Present: Chairperson Peg Stewart, Greg Beeman, Jeff Loller, Rachelle Howard, Lauri Fisher, Dustin Howard Scott Lang, Thomas Walsh, Armando Vilaseca
Public: Rachel Wehner, Nancy Adams, Nancy Mead, David Filiberti, Priscilla Snyder, Tom Snyder, Barb Nason, Emily Tyl, Roger Dreher, Anne Pomichter, Theresa Rebeor, Leigh Gross, Helen Hartmann, Chris Santee, Collin Santee, Laurie Froebel, Bob Fisher
1. Call to Order – Peg Stewart called the meeting to order at 6:30PM
2. Approval of Minutes
Regular Meeting of June 12, 2006 – Greg Beeman moved to accept the minutes. Jeff Loller seconded. Passed unanimously.
Special Meeting of June 22, 2006 – Passed unanimously.
Annual Retreat on August 4, 2006 – Greg Beeman moved to accept the minutes. Jeff Loller seconded. Passed unanimously.
3. Correspondence – Board members received a copy of a letter from Friends of Fairfax Football. Peg received a thank you from Phil Higgins. She also received notification of the VSBA Conference on November 16th and 17th in Montpelier and notification of the regional VSBA meeting on October 2nd in Bakersfield.
4. Public Comment – Parents were present to address concerns about the letter they received concerning Bill Scott’s return as Middle School P.E. teacher this year. The Board heard questions and comments and concerns from the parents who wished to speak. Peg thanked the parents for their concerns and comment and reminded the parents to follow the chain of command - teacher, principal, superintendent, and lastly, the School Board. Concerns and problems should be put in writing and sent to the appropriate individual.
5. Reports
a. Principals’ Report –
Tom Walsh reported that the schedules and beginning of the year information packets went out to families today. The asbestos abatement is wrapped up. The school gives many thanks to the Building and Grounds crew for all the hard work over the summer. They are getting ready to re-key the building. All doors will be redone and keys will be redistributed. Phase I of the field work is underway on the baseball field. The work had been delayed due to weather. A team of 10 teachers attended the VSRI conference last week in Killington.
Scott Lang reported that fall sports have begun. The cross-country team is on Mt. Mansfield training, and soccer and football have both started practices. He will be holding an orientation session next week for 4 new high school teachers.
b. Financial Report - none
c. Superintendent’s Report – Armando Vilaseca reported that he has been spending time getting to know everyone and learning the ropes.
d. Board Reports
Rachelle Howard stated that she would attend the regional VSBA meeting in Bakersfield.
Lauri Fisher will be attending the upcoming library committee meeting and will bring back legislature reports once they go back in session.
Greg Beeman will check on the dates for the FBPA’s Welcome to Fairfax community meeting.
Peg Stewart stated she would go to the superintendent’s conference in Montpelier. She thanked everyone for a successful retreat and reported that the recreation path was paved.
6. Policy Review
a. Computer Network Policy – 2nd Reading – Armando wanted to table the policy until he can come back with some changes to make the policy more purposeful. He will meet with Doug Reaves concerning it. Tabled.
b. Tuition Policy – Reviewed
c. Transportation Policy – Will be brought back next meeting.
7. Other
Action: Greg Beeman moved to approve the second year of the Food Service Agreement with The Abbey Group for the 2006-2007 school year. Lauri Fisher seconded the motion and the Board unanimously approved.
8. Joint Meeting with Selectboard at 8pm - Selectboard members present were: Charlie Swanson, Jeff Blake, Doug Webb and Judy Cleary. Donna Meunier and Erin McSweeney were also present. Donna Meunier stated that during the elections the town needs to hook up a phone at the polling place. This is for disabled persons who cannot complete the ballot. They will need an analog line to connect the phone. Also, looking to the future, they will need Internet access through a line to hook up computers to the statewide voter checklist. This will be mandated in two years. Armando will look into the matter to see how to provide what is needed.
Peg Stewart stated that the purpose of the joint meeting was to resolve some issues that have come up. The school received a bill from the town for $3980.00 for recycling of fluorescent bulbs and other chemical compounds. This amount of money was not in the budget and the school needs clarification of why they were charged this amount. Jeff Blake responded that the town is now charged by the cubic volume of gas that is removed from the bulbs and that there were 53 cases of bulbs. The Selectboard had no way to give an estimated price the day they were dropped off and could not until they were billed. Armando suggested the Board financially prepares for this recycling cost in the future.
The School Board is looking for an agreement with the Selectboard because they are being told that the town can no longer do certain things for the school that they have done in the past (i.e.: mowing of certain areas, digging and paving). The Selectboard stated that they have no knowledge of these requests and that someone has been speaking on their behalf and they would like to know who that person is. The Selectboard stated that the School Board only needs to call one of the Selectpersons when there is an issue that needs to be addressed.
Peg let the Selectboard know that the school is looking into alternative uses for the White House due to enrollment increases. Notice of this must be given to the Town by October 1st. A September 25th meeting will be held to address this issue.
9. Executive Sessions - Board entered Executive Session at 8:30PM. Board exited Executive Session at 8:45PM. No Action taken.
Next meeting: August 28, 2006 at 6:30pm in the Fairfax Community Library
Respectfully submitted,
Julie Filiberti
