BELLOWS FALLS UNION HIGH SCHOOL
School Board Meeting
June 25, 2007
Present: Jack Bryar, Russell Capron, David Clark, Stephen L. Fine, Paul Obuchowski, John Porter, Stephen Major (during executive session)
Also Present: Johanna Harpster, Catherine Davignon, Michael Ricci, Kathleen Callahan, Christopher Hodsden, Priscilla Lambert, FACT-TV, Eagle Times
1. Call to Order:
The Chair, David Clark, called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
2. Adjustments to the Agenda:
A contract matter and a student records matter will be added to executive session. Item 3(A), Negotiations, will be moved to open session. Buildings & Grounds will be added to Reports, Committees & Special Projects.
3. Executive Session:
A. Negotiations
Jack Bryar moved that the board table consideration of the proposed Collective Bargaining Agreement, and direct its Negotiations Representative to continue to negotiate with the union the terms of a side letter agreement that overturns the arbitration decision of Michael Ryan of June 2006 and confirms the discharge of Cathy Zielinski for violation of the board’s Drug and Alcohol Policy. The motion passed on a vote of 4 (Capron, Bryar, Fine, Porter) to 1 (Obuchowski).
4. Consent Items:
A. Review and Approve Minutes of June 11, 2007
There being no objection, the Chair declared the minutes of June 11, 2007 accepted as presented.
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5. Reports:
A. Financial Report
A year-end surplus of $36,078 is projected. Jack Bryar asked the Business Manager to find a way to note budgeted line items that have been adjusted by a board vote.
B. Principal’s Report
Graduation was held on June 14th, and Principal Hodsden felt the evening went well for those involved.
Summer school has begun. Twenty-one (21) 8th grade students were recommended for English and Math classes. Six (6) of those students have enrolled in the summer program, along with three (3) students who are attending on recommendation of their parents.
John Porter asked for information regarding SAT and AP testing that took place during the 2006-2007 school year. He would like to know how many tests were paid for by the school and how many students took the tests.
In response to Mr. Porter’s concern about the purchase of propane in December, 2006, Mr. Hodsden reported that this fuel supplies the stoves used in Home Economics classes.
No changes in security measures in the area where buses are parked have occurred.
C. Student Report
No report
D. Superintendent of Schools
(1) Inservice Report
Superintendent Harpster reviewed the content and ideas that came forth during the recent faculty in-service days on June 14 and 15. There will be additional summer work, assembling notebooks for teachers to have for fall
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instruction, as well as discussion around specific reading guidelines for the first six weeks of school.
John Porter asked what AYP looks like for this year, and after school begins in the fall, would like a report on the revised Math curriculum that John Broadley discussed with the board prior to attending a recent workshop in Atlanta.
E. WNESU
Jack Bryar and John Porter were appointed to serve as BFUHS representatives at the WNESU meeting on June, in the absence of Paul Obuchowski and the vacant position created by Susan Hernon’s resignation.
F. Technical Center Representatives
Brattleboro - no report
Springfield - the board plans to meet this week to identify at-large representation, and work continues around governance. A Business Manager has been hired.
G. Committees and Special Projects
(1) Faculty Representation on School and Community Relations Committee
The committee’s next meeting will be held on Saturday, June 30th, at the Golden Egg Restaurant in Saxtons River, beginning at 8:30 a.m. The Chair invited Priscilla Lambert to participate and encouraged her to get word out to other faculty members who may be interested in attending.
H. Buildings & Grounds
Principal Hodsden was asked if he had any Building & Ground priority issues that he would like to see taken care of, in light of the proposed year end surplus. Replacing a tractor ($21,000), replacing light covers ($8,000), and driveway ditch repair were noted as priorities. Jack Bryar moved to authorize the Chair, in consultation with the administration, to spend up to $36,000 from
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2006-2007 funds on maintenance projects that appear to be of highest priority. The motion passed.
6. Unfinished Business:
None
7. Other Items for Discussion/Action:
A. School Board Bulletin Board and Web Presence
Jack Bryar plans to circulate a memo on why he feels it is important to have 3rd party web presence instead of e-mail between board members. This topic will be placed on a future agenda when Wes Vaughn is able to attend.
