WATERBURY-DUXBURY SCHOOL BOARD

“UNOFFICIAL” MINUTES FOR OCTOBER 4, 2007

Meeting Held at Crossett Brook Middle School Library

 

 

IN ATTENDANCE

Board:                         Dale Smeltzer, Susan Flynn, Dawn Poitras, Sherry Ziemke and Michael Roche

Administrators:           Kevin Hamilton, Bob McNamara, Ken Page, and Don Schneider

Staff:                           Alex Houston

Public:             Georgeanne Baker, Reed McCracken

 

1)      Dale Smeltzer called the meeting to order at 6:18 p.m. following the dedication ceremony and reception for the Trish Feld Library.

 

2)      Ms. Smeltzer confirmed the agenda.

 

3)      There were no comments from the public.

 

4)      Discussion Items:

c)      Strategic Plan – Final Draft – The administration and Ms. Ziemke recapped what work had been done since the committee received feedback from the Board about the Strategic Plan Draft for the W-D School District.  A glossary was added to facilitate the reader’s understanding of educational terms he/she might be unfamiliar with and some changes were discussed and made.  Mr. Roche raised a concern that the committee did not act on the feedback provided at the previous meeting and requested more time to digest the document before being expected to adopt it in a formal motion.  Ms. Ziemke and others spoke to Mr. Roche’s concerns and asked him to direct any questions to Ms. Ziemke as soon as possible.  A lengthy discussion ensued regarding philosophy, affordable next steps, a possible one page summary of the plan being written, plans for adopting the document.  The Board will vote on the document at its next meeting.  Ms. Ziemke provided the Board with a document entitled, Broad Expectations and Timelines for Developing Action Steps for Strategic Plan, Draft, October 4, 2007.

 

Bob McNamara left at 7:00 p.m.

 

b)      CBMS Field Trips – Mr. Page informed the Board he has two requests for out-of-state field trips.  One is from Autumn Mayer, the French teacher, who would like to take 8th grade French students to Montreal on May 9, 2008.  The approximate cost per student is $20.00.

 

The second request is from the Wizard 5/6 Team, who would like to attend the Ferry Beach Ecology School in Saco, Maine, April 8, 2008 – April 11, 2008.  The cost per student is $200 for a total of $12,000 for the team.  Pre/post activities are done with the Team.  Mr. Page and parents are in support of the trip and willing to fund-raise in order for it to happen.  All students are expected to attend.  The Board indicated its approval for both trips as long as each trip is inclusive of all students and sensitive to the financial needs of families.

 

c)      Final Report from Ad Hoc Budget Planning Committee – Ms. Smeltzer and Ms. Poitras reviewed the committee’s work with the full Board.  They provided a written report entitled, Final Report: W-D Multi-Year Budgeting – Staffing Review, dated September 27, 2007.  Ms. Smeltzer answered questions from the group about the direction the Ad Hoc work should take at this point.  Ms. Smeltzer indicated that the information gathering is complete and now is the time for discussion, listening, and making informed decisions.  Given that the Board is entering its budget season, changes in staffing positions would need to be identified by November as this would impact the FY ’08-’09 budget.  Appendices: E and F will be used at the next meeting to guide the discussion.

 

d)   Annual Report Needs – Options re Printing and Mailing – Ms. Smeltzer asked the Board about the idea of the Board’s Annual Report being printed and mailed separately for the FY09 budget season. Other school districts do distribute their reports separately and in doing so raised readership and allowed for better timing.  Mr. Page indicated that U32 does distribute their report in this manner and would be a comparable to W-D.  Ms. Smeltzer will contact the Waterbury and Duxbury Select board Chairs for their input about this possible change.  A separate report could cost +/- $5,000.

 

5)      Reports:

a)      Educational Leaders – Mr. Schneider provided both an oral and written report.  He told the Board that the leaders are talking about the Action Plan work that is underway with staff, the WWSU Superintendent, and Curriculum Coordinator.  He suggested that at the first monthly meeting the educational leaders could report about curriculum and movement with the action plan steps while maintaining the second meeting as a time for reporting on the district’s financial situation.

 

b)      Foodservice Management – Mr. Schneider reported that the coordinator of the HUHS Foodservice program has met with Beth Lavery a couple of times and visited both buildings to familiarize himself with the W-D operation.  The HUHS coordinator’s focus will be on purchasing and the financial situation.  He will meet with the Board at the second meeting in November

 

6)      Other Business:

a)      Snowplow Bids – Mr. Page recommended awarding Eric Howes the snowplowing contract for CBMS.  Mr. Schneider recommended awarding Hallstrom Excavating the snowplowing contract for TBPS.

 

7)      Action Items:

a)      Employee Contracts – On the recommendation of Mr. Page, Susan Flynn moved to confirm a contract for Matthew Haggis, Information Technology position for the W-D School District to finish out the 2007-2008 school year.  Dawn Poitras seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

 

On the recommendation of Mr. Schneider, Dawn Poitras moved to authorize the Board chair to sign a contract for Celeste Emler, as a .43 FTE Math Teacher, which will be paid for by AYP State funds.  Susan Flynn seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

 

Michael Roche moved to accept letters of resignation from Leah Sophin, pre-school IA, at TBPS and Ellen Haack, Family and Consumer Science Teacher, at CBMS.  Mr. Page indicated that Ms. Haack will stay on until December while a replacement for the rest of the school year is found.  Dawn Poitras seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

 

b)      Board Minutes – Michael Roche moved to approve the September 20, 2007 minutes.  Susan Flynn seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

 

c)      Board Orders – On the recommendation of Susan Flynn, Sherry Ziemke moved to confirm the following Board orders dated October 2, 2007, in the amount of $119,079.93 and $467.905.  Ms. Flynn confirmed with Mr. Schneider the renovation bill and indicated that mileage needs to be submitted each month.  Michael Roche seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

 

d)      Snowplow Bids – Michael Roche moved to award the snowplow bid for CBMS to Eric Howes of Moretown at the per season price of not to exceed $3,500 with a price for salt/sanding of $135 per time and to Hallstrom Excavating of Waitsfield at the per season price of not to exceed $4,500 with a price for salt/sanding of $125.  Susan Flynn seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

 

e)      Field Trips – Michael Roche moved to approve the French Field trip to Montreal (details above) and the Wizard Team’s field trip to Saco, Maine (details above).  Sherry Ziemke seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.


Sherry Ziemke moved to adjourn the meeting at  8:25 p.m.  Dawn Poitras seconded the motion which passed unanimously.

 

These minutes are unofficial until approved by the Board of School Directors.  They are, in my opinion, substantively correct.  Minutes completed by:  Georgeanne Baker