Good job on the minutes.  I would, however, take out the word "typically" when referring to Dennis Kane's decision not to include a Moretown Board member on the task force.  Don't want to appear snippy... or do we?  Deb

Wavell Cowan wrote:

> Changes, additions, etc. ASAP.  Thanks ... Wavell
>
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> \paperh15860\widowctrl\ftnbj \sectd \sbknone\linemod0\linex0\cols1\endnhere \pard\plain {\f20 \'00\'00\'00MORETOWN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL\par
> Regular School Board Meeting Minutes\par
> Tuesday, April 15th, 2003\par
> \par
> DRAFT\par
> \par
> }{\f20\ul Present}{\f20 : \par
> Board members - Kent Holden, Wavell Cowan, Deb Hunter, Karen Horn, and Mary Nowlan \par
> Principal - Roberta Barone\par
> Superintendent - Bill Riegel\par
> Business Manager - Michelle Baker \par
> District Representatives - Anne Donahue and Maxine Grad\par
> House Education Committee member - Representative Harry Chen\par
> \par
> Meeting called to order at 5:47 pm by Chair, Kent Holden\par
> \par
> }{\f20\ul Education and the Legislature}{\f20 :\par
> }\pard {\f20 Anne and Maxine arranged for Representative Harry Chen (Rutland, Windsor) freshman legislator and member of the House Education Committee (also school Board member for Barstow and Mendon)
>  to meet with our board.  After introductions a variety of educational issues were discussed.  \par
> }\pard {\f20      Anne presented the board with the latest concensus proposal on the Act 60 debate.  This would use a $1.10 base tax rate on residential properties up to $200,000 valuation, with a $1.59 rate for non-residential properties and the above $
> 200,000 portion of residential properties.  The equalized per pupil grant would be $7,000 (2005) with an annual COLA increase.  An extension and/or increase in the sales tax would be used to fund the shortfall resulting from the
> reduction in property tax revenue.  This proposal would produce an estimated property tax rate of $2.046 for Moretown, a reduction of some 30\'a2 from FY 2002.  Anne warned that this proposal may well not prevail, but shows the direction
> the current debate is taking.\par
> }\pard {\f20      Special education was a hot topic.  The board promised to forward to Harry Chen its proposals for equitable funding and for cost containment.  Harry indicated that a working committee has been formed to come forward with
> special education funding proposals as required by Act 117.  Not surprisingly, even though Commissioner McNulty had acknowledged the Moretown Board request to be invited to participate on such a working committee (at a meeting attended by three W
> ashington County senators as well as Maxine Grad) the DOE Special Education Manager, Dennis Kane, has typically avoided doing so.  Harry indicated that he would follow up on this.  Further, Kent indicated he would write a letter
> , with copies to the senators, and other meeting participants, seeking to rectify this "oversight".  \par
> }\pard {\f20      The Board expressed their appreciation to all the representatives for the information received and for the opportunity to express their viewpoint.  \par
> }\pard {\f20 \par
> The representatives departed the meeting at 6:22 pm.\par
> \par
> }{\f20\ul Executive Session}{\f20 :\par
> }\pard {\f20 On a motion by Kent seconded by Karen, the board went into executive session at 6:25 pm for the purpose of discussing teacher contract negotiations.  The board came out of executive session at 6:45 pm.\par
> }\pard {\f20 \par
> Bill Riegel and Michelle Baker departed the meeting at 6:46 pm\par
> \par
> \par
> }{\f20\ul Approval of Minutes}{\f20 : \par
> }\pard {\f20 Wavell moved the adoption of the minutes of the regular board meeting of March 11th, 2003. The motion was seconded by Deb and approved.\par
> }\pard {\f20\ul Board Orders}{\f20 :\par
> }\pard {\f20 Upon a motion by Mary seconded by Wavell the following board orders were unanimously approved for payment:  Board Orders #39 for $43,486.83; #40 for $44,234.68;  and #41 for $368,659.07.\par
> }\pard {\f20\ul WWSU}{\f20 :\par
> }\pard {\f20 On a motion by Kent seconded by Deb, the board went into executive session at 6:52 pm for the purpose of discussing legal and personnel matters.  The board came out of executive session at 7:06 pm.\par
> }\pard {\f20      Karen reported that Dale Smeltzer was reelected as WWSU board chair, with Karen being elected as recording secretary.  In discussing WWSU plans, the Board requested Karen, as Executive Committee member, to
> pursue an early clarification as to its superintendency plans for FY 2005.\par
> }\pard {\f20\ul Schultz Screening Issue}{\f20 :\par
> }\pard {\f20 Kent indicated that he was donating his $100, 2002 honorarium to Moretown School to be used specifically in support of costs associated with this project.  He also requested that this issue be kept on the 'Old Business' agenda until resolved.
