SPAULDING HIGH SCHOOL
UNION DISTRICT
Campus Library
January 18, 2010
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT:
John Santorello, CHAIR,
Nancy Pope, VICE-CHAIR,
Norma Malone, CLERK,
John Pizzo,
Tom Walz,
Giuliano Cecchinelli,
JJ Norway – Class of ‘10,
SHS/BTC Non-voting Student Representative
BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT:
Richard Storz,
Charlie Norway – Class of
‘11, SHS/BTC Non-voting Student Representative
ADMINISTRATORS PRESENT:
Dr. John Bacon,
Superintendent of Schools Bob
Phillips, Principal
Penny Chamberlin,
GUESTS PRESENT:
John Craig,
Tim Bombardier,
Board Secretary: Donna Holden
1. Call to Order
The
Chairperson, John Santorello, called the Monday, January 18, 2010, meeting to
order at 6:06 p.m., which was held in the SHS & BTC Campus Library,
2. Announcements and
Awards
Mr. Phillips
shared information regarding two upcoming events. Campus and other general information may be
viewed at www.shsbtc.org/.
3. Public Comment
None
4. Approval of Minutes:
A. January
4, 2010 – Regular Board Meeting
On a motion by Mrs. Malone seconded by Mr.
Cecchinelli, the Board unanimously voted to approve the minutes of January 4,
2010, regular meeting, as submitted.
5.
Old Business
A.
School Resource Officer
Mr. Craig and
Chief Bombardier appeared before the Board.
Chief Bombardier encouraged the Board to consider placing a separate
article for the continuation of the School Resource Officer (SRO) on the March
ballot, or for reinstatement of the position in the FY ’11 budget. He reiterated many of the same reasons for
his request as were listed in his letter to the Board dated January 11,
2010.
At 6:15 p.m. on a motion by Mrs. Malone seconded by
Mr. Walz, the Board unanimously voted to enter into executive session, pursuant
to Title 1 § 313 to discuss a personnel matter.
Dr. Bacon, Chief Bombardier,
and Mr. Craig were invited into the executive session.
At 6:40 p.m. the Board exited executive session.
On a motion by Dr. Pizzo seconded by Mrs. Malone,
the Board unanimously voted to reinstate the SRO position in the FY ’11 budget.
B.
Community Presentations – FY
2011 Budget
The
Board discussed whether Mrs. Rosa should be asked to return for budget
presentations. The Board agreed the Superintendent would present the budgets to
the local Service Clubs, and the Superintendent and Board Chairs would present
budgets to the community at regular Board meetings. The Board further agreed they would not
have Mrs. Rosa come back now, and that it was more prudent to have Mrs. Rosa
available and on site if the budgets failed.
The
Board also briefly discussed other budget promotion activities such as using
the automated phone system to contact parents to vote. Mr. Walz agreed to
arrange and attend a February 23rd Lions Club presentation with Dr.
Bacon. Dr. Pizzo and Mr. Santorello
agreed to stagger sending letters to the Times
Argus editor seeking budget support.
Dr.
Bacon reminded the Board he would be on vacation the first two weeks of
February, and that Mr. Barone would be available and attending Board meeting in
his absence.
6.
New Business
A.
Public School Choice
Collaborative
The Board
discussed their annual participation in the Winooski Valley Regional Public
School Choice Collaborative for the 2010-2011 school year, and renewal of their
prior agreement to accept no more than 10 students and send no more than 40
students for the school year.
On a motion by Mrs. Pope seconded by Mr. Walz, the
Board unanimously voted to approve the 2010-2011 contract, as discussed.
B. Substitute Teacher Cost
C. Teacher Time Use Report
The Board
reviewed the faculty/staff absences to date for the school year, which revealed
a total number of 1085.25 days, for a variety of reasons. Of the 150 faculty, para, and administrative employees
at both SHS and BTC, there was an average 7.235 days of absenteeism each.
Also reported
was a 49.23% use of the FY ’10 $100K budget for substitutes leaving $49,235
remaining. The Board agreed the cost and use of substitutes was staggering,
and although negotiated, the rate of absenteeism would not be sustainable in
private industry and could be detrimental to the educational soundness of
D. Truancy Update
Mr. Phillips
advised the Board after further consultation with IT Director, Jeff Hazzard,
new searches were created and made available through the Power School
Program/Student Management System, which provide better information to track
student absences. He said the system
also generates actions prompted by trigger points, such as automated letters to
parents after a certain number of absences, and after another certain number of
absences other follow-ups with agencies such as DCF, the State’s Attorney, etc.
