Meeting Date:	3/24/05
Minutes Submitted On:	3/25/05
Board Attendees:	Ellen Pratt (EP), Anne Fines (AF), Virginia Scholl (VS), Peter May (PM), Rebecca Coffey (RC)
Administration Attendees:	Jim Kane (JK), Amelia Stone (AS)
Community Attendees:	Karen Ortleib, Jan Blanchard, Cory Stark, Cheryl Struthers, Benji Cragin, Meredith Wade

Location:	PCS Writing Room
Meeting called to order at:	4:40
Meeting called to order by:	VS
Finish time:	7:30

NOTE: These minutes should be considered a draft that awaits approval and possibly amendment by the board at its next scheduled meeting.
AGENDA TOPIC	MOTION		MOVED BY		SECONDED BY		DISCUSSION		PASSED?
Prior Meeting’s Minutes	Move to approve minutes of 3/17/05 meeting		EP		VS				Passed.
Communications	None.
Committee Reports: Finance/School Forest/Early Education Outreach Advisory Committee	Tabled.
Warrants	Move to approve #1067 FAST for $900.00; #1070 FAST for $2,861.41; #1071 FAST for $28,113.70; #1072 REGULAR for $11,338.82		PM		EP				Passed.
Administrators’ Reports	Letters of acceptance went out to the seven Westminster students that were interested in the middle school program. We have heard from two that their children will go to private schools. So we currently have five Westminster students entering seventh grade. We have had two additional inquiries about the seventh grade. We expect that five students will continue from the seventh grade into the eighth grade. We have one out-of-district student who is privately placed (by her family) in the elementary school. We have had an inquiry from a family wanting to tuition their kindergartener at PCS should PCS move to a full-day kindergarten program. AS says that the school can set its own tuition rate, understanding that the maximum tuition rate allowed by the state is $12,000+. The board will set the full-day kindergarten tuition rate at its 4/14/05 meeting. AF will find out what local rates are at private schools. Thirteen of Mary Anne Deere’s students had essays that were accepted into a publication called “Creative Communication.” Cami Elliot-Knaggs has accepted a position at Oak Grove Elementary School in Brattleboro. She is therefore resigning as our Early Education Outreach Coordinator effective April 14. The board authorized the committee to send Cami a note of thanks for her wonderful work as our Coordinator. Judy Hannum has informed AS that she will be retiring at the end of this year. The board authorized the clerk to send a note to Judy. AS recommends that the board consider a separation benefit payment in light of her long-term and truly excellent service to the school. The board asked AS to convey to JK (who had left the meeting by the time the board considered this matter) that it would like a confirmation from him about what reasonable level the board could consider this request. On April 6 and 7 a team from PCS will be attending a Learning Communities conference.
Full Day Kindergarten - Possible use of revenues from additional tuitioned students	At its 3/17/05 meeting, the board discussed the issue of full-day kindergarten. Towards the end of that meeting, the board expressed its support for the idea of using additional tuitioned student revenues to commit to a full-day kindergarten for next year. This would allow the school to provide the full-day services that families indicate they want and need while keeping class sizes within a range that a strong body of research indicates is optimum for kindergartners. At the 3/17/05 meeting, the board decided to move on this matter at the March 24 meeting. The discussion at the 3/24/05 meeting did not cover all of the considerable ground covered at the 3/17/05 meeting. Readers interested in all of the reasoning behind the board’s actions regarding full-day kindergarten should read the minutes of the 3/17/05 meeting. Some of the reasons mentioned at the two meetings in support of a move to appropriate class size, full-day kindergarten are: · The kindergarten committee that worked with AS to explore the structure of kindergarten at PCS surveyed families regarding their preferences. Full-day kindergarten was preferred by more families than any other single choice. · Regardless of how popular the concept of full-day kindergarten was, the most pressing concern for families was class sizes. · A healthy body of research shows that full-day kindergarten contains no disadvantages for students. · Putney Early Learning Center is closing. It may be hard for families in academic year 2004-2005 to find any day care centers that have half-day slots for five-year olds. · The $20,000 budgeted in the FY06 budget for a teacher buy-out will not be used for a buy-out, as no teacher opted to retire early. · Moving to a full-day program may increase kindergarten enrollment, which, if it continued at a higher level, would revitalize the school. · PCS is anticipating enrolling a total of 11 tuition paying students next year. The FY06 budget counted on only two. While it is too early for PCS to absolutely count on all expected 11 students enrolling at PCS for academic year 2004-2005, it seems likely that PCS will see an unanticipated revenue of over $80,000 from tuitioned students. This fact – coupled with the fact that the buy-out money will not be used for a buy-out – means that PCS seems to be in the fortunate position of being able to pilot a full-day program while staying within the confines of the FY06 budget. · Studies show that excellent early learning opportunities can reduce students’ needs in later years for expensive special services. The board and AS are leaving many structuring options open. For example, would two classrooms and para support automatically be necessary if the enrollment tops 16? Or would one enormous classroom with two teachers and appropriate para support be more ideal, especially if the enrollment does not exceed 16 by a large number? (Money would be saved by not outfitting two classrooms.) Should the academic portion of the program end by early afternoon so that kindergartners who want only an extended day program can return to their homes and those who need or want a full-day program can stay? (An “extended day plus after-care” approach might free up a teacher to perform the Early Education Outreach Coordinator’s duties, thereby saving $16,000/year.) The board and AS decided that options must stay open until PCS gets a better idea of how many kindergartners will enroll and what the needs are of the kindergartners who enroll.
Full Day Kindergarten	Move that the board commit to running a full-day kindergarten for the 2005-2006 school year regardless of enrollment numbers. Further, that the board commit to allocating necessary resources including staff such that the student teacher ratio not exceed 16:1 consistent with the strong recommendation of the kindergarten committee.	PM		EP		The 16:1 ratio recommendation of the kindergarten committee was based on a thorough examination of “best practice” literature. Examples of how the 16:1 ratio would look at PCS. If 14 children enrolled in kindergarten, there would be one kindergarten teacher in one full-day kindergarten with appropriate para support. If there were 17 children enrolled in kindergarten, there would be two kindergarten teachers with appropriate para support.		Unanimous

