Meeting

Date:

2/10/05

Minutes Submitted On:

2/14/05

Board Attendees:

Ellen Pratt (EP), Anne Fines (AF), Virginia Scholl (VS), Peter May (PM), Rebecca Coffey (RC)

Administration Attendees:

Amelia Stone (AS)

Community Attendees:

                       

Location:

PCS Writing Room

Meeting called to order at:

5:04

Meeting called to order by:

PM

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?

Executive Session:  Personnel Matter.  6:17 – 6:21

To enter Executive Session to discuss a personnel matter

PM

RC

Ended at 6:21

Unanimous

Executive Session:  Student Matter.  6:41 – 6:43

To enter Executive Session to discuss a student matter

RC

EP

Ended at 6:43

Unanimous

Kindergarten Committee

This topic was last discussed on 12/16/04.  The minutes from that meeting’s discussion read as follows:

 

“NOTE:  Just as this portion of the meeting was getting underway, RC was called from the meeting by a family emergency.  The remainder of the meeting minutes (Kindergarten Committee, Administrators Reports, and Unfinished Business: FY06 Budget) were taken by board member Virginia Scholl.
 
”Kindergarten Committee Report:  AS presented the summarized findings and proposed guidelines for the kindergarten program from the Kindergarten Committee, which has been meeting since May 2004.  The full report will be in the school board binder in the school office.  The report summarized data such as projected enrollments for kindergarten, optimal class size research, possible issues of concern to parents and community, available funding, and parent preferences. It recommends three different options to serve as guidelines for further School Board discussion, and recommends a decision be made by July 31, 2005, at the latest.  
 
”The board requested costing of the options, especially in regards to transportation, and suggested examining a few other models, such as Newfane's use of some of the extended day time for preschool outreach, and the Follow Through model that AF said worked very well, of three full days and two short days each week.  A fuller discussion will take place at a future board meeting.
 
”Committee members included Sarah Baker, Meredith Wade, Holly Hammond, Jan Blanchard, Amelia Stone, Cami Elliot-Knaggs, and board member Rebecca Coffey.  (To avoid a conflict of interest between her roles as a committee member and her role as a board member, Coffey had no part in writing the committee recommendations or report.)
 
”The Board extends a huge thank you to the Kindergarten Committee for their diligent work and thorough report.”

AS gave an update as of 2/8/05 of enrollment projections for 2005-2006.  The total kindergarten class size may be as small as 14, as 5 of the potential pool of students may enroll in private kindergartens and one may home school.  The estimate was provided to AS by the Early Education Outreach Coordinator, Cami Elliot-Knaggs.

AS distributed to the board the kindergarten committee’s “Report to Putney Central School Principal Amelia Stone:  Proposed Guidelines for Kindergarten Programming (FY06 and Beyond)” dated December 16, 2004.  This is the same report that was discussed at the meeting of 12/16/04.  It is in the school board binder in the Putney Central School office and is a public document available for anyone to see.  As part of its process in preparing the report, the kindergarten committee surveyed parents, day care providers, and members of the community and looked closely at the literature regarding class sizes and full-day kindergarten. 

 

 

Kindergarten Committee (continued)

The recommendations by the committee reflect a range of options.  From those options, AS recommended the following:

 

·        That July 31, 2005 be the date by which PCS informs families who have brought their children to Kindergarten Screening whether the 2005-6 kindergarten program will be a half-day program or a longer program.

·        That, for academic year 2005-2006, if 16 children or fewer have participated in kindergarten screening, the school provide an extended day program.  (The day would end at approximately 1:30 rather than 11:30, as the half day morning session now does.)

·        That, for academic year 2005-6, if 17 or more children have participated in kindergarten screening, the school provide two half-day programs (morning and afternoon).

·        That a goal of 10 students per adult is ideal for kindergarten programming.  This ratio is supported by the literature / “best practice” review conducted by the committee.  AS noted, however, that currently PCS does not have the budget to provide that level of para support.

 

The board questioned why the committee had recommended extended day over full-day kindergarten as the alternative to the current half-day program.  AS reported that the majority of committee members had been in favor of extended day programming.  Survey information returned by parents, however, indicated that, of 42 respondents, 17 indicated that they would prefer full-day programming.  Sixteen had specified half-day as a preference and only 9 had indicated a preference for extended day programming. 

 

Most board members expressed an interest in providing full-day rather than extended day programming as the alternative to half-day.  The following reasons were cited:

 

·        The surveys identified mid-day transportation as a problem for many families.  A full-day program would present no such problem.

·        The surveys indicate that full-day would be preferred by families over extended day.

·        The literature review indicated that, as long as class sizes are kept under 17 children, full-day kindergarten presents no academic or social risks to kindergartners and may, indeed, present some benefits.

