ROCKINGHAM SCHOOL DISTRICT
School Board Meeting
October 19, 2009
Present: Joseph Brissette, Timothy Doherty, Michael Empey, Charlie Jarras, James McAuliffe
Also Present: Johanna Harpster, Andrea Allbee, David Lesser, Bruce Downer, Cheryl McDaniel-Thomas, FACT-TV, Brattleboro Reformer
Guests: Representatives Michael Obuchowski and Carolyn Partridge
MINUTES
Charlie Jarras, Chair, called the meeting to order at 7 PM.
Pledge of Allegiance: Led by Tim Doherty.
Review Warrants: The warrants were made available for Board review during the meeting.
Adjustments to the Agenda: Johanna said an executive session will be necessary for a legal matter. Joe added a personnel matter in executive session.
Review and Approve Minutes of October 5, 2009: Jim moved to accept the Minutes as printed; Tim seconded and the motion carried.
Visitors:
Representatives Michael Obuchowski and Carolyn Partridge: Charlie introduced the guests, who had been provided with a list of questions from the Board. Johanna said there are two categories of questions: one is about the Middle School and the possibility of receiving construction money in the future. Both Mike and Carolyn are willing to go to bat for the District on this in Montpelier but could make no promises – they are only two people. The teacher retirement account was discussed. Stimulus money and the parameters of its use for construction were discussed. Johanna asked if there would be a second round of stimulus money, and Mike advised not to budget on that assumption.
Special Education and the high rate in Windham County was brought up by Jim, and both Representatives advised writing a letter to the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Education about the issues, cc’ing Mike and Carolyn. Mike handed out a Vermont Revenue and Budget Picture and reviewed some of the pertinent graphs. Discussion turned to jobs and creating new jobs in new technology in the WNESU area.
The Board and Administration thanked Michael and Carolyn for their time and efforts in coming tonight.
Communications – Chair: Charlie said there is a budget meeting for Central Elementary on October 21st, and it was moved to the SU for seating reasons.
8. Committee and Other Projects:
Budget Committee – Report on 10/14/09 BFMS Budget Meeting: Minutes of 10/1 and 10/5 are in the packet and there was no further discussion.
Article 6 Study Committee: Minutes are enclosed, and Johanna has added Jan Mitchell-Love’s name as being present at the meeting.
Reports:
Superintendent of Schools: Johanna enclosed a Vision Statement Graphic. She testified before the Legislature and talk was about consolidation of districts and reduction of boards and supervisory unions. Her recommendation was to proceed slowly. She reported on a speaker from China she and Russ Capron heard last week.
Principals: The reports are in the packet. It has been a transient beginning in the schools this year. Charlie reported on some upcoming activities at Central Elementary, particularly the Halloween Parade on October 30 with participation of the BFMS band. Mike said the BFMS band got second place in the Firemen’s Parade last week.
WNESU: Unapproved Minutes of 9/23/09 are enclosed.
Unfinished Business:
Bellows Falls Middle School Security: Cheryl reported she is in the final stages of the BFMS security system with motion detectors tied to the police station, and cameras, at a cost not to exceed $5,000.00. Jim moved to approve the installation of a security system at BFMS not to exceed $5,000; Tim seconded and the motion carried.
New Business:
Discuss the Formation of a Finance Committee: Johanna asked if the Board sees a need for a Finance Committee to deal with issues beyond the budget. Jim’s thought is that the SU should have the finance committee. All of this Board is on the Budget Committee, and is comfortable with Jim meeting separately with Andrea and reporting to them.
Bellows Falls Middle School Renovations: The Article 6 Study Committee met tonight and will meet on November 11th at 7 PM. They are looking for professional people to join – lawyers, engineers, bankers, construction experts. Tim moved that the Rockingham Board of School Directors proceed with the process of making renovations to the Bellows Falls Middle School. Mike seconded for discussion and asked that the word “making” be changed to “considering”. Tim amended his motion; Mike seconded the amendment and the motion carried.
Other: Joe reported that the Education Committee met last week and some good ideas came of it. One was the possibility of hiring a grant writer. Another was doing a monthly show on FACT-TV about the Middle School. Sam Maskell will be taking the minutes.
Warrant Discussion: Tim asked why the Brattleboro Reformer bill is so large, and it’s because there is a lot of advertising. Charlie mentioned the lawyers’ bills (we require a lot of legal advice) and Fleming Oil. The audit is moving along and the bills reflect that.
Action List Review: Mike reviewed and updated some due dates. The oil spill and SRES construction came off the list.
Directors’ Comments: Mike praised the High School Boys’ football teams.
Joe said Rockingham Free Public Library is putting on a Halloween Open House at the Masonic Temple on Halloween Day. It is free and there will be snacks at the Library afterward, so please come.
Jim again thanked Mike and Carolyn for their time and effort to attend this meeting. It was a great idea and the Board received some good suggestions to follow up on.
The next meeting in November 2, 2009 at 7 PM and will be at Saxtons River Elementary School.
Executive Session: Jim moved to go into executive session at 8:45 PM for a legal matter and a personnel matter. Joe seconded and the motion carried.
The Board came out of Executive Session at 9:10 PM. Jim moved to authorize payment for up to four hours of work beyond the contract for Tim Eno. Mike seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous.
Adjournment: There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting adjourned at 9:13 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Timothy Doherty, Clerk
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