Superintendent Greenbaum called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. This is the first meeting after the School District election and the Superintendent calls the meeting to order in order to conduct elections for School Board Chair. Once the Chair is elected, this person will conduct elections for Vice-Chair and Secretary.

2. School Board Organization/Election of School Board Officers

Linda Gray nominated and Margaret McNally seconded the nomination of Mary Sachsse for Chair of the Norwich School Board. The vote was unanimous with one abstaining.

Chair Sachsse thanked the members of the Board and welcomed Deborah Kaplan as the newly elected Board member. Deb Kaplan was in attendance but not yet a voting member as she had not been sworn in at this point in time.

Margaret McNally nominated and Geoffrey Vitt seconded the nomination of Linda Gray for Vice Chair of the Norwich School Board. The vote was unanimous with one abstaining.

Geoffrey Vitt nominated and Linda Gray seconded the nomination of Deborah Kaplan for Secretary of the Norwich School Board. The vote was unanimous.

3. Approval of Minutes

The minutes of the regular meeting of February 4, and the executive session of February 4 were reviewed.

Margaret McNally moved and Linda Gray seconded a motion to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of February 4, and the executive session of February 4, as submitted. Linda Gray stated that on page 3 Mr. Berolzheimer's first name is spelled Alan not Allen. The amended minutes were then approved with one abstaining.

4. Unified Arts program review Art

Board members will recall that Principal Rob Edson submitted plans to the Board at the February meeting to make monthly presentations about each of the unified arts programs. The purpose of these presentations is to inform the Board about the present scope of the programs, and in doing so, provide the Board the information it needs to set the parameters of operation of the programs at MCS. Art teacher Tracy Smith was introduced by Mary Sachsse and Rob Edson and thanked by all for participating in the Art presentation.

Tracy Smith presented an insightful and detailed discussion of the Art program at Marion Cross School. She stated that she would share the following topics:

Here & Now
Day in the Life
K-12 Arts Philosophy & Curriculum
Thank You

Ms. Smith's discussion of the "Here & Now" was a thorough talk on how the Art program is integrated into the MCS K-6 curriculum. Ms. Smith provided visual examples that exemplified the integration of math concepts in art. For example, radial design was discovered through Valentine hearts; geometry skills were emphasized through book making activities; symmetry and pattern were seen through West African weaving & fabric-design; mathematical ABAB form was shown through the use of the loom. Ms. Smith further shared how ideas and problem solving are actively played out in the Art program thereby mirroring the local and national curriculum standards.

Secondly, Ms. Smith walked the Board through "Day in the Life," that is, a snap shot of a somewhat typical day for the MCS art teacher. Ms. Smith explained that her day includes meeting with parent volunteers, teachers, guidance counselors in order to best serve the needs of students. In addition, the art teacher spends a significant amount of time preparing for art classes, setting up displays, researching art techniques, calling suppliers for art materials, cleaning appliances in the art room, instructing students, and serving as an outreach for students needing support with classroom projects that integrate art in the assignment.

Thirdly, Ms. Smith shared with the Board the current draft of the K-12 arts philosophy that the 16-member committee (Arts teachers from the Norwich and Hanover elementary, middle, and high schools) took approximately 3 months to formulate. The statement reads as follows:

"Arts creation is a fundamental activity that resonates deeply within the human psyche. Studying the arts reinforces learning and creativity in all disciplines. Participation in the arts develops unique ways of understanding ourselves, interpreting the world and communicating with others. Therefore a strong arts program is an essential component in the education of all students."

Ms. Smith mentioned the importance of Superintendent Greenbaum's initiative that encouraged a K-12 continuity in curriculum. She explained some of the scope and sequence areas that the K-12 Art committee is presently discussing including sharing her own portfolio that she compiled for recertification.

Finally, Ms. Smith shared her "Thank you" to the Art Start program that brings in experts to the Marion Cross School, the teachers and staff for reaching out with their encouragement and caring, and to the many supportive volunteers and parents.

The Board thanked Ms. Smith for sharing her time and expertise.

There was a thorough discussion following Ms. Smith's presentation that focused on the current art program. Questions included how one chooses how to divide up the school day, how many art sections per week, how well is the art program presently working in light of the reduction in FTE, how to define the core program. The discussion further focused on defining the art program and all of its varying components and comparing the art program to previous years in order to understand why the program is currently staffed as it is.

5. Communications and Reports

a) Report of Chair

(1) Calendar -

Chair Sachsse announced that the next regular Board meeting will be Wednesday, April 7, 7:00 p.m. at the Marion Cross School Library.

(2) Special Dresden District Meeting Chair Sachsse announced that there will be a special Dresden District Meeting for the athletic fields on April 12 and 13. The discussion phase will take place on Monday, April 12, 7:00 p.m., in the Hanover High School Gym, and the voting phase on Tuesday, April 13, 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. in Tracy Hall for Norwich residents and Richmond School Gym for Hanover residents. Geoffrey Vitt also mentioned that there would be two meetings to discuss the athletic fields: March 16, 7:00 p.m. in Hanover & March 29, 7:00 p.m. in Norwich. He stressed the importance of attending the meetings in order to better understand the rationale behind the proposed athletic fields.

