SPAULDING HIGH SCHOOL & BARRE TECHNICAL CENTER CAMPUS

Board Secretary: Donna Holden

1. Call to Order

The Chairperson, Christine Conti, called the Monday, January 5, 2009, meeting to order at 6:00 p.m., which was held in the SHS & BTC Campus Library, 155 Ayers Street, Barre, Vermont.

2. Announcements and Awards

Mr. Phillips advised the Board of a recent student achievement. Campus and other general information may be viewed at www.shsbtc.org/.

Mrs. Conti advised the community that four seats on the Board would be up for election in March. She said three City and one Barre Town seat would be open for election with the incumbents of at least two of the seats not running for re-election. Mrs. Conti advised that she and Ms. Taylor would both be stepping down. Mrs. Conti encouraged any interested community members to contact any Board member or the Superintendent’s Office for information regarding the positions.

3. Visitors and Communications

None

4. Items for Board Action

A. Approval of Minutes:

December 15, 2008 – Regular Spaulding High School Union District Board Meeting

On a motion by Mr. Storz seconded by Mr. Santorello, the Board unanimously voted to approve the minutes of December 15, 2008 –Regular Spaulding High School Union District Board Meeting, as submitted.

B. FY 2010 Budget

The Spaulding High School budget was proposed at $10,344,484, a 4.1% increase, which included $2,193,441 in special education spending (up 20.6%) and $8,151,043 in regular education spending an increase of 0.4%.

Dr. Bacon advised the Board that based on the current budget proposal both the Barre Town tax rate at .57¢, and the Barre City tax rate of .49¢ would essentially be level funded.

The Board discussed reinstatement of one guidance counselor and one business teacher positions proposed for elimination along with the 2 math, 1 English, 1 science, 1 foreign language, 1 special education, and 6 para-educators. Dr. Bacon explained that reinstatement of both positions would increase the budget by $145,780 resulting in an overall 5.5% budget increase, and an increase to the Barre Town tax rate to .58¢, and the Barre City rate to .50¢. He also noted, however, that retaining the business teacher position would preserve an existing program in the high school and enhance the offering to replace many of the highly enrolled business courses being eliminated at the Tech Center.

The Board also discussed the Superintendent’s proposal to restructure the Driver’s Education program, which included proposal of after-school drive time and summer enrollment, thereby freeing up and/or increasing availability to academic classes during the school day. He said a restructure of the program would result in savings of $114K.

Mrs. Rosa confirmed that a $114K reduction to the proposed budget would result in a budget of $10,230,484, or 2.9% increase. However, the warning which included grant funds would read $10,874,557 ($390,500 of which is grant funds and $253,573 in accounting corrections for prior year tuition reimbursements).

The Board also discussed the anticipated, unaudited, unreserved fund balance of $225,500K and use of $117,500K for the special articles which would leave the remainder for future tax stabilization.

By consensus, the Board agreed they supported the driver’s education restructuring proposal.

On a motion by Mr. Santorello seconded by Mr. Storz, the Board voted to approve the FY ’10 SHS budget at a 2.9% increase or $10,230,484 (excluding grant funds), as discussed. Motion passed, 4-3. Dr. Pizzo, Ms. Taylor, and Mrs. Conti voted no.

Dr. Bacon advised that approval of the Barre Technical Center budget was accomplished through approval of each sending school’s budgets within each community, and which like the SHS budget included a line item for tuition to the Tech Center. The Tech Center budget proposed and previously presented to the Board was $2,498,115, a 14.9% increase, which included a pre-tech and electrical program that would [in part] be reimbursed through Perkins Grant funds, bringing the actual education increase to 5.3%.

March 3, 2009 Warning

Mrs. Conti reviewed the five articles proposed in the warning, which included the FY ’10 budget, fund balance use of $25K for the roof fund, $50K to a capital improvement reserve fund, $42,500 SRO funding, and approximately $108K for future tax stabilization.

On a motion by Dr. Pizzo seconded by Mr. Santorello, the Board unanimously voted to approve the March 3, 2009 warning, as presented.

March 2, 2009 Annual Meeting Warning

On a motion by Dr. Pizzo seconded by Mrs. Pope, the Board unanimously voted to approve the March 2, 2009 annual meeting warning, as presented.

