Meeting Date:	9/8/05
Minutes Submitted On:
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:
Meeting called to order by:
Finish time:

NOTE: These minutes should be considered a draft that awaits approval and possibly amendment by the board at its next scheduled meeting.
AAGENDA TOPIC	MOTION		MOVED BY		SECONDED BY	DISCUSSION	PASSED?
Prior Meeting’s Minutes	Move to approve minutes of 8/18/05 meeting as amended.		PM		EP	Amendments: VS was not actually in attendance. Neither was RS. AF had asked that a copy of the landowner’s liability paragraph from the Vermont statutes be included. It was inadvertently omitted and is this: “An owner shall not be liable for property damage or personal injury sustained by a person who, without consideration, enters or goes upon the owner's land for a recreational use unless the damage or injury is the result of the willful or wanton misconduct of the owner.” Vermont Statutes Annotated. Title 12 (Court Procedure). Part 9, Chapter 203. § 5793 Liability limited First Day Hooray was on 8/31. The building committee will present to the board prior to the November 17 meeting.	Yes.
Communications	Email from Stephen Coronella, Director of Putney Public Library. The Library may be in a position to fund, through a grant from the Henderson Foundation, two new computers for the school library so that children can access the card catalog via computer. He wants to know from the board whether he should talk to the Henderson Foundation about this. The board expressed high interest in this idea and applauded Stephen for his creative thinking and interest in the school library. AS will call Stephen and express the school’s interest. Two oral communications via AF: When school was starting last week AF encountered two people. One was lauding the way that AS and the school responded to the Fornightly Club’s request for someone to come and perform. Also, at First Day Hooray, a parent with a tuitioned son from Westminster (the son was also here as a 7lth grader) said that her son’s needs have been met at PCS as never before. PM commended AS and staff for a wonderful First Day Hooray. RC distributed to board members wallet-sized cards with the Open Meeting law regulations regarding Executive Sessions. Letter to PM from Café Services thanking the board for the contract. Note from Shoshonna Bass, now at Mills College, thanking the Darrow Scholarship Committee for its scholarship. AF: The changes that the board made regarding the school to the town plan were reported by AF to Pip Bannister of the Planning Commission. He incorporated the board’s changes into the draft.
Rec League Snack Shack	Jim Heal of the Rec League presented. The Rec League Snack Shack was not built over the summer as planned. In the meanwhile, Jim has learned that Bob Simeon of BUHS’s Building Arts program would like to make the Rec League’s Snack Shack a class project. Construction would be done during the school days. AS: For many years the Windham Regional Career Center has had a building trades program that does great work. AS sees it construction of the Snack Shack by the Building Arts program as a positive opportunity. She will work out logistical questions with RS and Bob Simeon. RS: The district’s liability policy covers such a project. Worksite fencing would be a good idea.
Committee Reports: School Forest	The committee met on 8/29. The committee had a table at First Day Hooray and made contact with a dozen or so students and families, including new families. The committee has two new committee members, Deb Smith (BEEC) and Lynne Barnum. There are now 8 members. The committee is working hard on the fall program that begins September 12 and 13 and ends October 17 and 18 (dates may change if the weather is inclement). Hours are 3:15 – 5. Activities include: treasure hunt; hike; cookout; finish one trail; rebuild the hideout. Ellis Derrig is delivering 12-inch stones to the Portal Bridge. Each child will carry a stone at fling it at the point where the erosion is occurring. AF also distributed a chronology of the forest from 1957 to present. There was a report at the committee meeting on the noise issue. Noise has apparently decreased in frequency and volume. Steve Anderson and AF will be on the committee for the School Forest Week that AS has planned. AS will give them a date for that meeting. VS congratulated AF and the committee for the state of the trails. “The forest is a wonderful place to walk.”
Committee Reports: Contract Negotiations	The committee met a few times. Scheduled to meet again on September 14 at 8:30 am. Will probably kick into a higher gear now that the Fall has arrived. RS will have copies of the current agreement mailed to each board member.
