NOTE:  These minutes should be considered a draft that awaits approval and possibly amendment by the board at its next scheduled meeting.

 

Meeting

Date:

9/23/04

Minutes Submitted On:

9/26/04

Board Attendees:

Ellen Pratt (EP), Virginia Scholl, Peter May, Rebecca Coffey (RC)

Administration Attendees:

Ron Stahley (RS), Amelia Stone (AS)

Community Attendees:

Ella McIntosh, John Harrison from Laidlaw, Vern Grubinger, Director of Sustainable Agriculture at UVM

                             

Location:

PCS Writing Room

Meeting called to order at:

4:37

Meeting called to order by:

VS

Finish time:

6:23

 

AGENDA TOPIC

MOTION

MOVED BY

SECONDED BY

DISCUSSION

PASSED?

Prior Meeting’s Minutes

Move to adopt as amended minutes of 9/09/04

VS

PM

Amendments:  Peter May was not at the meeting. Virginia Scholl was.

 

The minutes should have stated that the board requested AS to ask that Fitz, Vogt give to her quarterly financial reports that she will share with the board quarterly.

Unanimous

Communications

1 -- James Cooper has agreed to re-do the PCS web site gratis.

2 – Three emails were received:

FIRST EMAIL

From: "Robert and Mary Stromberg"
To: "Rebecca Coffey" <coffeyschwartz@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: school board meeting minutes
Date: Fri, 10 Sep 2004 19:23:33 -0400 

Becky,

 

Thank you for sending along the minutes to all the school board meetings to me .

 

I am writing to express concern regarding the discussion of the school board's consideration as to whether or not to write a proposal asking the VSBA to endorse universal health care. While I think that health care is certainly something that needs to be addressed in this country, there are many  who do NOT feel that universal health is the answer to this problem For the board to seek such an endorsement is , I feel , stepping outside their responsibilities to this community. Even though I appreciate the fact that the members of this board are politically minded, I urge you to use caution before engaging as a board in seeking out endorsements of any kind , however well intentioned they are. Perhaps a better option would be that you, as individuals, contact people within our government and voice your support in that manner.

 

I urge you to keep your focus as a board on the job of educating the children at Putney Central School in a way that best fits our town .

Thank you for the time you give to this board ,

 

Mary Stromberg

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECOND EMAIL

From:

"Greg Wilson"

To:

delivertoboard@yahoo.com

Date:

Fri, 10 Sep 2004 08:59:05 -0400

Subject:

Delivery Trucks

 
Good Day,
I've often noticed large trucks making deliveries to the school  kitchen at peak morning drop off time.  For safety and convenience, like to suggest deliveries be re-scheduled around peak traffic times.
Thanks for your consideration.
 

Greg Wilson

 

(Response from AS:  She has asked from Kim in the cafeteria for a list of delivery companies.  AS will contact them.  AS talked to the milk delivery truck this morning and asked him to deliver before 8:15 am.)

 

 

 

THIRD EMAIL

From:

"Michael & Beth Muskat"

To:

delivertoboard@yahoo.com

Subject:

Maintenance of school grounds

Date:

Mon, 23 Aug 2004 16:37:02 -0400

Greetings!

The new school year is about to open and for what is the second year in a row, the shrubs and small trees in the front yard are untrimmed and unsightly.  Please also note the missing or broken boards on the fence surrounding the dumpster.

We all know that a well-cared-for school building brings rewards:  a good first impression, pride in one's surroundings (and thus less trash etc left by students, etc.), and the satisfaction that, in this case, the Board is taking its responsibilities seriously.

I urge Board members to walk the building and grounds on a regular basis.  Perhaps you might consider establishing a parent volunteer group who would be willing to help with the maintenance of the building and grounds. How about a Fall clean-up day to tend to the gardens, fallen apples, trimming trees/bushes, etc.? 

The school sign looks wonderful; the lawn mowing contractor has been doing a fine job. How about finishing the job?

Yours who has been there,

Beth Muskat 

(Response from AS:  Tony trimmed the trees.  Rod Payne Meyer is consulting on how to trim around the new school sign and on a general volunteer cleanup day similar to one that did the cleanup at Town Hall.) 

3 – A memo from the VT School Boards Insurance Trust regarding school’s health insurance program.  They are looking for members of the PCS board to go to their trustee’s meeting.  Their board meeting will coincide with the upcoming VSBA meeting, which EP is planning to attend.  She may attend the meeting on behalf of the PCS board.  WSESU representatives will attend the meeting, regardless.

4 – Oral communication from Deb Stetson at Town Picnic.  All exterior trim is in need of repainting.  (Response:  AS said that a contractor is being put on the job.)

 

 

 

5 – Jim Kane emailed RC and said that he would get clarified information to the board regarding the August 12 warrants. 

Committee Reports

None.

Animal Policy

Tabled.

Administrators’ Report

We now have 209 students enrolled in k-8 (up one from previous report).

The preschool expects approximately 11 students.  It has opened.  Six of the approximately 11 students have started.  (They are having a staggered opening.)

