BELLOWS FALLS UNION HIGH SCHOOL
School Board Meeting
August 27, 2007
Present: Jack Bryar, David Clark, Stephen L. Fine, Matthew Guild, William Harmon, Paul Obuchowski, Margaret Perry, John Porter
Also Present: Johanna Harpster, Christopher Kibbe, Michael Ricci, Kathleen Callahan, Christopher Hodsden, Ryan Parkman, faculty members, Brattleboro Reformer, Eagle Times, 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:
A personnel matter, results of grievance, and a school choice request will be added to executive session. Item 6C, Guidance Department, will be deferred to the board’s next meeting.
3. Consent Items:
A. Review and Approve Minutes of August 13, 2007
Paul Obuchowski noted that his last two motions in Item 12 should have read that he moved to deny the requests, and the motions passed. Paul Obuchowski moved to approve the minutes of August 13, 2007 as corrected. The motion passed.
4. Reports
A. Financial
Financial statements were provided in the agenda packet. Mr. Ricci anticipates a deficit of $16,002 for FY07. John Porter asked for an update on how the Consolidated Federal Grant overspending will be handled.
B. Principal’s Report
Principal Hodsden reviewed activities the teachers have been involved in during their recent in-service days. A Spaghetti Dinner to welcome freshman students and their families will be held on
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Tuesday, August 28th, and all students begin the school year on Wednesday, August 29th. The fall sports schedule is available.
The Chair asked the administration for information about imbedded credits he has heard the vocational students may be receiving, and suggested that a report be given to the board on this subject at a future meeting.
John Porter asked about data on AP testing and college boards that he has previously requested. The Guidance Department plan to provide this information as part of their presentation.
C. Student Report
None
D. Status Report on Negotiations
Stephen Fine stated that he is waiting to hear from Ms. Zielinski’s attorney, and believes it will be next week before documents are signed and delivered to the school. Matt Willis read a prepared statement, a copy of which is appended to these minutes, describing the effect of the contract delays on staff morale.
E. Superintendent of Schools
Superintendent Harpster updated the board on activities undertaken by the faculty to improve AYP and identifying students on the cusp. Lesson notebooks have been compiled and teachers are working on posters to be hung in classrooms. Ideas are being generated for finding ways to reward students for improved performance.
E. Tech Center Representatives
Brattleboro – A meeting in Brattleboro is scheduled for September 25th.
Springfield – No report
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F. Committees and Special Projects
(1) Joint meeting of Policy and Instruction and Educational Effectiveness Committees
Minutes of the meeting of August 13th were included in the agenda packet. Graduation requirements have been reviewed, and the committee is recommending continuation as currently published. Principal Hodsden noted that as graduation requirements increased, the number of students dropping out decreased, and he attributes this decline in part to the Freshman Academy and other transition efforts now in place. John Porter asked for data to validate these statements, as records he obtained from the state are contradictory. Lengthy discussion ensued. Jack Bryar asked if the school is tracking data to show that the increased requirements have improved college placement. The Chair suggested that these topics be included with the Guidance presentation at the
September 24th meeting.
(2) School and Community Relations Committee
Jan Mitchell-Love was thanked for taking minutes. The group is talking about the type of communication that needs to take place to improve relations between the school and community. The Chair urged faculty and community members to attend these meetings. Board members were encouraged to be more visible in the school.
G. WNESU
The WNESU board met on August 22nd, at which time portions of the Goodrow report were discussed.
5. Unfinished Business:
Jack Bryar asked for an update on the damage that occurred when sprinklers malfunctioned. When school resumed, mold was discovered on some records filed in the Guidance Department. Photos have been submitted to the insurance company and the school has been given the
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name of a water damage recovery company to contact. The remedial work has been approved, and the Guidance Department has been moved into conference rooms in the main office area while the work is being done.
John Porter asked for the information he previously requested on the track. The Chair and Business Manager agreed to work on providing this information. Mr. Porter would also like to see the vote for replacement of carpet.
6. Other Items for Discussion/Action:
A. Approve 2007-2008 Bus Routes
Paul Obuchowski moved to approve the 2007-2008 bus routes as presented. The motion passed on a vote of 6/1.
B. Appointment of Board Member as Voting Representative on the WNESU Board
Margaret Perry nominated Matt Guild to serve as a voting representative on the WNESU board. Their being no further nominations, the Chair directed the Clerk to cast one vote for Matt Guild as the third representative on the WNESU board.
C. Other:
None
7. Communications and Public Comments:
None
8. Other Business:
A. Directors’ Comments
Paul Obuchowski asked if Rockingham’s Municipal Manager was contacted about having a BFUHS representative on the committee being formed to address rising taxes. Superintendent Harpster responded that Mr. Schempf planned to send an invitation to this board. Bill Harmon volunteered to serve on this committee.
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Jack Bryar encouraged community members to attend the School and Community Relations Committee meetings, and suggested they contact him for more information.
John Porter has the state’s latest data on dropout rates.
Stephen Major noted that he is saddened by the anger being shown between the union and board, and would like to see getting the contract signed a goal to which both sides are working toward.
9. Date of Next Scheduled Meeting:
The Chair set the date of the next meeting for September 10, 2007.
10. Executive Session:
Paul Obuchowski moved to go into executive session at 8:30 p.m. for the purpose of discussing three contract matters, a personnel matter, two student matters, and the result of a grievance matter, and invited the administration to attend. The motion passed.
The Chair returned the board to open session at 10:00 p.m.
Stephen Major moved to rescind the prior motion to refuse to pay tuition for a student to attend Leland and Gray High School in the second semester. Paul Obuchowski seconded. The motion passed with one member opposed (Fine) and one abstention (Porter). Stephen Major then moved to table the issue, pending review of information to be provided by the Superintendent of Schools. The motion passed with three abstentions (Fine, Bryar, Porter).
John Porter moved to accept the school choice request of a ninth grade student. Paul Obuchowski seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
Paul Obuchowski moved to authorize the Chair to sign an agreement with Peter Grabowski to reimburse him for benefits that were
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incorrectly withheld in the amount of $505.55. Bill Harmon seconded. The motion passed with one member opposed (Fine).
Stephen Major moved to authorize the Chair to sign a settlement agreement with Kelly Spaulding for payment of back pay in the amount of $7,288.70. Paul Obuchowski seconded. The motion passed with one member opposed (Fine).
Paul Obuchowski moved to approve, and authorize the Chair to sign, a contract for Ashley O’Neal as a Special Education teacher for the 2007-2008 school year. Bill Harmon seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
Paul Obuchowski moved to approve, and authorize the Chair to sign, a contract for Caroline Rios as School Nurse for the 2007-2008 school year. Bill Harmon seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
Paul Obuchowski moved to approve family medical leave for Bette Harrison. Bill Harmon seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
11. Adjournment:
Stephen Fine moved to adjourn at 10:25 p.m. The motion passed unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Margaret Perry, Clerk
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