BELLOWS FALLS UNION HIGH SCHOOL
School Board Meeting
May 14, 2007
Present: John Porter, Paul Obuchowski, Stephen Major, Marc Caron, Jack Bryar, Susan Hernon, Margaret Perry, David Clark, Stephen L. Fine, Russell Capron
Also Present: Johanna Harpster, Christopher Hodsden, Ryan Parkman, Kathleen Callahan, FACT TV, Brattleboro Reformer, Eagle Times, several staff members
1. Call to Order:
The Chair, David Clark, called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
2. Adjustments to the Agenda:
Approval of Multi-Year Plan will be added to Item 6, Items for Discussion/Action. The Chair announced that at approximately 8 p.m. he will move to Communications and Public Comments, followed by Item 10, Executive Session, before finishing the remaining agenda items.
3. Consent Items:
Discussion ensued about the word “cabal” and its source being the Wisdom of Solomon, rather than King Solomon, as referred to by Mr. Porter under Directors’ Comments during the meeting of April 23, 2007. Mr. Caron and Mr. Major expressed differing opinions regarding a letter submitted to Superintendent Harpster by Principal Hodsden. Stephen L. Fine moved to approve the minutes of April 23, 2007 as presented. Margaret Perry seconded. The motion passed on a vote of 6 (Obuchowski, Major, Bryar, Capron, Perry, Fine) to 3 (Porter, Caron, Hernon).
Marc Caron moved to approve the minutes of April 30, 2007 as presented. Sue Hernon seconded. The motion passed. The Chair requested that the student petition regarding Principal Hodsden presented to the board at that meeting be appended to the official copy of the minutes.
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4. Reports:
A. Financial Report
A year end surplus of $19,746 is anticipated. Principal Hodsden believes this figure is conservative, as there are encumbrances that can now be removed.
B. Principal’s Report
Forty (40) members of the band and chorus will be traveling to Hershey, PA to participate in competition with other high school groups. Principal Hodsden recommended that $5,000 in unspent Music Department funds be used to support this trip. Paul Obuchowski moved to allow the Music Department to transfer money within their budget to support the band and chorus trip to Hershey, PA. The motion passed unanimously.
Principal Hodsden brought to the board’s attention that there are decisions that need to be made regarding professional development opportunities connected to High Schools That Work. John Broadley was asked to talk about what he will get out of a math/algebra conference scheduled for June 11 –15 in Atlanta, Georgia. Discussion ensued. Paul Obuchowski moved that the board support staff attendance at the June 11 – 15 High Schools That Work conference in Atlanta, Georgia. The motion passed unanimously.
C. Student Report
No discussion
D. Superintendent of Schools
Board members received the final version of Superintendent Harpster’s goals. An opportunity for board comment will be given during executive session.
Superintendent Harpster participated in the first Consolidated Federal Grants session this week.
As requested by the board at their April 30th Special Meeting, a Principal vacancy has been advertised on SchoolSpring.com.
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John Porter asked the administration to search their records to see if a title search was prepared at the time Mr. Kissell conveyed land to the high school.
E. Director of Instructional Support Services
Dr. Callahan outlined an Autism Program Proposal that, if approved, will consolidate the district’s service delivery model for students with Autism to the following schools beginning in the Summer, 2007: Grades K-6 to Westminster Center School, Grades 7 – 10 to BFUHS, and Grades 11 – graduation to the Occupational Development Program in Springfield. Discussion ensued regarding financial implications, location for the program in the building, and transportation.
5. Communications and Public Comments:
None
6. Executive Session:
There being no objection, the Chair declared that the board is entering executive session at 8:05 p.m. for the purpose of discussing contract matters, including Principal, Teacher, Assistant Principal, Guidance, Executive Administrative Assistant to the Principal, and Attendance Officer/Athletic Director, and invited the administration to attend.
The Chair returned the board to open session at 9:04 p.m.
Stephen L. Fine moved to authorize the Chair to sign an Administrative Contract with Christopher Hodsden for the 07-08 year, and that the board approves two (2) FTEs for the AEP program, based on funding provided in the 07-08 budget, plus whatever additional funds may be needed, to be obtained from sources outside the budget. The motion passed on a vote of 6 (Obuchowski, Major, Clark, Perry, Bryar, Fine) to 4 (Porter, Caron, Hernon, Capron).
Stephen Major moved to authorize the Chair to sign a .33 FTE contract for Eric Bone as AP English teacher for the remainder of the 2006-2007 school year. The motion passed unanimously.
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Stephen Major moved to approve the organization of the Autism Program as outlined in Dr. Callahan’s proposal dated May 2, 2007. Discussion ensued, with concerns being expressed about financial implications. Jack Bryar moved to table the motion until the next meeting. The motion to table failed on a vote of 3 (Bryar, Caron, Hernon) to 6 (Porter, Obuchowski, Major, Perry, Capron, Fine). The main motion passed unanimously.
