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, SEPTEMBER 26, 2023
REGULAR BOARD MEETING – 6PM
HYBRID MEETING: WRCC CUSICK CONFERENCE ROOM, BRATTLEBORO,
AND REMOTELY VIA ZOOM
DRAFT MINUTES
SUMMARY:
● Two new student representatives joined the board, Alora Lawyer and Jayden Gonzalez.
● Administrators presented information about the WSESU Continuous Improvement Plan, and a discussion of this plan will continue at the next board meeting.
● PCB testing has been completed for all WSESU schools. Results have come back clean for Vernon, Green Street and Academy Schools. PCB remediation at Oak Grove is complete and due to be re-tested. Results are still pending for other district schools.
● Seven community members have applied for appointment to the vacant Brattleboro seat on the board. Their names will be shared to the public before the next meeting.
● There was a discussion of whether to implement stipends for staff members participating on Leadership Councils. Mark Speno will bring a recommendation about this to the next meeting.
WSESD Board Members Present: Kelly Young (KY), Deborah Stanford (DS), Anne Beekman (AB), Kim Price (KP), Tim Maciel (TM), Ruby McAdoo (RMC), Robin Morgan (RMO),
Student Representatives Alora Lawyer (AL) and Jayden Gonzalez (JG).
WSESD Board Members Absent: Eva Nolan and Shaun Murphy
WSESD Staff and Administrators Present: Keith Lyman, Whitney Lynde, Hannah Parker, Mark Speno, Nancy Wiese, John Gagnon, Kate Margaitis, Julianne Eagan. Mary Kaufman, Brin Tucker, Deb Schiller, Kelly Dias, Debra Gass, Jon Sessions, Mike Kelliher, Nancy Goodhue
Media Present: Bob Audette (Brattleboro Reformer)
Others Present: Kerry Amidon, Jody Normandeau, Mindy Haskins Rogers, Joshua Nelson, Sherri
Keefe, Justice Law Collaborative, Kelly Guagenty
Please note: attendance may be incomplete.
I. CALL TO ORDER
KY called the meeting to order at 6:02pm. She read the hybrid meeting statement and the board
meeting norms.
II. Student Issues
BUHS student Alora Lawyer raised the issue of a lack of cultural awareness around deaf culture among the student body. Some students imitate sign language in a way that feels disrespectful. She would appreciate attention to this issue.
III. Introduction to New Student Representatives
DS introduced the new student representatives, Alora Lawyer and Jayden Gonzalez.Mr. Gonzalez shared that he is excited to help his community inside and outside of school. He wants to contribute to positive change and a feeling of safety for students. Ms. Lawyer said she is very happy to be here and have a hands-on role in the school and in the district. She wants to achieve growth in awareness and respect in the community and hopes to have an impact on all the schools in the district.
IV. Administrative Report
● Mark Speno introduced a presentation: “CIP Process, Goals, & Baseline Work for 2023-2024”
Administrators Paul Smith and Whitney Lynde conducted the presentation, which focused on a six-step process:
1) Identify from the data what are the greatest needs
2) Discover root causes – the underlying factors affecting these needs
3) Development of goals – a theory of action to address needs
4) Action steps
5) Differentiation – how each school implements these goals
6) Monitor and adjust throughout the school year.
Mikaela Simms discussed an overarching goal of centering equity in everything we do. That includes the process of continuous improvement planning, not just the outcome. Data collection is making sure we have all the info we need and making sure students and staff feel included in the process, highlighting meaningful inclusion for all students. She is currently working on student programming focused on interacting with the community outside school. The goal includes a field trip for every grade level. This also relates to the current year’s Diversity Equity and Social Justice theme: Connecting our Diverse History.
Some areas of need identified in the data included
➢ Gender, poverty and disability gaps in math and literacy proficiency
➢ Perception of kindnesss among students
➢ Parent concerns around safety and violence
➢ High school graduation rate
➢ Attendance
➢ Suspension rate gap for low SES and IEP students
➢ Inclusion of IEP students in general education settings
Draft goals for improvement were as follows:
➢ By June 2024, the overall proficiency rate in literacy for WSESU students will grow by 10% from June 2023 results, as measured by:
○ Spring DIBELS ELA benchmark scores for 1st through 8th graders (from 54% to 64% overall proficient)
○ MAP Growth testing (BAMS)
➢ By June 2024, the percentage of 3rd-12th grade students reporting that “students at my school are kind to each other” will increase by 10% over June 2023 ratings on the same question, as reported on the Annual Student Climate Survey. This improvement intention is to positively impact students’ positive perception of the
social and learning climate, leading to a greater sense of engagement and belonging.
➢ The percentage of students on IEPs who are in the general education classroom for core learning will increase from 72% in Spring 2023, to 80% in Spring 2024.
➢ Increase the graduation rate of BUHS students to align with the Vermont State Average graduation rate of 87% by June 2024.
TM said it would be good to get feedback from Leadership Councils about the CIP. He asked that each board member consider questions they have about this presentation and send them to KY who can collate and forward them to Mr. Speno for a continued discussion at the next meeting. Community members are also welcome to send their questions to Mr. Speno.
