The minutes of the regular meeting of January 8, the budget meetings of January 15 and January 22, and the executive sessions of January 15 and January 22 were reviewed.

Margaret McNally moved and Paul Foster seconded a motion to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of January 8, the budget meetings of January 15 and January 22, and the executive sessions of January 15 and January 22, as submitted. The motion passed unanimously.

3. Biodiesel use presentation

Vice Chair Gray stated that Ames Byrd would arrive at 8:00 p.m. for his biodiesel use presentation.

4. CAT testing presentation

Principal Rob Edson presented the annual report on Marion Cross School students' performance on the California Achievement Tests. He explained that MCS has changed its testing pattern. Grade 6 testing occurs in the fall, Grade 3 in the spring, grade 4 has dropped the CAT testing due to the NSRE state tests. Therefore, only grade 6 results were presented at this time. Grade 3 results will be presented next fall.

Principal Edson further explained that CAT's are a normed reference test vs. the New Standard Reference Exams (NSRE), which are standards based tests. Norm referenced means the results are measured against a nationally normed peer group, that is, the same grade and time of year. "Standards based" means a standard is set and results are measured against this standard. MCS's curriculum is based on the same standards as the NSRE's. The CAT's are more general in nature and were last normed more than a decade ago. MCS was planning on using the normed Terra/Nova version but this has been postponed pending a better understanding of the No Child Left Behind testing requirements beginning in 2005.

Principal Edson took time to thank Deb Carter, Curriculum and Assessment Coordinator, for her work with the PowerPoint bar graph displays. The Principal shared the language, math, reading, and total battery 6th grade CAT results via a PowerPoint presentation. He concluded that over the past 5 years, 50% of MCS students have consistently scored above the 80th percentile in all areas. Math and Language results have shown a linear increase of approximately 16% over the past 15 years. Reading has shown an approximate 4% decrease over the past 15 years. The Principal further stated that the CAT results do not significantly alter the conclusions reached using the NSRE's. Writing and Mathematical Problem Solving will continue to be the focus for the faculty. CAT Reading scores will be monitored to see if this area deserves future attention.

There was a lengthy discussion regarding the CAT results, its use as an assessment tool, how teachers and administration use the test results, standard error of measurement, students who are being tutored, and overall trends of the MCS CAT results. Next year's CAT results presentation will also include a more specific analysis of the particular tests within the CATs.

5. Communications and Reports

a) Report of Chair

(1) Calendar - Vice Chair Gray announced that the next Board meeting would be Thursday, March 4 at 7:00 p.m. in the Marion Cross School library. This meeting is being held on Thursday because of a conflict with the Hanover Board meeting.

(2) Assignment of Warning Articles - Vice Chair Gray assigned members of the Board to present the various Warning articles at the Annual District Meeting. Board members Gray and McNally have already agreed to present the budget article. The assignments are as follows:

Article 23, 24, 25 Paul Foster
Article 26, 27, 28 Geoffrey Vitt
Article 29 Mary Sachsse
Article 30 Mary Sachsse will introduce the Article and a Finance Committee
member will present Article 30.
Budget Articles Linda Gray & Margaret McNally

(3) Other Matters -

There were no other matters to report.

b) Communications to the Board

Vice Chair Gray reported that there were no communications to the Board.

c) Reports of Administrators

Superintendent's Report -

The Superintendent had no items to report.

Assistant Superintendent/Business

The Superintendent stated that Assistant Superintendent/Business John Aubin had no items to report.

At this point in the meeting the Norwich Energy Committee members had arrived and were ready to report on biodiesel use.

3. Biodiesel use presentation

Alan Berolzheimer and Ames Byrd of the Norwich Energy Committee gave an insightful presentation on biodiesel use. They explained that biodiesel is a clean, renewable diesel fuel substitute produced from agricultural resources such as soybeans and canola or recycled cooking oil from restaurants. It can be burned in any standard unmodified blend at any proportion with petroleum diesel.

Biodiesel is biodegradable and non-toxic to plants, animals and humans. It reduces CO2 emissions 78% as compared to petroleum diesel. It also reduces US dependence on foreign oil. The disadvantages of biodiesel are that it is more expensive, can gel at 32 degrees when undiluted vs. petroleum diesel which gels at 11 degrees. An 80/20 blend of diesel to biodiesel works totally seamlessly with diesel engines, home heating furnaces and traditional fuel storage. An 80/20 blend costs between $.10 and $.40 more per gallon depending on volume.

