WINDHAM SOUTHEAST SCHOOL DISTRICT (WSESD) BOARD
53 Green Street
Brattleboro, VT 05301
www.wsesu.org
NOTICE OF BOARD MEETING
The Windham Southeast School District Board will meet at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday,
April 12, 2022 in the WRCC Cusick Conference Room and remotely via Zoom.
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AGENDA
I. CALL TO ORDER – 6:00 p.m. – Kelly Young, Board Chair
II. SRO Report and Recommendation – PowerPoint Presentation and Discussion
III. Student Representative to WSESD Board (5 minutes)
IV. CONSENT AGENDA
• CLERK’S REPORT – Approval of Minutes – December 14, January 25, March
15 (all pending), March 22, March 29, April 5
• FINANCES
Warrants of March 21, 2022
Warrant No. 1274 in the amount of $ 279.00
Warrant No. 1275 in the amount of 12,595.00
Warrant No. 1276 in the amount of 136,777.00
Warrant No. 1277 in the amount of 2,642.36
Warrant No. 1278 in the amount of 129,426.22
$281,719.58
Warrants of March 28, 2022
Warrant No. 1281 in the amount of $20,563.35
Warrant No. 1286 in the amount of 6,000.00
Warrant No. 1287 in the amount of 4,042.20
Warrant No. 1288 in the amount of 830.50
Warrant No. 1289 in the amount of 49,904.67
$81,340.72
Warrants of April 5, 2022
Warrant No. 1291 in the amount of $ 1,880.49
Warrant No. 1292 in the amount of 264,813.83
Warrant No. 1293 in the amount of 3,100.10
Warrant No. 1294 in the amount of 29,808.32
Warrant No. 1295 in the amount of 8,362.75
Warrant No. 1296 in the amount of 2,872.92
Warrant No. 1297 in the amount of 902,733.94
$1,213,572.35
Payrolls
March 25, 2022 $1,453,618.17
V. Public Comment on Non-agenda Items (10 minutes)
VI. Unfinished Business
A. Sexual Abuse Investigation Update – Outreach and Education
VII. Committee Assignments
VIII. Administrative Report
• Resignations / Hiring
IX. Fiscal Report
X. New Business
A. Plan to Address High-Risk Students / Families at High Risk
XI. EXECUTIVE SESSIONS
A. EXECUTIVE SESSION – 1 V.S.A. §313(a)(1)(A) Contracts
B. EXECUTIVE SESSION – 1 V.S.A. §313(a)(3) The appointment or employment or evaluation of a public officer or employee, provided that the public body shall make a final decision to hire or appoint a public officer or employee in an open meeting and shall explain the reasons for its final decision during open meeting.
EXECUTIVE SESSION (If Needed)
WINDHAM SOUTHEAST SCHOOL DISTRICT (WSESD) BOARD
TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2022
REGULAR BOARD MEETING – 6:00PM
HYBRID MEETING: WRCC CUSICK CONFERENCE ROOM & REMOTELY VIA
ZOOM DRAFT MINUTES
WSESD Board Members present in-person: Chairperson Kelly Young (KY), Lana Dever (LD), Michelle Green (MG), Tim Maciel (TM), Shaun Murphy (SM), David Schoales (DSC), Deborah Stanford (DST).
WSESD Board Members present via Zoom: Liz Adams (LA), Anne Beekman (AB), Emily Murphy Kaur (EMK)
WSESD Board Members Absent: none
Chair KY called the meeting to order at 6:03pm.
KY announced a change to the agenda and made a motion to allow Mark Speno (MS) time to make a personnel recommendation to the board. Deborah seconded.
– Deborah Schiller wanted to know why the meeting was not on ZOOM video. DS explained that it was a special meeting primarily called to enter into Executive Session.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
TUESDAY, APRIL 5, 2022
SPECIAL BOARD MEETING – 6:00PM
HYBRID MEETING: WRCC CUSICK CONFERENCE ROOM & REMOTELY VIA
ZOOM DRAFT MINUTES
WSESD Board Members present via Zoom: Liz Adams (LA), Anne Beekman (AB), Emily Murphy Kaur (EMK)
WSESD Board Members Absent: none
Guests in person: John Gagnon, Beth Bristol, Erin Tkaczyk
– KY called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
– KY asked to amend the agenda item calling for an ad hoc committee to liaise with Atty. Goddard and Dr. Overtree. Seconded by DS. Motion to amend the agenda made by DS, seconded by DST. Unanimous vote in favor.
