WATERBURY-DUXBURY SCHOOL BOARD

“APPROVED” MINUTES FOR November 20, 2008

Meeting Held at Thatcher Brook Conference Room

 

IN ATTENDANCE

BOARD:        Dale Smeltzer, Susan Flynn, Dawn Poitras, Scott Rathke, and  Sherry Ziemke

ADMINISTRATORS: Edie Beattie (Curriculum Coordinator), Michelle Baker (Business Manager), Superintendent Richard Moser, and Don Schneider       

STAFF:          Pam Hanson-Leisenring      

PUBLIC:       Georgeanne Baker

 

1.                  Ms. Smeltzer called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. and confirmed the agenda.

 

2.                  Executive Session:  Ms. Poitras moved to go into executive session to discuss personnel at 6:02 p.m.  Scott Rathke seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.  It was agreed to come out of executive session at 6:43 p.m. with no action taken.

 

3.                  There were no comments from the public.

 

4.                  DISCUSSION ITEMS

A.    FY10 Budget Development – Next Steps – Ms. Michelle Baker provided a handout outlining the SFA % parameters for the FY 2010 budget for the W-D School Board dated November 20, 2008.  Ms. Smeltzer requested that the first budget draft be sent electronically to save on paper.  A summary of the 3 budget options will be sent to the Board prior to the December 4th meeting.

 

B.     FY09 Monthly Financials – Ms. Baker sent the recent financial statements prior to the meeting.  Oil at CBMS is at the variable rate, which could realize a savings given it was budgeted at $4.00 a gallon.  Currently there is a $66,204 deficit.  The major drivers on the budget are energy, special education, and transportation.

 

Scott Rathke left at 7:00 p.m.

Michelle Baker left at 7:04 p.m.

 

C.     Administrative Model Review – Mr. Moser facilitated the discussion for these items.

a.   Draft Job Descriptions and Timeline - Mr. Moser provided a few draft job descriptions for the group’s perusal.  He recommended that the Board take action allowing his office to post the position as soon as possible.  A workshop for the Board and the Educational Leaders was recommended to flesh out the descriptions and job responsibilities. The group set this for December 8th at 6:00 p.m. at Central office. A meeting with staff will be helpful in allaying staff fears and to conduct an open process.  There was consensus on the Board that the title should be Principal/District Coordinator, for the administrator opening at CBMS. 

 

D.    Strategic Plan

a.    Report/Update – Mr. Schneider presented the current Strategic Plan details to those in attendance.  The administrators targeted goals for the 2008-2009 school year.  Goals 1, 2, and 3 each have focal strategies and progress indicators.  Mr. Schneider and Mr. Page shared a few ways each building is working toward these targeted indicators.  Ms. Smeltzer asked about how goals 1 and 3 will be measured.  The Board expressed its pleasure in the work.

 

5.                  REPORTS

A.    Educational Leaders’ Report – Mr. Schneider emailed this report prior to the meeting.  Ms. Smeltzer noted that the District is down 4 preschoolers in the partnerships.  She expressed a concern regarding consistency in enrollment at the partnerships and the on-site program.

 

6.                  WWSU, Superintendent Report – Mr. Moser updated the Board on the Superintendent search.  He told them that the questions are being organized by who you are as person, what type of administrator are you, and what do you need to know, and what are you able to do.  The WWSU Central Office is currently working on its budget and looking at how to come up with cost savings in order to provide a fiscally responsible budget.

 

7.                  OTHER BUSINESS

  1. Mr. Everett Boyce – Mr. Page informed the Board that there is a committee who would like to meet to determine a way to honor Mr. Boyce.  The Board felt that the cost of these remembrances should be born by donations.  Everyone agreed there should be a procedure for the process in the future and Mr. Page will work to develop this.

 

8.                  ACTION ITEMS

A.    Board Minutes – Ms. Susan Flynn moved to accept Board minutes dated November 7, 2008 as corrected in section 6D.  Dawn Poitras seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

 

B.     Board Orders – On the recommendation of Scott Rathke, Sherry Ziemke moved to confirm the Board orders dated November 7, 2008 in the amount of $29,510.46 and $408.34.  Susan Flynn seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

 

C.     Principal Search Process – On the recommendation of Superintendent Dick Moser, Susan Flynn moved to confirm the job title for the administrator search for CBMS as Building Principal/District Coordinator.  Dawn Poitras seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

 

D.    Confirmation of Contracts – Susan Flynn moved to authorize the Board chair to sign contracts for Suzanne Colton, 1.0 FTE IA, TBPS and Abigail Bartlett, 1.0 FTE IA, TBPS.  Sherry Ziemke seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

 

9.               CONFIRM TOPICS FOR NEXT MEETING AGENDA (December 4th) –

A.    FY10 Budget Development – First Budget Draft

B.     Principal Search – Update/next Steps

C.     Annual Report Planning, Assignments

 

Susan Flynn moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:10 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