Georgia Elementary & Middle School

Georgia, VT

October 7, 2003

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

 Present

Georgia Board Members:  Ken Minck, 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:  Kiffany Francis

Transcriptionist:  Candy Granger

Others:  Chris Messineo & Dan Harvey

1.      Ken Minck called the School Board Meeting to order at 6:00 pm.

 2.      Approve Minutes:  September 16, 2003

Chris Mitiguy made a motion to approve the September 16, 2003 Regular School Board Meeting Minutes.  Teresa Stebbins seconded.  Motion passed, unanimously.

 Entered Executive Session to discuss a Personnel Issue at 6:01pm.

Exited Executive Session at 6:20pm. 

     Doug Bergstrom arrived.

3.      Review Correspondence:

There was no correspondence.

 (skipped to)

 7. New Business:

            B. Universal Early Education Access Discussion:

Chris Messineo and Dan Harvey advocated funding the Family Room Program.  They explained that this program could be fully funded by revenue from the State’s block grant.  They are asking the Board to put the Family Room Program back in the budget for next year, because it will generate revenue for the school.   

4.      Public Comments:

There were no other Public Comments.

 John Mahoney arrived at 6:41pm.

Pam Toof, Cindy Little, & Melissa Fisher arrived at 6:48pm.

 After some discussion and questions, it was determined that when stating that the family room program fully supports itself, many employee benefit costs were not taken into account.   Chris Mitiguy asked Chris Sumner to calculate the cost of the Family Room Program .22 FTE Teacher.  It was assumed that the ECPTA grant would fund the outreach program.   The Administration will provide the School Board with information.

Chris Messineo and Dan Harvey departed at 6:53pm.

 (skipped to)

 7. New Business:

A.     Self Assessment for Student Supports Committee – Feedback:

Results/Goals to meet:

-          Improve communication throughout school and community

-          Improve K-4 behavior issues and to be consistent with Grades 5-8

-          Improve discrepancies in reading Grades 3&4

-          Improve K-4 EST model to coordinate with the Grades 5-8 model

Most of these goals have been met already this year.  The group will meet again on November 10^th to review outcomes. 

5.      Reports – Administrative:

1. Principals’ Reports:

Frank:

-          Parent Conference week this week in Grades 5-8

-          Community service happening K-8, called the Marathon Service Food Drive for holiday baskets for people in need

-          Inservice day on Friday concentrating on the Everyday Math Program

 David:

-          Susan Boyer has set up professional development times for Math and Literacy

-          New Standards Reference Exam results will be released on October 8^th & 9^th.  Chris Mitiguy would like to review our scores at the next meeting.   

2. Superintendent’s Report - Phil:

-          Richard Kate has been selected as the VT Commissioner and will start at the end of this month or the beginning of November

-          Administrative Team is going through a data analysis training to find out which programs are working and which ones are not creating results

-          Communication discussion took place tonight regarding bringing back the Georgia Paper, because the main residents that don’t get information are the people without students in the School.  The committee will research communication avenues in the Town.  

                        Ed Ballantyne arrived at 7:30pm. 

-          He must notify the parents of students who have any Teachers that are not highly qualified, which would be Teachers on waivers, or are certified in another state, or are not certified in that subject as part of the NCLB Legislation. 

3. Board Reports:

There were no Board reports. 

6.      Old Business:

A.     Revisit Budget Timeline for November:

This item was not reviewed at this time.  

B.     Budget Committee-Update-Cost to open doors:

-          Chris Sumner explained that Candy Granger designed and sent out the Budget Forum Postcards for the Budget Forum on October 21^st at 7pm.  And that we don’t really have the staff capacity to handle mailings.

-          Chris also shared information from the Health Insurance Seminar that she attended, which stated to expect Health Insurance Increases at approximately 14% for the next 4 years.  There were some other options, utilizing an employee savings plan with a high deductible to help keep costs down.  If the Board wishes to pursue these options, Chris needs to be given that direction and this will also be a negotiation topic as well.

-          Chris shared a projection for FY’05 Budget with many variables

-          The Board asked the Administration for the enrollment numbers

-          The Budget Committee meetings will be put on hold until after the Board makes some decisions 

8.      Policy Review:

1. Restrictive Behavioral Intervention – ACTION:

Teresa Stebbins made a motion to approve the Restrictive Behavioral Intervention Policy.   Motion passed, unanimously. 

2. Search and Seizure – 2^nd Reading:

The Search and Seizure Policy was reviewed. 

3. Budgeting – 1^st Reading:

The Budgeting Policy was reviewed. 

4. Mandatory Drug Testing of Transportation Employees – 1^st Reading:

The Mandatory Drug Testing of Transportation Employees Policy was reviewed. 

            Ed Ballantyne departed at 8:43pm. 

9.      Confirm Meeting Dates:

1. Regular Board Meeting – October 21, 2003 @ 5pm in GEMS Library
2. Budget Input Meeting – October 21, 2003 @ 7pm in GEMS Big Gym 

Ken Minck asked for the calculations for ADM.  Phil Higgins will bring in the formula to the next Board Meeting.

Entered Executive Session to discuss a Personnel Issue at 8:50pm.

10.  Executive Session - if needed:

Exited Executive Session at 9:00pm.

Action:   Teresa Stebbins moved to approve additional conference funding in the amount of $150.00 for a Teacher and $290.00 for a support staff personnel to attend a New Hampshire conference.  The Board voted 3-0 approval, with Chris Mitiguy reclusing himself from the vote. 

General Session – Correspondence. 

Ken Minck read an e-mail from Ron Hesson resigning from the Georgia School Board.  The Board will advertise the opening and ask for interested parties to contact the Superintendent of Schools by October 21, 2003 with a letter of interest.  The Board has asked interested candidates to come to the Board Meeting on the 21^st of October. 

The Board instructed the Superintendent to advertise in the Buyer’s Digest, School Newsletter and the School Web Site. 

 Ken Minck adjourned the Meeting at 9:30pm.