THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE

WATERBURY-DUXBURY SCHOOL DISTRICT #45

 

March 1, 2009

1:00 p.m.

Thatcher Brook Primary School

Waterbury, Vermont

 

Jeffrey Kilgore called the meeting to order.

 

The inhabitants of the Waterbury-Duxbury School District #45, a union school district, who are legal voters in the District, are hereby notified and warned to meet in Room 238, Thatcher Brook Primary School in the Town of Waterbury at 1:00 o’clock in the afternoon of March 1, 2009, to act upon the following matters:

 

ARTICLE 1: To elect a Moderator to preside at the meetings of the Waterbury-Duxbury School District #45 whose term of office shall be for the ensuing year.

 

Dale Smeltzer nominated Jeffrey Kilgore to preside at the meetings of the Waterbury-Duxbury School District #45 for the ensuing year. The nomination was seconded by Dawn Poitras. The Clerk cast one ballot for Jeffrey Kilgore to preside at the meetings of the Waterbury-Duxbury School District #45 for the ensuing year. There being no other nominations, Jeffrey Kilgore was elected as Moderator for the ensuing year.

 

Jeffrey Kilgore introduced Dale Smeltzer, Chair of the Waterbury-Duxbury School Board. Dale Smeltzer introduced board members Sherry Ziemke, Dawn Poitras and Scott Rathke; and Educational Leaders Don Schneider, Barbara Tomasi-Gay and Kevin Hamilton.

 

ARTICLE 2: To elect a Clerk and Treasurer for the Waterbury-Duxbury School District #45, whose terms of office shall be for one year.

 

Sherry Ziemke nominated Carla Lawrence as Clerk, and Carol Plunkett as Treasurer for Waterbury-Duxbury School District #45 for the ensuing year. The nomination was seconded by Dawn Poitras. The Clerk cast one ballot each for Carla Lawrence as Clerk and Carol Plunkett as Treasurer. There being no other nominations, Carla Lawrence was elected as Clerk and Carol Plunkett was elected as Treasurer for the ensuing year.

 

ARTICLE 3: To act upon reports of the Waterbury-Duxbury School District #45 officers with the exception of their claims for fees or compensation during their year of office ending March 3, 2009.

 

Scott Rathke made a motion to accept the reports of the School District Officers as printed, with the exception of the claims for fees or compensation for services during the year of office ending March 3, 2009. The motion was seconded by Sherry Ziemke and approved by those present.

 

ARTICLE 4: To act with respect to claims of Waterbury-Duxbury School District #45 officers for fees or compensation for their services during the year ending March 3, 2009.

 

Dawn Poitras made a motion that the claims of the Waterbury-Duxbury School District #45 Officers for fees or compensation for their services during the year ending March 3, 2009 be paid as follows:

            Chairperson                             $900

            All Other Board Members      $425 each

            Treasurer                                 $600

The motion was seconded by Sherry Ziemke and approved by those present.

ARTICLE 5: To see if the District will authorize the Board of Directors to borrow money with which to pay its lawful debts and expenses for the fiscal year which ends June 30, 2010, in anticipation of the collection of taxes and the receipt of other funds to be used for those purposes.

 

Dale Smeltzer made a motion to authorize the Waterbury-Duxbury Board of School Directors to borrow money to pay its lawful debts, including assessment of Harwood Union High School Expenses, for the support of schools during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2010.  The motion was seconded by Sherry Ziemke. A discussion followed and the question was asked whether or not the Board would have to borrow money. D. Smeltzer indicated that money would have to be borrowed and was authorized in June. The motion was approved by those present.

 

ARTICLE 6: To present Waterbury-Duxbury School District information of interest, including but not limited to student assessment information.

 

D. Schneider and K. Hamilton presented assessment information and gave a brief update of the TBPS renovations project. A brief discussion followed with regard to the correlation between physical activity and learning.

 

ARTICLE 7: To present, for informational purposes only, the budget for the support of Waterbury-Duxbury School District #45 for the fiscal year which ends June 30, 2010.

 

D. Smeltzer presented an overview of the school budget and supporting information. She distributed a hand-out which showed net staff reductions and gave an explanation of the education tax rates.

 

ARTICLE 8: To vote by Australian Ballot whether to authorize the Board of Directors to expend a sum of $ 9,302,621 the support of the Waterbury-Duxbury School District #45 during the fiscal year which ends June 30, 2010.

 

J. Kilgore gave a reminder of the following:

 

The polls for voting by Australian Ballot will be open on March 3, 2009 Town Meeting Day, at the following places:

 

FOR DUXBURY VOTERS

            7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.                         Crossett Brook Middle School

FOR WATERBURY VOTERS

           7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.                          Thatcher Brook Primary School                                                                     

 

ARTICLE 9:             To do any other business that may legally come before the meeting.

 

J. Kilgore stated that the law regarding Australian Ballots has changed in that discussion is allowed from the floor while voting occurs. He indicated that he will offer a question and answer session on the school budget during Other Business.  

 

D. Smeltzer made a motion to recess the meeting until 7:00am on March 3, 2009 at which time the polls will open for Australian Ballot items. The motion was seconded by W. Shepeluk and approved by those present.

 

The results of the Australian Ballot items are as follows:

 

ARTICLE 8

 

“Shall the voters of the Waterbury-Duxbury School District #45 authorize the Board of Directors to expend a sum of $9,302,621 for the support of the Waterbury-Duxbury School District #45 during the fiscal year which ends June 30, 2010?”

 

                        Those in favor:            455     

                        Those opposed:           350

 

Reed McCracken was elected as Waterbury Town School Director for a 3 year term.

Reed McCracken was also elected to the Waterbury-Duxbury Union #45 School Board for a term of 3 years.

 

A true record of the proceedings.

 

Dale Smeltzer, Chair

Scott Rathke

Dawn Poitras

Sherry Ziemke

 

Received and recorded this 4th day of March, 2009.

Carla Lawrence, Clerk

Waterbury-Duxbury School District #45

 

Approved by Waterbury-Duxbury School Board during regular meeting on March 12, 2009