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School Board Meeting Minutes |
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Minutes are not
official until approved by the Barre Town School Board BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT: ADMINISTRATORS: GUESTS: BOARD SECRETARY: 1. Call to Order The Chair, Brenda Buzzell, called the Wednesday, August 18, 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
Mr. and Mrs. Williams addressed the Board regarding a reoccurring bussing issue, which they reported had also been discussed with Mr. Crowley and Ms. Salvador. Mrs. Williams advised the Board the bus stop assigned for their son was determined unsafe by the bus driver and the Board last year; however, it was surprisingly assigned again for this school year. Mrs. Williams said the school was putting her child in danger and asked why, and how, the stop had suddenly become safe. She asked for the stop to be changed back to the prior year’s location, at their home, rather than the driveway of a heavily truck traveled business at a three-way intersection, as currently assigned. Mrs. Williams also said she did not feel that she should have to drive her son to and from another bus stop location when the school had made satisfactory accommodations to resolve transportation issues around the unsafe stop in the prior year. Mr. Crowley advised the Board he had a discussion with Mr. Williams, seen pictures and visited the bus stop, and would meet with the Transportation Department. He said the options, if required immediately, were to deny the request to move the stop, or give the Transportation Department time to see if the new transportation schedule was a safer schedule for that location, and/or to resolve the conflict. Mrs. Williams objected to taking time beyond the first day of school to resolve the matter when it was already addressed and resolved in the prior year. She asked that if the matter was not resolved by Tuesday, August 24th, that the school provide a written justification for reinstating the unsafe bus stop and why it was not corrected. Mrs. Buzzell explained that changes to the transportation system were thoroughly discussed and agreed to last spring, with several cost-saving changes implemented for this year, including use of fewer buses and consolidation of bus stops. She said as a result that many students were impacted and are assigned stops further away from their homes or previous stops, and as such that families would have to adapt to sending, or bringing, their children to and from newly designated bus stops. She suggested if the William’s bus stop was eliminated, like many other children, the student would be assigned to the next nearest stop. Mrs. Buzzell stressed that safety was the primary concern and asked if there was a safer stop in the Williams’ vicinity. Ms. Salvador reported there was, but that it was a different bus than the child was used to. Mrs. Buzzell also noted that with further State reductions and pressure looming that the Board would attempt to find the best solution to an ever growing problem. She asked the Transportation Department and Mr. Crowley to resolve the matter and find a solution by August 24th keeping safety as a priority.
Ms. Moore advised the Board and Administration that she had received requests from a couple of families to provide a comprehensive and detailed list including dates, times, etc of afterschool clubs, organizations, activities, and programs for transportation and family schedule planning. Mr. Crowley agreed assembling and distributing afterschool activity information to families, and for Web posting, was a worthwhile project, and would handle getting the project done, as timely as possible. He said perhaps the project would be through a TA and student Community Service Learning project. Mr. Crowley also advised in response to a parent inquiry, he recently had the progress report and report card schedule posted to the Web site. 3. Consent Agenda
On a motion by Ms. Moore seconded by Mr. Kirkland, the Board unanimously voted to approve the minutes of June 16, 2010 and August 4, 2010, as submitted. 4. Old Business
Mr. Kirkland reported the project was nearly complete and ran smoothly, including the additional lighting project, coat rack installation in the hallway, and other final touches. He said a final contractor walk through with Mr. Murray would be scheduled for this week, and that there was a possible sale of the old kitchen equipment in the works. The Board agreed to host their September 15th Board meetings, and new staff reception, in the newly renovated cafeteria, which would provide the community with an opportunity to see the final product. 5. New Business
Mr. Crowley presented teacher information for Robert Laston. He noted with this hire there could be potential to eventually transition Mr. Laston’s skills and experience into a Tech Ed position, also. On a motion by Mr. Kirkland seconded by Mr. Paterson, the Board unanimously voted to approve the one-year contract for grade 8 math/science teacher, Mr. Robert Laston, at a .50 FTE based upon an annual salary of $55,626. Mrs. Pritchard presented special education teacher information for Shannon Redmond. On a motion by Ms. Moore seconded by Mr. Kirkland, the Board unanimously voted to approve the tier one special education contract Shannon Redmond. Mrs. Pritchard also advised the Board due to a resignation, the school was seeking to fill an elementary education speech/language pathologist (SLP) position, as timely as possible.
Dr. Bacon advised the Board of the State’s Challenges for Change target reductions and noted a total 2.27% reduction ($527,190) was expected to be trimmed from the SU budgets, including $157,891 from the BTMES budget. He said considering, among other item, the district’s low per-pupil costs the target reduction seemed excessive and inequitable. He advised the Board of the SU Board’s plan to host a joint meeting with the Commissioner, key DOE personnel, and legislators to discuss the rational and formula. He agreed to assemble all Board questions and comments to forward to the Commissioner in preparation for an informative and interactive meeting. 6. Administrative Reports to the Board
Dr. Bacon provided an oral report including information regarding:
Dr. Bacon referred the Board to a June 9, 2010 letter containing an opinion from the Department of Education regarding cost sharing of “legitimate educational expenses” with the Town. The Board agreed it would be prudent and productive to meet with the Town Select Board periodically to discuss common issues. Dr. Bacon distributed a copy of a tuition waiver request letter from a family that previously lived in Barre Town, however, had sold their home with the intention of relocating to another state. The family was seeking a tuition waiver for up to six months; however, the current policy only permitted waiving 40-days, unless there were extenuating student matters. Ms. Moore asked if the student’s file had been reviewed for a determination of extenuating circumstances, to which Mr. Crowley responded, the file had not been reviewed. Ms. Moore advised she could not support action on the request at this time without additional information regarding the student and his best interest, not because she did not support the policy. On a motion by Mr. Kirkland seconded by Mr. Paterson, the Board voted to deny the tuition waiver request. Motion passed 3 to 1, Ms. Moore voted no.
Mr. Crowley reviewed recent and upcoming events. For additional information on these and other events, visit www.btmes.org. Mr. Crowley advised the Board the total K-8 current, to-date, school enrollment was at 816 vs. the June 2010 enrollment of 836. Mr. Crowley noted the decrease was primarily due to the difference between the incoming kindergarten class size and the departing 8th grade class size. Mr. Crowley also informed the Board and welcomed the addition of two new Asian Studies Program scholar teachers for the year, one from Korea, who would be working with Mrs. Barnard and the elementary teachers, and one from Thailand, an IT teacher, who would be team teaching and working with the grades 5-8 students.
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.
Dr. Bacon advised the Board a joint Negotiation Team needed to be assembled to negotiate the statutorily required SU-wide teacher and Para educator contracts, which he noted should be completed by December 2010 or early January 2011 for proposal. The Board agreed to first work independently and look at the Barre City and Barre Town contracts to identify conflicts, and make a list of recommendations for negotiation. 7. Other Business
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
At 7:50 p.m. on a motion by Mr. Kirkland seconded by Mr. Paterson, the Board unanimously voted to enter into executive session, pursuant to Title 1 § 313, to discuss negotiations. Dr. Bacon was invited into the executive session. At 8:19 p.m. the Board exited executive session. 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:
11. Adjournment On a motion by Mr. Kirkland seconded
by Mr. Paterson, the Board unanimously voted to adjourn at 8:20 p.m.
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