WINDHAM SOUTHEAST SCHOOL DISTRICT (WSESD) BOARD
TUESDAY, MARCH 28, 2023
REGULAR BOARD MEETING – 6:00PM
HYBRID MEETING: WRCC CUSICK CONFERENCE ROOM, BRATTLEBORO,
AND REMOTELY VIA ZOOM
WSESD Board Members Present: Chair Kelly Young (KY), Anne Beekman (AB), Lana Dever (LD), Tim Maciel (TM), Ruby McAdoo (RMA), Robin Morgan (RM), Shaun Murphy (SM), Eva Nolan (EN), Kimberley Price (KP), Deborah Stanford (DS). non-voting members: Benjamin Berg (BB)
WSESD Board Members Absent: None.
WSESU/SD Staff and Administrators Present: Mark Speno, Cassie Damkoehler, Paul Smith, Frank Rucker, Julianne Eagan, Keith Lyman, Wendy M. Levy, Mary Kauffman, Nancy Wiese, Kate Margaitis
Media Present:
Others Present: Jody Normandeau of Dummerston, Mindy Haskins Rogers of Northampton, Massachusetts, Jaci Reynolds of Brattleboro, Kristina Naylor of Dummerston, Jaci Reynolds of Brattleboro, Liz Adams of Putney, Kerry Amidon of Vernon, BUHS student Django Grace
Please note: attendance may be incomplete.
I. CALL TO ORDER
Because this is the annual reorganization meeting, it is customary for the Superintendent to act as Chair until the Board elects their own Chair. Superintendent Mark Speno called the meeting to order at 6:04pm.
Mr. Speno congratulated EN, RMA, and KP on their elections to the WSESD Board.
A. Nominations/Election of Board Chair
DS NOMINATED KY. MOTION SECONDED.
MOTION TO ELECT KY AS CHAIR CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
B. Nominations/Election of Board Vice-Chair
AB NOMINATED DS. MOTION SECONDED.
SM NOMINATED AB. AB DECLINED.
MOTION TO ELECT DS AS VICE-CHAIR CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
C. Nominations/Election of Board Clerk
TM NOMINATED RM. MOTION SECONDED.
SM NOMINATED RMA. RMA DECLINED.
MOTION TO ELECT RM AS CLERK CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
D. Nominations/Election of WSESU Voting Members
Brattleboro
DS NOMINATED TM. MOTION SECONDED.
SM NOMINATED KP. MOTION SECONDED.
MOTION TO ELECT TM AS THE BRATTLEBORO REPRESENTATIVE TO THE WSESU
BOARD CARRIED 5-4.
Dummerston
AB NOMINATED DS. MOTION SECONDED.
MOTION TO ELECT DS AS THE DUMMERSTON REPRESENTATIVE TO THE WSESU
BOARD CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Guilford
SM NOMINATED KY. MOTION SECONDED.
MOTION TO ELECT KY AS THE GUILFORD REPRESENTATIVE TO THE WSESU
BOARD CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Putney
LD NOMINATED AB. MOTION SECONDED.
MOTION TO ELECT AB AS THE PUTNEY REPRESENTATIVE TO THE WSESU
BOARD CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
E. Establish Meeting Days/Time
MOTION BY LD TO ESTABLISH THE WSESD MEETING DAYS AND TIME AS THE
SECOND AND FOURTH TUESDAYS OF THE MONTH AT 6PM. KP SECONDED. MOTION
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
F. Committees
DS requested immediate recruitment for the Policy & Amendment Committee and the Finance Committee to keep their momentum going. RMA concurred, and stated all committees should be assigned tonight, even if only one person joins.
• Climate Emergency Task Force
TM recommended the Board dissolve the Climate Emergency Task Force and integrate its work into the full Board.
WSESU Business Administrator Frank Rucker noted the task force was created in 2020 as a subcommittee of the Finance Committee.
A discussion ensued on whether to dissolve it, or to let it lie dormant, with the following arguments provided for both options:
• The Board can create a sub-committee at any time.
• For organizational clarity from the District’s perspective, it is better to dissolve it.
• When a committee meets its charge, it is time to dissolve it.
A discussion ensued on how climate issues are considered by the District. Highlights included
• Board policy specifically mentions climate change, and this guides the Capital Plan.
• The Board’s policy on climate change is on the website, and it is “E14: Environmental Awareness and Responsibility.”
