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Fairfax Board of School Directors
Monday, November 10th, 2008
Joint Meeting with Selectboard at 6:30pm ~ Community Library
Community Budget Forum at 7pm ~ BFA Multi-Purpose Room
Regular Meeting at 8pm ~ Community Library
Present: Chairperson Peg Stewart, Jeff Loller, Elaine Carpenter, Robin Freeman, Angela Baker, Adam Benay, Ben Langelier, Armando Vilaseca, Scott Lang, Thomas Walsh, Lisa Delorme
Public: Karen McNall, Randy Mead, Nancy Mead, Skyler Bessette, Gary Stewart, Christel Michaud, Lori Bentley, Robert Hill, Gary Gilbert, Karen Seaman, Kelly McCabe, Darla Heyer, Karen Hebert, Bridget Hackett, Dale Bellows, Kate Haddock, Patricia Hendee, Melissa Beerworth, Jennifer Wood, April Beyor, Penny Aceto, Lisa Sweet, Amy Black, Katrina Antonovich, Glen McNall, Sally Sweet, Jim Meunier, M.L. Riggs, Amit Saini, Courtney Duncan, Kate Wells, Storm Pouliot, Jill Wells
1. Joint Meeting with Selectboard - The Selectboard met with the School Board to discuss an agreement which was drafted regarding recreation field use and maintenance of the area and who is responsible for what. The Selectboard will make discussed revisions to the agreement.
2. Community Budget Forum – The School Board opened up a discussion with the public taking input and discussing issues that will impact the budget for the coming school year. Many spoke in response to the school’s proposal of adding a full-day kindergarten program and to the issues surrounding its implementation. Other issues that were brought up were: the in-house technical education position, dual enrollment in college courses, the athletic trainer position, purchase of an additional score board, and impact fees.
3. Regular Meeting – The regular meeting continued immediately following the budget input session.
4. Consent Agenda
Minutes – Regular Meeting: October 13th
Correspondence - The Board received a letter stating that Friends of Fairfax Football donated $500 to the Fairfax rescue squad.
Action: Robin Freeman moved to accept the Consent Agenda. Elaine Carpenter seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
5. Public Comment – Sally Sweet had questions regarding the food allergy policy and its implementation at the school.
6. Reports
a. Principals
Elementary
Our BFA enrichment committee met for the first time last week. We had many requests from elementary, middle and high school staff. About $7000 of the $10,000 we have budgeted for this year was allocated. We supported drama club, computer club, a dance residency, Odyssey of the Mind, and Lego Technology.
There continues to be many conversations concerning full day kindergarten. The majority of the calls I have received are from parents in support of this program. However, there have been questions and concerns voiced also. Each year teachers and principals throughout Vermont submit kindergarten surveys to the Department of Education. Last years’ survey results state that 74% of Vermont's children attended a full day, full time program, 11% attended a half day program, 2% a full day, partial week program, and 14 percent indicated some other type of schedule. I believe these statistics support our committee decision to move to full day kindergarten next year.
Our mathematics intervention classes for students that need additional support to meet mathematics standards are progressing well. Parents of identified students have embraced the opportunity to give their children additional instruction in mathematics. We currently have over 50 students participating in the program. We are also in the process of developing a mathematics course that supports the implementation of the Bridges in Mathematics program that is in the third year of implementation. The course will run from 2:00-4:00 every other Tuesday from Jan. to May. All teachers will be required to participate.
Lisa Delorme
Middle School
The first quarter ended on Friday, Oct. 31. Students transitioned to a new Unified Arts classes (PE, Music, Art, and Computer Applications.
We held the first dance for students in grades 7+8 on Friday, Nov. 7.
Student Council elections were held and 12 students will be representing their classmates for all three grade levels.
Middle School sports teams will begin Nov. 17 for Nordic Skiing and Dec. 1 for Basketball and Cheerleading.
Middle School Chorus began practicing in October on Tuesday’s after school. Approximately thirteen students are participating with Ms. Henderson.
We are starting an Odyssey of the Mind team. The PTSA has generously provided funding to help provide this outstanding activity to middle school students. We will begin practicing in late January.
I am the process of completing my next parent letter that will detail educational activities occurring in the middle school.
Respectfully,
Thomas Walsh
High School
The first marking period ended on Friday, October 31 for high school students. We have introduced a new exam schedule that allows for longer assessment blocks which are helpful for teachers of quarter classes. Some semester long classes also used the time fir mid course assessments.
