NORWICH BOARD OF SCHOOL DIRECTORS
REGULAR MEETING
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 6, 2006
7:00 P.M., MARION CROSS SCHOOL LIBRARY
DRAFT MINUTES
MINUTES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE UPON SCHOOL DIRECTORS APPROVAL
Present: Board members Cheney, Gray, Sachsse (7:12), Williams; Administrators Gersen, Aubin, Edson; and 12 members of the public. Recorded by R. Lohr
1. Call to order – Secretary Stan Williams called the meeting to order at 7:09 PM.
2. Approval of minutes
Linda Gray moved and Margaret Cheney seconded a motion to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting of August 9, the Retreat of August 28, and the executive session of August 28, as submitted. The motion passed unanimously with one abstention on the August 9 (Williams). Stan Williams noted that he did not attend the August 9th meeting.
3. Communications and Reports
a) Report of Secretary/Chair
Stan Williams sitting in for the chair, who was out of the room at the time announced that the next regular Board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, October 4, 7:00 p.m., at the Marion Cross School Library. Chair Sachsse arrived and assumed the Chair. She mentioned that the Board wanted to increase efforts to involve the public in the Board meetings.
b) Reports of Administrators
Assistant Superintendent’s Report
Assistant Superintendent Aubin mentioned that the Board members should review the budget planning calendar which he included in the packet. In response to a question regarding the status of the plan to convert the Norwich busses to run on biodiesel fuel, he estimated, based on prices from August, it would cost Norwich about an additional $7,000 to cover the extra cost of biodiesel per gallon. Ames Byrd, the Norwich Energy official, indicated the updated cost differential was much smaller than Mr. Aubin understood, and also indicated the bus company, First Student, could use a nearby tank to fuel its vehicles. Given these facts, the Board asked John Aubin to take the steps necessary to convert to biodiesel.
Principal’s Report
Principal Edson reviewed his written report, highlighting that the enrollment is now 15 students above projections. He reviewed the enrollment statistics historically and suggested that there may not be a decline of students as expected at the school.
In response to an increase in the 6th grade enrollment, Mr. Edson has increased the hours of the educational assistant for the grade from 10 to 30 hours. The person hired is also a certified teacher.
Principal Edson mentioned the curriculum nights planned for parents and the staff’s efforts to increase communication effectiveness to parents. Patricia Parelka, a national consultant spoke with the teachers about literacy achievement during in service activities.
4. PTO Report
Cinny Bensen, sitting in for PTO President Deb Kaplan, announced that the next PTO meeting is scheduled for September 11 at 3:30 PM in the Art Room. The Board expressed its appreciation for the work the PTO did to enhance the school flower beds.
5. Public Input
Henry Scheier announced that auditors will meet with representatives from the Dresden Finance Committee to discuss the Norwich School District financial performance on September 7 at 1:30 at the SAU office.
6. Business Requiring Discussion
Wood Chip Boiler
The Board discussed the Biomass Energy Resource Center report on upgrading the Marion Cross School heating system and installing a wood chip boiler (copy attached to the original minutes of the meeting). The Board reviewed the state share of the project costs, that would cover 30 percent of the necessary upgrade and 90 percent of the installation of the wood chip boiler system. Dr. Gersen Indicated that the Norwich School District could cover the project costs by using funds from the Building Maintenance Fund and the 05-06 surplus. There was a discussion about the operational savings and the effect of air pollution with similar heating systems, and the availability of wood chips. Stan Williams noted the actual payback period for the project was longer than indicated in the report since the report did not include the local cost for the heating system upgrade. Dr. Gersen indicated that if the Board decides to proceed with this project, it will need to schedule a special School District meeting and a vote prior to the end of the year because the state will lower its cost sharing from 90 percent to 70 percent in January, 2007. The Board asked about the placement of the boiler building, an issue that will be clarified with the architects, and the planning and permit requirements for the project.
Budget Guidelines
The Board made some minor revisions to the proposed set of budget guidelines. Representatives of the Dresden Finance Committee said they would review the drafted budget guidelines and report back to the School Board before their final adoption in early October.
Board Educational Goals
The Superintendent prepared a draft of the Board’s Educational Goals that was drawn from the previous year’s goals, feedback from the Parent Survey, and discussions at the Board Retreat. The Board concurred with the broad goals, but wanted Administrators to develop a system of measurement to help the Board understand the effects of the teacher evaluation on achieving excellence in every classroom. The Goals will be voted on at the next meeting.
Safe Routes to School
Superintendent Gersen had no new details about the grant to report. Margaret Cheney suggested that the Board send a letter to the Selectboard to highlight how important sidewalks are for school transportation. There was Board consensus to do this, and to pursue a date for a joint meeting with the Selectboard.
7. Business Requiring Action
Margaret Cheney moved and Linda Gray seconded a motion to approve the wood chip boiler warning article for the November 1 and November 7 Special District Meeting, as attached to the original meeting minutes with amendments, and further to authorize the Administration to make whatever technical changes are necessary in order to ensure that the Warning is legal and that the intent of the Norwich Board of School Directors is conveyed. The motion passed unanimously.
8. Adjournment
Margaret Cheney moved and Stan Williams seconded a motion to adjourn at 9:07 PM. The motion passed unanimously.
The meeting adjourned at 9:07 PM.
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