–
PUBLIC COMMENTS ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS
– Beth Bristol read a letter she had sent earlier to the board noting that the Leadership Council Policy calls for LCs to provide input on hiring.
–
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Tim Maciel (Clerk), Shaun Murphy, Michelle Green
Attending via Zoom: Emily Murphy-Kaur, Anne Beekman, Liz Adams
Meeting adjourned at 8:02 pm. No action taken.
Note: These proposed minutes should be considered preliminary until they are approved by the
Board at a future meeting.
WINDHAM SOUTHEAST SCHOOL DISTRICT (WSESD) BOARD
TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2022
REGULAR BOARD MEETING – 6:00PM
HYBRID MEETING: WRCC CUSICK CONFERENCE ROOM & REMOTELY VIA ZOOM
DRAFT MINUTES
WSESD Board Members Absent: none
WSESUWSESD Administrators Present: Interim Superintendent Mark Speno, Business Administrator Frank Rucker, BUHS Principal Steve Perrin, Oak Grove School Principal Mary Kauffman, BAMS Principal Keith Lyman, WRCC Director Nancy Wiese, Guilford Central School Principal John Gagnon, Green Street School Interim Principal Kate Margaitis, Dummerston School Principal Julianne Eagan, EES Director Deb Gass, Academy School Principal Kelly Dias.
Media Present:
Others Present: Wendy M. Levy (Board Recorder), Jaime Contois, Mindy Haskins Rogers, Mike Szostak, Paul Smith, Mikaela Simms, Sandy Stark, Christina Callick (sp?), Anne Capillair (sp?), Eileen Parks, Shannon Kelly, Lisa Ford, Jaci Reynolds, Heather Spuyler (sp?), Maira Arteaga. Please note: this attendance may be incomplete.
Chair KY called the meeting to order at 6:01pm.
• VIII. New Business A.Head Start/Early Head Start Refunding Application will occur directly after IV. Unfinished Business C. Administration Proposal for K-12 Approach to Social Justice Curricula and Accountability.
II. CONSENT AGENDA
– CLERK’S REPORT –
Approval of Minutes – December 14 (pending), January 25 (pending), March 8, March 10, March 15 (pending)
Warrants of March 7, 2022
Warrant No. 1260 in the amount of $ 376.67
Warrant No. 1261 in the amount of 25,599.02
Warrant No. 1262 in the amount of 25,690.26
Warrant No. 1263 in the amount of 1,907.52
Warrant No. 1264 in the amount of 103,898.69
$157,472.16
Warrants of March 14, 2022
Warrant No. 1266 in the amount of $ 32,309.45
Warrant No. 1270 in the amount of 62,106.75
Warrant No. 1271 in the amount of 935.85
Warrant No. 1272 in the amount of 870,914.37
$966,266.42
Payrolls
March 11, 2022 $1,380,511.03
MOTION BY DSC TO ACCEPT THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED. SM SECONDED.
minutes, because SM cast his vote on the entire Consent Agenda.
separate motion to approve the March 8 minutes.
C. Administration Proposal for K-12 Approach to Social Justice Curricula and Accountability (tabled from 2/8)
• To achieve this goal, the District has to build capacity in its teachers.
• This is a multi-year process.
• Here are some of the methods and frameworks the schools are using in the schools to meet these goals:
◦ Diversity & Equity Committees.
◦ Teacher-leaders.
◦ Youth affinity groups.
◦ Faculty and staff study groups.
◦ Family / caregiver groups for everyone in the District.
A. Head Start/Early Head Start Refunding Application
Jaime Contois asked the Board to develop a policy to address CDC advisories for people considered at high risk for COVID. She said this is a disability-rights issue.
A. Administrative Proposal for Guidelines RE: Policy C7 “Communications with Administrators” (tabled from 1/25)
DSC gave a report on the next steps and plans.