 

AS stated that her own preference as a committee member had been for full-day rather than extended day alternative to the half-day program should total enrollment in kindergarten be 16 students or fewer.  She did say, however, that she wanted to support the decision of the committee; hence her recommendation of extended day over full-day.  AS asked the board that, if it were to decide to institute full-day sessions as the low-enrollment (16 students or fewer) alternative to half-day sessions, it find a way to provide a few extra hours per day of kindergarten para support.  The board agreed with AS that it should try its best to fund additional para support should it institute a full-day kindergarten in 2005-2006.  One source of such money might be the surplus with which PCS may close FY05.  Another might be revenue from the 13-14 or so tuitioned students that may enroll in PCS in 2005-2006.

 

AS also stated that it would be ideal for the committee to continue to meet on an ongoing basis to keep abreast of community needs regarding kindergarten programming.

 

The board extends its thanks to the kindergarten committee for important, yeoman's work over many months.
 

Kindergarten programming for 2005-2006.  Deadline date.

Move that July 31, 2005 be the date by which PCS informs families who have brought their children to Kindergarten Screening whether the 2005-2006 kindergarten program will be a half-day program or a longer program.

 

RC

PM

Kindergarten enrollment fluctuates, sometimes considerably, from year-to-year.  This plan will not require PCS to hire an additional kindergarten teacher.  Rather, it will allow PCS to longer kindergarten days in those years when enrollment is relatively low.

Unanimous

Kindergarten programming for 2005-2006.  Class size/full-day program

Move that if total kindergarten enrollment is 16 or fewer, that PCS provide a full-day kindergarten in 2005-2006

RC

AF

 

Unanimous

Kindergarten programming for 2005-2006.  Class size/half day program.

Move that if total kindergarten enrollment is 17 or more, that PCS continue with its current half-day structure, providing a morning session and an afternoon session in 2005-2006

RC

EP

 

Unanimous

Fitz Vogt / Food Service

On 2/9/05, Jim Kane, PM, and AS met with two representatives from Fitz Vogt.  The food service program is currently operating at a deficit of $12,317.14.  There is food on hand, so the program should have lower food costs in subsequent months.  By contract, the school must cover the first $6,000 in deficits and 50% of the remainder of the deficits.  This means that, if the school year were to close with the deficit that is now on the books, the school would have to pay roughly $9000 to subsidize the food service program.  Only $6,000 is budgeted.  PM and AS made clear to Fitz Vogt that over-budget deficits are, in the long term, unacceptable and continued looking, with Fitz Vogt, at ways to bring down costs, increase revenues, and improve the nutritional value of the food service program.  Participation in the school lunch program is already good, hovering between 63% and 64%.  (The goal in the contract between Fitz Vogt and PCS is 65% participation.)  Only 24% of students participate in the breakfast program.  Increased participation in the breakfast portion of the food service program would increase overall revenues and reduce the deficit.  Fitz Vogt is examining a payment system that is automated and would therefore cut down on personnel expenses.  According to Fitz Vogt, wholesale food costs are up 5-6%.  Not all children eligible for free and reduced price lunches are ordering the meals.  Were they to do so, the food service would collect more revenue from the government. 

 

The bid for the contract regarding the next three years is going out end of March or early April.  Jim Kane will write the bid.  The board would like input into that process.  PHACT (the Putney Health Action Coordinating Team) has expressed to AS that it, too, would like to have input.  The board would like Jim Kane to come to the first March meeting with a first draft bid that the board as well as a representative from PHACT could discuss. 

 

The board is toying with the idea of raising lunch prices to $1.75/$1.85 in March.  We will address this at the second March meeting.  We welcome comments from the community prior to and at that meeting.

 

AS received a letter from Congressman Bernie Sanders about the importance of school lunch programs.  As we continue our work regarding affordable, healthy food, he may be a good contact.

 

 

Administrators’ Report

Winter Sports for 2/10/05 was cancelled due to weather-related school cancellation.  PCS has scheduled a makeup day for February 17.  Additionally, students enrolled in the Ascutney program can ski for free at Ascutney on Monday, February 28.  No transportation or supervision will be provided by the school.

 

Tuitioned Students.  We now have seven applications for the middle school program’s 7th grade from Westminster families of current 6th graders.  (All applications are due on 2/11/05.)   Already PCS has 5 Westminster students enrolled in seventh grade, and indications are that most or all will stay for 8th grade.  The lower grades at PCS have one child from Westminster.  That student is a “private placement,” which means that the student’s family pays PCS tuition.  

 

Tuitioned students enrolled in the middle school in FY05 brought in $9,297 each in revenue.  [NOTE:  According to a spreadsheet received post-meeting from WSESU Business Manager, Jim Kane, in FY06 middle school tuition at PCS can be as high as $9,700 per student.  According to Kane, this and all tuition figures cited below for FY06 are “not to exceed” numbers.]  The elementary school tuition that PCS receives per pupil in FY05 is $12,752.  [According to the spreadsheet received post-meeting from Jim Kane, in FY06 tuition for part-time kindergarten at PCS can be as high as $7,014 per out-of-district student.  Tuition for full-time kindergarten at PCS can be as high as $10,500 per out-of-district student.   Tuition for grades 1-6 at PCS can be as high as $10,500 per out-of-district student.  Again, these are all “not to exceed” figures and are, indeed, still preliminary.  They will not be set until Town Meeting.] 

