Meeting Date:	5/26/05
Minutes Submitted On:	5/29/05
Board Attendees:	Ellen Pratt (EP), Anne Fines (AF), Virginia Scholl (VS), Peter May (PM), Rebecca Coffey (RC)
Administration Attendees:	Ron Stahley (RS), Amelia Stone (AS)
Community Attendees:

Location:	PCS Writing Room
Meeting called to order at:	4:37
Meeting called to order by:	PM
Finish time:	7:28

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?
Executive Session: Administrator Review, two Personnel Matters, Separation Stipend for School Secretary	Move to go into Executive Session at 4:37	PM		EP				Unanimous
Separation Stipend for School Secretary	Move to approve a separation stipend of $6,000 based on comparable benefits in teacher’s contract and on years of service.	PM		EP		The board is pleased to honor Judy Hannum for her nearly two decades of service to the school.		Unanimous
Administrator’s Salary	Approve 4.5% increase in administrator’s salary for the coming year and a rolling two-year contract	PM		VS				Unanimous
360-Degree Survey	AS mentioned how valuable the 360-degree process was to her in her own understanding of her performance. She will share with the teachers a summary report of the feedback. The board discussed the value of input from each sector of stakeholders and discussed ways to increase participation. RC expressed her appreciation for both RS’s and AS’s honest and full participation in the 360-degree process. She also expressed her disappointment that no other board members availed themselves of the opportunity to visit the central office and review the full summary of data. The summary data are about AS’s performance but at the same time they provide a remarkable snapshot of the school that can be of great benefit to a board that has said that it wants written input from stakeholders. Also, it is RC’s opinion that participation in the survey would be higher if people felt assured that not only AS and RS but the entire board, as well, were going to read the completed survey. .
Prior Meeting’s Minutes	Approve minutes of 5/13/05.	PM		VS		Co-sponsors of the early learning forum include the Planning Commission		Passed.
Communications	Reminder: Page 11 of the PCS Handbook specifies a procedure for complaints, suggesting, in essence, that parents with a problem with a teacher or PCS staff member should approach the school employee directly and try to resolve the problem that way, involving the principal, as necessary, before approaching the board regarding the matter. The Handbook also specifies that complaints filed with the board should be put in a signed letter. (The board cannot accept anonymous communications.) Further information about community communications with the board can be found on the school’s web site at http://www.sover.net/~putneyc/community_participation.htm The board received a copy of a letter written to a teacher. The board turned the letter over to AS for review. She will update the board as appropriate in the future. The board received a document generated by the State Board of Education. It is about rules governing pre-kindergarten ADM (Average Daily Membership) eligibility. It was forwarded to the board by Deb Gass of Early Education Services. It will be filed in the school board folder in the school office. AF read to the board an email containing the Burlington School Board’s resolution on health care. It will be filed in the school board folder in the school office.
Committee Reports: Finance/School Forest/Early Education Outreach Advisory Committee	School Forest meeting of May 10. Tabled until 6/9.
Warrants	Move to approve Warrant #1097 FAST for $31,390.60	PM		VS				Passed
Administrators’ Reports: AS	AS presented a Financial Updated prepared by WSES Business Manager Jim Kane. The document projects an year-end balance of $37,752.07. (This projected balance will be $6000 less once the separation stipend for the school secretary is paid.) There is no change to report in kindergarten enrollment for next year. There were lots of events recently at school. Opera North from Lebanon, NH performed. For most students it was their introduction to opera. The performance itself was very good. Last Friday PCS hosted a successful community supper. Thanks to all parents and staff who contributed salads and helped and a special thanks to Wendy Raymond and McKenzie Hill. Also, thanks to Cota & Cota from Bellows Falls for providing the gas grill. We had a teddy bear tea on May 16. All of the preschoolers from Head Start came in addition to another 6 or 7 families. AS attended a workshop on Understanding and Using Data, sponsored by the company that is designing the NECA test. If there are any parents who want to get involved on the School Action Plan or hear more about what it is, they should contact AS. There was a parent meeting this week on the topic of recess. How much time do we programmatically allocate for recess? The board requested AS to meet with the children and parents and then make a joint presentation to the board, tentatively scheduled for the June 23 meeting. A group of middle school students and dancers performed Thai dances at the Putney Cares barn for the Fortnightly Group. Dan Seiden and Tik (the Thai intern) accompanied the kids. The board thanked Dan and Tik for their initiative and efforts. The technology committee would like to purchase 20 new iBooks for the lab. AS suggested to the board that it might consider using some surplus (perhaps $5,000) from this year for that technology and another $5000 from the FY07 budget. The board will consider the suggestion at a later date. Re: The Administrative Assistant job. AS interviewed four people and selected one, to whom she has offered the job. The board encouraged AS to send letters to all applicants thanking them for their interest. Bids for Food Service are due June 16. At the previous board meeting, Jan Blanchard said that she will be on vacation and will not be able to teach Scamp Camp. At the urging of the board, AS said that she will discuss Scamp Camp possibilities for Summer 05 with other PCS teachers.
Old Business
Policy F14 Non-Resident Students Third Reading	Read.
Policy F14 Non-Resident Students Third Reading	Move to adopt Policy 14 Non-Resident Students		PM		AF		Unanimous of those still attending (VS had left meeting)
Darrow Scholarship	Move to divide the $750 equally among the four applicants		PM		VS	The applications of Jamie Boyd, Eva Linden, Shoshana Bass, and Sam Moyer are all to be commended. The board wishes that the amount could be more and would like to encourage community members to donate to the Darrow Fund.	Unanimous
Possible Liability Issues Regarding School Forest	Tabled until June 9.
New Business
Teacher Appreciation Ideas	AS will circulate list of teachers. EP will buy cards.
Update on Automation in the Library	Tabled until June 9
Early Release on June 16	Move to have an early release day on June 16	PM		AF				Unanimous of those still attending (VS had left meeting)
One Percent Fund Requests	Move to approve 1% Fund requests as follows:	PM		EP				Unanimous of those still attending (VS had left meeting)
Upcoming meetings:	Some summer meeting: § Harassment policies and review of related policies § Technology committee suggestion of the purchase of 20 iBooks. June 9 § Update on automation in the library § Possible Liability Issues Regarding School Forest § School Forest meeting of May 10 June 23. 4:30 in Writing Room at PCS · Livable Wages and School Workers · Head Start agreement · Report from Jim Kane and/or Deb Gass of EES about whether we were able to revise the child count for the current academic year. · Food Service bids. Action needed. 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.