Minutes of the March Meeting

Cavendish Town Elementary School

Board Minutes

March 11, 2008, 6:00 p.m.

Present

Board: Mike Ceravole-Chair, Jim Ballantine, and Jessie Goodman

Administration: Joan Paustian-Superintendent, and George Thomson-Principal

Public/Staff: Peggy Svec, Dustin Warburton-VT Journal

Call to Order

Joan called the meeting to order at 6:10 p.m.

Re-Organization of School Board

Joan said the board can choose to re-organize at the next meeting when the full board is present. The board agreed to table the re-organization until the next meeting.

Election of Officers

Elect Chair

Elect Vice-Chair

Elect Clerk

Set Date & Time of Meetings

Approval of Minutes for February 12, 2008

Jim made a motion to approve the minutes of February 12, 2008 with corrections. The tuition rate was discussed and remains at $11,000.00 as written. Jesse seconded. Minutes approved unanimously.

Reports

Superintendent

Joan showed the board a writing handbook for K-2 teachers which they are going to use throughout the district. Discussion ensued. Most of the budgets in the state passed and the average increase was just below 4.5%. State Representatives have voted to eliminate the 2 vote portion of Act 82.

NECAP Scores

Joan gave the board copies of the NECAP average scores for grades 2-8. She said they will get a breakdown for each grade at future meetings.

Principal

George distributed the budget summary to the board. He said things are where they expect them to be at this time. There will be an expense for removing ice and snow from the roof. Jim asked if this is something the custodian can do. George said he will speak to the custodian. They have had 6 snow days. This Friday, March 14th was scheduled as an in service day but they decided to use this day as a regular school day with students. The teachers will go an extra day in June to make up their in service day. Discussion ensued. This trimester will be extended by six days; report cards will go out on the 25^th. Sixth graders are presenting their science projects tomorrow. The PTO is still planning their talent night and silent auction on March 28^th. The auction begins at 2:00 p.m. and ends at 9:00 p.m. The talent show begins at 6:30 p.m. They will be doing MAPS testing again at the end of the month.

Board

None

Committee Reports

None

Approval of Action Plan

George said the Action Plan was put together about a year ago and the board needs to vote on it. This plan is focusing on science, mathematics, and literacy. Joan said Act 60 requires the board vote on their Action Plan. Jim made a motion to approve the 2007-2008 Action Plan as presented. Jesse seconded. Motion approved unanimously.

Joan said she compliments George for attending all of the state assessment trainings to keep up to date with the most current information.

Policy Re-Read: Cavendish Trust Funds

George was asked to contact a bank regarding the funds. He asked if they can combine one fund with another fund. The bank said yes, they could combine the principal. Jim said he has heard of a trust fund company that can help them decide what they can do. Jim said he and Mike will work on this. Jim made a motion to table the policy re-read. Jesse seconded. Motion approved unanimously.

Other Business

Mike said the approval of teacher contracts was left off the agenda so they are going to approve them under other business. Jesse made a motion to direct the Superintendent and the Board Chair to sign the 2008-2009 teacher contracts as presented. Jim seconded. All approved.

Jim made a motion to direct the principal to give the board a job description, a daily work sheet, a list of duties during vacation weeks and time sheets for the head custodian. Motion approved unanimously.

Executive Session

None

Adjournment

Jim made a motion to adjourn. Motion approved. Meeting adjourned at 6:45 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Virginia M. Walsh MackRecording Secretary


	Cavendish Town Elementary School Board Minutes March 11, 2008, 6:00 p.m. Present Board: Mike Ceravole-Chair, Jim Ballantine, and Jessie Goodman Administration: Joan Paustian-Superintendent, and George Thomson-Principal Public/Staff: Peggy Svec, Dustin Warburton-VT Journal Call to Order Joan called the meeting to order at 6:10 p.m. Re-Organization of School Board Joan said the board can choose to re-organize at the next meeting when the full board is present. The board agreed to table the re-organization until the next meeting. Election of Officers Elect Chair Elect Vice-Chair Elect Clerk Set Date & Time of Meetings Approval of Minutes for February 12, 2008 Jim made a motion to approve the minutes of February 12, 2008 with corrections. The tuition rate was discussed and remains at $11,000.00 as written. Jesse seconded. Minutes approved unanimously. Reports Superintendent Joan showed the board a writing handbook for K-2 teachers which they are going to use throughout the district. Discussion ensued. Most of the budgets in the state passed and the average increase was just below 4.5%. State Representatives have voted to eliminate the 2 vote portion of Act 82. NECAP Scores Joan gave the board copies of the NECAP average scores for grades 2-8. She said they will get a breakdown for each grade at future meetings. Principal George distributed the budget summary to the board. He said things are where they expect them to be at this time. There will be an expense for removing ice and snow from the roof. Jim asked if this is something the custodian can do. George said he will speak to the custodian. They have had 6 snow days. This Friday, March 14th was scheduled as an in service day but they decided to use this day as a regular school day with students. The teachers will go an extra day in June to make up their in service day. Discussion ensued. This trimester will be extended by six days; report cards will go out on the 25^th. Sixth graders are presenting their science projects tomorrow. The PTO is still planning their talent night and silent auction on March 28^th. The auction begins at 2:00 p.m. and ends at 9:00 p.m. The talent show begins at 6:30 p.m. They will be doing MAPS testing again at the end of the month. Board None Committee Reports None Approval of Action Plan George said the Action Plan was put together about a year ago and the board needs to vote on it. This plan is focusing on science, mathematics, and literacy. Joan said Act 60 requires the board vote on their Action Plan. Jim made a motion to approve the 2007-2008 Action Plan as presented. Jesse seconded. Motion approved unanimously. Joan said she compliments George for attending all of the state assessment trainings to keep up to date with the most current information. Policy Re-Read: Cavendish Trust Funds George was asked to contact a bank regarding the funds. He asked if they can combine one fund with another fund. The bank said yes, they could combine the principal. Jim said he has heard of a trust fund company that can help them decide what they can do. Jim said he and Mike will work on this. Jim made a motion to table the policy re-read. Jesse seconded. Motion approved unanimously. Other Business Mike said the approval of teacher contracts was left off the agenda so they are going to approve them under other business. Jesse made a motion to direct the Superintendent and the Board Chair to sign the 2008-2009 teacher contracts as presented. Jim seconded. All approved. Jim made a motion to direct the principal to give the board a job description, a daily work sheet, a list of duties during vacation weeks and time sheets for the head custodian. Motion approved unanimously. . Executive Session None Adjournment Jim made a motion to adjourn. Motion approved. Meeting adjourned at 6:45 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Virginia M. Walsh MackRecording Secretary