NORWICH BOARD OF SCHOOL DIRECTORS
REGULAR MEETING
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2004
7:06 P.M., MARION CROSS SCHOOL LIBRARY
Minutes
Present: Board members Cheney, Gray, Kaplan, Sachsse, Vitt; Administrators Gersen, Aubin, Edson; and five members of the public. Recorded by R. Lohr
1. Call to order
Chair Sachsse called the meeting to order at 7:06 p.m. and welcomed Roger Lohr as recording secretary.
2. Approval of minutes
Linda Gray moved and Margaret Cheney seconded a motion to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of July 22 and the retreat meeting of August 19, as submitted. One correction to the minutes of August 19 was offered: page one, item 3 added a mention of the success enjoyed by the principal in his first year. The 7/22 minutes were unanimously approved as submitted and 8/19 minutes were unanimously approved as submitted with corrections.
3. Technology presentation
Alida Ciampa, Marion Cross School Technology Coordinator and Specialist, presented the Board with an overview of the technology program. She spoke about her duties and responsibilities to teach students, teachers and staff about computers. Computer skills are integrated into the various subject curricula. She also conducts sessions to help teachers and staff with computer network concerns, maintains the school Web site and technology budgets, inventories/maintains computer equipment and chairs the MCS Technology Committee. The board recognized the value of having an educator in this position and the summer work that is involved to prepare for the start of the school year. At present, the technology position is scheduled 80%. Ms. Ciampa estimated that 75% of her time is teaching and 25% is technical in nature. There is an assistant to the position who works 15 hours per week. It was recognized that depending upon enrollment and other factors, this position might require full time status in the future. In response to a questions regarding the filtering of the internet for student Web use, Ms. Ciampa explained that an “acceptable use” policy was distributed and signed by parents and students, and that students are required to have an adult present whenever computers are used at MCS.
4. Solar Panel presentation
The Norwich Energy Commission submitted a proposal to have photovoltaic solar panels installed at MCS for electrical generation. It was cited that such an installation would be beneficial as an environmental and educational opportunity. Two alternative systems were proposed for approximately $30,000 and $40,000 respectively that would have a 10-15 year payback period and replace about one percent of the annual school electric energy use. A building evaluation was conducted by Global Resource Options, a local company that developed the proposal. The Board suggested that the Norwich Energy Committee investigate alternative funding sources such as Vermont construction programs or community donations and also consider a staged installation over time. The commission can then bring the board the funding information. The Board also learned that an experiment with biodiesel fuel with begin shortly on one of the school busses
5. Communications and reports
a) Report of Chair:
(1) Calendar - Chair Sachsse announced that the next regular Board meeting will be Wednesday, October 6, 7:00 p.m., at the Marion Cross School Library.
(2) Chair Sachsse also announced that there were discussions with the town regarding installing a second emergency generator at MCS and that she would indicate the Board’s support if the cost of that generator and its maintenance would be borne by the town.
b) Reports of administrators:
Superintendent’s Report - Superintendent Gersen briefly discussed that upcoming meetings should include topics such as teacher evaluations and raising student performance targets but he recognized that budgets and facilities will dominate the meetings in the near future. The Norwich public meeting regarding the supplemental bond for Dresden is scheduled for Wednesday, September 8. The board suggested that the meeting be publicized via sandwich board display, Valley News transaction advertisements, town email lists and communication to parents through students at Richmond and HHS. The PTO offered to email the meeting announcement to its members and use its sandwich board, too. It was also announced that the Dresden Web page will be launched on September 7.
Assistant Superintendent/Business - Mr. Aubin distributed last year’s budget guidelines under which the administration and board should reviewed staffing levels for non-classroom teachers, the use and budget related to educational assistants, and the need to maintain a budget that will stay under the 125% of state spending per student level. He asked the Board if it would like to modify these guidelines for the budget process about to begin. The board agreed and suggested that a long term philosophy be incorporated into the guidelines and that the Finance Committee will be able to provide feedback before the Board adopts them in October.
Principal - Principal Edson reviewed his written report, highlighting the new enrollment figure of 307 as of September 1 and analyzing the affects on enrollment due to students deciding to attend the Willow School. He reviewed the MCS Enrichment Grants and recognized Deb Kaplan’s participation on the Enrichment Grant Committee. The first day of school was reported as going very smoothly. T-shirts were distributed to the students to reinforce school spirit, and they will also be worn periodically during the year in different activities.
6. PTO Report- Cinny Bensen the new chair of the PTO gave a brief verbal report highlighting the PTO activities. She announced that the first PTO meeting of the academic year was scheduled for September 13 at 3:30 p.m. in the MCS Library.
7. Public input
There were no other issues raised by the public in attendance.
8. Business requiring discussion
a) Board goals - The drafted Board goals were read.
b) Revised Policy JBCB-2, Resident and Non-Resident Student Tuition - The Board reviewed the suggested revision to Policy JBCB-2 to allow students to sustain tuition resident or non-resident status without an annual request.
9. Business requiring action
a) Approval of MCS Mission Statement and Philosophy
Deb Kaplan moved and Linda Gray seconded a motion to approve the MCS Mission Statement & Philosophy as submitted. The motion passed unanimously.
b) Approval of Local Action Plan
Linda Gray moved and Margaret Cheney seconded a motion to approve the MCS Local Action Plan as submitted. The motion passed unanimously.
c) Approve Policy BCAB-3
Deb Kaplan moved and Linda Gray seconded a motion to approve the Policy BCAB-3 (to have the Board set each May its regular monthly meeting schedule for the year) as revised and submitted. The motion passed unanimously.
9. Future agenda item suggestions included harassment policy, initial budget goals and timeline (Gray and Cheney are on the Budget Committee) and a French presentation. The Board announced that if anyone would like to be a community representative for the LAP, they should contact the principal.
10. Adjournment
Margaret Cheney moved and Deb Kaplan seconded a motion to adjourn at 8:35 p.m. The motion passed unanimously.
The meeting adjourned at 8:35 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Roger B. Lohr
Recording Secretary
|
