Swanton School Board
January Minutes
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
SWANTON SCHOOL DISTRICT
BOARD OF DIRECTORS’ MEETING MINUTES
January 4, 2010
Administration: Julie Benay, Principal, Brent Coon, Assistant Principal, Becky Hart, Business Manager, Jack McCarthy, Superintendent of Schools
Others Present:
Call to Order: Don Collins called the meeting to order at 6:18pm.
Citizens and Staff: none
FY11 Budget Discussion:
The board discussed placing an article to add funds to an existing reserve fund in the amount of $75,000.00. At this time the budget proposal includes full day Kindergarten. They expressed concern whether paid child care would lose income if a full day Kindergarten was implemented. They weighed the options of placing the full day Kindergarten in the budget or in a separate article. They decided to add ten work days to the existing technology position.
Rod Russin made motion, seconded by April Kilbury to enter executive session at 6:50pm. The board approved the motion 3-0 vote. Rod Russin made motion, seconded by April Kilbury to exit executive session at 7:13pm. The board approved the motion 3-0 vote. Rod Russin made motion, seconded by April Kilbury to approve the Early Departure Program. The board approved the motion 3-0 vote. Rod Russin made motion, seconded by Don Collins to elect April Kilbury as the Vice Chairperson. The board approved the motion on a 3-0 vote.
Don Collins declared the meeting adjourned at 7:15pm. The board approved 3-0 vote.
Respectfully submitted,
Patty Jo Walker, School Board Clerk
by Pierrette Bouchard, School Board Secretary.
SWANTON SCHOOL DISTRICT
BOARD OF DIRECTORS’ MEETING MINUTES
January 11, 2010
Present: Don Collins, Rod Russin, Patti Jo Walker, April Kilbury, Corrine Bonnette.
Administration: Julie Benay, Principal, Becky Hart, Business Manager and Brent Coon
Others Present: Sara Nielson, John Nielson, Toby Maguire, Karen Gagne, Amanda Shand, Casey Bessette, and Mary Babcock.
Call to Order: April Kilbury called the meeting to order at 6:00pm.
Citizens and Staff:
Approval of Minutes:
Correspondence: For executive session.
Old Business: None
Contracts: None
Financial Report: Becky Hart reported that there is little change in the financial report. There is some special education expenses that were added and will be offset by 55% in revenue. Rod Russin made motion, seconded by Patti Jo Walker to accept the financial report 4-0 vote.
Check Warrants: Becky Hart requested that the board approve the November and December check warrants. Patti Jo Walker made motion, seconded by Rod Russin to accept the Nov. 2009 check warrants totaling $356,046.26, and the Dec. 2009 check warrants totaling $339,089.56. The board approved the motion 4-0 vote.
Announced Tuition Rate: Becky Hart reported that each year, the school district must announce the tuition rate based on the FY2011 Budget Proposal for the subsequent school year. Special Education expenses and transportation are not included in the tuition rate. This year the date was changed from Feb. 1st to January 15th. Mrs. Hart has recommended the FY2011 announced tuition rate for Kindergarten at $6,094.00 and $10,157.00 for grades 1-6. Patti Jo Walker made motion, seconded by Corrine Bonnette to approve the announced tuition rate at $6,094.00 for Kindergarten (60%) and Grades 1-6 at $10,157.00. The board approved the motion 4-0 vote.
FY11 Budget: Mrs. Hart handed out Draft 3 of the FY11 Budget Proposal to the board members incorporating the changes the board requested at the last budget meeting. The changes include the grades 5 & 6 sports program, the technology position reflecting the increased number of days, the health insurance increase of 3% has been changed from 4.5% and the dental insurance increase at .02%, reducing from 5% of the previous draft and incorporating the early departure requests.
Principal’s Report:
Informational Meeting. The budget informational meeting has been scheduled for February 22, 2010 at 7:00pm. The administration has previously placed the budget on the website, distributed the budget throughout the community. There is usually school board representation to preview the budget presentation with the Select-Board on Feb. 16 at 7:30pm.
Executive Session:
Rod Russin made motion, seconded by Patti Jo Walker to enter executive session at 6:15pm for personnel. Motion approved on a 4 - 0 vote.
April Kilbury made motion to exit Executive Session at 6:48 p.m. Seconded by Rod Russin. Motion approved on a 4 - 0 vote.
