WATERBURY-DUXBURY SCHOOL BOARD

“APPROVED” MINUTES FOR May 12, 2009

Meeting Held in the TBPS Library

 

IN ATTENDANCE

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

Sherry Ziemke

ADMINISTRATORS:         Michelle Baker, Kevin Hamilton, Richard Moser, Don Schneider, and Barbara Tomasi-Gay

STAFF:                                  Eric Hall

PUBLIC:                               Georgeanne Baker

 

1.                  Ms. Smeltzer called the meeting to order at 6:07 p.m.

 

2.                  EXECUTIVE SESSION – Ben Smith moved to enter into executive session to discuss personnel at 6:08 p.m.  Reed McCracken seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.  It was agreed to come out of executive session at 6:40.       

 

3.                  CBMS Assistant Principal Interview – The Board, Superintendent, and administration interviewed Catherine Knight for the CBMS assistant principal’s position. 

 

4.                  DISCUSSION ITEMS

  1. Action Plan Renewal – Ms. Tomasi-Gay provided a draft of the Action Plan 2009-2011 dated May 12, 2009.  Those in attendance discussed clarifications and timelines, and the need for connection to the strategic plan.  The Board was mindful to have the document be accessible and understandable to all members of the community.  Ms. Tomasi-Gay will make the suggested changes for the Board’s perusal at a future meeting.

 

  1. Maintenance Plans for remainder FY09, FY10 – Mr. Schneider and Ms. Baker reported that $4,000 was left in the maintenance reserve line item.  Long-term planning is underway for developing a multi-year plan for maintenance improvements.

 

  1. Board Goals, Continued – The Board agreed to look first at clarifying the District Coordinator roles, identified as needing to happen before July 1st, at a special Board meeting to be warned for June 2nd, at 6:30 p.m., at CBMS.  Completing the strategic plan is an urgent need that needs to be addressed soon. The review and prioritization of all the suggested goals will happen at the next regular meeting on June 9, 2009.

 

  1. Policy Amendment, per State Statute Change –

a)      D6 Volunteers and Work Study Students – Ms. Smeltzer used the VSBA model policy to draft this proposal. Changes were noted on the back of the draft.  Ms. Smeltzer raised a question regarding the inclusion of student teachers under this policy.  A large discussion regarding how to interpret the policy for classroom volunteers ensued, and it was agreed that volunteers should be included for the screening process.  The administrators will bring back recommendations on how to proceed in terms of clearly defining volunteers.  This policy will be warned for the next meeting with volunteers added for screening.

 

  1. District Subcommittee Reviewing Schedule Needs – Report – Ms. Ziemke requested input from the Board about the purpose of this subcommittee’s work.  She was concerned about staff expectations being raised by continuing the work without first clarifying the overall needs and goals.  Such clarification is important before either committee brings forth recommendations that are specific to changes in scheduling and the length of the school day.  Ms. Ziemke suggested that we have yet to flesh out action steps for the strategic plan and should do so before settling on such a major decision as schedule changes. If a significant schedule change is ultimately determined to be a priority for our district, then it should be a priority action step in the strategic plan. Ideally, it would be examined along with other ideas for how to best achieve the overall goals and strategies. When and if schedule change is decided on as a priority action step, above other ideas, then we would begin detailed development of the idea.  Ms. Smeltzer suggested that the work should focus on broad strokes and defining action steps under the strategic plan.  The Board representatives will keep bringing back information from the Board to the respective committees.   

 

5.                  WRITTEN REPORTS – Board Feedback

A.    Principals Report and Recommendations – Mr. Schneider, Ms. Baker, and Mr. Hall informed the Board that the district is in the process of receiving bids for computer leases.  Maintaining standardization, consistency, and current hardware is important in an effort to keep the operating systems up-to-date. Generally new computers go to teachers, teacher computers go to the lab, and lab computers are distributed throughout the classrooms.  Long-term infrastructure updates at CBMS will be considered in the future plans through the maintenance line item.  Further information will be provided for the June Board meeting. Compromises within the budget may need to be made while considering what we would like to buy, what can we buy, and or what are we willing to give up.  The information will be provided to the Board a week in advance of the meeting.

 

Mr. Schneider reported that the District would need to implement one of four corrective actions as outlined for all AYP schools.  Mr. Moser indicated that the incoming Superintendent's first order of business will be to decide how Title I money will be distributed.  The W-D School District is in Year 1 of corrective action and year 3 of being identified as an AYP school.  Further discussion will occur at the next Board meeting.

