GRAND ISLE SCHOOL BOARD

MEETING MINUTES

Monday, April 9, 2007

Board attending:

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

Others in attendance:

Richard Taylor, Troy Watkins, Beth Hemingway, Dorothy Sacca, Brenda Juaire, Stephanie Taylor, Allison Guernsey, Tracy Pearson

Proceedings:

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

Adjustment of Agenda:

• RT has a contract matter for Executive Session.
• TW has an addition of truant officer update.

Approval of Minutes of March 26, 2007:

• SB moves to adopt minutes of March 26, 2007 BJ second at 7:05 p.m. with no changes – GC

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

Superintendent’s Report:

• 7:06 Motion by HD and 2^nd by BJ to move into Executive Session for contract matter – GC.
• 7:12 Motion by HD and 2^nd by SB to move out of Executive Session – GC
• 7:16 HD moves to offer teacher contract to Keith Hotham for April 9-June 30, 2007 based on terms in contract, 2^nd BJ – GC.
• All parties have ratified contracts through June 2010.
• Meeting of the GISB on April 23, 2007, appropriate warnings are necessary.
• ’07-’08 individual contracts – need to move and accept contracts, based on master agreement. HD acknowledged the work of GISB, RT, teachers and other negotiators’ discussions. Everybody willing and able to act as a team and complete the contracts.
• HD questioned whether blood-borne pathogen training has been done. RT responded as well as DS that there had been training in the past.

Principal’s Report:

• North Hero bussing follow-up: TW talked to NH Principal Pam Quinn. We hear so far that three NH students may be enrolling at Grand Isle. Suggestions for possible stop choices. TW could call Mountain Transit and find out what cost is per day. IT suggested giving Mount Transit possible stops to find out costs. BJ said that coordinating with the NH buses could be done via radio. IT suggested finding out costs first and seeing about coordinating; SB commented that the least cost option would be preferred, whether it be bus-to-bus transfer, may be reasonable to go to the NH school. Please relay to NH the idea of coordinating buses and we need to find out our contract price and NH could pick up the net difference of adding the students.

• Athletic contract follow-up: DS made comments concerning the word “accommodations”. She suggested that maybe the contract could read “to make a plan of what needs to be done”. Also she commented about the dress-code requirement. Our students play at recess and it’s not like high school. Our athletes actually change into their uniforms at our school before departing the school. On the student contract at the third bullet, “marking period” will be added. The word “accommodations” will be changed to “arrangements”

• The GISB members’ meeting with the teachers will be May 9, 2007 from 2:30 – 4:30 p.m. Location to be determined.
• School Energy Management Program: By letter dated February 21, 2007 a detailed site visit report was distributed and recommendations for changes were suggested.
• AYP results: The results were embargoed, but now they have been released. This was the first year to test all students regardless of disability. We did okay, but improvement is needed by 2014.
• TW contacted Andy Paradee regarding the position of truant officer and he agreed to it.
• 8^th grade graduation certificates will be available to the GISB for signature on May 14, 2007. The 8^th grade graduation is scheduled for Wednesday, June 20, 2007 at 7:00 p.m.
• Note that two half days for 06-07 have been scheduled. May 21, 2007 – staff related; June 14, 2007 – action planning. Next year they are already scheduled into the calendar.

Board Discussion:

• Legislative Education Bills and Petition: H.526 passed the House and is now in the Senate – concerns lowering the threshold for excessive spending from 1.20 to 1.10 – Senate version.
• Pre K bill passed - preserves present process and checks spending.
• HD will continue to monitor H.526 on behalf of GISB as there was no response from other GISU school representatives. HD is working on a response to legislatures regarding issues that can be adjusted in our budget, if any.
• School Facility Condition – water intrusion, to avoid mold possibilities. HD asked TW to contact George Nelson for a name of an individual that will check into this.
• Financial Report – HD has questions for GN; note – special education costs negative for end of the year; tuition balance is up; GISU keeping an eye on it; administrative services – Supervisory Union all up front; needs to be a change to principal services; business services – interest on bond. High school tuition and special education costs could be $71,000 +/-.
• Vermont Mathematics Initiative – Teacher Request – 8:24 motion by IT and 2^nd BJ to pay for 12 credits next year for each of the three teachers with the understanding that there will be no request for tuition reimbursement for one whole school year following completion of VMI in order to even out account. - GC

Board Action:

• Approval of Bills for Payment – 8:30 p.m. IT made a motion to pay bills in the amount of $35,017.10 2^nd by BJ. – GC.
• Grand Isle School Calendar – open house scheduled for the evening before school starts. The calendar is the same as GISU. 8:32 p.m. Motion by HD 2^nd IT to approve GISB calendar as submitted – GC.
• The last day of school will be June 20 and it will be a half day. Motion at 8:33 p.m. by IT and 2^nd HD – GC.
• 8:41 p.m. HD moves to offer teacher contracts for school year 07-08 based on the terms that are represented in the contracts before the Board tonight 2^nd IT – GC.

Executive Session:

• 8:42 p.m. – HD moves to enter Executive Session for student matter, 2^nd IT.
• 9:02 p.m. HD moves to exit Executive Session 2^nd IT – GC.
• HD motion to not reimburse request for sign language class 2^nd IT – GC.

Board Correspondence/Sharing:

• Tooth tutor letter received and shared.

Agenda Building:

• Class configurations
• Teacher contract issues
• North Hero Middle School Bussing Options

9:19 p.m. IT moved to adjourn.