• Mr. Rucker’s and Facility Director Robert Clark’s work towards improved energy standards in school buildings to meet LEED standards, and to be carbon-neutral. All buildings except one use biofuels for heat, and all schools use a net-metered solar agreement.
• The upcoming WSESU Board meeting will include a discussion on the transportation contract.
Mr. Rucker is requesting an extension of the contract to push for using electric buses.
Mr. Rucker requested a detailed discussion of the Capital Plan be included in an agenda soon.
TM noted the task force also examined including climate change into the curriculum. He advocated for keeping the task force active, but he no longer wants to be its Chair.
RMA said that if the Board can put into the E14 policy that this is handled by the Finance Committee, she will support dismantling the task force.
Jody Normandeau of Dummerston expressed her support for keeping the task force active so the administration does not have to keep up with all of the new research and publications on the issue. Kristina Naylor of Dummerston mentioned the BUHS Climate Committee, and asked if Board members can attend as ex-officio members, and then report back to the full Board. TM, SM, and EN indicated their interest in doing this. RM recommended first asking the students if they consent to this. KY asked the Policy & Amendment Committee to review the policy to ensure it reflects current need.
MOTION BY SM TO DISBAND THE CLIMATE EMERGENCY TASK FORCE. RM SECONDED.
RMA made a friendly amendment to also ask the Policy & Amendment Committee to review the policy.
SM AMENDED HIS MOTION. NEW MOTION: TO DISBAND THE CLIMATE
EMERGENCY TASK FORCE AND ASK THE POLICY & AMENDMENT COMMITTEE
TO REVIEW THE POLICY. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Mr. Speno and Curriculum Coordinator Paul Smith will reach out to the members of the BUHS Climate Committee and report their findings to the Board at the next meeting.
The Board continued its committee assignments.
• Policy & Amendment Committee
TM, AB, and EN joined.
• Finance Committee
DS, SM, and KP joined. RMA expressed interest, but only if the meetings happen at a different time. AB said she will join if RMA cannot.
• Diversity & Equity Committee
A discussion ensued on the difference between this committee and the staff’s Diversity & Equity Committee.
A discussion ensued on quorum at committee meetings. SM reminded Board members that they can attend meetings as non-voting members to audit the meetings. RM asked why having enough Board members to make quorum is not advised if the meeting is warned. KY responded: Because the meeting is not warned as a Board meeting.
• Social Justice Committee
EN and RM joined.
• Personnel Committee
AB and KP joined. WSESU Board Member Kerry Amidon is also on this committee because both the SD and SU Boards need to address the one-percents.
TM noted some of these meetings only last a few minutes; thus, he asked if is it necessary to have this committee, or can the Boards approve the one-percents? A discussion ensued. It was noted this committee meets weekly in the summer to meet contractual obligations and complete the one-percents, even when the full Board meets on a limited schedule. Mr. Speno noted this is very helpful to keep the District competitive in hiring new staff. Jaci Reynolds of Brattleboro agreed.
• Communications Council
RMA and RM joined.
• Programmatic Performance & Equity Committee
KY noted this committee has not met in a long time.
RMA said this committee is important to her, especially as a post-merger entity, and she will be Chair, but she wants others to join.
SM noted Mr. Rucker and the Finance Committee frequently addresses District-wide equity. RMA agreed, but noted there are other equity considerations beyond those that are financial.
RMA and KP joined.
• Leadership Councils
Board members joined the following schools’ Leadership Councils (LC):
BUHS: TM
BAMS: KP
Oak Grove: EN
Green Street: LD
Academy: RM
EES (their LC is known as a Policy Council): RMA
Guilford: SM
Putney: RMA
Dummerston: DS
WRCC (their LC is known as the Regional Advisory Board): AB
Jody Normandeau requested all LC meetings be recorded. Mr. Speno responded: the LC Chairs met with him and Barb Nowakowski, and after a thoughtful discussion, they decided to refrain from recording the LC meetings because of concerns with attendees’ comfort in discussing sensitive subjects. Mr. Speno noted the LC meetings’ official minutes are posted within five days [as per Open Meeting Law].
A discussion ensued on whether Liz Adams of Putney, who recently stepped down from the WSESD Board, can represent the Board at EES Policy Council meetings. Mr. Speno responded: she can attend, but cannot represent the Board. Ms. Adams noted those meetings are not open to the public. Mr. Speno said he will research whether Ms. Adams can attend as an ex-officio member.
Mr. Speno reported on a LC Chair orientation meeting to create a fluid system for them to communicate with the Board. Monthly LC reports, and Principals’ reports, will be included in the Administrative Reports.
