Georgia Elementary & Middle School

Georgia, VT

May 3, 2005

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

Present

Georgia Board Members: Doug Bergstrom, Chair; Alice Sturgeon, Ron King, Dan Harvey

Administrators: Phil Higgins, Superintendent; David Young, Elementary School Principal; and Frank Calano, Middle School Principal

Channel 17 Technician & Transcriptionist: No Channel 17 Tech; Wendy Larose

Others: None others present.

I. Call to Order

Doug Bergstrom called the School Board Meeting to order at 6:10 p.m.

II. Approve Minutes

A. Regular Meeting – April 5th

Motion to approve minutes (Harvey/Sturgeon). Motion approved unanimously.

B. Special Meeting – April 26th

Motion to approve minutes (Harvey/Mitiguy). Motion approved unanimously

IV. Review Correspondence

A. Five pieces for executive session.

IV. Public Comments

A. No public comment.

V. Reports

A. Principals:

. K-4 (David Young): Things going well in building. Busy time of year with culminating activities for end of school. Have had positive faculty meetings that have moved curriculum along.

. 5-8 (Frank Calano): Today Frank met with Nutrition Committee. Next meeting is May 19th with parents in the school library. They are evaluating introducing peanuts into the cafeteria. On the 26th, they will meet again and formulate a recommendation. On May 18th, Frank will host a presentation on exploratory courses.

. Superintendent: Phil Higgins noted there was a great in-service just before spring break. Dr. Christian Jernstedt, Professor of Psychological and Brain Studies at Dartmouth College, presented Perspectives on Learning and the Brain. Need a couple of days in the summer to finalize science and social studies curriculum. Administrative evaluations have been completed which included parental input on administrator evaluations. 300 surveys were mailed to parents with postage-paid return envelopes included. 65 were surveys were returned. Consensus was that the survey should be sent to everyone.

. Board: No board reports.

VI. Old Business

A. Budget Need Requests – A report was distributed on the educational initiatives and maintenance equipment needed. The total request for the 2005 surplus is $119,126. Educational initiatives totaled $40,104. There was much discussion around having more computers in the classroom (mobile labs). Doug noted we are having a major upgrade this year and that is the time to look at all our options.

B. Build & Grounds – Todd Granger presented the maintenance items needed. Total amount need for these items is $79,022. Window replacement is necessary over time. A long-term plan for this project is necessary. It was recommended a ceiling program be implemented. A discussion ensued on what was

 

bond items vs. normal capital budget items. It was agreed windows would be added to the bond list. It was agreed the shed would be done only if it could be done completely.

Motion to approve fund balance spending of $40,104 for educational initiatives and $79,022 for maintenance item (Harvey/Sturgeon). Motion approved unanimously.

Motion to accept recommendations of buildings and grounds committee for maintenance items to be covered by the bond (Mitiguy/Harvey). Motion approved unanimously.

VII. New Business

A. Science/Social Studies Curriculum Presentation – Eric Hadd and Steve Emory attended to give an overview of the social studies and science curriculum. An in-service day was done in August. The day focused on discussing the overlap and gaps in the curriculum and how to deal with them. They want to align with Vermont grade expectations that have recently come out. They are trying to create a curriculum that models current teaching practices. All three schools should have commonalties and essence elements, but each school has latitude to build upon that. Students thrive better when they have the freedom to explore and contribute to the subject. The change will create more collaboration in the district.

B. Approval School Calendar for 2005-2006

Motion to approve 2005-2006 school calendar (Harvey/Mitiguy). Motion approved unanimously.

C. OneCampus 2020 Vision Presentation – Phil Higgins presented an update on tech education. Essex is moving forward to increase their space. A plan is coming out and should be available for the next meeting.

D. Kindergarten class size – 65 students have registered. Dave Young recommends hiring a teacher for a 5th session. There was discussion on utilizing that teacher if we didn’t reach the estimated 75.

Motion to approve hiring an extra kindergarten teacher (King/Harvey). Motion approved unanimously.

VIII. Policy Review

A. Selection of Instructional Materials Policy – ACTION – Major change was a "balanced view" and "reviewed" on last page.

Motion to accept changes to Selection of Instructional Materials Policy (Harvey/Mitiguy). Motion accepted unanimously.

B. Complaints about Instructional Materials Policy – 1st reading. No changes.

C. Selection of Library Materials Policy – ACTION – small changes.

Motion to approve Selection of Library Materials Policy. Motion approved unanimously.

D. Head Lice Policy (6:25 p.m.) – Terry Shaw, School Nurse, gave a recommendation for a head lice policy. Her policy is updated based on the state’s head lice policy. The focus of the state’s update is around keeping the children in school until the end of the school day when lice is found. The state says there shall be no exclusion of children with lice or nits. If parents can show that treatment has been done and progress is being made, then the children can stay in school until the end of the day. Doug Bergstrom felt only statements 1,3,5 and 7 should be in the policy. He didn’t feel the other statements were enforcing anything. Will be revisited at next meeting for action.

IX. Confirm Upcoming Meetings

. Regular Meeting: May 17th at 6:00 p.m., Georgia School Library

X. Executive Session

Motion made to go into executive session at 9:20 p.m. for contract, student issue and personnel (Harvey/King) to go into executive session for two personnel and one student matter.

Contract:

Entered Executive Session at 9:20

Exited Executive Session at 9:30

ACTION:

None

 

Personnel:

Entered executive session at 9:30

Out of session at 9:35

ACTION:

Dan Harvey moved to grant Candy Granger’s request to extend her accrued vacation days for use by September 1, 2005 for this year only. Motion seconded by Chris Mitiguy. Unanimously passed by board.

Personnel:

Entered Executive personnel issue at 9:35

Out of session at 9:45

ACTION:

Dan Harvey moved to allow David to grant unpaid leave to JS and WW as presented by the administration. Motion seconded by Chris Mitiguy. Unanimously passed by board.

Student Issue:

Entered Executive personnel issue at 9:45

Out of session at 10:05

ACTION:

None