WATERBURY-DUXBURY SCHOOL BOARD

“APPROVED AS WRITTEN” MINUTES FOR MARCH 12, 2009

Meeting Held at Thatcher Brook Conference Room

 

IN ATTENDANCE

BOARD:                                Dale Smeltzer, Ben Smith, Reed McCracken, Scott Rathke, and

Sherry Ziemke

ADMINISTRATORS:         Kevin Hamilton, Richard Moser, Ken Page, Don Schneider, and Barbara Tomasi-Gay    

STAFF:                                  Bud Towndrow        

PUBLIC:                               Georgeanne Baker

 

1.                  CALL TO ORDER - Ms. Smeltzer called the meeting to order at 6:05 p.m.

 

2.                  BOARD REORGANIZATION

A.    Ms Smeltzer opened nominations for Vice-Chair/Clerk.  Dale Smeltzer nominated Sherry Ziemke for Vice-Chair/Clerk.  Scott Rathke seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

 

B.     Dale Smeltzer opened nominations for three WWSU Representatives.  Sherry Ziemke nominated Sherry Ziemke, Scott Rathke, and Dale Smeltzer as W-D’s WWSU Board Representatives with Reed McCracken and Ben Smith as alternates. Reed McCracken seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

 

C.    Dale Smeltzer opened nominations for one WWEC Representative.  Sherry Ziemke moved to appoint Dale Smeltzer as the WWEC Representative.  Scott Rathke seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.  Dick Moser announced that the first WWSU Board meeting is scheduled for March 24, 2009, at 7:00 p.m., at HUHS, in the library for the purpose of reorganizing.  In addition, HUHS has asked for an increase from one to two representatives from their board to the executive committee.

 

D.    Sherry Ziemke moved to appoint Barbara Tomasi-Gay as Truant Officer.  Scott Rathke seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

 

E.     Reed McCracken moved to designate the Times Argus as the newspaper of record.  Ben Smith seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

 

F.     The Board discussed a different schedule for its regular meetings.  Ms. Smeltzer expressed a desire to set Board meetings once a month.  The next regularly scheduled meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 7, 2009, at CBMS, at 6:00 p.m. and the future schedule will be set at another meeting.

 

G.    Reed McCracken moved to authorize Sherry Ziemke to review and sign Waterbury-Duxbury School Board Financial Orders on behalf of the School Board prior to the regularly scheduled meetings and to report the information at the next meeting for inclusion in the minutes. Ben Smith seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

 

 

H.    Ben Smith moved to approve the following Board assignments:

                              a.            Ben Smith and Dale Smeltzer, support staff negotiations

                              b.            Scott Rathke, maintenance/facilities

                               c.            Dale Smeltzer and Scott Rathke, remaining TBPS renovations issues

Reed McCracken seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

 

I.       Reed McCracken moved designate Georgeanne Baker as Recording Secretary with a stipend of $60 for the first two hours of meeting time, with $20 an hour for the following hours.  Ben Smith seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

 

3.                  WRITTEN REPORTS – Board Feedback

A.    Principals Report and Recommendations, including

                           a.      CBMS Maintenance Purchase Need – Ms. Baker, Business Manager, recommended in a memo to the W-D School Board, dated March 6, 2009, the purchase of two “in line” heaters and a replacement floor scrubber for CBMS.  She recommends that short-term maintenance funds be used for these purchases. (See attached memo for details.)  Dale Smeltzer explained the use of short-term maintenance funds to the other Board members.  Bud Towndrow further explained some of the issues around these needs.  There were no concerns expressed.

 

4.                  DISCUSSION ITEMS

A.    AYP Report and Student Assessment Data to Board – Mr. Page defined AYP to new Board members.  AYP will be discussed at a later meeting.  He continued by reviewing the salient points for CBMS that was outlined in a memo to the Board dated March 12, 2009. Ms. Tomasi-Gay reviewed salient points for TBPS, and the NECAP scores for both schools.  Writing has increased noting the recent two-year focus with Karen Kurzman, a writing consultant.  Reading has gone down at TBPS which has brought the staff’s focus to evaluating the reasons and determining action for improvement.