Our varsity teams have concluded their fall seasons. It was a good year for fall cocurricular activities. Girls’ Cross Country Running achieved a state championship. Girls’ Soccer got within one goal of a state championship. The male runner finished third in the state meet. Boys’ Soccer shone under new coach, Katie Mack. Football finished just out of the playoffs with a 4 – 4 record in our second real varsity season. Most importantly, our student athletes and our fans demonstrated remarkable sportsmanship and we have received compliments from many other schools.
Our professional development remains high quality and led by home grown talent. Our work in Differentiated Instruction and Understanding by Design is being led by John Woodly, John Tague, Judy Stewart and a supporting cast of Katie Mack, Jensen Welch and Joe McSoley. We have also received tremendous support from Mary Lynn Riggs, our Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment. Our literacy work also has continued at in service on November 4, led by Katie Mack and Sara Villeneuve. On November 4, we looked specifically at writing from our students and calibrated our assessment looking at bench marks we have established locally as part of our Local Assessment Plan. At the same time our math teachers spent the day looking at our curriculum in light of our disappointing scores on last year’s NECAP. The will get the training that other high school teachers received in writing instruction and assessment from Sara and Katie.
You will be getting a report from the Graduation Task Force at your meeting. The group has really clarified the important traditions and has a plan that will avoid the very high price we paid for graduation last year. Their plan is for three years and includes a plan for funding a tent at graduation this year. Graduation will be moving to Saturday for a number of reasons which they will explain to you. You will also get a written plan from me for your meeting.
Scott Lang
b. Financial – The Board reviewed and discussed the Special Education budget. There has been a large increase in out of house tuition because of the placement of some students in alternative settings.
c. School Board Members
Ben Langelier reported on the football season and the Halloween dance.
Adam Benay reported on the girls soccer team making it to the finals.
Peg Stewart reported on Safe Routes to School.
Elaine Carpenter reported that she attended the training on developing school budgets that the VSBA offered. She and Peg have been working on looking through policies.
Robin Freeman reported that he has been approached by many regarding the full-day kindergarten issue.
7. Business
a. High School Graduation – Amit Saini, Courtney Duncan, Kate Wells and Storm Pouliot represented the Graduation Task Force and discussed the work they did to put together a plan for an affordable graduation ceremony. They decided that they wanted it to be on campus, graduates would face the audience, graduation would be on a Saturday, and that the cost of the event would be manageable. Their proposal is a 3 year commitment with the Vermont Tent Company which will lock in a rate freeze as well as give a 10% discount. Discussion revolved around the specifics of the proposal. This year’s class will need to solicit funds to cover the expense but the hope is that for the subsequent years of 2010 and 2011 the money would be budgeted. The Board will take action on the proposal at the next board meeting on November 24th.
b. S.U. Policies – The question has been raised whether or not to have policies reviewed and approved at the SU level because there are only a handful of policies in Fairfax that differ from those of Fletcher and Georgia. It is proposed that having the S.U. Board handle the policy review process will free up the local Boards from so much work on policy revision and save work and time at the Central Office. Because the S.U. Board felt that it is important to have feedback from the local Board, this issue was discussed and Board members were asked for input. The representatives to the SU Board will take the information back to the S.U. Board meeting and further examine the issue.
c. Appoint S.U. Board Representative – Peg Stewart will fill the opening S.U. representative position for the remainder of the year.
d. Review Committee Assignments – The Board reviewed the committee assignments of the members. There was a discussion concerning how many representatives should be on the library committee.
8. Policies
a. Review Policies
· Board Meetings and Agenda Preparation/ Distribution Policy- This policy will be brought back at the next meeting.
· AIDS HIV and other Blood Born Pathogens Policy– This policy will be brought back at the next meeting.
· Emergency Closing Policy
· Student Representatives on School Board Policy
Action: Angela Baker motioned to approve the Emergency Closing Policy and the Student Representatives on School Board Policy. Jeff Loller seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
b. Public Solicitation/Advertising Policy – 1st Reading – The Board engaged in discussion of the language of this policy. There were questions about what can and can not be posted on school bulletin boards and what constitutes political advertising. This policy will be brought back at the next meeting.
9. Executive Session– The Board entered Executive Session (personnel) at 9:50PM.
The Board exited at 10:00PM.
Action: Angela Baker moved to approve Karine Poulin's request for fourteen weeks of maternity leave (twelve work weeks as well as two weeks of winter/spring recess). Any paid leave accrued by the teacher may be used within this period until exhausted, after which the leave of absence will be unpaid. The motion was seconded by Robin Freeman and unanimously approved.
Respectfully submitted,
Julie Filiberti
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