ROCKINGHAM SCHOOL DISTRICT
School Board Meeting
March 15, 2010
Present: Joseph Brissette, Timothy Doherty, Michael Empey, Richard Kane, James McAuliffe
Also Present: Johanna Harpster, Chris Kibbe, Sharon Reynolds, Andrea Allbee, Cheryl McDaniel-Thomas, David Lesser, Bruce Downer, Rick Schuhmann, FACT-TV
MINUTES
Chairman Empey called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM.
Pledge of Allegiance: Tim Doherty led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Adjustments to the Agenda: Superintendent Harpster called for an executive session at the beginning of the meeting for a personnel matter and a matter with Stephen Fine, Chair of the WNESU Board.
Review and Approve Minutes of March 3, 2010 (Enclosed): Joe moved to approve the Minutes of March 3, 2010 as printed; Jim seconded and the motion carried.
Executive Session: Joe moved to enter executive session at 7:02 PM for two items: A personnel matter and a meeting with Stephen Fine, Chair, WNESU Board. Jim seconded and the motion carried. The Chair returned the meeting to open session at 7:59 PM with no action taken.
Visitors:
Bill Stevens – Memo of Understanding with Parks Place (Enclosed): Jim asked why the agreement, which has not been executed, is between the Rockingham Area Community Land Trust, Inc., Southeastern Vermont Community Action, Inc., and the Rockingham School Board, instead of between Parks Place and the Rockingham School Board. Bill Stevens stated that the Agreement needs to be re-drafted and that Parks Place is willing to pay 50 percent of this year’s snow plowing cost and take it over completely effective April 1st, releasing the Rockingham School Board from further responsibility. The Board agreed to this, and Johanna will draft a new agreement with input from Parks Place.
Communications – Chair: None.
8. Committee and Other Projects:
Bellows Falls Middle School Renovation Committee (2/10/10 Minutes enclosed): Tim said the Committee met last week and formed a subcommittee to review the proposals. Tim thanked the voters for the additional funds to support the renovation.
Reports:
Financial: Andrea instructed the Board to discard the summary sheet they received in the mail, and she distributed a memo about tuition and a memo about cash flow. Andrea has made a substantial payment on the $1,000,000 loan, and Jim asked that the Board be consulted before future loan payments are made. Andrea then discussed the three-percent tuition reimbursement. Jim moved to recapture the variance between the charged tuition and the allowable tuition for 2009 from Westminster, Athens and Grafton. Tim seconded and the motion carried.
Andrea said the final version of the audit should be here by the end of this week. She will send it to the Board electronically with hard copy to Jim. Andrea discussed the surplus in the General Fund and said expenses need to be encumbered. She responded to some of Jim’s questions and will research others. Jim reminded the Principals to be diligent with spending. Chris mentioned filling the oil tanks by yearend and will ask for a recommendation from the Maintenance staff.
Superintendent of Schools: Johanna and Jack Bryar attended a hearing in Montpelier on S220 School Consolidation, at which she testified. The discussion is ongoing. The Commissioner will be here for the WNESU April meeting, and the public is welcome.
Principals (Enclosed): Cheryl said the Middle School is performing Oliver Twist on Thursday and Friday, March 25th and 26th at 7 PM. The public is invited.
David said it’s time for SRES to apply for the Safe Routes to School Grant, and the Board gave their approval for him to proceed.
WNESU: The re-organizational meeting of the WNESU Board will be held Wednesday, March 24, 2010. All are welcome to attend.
Unfinished Business:
Memo of Understanding between Rockingham Area Community Land Trust, Inc., Southeastern Vermont Community Action, Inc., and the Rockingham School Board: Above.
Heating at Central Elementary School: Rick Schuhmann has been working with Control Technologies, and they say there needs to be a secondary heat source. Rick will report back to the Board in one and a half to two months. Saxtons River Elementary’s heat issue still needs to be addressed also.
New Business:
Bellows Falls Middle School’s Athletic Director/Conflict of Interest: Mike explained that we need a conflict of interest policy when, for example, the Athletic Director hires himself as an official for a Middle School event. Cheryl contacted eight other middle schools and learned that seven of them do pay their Athletic Director extra for acting as an official. Mike thinks that is fine as long as the AD makes the effort to hire someone else and notifies the Principal that he has done so. Cheryl will develop a job description for the Athletic Director over the summer. The Policy Committee will meet at 6 PM on April 5th before the next School Board meeting to work on a conflict of interest policy and other policy issues.
Discuss Setting a Date for Rockingham Board of School Directors and Staff Goal Setting: The second Saturday of June is tentative and will be firmed up at the next meeting.
Discuss Creating a School Directory: Mike would like this to list staff back-ground/education. The Principals and Superintendent will poll their staffs to see if they are willing to disclose this information, and will respond to the Board at the April 5th meeting.
Discuss Staff Contract Data: Chris handed out staff information which is also made available to parents, and therefore public information.
Reappoint Teaching Staff for 2010-2011 (Rosters Enclosed): Joe moved to reappoint the teaching staff for 2010-2011 for the three schools with the enclosed rosters as corrected; Tim seconded and the motion carried.
Other: Jim spoke about a memo from Chris Kibbe on Early Ed and the Rockingham allocation.
Appointments and/or Resignations:
Retirements Effective 6/30/10:
Mary Ann McDonald (Enclosed)
Catherine Siano (Enclosed)
Tim moved to accept the enclosed resignations with thanks and appreciation. Jim seconded and the motion carried.
Warrant Discussion: Joe asked Andrea to give her staff a heads up if she is not going to be in the office to answer questions when he is there to sign warrants. Andrea responded that her staff has her cell phone number.
Action List Review: In the interest of time, Mike will send this electronically tomorrow. Sharon handed out her report for Board review and discussion at the next meeting.
Directors’ Comments: Joe thanked everyone who came to the High School production of Oklahoma! and is looking forward to the Middle School’s performance next week.
Jim asked for NECAP results.
Tim thanked the voters for approving the budget and the BFMS renovation article. Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
Mike congratulated Central on their fundraising efforts for Haiti.
The next regular meeting will be Monday, April 5, 2010 at 7 PM at Saxtons River Elementary School, with Policy Committee at 6 PM.
Executive Session: Joe moved to go into executive session for three personnel matters at 9:57 PM. Tim seconded and the motion carried. The Board came out of executive session at 10:40 PM. Joe Brissette moved and Jim McAuliffe seconded to support the Administration's position regarding a teacher's non-renewal appeal. The motion passed unanimously.
Adjournment: There being no further business to come before the School Board, the meeting adjourned at 10:43 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Joseph Brissette, Clerk
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