Swanton School Board
Corrine Bonnette: 868-9444
Donald Collins, Chair: 868-7975
Roy Eckler, Vice Chair: 868-5612
Lisa Gorton, Clerk: 868-3059
April Kilbury: 527-7152
Patti Jo Walker: 524-5749
Monday, June 8, 2009
6:00pm
Present:
Board Members: Don Collins, Chair, Roy Eckler, Patti Jo Walker, and April Kilbury were present. Corinne Bonnette was absent from the meeting.
Administration: Julie Benay, Principal, Brent Coon, Assistant Principal, Dr. John McCarthy, Superintendent.
Others present: Mary Babcock
Citizens and Staff:
Approval of the minutes- Minutes of June 4th not available. Roy Eckler made motion, seconded by April Kilbury to approve the May Board minutes as presented. The Board Approved.
Correspondence: A letter of resignation for executive session.
Old Business: none
Contracts- Crossroads has arranged with the Vermont National Guard for a helicopter “fly in” by their RAID pilot as a free outreach program. The Crossroads program has tentatively arranged for this Helicopter fly in on the school grounds as part of their summer program on Tuesday, July 7th at 1:00pm. Carol Lizotte, the Crossroads Project Director, has requested approval from the school board to allow the landing for the Crossroads summer program. She has sent an agreement for the school board to sign as the landowners granting permission for the landing. Roy Eckler made motion, seconded by April Kilbury to allow the helicopter landing and authorize the board chair to sign the agreement on behalf of the board. The board approved the motion 5-0 vote. Dr. McCarthy has a one year hot lunch contract renewal with the Abbey for the board’s approval and signature. April Kilbury made motion, seconded by Roy Eckler to renew the food service agreement with the Abbey for the 2009-2010 school year. The board approved the motion on a 5-0 vote. Dr. McCarthy has employee contracts for executive session. Dr. McCarthy also has paraprofessional tentative agreement and draft copies of the support staff for executive session. Dr. McCarthy has the final Professional Teachers Master Agreement for the board’s approval and signature. Roy Eckler made motion to authorize the school board chair to sign the professional teachers’ masters’ agreement for the 2009-2010 school year, as amended as it relates to the athletic director’s position, seconded by April Kilbury. The board approved the motion 5-0 vote.
Financial Report:
Becky Hart was not in attendance this evening. The end of the year finances were reviewed during a special meeting on June 4th, 2009. Don Collins noted that the board may need to meet one more time during the month of June for end of the year finances.
Check Warrants- Roy Eckler made motion to approve the Check Warrants dated May 14, 19, 21, May 28 and May 31, 2009 totaling $329,658.22, seconded by Patti Jo Walker. The motion was approved on a 5-0 vote.
Principal’s Report
Celebrations-Mrs. Collins organized a wonderful assembly for Memorial Day. We had many veterans visit on that day and the students were very respectful listeners. They had a band concert and art show to celebrate. They wanted to thank MVU for using the space every year and Mr. Colburn for his work.
Tabor Fund- The Tabor Fund was established in 1975 to further the education of the children of Swanton. The school is only allowed to spend the interest each year from the fund balance. Milton and Jessie Tabor owned one of the nation’s largest turkey farms in West Swanton on Tabor Point. Their former home is now the Tabor House Inn. It has been past practice to spend the funds for Cultural enrichment. Mrs. Ewell generally takes the lead on arranging for a series of cultural events being sure that each grade level has equitable access to a variety of assemblies, including music, dance and theater. They have had puppet theaters, dancers, Taiko Aikokal Drummers etc. She handed out a copy of the Tabor Fund financial report of the interest. Don Collins would like to have a report once a year. Mrs. Benay has offered to bring the program of activities planned with the Tabor Funds in the Fall Board meeting packet.
Ross Green Conference Report: The Swanton School hosted Dr. Greene for a conference in May which was attended by 170 educators, social service providers and parents. Swanton has met their goal of having all of the behavioral and guidance staff to receive training from Dr. Greene at no expense to the school. They have a plan with Mrs. McAllister to make sensible use of those resources. They plan to pursue further training using Dr. Greene’s approach using resources from the conference as well as any BEST funds we might be able to access from the Dept. of Education.
