Georgia Elementary & Middle School

Georgia, VT

January 6, 2004

 

These minutes are not approved until accepted by the School Directors at their next meeting. 

 Present

Georgia Board Members:  Teresa Stebbins & Chris Mitiguy

 Administrators:  Phil Higgins, Superintendent;  David Young, Elementary School Principal;  Frank Calano, Middle School Principal;  & Chris Sumner, Business Manager

 Channel 16 Technician:  Nick Wood

Transcriptionist:  Candy Granger

Others:  Kevin Briggs, Brian Dunsmore, Dan & JoAnn Harvey, Carolyn Branagan, Jan Schultz, Neil Hilt, Kati Lambert, Kathy Seiler, Keith Hanf, John Lincoln, & Jon Loller    

 Doug Bergstrom arrived at 6:10pm.

 1.      Teresa Stebbins called the School Board Meeting to order at 6:10pm.

 2.      Approve Minutes: 

  1. Regular Meeting – December 2nd

Chris Mitiguy made a motion to approve the December 2nd Regular School Board   Meeting Minutes.  Doug Bergstrom seconded.  Motion passed, unanimously.

  1. Special Budget Meeting – December 9th

Doug Bergstrom made a motion to approve the December 9th Special School Budget Meeting Minutes with two corrections as noted.  Motion passed, unanimously.

3.      Review Correspondence:

There was no Correspondence 

4.      Public Comments:

-          Kevin Briggs informed the Board that Casey Mathieu from Mathieu Enterprises has volunteered to provide Basketball Game Transportation for free, since our FY’04 Budget has been frozen.

-          Kevin asked if the Public Forum tomorrow night could be held in the Cafeteria instead of in the Big Gym.  The School Board agreed.

-          Kevin also asked for the School Board to fulfill the commitment of $430 to the already scheduled Basketball Officials.  He stated that Frank Calano, himself, and others would volunteer for games not already scheduled with an outside official. 

-          Carolyn Branagan informed the Board that there is good news coming from Montpelier and that the Legislature is to trying to help out with the common level of appraisal

 

-          Dan Harvey, Neil Hilt, Kathy Seiler, Kati Lambert, John Lincoln, Jan Schultz, Keith Hanf, and JoAnn Harvey asked that the Board present the same program budget next year as what we have this year.  If the Board were to make staff reductions and increase class sizes now, there would be nothing more that could be done if the budget failed.  Some residents also explained how they moved to Georgia because of the great school and to get away from large class sizes.  Most of the Public also said they would do whatever they could along with the Communication Committee to sell a fully funded budget.

 

Keith Hanf arrived at 6:40pm.

 

-          Keith Hanf said to propose a fully funded budget, because we don’t know the tax effect yet.

 

Jon Loller arrived at 6:55pm.

 

5.      Reports – Administrative:

  1. Principals’ Report:

David Young:

-          Mailed out 150-175 shoeboxes filled with items for our troops oversees.  Businesses, staff members, students, and community were all very supportive.

-          Conducting the Iditaread Challenge to encourage student to read.  All who participate will have their name put in a hat for a sled dog ride.   He thanked Randy Hall and Diane Leyden for all their hard work. 

 

Frank Calano:

-          On the next 4 Thursdays for 1 hr of lunch and AG time, Grade 7 & 8 will be involved in the “Step into your Future Discussion Series”.  Discussion will be about choices made during and after high school.  Georgia residents will be in to speak regarding what they would have done differently and what they are doing now.  The students will have a pre and post assessment.

 

  1. Superintendent Report – Phil:

-          Warning for the Technical Academy

-          Need Board Members intentions for Town Meeting Day and petitions are due to the Town Clerk by January 26th

-          Changed the Public Meeting location to the Cafeteria

  1. Business Manager Report – Chris Sumner:

-          There will be no report, instead will be doing budget numbers.

  1. Board Reports:

There were no Board Reports.

            Chris Mitiguy made a motion to approve the warning of developing a Regional

Technical School District.  Motion passed, unanimously.

 

            Phil Higgins reviewed the available School Board seats:

-          Teresa’s 3-year term is up and open

-          Ken’s 1-year term is up (not sure if he is running again)

-          Doug’s 1-year term is up and he’s running again

-          Rich’s 1-year term is up (not sure if he is running again)

 

(skipped to)

7.       New Business:

A.     Presentation by Randy Viens: 

There will not be a presentation tonight.

 

8.      Policy Review:

A.     Capitalization – ACTION:

Doug Bergstrom made a motion to approve the Capitalization Policy.  Motion passed, unanimously.

 

B.     Private Health Insurance Pertaining to Special Education – ACTION:

There were many changes by the lawyer. This Policy was read for the 2nd time.

 

C.     Head Lice – 2nd Reading:

This Policy was read for the 2nd time, now that Terry Shaw the Nurse has reviewed it.

 

D.     Emergency Closings – 1st Reading:

This Policy was read for the 1st time.

 

(returned to)

6.      Old Business:

A.   Budget – Continued Discussion:

-          Chris Sumner handed out a draft of the Proposed FY’05 Budget.

 

-          Chris Mitiguy praised Chris Sumner for breaking out the High School Tuition Costs from the Early Education through Grade 8 Expenses.  This way it truly reflects where the expenses are coming from.

 

-          Teresa Stebbins commended Chris Sumner for all her hard work calculating the FY’05 Budget at this time.

 

-          Teresa read Richard Benoit’s letter that he asked her to share his feelings regarding the proposed FY’05 in his absence.

 

-          Put remedial math on a possible add list and all general fund reductions to cover that position on the reduction list.

 

Frank Calano informed the Board that he would like to hire Elizabeth Meunier as a long term substitute at the long term substitute rate for Diane Reilly who is out for 6 weeks and then for Claire Delaney who will be out for 6 weeks. 

The Board agreed with the Administration’s suggestion to pay the $430 for the already scheduled basketball officials out of the Principal’s Fund Checkbook

9.      Confirm Meeting Dates:

  1. Public Budget Meeting – January 7th @ 7pm in GEMS Library
  2. FWSU Board Meeting – January 14th @ 7:15pm in GEMS Library
  3. Special Budget Meeting – January 15th @ 6pm in GEMS Library
  4. Regular Board Meeting – January 20th @ 6pm in GEMS Library

10.  Executive Session – Personnel:

There was no Executive Session items tonight.

Teresa Stebbins adjourned the School Board Meeting at 8:10 pm.