Committee Reports: Early Education Outreach Advisory Committee	The committee will meet next Thursday 5:30 – 6:30. The committee will do follow-up work on the forum. EF will let Barb Nowakowski know about this meeting so that she can warn it. The committee will develop a job description for the Early Education Outreach Coordinator and present it to the board. The board will discuss the position description at the next board meeting. The board appreciates the work of the committee in setting up and following through on the forum.
Warrants	Move warrants #1116 A/P’s REGULAR for $4,524.04; #1011 REGULAR – FAST for $29,681.84; #1013 REGULAR – FAST for $2,982.63; #1015 REGULAR – FAST for $522.85; #1016 REGULAR FOR $16,846.28		PM		VS		Passed.
Administrators’ Reports (AS)	Enrollment update: 212 students in the k-8 program (198 were expected at last count). 15 of these are tuitioned students. We have 15 preschoolers in addition to the 212 in k-8. We have 29 first-graders. K – 13 students (1 is tuitioned) First – 29 total (1 class of 15 and 1 class of 14) Second – 15 Third – 19 (7 are in one 3-4 multiage and 12 are in another 3-4 multiage) Fourth – 19 (12 in one 3-4 multiage and 7 in the other 3-4 multiage) Fifth – 26 (18 in the straight fith and 8 in the 5-6 multiage) (1 fifth grader is tuitioned) Sixth – 32 (11 in the 5-6 multiage and 21 in the straight sixth) Seventh – 29 (14 in one section and 15 in another) Eighth – 30 (15 in one section and 15 in another) 13 of the middle school students are tuitioned. A non-resident family has asked if they can send 2 students (one in k and one in 8^th). They appealed to the board in the town they live in and the board is willing to tuition the students because of their proximity to Putney. First Day Hooray went very well this year. Green Street and Oak Grove also did FDH. About 80% of families came for at least some portion of the day half-day program. We do not yet have a meeting date/time set for the joint board/staff meeting. There have been some new hires at the para level. § One teacher is on leave of absence. Maureen Ward will be a long-term sub for that teacher. Halley Anderston will take over Maureen Ward’s part-time para duties. § Elizabeth Rosenberg has been hired as a part-time general ed para. § Amanda Dixon has been hired as a middle school one-on-one para. Recess schedule: AS has provided a 30-minute recess for 5 and 6; middle schoolers have 30 minutes 3 days a week and 20 minutes on the two days that they have PE. Food Service: § The lunch line seems to be flowing well. So far Café Services is doing a wonderful job. § AS will work on hand washing solutions for the children who don’t come from the classroom and go directly into the cafeteria.
Administrators Reports (RS)	Tracey Tsugawa did a presentation on harassment at a district meeting. She is from the Vermont Human Rights Commission. She did follow-up workshops for all of the schools the following Monday. The Dept of Ed issued a statement that if evacuees come through Vermont they will be considered homeless and we will need, by statute, to provide education.
Unfinished Business
Livable Wage	This is a continuation of a discussion from the 6/23/05 meeting. The website of the Vermont Livable Wage Campaign includes a statement that paras don’t make livable wages. According to RS, that statement is based on a pay scale (for paras) that is at least $2/hour lower than what is paid in Putney. RS says that our benefit package for paras is excellent. Regarding custodial staff, RS didn’t have numbers with him. He believes that our pay scale is on par. They are making more than $12/hour and get the good benefits.
