Georgia Elementary & Middle School

Georgia, VT

October 5, 2004

 

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

 

Present

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

 

Administrators:  Phil Higgins, Superintendent;  Adrienne Fisher, Director of Support Services;  &  David Young, Elementary Principal

 

Transcriptionist:  Candy Granger

Channel 16 Technician:  Matt Wohl

Others:  Anne Getty, Sandy Nalasco, Nancy Volatile-Wood, Marcy Hancox, Betsy Christie, Aleta Burns, April O’Donnell, Tammy Mossey, Anita Samson, Diane Laroche, Ron Gratton, Jan Schultz, Linda Strandberg, Diane Reilly, Margie Pinard, Terry Shaw, Charlene Stech, Eric Hadd, George Bilodeau, Dawn Hanf, Lee Kahrs

 

 

1.      Doug Bergstrom called the School Board Meeting to order at 6:10pm .

 

Doug informed the public that the Public Forum is actually October 19th not tonight as warned in the Buyer’s Digest.

 

2.      Approve Minutes: 

  1. Regular Meeting – September 21st:

Dan Harvey made a motion to approve the September 21st Regular Meeting Minutes with a minor change made by Alice .  Ron King seconded.  Motion passed, unanimously.

 

3.      Review Correspondence:

-         3 timeclock correspondence

-         Memo from Candy Granger

 

Frank Calano arrived at 6:30pm .

 

4.      Public Comments:

Aleta Burns voiced her concerns regarding the timeclock implementation.

 

Nancy Volatile-Wood stated what a beautiful School sign that we have in front of the School.

 

      David Young informed the Board that any past audits have not raised any questions regarding our record keeping. He is concerned about a loss of instruction using the timeclock.  He feels it shows a non-trusting environment.  David said that Candy does a great job working with both he and Frank, and that the time they spend with Candy reviewing timesheets and verifying any hours and schedules is very efficient and informing.    

 

Frank Calano voiced his concern of having a server maxed out.  He has been concerned about losing instruction time.  The general feeling in the School is that staff is not honored for their time due to this timeclock implementation.

 

Dan Harvey expressed that he does not support the timeclock implementation, if the Administration doesn’t feel that it works well here.

 

Alice Sturgeon stated that she felt that the timesheet reporting seemed cumbersome and sensed that same feeling from the other previous Board Clerks as well.  She feels that there should not be dittos on a piece of paper with names on it.  She feels that there should be an overhaul to the current system.

 

Doug Bergstrom expressed that the 2 reasons that started the timeclock idea was to save the Bookkeeper some time and to have accurate time keeping. 

 

Dan Harvey supports a change of plans for record keeping if need be.

 

Ron King stated that maybe there needs to be a policy to make sure that employees fill out timesheets more accurately.  Ron feels that we should send the timeclock back.  Maybe January would be a better time to look into a system.  He would like to see what was shown in the audit regarding the Special Education being recorded incorrectly.  Ron King would like to hear what the public has to say. 

 

Anne Getty stated that the atmosphere here at GEMS has gone from a family to a very sour atmosphere.  As a taxpayer feels that this is a lot of money for a timeclock system.

 

Nancy Volatile-Wood thanked the Board for the hiring of the 2nd Grade Teacher.  Administration has been extremely neutral and just wants to make sure that is clear.  The system doesn’t show which job code she is currently punched in under.  She also works from home sometime and stated that there is no way to add that to her timeclock punches, other then informing Candy to include these hours on her time.

 

Margie Pinard as a taxpayer doesn’t feel that this $4,000 is worthwhile expense.

 

Charlene Stech has 3 job codes suggested trying a different method. 

 

Alice Sturgeon made a motion to return the timeclock and that the Bookkeeper, in conjunction with the Business Manager and the School Board Clerk determine if our recordkeeping is correct in regards to passing an audit from the Vermont Department of Labor and Industry and if it is not in compliance, to change our practices to become in compliance.  Dan Harvey seconded.  Motion passed, unanimously.

 

Dan Harvey made a motion to enter Executive Session to discuss a Personnel Issue at 7:37pm .

 

Returned from Executive Session at 8:20pm .