(Don Collins has arrived at the meeting and will now chair the meeting) Don Collins requested a motion from the board on action regarding the early departure program request. Patti Jo Walker made motion to accept all eight request early departure program, seconded by April Kilbury. The board approved the motion 4-0 vote. Don Collins abstained from the vote. April Kilbury made motion, Patti Jo Walker seconded the motion to request that Dr. McCarthy notify the Association of the school board’s action. The board voted to approve the motion on a 4-0 vote.
FY11 Budget Discussion: Julie Benay has contacted child care providers regarding the proposal for the full time kindergarten. Most of the child care providers were supportive of having the Kindergarten becoming full time and felt that the children were ready to attend school full time. One provider network leader did express concern about the financial impact on child care providers as currently providers are able to charge for a full time slot for part time Kindergarten students. If the school program becomes full day, she was concerned there might not be enough after school slots among local child care providers. Don Collins recommended that if the board includes the full time Kindergarten in the budget, that the PTO and the interested parents should have an organized plan. He requested that the parents come to next month’s board meeting to organize a plan to get the vote out for the FY11 Swanton Budget.
Mrs. Benay explained that Betsy Fournier did not attend the board meeting tonight and has provided a comprehensive assessment of what the basketball and soccer program costs to the board. The breakdown was included in the board packet. The recommended budget is $10,500 for the athletic program and the board has budgeted $7,500.00. Mrs. Benay has heard feedback that the program is provided free of charge to the grades 5 & 6 participants. Job descriptions will need to be drafted. They recommend that the school organizes coaches clinics, first aid workshop and guidelines. Don Collins would like to thank Patti Jo Walker for putting together the athletic budget. The board agreed to put $9,000 in the budget for the grades 5 & 6 athletic program. Rod Russin made motion, seconded by Corrine Bonnette to put the funding of the full time Kindergarten Program in the budget. The board approved the budget 5-0 vote. Feb. 22 is the public informational meeting at 7pm. There is a meeting scheduled for February 16th when the school board meets with the Select-Board at the monthly Select-Board meeting. Julie Benay will have a rough draft of the presentation for the public informational meeting. The next Swanton board meeting is scheduled for February 8, 2010.
Superintendent’s Report: None
Executive Session:
Motion to enter second Executive Session was made by Don Collins at 7:35 p.m. Seconded by Corrine Bonnette. Approved on a 5-0 vote.
Motion to exit second Executive Session was made by Don Collins at 7:50 p.m. Seconded by Rod Russin. The motion was approved on a 5 - 0 vote.
Corinne Bonnette made motion to Approve 2010 - 2011 budget with corrections discussed in Executive Session. Seconded by April Kilbury The motion was approved on a 5 - 0 vote.
April Kilbury motioned to accept Norma Gaignery's letter of resignation. Seconded by PattiJo Walker. The motion was approved on a 5 - 0 vote.
PattiJo Walker made motion to accept Cathy Sowa's letter of resignation. Seconded by Rod Russin. The motion was approved on a 5 - 0 vote.
Acknowledgement made to accept doctors letter of sick time as discussed in Executive session. No motion made.
Don Collins declared the meeting adjourned at 8:01pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Administration: Julie Benay, Principal, Becky Hart, Business Manager and Brent Coon
Others Present: Sara Nielson, John Nielson, Toby Maguire, Karen Gagne, Amanda Shand, Casey Bessette, and Mary Babcock.
Call to Order: April Kilbury called the meeting to order at 6:00pm.
Citizens and Staff:
Approval of Minutes:
Correspondence: For executive session.
Old Business: None
Contracts: None
Financial Report: Becky Hart reported that there is little change in the financial report. There is some special education expenses that were added and will be offset by 55% in revenue. Rod Russin made motion, seconded by Patti Jo Walker to accept the financial report 4-0 vote.
Check Warrants: Becky Hart requested that the board approve the November and December check warrants. Patti Jo Walker made motion, seconded by Rod Russin to accept the Nov. 2009 check warrants totaling $356,046.26, and the Dec. 2009 check warrants totaling $339,089.56. The board approved the motion 4-0 vote.
Announced Tuition Rate: Becky Hart reported that each year, the school district must announce the tuition rate based on the FY2011 Budget Proposal for the subsequent school year. Special Education expenses and transportation are not included in the tuition rate. This year the date was changed from Feb. 1st to January 15th. Mrs. Hart has recommended the FY2011 announced tuition rate for Kindergarten at $6,094.00 and $10,157.00 for grades 1-6. Patti Jo Walker made motion, seconded by Corrine Bonnette to approve the announced tuition rate at $6,094.00 for Kindergarten (60%) and Grades 1-6 at $10,157.00. The board approved the motion 4-0 vote.