A discussion ensued on issuing full LC meeting schedules and how those will be disbursed. DS raised the question of whether the WSESD Board should commit to following Robert’s Rules of Order or Robert’s Rules of Order for Small Boards. A discussion ensued on which to choose, the differences between them, and if a “hybrid” model is permissible. Highlights included:
• “Regular” Robert’s is for boards with 12 or more members, and is more formal.
• “Small” Robert’s is for boards with fewer than 12 members, and is less formal.
• State statute says you have to choose one.
• A hybrid model is not permissible.
• Neither model permits “cross-talk,” and all comments must be directed to the Chair. But, it is permissible to temporarily suspend Robert’s Rules of Order for open discussions.
MOTION BY RMA THAT THE BOARD ADOPT ROBERT’S RULES OF ORDER FOR
SMALL BOARDS. SM SECONDED.
A discussion ensued.
EN noted if needed, the Board could also vote to adopt “regular” Robert’s Rules to have more formality. DS provided information on the differences in the Chair’s responsibilities for each version of Robert’s
Rules of Order: in the “regular” version, the Chair cannot speak on issues, or make or vote on motions; for “small boards,” the Chair can do all of these things, and participate beyond just facilitating the
meetings.
TM would like Robert’s Rules of Order training sessions for Board members.
VOTE ON THE RMA MOTION: MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Kerry Amidonof Vernon noted that with this vote, the Board no longer needs to second motions.
Chair KY called for a break at 7:25pm.
Chair KY called the meeting back to-order at 7:31pm.
II. STUDENT MATTERS
BUHS student Django Grace asked the Board to put the turf discussion on their agenda as soon aspossible.
A discussion ensued on Mr. Grace’s previous request for the Board to include $4,000 in its budget tofund a student/community garden. Highlights included:
• The need for further discussion on the location of the garden.
• The likely need for more than $4,000.
• The funds are available.
• It may be too late to build a garden for this year’s growing season.
• The Student Advisory Council can work with the administration to put plans together to presentthis idea as a project.
• WRCC Director Nancy Wiese noted her staff may be able to help with building raised beds.
• Sheila Humphries at Food Connects may also provide assistance.
III. CONSENT AGENDA
• CLERK’S REPORT: APPROVAL OF MINUTES – MARCH 20, 2023
MOTION BY SM TO APPROVE THE MARCH 20, 2023 MINUTES. NO VOTE OCCURRED
ON THIS MOTION.
MOTION BY TM TO TABLE THE MINUTES UNTIL THE NEXT MEETING. NO VOTE
OCCURRED ON THIS MOTION.
TM explained his motion: There is a sensitive section of the meeting that requires careful consideration, and new Board members should review the recording of that portion of the meeting. Tabling the minutes will give them time to do this.
Curriculum Coordinator Paul Smith recommended deferring the item, which is easier than tabling it.
MOTION BY TM TO DEFER THE DISCUSSION ON THE MINUTES. MOTION CARRIED
UNANIMOUSLY.
IV. PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS
There was none.
V. (THERE WAS NO AGENDA ITEM FOR THIS NUMBER)
VI. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
Mr. Speno introduced his presentation on teacher evaluations.
Mr. Speno shared and reviewed the following documents:
• WSESD/WSESU Teaching Performance Standards
• WSESU Supervision, Observation, and Evaluation Cycle
• WSESU Professional Development Plan (Supervision)
Highlights from his presentation included:
• These come from the collective bargaining agreement with the union.
• How the standards are being assessed.
• How teachers set their goals with their supervisor, and then achieve those goals.
• There are many other day-to-day practices for providing feedback for teachers, but this is the formal process per the union’s collective bargaining agreement.
• In the spring there will be a presentation to the Board on the peer observation program for teachers.
TM asked if there was a way for students to provide evaluations of their teachers. BB expressed his support for this idea, especially if it is formal, standard, and predictable. DS expressed her support for student self-evaluations, too. Mr. Speno said students’ teacher evaluations cannot be required, but it is a good idea for teachers to ask their students to evaluate them; he said Panorama could be utilized for this.
Mr. Speno continued his report. He said the hiring of the BUHS Principal is in-progress, and is in its second round. The committee has made no decisions, but they are beginning to check candidates’ references.
VII. FISCAL REPORT
A. Oak Grove Window Replacement Bid Award – Action Needed
Mr. Rucker reported this project’s winning bid is to All-Seasons Construction for $247,106. It is related to the PCB-abatement project. As per the Vermont Department of Health guidance, the windows must be removed.
