Georgia Elementary & Middle School

Georgia, VT

June 15, 2004

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

 Present

Georgia Board Members:  Doug Bergstrom, Chair;  Chris Mitiguy, Clerk;   Ron King, & Dan Harvey

Administrators:  Sue Boyer, Director of Curriculum, Instruction, & Assessment;  Frank Calano, Middle School Principal;  & Chris Sumner, Business Manager

Channel 16 Technician:  Matt Wohl

Transcriptionist:  Candy Granger

1.      Doug Bergstrom called the School Board Meeting to order at 6:08pm.

2.      Approve Minutes: 

1. Regular Meeting – June 1^st:

Dan Harvey made a motion to approve the June 1^st Regular School Board Meeting Minutes.  Chris Mitiguy seconded.  Motion passed, unanimously.

3.      Review Correspondence:

Doug Bergstrom:

-          Letter from Colleen Greene

-          Property Transfer Tax Forms will be coming from the Town Office to try to track the people/students moving into Georgia.  Frank Calano will start working on these by sending out a questionnaire by going back for the last 4-5 months.   Candy Granger will keep collecting these forms and will give them to Frank Calano. 

Carolyn Branagan arrived at 6:13pm.

 4.      Public Comments:

There were no Public Comments.     

 5.       Reports:

1. Principals’ Report:

Frank:

-          8^th Grade Graduation last night, thanked Doug Bergstrom for his participation

-          Last day of school tomorrow, ½ day, and students step up day

-          Staff luncheon tomorrow afternoon, pot luck

-          Teacher’s will be in on Thursday to meet and tie up loose ends

-          Monday, June 28^th, will be the beginning of a math class

2. Curriculum Director’s Report – Sue Boyer:

-          Judi St.Hilaire accepted into the VT Science Initiative for the next 3 years

-          Supervisory Union Technology Team has received a $5,000 grant

-          Math & Literacy Committees have been meeting on a regular basis to be ready for the NCLB in the Fall

-          Sheila Rivers was hired as the FWSU Curriculum Director, the Board should be very pleased with Sheila

-          Sue thanked the Board for this last year of support while working at GEMS

3. Financial Report – Chris Sumner:

-          $32,000 savings due to BFA St. Albans vocational students change

-          Should still be about $70,000 over in revenue

-          Chris Mitiguy made a motion to re-categorize the spending of $402 for awards from the   principal’s account  back to the general fund and the spending of $1,852 for the co-curricular spring sport costs from the principal’s account back to the general fund.   Dan Harvey seconded.  Motion passed, unanimously.

-          Chris Mitiguy made a motion to re-categorize the spending of $9,412 for air conditioning improvements from the Capital Fund back to the general fund.  Dan Harvey seconded.  Motion passed, unanimously.

-          Dan Harvey made a motion to approve spending $4,000 for computer based time clocks.  Chris Mitiguy seconded.  Ron King doesn’t like to approve spending without knowing exactly what is being purchased.  Motion passed, 2 to 1 with Ron King opposing.

4. Board Reports:

There were no Board reports. 

6.      Old Business:

1. Administrative Contracts – Tabled for Future Meeting:

7.      New Business:

1. Early Education Legislative Update – Rep. Carolyn Branagan:

This item will be discussed later in the meeting.

2. Community Relations Team Action Plan - Update:

This item was tabled at this time.

3. Title 1 Waiver Approval:

Dan Harvey made a motion to approve the Title 1 Waiver as stated.  Chris Mitiguy seconded.   Motion passed, unanimously.

4. Regional Technical Academy – Update:

Chris Mitiguy wants the FW Board to be aware that GEMS is not receiving the  information they need.

5. Paraprofessional Master Agreement – ACTION:

Chris Mitiguy made a motion to approve the Paraprofessional Master Agreement.  Dan Harvey seconded.  Motion passed, unanimously.

