WATERBURY-DUXBURY SCHOOL BOARD

“APPROVED AS CORRECTED” MINUTES FOR SEPTEMBER 18, 2008

Meeting Held in the Thatcher Brook Primary School Conference Room

 

IN ATTENDANCE:

BOARD:                                Dale Smeltzer, Susan Flynn, Dawn Poitras,

Scott Rathke, and Sherry Ziemke

ADMINISTRATORS:         Michelle Baker, Kevin Hamilton, Dick Moser, Ken Page,                                                 Don Schneider, and Barbara Tomasi-Gay

STAFF:                                  Roy Bishop

PUBLIC:                               Georgeanne Baker

 

1.                  Call to Order - Ms. Smeltzer called the meeting to order at 6:02 p.m.

 

2.                  Confirm Agenda - Ms. Smeltzer confirmed the agenda.

 

3.                  Comments From the Public – There were no comments from the public.

 

4.                  Announcement - Ken Page announced his retirement at tonight’s meeting by reading his letter of resignation dated September 18, 2008 (attached).  Board members expressed appreciation for his many years of service to our district.

 

Sherry Ziemke arrived at 6:04 p.m.

 

5.                  DISCUSSION ITEMS

A.    Warned Policies – Ms. Smeltzer entertained comments from those gathered about School Meals Fiscal Management and School-Attorney Relations Policies.  Hearing no comments the meeting proceeded with formal adoption to happen later in the meeting.

 

B.     Strategic Plan –

a.       Report on Goal 3 – Mr. Schneider provided an update of the process thus far.  The chart distributed outlined the “indicators of progress” for the strategies in Goal 3. The educational leaders have begun prioritizing the strategies of each goal, and the top priorities were included in the handout for the Action Plan discussion (below).  Ms. Smeltzer asked Mr. Schneider to send board members a copy of the Strategic Plan with the reduced number of “indicators of progress” for Goals 1 and 2, reflecting work done on the plan by administrators since last spring. 

 

b.      Action Plan – Draft Concepts - Ms. Tomasi-Gay presented the links from the current Action Plan that correspond with the three goals of the Strategic Plan, in an overview handout that illustrated the educational leaders’ work with Superintendent Moser.  Ms. Tomasi-Gay distributed the directive regarding Action Plans from the state of Vermont’s School Quality Standards.  Ms. Tomasi-Gay recommended that the new Action Plan be written in March rather than this fall, since it makes sense to wait to update it until after assessment data is available from this year.  Reporting to the Board would occur quarterly with alterations to the assessment process being made when necessary.  A lengthy discussion ensued.

 

C.     Budget Process – Finalize Guidelines and Expectations: Next Steps – Mr. Rathke raised questions regarding the recent article in the Waterbury Record about the budget process.  The Board discussed proactive ways of disseminating information to the staff and public, and it was suggested that this be another guideline/expectation in the list that was going to be discussed.  The Board reviewed and modified the list made at the prior meeting of Budget Process Guidelines and Expectations.  Mr. Page suggested that Mr. Moser sit down with the press to discuss the process the Board will be using throughout the budget season.  Dale Smeltzer will provide the updated guidelines and expectations list via email.

 

Superintendent Moser arrived at 7:18 p.m.

 

The group then looked at the Preliminary Data for Consideration in FY10 Budget Process handout that was distributed at the previous meeting.  Ms. Smeltzer walked the Board through each item and requested opinions/desires regarding each for the Board’s role in the upcoming process.  Ms. Baker presented an explanation sheet of Act 82 and how the two-vote mandate was being applied to districts that had spending per pupil that was above average; Waterbury-Duxbury is currently below average.   Using a range for per student cost will allow for a more flexible budgeting process.  Future discussions will be based on the four identified items that need further board discussion, from the list of data under consideration.  At the first meeting in October, Ms. Baker will provide further information for the Board discussion of a range of spending per pupil/SFA percentages to set for the budget target.  A lengthy discussion ensued.

 

6.                  WRITTEN REPORTS

A.    Educational Leaders’ Report – Mr. Schneider had provided the educational leaders’ report via email.  Answers to questions were provided.

 

B.     WWSU Superintendent Report – The WWSU Executive Committee is moving forward in its work for the Superintendent search.  A meeting is scheduled at HUHS, Tuesday, September 23rd, beginning at 6:00 p.m. for the purpose of discussing the process the Executive Committee will be using.

 

7.                  ACTION ITEMS

A.    Board Minutes – Ms. Susan Flynn moved to accept the Board minutes dated September 4, 2008 as corrected.  Dawn Poitras seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

 

B.     Board Orders – On the recommendation of Scott Rathke, Susan Flynn moved to confirm the Board orders dated September 16, 2008 in the amount of $69,371.35.  Sherry Ziemke seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

 

C.     Adopt Policies – Susan Flynn moved to adopt the School Meals Fiscal Management and School-attorney Relations Policies as warned.  Sherry Ziemke seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

 

Susan Flynn moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:16 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