POLICY AND AMENDMENT COMMITTEE
The WSESD Policy and Amendment Committee will meet at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 26 in the WSESU Central Office Conference Room, 53 Green Street and remotely via Zoom.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83779981158?pwd=aUFMQm1MYWZsSWMwSHl5WGRWU0M5UT09
Meeting ID: 837 7998 1158
Passcode: Yx6m9c
One tap mobile
+16469313860,,83779981158#,,,,*886673# US
+19292056099,,83779981158#,,,,*886673# US (New York)
Dial by your location
+1 646 931 3860 US
+1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 386 347 5053 US
+1 564 217 2000 US
+1 669 444 9171 US
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
Meeting ID: 837 7998 1158
Passcode: 886673
Find your local number: https://us06web.zoom.us/u/kdkvcEPsyg
AGENDA
I. Approval of Minutes from 7/12/2022
II. Summary of submissions to the WSESD Board Meeting 7/19/22 for approval
1st Reading:
A1 The Role and Adoption of School Board Policies
D3 Staffing and Job Descriptions
D6 Substitute Teachers
D15 Travel Reimbursement
F6 Education Records
F24 Firearms and Dangerous or Deadly Weapons
G14 Animal Dissection
2nd Reading:
B3 Board Member Conflict of Interest
III. Continue Review
F22 Student Assessment
C7 Board Relations with the Administrators
IV. Continue discussion of edits
D12 Policy on Prevention of Harassment of Employees
V. Update re request for information
D7 Volunteers and Work Study Students
F1 Transportation
D9 Alcohol and Drug-Free Workplace
VI. New Business with Proposed Edits
H1 School-Community Relations
D10 Resignations
F26 Participation of Home Study Students in School Programs and Activities
F30 Pupil Privacy Rights
VII. Committee to Prioritize Backlog of Critical Issues
F1 Student Conduct and Discipline (Hold pending review of all related policies)
H7 Leadership Councils
D1 Personnel-Recruitment, Selection, Appointment, and Background Checks
Regarding including students in the hiring process
F23 Policy on Prevention of Harassment, Hazing, and Bullying of Students
Meeting to conclude at 4:30.
Windham Southeast School District (WSESD) Board
Policy and Amendment Committee
53 Green Street
Brattleboro, VT 05301
Tuesday, July 12, 2022
DRAFT MINUTES
Members attending: Deborah Stanford (DST, Chair), David Schoales (DS, Vice Chair), Shaun Murphy (SM), Tim Maciel (TM, Clerk), Liz Adams (LA, via Zoom)
Guests attending: Barb Nowakowski (BN), Jaime Contois (JC, member of pubic, via Zoom), Mark Speno (MS), Paul Smith (PS)
DST convened the meeting at 3:01 p.m.
DST amended agenda in order to revisit “Transportation” (F12) at a later time.
Motion to approve 6.27.22 minutes by DS. Approved by Committee.
POLICY REVIEWS
F22: Student Assessment
PS noted that the WSESD uses the “Teaching and Assessment Tool Kit.” He added that the district has an assessment plan complete with expectations and benchmarks. The district also uses SBAC data, VT Science Standards, and Alternative forms of assessment.
The Comprehensive Computer Assessment Plan is on the website, but may be difficult to locate since different parts are located in different places. This will be addressed when website is revised.
PS spoke about the advantages that using Google Data Studio to download and access all assessment data plus other data.
MS suggested putting student assessment on a board agenda (policy calls for this to be done in Feb.). PS will do a student assessment presentation in Feb. ’23 to the full board. Focus will be on 4 questions on p. 2 of the policy and will include results of local assessments (e.g. school literacy evaluations) as well as SBAC survey results and other VT state standards.
MS: Alternative forms of assessment will be determined by IEP team.
Barb will make changes to F22 and submit to the committee at next meeting.
C7: Board Relations with the Administrators
Discussion of distinctions between Board and Admin roles and responsibility of Superintendent.
Discussion of #4 of “Relations with Principals.” TM motioned to amend statement: “Prior to that review, the superintendent will present criteria for evaluation of administrators and will seek input from the Board.”
Also, “in October” will be added to #3 (“…share with the board results of the discussions with administrators in October.” Motion seconded by DST.
After further discussion, motion called to question by DS. DST took roll call. In favor: DS, DST, TM, LA. Opposed: SM. Motion passed.
DST will check the language of the revised policy with Pietro Lynn.
Further discussion regarding time needed to amend policies, concept of how an elected body in a newly merged district come to agreements based on shared values, need for Board and Superintendent to agree on criteria for success.
MS noted that the Performance Plan presented at beginning of school year sets out expectations for admin success. He noted that 1/3 of admin are new.
MS will add #3 regarding goals and objectives for administrators in C7 to the calendar for presentation to the Board in October.
C7 tabled until further discussion at next meeting.
D12: Policy on Prevention of Harassment of Employees.
Upon Pietro Lynn’s recommendation, language in policy regarding age changed from “40 years or older” to “18 years or older.”
BN had not yet made changes based on response from Atty. Lynn.
DST tabled D12 until recommended changes are made.
F24: Firearms
General agreement not to accept any of the strikeouts and changes recommended by VSBA and to leave the policy unchanged.
F24 will go to the Board for first reading at next full board meeting. DST will inform Kelly Young.
D3: Staffing and Job Descriptions
Discussion of need to add “administrators” clarify that “staff” is not limited to teaching staff.
General agreement that “administrators” are implied in “staff.”
Agreement that no changes to D3 are necessary.
D3 will go to the Board for first reading. DST will inform Kelly.