6. Professional Teacher Appointments – Contracts:

Frank would like to offer Michelle Poquette the remaining 5^th Grade classroom position.  Ron King made a motion to offer Michelle Poquette the FY’05 Grade 5/6 Classroom Position.  Dan Harvey seconded.  Motion passed, unanimously.    

Frank Calano, in David Young’s absence, would like to offer Joann Harvey an additional 22% FTE contract for Family Room Teacher.  Joann currently holds a 30% Early Education Teacher contract.  Dan Harvey recused himself from the discussion.  Chris Mitiguy made a motion to approve the increased 52% FTE contract for FY’05.   Ron King seconded.  Motion passed, with Dan Harvey abstaining.

8.      Policy Review:

1. Personnel Recruitment/Selection/Appointment/Criminal Records Policy – 2^nd Reading:

This Policy was reviewed for the 2^nd reading.

2. Weapons Policy – Update/Review:

Sue Boyer handed out the State Policy and Phil Higgins recommends keeping our policy as is.  The Board gave Sue Boyer some changes for the Policy.   

Rochelle Howard arrived at 7:10pm.

(returned to)

7. New Business:

D.  Regional Technical Academy - Update:

Rochelle Howard reviewed information regarding the proposed Academy.   There was much discussion. 

David Young arrived at 7:21pm.

Rochelle Howard departed at 7:50pm.

(returned to)

7. New Business:

A.     Early Education Legislative Update – Rep. Carolyn Branagan:

Carolyn Branagan reviewed information regarding the Early Education Update.  She believes that this item will be discussed further in the Legislature.  Carolyn also informed the Board that Georgia should not have to be doing a large amount of work with our curriculum due to NCLB.  If there are any questions, Carolyn can find out the answers, just call her.

Carolyn Branagan departed at 8:02pm.

(returned to)

7. New Business:

B.     Community Relations Team Action Plan - Update:

David Young shared information from the Action Plan Team.  The Action Plan must be in place before September 2004 and the School Report must be shared during the FY’05 School Year.  Then ultimately all Board decisions and budget items should be tied into the Action Plan.  They are planning on meeting on June 29^th.

9.       Other:

Chris Mitiguy has a change order request in the sprinkler request piping in room in 217 and replace piping in the rear of Building C.  Both of these areas were omitted on the original request.  Chris Mitiguy made a motion to make this change.  Dan Harvey seconded.  Chris Mitiguy asked Chris Sumner if these charges seemed in line with the rest of the sprinkler charges.  Chris Sumner agreed that these charges were reasonable.  Motion passed, unanimously.

Principal’s Report – David:

-          Very busy at end of year

-          Thanked school board for approving the 22% FTE Family Room Teacher

-          No camping trip for Judi St. Hilarie

-          Still undecided regarding salaries for compensatory education staffing whether we need a Para or Teacher Position to be filled, but will keep the Board informed

-          Volunteer coordinator position combined with PTA resources.  Doug Bergstrom suggested having this position do the property transfer questionnaires.  Dan Harvey made a motion to fund $750, ½ of the position.  Chris Mitiguy seconded.  Motion passed, unanimously. 

Frank Calano informed the School Board of the food service provider bids.  He recommends awarding the bid to the Abbey.  Doug Bergstrom is concerned about children receiving seconds, and feels that reports should be given to parents informing them of the number of seconds their child receives. Doug would like something written in the contract with the Abbey.  Chris Mitiguy made a motion to offer a 3-year contract to the Abbey and to add in the meals reporting concern.  Dan Harvey seconded.   Motion passed, 2 to 1 with Ron King opposing.

The Board asked the Administrators if a letter was going out to the Teachers for ideas for FY’05. 

10.  Confirm Meeting Dates:

1. FWSU Quarterly Meeting – June 23, 2004 @ 7pm in Fairfax Library
2. July – No Board Meetings

Doug Bergstrom adjourned the School Board Meeting at 8:15pm.