 

Kathy Bartlett, Lynn Borofsky, and AS will meet with the 6th grade teachers at Westminster next week to determine whether the applicants are in good standing.  To those who are, PCS will issue letters of acceptance. 

 

The board would like to extend a huge thank you to everyone who worked on the middle school open house and all of the follow-through efforts made regarding tuitioned students.

 

The Winter Concert is scheduled for Wednesday the 16th at 6pm.

 

 

 

 

 

Early Education Outreach Coordinator Position

The board is very interested in collecting ADM money from the state for the students enrolled in the Head Start program housed at PCS.  The board examined whether it should require the EEOC to obtain a valid Vermont educator license with endorsement in either early childhood education or early childhood special education and then to spend 10 hours per week in the Head Start classroom.  This would qualify PCS for ADM money regarding the Head Start program.  However, in light of the fact that, as part of its FY06 budget process, the board reduced the EEOC’s hours, the board felt that the Outreach Program could ill afford losing an additional 10 hours each week of the Coordinator’s work to the Head Start classroom.  The board decided not to require licensure/endorsement from the EEOC

Head Start

The board needs to inform EES in the next month or so whether it plans to renew its arrangement with EES in which PCS provides a classroom to the Head Start program.

 

In order to qualify for ADM money for the state, the Head Start program needs to have a teacher with a valid Vermont educator license with endorsement in either early childhood education or early childhood special education spend a minimum of 10 hours per week in the Head Start classroom.   The board discussed whether to require that the Head Start teacher have such licensure/endorsement.  The board would like to discuss with Deb Gas of EES the possibility of making this a requirement of the head teacher position at Head Start.  According to the state regulations, the teacher would have three years to obtain the licensure/endorsement.  During that 3-year period, the school could collect the ADM money.

 

Currently all but one child in the Head Start program is from family whose income level qualifies the child for Head Start.  One family earns just above the income level for Head Start.  AS is unsure whether that “above-level” family pays for its child to be enrolled in the Head Start program.

 

The board still needs to discuss whether and how to use ADM income to financially or programmatically support childcare providers throughout the community.  At this meeting, however, the board expressed a desire to support as broadly as it can early education and care throughout the town of Putney.

 

The board would like Deb Gas to provide an assessment of Head Start’s first year at PCS.  The assessment should track the program’s performance relative to the criteria set out by the board on 5/13/04:

 

1.      This has to be good for the community and the school as well as good for Head Start.

2.      It has to be as inclusive as possible.

3.      We have to make sure that it doesn’t thwart any other initiatives that the school has in mind that should have a higher priority.

4.      We have to make sure that it doesn’t undermine any existing community programs.

5.      The staff must meet the Federal/State licensing/certification requirements for two reasons:  We need to make sure that the program is of high quality. We would like the program to qualify for ADM money. 

6.      The programs need to be able to integrate well into the school culture and its social curriculum.

 

The board invites Deb to provide the requested assessment at either its first or second March meeting (March 10 or March 24), her choice.  AS encouraged board members to visit the Head Start program.  The board will also solicit feedback from various sources regarding the program.  Community members are encouraged to provide feedback by contacting a board member, by leaving a note in the board box in the PCS office, or by sending email to delivertoboard@yahoo.com.  NOTE:  The board does not accept anonymous communications.

 

 

Town Meeting Preparation

The board decided that, in the interest of keeping its presentation at Town Meeting brief, the board chair would do all of the speaking.  RC presented some Excel sheets that could be made into graphs.  Those included the following data:

 

·        Scores on the Vermont Standards Assessment, with comparisons to the scores for other WSESU schools

·        Number of students qualifying for free and reduced lunch, with comparisons to the numbers for other WSESU schools

·        Number of students qualifying for special ed, with comparisons to the numbers for other WSESU schools

·        A pie chart showing the “slices of the FY06 pie” and showing which of those costs the board can contain/control and which it cannot.

·        A presentation of the FY05 expenditures per pupil presented in two ways:  with and without the BUHS debt service included.  Putney data for the “with” would be compared to data from the other Supervisory Union districts.

 

The board decided to forego the first three items at Town Meeting and concentrate on the last two.  (The Excel sheets that RC presented at the board meeting are in the school board binder in the school office.  They are public documents, available for review)

Upcoming Meetings:

Thursday, Feb 17 at 4:15  in Writing Room.  [NOTE:  This meeting will begin with an Executive Session that will last approximately 30 minutes.]

 

·        Town Meeting Prep

·        Keyboarding.

·        Review of 360-degree survey instrument that is part of the annual principal review process.  It is to be distributed in February by the principal to students, teachers, staff, parents, and community members.

·        Executive Session:  Discussion of Superintendent Performance Review.  Board only.

 

March 10.  4:30 pm in Writing Room.

 

·        Food service prices

·        Administrators’ Report:  Learning Communities update

 

March 24.  4:30 pm in Writing Room.

 

·        Jim Kane / Fitz Vogt bid process

 

 

 

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.