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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, September 1, 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. & Mrs. Vaillancourt addressed the Board regarding an approximate 1 mile change in their son’s bus stop, which was now more than 2.5 miles down-hill from their home. They explained the prior year’s stop had been acceptable and previously been near the Haldane’s location. Mr. Haldane and Mrs. Roy stated their children were also affected (to a lesser degree in distance) however, by making the change to a consolidated stop at a four-way intersection, on a well and speedily traveled dirt road with no sidewalks, which the Town routinely sprayed with a chemical because of dust, the situation for the seven children (of these and another family) was of grave concern from a safety prospective. Mr. Haldane further explained the stop affected both his younger and older children, which meant his wife drove approximately 60 miles per week to-and-from the bus stop to safely deliver and pick up their children. Mr. Crowley advised the Board that he and the transportation department were aware of the issue, and were working on a solution. However, he noted that upon consideration of the request to move the stop back to its former 2009-2010 location, and investigating other situations, he became aware that [due to recent changes in the busing program] 28 Barre Town families now transport their children up to 1.5 miles to the nearest bus stop. He pointed out the Vaillancourt family did have the furthest commute due to the location of their home on the border of Williamstown. Mr. Kirkland addressed the families advising that in addition to the Board’s desire to cut costs, another important factor in changing to the busing program was the lack of qualified and willing personnel to drive school buses. He also said, based on economic reasons alone, it was a fact that providing both a quality education and door-to-door transportation were no longer possible. Mrs. Buzzell thanked the families for addressing the Board and asked the transportation and administration to resolve the issue, as timely as possible. Mr. Fortin addressed the Board regarding his child in kindergarten, and the fact that he had to walk nearly a ½ mile to a bus stop when another school bus picked up a student on their street. Mr. Crowley and Dr. Bacon advised that the matter was considered and was expected to be resolved this evening. Mrs. Kindestin advised the Board she would also have a bussing matter to address with the Board at a future meeting. 3. Consent Agenda A. Minutes of August 18, 2010 – Regular Board Meeting On a motion by Ms. Moore seconded by Mr. Kirkland, the Board voted to approve the minutes of August 18, 2010, as submitted. Mr. Tewksbury abstained. 4. Old Business
Dr. Bacon advised the Board the newly grant purchased bus was designated to be the special education bus because of the special equipment installed on the bus. He explained that by designating the bus as such the school received a 57% state reimbursement for the cost of transporting special needs students, while regular education student bussing costs were state reimbursed at 47%. Dr. Bacon recommended the Board consider and approve un-designating the use of the new bus and for it to be used as a regular transportation vehicle, thereby also foregoing the minimal 10% reimbursement costs. He further explained by doing so it would provide flexibility in ridership, and that several of the students in the Fortin neighborhood, as just discussed, would all be eligible to ride the bus along with any special needs children in their neighborhood. On a motion by Mr. Tewksbury seconded by Ms. Moore, the Board unanimously voted to re-designate the new special needs bus to regular education transportation, and to forego the reimbursement difference, as recommended by the Superintendent.
Mr. Kirkland advised the Board the renovations have been satisfactorily completed and that approximately $26K of the $30K ($16K from the project and $14K from the deferred telephone purchase) contingency fund was spent on associated enhancement projects. He said once the final accounting was completed the remaining funds would be used to construct other walls in the school. 5. New Business
Dr. Bacon advised the Board Melissa Lindhiem, a speech/language pathologist (SLP), was being recommended for hire. He said she was formerly in the Northfield district, however, through the cooperation of that district’s Special Services Director and Superintendent; Mrs. Lindhiem was released from her contract. He said in cooperation with the neighboring district, and for their courtesy, all agreed that Mrs. Lindheim would serve .50 in Northfield and .50 in Barre Town through October (reimbursed by Northfield) and then be full-time at BTMES thereafter. On a motion by Mr. Kirkland seconded by Mr. Paterson, the Board unanimously voted to authorize a contract for Melissa Lindheim, as discussed. 6. Administrative Reports to the Board
Dr. Bacon provided an oral report including information regarding:
Ms. Worth and Mr. Crowley reviewed recent and upcoming events. For additional information on these and other events, visit www.btmes.org. Mr. Crowley provided a current class size report for the 34 K-6 classrooms and 128 7 & 8th grade classes. He noted 14 classes at the K-6 level were at the ideal set by the Board, and only 4 of the 128 7 & 8th classes were over the limit and 9 over the ideal. He also 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 advised that the YMCA would be amending its rate schedule for the Afterschool Program to better reflect the area, and would also start a morning program once the afterschool program was underway. He said for additional information to visit http://www.gbymca.org/newsite/. Mr. Crowley also invited community members to bring their extra vegetables and/or produce from their gardens to the BTMES cafeteria, which would in turn be used and served to 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.
7. Other Business
On a motion by Ms. Moore seconded by Mr. Paterson, the Board unanimously voted to approve the warrants, as submitted. 8. Future Agenda Items
9. Executive Session
At 7:20 p.m. on a motion by Ms. Moore seconded by Mr. Paterson, the Board unanimously voted to enter into executive session, pursuant to Title 1 § 313, to discuss negotiations and a personnel matter. Dr. Bacon, Mr. Crowley, and Ms. Worth were invited into the executive session. At 9:20 p.m. the Board exited executive session. On a motion by Mr. Tewksbury seconded by Mr. Paterson, the Board unanimously voted to ratify the existing contract settlement. 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 Ms. Moore seconded by Mr. Kirkland, the Board unanimously voted to adjourn at 9:22 p.m. Respectfully submitted,
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