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 OCTOBER 29, 2024
SPECIAL BOARD MEETING – 6 PM
CUSICK CONFERENCE ROOM, WRCC, BRATTLEBORO
DRAFT MINUTES
Board Members Present in person
Matt Schibley (MS), Kim Price (KP), Ruby McAdoo (RM), Tim Maciel (TM), Brian Remer (BR), Anne Beekman (AB), Deborah Stanford (DS), Shaun Murphy (SM), Colleen Savage (CS)
Board Members Present remotely Eva Nolan (EN)
WSESD staff and administration present Hannah Parker, Mark Speno, Cassie Damkoeler, Julie Ackerman-Hovis, Chris Brewer, Rhonda Winegardner, Brooke Welch
Others present in person
BCTV
Others present Virtually
Rich Korson, Victoria Mathew, Kim Korson, Bob Thibault, Ari Jackson, Mary Linney, Katie Cotner, Maeve, Laura Tabachnick, Zac Ezzell, MI, Cory Frehsee, Jodi, Mary Linney, Peter Muller, Lana Dever, Leah Rogstad, Ben Coppolo, A Nadeau, Kelly Young, RDoty, Sarah, iPhone(2), Ari Jackson, jersey, Rebecca, Henry Zacchini
Absent
Summary
● The Board voted to have Superintendent Speno to engage in a process to review the notation of class rank on student transcripts.
AGENDA
I. Call to Order
DS called the meeting to order at 6:02 pm
DS read the hybrid meeting statement
DS amended the agenda to transition this meeting from an Executive Session to an Open Public Meeting.
DS requested acknowledgement of community parents that they recognize that their anonymity cannot be protected as this is an open public meeting.
Parents acknowledged verbally.
II. Public Comment on Non-Agenda Items
This is a time for the Board to listen and to take notes. It is not a time for the Board to respond to comments or to engage in dialogue with the public. If appropriate – the Board and Administration will work on next steps.
Rich Korson thanked the Board for the opportunity to bring this issue to this meeting.
No additional comments noted at this time.
III. V.S.A. §313(a)(7) the academic records or suspension or discipline of students.
Potential Action Anticipated
DS proposed that the Board withhold comments and questions until after hearing from parents and then from administration.
No objection was given by any Board members.
Mr. Rich Korson brought forth the request for the Board to consider moving forward with the removal of class ranking from student transcripts, or making the notation of their rank optional. Secondarily, the request is for this to transpire by 11/1/24.
Katie Cotner of Missoula Montana, Director of Educational Services Hughes College Prep, gave testimony to support parents’ request.
Victoria Matthew – Brattleboro resident – Gave statement to the board to support the request to change the official transcript to make class rank optional.
Mark Speno Superintendent, introduced Rhonda Winegardner, Counseling Department Head and Dual Enrollment Coordinator, and Brooke Welch, BUHS Guidance Counselor, to speak to Rhonda Winegardner expressed the following concerns related to this request:
● it would be an enormous task to execute this change (is is not a simple checking of a box)
● concern about the implications related to the common app as well as the program Naviance, which is used by the school and students
● the time and effort that would be required to remove all individual student records, and the significant room for error when inputting all the information again as it would need to be done manually
● the importance of gathering input from students, staff and community related to this issue
● When asked for a sense of how long it would take to undertake a task like this, Ms. Winegardner felt that a year to a year and a half was realistic.
Discussion followed with comments from School Administration, community members, staff, and Board Members. There was much appreciation expressed by Board members and those employed by the district for bringing this topic forth by the parents.
Comments and thoughts shared on this topic included:
● The need to carefully and intentionally approach the consideration of class rank, its value, its negative impact and how the district would like to engage in the use or removal of it on student transcripts.
● If the Board votes to remove the class rank from student transcripts, doing so by Friday 11/1/24 would be a Herculean task with a high likelihood of errors.
● To truly undertake this process, it should be including the class that it will be impacting. Their input is incredibly important.