Assessment of Head Start's First Year at PCS - Deb Gass of Early Education Services (EES) and Maureen Young-McCarthy, Education Manager for EES.	The Head Start program now operating at PCS is fully enrolled with 15 students, with all but two from Putney. Thirteen of the students attend full-time. Two attend part-time. About 1/3 of this year’s students will move on to kindergarten at PCS next year. The classroom is slated to continue operating through the summer. Next year there will be 12 full-time and three part-time slots. The lead teacher at the PCS Head Start program has a B.A. and a Massachusetts license and will now get her Vermont licensure. The assistant teacher has an associates’ degree. Deb would like us to move toward a more economically integrated classroom that includes 50% Head Start qualified students and 50% students from other socioeconomic levels. She would also like to get a multiyear contract between Head Start and PCS. While the board expressed enthusiasm for the Head Start program in Putney and thanked Deb and AS for making the PCS and Head Start collaboration one of the first such collaborations in Vermont, it is not yet convinced that an integrated classroom will not harm other local providers. The board is also curious about whether the building currently housing Putney Early Learning (which is folding operations) could be used by Head Start. The board asked Deb to provide it with a vision for two years of operation at PCS. The board will review that document at its 4/14/05 meeting. Two parents of Head Start students attended the board meeting. One spoke enthusiastically about the program and also suggested that she would like to see more collaboration and mutual support between PCS and Head Start. She said that the Head Start Parent Meetings have been very, very good and that Holly Tippett has been extraordinarily helpful in terms of finding resources for families. This parent would like to see Putney community members take seats on the Head Start Policy Council, which is the equivalent of a Head Start board. The Policy Committee must be 51% parents and 49% community representatives. Matters approved by the Policy Committee must also be approved by the Brattleboro Town School Board, which is the governing agency for Head Start. Putney citizens wanting to join the Head Start Policy Council should contact Deb Gass at EES. 254-3742 x 110. All Policy Council representatives must be approved by the Brattleboro Town School Board. The other parent at the meeting said that Head Start is a good “jumping off point for kindergarten.” Children see how the school runs. They understand its rules. Head Start currently has a partnership with one Putney child care provider. The program is always looking for more providers with which to partner. Interested child care providers should contact Deb Gass at Early Education Services in Brattleboro. 254-3742 x 110.
Discussion of ADM Money and Preschool	The State Board of Ed had been considering promulgating guidelines for schools that want to offer preschool programs. Their effort got derailed. But S.132, currently being considered by the legislature, might accomplish the same goal. Quoting from the bill itself, S.132 “proposes to require schools to consider offering kindergarten readiness programs; allow school districts to authorize the supervisory union to provide early childhood education programs; create standards and a process for approving g [sic] public early childhood education programs and allowing a school district with an approved program to count enrolled students in its average daily membership; authorize school districts to maintain early childhood education programs which are not approved;  establish that a child shall be five years old on September 1 of the year of admission to kindergarten; and appropriate $200,000.00 from the education fund to assist regional collaboratives working to expand delivery of early childhood education programs.” The absence of current guidelines regarding state funding for preschool programs means that, right now, PCS might be able to start