GRAND ISLE SCHOOL BOARD

MEETING MINUTES

Monday, March 26, 2007

Board attending:

Herb Durfee, Ira Trombley, Scott Brown, Beverly Gover, Brian Jillson

Mr. Watkins advised the board that he would not be attending the meeting this evening.

Others attending:

Richard Taylor, Dorothy Sacca, Brenda Juaire

Proceedings:

• HD called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m.

Adjustment of Agenda:

• HD: Add contractual matter regarding co-curricular and extra-curricular activities to the Executive Session, invite Mrs. Sacca. Decided this discussion can be open at next meeting and Dorothy Sacca agreed.
• Board Action - add Principal contract approval
• Board Correspondence/sharing – Letter from Agency of Natural Resources
• RT has a contract issue, brief personnel issue for Executive Session.

Approval of Minutes of March 12, 2007:

• SB to complete minor changes to minutes.
• IT moves to adopt minutes of March 12, 2007 as corrected HD second at 7:20 p.m. – GC

Members of the Public – For Items Not on the Agenda: None

Principal’s Report:

• Athletics Follow-Up: TW, Tara Raymond and Dan Foster are continuing to meet to discuss the athletic contract and present language. This needs to be put on the agenda for April meeting.
• Bussing Follow-Up: TW had a conversation with Pam Quinn, principal from North Hero, regarding bussing for next year. The total number of students has variables from year to year. TW is continuing to gather information and will add this item to the April meeting. RT reported that Isle LaMotte may be phasing out NCCS and moving more toward a “southern connection”. Discussion is still continuing with Colchester regarding bus availability.

TW wants to know how the Board wants to present our school performance information. RT indicated that we are meeting compliance with Act 68. HD – This may be an opportunity to further integrate with the community.

Board Discussion:

• Schedule Bi-Annual Meeting with Teachers: There has been no date set at present; however the Board could meet between the hours of 2:30p.m.-4:30p.m. on May 9, 10 or 24, 2007. The Board asked Dorothy Sacca to check with the faculty for their availability. Please let TW know of possible dates.

• House Education Bill: Policy committees were charged at the GISU meeting to track H.526. A couple of amendments will come up on threshold percentage and threshold spending, to be drafted for second reading this week. The Senate is becoming active with the discussions of two other bills (121 and 113) dealing with threshold, possibly joined together. We are not taking a lobbyist position; it will be lower key. The original bill is very different from the one in committee. Governance study perspective for now, the Governor and Commissioner Cates believe consolidation is the way to go. IT gave House update – the second week of April possible committee of conference between Senate and House.

• Status of Teachers Contract Ratification: The teachers’ contract ratification is waiting for two teachers’ signatures.

• GISU update –

• School Calendar – same for five schools, GISU In-Service dates, start date, same number of days of school; will be added to agenda building for April meeting. A note was made of first parent/teacher conference in October to try and address parental concerns by checking progress before the end of the semester.
• Business Process Review – As a result of a review of the business processes of the supervisory union by Al Russell and Phil Higgins, a discussion regarding the necessary hiring of a qualified full-time business manager for FY 08 to oversee the financial business of the supervisory union and develop procedural standards in order to minimize compliance issues, late reports, and possible funding losses was held. For example, updating job descriptions ultimately for managing business; a uniform financial software system. RT has a draft ad on his desk.
• The next GISU meeting is June 25, 2007 at 7:00 p.m.
• The next GISB meeting is June 25, 2007 at 5:00 p.m.

Board Action:

• At the GISU meeting on March 22, 2007 HD signed the master agreement and all three board chairs have signed.
• Principal contract – RT presented draft contract with all changes, everything is as is, but for the compensation package. The teacher raise increases were 4.5% and 5.47% for the first and second year. 4.1%, compensation for second year is higher by $100. Compensation is first year $70,015; second year $73,060.65 and third year $77,057.07. The group life benefit – need to find out if $35,000 can be raised to $100,000 for one individual. HD moved at 8:20 p.m. to execute a three year contract with Troy Nolan Watkins as Principal for the period of July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2010 according to the terms outlined in the contract before you. 2^nd SB, minimal discussion, no objections. Roll call vote, unanimous approval at 8:22 p.m.
• Approval of Bills for Payment – 8:25 p.m. IT made a motion to pay bills in the amount of $1,261.95, 2^nd by SB; BJ made a motion to pay bills in the amount of $43,925.85, 2^nd by SB, no further discussion – GC.

• Executive Session:
• 8:29 p.m. – HD moves to enter Executive Session for personnel matter, 2^nd IT.
• 8:36 p.m. – HD moves to exit Executive Session, 2^nd IT – GC.
• 8:37 p.m. – HD moves to enter Executive Session for student/teacher matter 2^nd IT.
• 8:39 p.m. – HD moves to exit Executive Session, 2nd IT – GC.
• 8:40 p.m. – HD moves to enter Executive Session regarding teacher situation/matter of contract, 2^nd IT.
• 8:50 p.m. – HD moves to exit Executive Session, 2^nd IT – GC.

• Board Correspondence/Sharing:
• Agency of Natural Resources – Need to respond to determine and let ANR know that we already have a program in place and ask if that suffices.

• Agenda Building:
• North Hero Middle School Bussing Options
• Grand Isle Elementary School Athletic – Student Contract
• Calendar
• H.526

8:55 p.m. HD moved to adjourn.