MOTION BY SM TO APPROVE THIS BID. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
B. Oak Grove PCB Abatement Project Bid Award – Action Needed
Mr. Rucker asked to defer this item because the work-plan review must be submitted to the state before proceeding. Because this work will occur in June, after school is out for summer, there is time to approve this bid at a future meeting.
VIII. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
A. Sexual Abuse Investigation Update
KY announced there is no update. She said the returning Board members are filling the new members in on the issue. RM noted the Board is planning an Executive Session with their attorney to achieve this.
IX. NEW BUSINESS
A. Neighborhood Schoolhouse Public Pre-K Contract – Action Needed
Mr. Smith announced Neighborhood Schoolhouse is now qualified to provide public Pre-K instruction, and they want to participate.
MOTION BY KP TO APPROVE THE PUBLIC PRE-K PARTNERSHIP WITH
NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOLHOUSE. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
B. Policy & Amendment Committee – Policies to be presented to the SD Board
a. H7 Leadership Councils – 1st Reading
DS thanked RMA for her comprehensive edits. She also thanked other participants in the committee’s work, such as SM, Jamie Contois, Ms. Naylor, Mr. Speno, Ms. Nowakowski, and the LCs.
DS shared and reviewed the document, “WSESD Policy H7: Leadership Councils,” which is a result of the merger-driven creation of the District. She noted the yellow edits are statutorily required; the red edits are the committee’s edits. She said the committee can continue working on this document, and she invited all comments.
RM requested a structured process for the Board to work with the LCs.
DS announced the next committee meeting is on Monday, April 3.
C. Board Orientation
Mr. Speno reviewed the orientation. The presentation is for new Board members, and will be held at the Central Offices. KY, Ms. Amidon, Mr. Speno, Mr. Rucker, Mr. Smith, Brinn, special education staff, and other Central Office staff will participate. This will allow establishment of a working cycle and relationships.
RMA asked if all Board members are invited. KY responded: Yes.
Mr. Speno announced two teacher resignations: Amy Buchalter and Courtney Miller.
MOTION BY RM TO ACCEPT WITH REGRET THE RESIGNATIONS OF THE TWO TEACHERS NAMED. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Mr. Speno announced four new hires: Abigail McNichol, Courtney Millerick, Daniel Guerrera, and Andrew Speno.
MOTION BY RM TO ACCEPT THE FOUR TEACHERS NAMED BY MARK SPENO.
TM thanked the staff for the summaries of the new hires. He requested curriculum vitae for new hires before the Board meetings to provide further information. A discussion ensued on whether to distribute curriculum vitae, or just summaries, and when, or if only by request, or only for review at meetings, how positions are advertised, and whether this all will help the Board assess whether the administration is meeting diversity guidelines in hiring.
Mr. Speno expressed his hope that the Board has a level of trust with the administration and hiring committees in the hiring processes they use.
DS asked about the hiring of Human Resources Director Stacey Mousseau’s assistant. A discussion ensued on hiring for this position, and hiring teachers.
VOTE ON THE RM MOTION: MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
EXECUTIVE SESSION under 1 VSA §313(a)(1)(E) – Civil Litigation.
MOTION BY LD TO FIND THAT PREMATURE GENERAL PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE
WOULD CLEARLY PLACE THE PUBLIC BODY OR PERSON INVOLVED IN
SUBSTANTIAL DISADVANTAGE, REGARDING PENDING OR PROBABLE CIVIL
LITIGATION OR A PROSECUTION, TO WHICH THE PUBLIC BODY IS OR MAY BE
A PARTY. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
KY noted the Board will take no action after rising from Executive Session.
MOTION BY KP FOR THE BOARD TO ENTER INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION UNDER 1
VSA §313(a)(1)(E), REGARDING REGARDING PENDING OR PROBABLE CIVIL
LITIGATION OR A PROSECUTION, TO WHICH THE PUBLIC BODY IS OR MAY BE
A PARTY; INVITING MARK SPENO. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
The Board entered into Executive Session at 8:31pm.
The Board rose from Executive Session at 8:58pm.
The Board took no action.
MOTION BY AB TO ADJOURN. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:59pm.
Documents presented:
• WSESD/WSESU Teaching Performance Standards
• WSESU Supervision, Observation, and Evaluation Cycle
• WSESU Professional Development Plan (Supervision)
• WSESD Policy H7: Leadership Councils
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 them at the next board meeting.