FY11 Budget: Mrs. Hart handed out Draft 3 of the FY11 Budget Proposal to the board members incorporating the changes the board requested at the last budget meeting. The changes include the grades 5 & 6 sports program, the technology position reflecting the increased number of days, the health insurance increase of 3% has been changed from 4.5% and the dental insurance increase at .02%, reducing from 5% of the previous draft and incorporating the early departure requests.
Principal’s Report:
Informational Meeting. The budget informational meeting has been scheduled for February 22, 2010 at 7:00pm. The administration has previously placed the budget on the website, distributed the budget throughout the community. There is usually school board representation to preview the budget presentation with the Select-Board on Feb. 16 at 7:30pm.
Executive Session:
Rod Russin made motion, seconded by Patti Jo Walker to enter executive session at 6:15pm for personnel. Motion approved on a 4 - 0 vote.
April Kilbury made motion to exit Executive Session at 6:48 p.m. Seconded by Rod Russin. Motion approved on a 4 - 0 vote.
(Don Collins has arrived at the meeting and will now chair the meeting) Don Collins requested a motion from the board on action regarding the early departure program request. Patti Jo Walker made motion to accept all eight request early departure program, seconded by April Kilbury. The board approved the motion 4-0 vote. Don Collins abstained from the vote. April Kilbury made motion, Patti Jo Walker seconded the motion to request that Dr. McCarthy notify the Association of the school board’s action. The board voted to approve the motion on a 4-0 vote.
FY11 Budget Discussion: Julie Benay has contacted child care providers regarding the proposal for the full time kindergarten. Most of the child care providers were supportive of having the Kindergarten becoming full time and felt that the children were ready to attend school full time. One provider network leader did express concern about the financial impact on child care providers as currently providers are able to charge for a full time slot for part time Kindergarten students. If the school program becomes full day, she was concerned there might not be enough after school slots among local child care providers. Don Collins recommended that if the board includes the full time Kindergarten in the budget, that the PTO and the interested parents should have an organized plan. He requested that the parents come to next month’s board meeting to organize a plan to get the vote out for the FY11 Swanton Budget.
Mrs. Benay explained that Betsy Fournier did not attend the board meeting tonight and has provided a comprehensive assessment of what the basketball and soccer program costs to the board. The breakdown was included in the board packet. The recommended budget is $10,500 for the athletic program and the board has budgeted $7,500.00. Mrs. Benay has heard feedback that the program is provided free of charge to the grades 5 & 6 participants. Job descriptions will need to be drafted. They recommend that the school organizes coaches clinics, first aid workshop and guidelines. Don Collins would like to thank Patti Jo Walker for putting together the athletic budget. The board agreed to put $9,000 in the budget for the grades 5 & 6 athletic program. Rod Russin made motion, seconded by Corrine Bonnette to put the funding of the full time Kindergarten Program in the budget. The board approved the budget 5-0 vote. Feb. 22 is the public informational meeting at 7pm. There is a meeting scheduled for February 16th when the school board meets with the Select-Board at the monthly Select-Board meeting. Julie Benay will have a rough draft of the presentation for the public informational meeting. The next Swanton board meeting is scheduled for February 8, 2010.
Superintendent’s Report: None
Executive Session:
Motion to enter second Executive Session was made by Don Collins at 7:35 p.m. Seconded by Corrine Bonnette. Approved on a 5-0 vote.
Motion to exit second Executive Session was made by Don Collins at 7:50 p.m. Seconded by Rod Russin. The motion was approved on a 5 - 0 vote.
Corinne Bonnette made motion to Approve 2010 - 2011 budget with corrections discussed in Executive Session. Seconded by April Kilbury The motion was approved on a 5 - 0 vote.
April Kilbury motioned to accept Norma Gaignery's letter of resignation. Seconded by PattiJo Walker. The motion was approved on a 5 - 0 vote.
PattiJo Walker made motion to accept Cathy Sowa's letter of resignation. Seconded by Rod Russin. The motion was approved on a 5 - 0 vote.
Acknowledgement made to accept doctors letter of sick time as discussed in Executive session. No motion made.
Don Collins declared the meeting adjourned at 8:01pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Patty Jo Walker, School Board Clerk
by Pierrette Bouchard, School Board Secretary.
