School board meeting 9/14/09 Approved
Attending: Lauren Poster – chair, Andy Reichsman – vice chair, Gussie Bartlett – Sec’y, Francie Marbury – Principal,
The meeting was called to order at 6:10 pm.
We reviewed the minutes from August 10th. Gussie made a motion to accept them as written. Lauren seconded. The motion passed.
Lauren moved that we transfer $48,963 from the future tuition fund to the general fund to cover unanticipated High School tuition costs that resulted in a deficit for the 2008 – 2009 fiscal year. Gussie seconded. The motion passed.
We discussed the MASP debt. Francie informed us that it looks possible that MASP will record a surplus this year. For that reason, we determined not to forgive the debt at this time and continue to monitor their financials as the year progresses.
Francie presented her Principal’s report (see below).
We had an interesting discussion about Kim John Payne’s social inclusion work at MES. Francie felt that by providing a methodology for dealing with incidents with consistent language and consistent responses, this work will have a lasting impact on the school’s atmosphere. This is the first year of a three-year process.
Lauren moved that we re-approve Policy F1 Student Conduct and Discipline. Gussie seconded the motion. The motion passed. It will be posted for 30 days and we will adopt it at our next meeting.
Lauren moved that we approve Policy F7 Alcohol And Drugs. Gussie seconded the motion. The motion passed. It will be posted for 30 days and we will adopt it at our next meeting.
Lauren moved that we authorize Tony Gordon to expend $1,040.00 eliminate the 6 inch step at the bottom of the ramp to the Library by adding 6 feet of asphalt. Gussie seconded the motion. The motion passed.
Francie informed us that MES received stimulus money toward the purchase of a new bus, 50% of the cost of the bus up to $40,000.00. It requires the purchase of the new bus with some requirements regarding mileage and pollution controls.
We discussed how to provide reimbursements for pre-K. It was suggested that we look at the formula for private h.s. tuition. Francie will consult with Frank Rucker and bring us a recommendation at our next meeting.
Francie brought us up to date on the Spanish teacher situation. Over the summer, Peter Gould had a medical problem and he informed Francie that he would not be able to fulfill his teaching duties for this year. He offered six weeks of teaching to tide us over, but classroom teachers felt there would be disruption in a changeover of teachers during the year. Francie proposed that we hire Peter to conduct two residencies during the school year. The board endorsed that idea.
In order to correct an oversight, Lauren moved that we increase Celena Lunstead’s pay by the COLA received by the rest of the staff, retroactive from the beginning of the school year. Gussie seconded. The motion passed.
Gussie reported on the Vermont School Governance Study and Collaboration Initiatives meeting held by The Vermont School Boards Association.
We reviewed the minutes from August 26th. Gussie made a motion to accept them as written. Lauren seconded. The motion passed.
The meeting adjourned at 9:18 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Andy Reichsman
Pay Orders: #4 8/14/09 $ 28,537.24
Pay Orders: #5 8/28/09 $ 61,718.28
Pay Orders: #6 9/11/09 $104,375.71
Future Board Meetings: Monday October 12, 2009 at 6:00pm.
Our Guiding Principals:
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 second 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
Monday, September 14, 2009
Principal’s Report
Student Learning
Continuing to develop our professional learning community (PLC) through Critical Friends Group work – 1xmonth with focus on communication (writing)
Social Inclusion work
JH and 3/4 have already taken trips to Hogback
5/6 to Cape Cod, Oct 11-16
Beginning of year reading and math assessments will take place the end of September-beginning of October
NECAP’s Oct 1-22
Policy or Regulation Implementation
F1 Student Conduct and Discipline is identical to the policy adopted on 12/7/04
Recommend review and re-adoption
F7 Alcohol and Drugs – Recommend replacing Alcohol and Drug Abuse Policy which was approved on 4/25/94
Buildings and Grounds
Sunroom completion
PV panels
Monthly Contra Dance
Finance and Budget
Awarded Vermont Arts Council grant $4000
Enrollment/Staffing
Student enrollment as of 9-21-09 82
Spanish teacher – related issues
Informational items
Healthy Snack has increased enrollment 47 to 69 students (raise for CL?)
Superintendent’s Report for the Marlboro School Board
September 14, 2009
Note: Tonight I will be in Randolph observing and learning from a school board using policy governance to conduct the public’s business. A group from the WCSU Governance Committee will join me there.
