MONDAY 16 JANUARY 2006-7:03PM
BOARD ATTENDING:
Herb Durfee, Ira Trombly, Becky Turner, Pat Parker, Scott
Brown
OTHERS ATTENDING:
Dick Taylor,George Nelson, Stephanie Taylor, Brenda Juaire,
Cathi Wiest, Beth Hemingway
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
ATTENDING:
Brenda Broughton, Sara Chamberlin, Bev Gover, Val Hunter,
Kate O’Neill, Deb Bedrin, Alison Guernsy, Sara Noth, Scott Crady, Jack Potvin,
Thomas Burbo, Heidi Burbo, Heather Larose, Melinda Bellows, Elaine Chasse,
Michelle Southwick, Ellen Paradee, Jean Shepard, Rob Straight, David Gadnee,
Laurie Redel, Cathy Dubuque.
HD-CALLED TO ORDER AT 7:03PM
-None
PREVIOUS
MINUTES:
12 December & 28 December
7:03:30 BT moves to
accept-IT 2nd- GenCon.
[editors note: members of the public asking questions whose
name was not stated or who the person taking minutes did not get are identified
by a bold ?]
-HD introductory
remarks-try to limit discussion to 1 hour…
-Faculty interest in a 5th
grade teacher;
-Upcoming class size;
-Transition to Middle
School;
-Achievement Test
preparation;
-Individual attention;
-Lower K-4 class size
_Lower 6-8 class size.
Bev Gover: Sent a note of concern; 4th grade didn’t
perform well; no full time teacher; what can parents do now to help?; morning
study groups? flash cards?; There is much parent interest in this issue; (14
attended the preschool mtg-more on this later)
HD: collaboration
w/faculty & principal encouraged; maybe a 5th grade
parent-teacher conference.
Sara Chamberlin: How much for a new teacher?
HD: many variables but
~$50,000;
SC: This is not a lot as a benefit for the whole school.
Kate O’Neill: 3 hours of homework a night-kids cant process fast
enough-has a 504 student-needs not being met-no extra help available-what to
do?
HD: Beth H. will address
special needs.
Laurie Redel: in support of adding a 5th grade teacher
& not having 5th in the Middle school-has a son in 5th
and he is struggling.
Jack Potvin: is in strong agreement.
Michelle Southwick: also in strong agreement.
Brenda Broughton: What is the 5th grade curriculum?-math
seems to be at a higher level? Is a 6th grade textbook being
used-internet research seemed to indicate that;
RT: curriculum is
state-dictated; 5th grade standards did not change-however in the
Middle School there are finite time periods-set class length; with a separate 5th
grade class there can be more time for a teacher to focus on a topic if needed;
5th grade text is being used-but will check on that.
Tom Burbo: when did 5th grade move into the Middle
School?; transition issues-agrees to add teacher and move 5th out of
middle School.
RT: change was made 3 yrs
ago due to class sizes.
Deb Bedrin: Middle School teachers did meet w/other faculty;
financial need sometimes drive decisions; perhaps transition to core subjects
could be on a rotating basis; possible that a new 5th teacher could
be available to help this years 5th as well.
Ellen Paradee: Is a classroom available?
RT: Yes-upstairs.
?: Could North Hero tuition students cover a new teacher?
HD: Yes-possibility for
ILM students too-funding follows students-revenue would (mostly) offset
teacher.
Laurie Redell: How many students?
RT: 14 7-8 graders at
North Hero possible if NH closed 7-8 grade;
HD: Reviewed NH & ILM
student populations-not holding joint Board mtgs yet or at GISU
level-discussion are preliminary now.
?: If a new teacher were added would that help next years 6th
to meet achievement levels?
Paul Sacca: Middle School would go to 6-7-8- the largest class
would be divided into 2 sections-more direct attention from teachers would be
available-the goal is student success.
IT: Each student needs individual development.
PS: This is an opportunity for the Town to vote on this.
A Parent: Child needed to ask a question in class-didn’t have
time-teacher had to be called at home.
Sara Noth: When would a new teacher be hired? Agrees this is a good
idea.
HD: fall 06-this has been
an on-going discussion.
Ellen P: Teacher vs Budget!
?: Nunbers?
HD: numbers @ 8pm.
?: What about this year? Son is struggling-B to F.
HD: meetings needed to
continue discussion.
Bev: Are teachers receptive to meetings? Things can be done.
Paul S: Parent concerns are being addressed-
-Adjustments to rate of material presented-slower-altho all
material may not be
covered;
-Organization items-paperwork/binders;
-Smaller steps;
-More specific instructions;
-There are 17 5th grade science students;
-Create opportunity in succeeding years.
(At this point Ira noted
that we would like to get to the Preschool Presentation by 8pm.)
Cathy Dubuque: Strongly in favor.
BT: ? for Paul S.: What happens when there are 2 classes with 28
students?
PS: The largest or neediest gets split-does have other thoughts-a
full time aide perhaps-noted that in 1988 the entire Middle School was 32
students.
Sara Noth: What about after school help for current 5th
grade?
At this point the
discussion was turned to UAPK.
HD-summary remarks:
-GI only town not to have
UAPK;
-Cost is $15,000;
-Funding is from
non-school budget sources;
-This is an issue for
local providers;
-Esp transportation;
Laurie Redell: Is it ADM money?
HD: yes. Several options:
UAPK could be a separate warned item; Grants could be applied for; or do
nothing.
Cathy Dubuque: -noted UAPK section of Governors State of State
address; feels that UAPK could put GI taxpayers on the hook-not in favor.
IT: how long have other towns had UAPK-since 2001-go with what is
law now-it is difficult to change laws.