● Streamlining & digitizing the on-boarding process for New Hires
This was an area of need identified at the last Dummerston Leadership Council meeting. Mr. Speno asked Human Resources Director Mike Kelliher to comment on the process. Mr. Kelliher stated that in looking at the New Hire Presentation, he was thinking about some things that could be done online. He is looking into a learning module system – a repository of training programs that the district can utilize to create an on-demand catalogue of training programs that people could access.
V. Consent Agenda
● Clerk’s Report – Approval of Minutes September 12, 2023
DS MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
VI. Public Comment on Non-Agenda Items
There was none.
VII. Unfinished Business
A. Sexual Abuse Investigation
KY shared that she was hoping that the board would have more information from Attorney Goddard but she is unavailable for a few weeks.
Martha Carol of Justice Law Collaborative inquired whether the report is completed and the board are just waiting on talking points for the public or if the report is still in progress. KY responded that it is still in progress. She was hoping that the board would have received the materials but Attorney Goddard has had some personal things come up. Mindy Haskins Rogers asked KY if she knows when Attorney Goddard will resume working on this. KY responded that she doesn’t but from the information that has been relayed she understands that it might possibly be at least three weeks. She said that the board understands the desire to have some sort of answer and is not happy to say that we don’t have anything yet.
Mindy Haskins Rogers asked whether the board will be notifying the public when there will be a presentation of information from the abuse investigation and whether that will be made available as a public document in some way. KY responded yes and RMO added that it can be worded specifically in the agenda to make clear that is what will be happening in the meeting, and the Communications Council will make sure to promote this information via social media and other venues.
B. Policy & Amendment presents the following for 2 nd Reading:
● D1 – Personnel Recruitment, Selection, Appointment and Background Checks
DS encouraged everyone to read this policy and the updates to it carefully with the anticipation that it will be presented for approval at the next meeting.
C. Status of PCB Testing Districtwide [15 Minutes]
Mr. Speno reported that all testing has been completed. So far, results have come back for Vernon and the three Brattleboro elementary schools. Vernon, Green Street and Academy did not show PCB levels of concern. Remediation has been completed at Oak Grove and there will be another air sample test done in a few weeks. Results are still pending for the other district schools.
TM asked if a letter had been sent to district families about the PCB testing process. Mr. Speno replied that letters were sent by each individual school. TM noted that PCBs are present only in buildings built before 1980 and asked which of the district’s schools were built before then. Mr. Speno responded that all of them were. RMO asked if testing was done at other district buildings such as the Birge Street and Canal Street schools. Mr. Speno said he would look into that question and report back to the board.
D. Board Vacancy
KY reported that there have been seven people who submitted letters of interest for being appointed to the vacant Brattleboro seat. The process now requires getting feedback from the Brattleboro Selectboard, inviting candidates to speak at a WSESD Board meeting, and taking a board vote to appoint a new member. RMO suggested that the board send the applicants names and any information they provided to the Selectboard and ask them to put it on their recommendations or feedback to the WSESD board.
RMO asked the names of the candidates. KY said she will send the names to board members and then the Communications Council can share them with the public.
VIII. New Business
A. Policy & Amendment presents the following for Rescission
● LBP 11 – Video Security Cameras
DS MOTION TO RESCIND LBP 11.
KP asked for clarification whether this would leave the district without a policy on
security cameras. DS explained that this recission is needed in order to amend the new
policy, and AB noted that this is an old BUHS policy that is redundant with the district-
wide policy that already exists and is being updated (E15).
ALL VOTED IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION.
B. Policy & Amendment presents the following for 1 st Reading
● E10 – School Crisis Prevention & Response
● E15 – Security Cameras
● F9 – Student Substance Abuse Prevention (formerly Student Alcohol and Drugs)
TM would like to talk at the next Policy & Amendment Committee meeting on October 3 restorative justice. Amending this policy could help the district to achieve the goals in the CIP around reduction of suspensions, particularly of marginalized students. DS noted that the meeting will be on October 3 from 2:30 to 4:30 in a hybrid format, and will be recorded. The agenda is posted with links for every policy with the recommended edits visible, thanks to work by Mo Hart and Barb Nowakowski.
IX. Board Matters/Training
A. Leadership Council Updates
● Stipends for participating Staff
Mr. Speno said that a step if the board wished to implement staff stipends for Leadership Council (LC) participation would be to refer to the collective bargaining agreement. He will follow up and come back to the next meeting with a recommendation. A discussion ensued on whether or not have stipends for staff members on LCs is a good idea. TM shared concerns about whether this would imply that we should also pay administrators to come to LC meetings or whether community members or board members should be paid extra to attend, and noted the importance of the spirit of volunteerism.
RMO reminded the board that this proposal came directly from the LC as a recommendation to help increase staff participation, which was something that they had identified as a need. The conversation in LCs is much richer when there is a mix of teachers, parents and administrators, rather than just parents and one administrator. She also noted that in general teachers are well steeped in the spirit of volunteerism and tend
to already do a lot of work for their schools beyond what is stipulated in their contract hours.
