ROCKINGHAM SCHOOL DISTRICT
School Board Meeting
April 5, 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, FACT-TV
MINUTES
Chairman Empey called the meeting to order at 7:15 PM.
Pledge of Allegiance: Tim Doherty led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Adjustments to the Agenda: Johanna said that the Parks Place agreement item with Bill Stevens is postponed, and 11c. Official Pay will be moved to 9a.Unfinished Business. Cheryl said visitor Tim Eno is not here this evening. Johanna will have two personnel matters under Executive Session 16a, and Jim added 16b. Contract Matter. Mike would like a Board discussion of negotiations, which may be the same thing.
Review and Approve Minutes of March 15, 2010: Jim moved to approve the Minutes of March 15, 2010 as printed; Rick seconded and the motion carried.
Visitors:
Mary Lou Smith and David Groenewold. David is here to advocate for a second baseball coaching position, and Mike said that would be taken up under Appointments and Resignations.
Communications – Chair. None.
7. Committee and Other Projects:
Bellows Falls Middle School Renovation Committee (3/25/10 Minutes Enclosed): Tim reported that the Committee has selected a firm and is checking its references. They will ask for the Board’s approval of their selection at the next meeting and meanwhile, are working on the contract. Thank you to the volunteer Selection Committee for their efforts.
Policy Committee: Jim reported that they met earlier this evening and discussed three policies. The first, on wellness, was tabled for the time being. The second was the Harassment Policy, which is an existing policy, and it was changed to include “gender identity”. Jim made a motion to move the Harassment Policy for first reading. Joe seconded and the motion carried.
The third was Conflict of Interest, and it was agreed to have Admin spend a couple more weeks on it, discuss it at the next meeting and decide whether to move it forward. This will be on the April 19th agenda as a discussion item.
8. Reports:
Superintendent of Schools: Johanna attended a VSA meeting in placeStateBerlin at which they discussed the Challenges for Change document. The Board is invited to Montpelier tomorrow. The Commissioner was there and stated that the legislature is not interested in going to a smaller number of districts and/or reducing the number of school boards, but is looking for ways to cut money from school budgets. Johanna reported on the recommendations that were presented; more information will follow.
Director of Student Support Services – Special Education Report (Enclosed): Sharon presented her report at the last WNESU meeting, and this Board has received and read it. Jim asked Sharon for a schedule of Special Ed presentations.
Principals: David said Saxtons River Elementary’s spring concert is next Thursday at the High School. Next week is Turn Off the TV Week, and there will be special activities.
Cheryl said 21C sessions have started up again, serving 25-30% of the population. One boiler at BFMS is cracked and they are operating on the second one. Tim brought up grants received in Putney, placeCityChester and other districts (a similar one received in Rockingham would have taken care of a new boiler) and there was discussion. The BFMS spring concert is April 14th.
Bruce said Central’s spring concert is this Thursday at the High School. CES is also participating in Turn Off the TV.
Unfinished Business:
Official Pay: Andrea reported on the W2/1099 issue and, having checked with other districts, how her office has decided to handle it. Jim is adamant about not paying overtime, and stated there should be no changes to the books without Board approval. Rick told Andrea to submit a request for a determination to the Vermont Department of Labor and the IRS. Mike asked the three representatives to the SU Board to discuss it at that level. Jim moved to reverse the accounting procedure that is in effect for paying officials and to seek a ruling on how to handle these matters. Joe seconded for discussion. The motion was amended to make the reversal retroactive to when the new accounting procedure began. Jim and Rick voted “yes”; the motion failed.
District Directory: Cheryl said the main concern among staff was publishing town of residence and a smaller concern about listing educational institutions. David said his staff was supportive in general but has questions, and Bruce agreed that more clarification is needed. The Board’s intention is to publish this information on the website. Tim moved that the three Principals come up with a format and bring it back to the Board in a month.
10. New Business:
Board Retreat Date: It is scheduled for Saturday, June 12, 2010 at the SU conference room from 9 AM to 1 PM, with a breakfast potluck. Admin and the public are welcome.
Appointments and/or Resignations:
Staff: Jim moved and Tim seconded to extend a 1.0 elementary school position to Judy Durand; the motion carried.
Additional Coaching Staff: Cheryl said the Middle School needs an assistant baseball coach at a cost of $600-700, and an assistant track and field coach at about $625. Tim moved to create two additional coaching positions from within the budget; Rick seconded and the motion carried.
Warrant Discussion: Joe stated that everything is fine with the signing of the warrants.
Action List Review: Mike reviewed the action list and will e-mail it to the Board. For the April 19th meeting: Mike will draft an affiliations policy, and Mac Jones will be invited for a bus update; FICA line questions will be addressed. For the May 3rd meeting: Chris will schedule a Middle School SAP presentation. At the May 17th meeting heating will be on the agenda.
Directors’ Comments: Tim congratulated everyone at the Middle School – staff and students – on their production of Oliver Twist. It was a class act!
Date and Location of Next Meeting: The next regular meeting will be April 19, 2010 at 7 PM the SU.
Executive Session:
Two Personnel Matters
Contract Matter
Jim moved and Tim seconded to go into Executive Session at 9:07 PM; the motion carried. The Board came out of executive session at 10:50 PM.
Jim moved to support the administration's decision to non-renew a teacher's contract. Joe seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous. The Superintendent was directed to send a letter to that effect. Joe moved to support the administration on the teacher grievance with Jim seconding the motion. The vote was unanimous.
17. Adjournment: There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 10:55 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Joseph Brissette, Clerk
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