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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: Steve Murray, Terrie Salvador, Carl Davison, Mirla Davison, Anita Chadderton, Danny Bellavance, Garritt Bresett, Beth Bresett, Jacques Couture, Carolyn Couture, Robin Cappetta, David Fellows, Randy Edmunds, Lori Bibeau, Brian Bibeau, Diane Harless, Marcia Biondolillo, Sabrina Guillette, Karyn Crowningshield, Gary Crowningshield, Nancy McGinnley, Paul McGinley, Paul Taylor, Carlotta Perantoni, Christy Berard, Kathy Vasques, Matt Safford, Chris Violette, Martha Blaisdell, Stefanie Kingzett, Sherye Swift, Mary Baves, Allen Hebert, Tom Anderson, Holly Anderson, David Herrington, Sarah Tracey, Crystal Emerson, John MacIver, Jane Bubel, Sherry Aja, Jen Bombard, Janice Manning, Douglas Manning, Melodie Keban, Lori Bullock, Toni Boyer, Michelle Emmons, Kyle Greenslit, Stephen Brassard, Lisa Brassard, Karen Marsh, Sonya Boisvert, Rod Titus, John Raper, Kristan Metivier, Michael Metiver, Steve Nolan, Melissa Nolan, Michelle Hebert, Diane Maurice, Matt Cetin, William Wolfe, Glenda Allen, Denise Maurice, Jeneen Morrison, Sarah Churchill, Ane Hogan, Linda Owen, Ginger Young, Charles Graves, Tara Dunn, Kim Tewksbury, Shannon Romeo, Teresa MacAdams, Mark MacAdams, Paul Taylor, Tanya Taylor, Rich Hallstrom, Beth Hallstrom, Mike Kelley, Kelly Kindersin, Tony Bouyeau, Wayne Pelkey, Reed Asaro, Wendy Pierson, Shiela Cameron, Tamara Cooley, Sherin Allen, Claire Dessureau, Louise Gagne, Kristin McCarthy, Martha Blaisdell, Jack Mitchell, James York, Arthur Kennell, Julie Gravel, Gene Gravel, Christin Willimas, Jim Werbinski, Shawn Werbinsli, Stacey Lamberti, Tina Gossac, David Delcore, Times Argus BOARD SECRETARY: Donna Holden 1. Call to Order
A. Personnel Matter – 1 V.S.A. §313 (1) At 5:45 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. Dr. Bacon, Mr. Crowley and Ms. Worth were invited into the executive session. At 6:15 p.m. the Board exited executive session and temporarily recessed. At 6:30 p.m. the Chair reconvened the Board and opened the public informational meeting. A flag salute followed.
Mrs. Buzzell began the meeting by thanking the community for coming; she introduced herself, other Board members, the Superintendent, Administration, Mr. Murray and Ms. Salvador. She provided a history and examples of the Board’s tradition of studying and/or reviewing areas and systems within the budget as part of the Board’s fiduciary responsibility. She noted the Board always based their findings on the impact to children’s education, structure of families, and responsibility to taxpayers. Mrs. Buzzell acknowledged the topic of single wave transportation was not new to BTMES. She said the original transportation system was created as a single-wave system in 1966 that at one time served up to 1400+ students, and in 1971, the voters authorized the Town to buy their own buses. The system eventually was later changed to the current split wave system. She noted changing back to a single wave bussing system had been considered and discussed several times in the past; however, a steady decline in enrollment from the historical high of 1400+ students to the current 800+ (and projected to further decline in coming years) was one of the key components perpetuating the current review and consideration. Mrs. Buzzell noted the Board had been cautious and very thorough with its consideration and deliberations regarding this matter, which, with the exception of personnel matters, had all been done publicly at both Facility and Transportation Committee meetings and at many, many Board meetings over the past 18+ months. She said the Board was now in position, and eagerly seeking the community’s input. She confirmed the Board had not reached any final conclusions. Mrs. Buzzell also provided an assurance to the community that student safety was the first priority of the Board and Administration of the school, and noted that each Board member also possessed a genuine sense of responsibility to provide the best possible education to students, and the lowest cost. She concluded by acknowledging the Board’s respect for the community, and its keen awareness that change was difficult, and in many cases emotional. However, she cautioned, with dramatic funding changes afoot in Montpelier by the Vermont Legislature [and federally] the matter of funding for education including costs such as transportation could be forever altered, and from the Board’s perspective making these types of decisions timely and locally was preferable, and prudent ~ rather than having to (sometimes) hurriedly comply with State mandates. ' Ms. Worth addressed the audience and spoke about how a single-wave system would provide integration of the school into a single cohesive unit, and would further allowed staff, faculty, and mostly students to benefit educationally. Mr. Kirkland reviewed the five original options considered by the Board. In summary:
Dr. Bacon shared that BTMES currently spent approximately $600,000 annually to support the transportation system. He noted among other school systems in Vermont, BTMES spent approximately $1,000/student/year for transportation, the second highest cost rate state-wide. (estimate from study that revealed of the 800+ students enrolled, only approximately 600 use the transportation system.) He advised the current State reimbursement rate for transportation was at 47%, however, as noted by Mrs. Buzzell, this rate was subject to change, and that the savings estimated were greatest for the proposal to retain ownership of the busses, lease them to the transportation company (while retaining responsibility for maintenance and housing of the busses), and share a transportation contract with Barre City (Option #5 above). He said revenue from leasing the busses to a transportation company, estimated at $20,000/bus/year would further offset costs to the Town, bringing the savings over the estimated $200,000 per year. A number of community members addressed the Board including, Dan Bellavance, Garritt and Beth Bresett, Jack Couture, Carlotta Perantoni, Lori and Brian Bibeau, Chris Violette, David Herrington, Tara Dunn, Toni Boyer, Wayne Pelkey, Reed Asaro, Claire Dessureau, Paul and Tanya Taylor, Matt Cetin, Sandra Cameron, Mike Kelly, Diane Harless and Wendy Pierson. Along with former and current BTMES employees, Carl Davison, Jack Mitchell, Allan Hebert, Linda Owen, John Raper, Robin Cappetta, Randy Edmunds, Matt Safford, and Arthur Kennell. Ms. Cappetta presented the Board with a petition containing 729 signatures seeking a May 11, 2010 Town meeting ballot item to put the matter before the voters. Mrs. Buzzell thanked Ms. Cappetta, and advised the legality of the names on the petition would be presented to the Town Clerk for verification and consideration for the request would be taken under advisement. However, she advised, the Board was under no legal obligation to put such matters on a ballot item. She said the Board was required to seek voter approval to “spend” unbudgeted or reserved funds, however, as the duly elected representatives and fiduciaries of the school budget, the Board had the authority to “save” money without voter approval. Lori Bibeau advised the Board and audience that according to her experienced calculations the tax savings per household for the estimated $150-$200K, based on Barre Town property valued at $100K, the annual savings would be only $8.00 to $11.00 per year, and $0 for those who were income sensitive and receive property tax rebate relief, which was approximately 78% of the community. Mrs. Perantoni was the only community speaker that stated she was in support of the single-wave proposal, based on the educational and cohesiveness benefits discussed. A consistent theme of concerns were raised during the comments to the Board, which included,
Items of interest and suggestions included,
Mrs. Buzzell thanked the community for their feed-back and advised that the Board would be addressing the matter and possibly taking action at the next Board meeting, scheduled for April 7, 2010. 4. 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:
5. Adjournment On a motion by Ms. Moore seconded by Mr. Paterson, the Board unanimously voted to adjourn at 10:10 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Donna Holden
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