BELLOWS FALLS UNION HIGH SCHOOL
School Board Meeting
July 23, 2007
Present: Russell Capron, Margaret Perry, William Harmon, Jack Bryar, Stephen L. Fine, David Clark, John Porter, Stephen Major, Paul Obuchowski
Also Present: Johanna Harpster, Christopher Kibbe, Christopher Hodsden, Kathleen Callahan, Priscilla Lambert, Susan Bourne, 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 Agenda:
Appointment of Title 1 staff and Fall Sports coaches will be added to the Principal’s Report. The Chair replaced Item 10(A), Negotiations/Contingency Planning, with the Zielinski legal matter.
3. Consent Items:
A. Review and Approve Minutes of July 9, 2007
Paul Obuchowski moved to approve the minutes of July 9, 2007 as presented. Russ Capron seconded. John Porter does not think he withdrew his motion under Item 7(D), but other board members believed he did. The motion passed on a vote of 7 in favor and 1 abstention (Porter).
4. Reports:
A. Principal
On July 12th a sprinkler head over the computer and guidance areas activated and ran for about 20 minutes before the Fire Department was able to shut it off. The flooding affected carpeting, insulation, and ceiling tiles, and it is uncertain whether any electrical equipment was damaged. Board members are concerned that an insurance adjuster did not examine the damage before the staff began working on the cleanup.
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A local student attending Vermont Academy has requested permission to join BFUHS’ Field Hockey team. The Chair moved discussion of the request to executive session.
Principal Hodsden asked the board to take action on appointing Title 1 teachers and Fall Sports coaches. The Chair moved discussion of these contracts to executive session.
B. Student
No report
C. Superintendent of Schools
No report
D. WNESU
The WNESU board met briefly this evening to approve contracts. The July 25th business meeting has been cancelled.
E. Technical Center Representatives
Brattleboro – no report
Springfield – A board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday.
F. Committees and Special Projects
(1) Administration, Planning & Budget (formerly Policy) – Stephen Fine reported that the Policy Committee will finish reviewing the policy manual at its next meeting, and the book will then be brought before the board for review and adoption.
Paul Obuchowski again asked the Chair for clarification of committee responsibilities, committee members, and chairs of committees. Lengthy discussion ensued about confusion surrounding the committee structure proposed by Jack Bryar. The Chair asked Mr. Bryar to send another memo to board members identifying the new committees and their responsibilities.
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Stephen Major asked how graduation requirements will be addressed if the new policy manual is adopted. The Chair set the date of August 13, 2007 for a joint meeting of Educational and Policy Committee members, beginning at 6:00 p.m., at which time graduation requirements can be discussed.
John Porter asked about the status of the Resource Officer Committee, and for an update from the Chair regarding the $36,000 he was authorized to spend at a previous meeting on building and grounds needs.
Stephen Fine was asked whether the Negotiations Committee has been meeting. All other boards have voted to ratify the Collective Bargaining Agreement, and since Mr. Fine is the sole BFUHS representative and the one issue left involves only the high school, there has been no reason for the committee to meet. Mr. Porter asked if the labor dispute involving the high school could result in the closing of other schools in the district. As the other boards have already voted to ratify the Collective Bargaining Agreement and their teachers have received retroactive pay, Mr. Fine does not believe any school can legally strike other than the high school.
During discussion of reorganizing the School Resource Officer Committee, Mr. Bryar stated that the SRO position falls under the safety of the building, and therefore believes it falls under the Administration, Planning & Budget Committee. Margaret Perry suggested that the board return to its former committee structure until such time as there is a new structure to take its place.
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(2) Community Relations
The Community Relations Committee held its second meeting last Saturday. Community members and teachers attended. An invitational letter is being drafted for distribution to the community at large.
5. Unfinished Business:
John Porter asked the administration to comply with the board’s request for availability of financial reports at the 2nd meeting of each month.
6. Other Items for Discussion/Action:
A. Disposal of School Property
Principal Hodsden reviewed Garry Lohman’s letter received in October, 2006 requesting that six items of machinery that he does not believe have any remaining value for the shop program be disposed of. As there is no policy in place for the disposal of property, Principal Hodsden suggested that the board take action on Mr. Lohman’s request and for future needs, the Policy Committee undertake a review of a template on the disposal of property. It was reported that an area resident has expressed an interest in purchasing the six items listed in Mr. Lohman’s letter for $100. John Porter moved that the six pieces of equipment in question be sold to the interested party for $100, with the stipulation that these items be removed from the high school property immediately.
Bill Harmon feels the items need to be put out to bid before selling, and recommended that counsel draft a hold harmless letter to be signed by any purchaser. The motion failed on a vote of 1/6, with 1 abstention. Principal Hodsden will notify the interested individual of the board’s decision and ask Garry Lohman and Don Astley to attend a board meeting to discuss the matter further.
B. Update on Negotiations
Moved to executive session
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C. Other
None
7. Communications and Public Comments:
None
8. Other Business:
A. Directors’ Comments
Russ Capron asked the administration for an update on staff members who signed contracts for the 2007-2008 school year, but at the time did not have proper certification.
Bill Harmon asked the Chair for information on committee structures.
Margaret Perry repeated her feeling that it would be best for the board to return to the historic committee structure until something else is in place.
Jack Bryar noted that the Grafton Selectboard is trying to revive the issue of the way the state deals with changes in student counts and changes in assessment valuations of large institutional properties.
When school begins in the fall, Paul Obuchowski would like to see a student representative begin attending board meetings, as they often have valuable input to share with the board.
Stephen Major commented on recent newspaper articles about tax rates in Rockingham and Westminster. He feels the information, as presented, was somewhat confusing and deceptive.
The Chair plans to have a Building & Grounds Committee meeting scheduled prior to the board’s next business meeting.
9. Date of Next Scheduled Meeting:
The Chair set the date of the next meeting for August 13, 2007.
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10. Executive Session:
Jack Bryar moved to go into executive session at 8:05 p.m. for the purpose of discussing Title 1 and Fall Sports contracts, a student record, Negotiations, and the Zielinski legal matter, and invited the administration to attend. Margaret Perry seconded. The motion passed.
The Chair returned the board to open session at 9:02 p.m.
Paul Obuchowski moved to approve, and authorize the Chair to sign, the following Fall Sports contracts for the 2007-2008 school year:
Football: Robert Lockerby, Head Coach
Ryan Stoodley, Assistant Coach
John Shaw, JV Coach
Field Hockey: Bethany Coursen, Coach
Kimberly Wilkinson, JV Coach
Melanie LaRoss, JV Coach
Girls’ Soccer: John Broadley, Coach
Ashley O’Neal, JV Coach
Boys’ Soccer: Lawrence Slason, Coach
Cross Country: Timothy Eno, Coach
Bill Harmon seconded. The motion passed on a vote of 7/1.
Paul Obuchowski moved to approve, and authorize the Chair to sign, contracts for Gail Christmas and Kelly Spaulding as Title I teachers for the 2007-2008 school year. Bill Harmon seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
John Porter moved to enter into a member-to-member agreement with Vermont Academy to allow a student to participate in Field Hockey. The motion failed on a vote of 1/6, and 1 abstention.
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11. Adjournment:
Paul Obuchowski moved to adjourn at 9:05 p.m. The motion passed unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Margaret Perry,
Clerk
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