April 8, 2008 School Board Minutes

Cavendish Town Elementary School

Board Minutes April 8, 2008

Board Present: - Mike Ceravole - Chair, Jim Ballantine, Dr. Eugene Bont, Jessica Goodman, John Maclean

Administration: Joan Paustian - Superintendent, George Thomson - Principal

Public: Duncan Love – LPCTV, Peggy Svec, Paula Martel,

Janet Currier – Recording Secretary

Call to Order: Mike Ceravole - Chair, called meeting to order at 5:03 p.m.

Reorganization of Board:

Election of Officers:

Joan Paustian – Superintendent asked for nominations for position of Board Chair. Jim Ballantine nominated Mike Ceravole, Jesse seconded. Board voted in the affirmative.

Mike Ceravole then asked for nominations for position of Vice Chair. Jim nominated Gene Bont. Board voted in the affirmative. Mike then asked for nominations for position of Board Clerk. Gene nominated Jesse Goodman. Board voted in the affirmative.

Set Date and Time of Meetings: Board agreed to keep meetings on the second Tuesday of the month but to change the time to 5:00 p.m.

Approval of Minutes – Gene moved, Jim seconded to accept minutes as presented. Board approved.

Reports – Superintendent – Joan said the AYP results have been released to Superintendents but they are embargoed until end of month. Linda Waite will come in May to report to the boards about NECAP and APY results. The NECAP scores will be broken down for both teaching and testing years. Joan gave out copies of an article Successes In Vermont that shows many good things happening in the State. She said the state-wide calendar has been scrapped and the Legislature is now looking at a regional calendar with a requirement of a 5 hour school day. This will impact CTES for their early release Tuesdays and the other schools will be impacted as well. If a 5 hour school day is not met then the day would have to be made up. The regional calendar is supposed to start in the 2010 school year. Discussion of in-service days ensued. Peggy Svec said they have asked to have the regional calendar look at hours per week not per day. Mike said he wants to get a letter written to the Cavendish Legislator and to have the entire board sign it opposing the regional calendar requirement of the 5 hour day. Joan said she has spoken to two Legislators and there may be a shortfall of money to fund education. They are still looking into this.

Principal - George passed budget summaries to the Board and explained that he has spent time analyzing the budget to try to get a projection. He said they are expecting to get 57% back for special education costs. He said the deficit is not as bad as he expected, as there are many areas that have been under spent. He did not have figures for revenues yet. George asked to have a finance committee meeting before the next board meeting. George reported that the interest earned by doing arbitrage is over $19,000.00 already. It was explained that arbitrage is when you take 85% of the budget money and put it in a savings account and you take money out and put it in a checking account as needed. You draw interest on the money that has been borrowed and invested. George said they are in the process of doing the MAPS testing and that this is an electronic test and the results are printed immediately. This test shows strength and weakness areas of students. George had a job description for the Custodian and a list of the different jobs the Custodian does. These were given to Jim Ballantine. Last week the grade 5 students started a class called “Cooking for Life”. This will last for six weeks and it teaches the kids how to cook and eat healthy. Next Tuesday, April 15^th the parent/teacher conferences will be held. The sixth grade play was a great success. The play was an original written by Kata Welch and called “Don’t Open That Book!”. About 125 people attended and the play will be aired on LPCTV. The Talent Show was held along with a silent auction and the PTO raised about $7,000.00 and then also received an anonymous gift of $2,500.00 so they are now close to $10,000.00. LPC ran the talent show on T.V. as well.

The Weston Playhouse Theater came to CTES and worked with the kids to write a play and they will perform it at the Weston Theater on May 18^th. The Green Mountain Festival Series is supporting this. The Library had their book sale and anyone who bought a book had their name put into a bowl for a drawing to have George wash the family car.

April vacation is coming up and George will be out that week.

Board Report – Mike Ceravole reviewed the board committees as follows:

Policy Committee: Jesse and Gene

Education Committee: Gene

Facilities Committee: Jim and John

Finance Committee: Mike and Jim

Mike said the board would be following Robert’s Rules for small boards this year. He reviewed some of the differences in these rules. Mike gave a packet that he got at the Executive Board meeting regarding policies to the Policy Committee. Joan said this was a form she had used in the past to review policies. She said the Vermont School Board Association has model policies and she would like to have a member of each board meet with her to review policies to make sure they meet the VSBA recommended policies. This form will be used to track policies.

Discussion of Act 62 – Early Education- Joan gave the board copies to review and then discuss at the next board meeting. Either Mike or Meredith will call each board member to explain how it will affect Cavendish.

Cavendish Trust Fund Update – George, Jim and Gene met with the Vermont Trust from Brattleboro and they are putting together some information and a letter for CTES. George would like to carry this item to the next board meeting when he should have more information. George feels that progress is being made on this issue.

Cavendish Board Meeting Minutes April 9, 2008 Page 3

Anticipated Last Day of School for Students and Teachers – The last day of school will be June 13^th as one snow day was made up on March 14^th. The teachers will go through June 16^th.

Cavendish Town Elementary School Graduation – Thursday June 12^th at 6:30 p.m. is when the sixth grade graduation will be held. Joan will represent the Supervisory Union at the graduation ceremony.

Approval of Staff Retirement –The board received a letter from Doris Eddy notifying them of her intent to retire at the end of this school year. The board approved with regrets and the board will write a letter to Doris.

Other Business – Joan reported that contracts for all teachers have been given out. There will be three contracts brought to the next meeting.

New Business – None.

Executive Session – Personnel – Board went into Executive Session at 5:45 p.m. Board came out of Executive Session at 6:03 p.m. No further motions were made.

