SPAULDING HIGH SCHOOL UNION DISTRICT

SPAULDING HIGH SCHOOL UNION DISTRICT

REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING

Campus Library

August 31, 2009

BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT:

John Santorello, CHAIR, Representing Barre City, term expires 2012

Nancy Pope, VICE-CHAIR, Representing Barre Town, term expires 2011

Norma Malone, CLERK, Representing Barre Town, term expires 2012

John Pizzo, Representing Barre Town, term expires 2010

Tom Walz, Representing Barre City, term expires 2012

Giuliano Cecchinelli, Representing Barre City, term expires 2010

Richard Storz, Representing Barre City, term expires 2011

JJ Norway – Class of ’10, SHS/BTC Non-voting Student Representative

Charlie Norway – Class of ’11, SHS/BTC Non-voting Student Representative

BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT:

None

ADMINISTRATORS PRESENT:

Dr. John Bacon, Superintendent of Schools Penny Chamberlin, Technology Center Director

Bob Phillips, Principal Chris Hennessey, Assistant Principal

GUESTS PRESENT:

Board Secretary: Donna Holden

1. Call to Order

The Chairperson, John Santorello, called the Monday, August 31, 2009, meeting to order at 6:02 p.m., which was held in the SHS & BTC Campus Library, 155 Ayers Street, Barre, Vermont.

2. Announcements and Awards

Mr. Phillips shared that 890 students began classes at SHS. Ms. Chamberlin also noted a good start to the school year.

With the Board’s permission items on the agenda were taken out of order.

3. Public Comment

A. Driver Education Program

Mrs. Hulbert distributed a copy of specifications related to driver’s education based on Title 16§104, which stated “a driver education program shall include an appropriate driver education course during regular school hours as part of the offerings of the regular school day program.” Also provided was a copy of an e-mail that Mrs. Hulbert received from DOE consultant, Lindsay Townsend, which stated a waiver of the rules requested by Dr. Bacon was not approved. Mrs. Hulbert asked the Board to put personnel issues aside, to restore the driver’s education program to its former regular school day schedule, and to do what was best for the students.

Ian Hulbert, SHS Sophomore Class President, reiterated many of the comments made by Mrs. Hulbert and stressed from a student’s perspective the potentially devastating ramifications of not having access to a driver’s education course during the school day. He said the proposed program structure forced many, many students who participate in sports, other extracurricular activities, or work to choose between driver’s education (which he noted was required by the State of VT and for auto insurance coverage) and these other activities.

Allan Wilmott, former full-time driver’s education teacher, addressed the Board advising the former two-person department historically met the needs of approximately 200 students per year during the regular day, after school, and in the summer driving sessions. He discussed changes to the program over the past several years, including last year’s improvement to increase class sizes, increase to three students per car for the on-the-road lessons, and expansion of the driving schedule to include first block.

Dave Chevalier, former full-time driver’s education teacher, also addressed the Board. He discussed the many accommodations provided to students, both regular and special needs, and management of the former driver’s education program. Mr. Chevalier also provided a description of what the expectations and demands would be for the .33 FTE driver’s education teacher and consequences of offering the program under the new structure.

Both Mr. Wilmott and Mr. Chevalier agreed the current year’s plan to eliminate a full-time position and reduce the remaining teacher’s time to .33 FTE for approximately 160 students was inappropriate and a disservice to the students and community. They said the plan to reduce program costs through holding larger instructional classes during the school day and scheduling of all the behind-the-wheel driving lessons for after school and Saturdays was not the best, acceptable program.

Mr. Chevalier said even with additional instructors for the driving lessons, which would require mentoring and supervision, he feared students would be pushed through the program and that safety, levels of proficiency, and students would suffer, and ultimately could jeopardize lives.

Mr. Wilmott and Mr. Chevalier both agreed the program could be reconfigured and restored, but as professionals neither would teach in the current proposed program design.

Mr. Phillips advised the Board there were currently 127 students enrolled in driver’s education with 16-17 per class. He said of the five or so potential candidates interviewed to provide in-class instruction, and after school/week-end driving lessons, none were available or willing to work the schedule of the program.

4. Executive Session

A. Personnel Matters

At 7:00 p.m. on a motion by Mr. Storz seconded by Dr. Pizzo, the Board unanimously voted to enter into executive session, pursuant to Title 1 § 313, to discuss personnel matter.

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

At 8:25 p.m. the Board exited executive session.

On a motion by Mrs. Malone seconded by Mr. Storz, the Board unanimously voted to direct the administration to reconfigure the staffing of the Driver’s Education Program to best accommodate the student’s needs.

5. Approval of Minutes of August 17, 2009 Retreat Board Meeting

On a motion by Mrs. Pope seconded by Dr. Pizzo, the Board unanimously voted to approve the minutes of August 17, 2009, retreat regular meeting, as discussed.

6. New Business

A. Approval of Food Service Contract Renewal

Dr. Bacon explained the food service contract was a joint contract with Barre City Elementary and Middle School, and was in year three of a three-year contract. He said the contract was renewed annually and based on bidding requirements would be put out for bids at the end of this contract year.

On a motion by Dr. Pizzo seconded by Mrs. Pope, the Board unanimously voted to approve the Fitz-Vogt Food Services Contract for the 2009-2010 school year.

7. Table and Adjournment

At 8:40 p.m. on a motion by Dr. Pizzo seconded by Mr. Walz, the Board unanimously voted to table the remaining agenda items until the September 21, 2009 meeting, and to adjourn to allow the administration to begin reconfiguration of the driver’s education staffing.

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 Board will hold a policy review/working session meeting Monday, September 21, 2009.

· The Board will hold a regular meeting On Monday, October 5, 2009.

Respectfully submitted,

Donna Holden