GRAND
ISLE SCHOOL BOARD-MEETING MINUTES
WEDNESDAY
25 JANUARY 2006-7:42PM
BOARD ATTENDING:
Herb Durfee, Ira Trombly,
Becky Turner, Pat Parker, Scott Brown
OTHERS ATTENDING:
Dick Taylor, George Nelson,
Stephanie Taylor, Bev Gover, Dorothy Sacca, Cathi Dubuque
PROCEEDINGS:
HD-CALLED TO ORDER AT 7:42PM
ADDITIONS
TO AGENDA:
-Accept notes of 18 January
Principal Search Committee meeting;
-9 January GISB minutes;
-Amber Beauregard to be HS
rep on Principal Search Committee
-Executive session for
correspondence;
-Letter from Bev Gover.
APPROVAL OF
PREVIOUS MINUTES:
9 JANUARY
7:44PM- HD moves to
accept-IT 2nd- GenCon.
7:45PM-HD moves to accept
Prin Search notes-BT 2nd-GenCon.
PRINCIPALS
REPORT
RT-CFP memo-for current FY
Federal Funds 1-2% cut in Title 1 & Title 2A; 45-50% cut in Title 2D; 20%
cut in Title 4; 50% cut in Title 5 to State budgets-passed on to Supervisoty
Unions-
Affect on GISU?-Title 1 most
likely-plan to fund that at 90-95% of current-affect on GIS uncertain at
moment;
IT-GISU can opt to fund
where cuts are made;
RT-more info in the
spring-schools that have Title 1 should continue to get it.
GEORGE
NELSON BUDGET UPDATE PRESENTATION
-Pass 5 & Pass 5+
completed;
-Stephanie distributes new
tabs: D, G, H, Supplement to Tab I-I1, K, O V, D5+ EEE Benefit Adjustment;
-Spread Sheet Review;
-Special Ed budgeting issues
review;
-Electric Bill;
-4.9% increase.
8:04PM-At this time Herb
opened the meeting to discussion of an additional FTE.
DISCUSSION
OF FTE TEACHER
-An FTE would cost
approximately $52,000;
IT-listed options-full-time,
part-time, aide;
HD-proposes budgeting for an
FTE but continuing the debate;
IT-Language Arts curriculum
needs a 1/3 to ½ FTE ergo $26,000 would need to be budgeted;
SB-noted parental concern
for the quality of the educational experience-should the Board let the voters
decide?
-It was noted that there are
currently 4 tuition students and asked if the cost of an FTE could be offset by
additional tuition revenue.
8:17PM-IT willing to move to
add a ½ FTE;
RT-suggested an analysis of
licensing credentials of existing staff-there might be an opportunity there to
create a ½ FTE for Language Arts-2-3 classes per day;
Cathi Dubuque-expressed parents concern for
transitional issues-affected the whole Middle School;
Dorothy Sacca: noted that an FTE would also help
the Language Arts situation by providing a longer class period;
BT-we will be facing the
same issue next year with larger classes coming up;
RT-class sizes in the
mid-20s is the hardest to plan around- close-but not quite at the size
necessary to divide into two classes; the FTE would be in a primary grade-noted
that in K-5 multi-age classrooms work well;
HD-asked GN if a ½ FTE @
$26,000 would our cost per pupil be under the threshold?
GN-Yes-even at an FTE @
$52,000 we would be ok;
BT-likes FTE but ok
w/$26,000;
HD-asks if Board agrees w/
1/2 FTE?
BT-prefers FTE but ok w/
1/2;
PP-1/2 FTE only…..
BACK TO
THE BUDGET
GN-met w/Town auditors re
04-05 actuals-what was really spent-Tab G appeared overspent by $50,000-but see
previous page…
RT-noted boiler Issues;
HD-some questions on items
in light of improved clarity-eg: Supplies has odd numbers-could these be
rounded down?
RT-yes-round down;
HD-asked about line
1111-Math-$2464 A/V equipment-is this shared?
RT-primarily for math;
HD-$2400 for course
reimbursement?
GN-a contractual
obligation-Master Contract;
HD-1201-Professional
Non-educational services-eg-counselor;
GN-will change that term;
HD-vision insurance-more
that the actual proposed budget?-at 1100 should we put in a contingency to
account for changes during the year?
GN-this is not a contingency
budget;
HD-2310-Board of Ed Legal
Services-360 @ $1500/361 @ $2500-combine to one line item?
Board not excited by
this-stays the same;
HD-budget to include funding
for GISB meeting minutes taker;
HD-2600 Plant
Operations/421-Trash Collection-can the Town do this? GN will inquire;
HD-432 Building Repair-a
description?-RT will provide;
GN-2700 Transportation-3 yr
contract+2 year extension-continue to renew @ 3.2%-Mountain Transit wants
longer contracts-using Cost Of Living-if a 5 year renewal its 1% less;
BACK TO
FTE DISCUSSION
HD-not in favor of ½
FTE-would like to have more empirical data-we have a current need and very
likely a future need as well;
Budget increase will be 6.2%
with an FTE;
9:16PM-Herb moves to budget
an FTE;
Roll Call Vote Taken:
In Favor: Herb, Becky,
Scott;
Opposed: Ira, Pat;
Motion Passes.
Bev Gover: expresses appreciation of the Board’s
time & effort on this matter-its now left to the Town to decide.
BACK TO
THE BUDGET
9:26PM-Ira moves to approve
a Budget of $ 4,248,478.00-HD 2nd-GenCon;
IT-notes that if the budget
is defeated more than the $52,000 will have to be cut;
GN-Budget Warning to be
reviewed at the Town Office
PAYMENT OF
BILLS
9:37PM-BT moves to pay
$80,686.69-IT 2nd-GenCon.
OTHER
ITEMS
HD-Wellness Policy to be
reviewed next meeting;
RT-anytime before school
year ends;
HD-re Annual Report 2nd
paragraph-Categories of Change-GN will assist-need to stress that the Budget is
built for Educational Need-will redraft & distribute for review;
Discussion of Presentation
for Town Meeting-Power Point? Foils?
9:38PM-IT moves to accept
Amber Beauregard as a member of the Principal Search Committee-HD 2nd-GenCon;
HD-letter from John Nelson
& Kerry Lamb re Board support on use of Education Funding-
IT-elaborates on this-re gas
tax/property tax-noted that the process is a plodding elephant-
HD-keep Ed funding strictly
for Ed; VLCT-what is best interest…?
RT-probably not a great
effect from GI;
9:44PM-HD moves to enter
Executive Session for personnel issues;
9:59PM-HD moves to come out
of Executive Session.
10:01
Meeting Adjourned by General Consensus.