BELLOWS FALLS UNION HIGH SCHOOL
School Board Meeting
April 14, 2008
Present: Daniel Axtell, Jack Bryar, Russell Capron, Stephen L. Fine, Matthew Guild, Stephen Major, Jan Mitchell-Love, Paul Obuchowski, Margaret Perry, John Porter
Also Present: Johanna Harpster, Christopher Kibbe, Andrea Allbee, Kathleen Callahan, Christopher Hodsden, Ryan Parkman, Chelsey Berry, Peter Naitove, John Broadley, Priscilla Lambert, Amber Shaffer and Jake Christopher
1. Call to Order:
The Chair, Stephen L. Fine, called the meeting to order at 7:05
2. Adjustments to the Agenda:
An additional 0.5 position will be added to Item 8, Appointments/Resignations.
3. Sign Warrants:
No discussion
4. Consent Items:
A. Minutes of March 24, 2008
There being no objection, the Chair declared that the minutes of March 24, 2008 are approved as presented.
5. Communications and Public Comments:
On behalf of the Bellows Falls Women’s Club, Barbara Comtois has sent a letter of thanks for their recent day at the school.
Peter Naitove would like the board to reconsider their modification of his present position as full-time School Psychologist to a contract for 2008-2009 that indicates a .5 School Psychologist position and a .5 504 Coordinator position. No action was taken.
6. Reports:
A. Financial Report
A financial summary as of April 1, 2008 was distributed.
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B. Principal’s Report
(1) Girls’ Basketball Sportsmanship Award
The girls’ basketball team received the Good Sportsmanship Award at the State Division II finals in Barre.
(2) Principal Hodsden had been asked to investigate a claim that a male student was removed from the school in handcuffs. He reported that, in the Fall of 2005, a male student was taken into custody in handcuffs by the prior SRO, Nancy Sage, and charged and convicted of aggravated assault.
(3) BFUHS Custodians have received a Green Cleaning Achievement Award from the VT Association of Recyclers.
(4) Sample math problems, similar to the assessment test administered to Grade 11 students, were made available to board members.
(5) Marlboro College students Amber Shaffer and Jake Christopher were introduced. They are gathering information for a documentary film, and would like an opportunity to interview and film students and faculty. Jack Bryar suggested they include members of the School Climate sub-committee in their information-gathering process. John Porter moved to allow Ms. Shaffer and Mr. Christopher to conduct an ethnographic study in the school, seconded by Jan Mitchell-Love. The motion passed.
(6) Principal Hodsden recognized the great work of the Drama Club and staff in their production of the Music Man.
(7) Condolences were extended to the family of Donna Hill, a high school paraeducator for a number of years.
C. Superintendent of Schools
(1) Special Education/504 Private Transportation
Attorney Fisher has issued an opinion that transportation costs are the towns’ expense, not the expense of the Union High School, and suggests that someone review the various boards’ transportation policies concerning transportation to
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career centers and to special education locations. John Porter moved that the administration determine how far back the transportation expenses can be billed to the town school districts, and what the cost (or savings) will be. The motion passed on a vote of 6 in favor (Porter, Obuchowski, Bryar, Mitchell-Love, Major, Guild) to 3 opposed (Perry, Axtell, Capron).
(2) Bylaws
No discussion
(3) NEASC Process
John Broadley presented information on the New England Association of Schools and Colleges accreditation process. Paul Obuchowski explained why the board decided to relinquish its membership in the late 1990’s. Principal Hodsden suggested that he be given an opportunity to discuss NEASC membership with the faculty before the board makes any decisions. Jack Bryar moved to authorize the expenditure of $1,000 to begin the New England Association of Schools and Colleges candidacy process, seconded by Jan Mitchell-Love. The motion passed on a vote of 8 in favor (Axtell, Bryar, Guild, Mitchell-Love, Major, Obuchowski, Perry, Porter) to 1 opposed (Capron).
(4) E-Rate
Recent newspaper articles indicated that our schools may not be doing all they can to receive discounted prices for telecommunications, internet access, and web and e-mail hosting. A memorandum from Wes Vaughn was included in the agenda packet, which shows that he has applied for the E-Rate every year for the past 10 years.
(5) Board member contact information and the approved school calendar for 2008-2009 were distributed.
D. Assistant Superintendent of Schools
(1) Gas Pump Replacement
Assistant Superintendent Kibbe updated the board on actions being taken by member town school districts to
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contribute to the replacement of the gas pump on high school grounds.
(2) Special Education Students’ Performance on the NECAP
Data was included in the agenda packet.
E. Student Representatives
The estimated costs to refurbish the auditorium have come in at $50,000 which is more than the Student Council feels they can raise, so they have decided to contribute to Noahs’ Ark, a program that sends animals to African villages.
F. Faculty Report
No report
G. Technical Center Representatives
(1) Brattleboro
An interim director has been named. The administration is aware of scheduling issues, but has not been able to resolve the conflicts because each sending school seems to have a different problem.
(2) Springfield
The governing board will be continuing discussions about changing to a degree-granting institution. Looking at the number of BFUHS students attending the Springfield center, Russ Capron believes the board has overbudgeted.
H. WNESU
Paul Obuchowski and Margaret Perry will not be able to attend the April 23rd meeting. The Chair appointed himself and Dan Axtell as representatives for that meeting.