> \par
> }\pard {\f20\ul Action Planning}{\f20 :\par
> }\pard {\f20 Deb described the earlier in the day meeting of the combined action planning group, staff and community members.  This meeting focused on the statistically significant downward trend in math problem solving scores as confirmed by the 2002
> grade 4 NSRE scores.  The main focus of attention was the concern that the newly instituted "Investigations" math program needs to be reinforced in some manner in respect to student problem solving practice
> .  Also reviewed were a variety of other questions that the community members felt might have a bearing on this problem as well as other exploratory investigations undertaken by the staff.  It was agreed that the staff would formalize specific proposals t
> o be put into effect in FY 2004 for review by the community group, after which a final plan would be submitted for Board approval, hopefully at its regular June meeting. \par
> }\pard {\f20\ul Recreation Committee}{\f20 :\par
> }\pard {\f20 Vee Lynch and Deb Hunter will be meeting with the Selectboard to discuss the proposed tennis court and basketball court installation for which no tax payer support would be needed.  The Board, while supporting the project, re-emphasized
>  its view that promoting the project and securing a positive vote from the community would be the cleanest approach, while recognizing that the final decision rests with the Selectboard.\par
> }\pard {\f20\ul Principal's Report}{\f20 :\par
> }\pard {\f20 Roberta reported that three para-educators will be leaving at the end of the year.  Another has already given notice and departed, to be replaced with board approval by new hire Katie Wooley. A fifth has taken medical leave according to
> contract and is to be temporarily replaced with board approval by new hire Denise Fuoco.  It was moved by Wavell seconded by Kent and approved, that the board confirm Roberta's hiring decisions and authorize the chair to sign employment contracts.\par
> }\pard {\f20\ul Board Retreat}{\f20 :\par
> }\pard {\f20 Roberta distributed material related to second language programs for board study prior to the retreat.  Wavell indicated that current legislative interest in cost containment will in all likelihood produce a blunt weapon which, with Moreto
> wn's currently unfavorable pupil count, could impact us unfavorably.  We should thus spend some retreat time to see if Roberta's restructuring concepts for delivery of quality education
>  also offered opportunities for cost containment.  The retreat will be held at Karen's place  on Saturday  (April 19th) starting at 9 am (arrival by 8:45) and wrap up with a lunch between 12 and 1 pm.\par
> }\pard {\f20\ul Executive Session}{\f20 :\par
> }\pard {\f20 On a motion by Kent seconded by Karen, the board went into executive session at 7:52 pm for the purpose of discussing personnel issues.  The board came out of executive session at 8:05 pm.\par
> }\pard {\f20 \par
> }\pard {\f20\ul Adjournment}{\f20 :\par
> On a  motion by Maty seconded by Deb the board meeting was adjourned at 8:07 pm.\par
> \par
> APPROVED\par
> \par
> \par
> Date:  __________________              _________________________________________\par
> \tab \tab \tab \tab \tab \tab Wavell Cowan - Board Clerk}\par
> \pard {\f20 \par
> }\pard {\f20  }\par
> }