Adjournment - Board approved adjournment at 6:03 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Janet Currier

Recording Secretary


	Cavendish Town Elementary School Board Minutes April 8, 2008 Board Present: - Mike Ceravole - Chair, Jim Ballantine, Dr. Eugene Bont, Jessica Goodman, John Maclean Administration: Joan Paustian - Superintendent, George Thomson - Principal Public: Duncan Love – LPCTV, Peggy Svec, Paula Martel, Janet Currier – Recording Secretary Call to Order: Mike Ceravole - Chair, called meeting to order at 5:03 p.m. Reorganization of Board: Election of Officers: Joan Paustian – Superintendent asked for nominations for position of Board Chair. Jim Ballantine nominated Mike Ceravole, Jesse seconded. Board voted in the affirmative. Mike Ceravole then asked for nominations for position of Vice Chair. Jim nominated Gene Bont. Board voted in the affirmative. Mike then asked for nominations for position of Board Clerk. Gene nominated Jesse Goodman. Board voted in the affirmative. Set Date and Time of Meetings: Board agreed to keep meetings on the second Tuesday of the month but to change the time to 5:00 p.m. Approval of Minutes – Gene moved, Jim seconded to accept minutes as presented. Board approved. Reports – Superintendent – Joan said the AYP results have been released to Superintendents but they are embargoed until end of month. Linda Waite will come in May to report to the boards about NECAP and APY results. The NECAP scores will be broken down for both teaching and testing years. Joan gave out copies of an article Successes In Vermont that shows many good things happening in the State. She said the state-wide calendar has been scrapped and the Legislature is now looking at a regional calendar with a requirement of a 5 hour school day. This will impact CTES for their early release Tuesdays and the other schools will be impacted as well. If a 5 hour school day is not met then the day would have to be made up. The regional calendar is supposed to start in the 2010 school year. Discussion of in-service days ensued. Peggy Svec said they have asked to have the regional calendar look at hours per week not per day. Mike said he wants to get a letter written to the Cavendish Legislator and to have the entire board sign it opposing the regional calendar requirement of the 5 hour day. Joan said she has spoken to two Legislators and there may be a shortfall of money to fund education. They are still looking into this. Principal - George passed budget summaries to the Board and explained that he has spent time analyzing the budget to try to get a projection. He said they are expecting to get 57% back for special education costs. He said the deficit is not as bad as he expected, as there are many areas that have been under spent. He did not have figures for revenues yet. George asked to have a finance committee meeting before the next board meeting. George reported that the interest earned by doing arbitrage is over $19,000.00 already. It was explained that arbitrage is when you take 85% of the budget money and put it in a savings account and you take money out and put it in a checking account as needed. You draw interest on the money that has been borrowed and invested. George said they are in the process of doing the MAPS testing and that this is an electronic test and the results are printed immediately. This test shows strength and weakness areas of students. George had a job description for the Custodian and a list of the different jobs the Custodian does. These were given to Jim Ballantine. Last week the grade 5 students started a class called “Cooking for Life”. This will last for six weeks and it teaches the kids how to cook and eat healthy. Next Tuesday, April 15^th the parent/teacher conferences will be held. The sixth grade play was a great success. The play was an original written by Kata Welch and called “Don’t Open That Book!”. About 125 people attended and the play will be aired on LPCTV. The Talent Show was held along with a silent auction and the PTO raised about $7,000.00 and then also received an anonymous gift of $2,500.00 so they are now close to $10,000.00. LPC ran the talent show on T.V. as well. The Weston Playhouse Theater came to CTES and worked with the kids to write a play and they will perform it at the Weston Theater on May 18^th. The Green Mountain Festival Series is supporting this. The Library had their book sale and anyone who bought a book had their name put into a bowl for a drawing to have George wash the family car. April vacation is coming up and George will be out that week. Board Report – Mike Ceravole reviewed the board committees as follows: Policy Committee: Jesse and Gene Education Committee: Gene Facilities Committee: Jim and John Finance Committee: Mike and Jim Mike said the board would be following Robert’s Rules for small boards this year. He reviewed some of the differences in these rules. Mike gave a packet that he got at the Executive Board meeting regarding policies to the Policy Committee. Joan said this was a form she had used in the past to review policies. She said the Vermont School Board Association has model policies and she would like to have a member of each board meet with her to review policies to make sure they meet the VSBA recommended policies. This form will be used to track policies. Discussion of Act 62 – Early Education- Joan gave the board copies to review and then discuss at the next board meeting. Either Mike or Meredith will call each board member to explain how it will affect Cavendish. Cavendish Trust Fund Update – George, Jim and Gene met with the Vermont Trust from Brattleboro and they are putting together some information and a letter for CTES. George would like to carry this item to the next board meeting when he should have more information. George feels that progress is being made on this issue. Cavendish Board Meeting Minutes April 9, 2008 Page 3 Anticipated Last Day of School for Students and Teachers – The last day of school will be June 13^th as one snow day was made up on March 14^th. The teachers will go through June 16^th. Cavendish Town Elementary School Graduation – Thursday June 12^th at 6:30 p.m. is when the sixth grade graduation will be held. Joan will represent the Supervisory Union at the graduation ceremony. Approval of Staff Retirement –The board received a letter from Doris Eddy notifying them of her intent to retire at the end of this school year. The board approved with regrets and the board will write a letter to Doris. Other Business – Joan reported that contracts for all teachers have been given out. There will be three contracts brought to the next meeting. New Business – None. Executive Session – Personnel – Board went into Executive Session at 5:45 p.m. Board came out of Executive Session at 6:03 p.m. No further motions were made. Adjournment - Board approved adjournment at 6:03 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Janet Currier Recording Secretary