including its Head Start population in its ADM count. (“ADM” means “average daily membership.” ADM count is part of the formula through which schools draw on Education Fund money. Some school districts already draw on Education Fund money for their preschool programs.) If PCS were to include preschool students in its ADM count, next year each PCS Head Start student would count as 50% of a student and PCS would draw on Education Fund money accordingly. The following year each PCS Head Start student would count as 100% of a student and PCS would draw on Education Fund money accordingly. There is some question, however, about whether Head Start students will be allowed to be included in ADM counts. JK will provide Deb Gass with all the information that he has about this. It is possible that local providers whose are licensed early educators and whose programs are accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children could qualify their programs for Education Fund money. The money would be administered by the school. The school would contract with the programs to provide services. Putney Early Learning Center is closing, which may leave Putney’s families under-served regarding early learning centers. Putney is updating its town plan and, under statute, has to have a child care plan. This means that the town and PCS are examining the same service and revenue issues regarding early learning. PM will contact Regina Rockefeller, chair of the Select Board, to discuss co-sponsoring a town forum on childcare.
Sewer Pumps	Tabled for a joint Select Board / School Board meeting (still to be scheduled).
Food Service Bid	To send out the RFP entitled “Operation and Management of Food Service Program for the Putney Town School District” with the addendum entitled “Putney Central School Food Service Program Requirements,” with bids to be returned on or before April 30, 2005. .	PM	VS	The board thanks PHACT for its work on the contract addendum. The board will review the bids at the first May meeting.	Unanimous
Food Service Price Increase	JK: The actual food service deficit to-date is a little under $15,000. JK suggested that we address the question of food prices during the bid process. He also suggested that, in the food service contract that we negotiate, we want our subsidy to be capped.
Other Business	Code of Ethics According to EP, the Vermont School Board Association strongly suggests that each year board members sign a code of ethics. The VSBA also suggests that the code be posted at the front of the school. EP will bring in one for all to sign. School Funding The Vermont Children’s Forum publishes a Citizen’s Guide to School Funding. They cost $2 each. AS will procure copies for each board member. The board would like at its second meeting in November to have a presentation from Jim Kane or someone at the VSBA about school budgets. Preschool Programs EP brought sample contractual agreements for preschool programs. School Action Plan AS has worked with the staff on reviewing the data in the School Action Plan and updating the plan based on the data. Goals have been updated regarding civility. AS would like to form a committee of stakeholders (parents, teachers, community members) to work on formally updating the plan. Interested parties should contact AS at the school by 4/15/05.

April 7. Special Work Session. (No communications, no meeting minutes review). 4:30 - 6 in Writing Room at PCS.

· Review Town Meeting process

· Review Budget Preparation process

· Looking forward about what we would like to do as a board.

April 14. 4:30 in Writing Room at PCS.

· Further discussion on Head Start

· Policy on nonresident students.

· Update on enrollments throughout the school

· Set the tuition for kindergarten for nonresident students.

April 28. 4:30 in Writing Room at PCS

· Move on next year’s Head Start agreement.

May 12. 4:30 in Writing Room at PCS

· Review food service bid.

· Separation agreement

Second Meeting in November

· Presentation to board by Jim Kane or VSBA about school budgets

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.