CD: More towns having it is not a reason to have it-doesn’t want to
pay for it;
Heather Larose: We should have the option-it does help kids-its an
embarrassment not to have it.
David Gadnee: in favor-we should have the choice.
Cathi Wiest: UAPK is a voluntary program; noted that there are
fewer later problems & indicated that Robin Taylor-K teacher was in
favor-that it did help students.
Sara Chamberlin: Would it be in the school?
CW: In local programs that
meet State criteria-Learning Adventure & Parent-Child Center;
$15000 Medicaid; state
money thru ADM;
James Smith: Is this about business or kids? Not hurt daycare
businesses.
Tom Burbo: this is a budgetary issue.
HD: first couple of years
MedicAid pays-grants after that.
CW: UAPK students cost less yet are counted in student population
therefore bring down the cost per student which lowers taxes.
CD: not opposed-but will funding responsibility come back to the
town?-where does MedicAid money come from?
George Nelson: MedicAid comes in as revenue from Federal.
Sara Noth: If the $15000 wasn’t used for UAPK could it go toward
the 5th grade teacher?
GN: No.
Sara Chamberlin: Can 3 year olds get UAPK?
CW: Yes-10 hrs/wk.
RT: Birth dates rule-age requirements must be met.
Updated Tabs D-G-O
distributed.
+ $177360=4.4% increase.
All changes included-no
info lacking.
HD verified that the 4.4%
did not include UAPK & 1 FTE.
TAB O: CLA is DOWN! –drives tax rate up 12%
HD: Reappraisal-Select Board-Listers-Fair Market Value needed to
balance CLA. Problem will still be here in 07.
IT: What is student/teacher ratio?
GN: 10.38; 12 is avg; cohort is 8.078;
HD: What is impact of 1 FTE on budget?
What is impact of UAPK?
GN: 1FTE=+.04 to tax rate
UAPK=+.01 to tax rate
.01=14.040 of education spending.
RT: Tax penalty threshold is $11728/student.
GN: We are $1000/student
below that. ($300,000)
George summarizes-see Tab
K- $294,177 local funding;
BETH HEMINGWAY:
-A Service Plan is due 15 Oct for following year;
-Child Count & information gathering;
-K-8-23 IEP students at GIS; 4 require 1 on 1 assistance;
-Noted that all students were placed prior to her arrival;
-Beth is going to meetings at receiving schools &
checking truancy issues as well;
-Probably the highest special Ed will go-Dept of ED is
looking at students at special
schools-a local IEP/Alternative school is being looked at.
HD: Is there a limit on
the # of years a special ed student is funded?
BH: Up to 22nd
birthday-HS diploma to age 40;
Cathy: Is Special Ed paid
to Rice?
BH: yes-will be changed in
May;
BH: the Service Plan is
available.
George Nelson reviewed
Health Plan costs.
BT-is in favor;
PP-wants to explore other
options;
SB- Would the Board be
remiss in not allowing the public to debate this at the ballot box?
IT- what does each student
need? An aide that stays with the class as it moves from room to room?
HD-noted that upcoming
class sizes could very well increase due to county demographics;
IT-we need an effective
strategy;
PP-its not just numbers;
HD-not a line item;
George-the Board can
deficit spend-it does happen;
IT-back to the voters?
GN-probably with a public
warning;
SB-Public information
needed on this issue-voter education;
GN-there is zero
flexibility with the budget as written-even the slightest upward change will
trigger deficit spending
HD-asks what alternatives
are possible?
BT-have teachers cut their
budgets as much as possible?
RT-yes;
HD-can anything be done
with existing staff?
RT-programmatic issues are
not being addressed-Language Arts needs much more instructional time! Will
review licensing credentials of existing staff-needs some research;
SB-would that address the
5th grade issue?
RT-1.5 LA instructors
would help;
PP-what about Americorps?
IT-we probably
qualify-need a decision soon;
RT-take 5th
back to elementary school;
HD-is leaning toward an
FTE but will this address the issues-would like some options;
IT-is ok with LA increase
andan aide but noted that our student/teacher ratio is lower than state
average;
IT-seems that this may
have to be tabled until next mtg…
?-Can existing aides be devoted to the 5th grade?
IT-aides are assigned to
specific individuals;
RT-all are spec ed aides;
HD-this decision will be
made at the 25 Jan mtg;
HD-asked GN how much of
this years budget is left?
GN-hard to tell…
HD-surplus or deficit?
GN-..” doesn’t have a
clue”…
HD-noted potential
conflict of interest and recuses;
IT-language for other
sources
BT-the third option…wait
for funding;
GN-MedicAid revenue is
estimated;
SB-what else is MedicAid
funding used for?
CW-towns get some, GISU
gets some;
RT-Health, Guidance,
Behavioralist-eg
HD-is there General
consensus to add UAPK? YES-add UAPK with $15000 balancing
MedicAid funding;
GN-the Budget warning will
be signed at the next meeting.
[editors note: at this point, no doubt due to the hour,
cohesive linearity of the minute taking dwindles a bit, leaving just notes of
the last remaining items…]
HD- -Principal Search Agenda
-Need a Formal Statement
Of Confidentiality-RT will draft
-Annual Report draft in
progress-will include Achievement test data from RT;
-an executive session
needed for a personnel issue.
Wellness Policy will meet
in March-Mondays are bad for Ira;
Futures meets Mon 30th-7PM
north Hero-has received a $1200 consulting grant;
GISU next mtg 16 Feb.
NEXT MEETING:
24 JANUARY 2006-7PM
10:12PM-MEETING
ADJOURNED BY GENERAL CONSENSUS