Crossroads: Carol Lizotte, the Director of Crossroads After School Programs for the Supervisory Union, was able to secure expanded funding that will allow us to offer a Crossroads program two days per week for grades 2-4. The administration would like the Board to follow these developments as the 21st Century Grants do require an increasingly large sum from a local contribution. Don Collins would like to invite Carol Lizotte to come to an October board meeting to talk to the board about her program and the local contribution.
Action Plan: The Original Action plan for 2009-2010 submitted to the Board did not include a section for Social Responsibility. In order to make it more transparent, the task force helped to write an extra section of the Social Responsibility. It is important to outline the specific steps we plan to take this aspect of the schooling experience, both to communicate to the community as well as take advantage of funding opportunities that support the creation of safe and positive learning environments. April Kilbury made motion, seconded by Patti Jo Walker to approve the 2009-2010 Action Plan as presented. The board approved the motion 5-0 vote.
Commissioner’s Required Actions: Lisa Lovelette and the school improvement team at the Department of Education has already approved the school improvement plan (which is the same as the Action Plan). We are working on building our application for funds to support this plan. The minimum amount will be $50,000 although the school district can ask for more if needed if they can justify it. Personnel related item for school improvement plan in executive session. During curriculum retreats, they have collected information on resources needed to enact the curriculum. Usually have paperwork that the board signs acknowledging the necessary steps but that will not come until August. Must continue to progress monitor the students, must justify to the State if the student has not met standards, what has been done to assist that student, and must plan next year that If the school does not meet Adequate Yearly Progress next year, for in all subcategories including Special Education, the school district must have a proposal ready to restructure the school. In August, she would like to talk more about that and will need to plan the full year if needed to restructure and engage community members.
Summer School: As part of the Individual Educational Plan process, the school district offers extended school year instruction to those students who have evidence of regression over the summer. In addition to these instructional programs, there is a learning opportunity called “summer intervention program (SIP). The “sip” learning is a week long opportunity for students to refresh skills prior to the start of the school year, funded by Title I and occurs the week before in-service. Summer school begins July 20th and will go through August 7th with both the special education and the SIP program running concurrently the last week. Summer staffing for executive session.
Paraprofessional Tuition Reimbursement Funds: The paraprofessional tuition reimbursement funds budgeted $3,500 is not sufficient for the tuition pool established in the new master agreement of $6,000.00 so the amount in that line item will be short and will have to be made up in some other areas of the budget.
Action Items:
Building Use Requests: Michel Consejo has requested to use the parking lot for a motorcycle safety course operated by J&J Motorcycle Safety. They are fully insured. Roy Eckler made motion, seconded by April Kilbury to have the building principal review it to make sure that the space is available and not in conflict with some other activity and authorize the administration to sign if she determines it to be appropriate. The board approved the motion 5-0 vote. A community resident has requested to use the soccer fields for June 27 & 28th for a private family function for a volleyball game. Roy Eckler made motion that the board approve the use of the soccer fields by this community member and if approved, that they would have to pay over time rate of $22.50 for the Custodian and must obtain liability event insurance. The board denied the request on a 0-5 vote. The board had concerns about the liability and not open up the facility for family events or private functions. Roy Eckler made motion, seconded by April Kilbury to authorize the administration to deny the use of the building or the grounds for private functions. The board approved the motion 4-0 vote.
DDC: Mrs. Benay handed out information from Steve Shaw, an engineer familiar with the school’s HVAC system, providing the board with a recommendation in regard to this decision. Roy Eckler made a motion to accept Control Technology’s bid of $12,500.00, seconded by Patti Jo Walker. The board approved the motion 4-0 vote.
Title I Schoolwide: At last month’s meeting, Mrs. St. Amour presented information regarding schoolwide vs targeted assistance models for use of Title I funding. In order to move forward with going to the schoolwide model, the supervisory union needs the Board to make a motion to formally adopt the schoolwide model for use of Title I funds. The board will have some decisions to make regarding the use of ARRA Title I funds. April Kilbury made motion, seconded by Patti Jo Walker to adopt the schoolwide model for use of Title I funding. The board approved the motion 4-0 vote.
