Putney Central School Board Meeting Minutes

 

Meeting Date

9/13/07

Minutes Submitted on

9/14/07

Board Attendees

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

Community Attendees

Kathy Ingram, Mary Beth Powell, Shauna Wall

Administration Attendees

Ron Stahley, Amelia Stone

Location

Putney Central School

Meeting Called to Order by:

VS

Meeting Called to order at:

4:34 pm

Meeting adjourned at:

6:40 pm

 

 

Note: These minutes should be considered draft until approved at the next scheduled board meeting.

 

Agenda Item

Motion

Moved by

Seconded by

Discussion

Passed?

Approval of Minutes

To approve the minutes of the 8/30/07 board meeting

BC

VS

Peter May did attend the last board meeting, although the minutes don’t reflect that.

Under “Energy Audit” AF and BC are listed as meeting with Jim Kane to discuss the potential for hiring an outside company to advise the board on energy efficiency. It should be AS and BC.

yes

Communications

None

Warrants

To approve Warrants # 1010, 1011, 1012, 1014 Fast in the amounts of $$247.35; $34,736.07; $1,624.43; $330; and #1015 Regular in the amount of $31,403.01

BC

AF

 

yes

Administrative Report

RS reported that our Vermont School Boards Association dues are due ($1,300).

 

PM moved that we vote to approve the membership in the VSBA through which we maintain our health insurance participation for the school year. VS seconded. Passed.

 

RS distributed the “Agreement Between the WSESU and the Windham SE Education Assn Educational Support Staff Unit”

 

Oct 3, 6:30 pm first Supervisory Union meeting at Oak Grove School. BC, PM and VS are this board’s voting members for these meetings.

 

RS distributed the latest version of the district’s Action Plan.

 

AS reported that First Day Hooray went very well.

We have 6 interns this year. One in the preschool who will go to the K-1 mid-year; 1 in Kindergarten; 1 each in Ms. Cassidy’s, Ms. Walton’s, Ms Hanson’s classes; Kathy Bartlett also has an intern from China.

 

AS made a strong recommendation to hire an additional paraeducator to work with the upper elementary program, given the high numbers of special needs children in these grades. There are currently 4.5 special ed. paras in the K-6 program.  There are 3 special ed paras in the middle school. It will cost about $25,000-$30,000 to hire another special education paraeducator. RS said that there is money coming into our budget to cover this cost.

 

AF moved that the board authorize the principal to hire a special education para for one year for the elementary grades. VS seconded. Passed.

 

AS reported a parent requested that her child’s bus stop at the end of her road (S. Pine Banks Rd.).  BC moved that Laidlaw add a stop at S. Pinebanks Rd. to pick up a kindergartener. PM seconded. Passed.

 

AS made a recommendation to hire Arlene Scott for the Nurse/Health Education Coordinator. The person would not only provide the nursing services, but also fulfill the board’s desire for offering a health curriculum.  

 

PM moved to approve the hiring of Arlene Scott for this position. BC seconded. Passed. 

Committee Reports

AF reported that the After School School Forest program has 34 children enrolled. 

Unfinished Business

 

 

 

 

 

Policy Review

D9 “Alcohol and Drug Free Workplace” Additional reading

 

D12 “Harassment of Employees” Additional reading

Both of these policies will be listed for adoption at next meeting.

 

 

 

 

New Business

 

 

 

 

 

Develop topics for joint meeting with Dummerston School Board

The Dummerston School Board suggested the following agenda items for the joint meeting on Sept. 25:

  1. Are there resources that could be shared to mutual advantage (e.g. lunch progam)?
  2. How is enrichment provided to students in and after school?
  3. How are issues such as declining enrollment and other chalelnges affecting decisions? What strategies are being put into place to deal with these issues?
  4. Are there opportunities for the Middle School programs to work together? (for increased educational offerings; for increased social interaction, beyond dances)
  5. What intergenerational programs do you have?
  6. What are the Dummerston/Putney Central strengths/weaknesses? Successes?
  7. Are our communitities ready to consider school merger (re:Cate proposal consolidation)?

Policy Review

LBP-8 “Enrollment of Children of Teachers and Staff” 1st reading

 

E8 “Tobacco Prohibition” 1st reading

 

E9 “HIV/AIDS” 1st reading

Will go to a second reading

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other

 

Executive Session

 

 

 

Moved to enter to Executive Session to discuss a student matter at 5:45 pm.

 

Out at 6 pm

PM

VS

 

yes

Upcoming Meetings:

 

Sept. 25 5:30 pm at Dummerston School

Join Dummerston Board at 6:30.

 

Oct 11:

Update on Early Education Outreach Coordinator position

 

 

 

 

 

 

Respectfully submitted by: Board Clerk

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