I. Committees & Special Projects
(1) Policy Committee
(a) Production of Documents Policy
The Chair moved to accept the Production of Documents Policy for first reading and to include the policy on the next agenda for adoption. The motion passed on a vote of 8 in favor (Obuchowski, Perry, Bryar, Axtell, Capron, Guild, Mitchell-Love, Major) and 1 opposed (Porter).
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(2) Instruction and Educational Effectiveness Committee
No discussion
(3) Special Education Cost Reduction Committee
Minutes of the 3/26/08 meeting were included in the agenda packet, as well as a copy of Superintendent Harpster’s letter to Doug Dows enclosing a remediation plan.
(4) Teacher Negotiations
Minutes of the 3/19/08 meeting were included in the agenda packet. Mediation session has been scheduled for April 16th.
(5) Support Staff Negotiations
Minutes of the meetings of 3/20/08 and 4/3/08 were included in the agenda packet. The next meeting is scheduled for April 17th.
(6) School and Community Relations Committee
Minutes of the meetings of 3/8/08 and 3/22/08 were enclosed in the agenda packet. The Windmill Hill Pinnacle Association and its partner group, The Bald Hill Committee, would like to include a letter of support from the Board in their application to the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board for grant funds. There being no objection, the Chair will send the requested letter.
(7) School Resource Officer
Minutes of meetings held on 9/11/06, 9/26/06, 9/29/06 and 3/31/08 were included in the agenda packet. Principal Hodsden was asked to pursue written confirmation of the financial agreement Sheriff Clark has discussed. John Porter moved to cease the school’s relationship with the School Resource Officer until clarification of the cost, duration of contract, and oversight is determined and approved by the board. The motion failed on a vote of 3 in favor (Capron, Porter, Bryar) to 6 opposed (Obuchowski, Perry, Axtell, Guild, Major, Mitchell-Love).
(8) Facilities and Infrastructure
Minutes of the meeting of 3/31/08 were included in the agenda packet.
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7. Unfinished Business:
A. Regional Conference
The Southern Vermont Regional Conference has been set for April 24th. Commissioner Cate will attend.
B. Fire Protection Fee
The Village of Bellows Falls has issued its March billing for fire protection and water charges. Attorney Fisher is preparing a response.
C. Purchase of Bus
Board members received copies of the invitations to bid for 20 and 71 passenger buses. John Porter questioned why invoices are being paid for repairs to buses that are covered under a five-year bumper-to-bumper warranty. Paul Obuchowski questioned whether the high school should be purchasing a bus for Special Education use, and if consideration should be given to charging member town districts for storage, electricity, and potential liabilities with their buses being housed on the high school grounds.
8. Appointments and/or Resignations:
A. .50 Alternative Education Program Teaching Position
The Chair moved to approve the appointment of Kim Wilkinson as a .5 Alternative Education Program Teacher for the 2008-2009 school year. The motion passed on a vote of 8 in favor (Obuchowski, Perry, Porter, Axtell, Capron, Major, Guild, Mitchell-Love) to 1 opposed (Bryar).
B. Athletic Director
John Porter moved to accept David Chesley’s resignation as Athletic Director, effective at the end of the 2007-2008 school year, with regret. The motion passed.
9. Other Business for Discussion/Action:
A. School Board Retreat
Superintendent Harpster announced that May 3rd is an available date for hosting a board retreat, but Leslie’s Restaurant is not available on that date. The board decided to keep the date, and asked that an alternate location be identified.
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B. Audit Firm for FY08
Stephen Major moved to authorize the administration to contract with Fothergill, Segale & Valley for the FY08 audit at a cost of $9,000,with the contract containing a provision that the report must be received not later than October 31, 2008, or the accounting firm will face financial consequences. The motion passed on a vote of 8 in favor (Porter, Obuchowski, Perry, Bryar, Guild, Mitchell-Love, Major, Axtell) to 1 (Capron).
C. Technical Centers as Degree Granting Institutions
No further discussion
D. Celebration for Test Achievements
AYP status is scheduled to be released later in the month.
E. Multi-Year Plan
Paul Obuchowski moved to approve a multi-year plan for Student No. 2007115, as recommended by the administration. The motion passed.
F. Other
None
10. Directors’ Comments:
Russ Capron requested that financial reports be included in the agenda packet for the second meeting of each month.
Stephen Major would like to see board meetings become a more pleasurable experience.
John Porter would like to hear a report on the autism program, as well as other programs that have been developed, at least on an annual basis. Mr. Porter also believes there are seven vendors (including the School Resource Officer) the board has no control over who work in the school, and feels board members should be made aware of the contracts that have been signed with these individuals.
Margaret Perry and Jack Bryar congratulated everyone involved with the production of the Music Man. Ms. Perry noted that members of the community have commented on the lack of publicity.
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Jack Bryar explained that he voted against the appointment of Kim Wilkinson to the .5 AEP position because he believes a format was set in place, and does not like to see changes made. Mr. Bryar would like to see narrative descriptions attached to budget items when being voted on.
11. Date of Next Scheduled Meeting:
Stephen Major moved to cancel the April 28th business meeting so that board members may participate in Senior Project evaluations. The motion passed on a vote of 7 in favor (Obuchowski, Perry, Bryar, Axtell, Mitchell-Love, Guild, Major) to 2 opposed (Capron, Porter). The Chair set the date of the next meeting for May 12, 2008.
12. Adjournment:
There being no further business to come before the meeting and no objection, the Chair declared the meeting adjourned at 9:35 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Margaret Perry, Clerk
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