Student Learning
1. The goals of the recently adopted WCSU Strategic Plan focus on three essential functions of all school systems: Curriculum and Instruction, Human Resources, and Operations. The details of the administrators’ action plans for achieving the goals are being edited and formatted for their review and should be ready for comment and review by board members towards the end of September. All principals received a draft 9/1/09. Pending revision, this document will be shared with all staff for further review and comment. I will share the results of this process with the boards in late September.
2. I observed a very casual and welcoming atmosphere at the school on opening day. It was wonderful to see so many parents talking with staff as the students met old friends and made new ones on the playground.
3. FYI: This month, MAPs tests are being used by eight schools in the WCSU to measure individual student progress in reading, mathematics and science. I encourage board members, teachers, and parents to consider these formative assessments as part of Marlboro’s local assessment plan in the future.
Policy/Regulation
1. FYI: The Brookline and Newfane School Boards approved a Joint-School Boards Contract last Thursday. Their first meeting under the terms of this contract will be October 1st at the Newbrook Firehouse. The two boards will meet separately prior to their joint-board meeting. An article appeared in the weekend edition of the Brattleboro Reformer. See http://www.reformer.com/localnews/ci_13228085.
2. Frank and I attended a public forum at Brooks Memorial Library last Thursday re: Funding Public Education in Vermont. Paul Cillo, a former VT legislator from the Public Assets Institute, presented some statistics and proposals that I hope to share with you. You may want to contact the institute (802-472-6222) for additional copies of A Citizen’s Guide to the CLA.
3. The latest edition of From the Boardroom has some good suggestions for asking effective questions of your administrators, and tips for saving time at board meetings.
Finance/Accounting
1. As of 9/10/09, The Consolidated Federal and American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Grants have not received final approval. Following the redirection and suggestions provided by the DOE, Frank and I resubmitted the FY10 Consolidated Federal Grant and ARRA Funds applications on 8/15/09. The IDEA Grant was approved as previously submitted. On 8/21 we received notice that a number of my proposals have not been approved and require correction. After re-submittal with revisions, a letter received late last week called for additional changes. Frank advises me that this is typical of the electronic review and approval process and that we can expect numerous delays and issues to clarify or correct. I last submitted corrections and revisions on 9/1/09. DOE data collection has been completed as of 8/1/09. This will secure final reimbursements to all WCSU school districts for FY09.
2. Your bus replacement grant was approved. Congratulations!
Enrollment/Staffing
1. To comply with the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Act I submitted a report to the VT DOE for the 2008-2009 school year. I canvassed all nine schools and found two homeless children. We are advised to expect an increase in the number of homeless students this year. I am serving as Homeless Liaison for the time being and will receive training on full implementation of the law.
2. The WCSU Professional Development Team, a committee of teachers and principals representing all schools met 9/3 to review the WCSU Strategic Plan. At the meeting facilitated by Matt Martyn, the committee agreed to interview consultants to “coordinate professional development for improved student learning” and make their recommendation to me. This contracted service will be a part-time responsibility, and not a WCSU employee position. Prior to Jan 1, 2010, we will review the results of this approach to coordinating professional development based on student performance and teacher feedback. Since all schools in the WCSU now have Title I School-wide programs, our professional development resources can be better coordinated and focused to improve student learning across the supervisory union.
Informational Items
1. The WCSU Governance Committee has scheduled two meetings, Sept.10th and Sept. 23rd both at Newfane School at 6:30. Winton Goodrich from VSBA will provide some perspective on governance 9/10. A smaller group from this committee will visit Brent Kaye’s supervisory union board in Randolph (OSSU) on September 14th.
2. I will attend the New Superintendents’ Orientation at the VSA Office in Montpelier on September 24th.
3. I will meet with the SE VT Superintendents meet on September 23rd in Putney.
4. The WCSU Policy Committee will meet late September TBA.
5. The Reformer’s article on your new superintendent gave some attention to the importance of the WCSU Strategic Plan as we work to improve student learning.
6. The VSBA Regional Meeting will be September 30th at Green Mountain HS 5:00-8:30 with a light meal provided. Let me know if you are attending and would like to carpool.
Sbj-9/10/09
Posted: November 12th, 2009 under School Board.