Wavell,
Minutes look okay to me.
Kent
----- Original Message -----
From: Wavell Cowan
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Thursday, December 11, 2003 3:20 PM
Subject: Draft Minutes Dec Board Meeting
See attached as per norm. Edits by end of week. Thanks ... Wavell
Also, for Mary:
MORETOWN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Rescheduled Regular School Board Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, December 10th, 2003
DRAFT
Present:
Board members - Kent Holden, Wavell Cowan, Karen Horn, Deb Hunter, and
Mary Nowlan
Principal - Roberta Barone
Community Member - Tom Allen
Meeting called to order at 5:48 pm by Chair, Kent Holden
Approval of Minutes:
Wavell moved the adoption of the minutes of the regular board meeting of
November 11th, 2003 and the special board meeting of November 19th,
2003. The motion was seconded by Karen and unanimously approved.
Board Orders:
Upon a motion by Mary seconded by Wavell the following board orders were
unanimously approved for payment: Board Orders #22 for $46,187.16; #23
for $46,329.37; and #24 for $1,344,950.99.
FY 2005 Budget:
Roberta distributed her latest draft for the 2005 budget. This included
proposed reductions in music and library teacher FTEs by 0.1, and
cutting significant expenses in a variety of areas. These cuts if
implemented would reduce the elementary school 2005 budget increase over
2004 from 7% to just under 5%. However such cuts are not without some
negative consequences. The board felt that no decisions should be taken
on these matters until after receiving the estimated local property
school tax consequences. Roberta will push John Pike to produce a tax
worksheet as soon as possible, identifying and commenting on the
assumptions that will have had to be made and will let board members
know when copies will be available for pickup. Kent will then decide if
a special meeting needs to be scheduled.
Executive Session:
On a motion by Kent, seconded by Mary and approved, the board went into
executive session at 6:17 pm, for the purposes of discussing contractual
issues, Tom Allen departing the meeting. The board came out of
executive session at 6:40 pm, with Tom Allen rejoining the meeting.
Box Tops and Credit Cards:
Schools can receive funds by submitting box tops from certain commercial
goods, and also by promoting the application for particular VISA cards
which will then remit 1% of total charges to the school. The PTN
requested school support for pushing these programs by having posters
prominently displayed in the school. Use of the school for this type
of commercial advertising is contrary to existing school policy. In
discussing the matter, the board concluded that there was no need to
consider a policy change. These programs can be conducted generally as
they have in the past without abusing school policy.
WWSU:
The executive committee has authorized the interim superintendent to
negotiate a contract with Edith Beatty to fill the central office
position of curriculum coordinator. The committee is also proposing a
WWSU budget for FY 2005 which will be submitted for review prior to a
scheduled full WWSU board meeting at 7 pm on Monday, December 22nd at
Crosset Brook school. Since Deb and Mary will be out of town, Karen,
Kent and Wavell will make up the Moretown delegation to this meeting.
The use of Ray Proux as a facilitator to help resolve current
difficulties between local school administrators and Harwood
administrators has been proposed. The board expressed the view that
such an effort would be highly unlikely to have any lasting effect and
that Moretown would not make any financial contribution toward such a
plan.
The Wimble's Residency Status:
Kent reported that the Richmond school board are in agreement with the
Wimble's decision, after they had commenced building a new home in
Moretown, to enroll their daughter at the Moretown School for the
current school year. A letter has been sent to the Wimbles indicating
that their status has been approved by the Richmond school board,
allowing the Moretown board to waive tuition costs in accordance with
the Wimbles' commitment to provide the school with proof of Moretown
residency by December 31st, 2003.
New Policy:
Deb distributed copies of a new draft policy to allow the administration
to deal with future situations comparable to the Wimble affair. Kent
requested that board members study this draft, sending e-mail comments
to Deb so that a final policy can be proposed for public warning at the
January regular meeting.
Community Reports:
Karen has sent a draft article dealing with the new unified teacher
contract to Kent who will finalize and submit to the rest of the board
for review and adoption for publication at the January board meeting.
It was noted that the Vermont Journal published Moretown board
submissions on action planning and on Act 68, both of which have also
been sent to all parents by kid mail. An article prepared by teacher
Brenda Hartshorn and edited by board member Mary Nowlan was published in
the Valley Reporter. This article described the primary grades research
project on the location of the multiple small school houses that once
were scattered about Moretown and how they provided for the education of
earlier Moretowners.
Special Education:
Bill Corrow is a newly appointed member of the State Board of Education
who was sent a copy of the Moretown plan for special education funding.
Kent reported on a meeting which he organized with Bill, attended by
Kent and Wavell. Bill was impressed with the report and indicated it
fitted well with the kinds of ideas that he wants to try and promote.