 

5.      Reports:

  1. Principal’s Report:

David:

-         The new 2nd Grade classroom is up and running

-         Thanks to Shawn Shuttle, Linda Stech, & others for helping to organize classroom

-         This is Fire safety week

-         Federal Government has gifted a large generator to the school, Tod is in charge of getting it here

-         Requested to get a transportation committee meeting again

-         Reviewed Capital Budget update

 

Frank:

-         NECAP testing coming up in October

-         Progress Reports are going out next week

-         Technology Audit is coming

-         Eric Hadd will run a 5-8 mock trial

-         Inservice day on Monday in Fairfax

-         Another item to discuss under other

 

  1. Superintendent’s Report:

-         RTA Meeting next week

-         Informed the Board Members of Chris Sumner’s Board meetings attendance schedule

-         Can pick up your agenda packet by the Thursday before the Board Meeting

 

  1. Board Reports:

-         Dan Harvey stated that the Franklin West Board met and it was great

 

6.      Old Business:

A.  Budget – Forum Planning:

Phil just reviewed with Board Members a plan of action for the Budget Forum Meeting.

 

7.      New Business:

  1. Cost-to-Open - Discussion:

Phil shared information with the Board to open doors for FY’06 and listed the proposed increases.

 

  1. Compensatory & Special Education – Overview:

Adrienne Fisher handed out definitions of Programs for Populations with Disabilities of Deficits.  She also reviewed a summary of the GEMS Special Education & Compensatory/Title 1 Programs. 

 

The Board thanked Adrienne for her information.

 

Adrienne Fisher departed at 9:03pm .

 

  1. Administrative Workplan:

Phil reviewed the work plan with the Board to be able to review items that are happening at school. 

 

8.      Policy Review:

  1. School Animal Policy – 2nd Reading :

Terry Shaw rewrote the School Animal Policy and handed it out to the Board Members.  This policy will also seek staff input.  This policy will return for a second reading at the next meeting. 

 

Terry Shaw departed at 9:29pm .

 

  1. Prevention of Harassment of Students Policy – 2nd Reading :

This item will be brought back at the next meeting for action.

 

  1. Title 1 Student Selection & Parental Involvement Policy – 1st Reading :

This item will be brought back at the next meeting for action.

 

9.      Other:

-         Candy Granger resigned from the Board Secretary Position effective 10/20/04 .     The position will be advertised.  Dan Harvey and the rest of the Board thanked Candy for her work.

-         Doug met with the Selectboard recently, and a Town representative will be here to inform the public regarding the CLA.  The Town would like us to revisit our transportation policy and to change the policy for us not to bus on class four roads at all. 

-         The school currently receives $1,200 out of the $2,500 of impact fees to pay on our building note.

-         Dan Harvey thanked Doug for taking the time in going to the Town Board Meeting

-         Doug asked if we can try to set up something to better track anticipated High School Students

-         Public Use of School Facilities fees maybe revisited

-         Frank called Mathieu regarding offering them a lesser amount and they did not want to do that kind of arrangement

-         Doug asked Frank to look into Kevin’s extra fund raising

-         Should mailings for the school go to Daycare providers?

-         Alice has some Superintendent evaluation sheets for Board Members to complete

 

10.  Confirm Meeting Dates:

  1. Regular Meeting – October 19th @ 6pm in Georgia Library
  2. Budget Forum Information Meeting – October 19th @ 7pm in GEMS Cafeteria
  3. Budget Forum Follow-Up Meeting – November 3rd @ 7pm in GEMS Cafeteria

 

11.  Executive Session:

Dan Harvey made a motion to enter Executive Session at 10:35pm to discuss Personnel and Student Issues.

Exited Executive Session at 10:45pm .

Action:  Dan Harvey moved to grant Tammy Briggs a .20 FTE leave of absence for the 2005-2006 school year.  Motion seconded by Alice Sturgeon.  Motion passed, unanimously.

 

Executive Session called at 10:45pm regarding a Student Issue.

Out of Executive Session at 10:55pm .

Action:  Alice Sturgeon moved to grant 15 additional days to the residency waiver approved for Andrew and Stacey Doherty.  The family will be charged a per diem rate of $24.00 after this 15-day extension.  Motion seconded by Dan Harvey.  Motion passed, unanimously.

 

Doug Bergstrom adjourned the School Board Meeting at 11:00pm .