● Several parents who have children now in college spoke, one expressing that having the class rank assisted her children with both the college application process and scholarship application process. Another parent spoke noting that having the class rank was not a benefit to his child when applying for school, and they wished there had been an option to choose whether it was included in the transcript.
● With it being in the thick of early acceptance, making a change to student transcripts at this time will add stress to an already highly stressful time. There is also a significant potential for technical issues if alterations to the transcripts was to occur right now.
● If students do not fill out a common app, do they even know their class rank?
● Class rank can have both a positive and negative impact on self esteem and student wellbeing. For some students it is motivating to aspire to a high class rank.
● Several local schools were asked how they address class rank. Of the four that have responded, three are currently indicating class rank on their student transcripts.
● Concern was expressed about how class rank can have a negative impact on students in the foster care system, on IEPs, children of color and other marginalized groups.
● It was noted that there are advantages to having class ranking, it is not all bad.
● A reminder was put forth that the Board ethics statement references that the Board is not to “run the schools” but make sure that “the schools are well run”. To that end, is this a decision that is right for the Board to be making.
● A parent in support of the removal of class rank from transcripts expressed that this topic has the potential to be contentious, and expressed concerns regarding management of schools noting the difference between policy and process.
Two issues to be dealt with this evening are: 1.) A requested deadline of 11/1/24 to make a decision and effect change and 2.) the removal of class rank on student transcripts
MS MOTIONED THAT THE BOARD INSTRUCT MARK SPENO TO ENGAGE IN A PROCESS TO
REVIEW NOTING CLASS RANK ON TRANSCRIPTS, AND THAT WE DO NOT SUPPORT THE
CURRENT PARENT REQUEST TO REMOVE CLASS RANK FOR THIS YEAR. SECONDED
RM asked if there is a reasonable pathway forward for individual basis. Ms. Winegardner indicated that if changes are being offered, they should be offered to all students. This takes time and thoughtful consideration. She referred to an article forwarded to her by Mr. Korson from the College Board.
SM spoke about how rank can be a motivator for students. To consider other ways to share student achievement in collaboration with high education institutions as well.
TM noted professional experience sitting on college admission committees, stating a desire to have board and policy committee members be a part of the discussion.
DS responded that the policy committee will be reviewing this, which will be undertaken in partnership with Administration.
EN added that Rank is a class issue that affects all marginalized groups. She stressed that having class rank be optional should not be forgotten. For students that want to have their rank included to help them with applications and scholarships they should be able to select that.
Ms. Matthew responded to the comments of rank being a motivator and took issue with it.
MS CALLED THE VOTE. SECONDED.
AYE NAY ABST
AB X
TM X
RM X
SM X
EN X
KP X
BR X
CS X
MS X
DS X
Total 9 1 0
VOTE TO CALL THE MOTION PASSED 9-1
DS CALLED THE VOTE ON THE MOTION AS PREVIOUSLY STATED. SECONDED.
AYE NAY ABST
AB X
TM X
RM X
SM X
EN X
KP X
BR X
CS X
MS X
DS X
Total 9 1 0
MOTION PASSED 9-1
Mr. Korson thanked the Board for engaging. The meaningful discussion was valued. The hope is that the conversation will continue and this topic be considered thoughtfully.
TM asked for confirmation that the vote does not terminate this conversation, but will be a topic that will be addressed at the policy and amendment committee. BR asked that it is clear where the work on this will lie as the vote puts the responsibility on the Superintendent, but conversation notes that the policy committee will be working on this. DS responded that the Superintendent is to be addressing this issue. The policy committee will continue reviewing policies; Administrators sit on the policy committee; the Board will be practicing Board oversight. The policy and amendment committee will not be creating new policies. Careful review of policies takes multiple meetings. There is then a several week process of presenting policies to the Board for review, consideration, and response before it is voted on.
AB MOTIONED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 7:48 pm MOTION SECONDED.
VOTE WAS CALLED. MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
Minutes respectfully submitted by Board Clerk with special recognition to Tracey Drotts
Board Recorder on 11/2/2024.
A recording of this meeting is available on the WSESU website