B. Award Revenue Anticipation Bid
Jack Bryar suggested broadening the search next year for lending institutions. John Porter moved to accept the recommendation of the Business Manager, and to accept TD Banknorth’s proposal to the Bellows Falls Union High School for a Revenue Anticipation Loan in an amount not to exceed $500,000 under terms and conditions of Jean M. Kelly’s letter dated June 16, 2007, including the execution of a Resolution and Tax Certificate. The motion passed.
D. Adopt Flexible Spending Plan Resolutions and Changes
Paul Obuchowski moved to adopt, and authorize the Chair to sign, a resolution modifying the school’s Flexible Spending Account Plan and an Adopting Resolution as outlined in the agenda packet. The motion passed.
E. Climate Survey Report
Staff, parents, and students have been invited to participate in a climate survey as requested by former board member Marc Caron. Preliminary results are available and the matter will be placed on a future agenda for discussion. If there are morale issues that need to be looked at, Mr. Bryar does not feel this survey addresses those issues. If this survey does not meet the intent of the request,
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Superintendent Harpster would like additional time to gain a clearer understanding of what is being requested.
F. Other
None
8. Communications and Public Comments:
None
9. Other Business:
A. Directors’ Comments
After spending a great deal of time with this year’s senior class through Project Graduation, float building, graduation, and the Alumni Parade, Paul Obuchowski publicly thanked the class for their outstanding behavior. Mr. Obuchowski also thanked Cathie Davignon for her years of service to this district.
John Porter would like to address the use of a BFUHS bus by other schools without a formal agreement for sharing of expenses.
Jack Bryar commented on the quality of speeches given by members of the senior class at graduation.
Jack Bryar moved that this board commend Mary Westbrook and the BFUHS Chorus and Band, in writing, for their recent performances and competition success in Hershey, Pennsylvania. The motion passed.
David Clark observed that $7,500 scholarships were awarded to students pursuing fine arts at Brattleboro’s recent graduation ceremony.
10. Date of Next Scheduled Meeting:
The Chair set the date of the next meeting for July 9, 2007.
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11. Executive Session:
Russ Capron moved to go into executive session at 8:32 p.m. to discuss legal matters, contract matters, and a student records matter, and invited the administration to attend. The motion passed.
The Chair returned the board to open session at 9:15 p.m.
There being no objection, the Chair declared that the board approves, and authorizes the Chair to sign, the following:
· A contract with Ashley O’Neal to serve as Special Education Intensive Teacher for the 2007-2008 school year;
· A contract with Kim Keefe to serve as Administrative Assistant for the 2007-2008 school year, and authorizes the administration to negotiate her salary based on a final determination relating to job experience;
· A contract with Matthew Burke to serve as Instrumental Music Teacher for the 2007-2008 school year;
· A contract with Karlene Lichvarcik to serve as English teacher for the 2007-2008 school year;
· A contract with Susan Aldridge to serve as .67 Art Teacher for the 2007-2008 school year; and
· A contract with Jennifer Cohun to serve as English teacher for the 2007-2008 school year.
There being no objection, the Chair declared that the board accepts, with regret, the following resignations:
· Colleen Grout, as Art teacher; and
· Garry Lohman, as Tech Ed/Industrial Arts teacher.
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It was moved to authorize the Superintendent to proceed with creating a Memorandum of Agreement between the Board and Joan Matus which will pay her $10,000 per year for a three year period, and provide for a one-person health insurance plan for 18 months. John Porter moved to amend the motion to include a three-year stipend program for Don Astley, also at $10,000 per year. The amendment passed on a vote of 4 (Capron, Major, Porter, Obuchowski) to 2 (Bryar, Fine). The motion, as amended, passed on a 4 (Capron, Major, Porter, Obuchowski) to 2 (Fine, Bryar).
12. Adjournment:
There being no further business to come before the meeting and no objection, the Chair declared the meeting adjourned at 9:20 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Margaret Perry,
Clerk
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