There has been a vegetable stand at the front of the school selling organic produce from the garden.  The school has made $160 selling tomatoes.  Jennifer Craigan has been donating zinnias.  Christopher Renouf (1st grade) has the title of Food Stand Manager.

Kindergarten surveys went out with the newsletter. 

The Action Plan for 2004-2005 is upcoming.  A committee is being reinstated.  The last committee had Elisabeth Bissell, AF, and VS.

EP asked AS for regular updates on professional learning communities.

 

 

 

Nutrition Guidelines/Food Service

Vern Grubinger, Director of Sustainable Agriculture at UVM spoke with the board.  He said that there has been a large rise recently in obesity and childhood diabetes across the country.  The entire culture seems to be shifting toward fast food and less exercise.  Schools serving fast food are only part of that culture.  Because they have a captive audience (children), when schools send messages about the importance of healthful, fresh food and connects the food service to the curriculum, kids can learn and, perhaps, the culture can begin to shift and obesity and juvenile diabetes can begin to decline.

Vern and others have noticed a pattern in school food services.

  • When the cost of the food service is low and the quality of the food is low, participation in the food service is generally low.  Food service income, therefore, is generally low, and the food service has trouble meeting its costs.
  • When the quality of the food is high, participation is generally high.  The food service can charge more and still get high participation.  Budget isn’t so tight.

Misc ideas from Vern: 

  • There are no “one size fits all” solutions to the problem of how to provide excellent food service.  Some schools (like PCS) use a large outside supplier.  Others hire either an employee or an independent contractor with a restaurant background to manage the kitchen and food service.  Dummerston does this.  It has Mike Waillor, who is an independent contractor.  He plans menus, does the buying, and cooks.  He provides a salad bar every day. 
  • Black River is a food distributor that gets fresh food locally.

AS:  The state board on its review of our food service program made some recommendations.  One was to reduce fat.

AS has requested changes to the Fitz, Vogt contract for this academic year. She has included in it measurable goals through which PCS can be clear about standards and expectations with Fitz, Vogt and with which PCS can evaluate the quality of the food service being provided for the remainder of this year.  The board would like to work closely with groups like PHACT (the school health committee) regarding nutrition guidelines.  The board invites PHACT to give the board a report as well as suggestions about how the board and PHACT can collaborate.

Procedures for Board Input to Superintendent for Administrator Review

When the WSESU does a 360-degree survey (survey of all stakeholders regarding administrator performance), the WSESU should prepare a summary but also make the raw data available under controlled circumstances at the WSESU for inspection by any board member.

Some of the deadlines mentioned in the draft schedule (through which the will board gather info and provide input to the superintendent for administrator review) prepared by PM have already passed. PM and RC will together tweak the draft schedule and present the tweaked version at the next meeting.

During the second October meeting, board members in Executive Session will give Ron input for his evaluation of the administrator’s performance during academic year 2003-2004.  At that same meeting the board, RS, and AS will together discuss administrative goals for academic year 2004-2005. 

 

 

Laidlaw (bus routes)

John Harrison of Laidlaw presented to the board information about changes in the routes.  The only route changed was a piece of the high school route.  It is the Westminster West turnaround.  There was rarely anyone there.  Going all the way out there runs up the fuel and time costs, especially in the winter.  Laidlaw eliminated that stop.  Full bus route information is  now in the school board binder in the school office.

Laidlaw will continue offering PCS a 12% discount on bussing for Winter Sports and a free bus and fuel for the 8th grade trip.  (The school pays for the driver for the 8th grade trip.)

We apparently have 6 Westminster students riding the Putney busses into BUHS.  According to RS, there are a number of Choice students from Westminster and Career Center students from Bellows Falls.  All are entitled to use the bus.  However, individual school districts can set fees.

 

 

Bus routes

Move to accept routes as outlined in the handout given by Laidlaw.

RC

EP

 

Unanimous

Warrants

Move to approve warrants:

1009 Fast for $3,157.75
1010 Fast for $145.77
1011 Fast for $1,614.72
1012 Fast for $26,434.57
1013 Fast for $2,710.32
1014 Fast for $4,280.34

PM

VS

 

Passed.  (RC opposed because of “inadequate information on cover page”)

 

Move to approve warrants:

1015 Fast for $4624.00
1016 Fast for $240.00
1017 Fast for $57.75
1018 Regular for $69,390.91

PM

EP

 

Passed.  (RC opposed because of “inadequate information on cover pages.”)

Next meeting:

October 14 at 4:30 pm in the Writing Room

Reading of Policy:  Board Relations with the Administrators (CODE: C7)

Procedures for Board Input to Superintendent for Administrator Review .  (RC and PM will present tweaked schedule.)

Animal policy.

Facilities Use.

Universal health care coverage
 
Review of Policy for Admission of Non-Resident Tuition Students

 

Respectfully submitted by: Rebecca Coffey

This represents my understanding of this meeting.  If you have any changes, please submit them at the next board meeting.