He wants the Moretown plan to be sent to all other state board members
with a cover letter referring to his request, with the intention of
getting this report on the agenda for discussion at the January board
meeting. He indicated that he had talked about the report to
Commissioner Cate who suggested that his people felt it was politically
impractical. The goal of our state board approach is thus to get the
board to stiffen the Commissioner's backbone, and Bill will act to
champion this effort.
Kent indicated that he is expecting to hear from the Commissioner
shortly in respect to his request for a meeting. He also reported on a
discussion with Representative Rusten, vice-chair of the House Ways and
Means Committee. Rusten expressed the view that the house would be
unlikely to get involved with another major education funding bill so
soon after passing Act 68 unless there was a very strong pitch for cost
containment. Bill Corrow also felt cost containment should be
highlighted. After talking with Kent on this matter Wavell drafted an
addendum to the Moretown plan, giving a more detailed scenario of how
the Moretown proposals could actually be drafted to promote cost
containment. He distributed copies of this draft. On a motion by Kent,
seconded by Deb, the board approved the publication and distribution of
this addendum, subject to any changes, etc., e-mailed by board members
before Monday and approved by Kent. Further the board authorized Wavell
to obtain 50 copies of the original proposal plus the new finalized
addendum from MailBoxes in Montpelier and to deliver same to the School
on Monday.
Kent will organize copies to then be sent with cover letters to all
State Board members. Also he will liaise with Ann Cummings and Anne
Donahue to have them deliver copies to all house and senate members of
relevant committees.
Action Planning:
Wavell expressed the view that it is now time to try and
institutionalize the way action planning is to be conducted in the
future, This will fit in with the current effort to institutionalize
the form and manner of data presentation. Kent asked Wavell to come up
with an implementation plan for discussion at the January board meeting.
Hunting on Town School Land:
Mary reported that everything is organized to post the safety zone
about the school as authorized by the select board, which will be done
as soon as a time with John Atkinson has been arranged; i.e. sometime in
the next week or so.
Adjournment:
On a motion by Deb seconded by Kent the board meeting was adjourned at
8:11 pm.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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\paperh15860\widowctrl\ftnbj \sectd \sbknone\linemod0\linex0\cols1\endnhere \pard\plain \ri-540 {\f20 \'00\'00\'00MORETOWN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL\par
Rescheduled Regular School Board Meeting Minutes\par
Wednesday, December 10th, 2003\par
\par
DRAFT\par
\par
}{\f20\ul Present}{\f20 : \par
Board members - Kent Holden, Wavell Cowan, Karen Horn, Deb Hunter, and Mary Nowlan \par
Principal - Roberta Barone\par
Community Member - Tom Allen\par
\par
Meeting called to order at 5:48 pm by Chair, Kent Holden\par
\par
}\pard {\f20\ul Approval of Minutes}{\f20 : \par
}\pard {\f20 Wavell moved the adoption of the minutes of the regular board meeting of November 11th, 2003 and the special board meeting of November 19th, 2003. The motion was seconded by Karen and unanimously 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 #22 for $46,187.16; #23 for $46,329.37; and #24 for $1,344,950.99.\par
}\pard {\f20\ul FY 2005 Budget}{\f20 : \par
}\pard {\f20 Roberta distributed her latest draft for the 2005 budget. This included proposed reductions in music and library teacher FTEs by 0.1, and cutting significant expenses in a variety of areas. These cuts if implemented would reduce the
elementary school 2005 budget increase over 2004 from 7% to just under 5%. However such cuts are not without some negative consequences. The board felt that no decisions should be taken on these matters until after receiving the estimated
local property school tax consequences. Roberta will push John Pike to produce a tax worksheet as soon as possible, identifying and commenting on the assumptions that will have had to be made
and will let board members know when copies will be available for pickup. Kent will then decide if a special meeting needs to be scheduled. \par
}\pard {\f20\ul Executive Session}{\f20 :\par
}\pard {\f20 On a motion by Kent, seconded by Mary and approved, the board went into executive session at 6:17 pm, for the purposes of discussing contractual issues, Tom Allen departing the meeting.
The board came out of executive session at 6:40 pm, with Tom Allen rejoining the meeting.\par
}\pard {\f20\ul Box Tops and Credit Cards}{\f20 :\par
}\pard {\f20 Schools can receive funds by submitting box tops from certain commercial goods, and also by promoting the application for particular VISA cards which will then remit 1% of total charges to the school.
The PTN requested school support for pushing these programs by having posters prominently displayed in the school. Use of the school for this type of commercial advertising is contrary to existing school policy.