(3) Other Matters -

Chair Sachsse stated that there were no other matters to report.

b) Communications to the Board

Chair Sachsse reported that there were no communications to the Board.

c) Reports of Administrators

Superintendent's Report -

The Superintendent's items to report were covered in other parts of the agenda.

Assistant Superintendent/Business

Assistant Superintendent John Aubin was not in attendance and there were no items to report.

Principal's Report -

Principal Edson noted that physical education will be the Unified Arts Program presented at the April Board meeting. He then updated the Board on MCS enrollment. The total number of students is at 309. Since the start of the school year, 6 students have entered school and 6 students have withdrawn for a net change of zero.

Based on input from and discussions with the faculty, the Principal has tentatively decided to maintain single grade classes for next year. The configuration is projected to look like the following:

K 2 sections (3 sections if enrollment dictates using federal grant money)
1 2 sections (3 sections if enrollment dictates using additional classroom teacher)
2 3 sections
3 2 sections
4 2 sections
5 3 sections
6 2 sections

The school is forming a faculty study group to look at configuration options, such as multiage, for future consideration. The Principal will update the Board as that group forms and begins its efforts.

The Philosophy Committee sent out a letter to parents outlining the committee's timeline, focus group's meeting times, and next steps for the committee. The Principal stressed the importance of attending the focus groups in order to better clarify what people value most about education at the elementary level and how one sees that occurring at Marion Cross School.

The faculty will hold its second full day in-service on March 19. Student work in both writing and problem solving will be reviewed in a manner that helps to identify areas to focus on. There well be a half-day in-service on March 10 that will be devoted to First Aid instruction.

Finally, the Principal shared that 5th grader, Jackson Blum, had qualified for the state GeoBee.

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 the following PTO update:

The Finance Steering Committee had its first meeting and is putting together data in order to determine how funds should be spent, including a realistic baseline budget.

The next movie night is March 12 at 7:00 p.m.

Many thanks to Rob Edson and the dedicated parents who have made the "Homework Club" a reality. An average of 3 to 8 students attend the club on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:15 to 4:15 p.m.

TV Turn-Off Week is March 22-28. During this week there will be a scavenger hunt, Harry Potter party at Norwich Library, potluck and contra dance, and storytelling with Michael Caduto.

Vermont author, Jan Reynolds, will be at the MCS on Tuesday, March 30.

The PTO is looking to fill six positions for next year:
Chairperson
Publicity Coordinator
Newsletter
New Parent Night Coordinator
Parent Circle Leader(s)
Directory "understudy"

The MCS Library book sale will take place on June 4 & 5 in Tracy Hall. Proceeds go to the MCS Library.

The next PTO meeting is on Monday, April 5, 3:30 p.m. at the MCS Library.

7. Public Input

There was no public input at this point in time.

8. Business Requiring Discussion

a) Church Street Parking Principal Rob Edson reported on the elimination of parking spaces around the driveway entrance on Church Street in order to increase visibility and promote safety. Chief Stephen Soares has submitted a letter to the Vermont Agency of Transportation in order to eliminate those particular parking spaces. No Parking signs will also be posted in that area. Chief Soares will contact the Principal when he has heard back from the V.A.O.T. At a future Board meeting, the Board will vote on whether or not to endorse the change in parking.

b) Draft SAU Mission Statement Superintendent Greenbaum presented overviews of the current SAU Model document, the revised SAU Model document, and a copy of the Hanover High School Mission adopted during the NEASC study. The SAU Administrators believe that this mission statement can serve as an umbrella for the SAU #70 K-12 Model. Each of the schools has reviewed this mission statement and all agree that it should be adopted as a unifying document for the SAU. The Board will be asked at the April meeting if it will approve the adoption of the mission statement as a revision to the SAU Model.

9. Business requiring Action

a) Nominations The Superintendent placed in nomination for the 2004-2005 school year staff members listed and attached to the original minutes of the meeting.

Margaret McNally moved and Linda Gray seconded a motion to elect staff members for the 2004-2005 school year as listed and attached to the original minutes of the meeting. The motion passed unanimously.

b) Approval of 2004-05 school calendar The Superintendent and Board briefly discussed the 2004-05 school calendar.

Margaret McNally moved and Linda Gray seconded a motion to approve the 2004-05 school calendar as proposed and attached to the original minutes of the meeting. The motion passed unanimously.

9. Future Agenda Items

Future agenda items include a second Unified Arts Program presentation that would focus on physical education at Marion Cross School.

10. Adjournment

Margaret McNally moved and Linda Gray seconded a motion to adjourn. The motion passed unanimously. (9:21)

Respectfully submitted,

Amy Nickerson
Recording Secretary

March 4, 2004

1. Call to Order