Julanne Eagan highlighted the language in the LC Policy that recommends that it be constituted of half community members and half staff. It’s a wonderful opportunity to have a conversation between staff and community members but there is no way to mandate that staff participate, leaving schools unable to fulfill the goal of staff on the LC. Some people are on a team that meets during the school day and some are on a team that meets at night.
Keith Lyman noted that the amount of money needed for each school to provide stipends for approximately eight monthly two-hour meetings is a small amount.
RMC clarified that the policy recommends that the LCs be no more than 50% staff. She shared that the PCS LC addressed a lack of staff on their committee by allowing LC membership to fulfill a committee assignment obligation for staff. She expressed a concern of inequity if this stipend is limited to teaching staff and not paraprofessionals or other staff. Ms. Eagan clarified that the proposal from the Dummerston LC was to provide a stipend for any staff member who wanted to participate. DS added that these stipends might also help the school that doesn’t yet have a LC established be motivated to get one up and running.
TM asked about child care for staff members who participate. RMC noted that LCs need a budget to be able to regularly provide childcare, which is a necessity not only for staff but for parents who participate. Mr. Speno expressed confidence that it could be provided. Hannah Parker added that there are BUHS students who need community service hours who would be happy to provide childcare at these meetings. Nancy Wiese added that there is an early childhood program at the career center with students who could also provide support. AL noted that she is in that class and it’s very female dominated. She highlighted the need to teach the community that this is a skill everyone needs to learn, not limited by gender or background. Childcare is such a significant need for all people. Ms. Wiese added that Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is a primary focus for professional development at WRCC.
RMC asked Mr. Speno when he intends to present the reassignment of the LC members and he responded that it will be done at the second meeting in October.
Kate Margaitis asked what happens with the issues and questions that are raised in LC meetings that they are directed to put in the monthly administrative report. DS responded that the current discussion is coming directly from concerns she brought forth from the LC meeting she attends. Ms. Margaitis agreed that having a board member present at LC meetings is a good way to have questions answered and have a liaison who can bring forward issues that need to be discussed by the full board but her LC does not currently have a board representative attending their meetings. KY expressed hope that the board will soon appoint a new member and that person can be assigned to the Green Street School LC.
B. Board Subcommittees
● Communications Council
RMO gave an update on the Coffee with the School Board event. One person came, from Dummerston. There was a robust conversation and they hope this community member feels more empowered to participate in the future. Despite the low turnout, they feel it would be worth doing this type of outreach event again.
● Programmatic & Performance Equity Committee
RMC shared that this committee will be meeting on Sunday, October 1 and discussing equity around access to pre-K.
● Policy & Amendment Committee
DS noted that there was feedback from the Putney Central School LC about the class size policy so she has added it to the list of policies to consider for the Policy & Amendment committee. They may not get to it at the next meeting but it will stay on the agenda until they do get to it.
AB shared that the WRCC Advisory Council met last week – enrollment is up and there is a new program in aviation. Nancy Wiese has established 11 different advisory boards for the different programs. Ms. Wiese clarified that these are not all new advisory boards but they have not been meeting regularly until now.
KY called for a ten minute break at 7:50.
The meeting resumed at 8:01.
X. Executive Session
MOTION BY AB TO FIND THAT PREMATURE GENERAL PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE WOULD CLEARLY PLACE THE PUBLIC BODY OR PERSON INVOLVED IN SUBSTANTIAL DISADVANTAGE UNDER 1 V.S.A. §313(1)(D) GRIEVANCES, OTHER THAN TAX GRIEVANCES. THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. DS MOTION TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION UNDER 1 V.S.A. §313(1)(D) GRIEVANCES, OTHER THAN TAX GRIEVANCES, INVITING IN MARK SPENO AND ATTORNEY PIETRO LYNN. THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
The board entered executive session at 8:02.
The board rose from executive session at 8:26.
XI. Executive Session
MOTION BY DS TO FIND THAT PREMATURE GENERAL PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE WOULD CLEARLY PLACE THE PUBLIC BODY OR PERSON INVOLVED IN SUBSTANTIAL DISADVANTAGE UNDER V.S.A. §313(1)(E) PENDING OR PROBABLE CIVIL LITIGATION OR A PROSECUTION, TO WHICH THE PUBLIC BODY IS OR MAY BE A PARTY. THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. KP MOTION TO ENTER EXECUTIVE SESSION UNDER 1 V.S.A. §313(1)(E) PENDING OR PROBABLE CIVIL LITIGATION OR A PROSECUTION, TO WHICH THE PUBLIC BODY IS OR MAY BE A PARTY, INVITING IN MARK SPENO AND PIETRO LYNN. MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
The board entered executive session at 8:28.
The board rose from executive session at 9:08.
AB MOVED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING. MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:08.
Documents presented:
● A slideshow: “CIP Process, Goals, & Baseline Work for 2023-2024”
Submitted by Robin Morgan, WSESD Board Clerk
This represents my understanding of the above dated meeting. If you have any changes, please
submit them at the next board meeting.
