BELLOWS FALLS UNION HIGH SCHOOL
School Board Meeting
July 9, 2007
Present: John Porter, David Clark, Stephen L. Fine, Matthew Guild, William Harmon, Jack Bryar, Paul Obuchowski, Russell Capron, Margaret Perry, Stephen Major
Also Present: Johanna Harpster, Christopher Hodsden, Ryan Parkman, Kathleen Callahan, several members of the WNE Education Association, Susan Bourne, 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:
Item 6(D), SAT Reports, will be postponed until AP scores are available.
Collective Bargaining Agreement will be added to Item 10, Executive Session.
Communications and Public Comments will follow Item 2.
The Chair introduced and welcomed to the board Rockingham’s newest representatives, Matt Guild and Bill Harmon.
3. Communications & Public Comments:
Kathy Miller, speaking on behalf of members of the WNE Education Association, asked the board to reconsider their decision to table consideration of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Members of the association met earlier today and by a unanimous vote, have decided to hold a strike vote on August 28th if the Agreement has not been ratified.
4. Consent Items:
A. Review and Approve Minutes of June 25, 2007
Paul Obuchowski moved to approve the minutes of June 25, 2007 as presented. John Porter seconded. It was requested that the minutes reflect that the Chair ruled a motion to table the motion on Page 6 out of order. The motion passed.
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5. Reports:
A. Principal’s Report
(1) Staffing Recommendation
Agenda packets included Principal Hodsden’s staffing recommendations regarding a .25 FTE position for an AP English teacher. This person will also mentor two other teachers in preparation for their teaching AP English in subsequent years.
B. Student Report
None
C. Superintendent of Schools
Members of the staff and administration leave tomorrow for a High Schools That Work Conference.
D. WNESU
(1) Special Education Report – Recommendations
As a part of federal compliance monitoring regulations, Troy McAllister of the Department of Education’s Special Education Monitoring Team, recently presented the WNESU board with the results of the team’s monitoring that occurred in 2006. At that meeting, Superintendent Harpster noted that the administrative team plans to focus on consistency in IEPs and looking at regular education practices throughout the supervisory union that will allow the schools to keep students in those programs, instead of coding them for Special Education classes. Several board members offered their thoughts as a result of reading the report. John Porter moved that board direct its administration to examine the high school’s Special Education program using the 12 cost drivers
included in the Department of Education’s report on High Spending Special Education Supervisory Unions, and include a report of their findings in the board’s agenda packet for the first meeting in August; that the findings be arranged
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in a hierarchy with the largest reason for the school’s exorbitant SPED cost being identified as #1 and the cost driver with the least effect on the school to be identified as #12; the report to provide the number of students affected by each driver and the impact on AYP; with adequate time being provided at that meeting for executive session discussion under “student matters” for any sensitive areas. Superintendent Harpster noted that the order of prioritization has been completed, but the remainder of the assignment being completed by the first August meeting is impractical, given summer vacation schedules. Jack Bryar amended Mr. Porter’s motion to include that Special Education Consultant Troy McAllister be invited to advise the
administration and Budget Committee on the education component of the 2008-2009 budget. Following discussion, it was concluded that Mr. Bryar’s amendment was a substitution, not an amendment. Mr. Bryar withdrew his amendment. Superintendent Harpster noted that if the motion passes, other than prioritization, the remainder of information will not be available for board review until September. The motion failed on a vote of 2 (Porter, Capron) to 5 (Perry, Bryar, Fine, Obuchowski, Major), with 2 abstentions (Guild, Harmon).
Jack Bryar moved that Special Education Consultant Troy McAllister be invited to advise the administration and Budget Committee on the education component of the 2008-2009 budget. The motion passed on a vote of 8 (Capron, Guild, Harmon, Perry, Bryar, Fine, Obuchowski, Major) to 1 (Porter).