Mr. Byrd and Mr. Berolzheimer encouraged the Norwich Board to consider using biodiesel fuel with one bus as a trial. There was a brief discussion concerning the cost differential, efficiency, any known difficulties, and how much benefit there is with an 80/20 mix. The current fuel cost that the Dresden School District pays is less than $1.00/gallon. The Dresden School District has a contract with Standard Oil. Mr. Byrd explained that the town of Norwich is trying out the biodiesel with one of the town trucks. Mr. Byrd has donated and transports the fuel to the town. There was further discussion on where the biodiesel fuel would come from and Vice Chair Gray suggested that further research would better clarify the possibility of trying out an experiment with one Norwich school bus. Mr. Byrd and Mr. Berolzheimer confirmed that they would help with this. The Superintendent stated that his office would initiate the discussion with the bus company, with Mr. Byrd and Mr. Berolzheimer to pursue follow-up.

The Board thanked Mr. Byrd and Mr. Berolzheimer for their presentation on biodiesel use.

5. Communications and reports

c) Reports of administrators:

Principal's Report -

Principal Edson introduced a Norwich Board candidate, Deb Kaplan, who was in attendance at the meeting.

Principal Edson updated the Board on MCS enrollment. The total number of students is at 308,the same as in January.

The MCS faculty and the Principal have had two meetings to review configuration proposals for next year. The primary considerations, at this point, are a K/1 multiage class or adding another section in either grade 1 or grade 3. Any additional classroom teacher for next year would not be filled until the enrollment numbers are firmed up.

The philosophy committee has had a number of very productive sessions. The committee shares a high level of excitement about the idea of developing a central, driving force for Marion Cross School.

MCS has had two broken pipes this winter, in the nurse's office and the Art room. Jonathan Brush and the Principal agreed to use an FDA approved, non-hazardous antifreeze in the heating system. The effect is to lower the freezing point of the water in the heating system by 16 degrees and the bursting point of the pipes by approximately 60 degrees.

The Principal presented a proposed schedule for the Board's review of the unified arts program. The timeline schedule spans March 2004 to October 2004. In March the Art program will be discussed. The Principal said that the Art teacher will come to the March meeting to act as a resource and to share a summary of the program along with the curriculum goals.

d) Committee Reports

Local Action Planning Committee

Principal Edson stated that a LAP Committee update would occur at a future Board meeting.

6. PTO Report

Dawn Carey shared with the Board the following PTO activities:

The PTO has formed a Finance Steering Committee, and hopes to meet this month to discuss short and long-term budget goals for the PTO.

The Annual Family Fun Skating Night was a fabulous success with over 100 kids and parents attending. A huge thank you goes to Jill Kearney and the Norwich Rec. folks who made all this happen, especially Jonathan Frishtick who was in charge of the bonfire. Thanks also to the Norwich Inn for their hot cocoa donation and all the PTO parents for donating time. As always, thanks to Jeff Marshall for making sure the ice was perfect.

The second movie night is being scheduled now for either the last Friday in February or the first Friday in March.

TV Turnoff Week is scheduled for March 22-28 this year. The Potluck Dinner and Contradance with David Millstone will be on Friday, March 26.

The next PTO meeting will be on Monday, March 1 at 8:30 a.m. in the MCS library.

7. Public Input

There was no public input at this point in time.

8. Business Requiring Discussion

a) District planning: Philosophy & MCS program specifications The Philosophy and MCS program specification were covered under other agenda items.

9. Business requiring Action

There were no business items requiring action.

10. Future Agenda Items

There were no future agenda items.

11. Executive Session in accordance with Title 1, Section 313 for discussion of personnel matters.

Margaret McNally moved and Paul Foster seconded a motion to enter executive session in accordance with Title 1, Section 313 for discussion of personnel matters. The motion passed unanimously. (9:02)

12. Return to public session

The Board returned to public session at 9:25 p.m.

13. Adjournment

Margaret McNally moved and Paul Foster seconded a motion to adjourn at 9:25 p.m. The motion carried unanimously.

The meeting adjourned at 9:25 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Amy Nickerson
Recording Secretary