B.     Action Plan Renewal Process, within Strategic Plan – Ms. Tomasi-Gay reviewed the Action Plan 2009-2010 draft dated March 10, 2009.  The Educational Leaders detailed strategies and actions in the areas of reading, math, writing, student behavior, and partnerships. The Board asked for more specifics to be added to the document in terms of areas of focus for staff effort, students being targeted, and specific targets for evidence of improvement.  It was agreed to review another draft at the next meeting.

 

C.    CBMS Schedule and Length of School Day - A subgroup met, as decided at the last regular meeting, to begin discussions regarding increasing the length of the school day at CBMS.  A full subcommittee will be established to begin meeting about this issue.  Ms. Smeltzer indicated that it is important for this group to look at the entire District’s needs.  Don Schneider will be lead on the committee with Sherry Ziemke and Scott Rathke as Board representatives. These meetings need to be publicly warned. It was suggested that Washington Central’s work should be looked at during the investigation process.  The CBMS educational leaders indicated that their building has already begun this work. 

 

D.    Board Direction regarding Hiring Delegation and Parameters – Dale Smeltzer provided a handout dated March 10, 2009 that provided preliminary ideas around this need.  The handout outlined the purpose and suggested steps for this proposed process.  A discussion ensued regarding a protocol for hires since it relates to costs in the future, and a revised draft will be distributed for comment prior to the next meeting.

 

5.                  WRITTEN REPORTS CONTINUED

A.    Field Trip Authorization – Mr. Page noted that he had sent out via email the request for Board approval of three out-of-state field trips to Boston for the various grade 5-6 teams.

B.     TBPS Mascot – Mr. Schneider informed the Board that the students of TBPS have voted to designate the eagle as its mascot.

C.    Financial report – Michelle Baker provided a written report in advance of the meeting.  There were no questions.

 

6.                  WWSU, SUPERINTENDENT REPORT

A.    CBMS Assistant Principal Search Process – Mr. Moser and Mr. Page have discussed the needs and process for the hiring of the CBMS assistant principal.  Mr. Moser provided a calendar and job description for the Board’s perusal and discussion.

 

7.            ACTION ITEMS

A.    Board Minutes – Ben Smith moved to accept Board minutes dated February 5, 2009, February 16, 2009 (Special), March 1, 2009 (Annual) and March 9, 2009 (Special), all as written. Sherry seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

 

B.     Board Orders – On the recommendation of Scott Rathke, Reed McCracken moved to confirm the Board orders dated February 17, 2009 for $154,419.08, February 18, 2009 for $350.00, and March 2, 2009 for $37,357.01. Ben Smith seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

 

C.    Recommendations of the Written Reports – Ben Smith moved to approve the recommendations made via the administration’s written reports regarding short-term maintenance spending for the purchase of two “in line” heaters and a replacement floor scrubber for CBMS, designating TBPS’s mascot as the eagle, and three grade 5-6 field trips to Boston. Reed McCracken seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

 

D.    Letter of Resignation from Kevin Hamilton – Kevin Hamilton thanked the Board for releasing him from his contract so that he could accept a contract from Browns River Middle School.  He thanked everyone for the opportunity to serve the W-D communities.  Ben Smith moved to accept Mr. Hamilton’s letter of resignation dated February 26, 2009.  Reed McCracken seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

 

E.     Authorization for Assistant Principal Search – Sherry Ziemke moved to authorize Mr. Moser to begin the search for CBMS’s assistant principal, as discussed.  Reed McCracken seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

 

F.     Board Meeting Schedule – Reed McCracken moved to set Tuesday April 7, 2009 as the next regularly scheduled Board meeting.  Ben Smith seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

 

8.                  CONFIRM TOPICS FOR NEXT MEETING AGENDA – (single April 7th meeting)

A.    Main Topics:  Food Service Program update plus Washington Co. Food Council (Bob McNamara); Action Plan Renewal; Board Goals/R&R’s

B.     Follow-up:  TBPS PTO Bylaws Approval per Fundraising Policy, Assistant Principal Job Description

C.    Written Reports:  Financials, Principals’ Audit Follow-up Written Report from Business Manager; Professional Staff Contracts (before April 10)

 

Ben Smith moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:40 p.m.  Reed McCracken 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