ROCKINGHAM SCHOOL BOARD
School Board Meeting
December 19, 2011
Present:
Joseph Brissette, Timothy Doherty, Chad Illingworth, James McAuliffe, Willard Metcalfe
Also Present:
Christopher Kibbe, Edie Cole, Sharon Reynolds, Heidi Lucas-Moccia, Bruce Downer, David Lesser, Stephen L. Fine, several faculty members, FACT-TV
1. Call to Order:
The Chair, Joe Brissette, called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
2. Pledge of Allegiance
Led by Tim Doherty
3. Visitors:
A. Technology in the Classroom
Middle School teacher Cristal Farnsworth demonstrated ways that technology is being used by her students. Ms. Farnsworth gave examples of how students use iPods, laptops, and NetBooks to complete their assignments, and demonstrated the benefit of having a whiteboard in class. Students are increasing their skill in areas such as times tables, in a game format, which she feels helps them to learn more quickly than the customary repetitive oral response method.
B. Negotiations
Speaking on behalf of the Windham Northeast Education Association, its Co-President, Erica Moody, read a prepared statement expressing disappointment with the lack of a contract for the staff to work under, and asked the board to support its teachers by quickly settling the contract. Stephen Fine, Negotiating Committee Chairperson, took objection to Ms. Moody’s statement, and responded to many of the allegations. Mr. Fine also noted that by presenting this statement, the union has not complied with the so-called “gag agreement” that was entered into during mediation.
4. Adjustments to Agenda:
The agenda was revised on 12/16/11 to include “Authorize the Chair or Superintendent to Sign Construction Permits on Behalf of the Board” to New Business (Item 11).
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5. Minutes of November 15 and 21, 2011:
Bill Metcalfe moved to approve the minutes of November 15, 2011 and November 21, 2011 as presented, seconded by Chad Illingworth. Jim McAuliffe noted that a correction should be made to the first paragraph in Item 9(A) in the minutes of November 21, 2011; the last sentence should read that they are ‘now ending the design phase of the project’. The motion passed unanimously, with the correction as noted.
6. Policies:
Jim McAuliffe moved to adopt the Policy on the Use of Restraint and Seclusion (F26) as presented, seconded by Bill Metcalfe. The motion passed unanimously.
7. Communications and Public Comments:
None
8. Committees and Other Projects:
A. BFMS Design Team
Minutes of the November 3rd and November 17th meetings were included in the agenda packet.
(1) Update on Construction
Pre-qualification of construction companies is underway, and scheduled to be finished by January 5, 2012. Soon thereafter, the architectural plans should be complete and the construction bidding process will be underway. Also in progress is pre-qualification of electrical and mechanical contractors, and a design is being worked on for the pellet system.
Tim Doherty thanked Louise Luring for her time in giving him and the architects a tour of the Saxtons River Historical Society.
B. Budget Committee
The committee met this evening and has completed a thorough review of the operating budget. Jim McAuliffe noted that unfortunately, for a lot of reasons, there is upward pressure on the budget to maintain programs, but feels that the principals have done an outstanding job of trying to present a budget that is cost-effective as well as educationally effective. The committee is scheduled to meet on January 10th, with the budget being presented to the board for consideration on January 16.
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9. Reports:
A. Superintendent of Schools
Copies of the 2011-2012 Rockingham School District Directory were distributed to board members.
Superintendent Kibbe has reviewed the first draft of Vermont Department of Education’s application for a waiver from the requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act, and believes it represents an ambitious plan for changing the accountability system. If approved, there will be less standardized testing for students and more measures of teacher effectiveness and student achievement.
B. Principals
Principals’ reports were included in the agenda packet. David Lesser added that Saxtons River’s music teacher is shared with Central Elementary (Alisa Allbee-Daigneault), and he thanked Ms. Allbe-Daigneault, Wendy O’Dette, and 5th grade students for their recent music trip around Bellows Falls, where they performed at McGirr Nursing Home and for members of the Women’s Club.