In discussing the matter, the board concluded that there was no need to consider a policy change. These programs can be conducted generally as they have in the past without abusing school policy. \par
}\pard {\f20\ul WWSU}{\f20 :\par
}\pard {\f20 The executive committee has authorized the interim superintendent to negotiate a contract with Edith Beatty to fill the central office position of curriculum coordinator. The committee is also proposing a WWSU budget for FY 2005
which will be submitted for review prior to a scheduled full WWSU board meeting at 7 pm on Monday, December 22nd at Crosset Brook school. Since
Deb and Mary will be out of town, Karen, Kent and Wavell will make up the Moretown delegation to this meeting.\par
}\pard {\f20 The use of Ray Proux as a facilitator to help resolve current
difficulties between local school administrators and Harwood administrators has been proposed. The board expressed the view that such an effort would be highly unlikely to have any lasting effect and that Moretown would not make any
financial contribution toward such a plan.\par
}\pard {\f20\ul The Wimble's Residency Status}{\f20 :\par
}\pard {\f20 Kent reported that the Richmond school board are in agreement with the Wimble's decision, after they had commenced building a new home in Moretown, to enroll their daughter at the Moretown School for the current school year
. A letter has been sent to the Wimbles indicating that their status has been approved by the Richmond school board, allowing the Moretown board to waive tuition costs in accordance with the Wimbles' commitment to provide the school with proof of
Moretown residency by December 31st, 2003.\par
}\pard {\f20\ul New Policy}{\f20 :\par
}\pard {\f20 Deb distributed copies of a new draft policy to allow the administration to deal with future situations
comparable to the Wimble affair. Kent requested that board members study this draft, sending e-mail comments to Deb so that a final policy can be proposed for public warning at the January regular meeting.\par
}\pard {\f20\ul Community Reports}{\f20 : \par
Karen has sent a draft article dealing with the new unified teacher contract to Kent who will finalize and submit to the rest of the board for review and adoption for publication at the January board meeting. It was noted tha
t the Vermont Journal published Moretown board submissions on action planning and on Act 68, both of which have also been sent to all parents by kid mail. An article prepared by teacher Brenda Hartshorn and edited by board member Mary Nowlan
was published in the Valley Reporter. This article described the primary grades research project on the location of the multiple small school houses that once were scattered about Moretown and how they provided for the education of earlier Moretowners.
\par
}{\f20\ul Special Education}{\f20 :\par
}\pard {\f20 Bill Corrow is a newly appointed member of the State Board of Education who was sent a copy of the Moretown plan for special education funding. Kent reported on a meeting which he organized with Bill
, attended by Kent and Wavell. Bill was impressed with the report and indicated it fitted well with the kinds of ideas that he wants to try and promote.
He wants the Moretown plan to be sent to all other state board members with a cover letter referring to his request, with the intention of getting this report on the agenda for discussion at
the January board meeting. He indicated that he had talked about the report to Commissioner Cate who suggested that his people felt it was politically impractical. The goal of our state board approach is thus to get the board to
stiffen the Commissioner's backbone, and Bill will act to champion this effort.\par
}\pard {\f20 Kent indicated that he is expecting to hear from the Commissioner shortly in respect to his request for a meeting. He also reported on a discussion with Representative Rusten, vice-chair of the House Ways and Means Committee.
Rusten expressed the view that the house would be unlikely to get involved with another major education funding bill so soon after
passing Act 68 unless there was a very strong pitch for cost containment. Bill Corrow also felt cost containment should be highlighted.
After talking with Kent on this matter Wavell drafted an addendum to the Moretown plan, giving a more detailed scenario of how the Moretown proposals could actually be drafted to promote cost containment. He distri
buted copies of this draft. On a motion by Kent, seconded by Deb, the board approved the publication and distribution of this addendum, subject to any changes, etc., e-mailed by board members before Monday and approved by Kent
. Further the board authorized Wavell to obtain 50 copies of the original proposal plus the new finalized addendum from MailBoxes in Montpelier and to deliver same to the School on Monday.\par
}\pard {\f20 Kent will organize copies to then be sent with cover letters to all State Board members. Also he will liaise with Ann Cummings and Anne Donahue to have them deliver copies to all house and senate members of relevant committees.\par
}\pard {\f20\ul \page Action Planning}{\f20 :\par
}\pard {\f20
Wavell expressed the view that it is now time to try and institutionalize the way action planning is to be conducted in the future, This will fit in with the current effort to institutionalize the form and manner of data presentation. Kent asked Wavell t
o come up with an implementation plan for discussion at the January board meeting.\par
}\pard {\f20\ul Hunting on Town School Land}{\f20 :\par
}\pard {\f20 Mary reported that everything is organized to post the safety zone about the school as authorized by the select board, which will be done as soon as a time with John Atkinson has been arranged; i.e. sometime in the next week or so.\par
\par
}\pard {\f20\ul Adjournment}{\f20 :\par
}\pard {\f20 On a motion by Deb seconded by Kent the board meeting was adjourned at 8:11 pm.\par
\par
\par
APPROVED\par
\par
Date: __________________ _________________________________________\par
\tab \tab \tab \tab \tab \tab Wavell Cowan - Board Clerk\par
}\pard \par
}
