BELLOWS FALLS UNION HIGH SCHOOL
School Board Meeting
September 24, 2007
Present: Jack Bryar, David Clark, Stephen L. Fine, Matthew Guild, William Harmon, Stephen Major, Paul Obuchowski, Margaret Perry, John Porter
Also Present: Johanna Harpster, Christopher Kibbe, Michael Ricci, Kathleen Callahan, Christopher Hodsden, Ryan Parkman, Caroline Kirkpatrick, Chelsea Berry, BFUHS faculty, FACT-TV, Eagle Times
1. Call to Order:
The Chair, David Clark, called the meeting to order at 7:58 p.m.
2. Adjustments to the Agenda:
High Schools That Work and A/P Results reports will be tabled to the next meeting. Stephen Fine noted there was no reason to discuss negotiations in executive session this evening.
3. Consent Items:
A. Review and Approve Minutes:
Stephen Major moved to approve the minutes of September 10, 2007 as presented. John Porter moved to clarify his comment on Page 6 regarding the Consolidated Federal Grant Homework Lab contracts, by indicating that the contracts were between the teachers and the Supervisory Union. Discussion ensued, and Mr. Porter also questioned whether it was the Chair or the Superintendent who was authorized to sign the contracts. Mr. Porter’s motion to correct the minutes failed, and Mr. Major’s motion to approve the minutes as presented passed with one member opposing.
4. Communications & Public Comments:
David Collins, parent of a Compass School student, inquired about the transportation policy for Compass students attending River Valley
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Technical Center. Superintendent Harpster referred the board to the Transportation Committee minutes of September 6th, at which the committee addressed this issue. It has been recommended that a fee schedule be developed for these students and the offer be made in the form of a written agreement with Compass School.
5. Reports:
A. Financial Report
Board members received a financial report as of September 19, 2007. Jack Bryar moved to accept the financial report as presented. The motion passed. Michael Ricci was asked to prepare a memorandum regarding due dates of payouts for grievance matters, financial incentives included in the collective bargaining agreement, etc.
Paul Obuchowski noted that the Budget Committee adopted a motion to limit the budget to the block grant multiplied by the Oct. 1 count.
B. Principal’s Report
For the second year in a row, the varsity boy’s soccer team received the Josh Cole Soccer Tournament Award.
BFUHS Open House is scheduled for Thursday evening, September 27th. Board members were encouraged to attend.
Principal Hodsden updated the board on NECAP preparations. If the school makes AYP this year, it will be off technical assistance. Testing dates are October 9, 11, and 15; students not taking the test will begin their school day two hours later than usual on those dates. Snacks, busing for the normal day as well as the delayed schedule, and a financial incentive for juniors towards their prom expenses, will cost about $5,300. The faculty and administration is working together to find donations and places in the budget to cover these expenses.
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John Porter again asked for a list of staff members, reconciled to the budget. Discussion ensued regarding requests of individual board members, and the Chair suggested that the topic be warned as an action item at the next meeting for board vote to establish policy on requests for information needing the support of the board. John Porter moved that the administration provide a reconciliation
between the number of staff budgeted in the 2007-2008 budget and the number of staffing positions actually filled, and funding for those positions. Jack Bryar called the question. The motion failed on a vote of 1/7.
C. Superintendent of Schools
(1) Discussions with Department of Education regarding Special Education Expenditures
Board members received notes regarding the creation of a remediation plan to redesign the special education model and reduce costs. Meetings will begin in November, and building principals are being asked to bring short-term cost saving ideas to the first meeting. John Porter moved to authorize the Superintendent to establish a Special Education Remediation Plan Committee and identify its members. The motion passed.
(2) Update on NECAP Preparations
The board received a summary of preparations undertaken by the staff for this year’s NECAP testing.
D. Student Representatives
Student Council members Caroline Kirkpatrick and Chelsea Berry were welcomed, and the Chair encouraged them to provide insight during meetings. The Student Council would like to find a way to renovate the auditorium, replacing chairs and flooring. It has been suggested that funds be raised by inviting the community to purchase chairs, similar to the recent renovation project of the theatre in Bellows Falls. Jack Bryar moved to support, in concept,
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the ideas of the Student Council for updating the auditorium. The motion passed.
E. WNESU
The Chair appointed Bill Harmon to serve as BFUHS representative at the September 26th meeting in the absence of Russ Capron.
F. Technical Center Representatives
The Brattleboro board is scheduled to meet on September 25th, and the Springfield board met last week.
G. Committees and Special Projects
(1) Policy Committee
(A) Policies for Adoption
Stephen Fine moved to adopt Sections A, B, C, and D of the new policy book. The motion passed.
(B) Policies for First Reading
Stephen Fine moved that Section E and Section F (1 – 16) be accepted for first reading and warned for adoption at the next meeting. The motion passed.
(2) School and Community Relations Committee
Minutes of the September 8th meeting were enclosed in the agenda packet.
(3) Transportation Committee
Minutes of the September 6th meeting were enclosed in the agenda packet. John Porter would like to see a tabulation of daily transportation costs.
(4) Instruction and Educational Effectiveness Committee
Minutes of the September 10th meeting were enclosed in the agenda packet.
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6. Unfinished Business:
A. Revised Budget Timeline
A revised budget timeline was enclosed in the agenda packet. The September 25th meeting will be eliminated and the committee’s next meeting will be on October 9th at 7:00 p.m.
B. Track Resurfacing Questions
Paul Obuchowski moved to use $6,292.07 of the Forestry Fund to pay for track resurfacing. The motion passed on a 5/1 vote with 1 abstention.
7. Other Items for Discussion/Action:
A. High School Landscaping & Hadley Field Diamond Update
According to Dick Forbush, a landscaper is ready to begin work on the Hadley Field diamond, and the Chair has authorized the work. Principal Hodsden offered to solicit estimates for contracted landscaping services for the front of the school building. Landscaping was a topic of conversation at the last School and Community Relations Committee meeting. Since other area schools have volunteer assistance with their grounds, it was suggested that word be spread in the community to see if volunteers will be willing to help out.
8. Communications and Public Comments:
Board members were invited to participate in Harvest Walk, a fundraiser for the Vermont Food Bank.
9. Other Business:
A. Directors’ Comments
John Porter suggested that the Chair not sign the CFG contracts.
The Chair apologized for the length of the agenda and said that the next meeting agenda be paired down so that business will be concluded by 9 p.m.
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10. Date of Next Scheduled Meeting:
The Chair set the date of the next meeting for October 8, 2007, beginning at 8:00 p.m.
11. Executive Session:
Paul Obuchowski moved to go into executive session at 9:32 p.m. for the purpose of discussing negotiations and a contract matter, and invited the administration to attend. The motion passed.
The Chair returned the board to open session at 10:15 p.m.
John Porter moved to negotiate the teachers’ contract on behalf of just the high school faculty, thus creating a separate bargaining agreement. Stephen Major moved to table the motion until the next regular business meeting. Mr. Major’s motion passed on a vote of 7 in favor and 1 abstention.
Paul Obuchowski moved to accept, and authorize the Chair to sign, a contract for Terry Drogue as Guidance Coordinator. The motion passed unanimously.
12. Adjournment:
Margaret Perry moved to adjourn at 10:20 p.m. The motion passed unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Margaret Perry,
Clerk
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