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Fairfax Board of School Directors
Monday, January 14, 2008
Regular Meeting at 6:30pm
Fairfax Community Library
Present: Chairperson Peg Stewart, Jeff Loller, Angela Baker, Glenn McNall, Greg Beeman, Clara Pedley, Adam Benay, Armando Vilaseca, Thomas Walsh, Lisa Delorme, Chris Sumner
Public: Elaine Carpenter, Roy Hill II
1. Call to Order - Peg Stewart called the meeting to order at 6:30 PM.
2. Consent Agenda
Minutes
Regular Meeting: December 10, 2007
Special Budget Meeting: January 7, 2008 – The Board noted a correction to the wording of Article II. It was changed to read as follows:
Article II - Shall the voters of said school district appropriate $150,000 of the ’07 surplus toward the capital reserve improvement fund for masonry repairs to the original wing ’43 middle school building by Australian Ballot?
Jeff Loller motioned to accept the Consent Agenda. Angela Baker seconded. Passed unanimously.
- Public Comment -none
- Reports
a. Principals
Lisa Delorme reported the elementary teachers are getting ready to present writing prompts. This is new assessment for all students in the school. The elementary will pilot this 90 minute assessment on the 28th and 29th of January. Jeanne LaClair and John Schraven collaborated together to bring a storyteller to perform in the elementary on January 28th. In the elementary, enrichment funding is supporting elementary drama and the new Spanish club for 3rd and 4th graders. The administration will be attending a district-wide training on the Danielson model on the 24th of January.
Tom Walsh reported that the middle school piloted the writing prompt assessment this week. The fall NECAP scores should be available very soon and will be available for parents by mid-February. Tom also presented a packet of Safe School Data for the November 12 thru January 3rd time frame.
b. Financial – Chris Sumner gave an update on this year’s budget. Tuition revenue is once again
up from the budgeted amount.
c. Superintendent – Armando Vilaseca reported that the administrative team, guidance counselors, nurses and some other relevant staff members will be meeting with DCF at the end of the month to review procedures.
d. School Board Members
Clara Pedley reported on the final exams going on this week. The Winter Ball will be coming up and the theme is black and gold and the money raised will be donated to an environmental or conservation cause. The NHS Blood drive will be coming up Feb 18th. This will be the second of 3 blood drives this year.
Adam Benay reported on the Scholar’s Bowl and boys basketball team.
Peg Stewart reported that she attended the recent steering committee meeting. The school will hold a State of Academy on February 5th at 3:00. She also reported that there will be an upcoming meeting in town to investigate establishing a community center for Fairfax and noted that she would not be attending.
- New Business
a. Elementary Spanish Presentation – Elaine Sinclair-Fowler presented the Spanish program she has been piloting in her 2nd grade classroom. They have been using the Rosetta Stone program to introduce the language. They have also had the help of one of the student’s grandmother who is a fluent Spanish speaker. An after-school Spanish club for 2nd and 3rd graders has also been initiated through the use of enrichment funds. A video presentation put together by her student teacher, Karen Allard, highlighted some of the ways they have been using the language in the classroom. One 5th grade classroom has also recently been using the program. Lisa Delorme announced that the program will be piloted in the entire 5th grade next year.
b. Discuss Proposed Capital Expenditures – The Board reviewed and discussed the proposed expenditures for projects to be completed in FY08. These include: replacing the air conditioning/heating unit in the guidance office for an expenditure of $15,000, replacing the windows in the Middle School Gym for an expenditure of $2500 and renovation of three bathrooms across from the gym for an expenditure of $7500.
Action: Greg Beeman motioned to approve the proposed capital expenditures in the total amount of $25,000. Jeff Loller seconded. Passed unanimously.
c. Approve FY09 Budget – The Board reviewed the final drafts of the 08/09 budget and discussed the options available.
Action: Glen McNall motioned to accept Version I of the budget with a total operating cost of $10,911,579. Greg Beeman seconded. Passed.
Action: Greg Beeman motioned to accept the Legal Warning of the Fairfax Town School District FY08/09 budget in the amount of $11,151,579 showing an increase of 5.02%. Jeff Loller seconded. Passed unanimously.
d. Approve FY09 Announced Tuition Rates - This year will show a combined rate for the middle and high school instead of separate rates.
Action: Peg Stewart motioned to accept the FY2009 tuition rates in the amounts of: elementary – $9200, middle and high school - $9400, Strive - $8000 and the Resource Room and Case Management both at cost. Jeff Loller seconded. Passed.
e. Approve School Choice Agreements – The Board reviewed the School Choice Agreements with Lamoille, Milton and MVU. The 3 agreements are identical to each other. No money will change hands in the exchange of students and these agreements meet the requirement for providing school choice. Up to 5 students per year can be accepted.
Action: Glenn McNall moved to approve the School Choice Agreements with Lamoille, Milton and MVU. Jeff Loller seconded. Passed.
- Other - The Board engaged in discussion on what budget information to include in a flyer to the townspeople and what to include in the town report.
- Policies
a. Drug, Alcohol, and Substance Abuse Policy – After reviewing, it was agreed that this policywill be brought back with changes made reflecting what the procedures are at BFA in respect to the SAP team.
- Adjourn- Jeff Loller motioned to adjourn at 8:25. Greg Beeman seconded.
Julie Filiberti
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