GRAND ISLE SCHOOL BOARD-MEETING MINUTES

MONDAY 11 SEPTEMBER 2006-7:00PM   

 

BOARD ATTENDING:

Herb Durfee, Ira Trombley, Becky Turner, Pat Parker, Scott Brown

OTHERS ATTENDING:

Dick Taylor, Troy Watkins, Brenda Juaire, Bev Gover, Tammy Juaire

PROCEEDINGS:

HD-CALLED TO ORDER AT 7:03PM

 

ADJUSTMENTS TO AGENDA?:

RT-yes;

TW-yes-letter to discuss;

HD-yes-corrrspondence; nb be careful re public discussion of email content.

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

7:08PM-PP moves to accept 28 August minutes as-revised-BT 2nd-GC.

14 AUGUST DEFERRED TO NEXT MEETING

PP-requests that minutes be also sent to her home email.

 

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ITEMS:

Tammy Juaire-had a question concerning grades and sports eligibility;

HD-summarizes policy-notes issues where summer break is involved-GISB has under review-executive session required for specific cases-notes examples of possible consequences & ameliorating measures:

          -Extra work over summer coordinated w/  instructor & principal;

          -Overall failure vs partial failure;

          -Practice allowed but not participation in games for a period of time;

TJ-knows of another student failing & playing;

HD-GISB is unaware of that situation; restates the Boards willingness to hear comments-value of the symbiotic relationship between academics & sports;

TJ-noted that kids on the team are concerned;

 

 

 

 

TJ-DISCUSSION ITEM #2-question concerning regulations for the payment of high school tuition for non-resident students;

RT-the established residence of the parents governs the residence of the student-if there is no legal guardian at an address no tuition is permitted; the bills from high Schools are filtered & re-billing is watched; owning property does not imply residency.

 

 

PRINCIPALS REPORT:

-EARLY RELEASE DAYS: will be 18 October, 15 February, 14 May; theses are ok w/GISB-all schools need to agree;

 

-SUBSTITUTE PAY SCALE IN ISLAND SCHOOLS: GIS is comparatively low;

HD-notes that maternity leave is the same line item;

RT-it would be a good idea to get all District schools even;

7:29:00PM-BT moves to raise substitute pay to $60/day-no 2nd;

7:29:30PM-PP moves to raise substitute pay to $55/day-HD 2nd-voice vote unanimous;

 

-LOCAL ACTION PLAN: review for next meeting;

 

-COMMON GOAL QUESTIONAIRE: for all GISU-TW will canvass students;

HD-can ST put this on website?

 

-GIS OPEN HOUSE: Thursday 21 September 5 PM;

PP-will rep GISB & coordinate materials for distribution w/HD;

RT-encourage people to use the website-ST can help;

 

-COMPACT FINAL: note additional wording at Teacher #2;

 

-ELF PROGRAM: first training day today-much excitement about this;

 

-ALISON GUERNSEY MATERNITY LEAVE REQUEST:

HD-notes this item more properly addressed in executive session;

 

-EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN:

HD-notes door hardware issues; has Sheriffs Dept been involved?

TW-yes.

SUPERINTENDENTS REPORT:

-Reminder about Negotiations Committee meeting Thursday 14 Sept 7PM GIS;

-Reminder: GISU meeting Tuesday 26 September 7PM NHS;

-RT may be attending 1 meeting/month for a while;

-Request for Executive Session;

 

BOARD DISCUSSION ITEMS

White Paper issues need discussion; BT had been to a meeting & reviewed some discussion items: pay in larger districts; interest noted re cost savings through regional contracts;

HD-requests that Board re-read the White Paper; GISB looks integrated-noted that High Schools issues could prove critical;

RT-reiterated the geographical uniqueness of Grand Isle County & discussed ramifications of 1 School District-eg:

          -1 School Board;

-20 Board meetings/year instead of 108;

-K-8 District w/~800 students;

-1 Contract;

-Ability to reassign personnel throughout District;

-Mass ordering of commodities & supplies;

BT-noted opportunity for curriculum consistency;

RT-a mandated High School is not likely (yet); Commissioner Cate should be invited to GI County-will look into this;

HD-questions & input should be prepared for such a meeting;

PP-inquired if White Paper info should be at Open House;

HD-is there a Summarized Version?-GISB might need an extra work session on this item-perhaps an hour ahead of a regularly scheduled program.

 

FURTHER DISCUSSION RE MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS FROM OTHER ISLAND SCHOOLS

NHS 7-8 to GIS; they have concern re their building;

HD summarizes; what about incentives?

-Tuition?

-Transportation?

RT-18-28 students potential;

HD-GIS can help-Island Community; requests TW to contact GN to prepare a revenue vs costs analysis on the impact of adding 15-30 students to  GIS;

 

HD-no new school board should be created;

HD-reminder that next Futures Committee is Tues 19 Sept 7PM NHS;

HD-do we need a letter to summarize GISB position?

RT-keep it simple-Maintain Current Policy.

 

BUDGET DISCUSSION

HD-feels that there are too many passes-delete 1st pass; Act 60/68 analysis more useful-pass 2 is better-public hearings in January are good-should probably do 2;

RT-noted that TW is new to VT budget process-esp re which items are under local control & which items are not;

HD-request TW to think about Capital Improvement items; also funding mindset-look for least increases-zeor based budget-built from bottom up-caution needed this year-GISB will keep public informed;

RT-a good idea for TW to begin budget discussions w/staff now;

RT-good public strategy is to emphasize positives-eg test scores.

 

PAYMENT OF BILLS

PP-question re $849 Transportation;

RT-is a proration;

$   28,869.09 & $ 1400.

7:44PM-PP moves to approve bills for payment-BT 2nd-GC.

 

BOARD CORRESPONDENCE

-TY from RT;

-TY from Sam Harris;

BT-inquired re accountability;

HD-notes from teachers every 2 weeks-policy is in Handbook.

 

8:55PM-PP moves to enter Executive Session for a personnel issue-HD 2nd.

9:08PM-HD moves to exit Executive Session-IT 2nd.

 

9:08:30PM-HD moves to accept Alison Guernsey request for maternity leave-BT 2nd-GC;

 

9:09PM-HD moves that GISB approve payment for a GED Correspondence Course-SB 2nd-student to keep Board updated on progress periodically-GC;

 

9:11PM Meeting Adjourned.