Don Laurendeau (Freshman Football), John Broadley (Head Girls’ Soccer), Sean Murphy (Assistant Girls’ Soccer), Larry Slason (Head Boys’ Soccer), Bethany Coursen (Head Field Hockey), and Tim Eno (Head Cross Country). The motion passed unanimously
B. Coordinators
Russ Capron moved to appoint the following curriculum coordinators for the 2010-2011 school year:
Susan Swan (Mathematics), Kristin Gottschalk (Science), Holly Falzo (English), Craig Divis (Social Studies), Rachel Crawford (Life Skills),
Peter Naitove (Special Education), Tina Mattison (Guidance). The motion passed unanimously.
C. Advisors
Jan Mitchell-Love moved to appoint the following advisors for the 2010-2011 school year:
Susan Swan and Lori Walters (Mathematics Team), Craig Divis (Scholar’s Bowl), Justin Aube (Student Council). The motion passed unanimously.
D. Summer School Teachers
Russ Capron moved to appoint Priscilla Lambert as an extended school year teacher and for evaluations, not to exceed 40 hours. The motion passed unanimously.
9. Directors’ Comments:
Russ Capron heard many positive comments about the appearance of the school building and grounds over Alumni Weekend. Russ has been tracking the carpet and flooring expenses, and complimented Business Office employee Tom Clews for his assistance.
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Jan Mitchell-Love noted that her vote was not against support of the Envirathon Club, but because she is opposed to using donated funds.
Laurie Rowell, Stephen Major, and Matt Guild complimented Principal Hodsden, staff, and students on the graduation ceremonies.
10. Date of Next Scheduled Meeting:
The Chair announced that if possible, there will be no meeting in July, and scheduled the next meeting for August 9, 2010, beginning at 7:30 p.m.
11. Executive Session:
Russ Capron moved to go into executive session at 8:27 p.m. for the purposes of discussing a contract matter, and invited the administration to attend. The motion passed unanimously.
The Chair returned the board to open session at 9:03 p.m. No action was taken as a result of executive session.
12. Adjournment:
Jan Mitchell-Love moved to adjourn at 9:05 p.m., seconded by Russ Capron. The motion passed unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Jan Mitchell-Love, Clerk
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