 

Ms. Smeltzer asked the Board to weigh in on the memo from Ken Page dated August 23, 2008 outlining a request for additional life insurance coverage for 5 full-year non-bargaining unit employees raising the amount from $10,000 to $50,000.  The extra cost is $288 for the year.

 

B.     Financial Report and Business Manager Report – Ms. Baker made a request for Board signatures for the resolution provided by the Chittenden Bank for the $9,000 John Deere tractor loan at 2.5% interest rate.

 

Ms. Baker informed the Board that the projected year-end balance is likely to be around $50,000 because the District was not purchasing any more oil for TBPS, there is a projected surplus in the professional development line, lower contribution from the General Fund to food service based on a review of current encumbrances, and allowing some room for unanticipated items.

 

6.                  Superintendent Report, WWSU Follow-up – Superintendent Moser indicated that the information for new board members was sent via postal mail for the upcoming new board member orientation.  He told the Board that the interview committee for Director of Curriculum was scheduled to interview three people tomorrow. The WWSU executive committee will meet tomorrow to discuss a focus for its goals and expectations for the incoming superintendent.  Mr. Moser briefly reviewed parental and the Commissioner’s concern for the early release day model.

                                                                                                                        

7.                  OTHER BUSINESS

A.    New Superintendent’s Survey – Ms. Smeltzer confirmed with the Board that the collated list of answers to Superintendent Brigid Scheffert’s questions was complete and representative.

 

B.     Board Thank You for Staff – Ms. Smeltzer asked Mr. Schneider to arrange with the Food Service Director a thank you snack table for the W-D staff for the last Friday of the school year.

 

C.    Eighth Grade Graduation – Ms. Ziemke volunteered to represent the Board at 8th grade graduation on Wednesday, June 17th, at 6:30 p.m.

 

D.    The Community Thanks Mr. Page – Mr. Hamilton reminded the Board about Mr. Page’s community recognition on May 26th.

 

E.     CBMS Sidewalk - Ms. Smeltzer announced that the court case for the sidewalk at CBMS is finally settled and that a bill has been sent to collect the settlement payment.

 

 

8.                  ACTION ITEMS

A.    Board Minutes – Sherry Ziemke moved to approve the minutes of April 7, 2009 and the special meeting on April 30, 2009.  Reed McCracken seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

 

B.     Board Orders – On the recommendation of Sherry Ziemke, Reed McCracken moved to confirm Board orders dated March 17, 2009 in the amount of $260,657.85 and $45,517.46 and April 10, 2009 for $126,423.70.  Scott Rathke seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

 

C.    Recommendations from Written Reports – Reed McCracken moved to approve an unpaid leave for Rosie Metcalfe, IA, on Wednesdays and Fridays beginning May 28, 2009 until the end of the year (seven days in total).  Sherry Ziemke seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

 

Ben Smith moved to offer Catherine Knight a 2-year contract for Assistant Principal at CBMS upon Chris Leopold’s review.  Scott Rathke seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

 

Sherry Ziemke moved to accept resignations from Amanda Payne, ELL teacher and Ellen Montgomery, CBMS Art teacher.  Ben Smith seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

 

D. Remaining Staff Contracts – Sherry Ziemke moved to approve Celeste Emler as a long-term sub for Anet Hammett from May 4, 2009 to May 29, 2009; and furthermore to authorize approval for an increase of life insurance to $50,000 for five non-union support staff; and lastly to offer Rachel Rosenblum a contract for .60 as an ELL teacher.  Reed McCracken seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

 

E.  Confirmation of Contracts – Ben Smith moved to confirm employment contracts (under authority delegated on 4-7-09 to administrators) for Nancy Robinson, .5 Physical Education teacher at TBPS and Margaret Ritter, 1.0 Special Educator at CBMS.  Reed McCracken seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

 

F.  Chittenden Bank Resolution – Sherry Ziemke moved to formally accept the resolution provided by the Chittenden Bank for the $9,000 John Deere tractor loan with an interest rate of 2.5%. Ben Smith seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

 

  1. Policy Warning – Reed McCracken moved to warn the D6 Volunteers and Work Study Students Policy as amended to include volunteers, for the next regular board meeting.  Ben Smith seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

 

The next regular meeting will be June 9, 2009, at 6:00 p.m., in the library at CBMS.

 

Scott Rathke moved to adjourn the meeting 9:35 p.m.  Sherry Ziemke 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