Superintendents’ Report
Negotiations- Dr. McCarthy has a tentative agreement and a draft of the support staff master agreement for executive session.
Mileage for Board Members: Roy Eckler explained that board members attend conferences such as the Vermont School Board Association and negotiations meeting (especially now that they have become regional) held outside of the Swanton School or representatives on the Franklin Northwest SU Board that attend meetings outside of Swanton School. Roy Eckler made motion, seconded by April Kilbury to approve board mileage reimbursement for travel to conferences, Negotiations meetings and Franklin Northwest SU Board Meetings beyond the local school and MVU. The Board approved the motion 4-0 vote.
Loan Renewal/Loan Document- Roy Eckler made motion to authorize the board chair to sign the loan renewal for facilities plan and anticipated loan document on behalf of the board. April Kilbury seconded the motion. The board approved the motion 4-0 vote.
Legislative Review- Dr. McCarthy has included the legislative review in the board packet.
Master Agreement- Has already been signed.
Personnel Policy- Roy Eckler brought guidelines for hiring and reassignment of staff that was presented for the board for adoption on June 9, 1999. Don Collins recommended that the personnel committee meet with the administration and come back in September with a recommendation for the hiring process.
Land Item- To discuss in executive session
Policy - No policies
Next school board meeting scheduled for June 25th at 10:00am, if needed.
A tentative July 13th meeting has been scheduled.
Executive Session
Roy Eckler made motion, seconded by Patti Jo Walker to enter executive session for personnel, legal issue, and negotiations at 7:20pm. The board approved the motion 4-0 vote. Don Collins declared the executive session ending at 9:00pm.
Roy Eckler made motion seconded by Patti Jo Walker to approve contracts for the two crossing guards and teacher contract (davenport) as presented in executive session. Board approved 4-0
Roy Eckler made motion, seconded by April Kilbury to sign memorandum of agreement regarding educational support staff. The board approved the motion.
April Kilbury made motion, seconded by Roy Eckler to extend a teacher contract extension until 4:00pm Monday June 15th. The board approved the motion.
April Kilbury made motion, seconded by Roy Eckler to reject land item proposal and inform sellers. The board approved the motion.
April Kilbury made motion, seconded by Roy Eckler, to accept letter of resignation from Tina Gilbeau. The board approved the motion.
April Kilbury made motion, seconded by Roy Eckler to accept Mary Wood’s independent contract services at the rates listed and not to exceed $5,000.00. The board approved the motion.
April Kilbury made motion, seconded by Roy Eckler, to adjust Lisette Trippany, Carlo Micheli and Mary Ellis hourly rates as recommended. The board approved the motion on a 3-1 vote with Don Collins opposing the motion.
The board authorized the administration to make the decision to offer teacher stipends for those teachers that are training on VKAT and to inform the board regarding the decision.
April Kilbury made motion, seconded by Patti Jo Walker to offer the summer school positions to Sam Torry and Mike Weber and continue with interviews for the third candidate. The board approved the motion 4-0 vote.
Roy Eckler made motion, seconded by April Kilbury to offer Chelsea Bushey summer school work at minimum age through the TIPS program not to exceed sixty hours. The board approved the motion on a 4-0 vote
April Kilbury made motion, seconded by Roy Eckler to authorize Julie Benay to post two extended kindergarten positions for one year. The board approved the motion 4-0 vote.
Roy Eckler made motion, seconded by April Kilbury to recommend Lisa Bovat for the grade 5 & 6 math interventionist position. The board approved the motion.
Roy Eckler made motion, seconded by April Kilbury to authorize the Board chair to sign the contract for the selected candidate for the sixth grade ongoing position after the tenth day of posting expires. The board approved the motion. Don Collins made motion, seconded by Roy Eckler to hire Mallory Ovitt as the grade 2 teacher for one year position. The board approved the motion 4-0 vote.
Adjournment
Don Collins declared the meeting adjourned at 9:14pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Patti Jo Walker, School Board Clerk
By Pierrette Bouchard, Board Secretary