(2) Oil Purchase/Consolidation of Services
In light of the recent Supervisory Union Board vote to negotiate trash disposal and the purchase of fuel oil for the
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district and its schools; Jack Bryar asked if there is support by the board to encourage the Supervisory Union to continue to identify other areas where consolidation of services and purchases will be beneficial. The Chair recommended that board members get back to members of the administration or board leadership if they are interested in having this topic on a future agenda.
E. Technical Center Representatives
Brattleboro – no report
Springfield – At the recent RVTC board meetings, two new at-large members were appointed and two members have been reappointed. One of the new at-large members is former BFUHS board member Leslie Goldman.
F. Committees & Special Projects
(1) School and Community Relations Committee
There was minimal attendance at the last meeting, and plans are being made to advertise so there will hopefully be better attendance at future meetings. The Chair noted that the committee would like to have faculty representation. The next meeting is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on July 21st at the Golden Egg Restaurant in Saxtons River.
The Chair was asked to re-distribute a list of committee structures and members.
6. Unfinished Business:
John Porter would like the SRO position to be discussed at a future meeting. Stephen Major noted that the committee’s work was not finished last year, and the committee was not carried forward after reorganization of the board in March.
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7. Other Business:
A. Discuss Results of the Bernhardt Survey
Principal Hodsden requested that this matter be moved to Unfinished Business at next meeting.
B. Disposal of School Property
Tabled to next meeting
D. Update on Busing
The Business Manager has reflected the history of shared transportation costs in a memorandum to the board dated July 5, 2007. Superintendent Harpster suggested that Mr. Ricci, Transportation Director Mac Jones, and Dr. Callahan schedule a meeting to discuss Special Education transportation needs. John Porter moved that BFUHS buses only provide Special Education transportation for BFUHS students. The motion failed on a vote of 2 (Capron, Porter) to 7 (Obuchowski, Major, Guild, Harmon, Perry, Bryar, Fine). John Porter moved that the board direct its administration to request an audit of its Special Education transportation by the State of Vermont. The motion failed on a vote of 2 (Capron, Porter) to 7 (Obuchowski, Major, Harmon, Guild, Perry, Bryar, Fine). Jack
Bryar moved that the matter of Special Education transportation and cost allocation be referred to the Supervisory Union for advice on a process to resolve transportation issues between member districts in the Supervisory Union. Steve Fine noted that the request can be referred to the Supervisory Union board, but will not bind that board to take action. Superintendent Harpster suggested the formation of an ad-hoc committee that crosses board lines be formed to address transportation issues. Mr. Porter withdrew his motion.
E. Other
None
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8. Other Business:
A. Directors’ Comments
Jack Bryar thanked members of the faculty who stayed throughout the entire meeting.
John Porter suggested that the transportation costs be reviewed during the upcoming budget season, and expressed his opinion that, while the community has always been generous towards education, the board has not reciprocated this goodness in the way it has spent the community’s money.
Stephen Major welcomed Rockingham’s new representatives.
9. Date of Next Scheduled Meeting:
The Chair set the date of the next meeting for July 23, 2007.
10. Executive Session:
Jack Bryar moved to go into executive session at 8:45 p.m. for the purpose of discussing a student matter, contract matters, and the Collective Bargaining Agreement, invited the parent of the student involved and the administration to attend.
The Chair returned the board to open session at 9:41 p.m.
Paul Obuchowski moved to approve, and authorize the Chair to sign, a contract with Eric Bone as .25 FTE AP English teacher for the second semester of the 2007-2008 school year, as well as six additional days at the full per diem rate. The motion passed.
Stephen Major moved to approve the placement of Kim Keefe on Step 1 of the Support Staff Collective Bargaining Agreement for the 2007-2008 school year. The motion passed.
Paul Obuchowski moved to approve a student request for school choice for the 2007-2008 school year. The motion passed.
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11. Adjournment:
There being no further business to come before the meeting and no objection, the Chair declared the meeting adjourned at 9:43 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Margaret Perry,
Clerk
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