Mr. Phillips confirmed the data collection was better, the Truancy Committee
was still working on the progress and the goal to produce a district-wide and
eventually a region-wide policy was in place and in process.
Mr. Phillips
informed the Board a number of SHS NEASC Committees began work today on reports
addressing standards for the NEASC review.
He said a survey to parents, students and Board members would also be
gathered over the next couple of weeks.
Ms.
Chamberlin advised the Board the Tech Center NEASC process was in the final
stages, and that a book of the presentations material being submitted was
available in her office for the Board’s review, if desired. She reminded member to attend the March 22nd
kick off dinner/reception where many of the items within the report would be
presented.
F. 2010 Financials to Date
Dr. Bacon notified
the Board the monthly financial report would be reviewed by the Business
Manager and himself, and then presented to the Finance Committees for
scrutiny.
Mr. Pope
confirmed the Finance Committee had not yet reviewed the report; however, at a
cursory glance she would have several questions regarding line items of the
report. Mr. Santorello asked Board
members to refer their questions and comments to the Finance Committee.
7. Other
Business (if needed)
None
8.
Reports to the Board
A.
Superintendent’s Report
Dr. Bacon
provided an oral report including reminder of the
Dr. Bacon
notified the Board the State of Vermont was recently on site monitoring Special
Education Programs and noted some major concerns, i.e. special education
dropout rates, out-of-class and out-of-district services, use of aids, and
transition programs from elementary to high school. He said many of the findings were not of
surprise, and that development and implementation of a corrective action plan
was not required.
In consideration of Dr. Bacon’s scheduled absence at the February 1st meeting, and that Mr. Phillips, Ms. Chamberlin and Mr. Barone would be attending a course until after 6:00 p.m. that evening, the Board unanimously agreed to schedule the start time of the February 1, 2010 meeting for 7:00 p.m.
Dr. Bacon
informed the Board he had been working with area superintendents to develop the
2010-2011 Regional Calendar, which he distributed. Upon discussion, the Board agreed they were in support of the calendar, and also
supported holding parent/teacher conference in the evening, to avoid additional
breaks in the schedule.
Dr.
Bacon distributed a copy of the Report of
the Committee on the Financing and Effectiveness of the Vermont Education
System in the 21st Century”, as required by Act No.1 section
H.57 (2009 Special Session). Dr. Bacon
advised the legislature would likely be focusing on the report during this
session and the potential cost savings outlined, of which several were already done
or being implemented by the SU.
Dr. Bacon distributed superintendent evaluation forms, to be completed and returned to either Mr. Santorello or SU Board Chair, Laura Moore, before February 18, 2010.
Dr. Bacon
advised the Business Manager job description and qualifications would be
reviewed and discussed by the SU Board at the February 18th meeting,
and requested that comments be provided to the SU representatives before that
meeting.
B. Committee Reports as Needed
Finance Committee:
meeting scheduled for February 9, 2010 at 5:00 p.m.
Facility Committee: meeting scheduled for January 28, 2010 at
6:00 p.m.
Curriculum Committee: meeting scheduled for February
4, 2010 at 5:00 p.m.
Policy Committee: May 2010, to be determined.
9. Future
Agenda Items
February
Class size (by teacher/block)
NECAP Results
Approval of Budget warning
March
Open
10. Presentation
and Board Service Appreciation
Mr.
Santorello presented Dr. Pizzo with a plaque in recognition of his six years of
Board Member service and honoring him for his many contributions to the
Spaulding High School community.
Dr. Pizzo thanked
the Board and community for the privilege of serving.
11. Executive
Session
A.
Contract Negotiations 1
V.S.A. § 313 (1)
B.
Legal Matter 1
V.S.A. § 313 (1)
At 8:20 p.m. on a motion by Mrs. Pope seconded by
Mrs. Malone, the Board unanimously voted to enter into executive session,
pursuant to Title 1 § 313, to discuss a contract negotiations and a legal
matter.
Dr. Bacon was
invited into the executive session.
At 8:53 p.m. the Board exited executive session
12. Adjournment
On a motion by Dr. Pizzo seconded by Mr. Walz, the
Board unanimously voted to adjourn at 8:54 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.
The next
regular business meeting is scheduled for Monday, February 1, 2010.
The next
policy review/working session meeting is scheduled for Monday, February 15, 2010.
Upcoming date
to remember:
NEASC Kick
off- March 22, 2010 Tech Center dinner/reception.
Respectfully
submitted,
Donna Holden