School Forest Liability. Report by PM	PM finally talked (as did Jim Kane, WSESU Business Manager) with attorney Bob Luce. Bob Luce has given Jim Kane a legal opinion that the District is liable for accidents occurring on school property. Were the school property to be privately held, by Vermont Statute the landowner could not be held liable. Because the property is municipally own the school district can be held liable. Luce recommends that we exclude the use of “ATVs”.etc. By that the board is assuming that he is talking about motorized vehicles and not including bicycles and other non-motorized wheeled vehicles. According to PM, there remains a question of whether the district could be held liable in excess of the limits of its insurance coverage. PM: One of our obligations as board members (according to our Conflict of Interest Policy) is to listen to the advice of counsel. We can then decide whether to follow that advice. Knowing that we could be liable if there were an accident, we as a board can make a decision if we like to go ahead and allow motorized vehicle use. AF: We currently allow motorized vehicles on two trails and in the sand pits. In all of the years of school forest use there has never been a claim against the school. Two comments for people to think about: A number of years back the Putney Mountain Association tried to say no to ATVs on Putney Mountain. There was an outcry. Motorized vehicles are allowed on municipal land in Putney. The wheeled vehicle trails in the school forest are part of a huge network of trails that extend for miles up and down Route 5. AF to call Tom Hayes to ask if the club of ATV/snowmobilers maintains a liability policy. EP wondered whether other towns covered by the WSESU policy might be concerned to enter the discussion. Their premiums would go up if there is a claim against PTSB. For the next discussion, which will include a look at whether a ban on motorized vehicles in the school forest is even reasonably enforceable, RS will bring information about the insurance policy. AF will check with Pinnacle Assoc., Putney Mountain Association, and Selectboard regarding how they have addressed liability concerns on private and public lands. RS will pose something along the lines of the following question to attorney Bob Luce: How could the school board best go about looking at ways to allow continued use of certain areas of the school forest by motorized vehicles?
New Business
Superintendent/Administrator/Board Review of WSESU District Goals and PCS School Action Plan	WSESU is updating its mission statement and district goals. RS distributed a draft dated 9/08/05. AS: The School Action Plan is a developing document. One of the areas that we are looking at in the school is how to best serve any special needs apparent in the population of students who qualify for free and reduced lunch. The School Council (a/k/a the “Nitty Gritty Gang,” which is made up of representatives of the various school teams (special ed team, primary team, etc., etc.)) are going to take on the School Action Plan as a project. They will try to get “buy in” from all of the people in the building. Nancy Stefanik and EP, the two non-staff members of the School Action Plan Committee, will be invited to join the School Council discussions of the Action Plan. Regardless of the fact that the Action Plan is still a developing document Amelia will align the Professional Goals that she presents the board at its next meeting with the Action Plan. AS and EP complemented AS for looking closely at the needs of the lower economic spectrum children.
Winter Sports Coordinator Question	The board would like to look at whether there money in the regular budget for money for a coordinator for the on-site part of the Winter Sports program. AS will take a look at the various line items and report on that during her administrator’s report at the next board meeting.
Policy Review: B3 “Board Member Conflict of Interest” – Discussion/Review	Possible Conflict of Interest: In accordance with the Board's Conflict of Interest Policy, PM disclosed that very recently an individual with whom PM has a close personal relationship has been hired as an employee of the Supervisory Union at PCS as a part-time para-educator.  The Board discussed whether this situation presents an actual conflict of interest for PM or only (and "or even") the appearance of a conflict of interest. The Board also discussed potential school climate problems and whether there is any reasonable risk of an eventual sexual harassment claim against the Board member by the employee. PM brought this discussion to the table.  Recognizing the potential for the appearance of a conflict, he had already sought out the advice of WSESU Superintendant RS and Winton Goodrich, Executive Director of the Vermont School Boards Association.   Both noted the existence of precedents in the district and throughout the state, including situations in the WSESU where school Board members have spouses working as employees in the school.  Both recommended certain proactive measures to avoid potential issues.  PM will not serve on any para negotiations committee. PM will not participate in any discussions of this employee's evaluation. PM and this employee will maintain a professional demeanor in the building and on School grounds at all times.  RS also confirmed that he has had advice on this type of issue in the past from the legal counsel for the VT Dept of Ed. Most board members expressed faith that PM could avoid any conflicts of interest.  RC expressed ongoing concerns about the potential effect of the situation on school climate and on PM's ability to objectively contribute to principal and superintendant evaluations. RC applauded and thanked PM for introducing the matter to the board and for dealing with it openly. The board will discuss this matter further at its September 29 meeting.  PM and the Board would welcome input from the community.
