Wallingford
Elementary School Board*
October 4, 2007
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*These
are unofficial Minutes subject to approval at the next regular board meeting.
Present:
Diane
Baker, Ken Fredette, David Klock, Chuck Piotrowski, Chuck Watts, (Board Members)
Public
Present: None
Staff
Present: Walter
Goetz (Superintendent of Schools), Theresa Mulholland (Principal).
Call
to Order: The
meeting was called to order at
7:04 p.m.
Approval
of Consent Agenda
- Minutes
of
September 6, 2007
approved as
submitted.
- Payroll
–
-
August 31, 2007
$
413.06
-
September 7, 2007
$60,639.77
-
September 14, 2007
$ 912.22
-
September 21, 2007
$ 6,900.48
-
September 21, 2007
$37,757.88
-
September 28, 2007
$ 1,921.02
- Pay
order
-
October 4, 2007
$43,805.27
Chuck W. asked some questions related to the pay
orders and all were answered satisfactorily.
It was noted that the payroll checks of September 21 were the net figures
due to computer issues at the RSSU.
David
made a motion and Diane seconded the motion to approve the consent agenda.
Motion passed unanimously.
Public
Input: None
Building
Maintenance
Principal
Theresa Mulholland:
1.
Security – Theresa noted that she and Gary Fredette are
working on the specifications for improving the school’s security. While they
may not be available for next meeting, they will be available for the November
meeting
2.
Basement – Theresa noted that the basement flooded and they
were not sure where the leak came from. She noted that Gary Fredette had to shut
off the boilers and pump out water. She commended
Gary
for his work and his
efficient management of the situation.
- The
Board asked questions about flooding in the basement and the need for a
sump pump. The board requested that Theresa and Gary look into the cost of
a pump to meet the needs of the school.
Policies
1.
Fiscal Management
Ken made a motion, seconded by David, to table
discussion until the first meeting of November. Motion passed unanimously.
2.
School Crisis Prevention and Response (First
Reading
)
o
Chuck P handed out an updated draft and asked the Board and
administrators to review and offer suggestions outside of the meeting. He
reviewed the substantive matters within the policy and noted that the policy
prescribes roles for administrators, staff and students.
Administrator’s
Reports:
Principal
Theresa Mulholland -
Theresa reported on the following issues:
- Sixth
grade end of the year trip – Theresa updated the board on her discussions
with parents of 6th graders. Her discussions with the parents
included costs and locations. She noted that there will be a vote to decide
the location. A note will be
sent home to the parents with details.
-
Diane raised a concern that the fund raising efforts for this
trip may compete with other school fund raising efforts.
- Ad
Hoc Health/Guidance Committee –
-
Theresa noted that the committee has met. The committee
reviewed the resources that will be used to teach the curriculum. She reminded
those present that the curriculum is set by the state, but individual schools
choose the resources and delivery that will best help the school meet the
standards set forth in the curriculum.
-
Ken reviewed the charter of the committee and asked Theresa
of the committee was staying within its charge. It was clear that they are.
-
The committee is also reviewing procedures for managing
bullying.
- Spelling
Team
-
The school will have a spelling team participate in the
Vermont Principals Association state-wide competition on November 3.
- Soccer
-
There are 70
Wallingford
students
participating in the Mill River United program.
- NECAP
tests start next week for Grades 3-6
- Open
House on October 3 had an excellent turn out
- The
school has started a newsletter to be sent home from the school every two
weeks. The school will continue to submit reports to the town newsletter.
Superintendent
Walter Goetz –
- Bookkeeping
Error in the 06-07 Mill River Budget that will impact
Wallingford
Town
School District
positively.
-
The Board and the administrators discussed the potential
surplus and how
surpluses have been handled in the past.
- Collaborative
Negotiations with Elementary School Teachers
- Walter
reported that the RSSU Board expressed its support for having the 3
elementary schools negotiate with the elementary teachers as one unit. He
noted that the teachers’ union expressed an interest in the same.
Walter noted that the 3 school districts have agreed to work
together before he could work with the union on behalf of all 3 schools in
contract negotiations
- Ken
noted receipt of a letter from Wallingford Teachers’ Association from
Mary Ellen Kafarski. The letter “Notifies you of our intent to enter
into negotiations with the
Wallingford
School District
to modify our
current agreement. We are aware of the possibility of merging contracts
with other schools in our District. We are open to discussing this
option.”
- The
Board and administrators discussed the benefits of the collaboration.
Chuck
W. made a motion, Dave seconded the motion, to allow Superintendent Walter Goetz
to enter into conversations with the NEA for the purpose of pursuing a common
contract among the 3 districts:
Wallingford
,
Shrewsbury
and Clarendon. The
motion passed unanimously.
- Preschool
- Walter
noted Marc Sustic of the Vermont Community Preschool Collaborative visited
Wallingford Day Care and Preschool and was impressed with the classes and
program.
- The
Wallingford Day Care and Preschool will hold a parent night at the end of
October. Specific date to be determined.
- Policy
Issue
o
One of the schools was approached
by a parent who wanted to enroll their child in a school but the family was not
a resident of that town. If the
child is on an IEP and the town of residence is not agreeable to the child
coming to the non-resident school, the receiving school could be responsible for
any special education costs. The
Department of Education’s lawyer recommended that the best approach is to not
take any student placed by a parent. The
existing policy needs to be looked at regarding this.
- The
Board and administrators discussed this at length and it was determined
that a policy to prevent the above from happening is necessary to ensure
that this situation does not arise in the future. The policy will be
drafted and considered at the next meeting.
- At
this time this is not happening in
Wallingford
.
- Staff
Request Leave
- The
Board considered a request for leave. Many options were discussed and the
administrators recommended a course of action that the Board agreed with.
Chuck
W. moved and Dave seconded that the
board approve the request of the Library/Media Specialist for personal time on
the condition it is without pay and with the understanding that there will be
little or no impact on the instruction of students. Motion passed unanimously.
Board
Reports –
Chuck
W –
- Noted
he continues to research and work on the Fiscal Management Policy
Ken
–
- Continues
to serve on the State School Calendar Committee. Next meeting is Oct 22nd.
- Reported
on the VSBA Bennington-Rutland Regional Meeting
Agenda
Building
-
- Financial Statements
- Admission of
Non-Resident Tuition Students Policy #: 5222
- Crisis Plan
Executive
Session –
Ken
made a motion and Diane seconded to enter in Executive Session under Title
313(a)(1). The vote carried unanimously and the Board entered into executive
session at
9:00 p.m.
The
Board exited executive session at
9:09 p.m.
with no action taken.
Adjournment:
Ken
made a motion, seconded by Chuck W, to adjourn. Motion passed unanimously. The
meeting adjourned at
9:10 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Chuck Piotrowski |