WATERBURY-DUXBURY SCHOOL BOARD

“APPROVED AS CORRECTED” MINUTES FOR JANUARY 12, 2010

Meeting Held in the Thatcher Brook Library

 

IN ATTENDANCE

BOARD:        Reed McCracken, Sherry Knudsen, Scott Rathke, Dale Smeltzer, Ben Smith

ADMINISTRATORS: Michelle Baker, Tom Drake, Brigid Scheffert, Don Schneider, Cathy Knight, Barbara Tomasi-Gay

STAFF:          Ellen Barillaro, Dan Gratton, Eric Hall, Jen Hill, Alex Houston, Kristin Lora, Adrienne Magida, Tom Matt, Sally Merrifield, Wendy Moore, Lori Morse, Gayle Moskowitz, Keith Puffer, Bud Towndrow,   

PUBLIC:       Georgeanne Baker, Erin Mooney, Stephen Odefey, Marcy Pelkey, Torrey Smith, Theresa Wood

 

 

1.               Ms. Smeltzer called the meeting to order at 6:05 p.m.  Ms. Smeltzer confirmed the agenda.

 

2.               Comments from the Public – Ms. Smeltzer indicated to the public questions will be fielded once the current draft of the budget is presented.

 

3.               Presentation – Draft 3 of FY11 Budget with Tax Calculations - Budget – The administration headed up by Tom Drake, Waterbury-Duxbury District Coordinator, presented the third draft of the 2010-2011 W-D budget.  Mr. Drake spoke specifically about line item review, program changes, and personnel and other adjustments incorporated in the current budget proposal.  Ms. Smeltzer requested that people keep comments succinct to allow each person an opportunity to speak. The public made comments and asked questions.

 

Ms. Baker, WWSU Business Manager, used a handout to explain the Education Tax Rates and their calculation based on the equalized tax rate from both W-D and Harwood and the proportion of students in each school district, and the resulting tax rates in the two towns of Waterbury and Duxbury.  (Education Tax Rates, 1/12/10)

 

Ms. Smeltzer asked that all Board members have an opportunity to ask questions.  Mr. Rathke inquired about the estimate of teacher salaries, Ms. Knudsen asked about levels of support for students with challenges relating to the Home/School Coordinator reduction, and paraprofessional services, and Mr. McCracken clarified the number of staffing cuts, and eligibility for food services. The majority of the Board was in favor of Plan B at this point.

 

B.  Annual Report Plans – 2010 and 2011 – Ms. Smeltzer reported on the plans to allow for distributing the annual report information outside of the Town Reports, and that this will involve a new article for the Annual Meeting warning.  There was a brief discussion regarding how this would be different from current practice.

 

C.    Draft Procedures and Proposed Policy

a.       Procedures for Policy D11:  Staff Benefits and Leave Time – Ms. Smeltzer reviewed the procedures for the above-mentioned policy. There were no suggested changes and she asked that comments be forwarded to her before the next meeting.

 

b.      Proposed Policy on Designation of Facility Space to Recognize Individuals –Ms. Knudsen expressed support for this new policy, sensitively noting her concern that the school should not become a memorial and cautioned that a school is meant to be a place for students to learn and grow as individuals.  Board members supported moving this policy toward adoption.

 

E. Review timeline for Board Goal A (Strategic Plan) – Ms. Smeltzer provided a handout describing the status of this goal, and it was agreed upon that the next Board discussion regarding the plan itself should take place once the new Board member joins in March.

 

4.                  PRINCIPALS’ REPORT – Board Feedback

A.    Written Report and Recommendations – Ms. Knudsen asked a question about the moisture issue of the cafeteria floor at TBPS. 

 

5.                  WWSU REPORTS

A.    Superintendent – Ms. Scheffert asked for feedback on the “State of the Union” document from her office.  She indicated that updates would be made twice a year in December and June.  The WWSU will provide an addition to the town reports as usual.  Superintendent Scheffert talked about her committee work at the state level regarding the discussions about mega districts.

 

B.        WWSU Executive Committee Update – Ms. Smeltzer informed her Board members that they would be providing input as a Board to the superintendent’s evaluation; and asked that anyone who was interested in joining the transportation committee to call herself or Ms. Sheffert. 

 

6.                  OTHER BUSINESS: Ms. Smeltzer brought several items up with the Board.  She noted that an official Board representative is not needed for the school library committee that is being formed but encouraged Board members to participate as parents or community members.  She reviewed briefly with Board members the need to provide authorization for an RFP to be developed and issued for the CBMS solar grant to be able to take advantage of additional funds should the grant be received, as she had informed them by email.  Lastly she noted that at the next meeting there would be time on the agenda for the Board to discuss the feasibility of advocating as a Board around some of the legislative issues.

 

7.                  ACTION ITEMS

  1. Board Minutes – Sherry Knudsen moved to accept Board minutes dated December 8, 2009 as written. Ben Smith seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

 

  1. Board Orders – On the recommendation of Sherry Knudsen, Mr. Smith moved to confirm Board orders dated December 18, 2009 in the amount of $328,427.08 and December 30, 2009 in the amount of $119,896.99.  Mr. Rathke seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

 

  1. Business Manager’s Report – Tuition Rate – On the Business Manager’s recommendation, Sherry Knudsen moved to set the FY 2011tuition rate for kindergarten at $6,000, for grades first through sixth at $12,000, and seventh/eighth at $11,700.  Ben Smith seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

 

  1. RFP for Solar-in-Schools Grant – Mr. McCracken moved to authorize an RFP to be issued to for the CBMS Solar grant pending receipt of the Solar-in-Schools Grant; and for the TBPS solar project pending LEAP’s raising of the additional funds needed.  Ms. Knudsen seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

 

Executive Session to discuss personnel issues – Sherry Knudsen moved to go into executive session at 8:57 p.m. Scott Rathke left at 9:04 p.m.  It was agreed to come out of executive session at 9:05 p.m. with no action taken.

 

Sherry Knudsen moved to go into executive session at 9:06 p.m. to discuss contract negotiations.  Ben Smith seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.  It was agreed to come out of executive session at 9:07 p.m. with no action taken.

 

There was continued discussion on the FY11 budget information.  Sherry Knudsen said that she needed more information on the Home-School Coordinator contracted staffing level adjustment that had been presented, and the Board asked for a written summary from the administrators.

 

Sherry Knudsen moved to adjourn the meeting at 9:35 p.m.  Ben Smith 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