School Board Meeting Minutes
 

BARRE TOWN SCHOOL DISTRICT
REGULAR BOARD MEETING
Barre Town Middle and Elementary School
June 16, 2010

Minutes are not official until approved by the Barre Town School Board

BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT:
Brenda Buzzell, Chairperson, 3-year term expires 2011
Laura Moore, Vice-Chairperson, 2-year term expires 2012
Brent Tewksbury, Clerk, 2-year term expires 2011
Bill Kirkland, 3-year term expires 2013
John (Jay) Paterson, 3-year term expires 2012

BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT:
None

ADMINISTRATORS:
John Bacon, Superintendent
Julia Pritchard, Special Services Director

Guests:  Video Vision Tech

BOARD SECRETARY: Donna Holden

1. Call to Order

The Chair, Brenda Buzzell, called the Wednesday, June 16, 2010, meeting to order at 6:00 p.m., which was held in the Barre Town Middle and Elementary School Library, 70 Websterville Road, Barre Town, VT. A flag salute followed.

2. Visitors and Communications

None

3. Consent Agenda

A. Minutes of June 2, 2010 – Regular Board Meeting

On a motion by Ms. Moore seconded by Mr. Tewksbury, the Board unanimously voted to approve the minutes of June 2, 2010, as submitted.

4. Old Business

None

5. New Business

A. New Teachers

Mrs. Pritchard presented new 4th grade teacher information for Leah Starr-Finch, and special education teacher information for Kristen (Tolhurst) Whitman, and Christopher Duca.

On a motion by Ms. Moore seconded by Mr. Kirkland, the Board unanimously voted to approve the hiring of Ms. Starr-Finch, Mrs. Whitman, and Mr. Duca, as discussed.

B. Challenges for Change, Commissioner’s Memo

Dr. Bacon explained the 6/17/10 memo from Department of Education Commissioner, Armando Vilaseca, was the result of 2010 legislation, requiring supervisory unions throughout the state to reduce school spending on an average of 2% of their budget, resulting in some districts targeted higher or lower than the 2% reduction.

Dr. Bacon said he was hopeful that the Barre SU would be spared reductions considering that the per student spending in the district was already at the bottom of the state-wide average, and that student/teachers ratios were established with class size polices, which many districts do not have.

Dr. Bacon Noted that official notification would be received in August; however, the Board should be prepared for cuts.

C. Early Education Program

Dr. Bacon reminded the Board of the failed attempt by the Head Start Program to identify enough qualified children to expand the current pre-school program and provide a teacher; therefore they would be concentrating their efforts in the Barre City program. He said; however, based on the efforts of Mrs. Pritchard, staff time and scheduling was being modified to expand the current Barre Town Pre-school program for next year.

Dr. Bacon also advised the Board of receipt of $50K [$25K for Barre Town and $25K for Barre City] of a $60K Vermont Community Preschool Collaborative (VCPC) grant, with the hope for the balance; however, funding through other grant monies would be provided to support an outreach position to establish collaborations with and provide resources to qualified area private pre-schools, registered family homes, and licensed centers who choose to enter into collaboration contracts with the school districts. He said by increasing pre-school student enrollment in qualified satellite locations, the district may include the children in their ADM count, thereby increasing funding and potentially reducing the base tax rate.

Dr. Bacon advised that Stacey Curtis was hired to be the Outreach and Resources Coordinator with the responsibility of identifying and establishing collaborations, and a goal to add, at a minimum, 25 students per school. The Board agreed the efforts would potentially reduce the need for remedial services in later grades and increase kindergarten readiness. The Board also agreed a future goal to provide an SU-wide universal preschool for all 3 and 4 year olds were a worthy effort.

6. Administrative Reports to the Board

A. Principals

Mrs. Pritchard reviewed information regarding student and staff achievements, along with recent and upcoming events. For additional information on these and other events, visit www.btmes.org.

B. Superintendent

Dr. Bacon provided an oral report including information regarding:

• Pending delivery of the special needs bus purchased with ARRA stimulus grant funds,
• Release of an RFP for food services, required by the State, and the possibility of a contract independently, SU- wide, or in combination with another school in the SU,
• Initiation of work by the new auditor,
• Business Manager transition, and continued per-diem work by Mrs. Rosa for approximately 20-days in FY ’11,
• Release of an RFP for tax anticipation note rates (TAN),
• Interview and hiring process for a new Director of Technology, and
• Initiation of custodian negotiations.

C. Committee Reports

All Committee meetings are held in the BTMES 2nd floor conference room. Approved minutes for each Committee can be viewed on the Website at www.btmes.org.

• Facility & Transportation Committee (Bill Kirkland, Chair) – 3rd Wednesday monthly

Mr. Kirkland advised the Board of an error in the summer project calculations and an understatement of the cost of installing a new phone system. He explained the $14K approved for the phone project was actually $60K. Therefore he recommended the phone project be postponed and authorization be granted to use the funds to add two additional kitchen repairs (totaling $15,155) to the current kitchen construction project.

On a motion by Mr. Tewksbury seconded by Mr. Paterson, the Board unanimously voted to postpone the phone installation project and authorize the additional two maintenance items costing $15,155, as presented, to be added to the kitchen reconstruction project.

• Curriculum & Teacher Support Committee (Brenda Buzzell, Chair) – 1st Wednesday monthly
• Finance & Budget Committee (Jay Paterson) – 4th Wednesday monthly
• Policy & Communication Committee (Brent Tewksbury, Chair) – 1st Tuesday monthly
• School Health Advisory Committee (SHAC) (Laura Moore, liaison) – 1st Monday monthly

All Committee meetings are recessed for the summer; therefore the next meetings will be scheduled after the start of the 2010-2011 school year.

• SU Board
  Ms. Moore advised the next monthly meeting is scheduled for Thursday, August 12, 2010, at 6:00 p.m. in the SU Central Office.

7. Other Business

A. Warrants

On a motion by Mr. Kirkland seconded by Mr. Paterson, the Board unanimously voted to approve the warrants, as submitted.

8. Future Agenda Items

9. Executive Session

A. Personnel Matter – 1 V.S.A. §313 (1)
B. Contract Matter - 1 V.S.A. §313 (1)

At 7:05 p.m. on a motion by Ms. Moore seconded by Mr. Tewksbury, the Board unanimously voted to enter into executive session, pursuant to Title 1 § 313, to discuss a personnel matter and contract matter.

Dr. Bacon was invited into the executive session.

At 8:13 p.m. the Board exited executive session.

The Board unanimously agreed to award contracts as discussed.

10. Next Meeting Dates

Meetings are held at 6:00 p.m. on the first and third Wednesday of the month, unless noted. The next Barre Town School Board meeting dates are:

• June 30, 2010 – Board Retreat
• Summer recess
• August 18, 2010 – 6:00 p.m.
• September 1, 2010 – 6:00 p.m.

11. Adjournment

On a motion by Mr. Kirkland seconded by Mr. Paterson, the Board unanimously voted to adjourn at 8:14 p.m.

Respectfully submitted, Donna Holden