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Fairfax Board of School Directors
Monday, April 10, 2006
Regular Board Meeting at 6:30pm
Fairfax Community Library
Present: Chairperson Peg Stewart, Greg Beeman, Jeff Loller, Rachelle Howard, Lauri Fisher, Dustin Howard, Phil Higgins, Scott Lang, Thomas Walsh, Lisa Delorme, Sheila Rivers
Public: John Rooney, Chelsea Desilets
1. Call to Order – Peg Stewart called the meeting to order at 6:30pm
2. Approval of Minutes - Regular Meeting of March 13, 2006 – Jeff Loller moved to accept the minutes. Lauri Fisher seconded. Passed unanimously.
3. Correspondence-Lisa Delorme received a letter of resignation from Diane Mital, the Speech and Language Pathologist in Early Ed. Lauri Fisher moved to accept the resignation of Diane Mital. Greg Beeman seconded. Passed unanimously. Sue Morrill, kindergarten teacher, also submitted a letter of resignation. Greg Beeman moved to accept Sue Morrill’s resignation. Jeff Loller seconded. Passed unanimously. Lauri Fisher apologized for her absence at the March 27th warned meeting which was canceled due to lack of a quorum. Peg received a letter concerning the holocaust presentation of the previous week and commented on the many students reporting on how powerful the message was.
4. Public Comment- none
5. Reports
a. Principals’ Report-
Lisa Delorme reported on the upcoming technology committee meeting. The elementary has plans to have a vegetable garden over the summer. There are many changes in elementary: Georgette Huffman will be the new technology education teacher, Kate Waters will move to grade 3, Tammy Boissoneault will be moving to grade 5, and Carol Keszey will have a grade 4 classroom.
Scott Lang reported that the holocaust presentation was well received. High Voltage, a street-dancing group, will be giving presentations tomorrow for the entire school. The group relays the message of “you can do anything as long as you work hard at it”. The Drama Ensemble was in Rutland over the weekend competing. Rich Tarrant will visiting BFA on April 20th.
Tom Walsh reported on the middle school drama shows. Sports in the middle school are underway. The Geobee team will be competing in May. There will be an inservice program for the staff at Essex Cinemas on April 21st. They are presently collecting feedback to revise the Action Plan. Roof replacements will be beginning May 15th and go for 2 weeks. BFA’s cost to reroute the power due to the power outage was approximately $25,000 and the expense is being investigated with the insurance company to see if it can be covered at all. He gave commendations to CVPS and to our staff and to the town who all were instrumental in helping out. Asbestos testing will be taking place in the middle school soon. Tom also presented the Safe School Data and was very pleased with this 25-day period.
b. Superintendent’s Report – Phil Higgins commented that there is nothing pressing in the legislature presently.
c. Board Reports – Dustin Howard reported on attending the district Jazz Festival. All state music and parade will be coming up soon in Bennington.
Lauri Fisher reported that they have finished interviewing for the librarian position. She mentioned that a survey will be coming from the Vermont School Board Association and reminded the Board to fill it out when they receive it.
Greg Beeman reported on the tree clearing work that has been going on in the field. He attended the Worried Child seminar.
Jeff Loller commended all for the handling of the power outage.
Peg Stewart gave an update on the Recreation Department. The lower rec fields will not be used until fall so the grass can really take root. Portable toilets can be placed down as long as they are the proper distance away from the existing sewer lines. Peg reported on a new initiative being looked at called Safe Routes to Schools. This is a state program to promote walking and biking to school. The town and the school will be working together to apply for a grant to bring the initiative to Fairfax. The Board will be writing a letter of support. Peg has been working with Becky at FWSU to get the policies and procedures manual up to date. There are some that need to be deleted (prior to 1990).
6. New Business
a. NECAP Review – Sheila Rivers presented some of the data from the 2005 New England Common Assessment Program. Rachelle Howard questioned how the district and the school would be using the data. Sheila explained how it would be used in curriculum development and professional development. There is uncertainty at this point as to how the state will be using the data to identify schools. Just because BFA met the standard does not been the school cannot be identified.
b. Lake Champlain Tech Ed Committee Report – Scott Lang gave a summation of what was included in the report and highlighted some of the features. He was a member of this committee and their charge was to make a recommendation for a plan for technical education in the area.
7. Policy Review
a. Kindergarten Entrance Age Policy– Jeff Loller moved to accept the Kindergarten Entrance Age Policy. Greg Beeman seconded. Passed unanimously.
b. Student Conduct & Discipline Policy – will be brought for action next meeting
c. Student Attendance Policy – will be brought for 2nd reading next meeting
d. Selection of Instructional Materials Policy– will be brought for 2nd reading next meeting
- Other –Greg Beeman motioned to award the bid contract to Palmieri Roofing, Inc. in the amount of $77,353 for the replacement of the existing 1973 roof with a new roof to be covered under a 20-year warranty. Jeff Loller seconded. Passed unanimously.
Greg Beeman motioned to approve a .67 FTE contract for Lisa Sweet as a kindergarten teacher. Jeff Loller seconded. Passed unanimously.
Greg Beeman motioned to approve a .67 FTE contract for Erica Green as a kindergarten teacher. Jeff Loller seconded. Passed unanimously.
Lauri Fisher motioned to approve a contract for Joy Mercer for the school librarian. Greg Beeman seconded. Passed unanimously.
Greg would like to look at the possibility of conducting an exit interview for students leaving the school to gain useable information. Scott suggested VSAC has a similar survey. Lauri suggested an online engine, Survey Monkey, that could be more cost efficient.
Rachelle questioned if the Emergency Management Team has looked at a response to an influenza epidemic.
9. Upcoming Meetings
May 8, 2006
:: Regular Meeting at6:30pm in the Fairfax Community Library
Respectfully submitted,
Julie Filiberti
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