SPAULDING HIGH SCHOOL & BARRE TECHNICAL CENTER CAMPUS

David Delcore, Times Argus Michele Woodcock Tom Mc Sweeney

Paul & Normal Malone Jamie & Linda Coleman Stefanie Cravedi

Laura Celly and Liz Pape, VHS

1. Call to Order

The Superintendent, Dr. Conley, called the Monday, March 17, 2008, meeting to order at 6:00 p.m., which was held in the SHS & BTC Campus Library, 155 Ayers Street, Barre, Vermont.

A. Board Reorganization

Dr. Conley opened the floor to nominations for Chairperson.

Martin Prevost nominated Christine Conti

On a motion by Mr. Prevost seconded by Mrs. Pope, the Board unanimously voted to elect Christine Conti to serve as Chairperson.

Mrs. Conti assumed the role as Chairperson, and opened the floor to nominations for Vice Chairperson.

John Santorello nominated Martin Prevost

Hearing no other nominations, the Board unanimously voted to elect Martin Prevost to serve as Vice-Chairperson.

Mrs. Conti opened the floor to nominations for Clerk.

Martin Prevost nominated John Santorello

Hearing no other nominations, the Board unanimously voted to elect John Santorello to serve as Clerk.

B. SU Board Appointment

Mr. Santorello and Mr. Prevost volunteered to serve as SU Board representatives. Mr. Prevost nominated Dr. Pizzo as the third representative.

On a motion by Mr. Prevost seconded by Mrs. Pope, the Board unanimously voted to elect Mr. Prevost, Mr. Santorello, and Dr. Pizzo to serve as the SHS & BTC representatives on the SU Board.

C. Committee Appointments

Mrs. Conti advised the Board she would contact each member to discuss committee appointments, and assignments would be discussed and made at the April 7, 2008, meeting.

Miss Grubb arrived during the next item.

D. Virtual High School Presentation

Ms. Pape, VHS President and CEO, and Laura Celly, Coordinator, appeared before the Board to provide a PowerPoint presentation detailing the virtual high school program. Ms. Pape explained that approximately 11K students selected from a course catalog of 250 courses during FY ‘08, taught by certified and accredited teachers from around the world, with an expanded course catalog and expected enrollment of approximately 13K for FY ’09.

She said standard student times were 60-minutes classes during a 15-week semester, and typical teacher times were one period per day on the VHS site monitoring and teaching a maximum of 25 students in their class. Ms. Pape also explained that member schools, of which there were 10 already participating in Vermont, would be required to provide an on-site VHS Coordinator and commit at least one teacher to receive extensive training and teach a virtual class. The school must also provide all of the text books, materials, supplies, etc to the students being taught the virtual course; however, in exchange the member school would receive 25 slots per semester (50 per year) for student enrollment in any of the other 249 courses listed in the catalog, with not more than four students enrolled in any one course. She said that many school have more than one trained teacher proving VHS courses, which increased the number of student slots available to the member school by 25 slots per teacher.

Ms. Pape also shared statistics supporting the VHS alternative, stating the AP exam pass rate was at 66%, and that the overall course completion rate was at 79%. The Board was encouraged to visit the VHS site at www.goVHS.org for more information regarding the program.

Ms. Celly also provided information and invited Board members to attend one of the informational breakfasts hosted soon by two of the VHS participating in Vermont.

2. Public Comment

None

3. Curriculum Reports

None

4. Items for Board Action

A. Contract Approval

On a motion by Mr. Santorello seconded by Mr. Prevost, the Board voted to approve the contract for Mr. Phillips.

B. Super Sub Salary Adjustment

Dr. Conley explained that a comprehensive sub pay policy was being developed; however, in the interim an adjustment to the regular sub pay to $73.00 per day was approved by the Boards earlier this year but the super sub rate was not addressed. He said to be fair to the three super subs currently at the high school; he recommended a $15.00 per day increase to a new rate to $88.00 be paid retroactively to the date of the regular sub increase.

On a motion by Mr. Santorello seconded by Mr. Prevost, the Board unanimously voted to increase the super sub salary to $88.00 per day, as recommended by the Superintendent.

C. Teacher Contracts

Dr. Conley distributed a list of the FY ’09 SHS & BTC Campus teachers, which contained a list of 96 positions plus 2 JROTC instructors. He explained the Board was required to affirmatively act on the renewal of contracts by April of each year or the contracts would automatically renew.

Upon a request by Mr. Santorello to hold a discussion, the Board agreed to move the item to executive session and postpone action until later in the meeting.

5. Items for Information and Discussion

A. Class Size Policy

Mr. Phillips advised the Board he was still gathering feedback from faculty regarding the proposed policy and asked for the agenda item to be moved to the April 7, 2008, meeting.

The Board agreed, to discuss the draft policy at the first April meeting; however, Mr. Santorello asked that the discussion be kept on tract and moved to action for policy readings before the May deadline.

B. Academic Assessment Analysis – What level of detail does the Board want to see in the report?

Mr. Phillips advised that he would be prepared to provide NECAP results at the April 7, 2008, meeting and based on the results would be seeking the Board’s direction in curriculum development.

Mr. Santorello asked for a return of essay questions in testing throughout the disciplines to enforce reading and writing skills. He also asked for information regarding a “below the surface” comparison of the traditional and alternative high school curriculums.

The Board agreed to discuss the level of detail desired after the upcoming reports.

6. Other Business

The Board discussed the “agenda parking lot” added by the Superintendent to keep track of pending matters. Dr. Conley also suggested adding an annual schedule, i.e. January: budgets and warnings, March: teacher contracts, etc.

Mrs. Conti advised the Board that once again the Vermont Ravens have requested that the SHS & BTC Campus field be considered their “home” field. She said the SHAAC was recommending approval of use of the fields during the fall season, which increases the home games to 6-8 games.

Mrs. Conti said that not including the concession stand earnings and gate fees, the four home Raven games hosted at the Campus last year netted the field improvement fund $1,200, which would be substantially higher this year for the increased number of games and fee.

The Board agreed to discuss and act on this matter at the April 7 meeting.

Mr. Phillips announced that Brianna Baker was named as a national nominee by the Vermont State Athletic Scholarship program.

7. Executive Session

A. Personnel Contracts, Title 1 § 313 (a) (3)

At 7:45 p.m. on a motion by Mr. Prevost seconded by Mr. Santorello, the Board unanimously voted to enter into executive session, pursuant to Title 1 § 313 to discuss a personnel matter.

Dr. Conley, Mr. Phillips, and Mr. Hennessey were invited into the executive session.

At 8:40 p.m. the Board exited the executive session.

On a motion by Mr. Prevost seconded by Mr. Santorello, the Board unanimously voted to approve the teacher contract list for FY ’09.

8. Adjournment

On a motion by Mr. Santorello seconded by Mr. Prevost, the Board unanimously voted to adjourn at 8:45 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 planned as a working/discussion meeting.

The next regular business meeting is scheduled for Monday, April 7, 2008, at 6:00 p.m.

The next planning/discussion meeting is scheduled for Monday, April 21, 2008, at 6:00 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Donna Holden

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

John Pizzo, Representing Barre Town, term expires 2010