Georgia Board of School Directors

December 4, 2007

Georgia School Library

Regular Meeting at 6:00 PM

MINUTES

 

Board Present:                  Jennifer Petrie, Casey Hager, Doug Bergstrom, Irene Bonin

Administrators:                  Flora Hurteau, Frank Calano, Armando Vilaseca, Chris Sumner

Others:  

 

I.            Call to Order

            The meeting was called to order at 6:15 PM.

 

II.      Public Comment – Kevin Christopher from LCATV was present to discuss a couple issues related to LCATV.  The LCATV is in the process of appointing new board members.  They are interested in representatives from St. Albans and/or Georgia.  He also wanted to know if there was anything they could do to assist the school. 

 

Stephanie Miller was present to discuss the full-day kindergarten program.  She stated her daughter currently goes to the preschool program and absolutely loves it and is for the full-day kindergarten program.

 

III.      Consent Agenda

            ●      Minutes

                  ACTION:  Motion by Jennifer Petrie to approve the November 20, 2007 minutes, seconded by Irene Bonin, approved unanimously.

           

                  On Thursday, December 6th at 6 PM at the St. Albans Town school there is a meeting with Town Representatives regarding Act 80 and other issues relative to schools.

 

IV.       New Business

            ●      Kindergarten Discussion – Flora distributed two e-mails, one in favor of and one against, full-day kindergarten.  The survey results regarding the program are in and 75% are for the full-day kindergarten and 25% are against the program.  Survey statistics are from parents of students that are eligible for kindergarten next year.  The full-day kindergarten will serve 65 students.  Enrollment has been somewhat consistent for the past 10 years.  There will be 16-18 students per class, 20 students per class are allowed by the state.  The program will cost $62,000.  The full-day net increase will be $34,000.  There are generally a handful of students that do not attend kindergarten at GEMS because it is not a full-day kindergarten.  There was discussion with some members of the public regarding the full-day program.  There will be further discussion on this topic.

            ●      Approve Financial Report –

                  ACTION:  Motion by Jennifer Petrie to approve the Financial Audit Statement, seconded by Casey Hager, approved unanimously.

            ●      Continued Budget Work – Chris presented the numbers for full-day kindergarten and a foreign language.  Currently there would be a 6% increase in the budget.  Flora stated that a lot of the non-voters were parents of students at the school.  There was a discussion regarding how to get more voters to the polls.  There is a Santa breakfast and Irene inquired if the Board would have a table there.  Foreign language would be for 5th and 6th graders twice a week and this would be mandatory.  7th and 8th graders could have foreign language as a choice class.  If a 7th or 8th grader took foreign language as a choice for one whole year they would be ready for level II in high school.  A 5% increase in the budget would include both the full-day kindergarten and foreign language.  Casey suggested looking at the numbers if the foreign language teacher were part time.  Doug believes that anything over a 4% increase would not pass.  The Board would like to see the budget numbers with a 4.5% increase in the budget.

 

            V.      Other – Irene mentioned the Senior luncheon this Friday, December 7th beginning at 11:30 AM.

 

            VI.      Upcoming Meetings                                               

A.      Next Regular Meeting:  December 18th at 6:00 PM, Georgia School Library