Meeting
Date:

5/10/07

Minutes Submitted On:

5/11/07

Board Attendees:

Virginia Scholl (VS), Benji Cragin (BC), Peter May (PM), Anne Fines (AF)

Administration Attendees:

Amelia Stone (AS), Ron Stahley (RS)

Community Attendees:

Isaiah Palmeri

PCS Writing Room

Meeting called to order at:

 4:34 pm

Meeting called to order by:

PM

Finish time:

7:30 pm

AGENDA TOPIC

MOTION

MOVED BY

SECONDED BY

DISCUSSION

PASSED?

Prior Meeting’s Minutes

To adopt the minutes of the 4/26/07 meeting as amended

BC

PM

Pg.1, Communications: Delete beginning of sentence  and add :It is the policy of the board to not respond to anonymous communications.  However, in order to clarify the issue, the board reiterated that…

Pg.5: change Asian Arts to Asian Studies Coordinator

Yes

Communications

Note from Barbara Nowakowski: we have 6 applicants for the Darrow scholarship, $900 to spend from the account.  Criteria: financial need, academic performance, civic engagement
Letter from Peter May to Anita Coomes to request prompt reimbursement of school district bills to the WSESU.
Invitation to Special Ed banquet on Monday, June 4, at 5 PM, at the Putney Inn.  VS and BC will try to attend.

Committee Reports: 
A.   School Forest
B.  Early Ed.

A. School Forest Committee met May 8.  A sign will be posted on the kiosk in response to recent vandalism.
B. EEOC met April 24. The  focus was on preparing for the  Little Kids Fair coming up on Sat. May 12, 10 to noon.

Warrants

To pass warrants
 #1097 Fast $97.89;  #1100 Fast $299.41;  #1102 Fast $3296.00;  #1103 Fast $1675.00;
#1104 Regular $13,089.10.  Total amount $18,457.49

PM

BC

yes

Administrators’ Reports

RS:   read the letter that was sent by him, and signed by all district school board members, to Gov. Douglas, Senator  Shumlin, and  Rep.  Symington concerning state education funding bills.
WSESU meeting on May 16 at 7 PM at Oak Grove School.  Ratification of support staff negotiation agreement and RS contract.  3 board members need to be there: VS, BC, EP?
AS: Job vacancy update: Interviews for art position will take place the week of May 21. VS will be the board rep on the committee. AS will advertise the opening for the primary position as a one year appointment, and run the ad again for the nurse position.

Safe Routes to School follow up meeting with the selectboard  will take place on June 6 at 6 PM at the Town Hall.

Wish list for anticipated budget surplus ($17000): purchase newly revised Math Investigations program, K-5  ( $3500).  A new computer cart for the I Book lab. There are 2 options.  1 - I_Book cart with  digital media kits and 20 new I-Books ($10 to 12,000).  Option 2: same package with additional 5 new computers  ($3000 more). 
AS met with Norm Eklind about the school building and energy efficiency.  Suggestions: 20 more bulbs to change; install a “miser” for vending machine, to cycle on and off on low use times; retrofit gym lights with T5 fluorescents with a sensor to adjust to use; use electric kiln in art room during off-peak hours. Bigger issues: the long hall is old and very inefficient, like an open window all year long; the building has inefficient ventilators and they are sometimes blocked, as are heat ducts.  This needs further discussion and exploration to develop a capital plan.  BC: gym is also highly energy inefficient.  Eklind will be issuing a full report with recommendations.

22 potential kindergartners came to Orientation Day.
Class configurations: given the numbers we have now, the best configuration has been agreed on by AS and staff as: K Durburow, K/1 new hire, 1/2 Cassidy, 2/3 Mousel, 3/4 Walton, 3/4 Gerbino, 5 Beardsley, 6 Hanson.  The board supports this configuration plan.

AS will review the suggestions from Sue Kochinskas for using excess tuition funds and come back with a report at the next meeting.

Old Business

A.Board Goals Progress

 

postponed

New Business:
A. School Assets Team presentation
B. Policy Review
C. School Climate Survey results
D. Transportation – School Bus ownership
E. One Percent Funding
F.  Other

A.Susan Harlow, Isaiah Palmeri, and Miranda Moseley gave an impressive power point presentation to the board about the School Assets Team, which has been meeting all year and is planning to start a student council at PCS.  The board applauds and supports their efforts, and would like to see it develop into an active student relationship with the board.
B.First reading of Policies –   D2 “Professional Development”, D2A “Professional Development and Personnel Standards for Special Educators”,  D6 “Substitute Teachers”.
C.Summary results of the School Climate Survey were handed out by AS. Summarized results will be sent out in the newsletter and responsive actions will also be presented at the opening of school in the fall.  Copies of raw data summaries are available in the office.
Controversial issues: school lunch (being addressed with food service), homework amounts (being addressed in the school teams).  Communication with parents and kids is important.  Parents are encouraged to discuss homework issues with teachers if there is a problem.
Participation was 20% - it would be good to improve participation numbers, perhaps tying it in with teacher conferences.
 D. postponed
E. One Percent Funds: requests exceeded funds, so the  teachers self-selected reductions.  AS presented revised recommendations totaling $5976.00, leaving $2237.00 for the November selection.
PM moved to accept the 1% Fund recommendations as listed for May 10.  BC 2nd.  Passed.

F. AF reported on the Indoor Walking Program. There have been 41 sessions, mostly 4 people attending, from 8 to 9:00  AM, for 5 months,
 November through April this year. The school has been very welcoming, and both the school and the walkers have benefited from the contact. 
                                     

Upcoming Meetings

May 24:
Retreat  scheduling and agenda  
    Working agenda:  enrichment, including foreign language; board goals update
AS report re: paid positions e.g. Volunteer Coordinator; Winter Sports Coordinator; Asian Studies Coordinator; Enrichment Coordinator
Expanding Head Start Pre-School 2008-09
Policy Updates
Possible Joint meeting with Dummerston Board
Darrow Scholarships
Summer meeting schedule

 June 14: (possible retreat day)
Discussion of surplus
June 28th - cancelled
September 2007
Report on school’s compliance with Nutrition Policy