7. Reports, continued:
F. Technical Center Representatives
Brattleboro’s next meeting is scheduled for May 22nd.
The Chair attended two meetings in Springfield, one as a representative of the Technical Center Board, and the other as RVTC’s representative on the Howard Dean Center Board.
G. Committees and Special Projects
(1) Policy Committee
The Policy Committee continues to work its way through the proposed Manual, and plans to have a joint meeting with the Instruction and Educational Effectiveness Committee concerning adding a graduation requirements policy.
(2) Instruction and Educational Effectiveness Committee
The committee has been talking about process for this committee. Jack Bryar recognized staff members present who have joined the committee, and thanked them for their input. There has been a problem in achieving a quorum at some of the scheduled meetings. The Chair requested that Mr. Bryar poll the committee members to find the most convenient days/times to schedule meetings.
(3) Facilities and Infrastructures Committee
The committee has toured the grounds and Mr. Porter stated that there is $500,000 in needs, with $28,000 in resources. Following a state inspection, the school was cited for fuel storage changes that needed to be made. The system has now been brought into compliance, and there is a $1,400 bill that will be
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divided among the districts within the Union High School District. The track needs to be resurfaced this year. John Porter moved to authorize the Principal to sign necessary documents to schedule the track resurfacing project for completion this summer, at a cost not to exceed $19,500. Jack Bryar asked whether the committee plans to put together a list of sinking fund projects and other potential capital outlays. The motion passed on a vote of 8 to 1 (Bryar).
8. Unfinished Business:
A. Board Relations – Follow up to Retreat
The Chair believes that there is unfinished retreat business, and asked the Superintendent to warn a meeting for 11:30 a.m. at the Golden Egg Restaurant in Saxtons River on Saturday, May 19th. He stated that no action will be taken during, or as a result of, that meeting. The Chair would like feedback from individual board members about a formal follow-up to the retreat.
B. Block Scheduling – Update
Being discussed by the Instruction and Educational Effectiveness Committee, with feedback from staff.
C. High Schools that Work – Update
No further discussion
9. Other Items for Discussion/Action:
A. Algebra Conference
No further discussion
B. Food Service Management Company
The Café Services contract is up for renewal at the start of the 2007-2008 school year. Business Manager Michael Ricci is recommending that the board appoint two members to a Student Nutrition Committee, to join two members from each board in the Supervisory Union and building administrators and nurses from each school. The Chair appointed Stephen Major and Russ Capron, and the administration was asked to have Student Council appoint a
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student to serve on this committee as well. Mr. Major would like to see the committee have ability to review proposals and sign on with any of the three companies that were considered last year.
C. Other
Paul Obuchowski moved to approve a Multi-Year Plan for Student 1060341. The motion passed unanimously.
10. Communications and Public Comments:
Sue Swan thanked the board for their support tonight for John Broadley’s and Kelly Wedding’s attendance at the upcoming HSTW conference in Atlanta, for support of two FTE positions for the AEP program, and for coming to an agreement with Mr. Hodsden to keep the current administration in place. A copy of Ms. Swan’s statement was ordered to be attached to the official copy of the minutes.
Susan Hernon, addressing the Chair, fellow board members, and taxpayers of Rockingham, resigned from her position as a board member. Jack Bryar moved to accept Ms. Hernon’s letter of resignation, with regret. The motion passed. The Chair requested that Ms. Hernon’s letter of resignation be appended to the official copy of the minutes.
11. Other Business:
A. Directors’ Comments
Several board members expressed their regret about Ms. Hernon’s resignation.
Paul Obuchowski will be unable to attend the May 23rd WNESU Board meeting.
Stephen Major noted that according to the Special Education Department’s Statistical Report dated February 26, 2007, new enrollment is showing a decrease over the last six years, a trend he believes is good news and will hopefully continue.
Russ Capron updated the board on conversations he has had on the state level regarding Act 130 and how it will affect revenue on the local front.
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The Chair appointed John Porter and Jack Bryar to serve as BFUHS representatives at the May 23rd WNESU Board meeting.
12. Date of Next Scheduled Meeting:
The Chair set the date of the next meeting for May 29, 2007, beginning at 6 p.m.
13. Executive Session:
Jack Bryar moved to go into executive session at 9:58 p.m. for the purpose of discussing contract matters, and invited the administration to attend.
The Chair returned the board to open session at 10:32 p.m. No action was taken as a result of executive session.
11. Adjournment:
There being no further business to come before the meeting and no objection, the Chair declared the meeting adjourned at 10:32 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Margaret Perry,
Clerk
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