Proposed Schedule

Mr. Phillips presented a refined version of the schedule proposal previously discussed and dated 1/1/09. He explained the 8-credit per year schedule, which began the day at 8:00 a.m. and ended at 2:53 p.m. included provisions for year-long and/or semester only courses, provided 5-minute passing time, and imbedded music within the school day. He noted that staff decreases, student requests, and conflicts created by the newly installed scheduling software would drive whether the new schedule was a success.

Mr. Santorello expressed his concerns regarding imbedding “homework” time within a class schedule, and distributed a calculation of actual hours of student education received with year-ling classes and “homework” done at home.

Mrs. Conti thanked Mr. Phillips and the Scheduling Committee for their work, and confirmed the Student Representative’s support for the proposed schedule.

On a motion by Dr. Pizzo seconded by Mr. Cecchinelli, the Board voted to approve the proposed schedule dated 1/5/09 for an August 2009 implementation, as presented. Mr. Santorello voted no.

Warrant

On a motion by Ms. Taylor seconded by Mr. Cecchinelli, the Board unanimously voted to authorize the Chair of the Finance Committee (currently Mrs. Pope) to approve the warrants.

5. Items for Information and Discussion

None

6. Reports to the Board

A. Superintendent’s Report

Dr. Bacon advised the Board the previous state-wide property tax set at .87¢ produced an approximate $20 million surplus. However last year the legislature declined to reduce the rate to .85¢ as recommended by Tax Commissioner, which Mr. Pelham has recommended again this year. Dr. Bacon encouraged Board members to contact their legislative representatives to support the tax decrease.

B. Principal

Mr. Phillips reviewed information provided in his written report, which included the 12/30/08 Administration planning meeting regarding the 2008-09 Mission/Vision Action Plan.

Mrs. Pope asked for a report regarding the historical statistics on SAT and AP exams. Mrs. Conti agreed to include this item on the January 19, 2009 agenda.

C. Technical Center Director

Ms. Chamberlin had nothing to add to her written report. She also distributed an Adult Education course and registration flyer recently included in an edition of the Times Argus.

D. Committee Reports as Needed

· Finance Committee

The next regularly scheduled meeting will be Tuesday, January 13, 2009, at 5:30 p.m., in the SHS Campus Library. (2^nd Tuesday, monthly)

· Facility Committee

The next regularly scheduled meeting will be Thursday, January 29, 2009, at 5:30 p.m., in the SHS Campus Library. (4^th Thursday, monthly)

E. Supervisory Union

The next regularly scheduled meeting will be Thursday, January 8, 2009, (2^nd Thursday, monthly) at which time all three district Boards are invited to attend a TRI-BOARD meeting, beginning at 5:30 p.m. with a light meal, followed by the meeting at 6:00 p.m., in the SHS Campus Library. Mrs. Conti encouraged full attendance of the Board, including administrators and student representatives.

7. Other Business

None

8. Executive Session

A. Real Estate

B. Support Staff Negotiations

At 7:40 p.m. on a motion by Mr. Storz seconded by Mrs. Pope, the Board unanimously voted to enter into executive session, pursuant to Title 1 § 313, to discuss a real estate matter and contract negotiations.

Dr. Bacon was invited into the executive session.

At 8:22 p.m. the Board exited executive session.

9. Adjournment

On a motion by Dr. Pizzo seconded by Ms. Taylor, the Board unanimously voted to adjourn at 8:23 p.m.

Next meeting Date:

Meetings are regularly scheduled for the first and third Monday of each month at 6:00 p.m., unless otherwise noted. The first meeting is planned as a business meeting; the second meeting is conducted as a policy review and working/discussion meeting.

A TRI-BOARD meeting is scheduled for Thursday, January 8, 2009, at 5:30 p.m.

The next policy review/working session meeting is scheduled for Monday, January 19, 2009, at 6:00 p.m.

The next regular business meeting is scheduled for Monday, February 2, 2009, at 6:00 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Donna Holden

John Pizzo, Representing Barre Town, term expires 2010

Meredith Grubb – Class of ’09, SHS/BTC Non-voting Student Representative