marlboroschool.net

Attending: Lauren Poster – Chair, Gussie Bartlett – Vice Chair, Jen Carr – Clerk, Francie Marbury – Principal, Ellen Martyn – kindergarten teacher

The meeting was called to order by Lauren at 6:10pm.

Ellen spoke about pre-school in Marlboro and the pros/cons of a pre-school at MES. The conversation is ongoing, but there are no plans to begin a pre-school at MES next year.

Ellen left the meeting at 6:40pm.

We reviewed the minutes of 3/8/10. Lauren moved that we approve them as corrected. Gussie seconded the motion. The motion passed.

Gussie noted that she signed minutes for Town School District meeting in March.

Principal’s report. Attached.

We revised and edited the Benefits Procedures for MES Staff 2010-2011. The revisions allow for a co-pay for medical benefits at 20%.

Jen made a motion to approve the Benefits Procedures for MES Staff 2010-2011 as corrected. Gussie seconded the motion. The motion passed.

The Board signed contracts for all Professional Staff for 2010-2011.

We noted that the School Board will review the Benefits Procedures for MES Staff every April before contracts are signed.

Superintendent’s report. Attached.

We changed the date of the May School Board Meeting from May 3rd at 7pm to May 18th at 5pm. This is a one time only change.

School Board received a letter from Twin Valley HS stating that they will give our students a discount of $900 if we increase out FTE enrollment 25%. Since we had no students at TVHS last year, Lauren is signing the letter for the 2010-2011 school year. This means the 2010-2011 tuition would be $13,600.

We noted that the State Average Announced Tuition is $11,867 for 2010-2011.

Lauren made a motion that MES would exempt our School from participating in any State or Federal Lunch Program for the 2010-2011. Gussie seconded. The motion passed.

Note pay orders 17-20 at bottom of minutes.

Meeting adjourned at 9:00pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Jen Carr

Pay Orders: #17 2/12/10 $87,389.28 #18 2/26/10 $210,126.06
#19 3/12/10 $99,017.64
#20 3/26/10 $168,264.11

Our Guiding Principles:
Students will be at the center of our decision-making.
We will keep to the agenda.
The chair will estimate the amount of time necessary for each item
and act as timekeeper during the meeting.
Every voice is heard as discussion goes back and forth.
Decisions will not be made hastily.
We will ask ourselves, “What other information do we need
in order to make a thoughtful decision?”
Decisions/discussion will be recapped before moving on to a new item.
Items requiring action will be identified and we will note who is responsible for each action item.
Follow through will occur before the next meeting.
We will use e-mail judiciously to communicate between meetings.
Implementation Guidelines:
Meetings will be held on the first Monday of each month with the fourth Monday
kept in reserve, if an additional meeting is needed.
The chair will send out the agenda the Thursday before the meeting.
The meetings will start at 6 pm and go no later than 9 pm.

Marlboro School Board
Principal’s Report
Monday, April 5, 2010

Student Learning
Learning Fair
Action Plan – Strategic Plan
Report Cards – specials teachers
Professional Development work on Research and Report Writing skills continuum
Technology Integration

Policy or Regulation Implementation
Benefits Procedures

Buildings and Grounds
Energy Efficiency Grant received $45,000
Kitchen upgrade – applied for $3500 from Food Service Equipment Grant, Dept of Ed

Finance/Accounting

Enrollment/Staffing
Student enrollment – 86
Primary assistant to co-teacher
Medicaid carryover – make up the difference

Informational items
Learning Fair – Tuesday, April 13, 6:30-8:30
Dedication?

Superintendent’s Report for the Marlboro School Board
Monday, April 5, 2010

Note: At 4:00 P.M. I will be meeting with the Parent Group to interview a candidate for Principal at Leland and Gray. Following the parent interview I will take the candidate out for dinner before a 6:00 P.M. interview with L&G Search Committee.

Student/Staff Learning
1. This semester, twenty-five more teachers are taking the five-day Professional Learning Communities course. Nearly half of all teachers in WCSU are now trained to facilitate and participate in PLC groups in every school focused on improving student achievement.
2. I have appointed a group of 17 students to interview candidates for the L&G Principal position. They represent a broad range of student interests and have prepared an excellent list of questions for each candidate. The L&G Board will interview the final candidate(s).

Policy/Regulation
1. I appreciate your commitment to a coordinated schedule for my eleven school district meetings. I regret that my obligation to the Principal Search at L&G tonight presents a conflict for this meeting and I look forward to making the regular monthly schedule starting in May.
2. On March 25, 2010, the newly appointed WCSU Governance Committee discussed what steps may be taken to improve the efficiency, effectiveness and centralization (not consolidation) of our 11 school districts and 13 boards. Your board was well represented by Gussie at this meeting. The next meeting is April 27th.
3. At the March 31st organizational meeting the WCSU Board elected officers for this term: Emily Long, Chair; David Dezendorf, Vice Chair; and Laura Sibilia, Clerk.
4. Francie may report on our discussion concerning Marlboro’s Action Plan and School-wide Title I Report. I advise bringing these required documents as close together as possible while supporting the WCSU Strategic Plan at the same time.

Finance/Accounting/Operations
Late last Tuesday, I emailed you the news from Montpelier and the DOE regarding the “Challenge to Change” law and its projected impact on public school finance. As Jeff Francis, Executive Director of the VT Superintendents Association, advises, the specific requirements for implementing this law warrant immediate attention, careful scrutiny and quick action by all concerned. This week at the statehouse will be critical as legislators are anxious to close the FY11 budget’s projected deficit before adjourning.

Enrollment/Staffing
1. We expect to fill the vacant WCSU accounts clerk position by April 15th.
2. We have contracted the services of Hillary Domenick to update the demographic, medical and emergency contact date in our school information system (PowerSchool). Over the next month, Hillary will personally consult with the administrative assistants and nurses in all eleven WCSU schools to complete this project. This work is funded by a federal grant and is supervised by Matt Martin, WCSU Systems Administrator, working with Arlene Hanson, WCSU School Health Coordinator.
3. After personally contacting all employees who will be reduced in force (RIF), we will mail formal notifications. Contracts will be issued before April 15th in accordance with your voter approved budget plan. Your principal’s contract will follow as soon as time permits.

Informational Items
1. I intend to take four days of vacation leave during Spring Break (4/20-23). My office will remain open.
2. The ad hoc WCSU Governance Committee will meet at L&G on Tues., April 27, in the L&G Library at 7:00 P.M.
3. The WCSU Board will meet on Wed., May 19 for dinner and all member orientation. Time and location TBA.
4. WCSU Board Annual Meeting on May 26 at 7 P.M. Location TBA.

sbj-4/4/10