DSC gave a report. Highlights included:
• The Board will meet with the investigator in the near future, and will give an update then.
• Barb Nowakowski and Mark Speno will work on sending a new batch of information to the investigator.
DSC gave a report on the committee’s recent work. He noted there are state incentives for people who move to Vermont, and asked if this can be included in their recruitment communications.
An unnamed attendee asked a question about the sexual abuse investigation; specifically, what is being done to support the victims. DSC responded: the advice the Board received was for the Board and the administration to “get out of the way,” and get an investigator, which they have done. The Board also sought the advice of the Women’s Freedom Center for resources for supporting victims. DS noted that when someone calls to report abuse, the first thing they are given is methods for support, and assurance of confidentiality.
KY reminded the Board to look on the WSESD website to see what positions are still open, and then contact her with their requests to be appointed to committees.
IV. UNFINISHED BUSINESS (continued)
D. Recruitment of Diverse Candidates for Employment (tabled from 2/8) (continued)
Mark Speno spoke about the administration’s efforts to find a new principal for the Putney Central School, including ways to reach diverse candidates. He said the administration is planning to attend a Diversity in Education job fair on April 6, which takes place in Chicago, but is happening online.
– Resignations / Hiring
Mark Speno reported on the progress for finding a new principal for the Putney Central School. He said they have a final list of candidates, interviews will happen on March 25 with the interviewing panel, and then Mark will bring their recommendation to the next Board meeting. Mark noted this is a collaborative effort, and the panel includes community members, parents, staff, Leadership Council members, Central Office staff, and members of the administration.
• Matthew Bristol – Putney Central School – Physical Education
• Shannon Kelly – Green Street School – Grade 6
• Hannah Lindner-Finley – Dummerston – Kindergarten
• Benjamin Lord – BUHS – Science
• Rachel Mangean – Green Street School – Art
• Rob Dichard – BAMS – Physical Education
MOTION BY MG TO APPROVE THE RESIGNATIONS, WITH REGRET, AS LISTED BY MARK. LA SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Mark announced the new hires:
• Stacey Sawyer – Green Street School – Grade 6
• Rachel Mangean – BUHS – Art/Ceramics
• Carly Mautner – BUHS – Math
• Benjamin Webb – BUHS – Science
• Shawna West – BUHS – Counselor
MOTION BY DSC TO APPROVE THE NEW HIRES AS LISTED BY MARK. LD SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
TM pointed out there is more attrition than new hires. He asked whether the District was “losing ground.” Mark responded: yes. He noted the SU and SD had lost 95 workers, and there are currently 65-70 advertised positions. WRCC Director Nancy Wiese noted that, as of that day, there are 1,000 Vermont education jobs posted in SchoolSpring.
KY said this is an important subject for future discussion, and she would like to table it to a subsequent Board meeting after the Board receives the recruiting effort report.
VII. FISCAL REPORT
Frank Rucker said there is no report. He announced the Finance Committee will reconvene soon, probably in April. Frank thanked last year’s members of the Finance Committee.
B. VSBA Code of Ethics
KY asked Board members to read the document, which is on the WSESU website. She asked them to sign it either at the Central Office or at the next meeting. DSC said he could collect their signatures at the current meeting and deliver them to the Central Office.
C. EXECUTIVE SESSION
MOTION BY DSC TO ENTER INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION UNDER 1 V.S.A. §313(A)(3), THE APPOINTMENT OR EMPLOYMENT OF PUBLIC OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE, PROVIDED THAT THE PUBLIC BODY SHALL MAKE A FINAL DECISION TO HIRE OR APPOINT A PUBLIC OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE IN AN OPEN MEETING AND SHALL EXPLAIN THE REASONS FOR ITS FINAL DECISION DURING OPEN MEETING. TM SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
The Board entered into Executive Session at 7:34pm.
The Board rose from Executive Session at 10:05 pm. The Board took no action.
MOTION BY TM TO ADJOURN. DSC SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:08pm.
DOCUMENTS PRESENTED:
None.
Respectfully submitted by Wendy M. Levy from minutes taken by Wendy M. Levy.
This represents my understanding of the above dated meeting. If you have any changes, please submit
at the next meeting.