The Middle School students and staff were congratulated for an exceptional musical performance last week.
Bruce Downer thanked the PTO for once again organizing the shopping mall for Central Elementary students.
Tim Doherty asked Middle School Principal Heidi Lucas-Moccia for an update on elections to the school’s Leadership Council, and suggested that the students be invited to give a presentation to the board. He applauds the students’ efforts, and the Chair added that students are welcome to attend board meetings.
C. Financial
The board was presented with a current financial statement. David Lesser believes the garage construction is complete in Saxtons River and the encumbrance can be moved over.
D. Special Education
The Special Education semi-annual report was included in the agenda packet, and Sharon Reynolds was available to answer questions. Jim McAuliffe thanked Ms. Reynolds for the level of analysis she has provided in this report.
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10. Unfinished Business:
None
11. New Business:
A. CES Kitchen Equipment
Jim McAuliffe moved to approve an additional expenditure of an amount not to exceed $1,700 for kitchen appliances to enable the Central Elementary School to purchase a convection oven, seconded by Chad Illingworth. The motion passed unanimously.
B. Allowable Tuition for FY11
The Middle School tuition reconciliation for FY11 is complete, and the Business Manager reports that Rockingham owes reimbursements to Westminster ($18,094.63), Athens ($424.45), and Grafton ($2,925.44). Jim McAuliffe asked that the Business Office review invoices and payments to confirm that $11,250 per pupil was paid by the sending districts for that year prior to releasing these reimbursements. The Chair moved to reimburse sending districts a combined total of $21,444.52 for FY11 tuition, seconded by Chad Illingworth. The motion passed unanimously.
C. Authorize the Chair or Superintendent to Sign Construction Permits on Behalf of the Board
Bill Metcalfe moved to authorize the Chair or Superintendent to conduct business regarding the permitting process, including the signing of zoning and other regulatory permits necessary to facilitate the Middle School construction project, seconded by Jim McAuliffe. The motion passed unanimously.
12. Action List:
Jim McAuliffe has been updating the board’s Action List. The following items were reviewed:
Staff Job Descriptions (revisit in March)
Enrichment Curriculum at Middle School and Principal Update (January)
Traffic Control Plan at Middle School (January)
Transportation Consolidation (essentially from budget standpoint is complete and will be effective beginning July 1, 2012)
School Annual Reports (February)
Rockingham School District Staff Directory (complete)
Action Plans for all three schools (June)
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Special Education Presentation on Consolidation and Delivery (mid- to late January at a special meeting, with WNESU town school district boards being invited)
Student and Teacher Attendance Data (new addition, student data to be reported in February and July); teacher data is collected by the Supervisory Union and will be discussed further
Employee Dress Code (March). Superintendent Kibbe and David Lesser will try to provide examples of policies/protocol from other schools
Technology Plan (current)
Envision-Promoting Healthy School Environments Partnership Program Grant Application (January)
13. Appointments:
Jim McAuliffe moved to approve the appointment of Melissa Read as a long-term Special Education substitute at the Middle School, for the remainder of the 2011-2012 school year, seconded by Bill Metcalfe. The motion passed unanimously.
14. Directors’ Comments:
Wishing the staff, students, and community a safe and happy holiday season, board members also expressed their appreciation for Cristal Farnsworth’s technology presentation, the efforts of their principals, and the hard work being done by the Middle School band members and their families in fundraising for their upcoming trip.
15. Date and Location of Next Meeting:
The Chair set the date of the next meeting for January 16, 2012, to be held in the Central Elementary School library, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
16. Executive Session:
Bill Metcalfe moved to go into executive session at 8:30 p.m. for the purpose of discussing negotiations, the Superintendent’s evaluation, and contract matters, and invited the administration to attend, seconded by Tim Doherty. The motion passed unanimously. The Chair returned the board to open session at 8:55 p.m. No action was taken as a result of executive session.
17. Adjournment:
There being no further business to come before the meeting and no objection, the Chair declared the meeting adjourned at 8:55 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Timothy Doherty, Clerk
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