F23 “Prevention of Harassment of Students” (required policy update) – 1^st Reading	RS: This is based on a statute passed in 7/04. A draft policy came out in the Winter of last year. Our existing harassment policy is very good but there are some statute issues that are incorporated into the new one. The big changse: The definitions are clearer. Section III (Reporting Complaints in the Procedures for Prevention…), there is a new expectation that, if it is an oral complaint, a school staff member is mandated to put the complaint in writing. On the Procedures for Prevention…, under item II, the principal will be added to the list of employees designated to receive complaints. On the Procedures for Prevention … A new section “V. Independent Review” has been added so that families can call for an independent review when they believe that the District has disposed of their complaint inadequately. NOTE: Commission of Human Rights and Dept of Ed were together authors of the revised policy.
F30 “Pupil Privacy Rights: Student Surveys” (required new policy) – 1^st Reading	So read. AS needs to plan for how to fulfill the parental notification requirement, which is in the policy and in the statute, as well.
Executive Session	Two personnel matters. Move to go into Executive Session at 6:45 – 7:00	PM		EP
Upcoming Meetings	September 29. 4:30 pm in Writing Room. § Review of FY06 budget in anticipation of budget season for FY07. Health, Early Ed Outreach, and Foreign Language will be part of the conversation.) § Superintendent meets with Board and Administrator to present to Board Administrator’s professional goals for coming year, with reference to the PCS School Action Plan. Board provides input to Administrator’s professional goals. Executive Session may be held with Superintendent at Board’s request. § In Administrator’s Report: § Whether there is money in the budget for a coordinator for the on-site portion of the Winter Sports program. § Parking Lot Safety. § School Forest liability issue. § Resolution of potential conflict of issue. Only October Meeting (October 4). This meeting will start at 5:00. (VS will join meeting at 5:30) § Check-in on recess plan. Parents concerned about the length and/or quality of recess are urged to attend. § Discussion with Kathy Bartlett of issues related to (but not quite addressed by) harassment policies. § Second Reading: Policy F23, Policy on Prevention of Harassment of Students. § Second Reading: Policy F30. Pupil Privacy Rights – Student Surveys § Report from Scott Henry on WSESU Negotiations Committee and about his role as a sole Putney rep to the BUHS board.
	First Meeting in November (November 3). Meeting is at 5pm. (EP may be late.) § Nothing scheduled to-date. Second Meeting in November (November 17) § Presentation to board by Jim Kane or VSBA about school budgets. § Foreign Language Instruction, including report from Brattleboro town about how their pilot of a language coordinator and interns in elementary schools is going. § Building committee presents to the board a prioritized list. First Meeting in December (December 1) § Nothing scheduled to-date. Second Meeting in December (December 15) § Nothing scheduled to-date. First Meeting in January § Superintendent meets with Board and Administrator in Executive\ Session to consider provisional budget allocation for Administrator Salary for coming year. Executive Session may be held with Superintendent at Board’s request. First Meeting in February § Superintendent distributes Administrator Performance Feedback Questionnaires to stakeholders (parents, teachers, staff, etc.). Second Meeting in February § Superintendent meets with Board and Administrator in Executive Session to provide Progress Report to Board with respect to Administrator’s progress against Administrator’s professional goals for the current year. Purpose is to provide constructive feedback on Administrator’s performance and identify critical issues, if any, that may impact any contract renewal notice dates. Executive Session may be held with Superintendent at Board’s request. Second March Meeting § Consideration of Head Start contract for 2006-2007

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.