ACT 46 STUDY COMMITTEE
Representing the Brattleboro Town School District, Dummerston Town School District, Guilford Town School District, Putney Town School District and the Vernon Town School District http://www.wssu.k12.vt.us
NOTICE OF MEETING
The Act 46 Study Committee will meet at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 20, 2016 in the WRCC Cusick Conference Room.
AGENDA
I. CALL TO ORDER – 6:00 p.m. – Alice Laughlin, Committee Chair
II. REVIEW, PRIORITIZE AND ESTABLISH DESIRED OUTCOMES FOR MEETING BY CHAIRPERSON.
III. REVIEW COMMITTEE MEMBER ROLES AND PUBLIC COMMENTS BY CHAIRPERSON
IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – July 6, 2016
V. REVIEW STUDY COMMITTEE PROCESS BY CHAIRPERSON
VI. RECOGNITION OF GROUPS AND/OR INDIVIDUALS
VII. STUDY COMMITTEE WORK SESSION:
Review and Discuss Articles
Review School Board Comments (Putney, Guilford)
Review Proposed Timeline
VIII. PUBLIC INFORMATION CAMPAIGN
Set Draft Schedule for Study Committee Individual Town Presentations
IX. FUTURE MEETINGS, DISCUSSIONS
X. ADJOURNMENT
Note: In accordance with the following excerpt from WSESU Policy E-12 Electronic Communications Use and Retention
II. Use of E-Mail and Electronic Communications
The school board and administration will not use email as a substitute for discussion at board meetings, or for any business properly conducted at board meetings subject to the Vermont Open Meeting Law.
….
Brattleboro Town School District, Dummerston Town School District,
Guilford Town School District, Putney Town School District and Vernon Town School District
Act 46 Study Committee
Work Session Agenda, Minutes & Action Items – July 6, 2016 from 6-8 PM at WRRC-Cusick Room
Present
Brattleboro: Kim Price*, (David Schoales**), Jill Stahl Tyler*, Mark Truhan*
BUHS/ BAMS/WRCC: Ricky Davidson*, Ian Torrey* * denotes voting member,
Dummerston: Kristina Naylor** ***, Amy Wall* – Clerk ** denotes alternate voting member,
Guilford: (Beth Bristol*), Alice Revis** *** denotes ex officio member
Putney: Richard Glejzer**, Alice Laughlin* – Chair
Vernon: Walter Breau*, (Mike Hebert**) – present but as members of the public
Also present
WSESU: Lyle Holiday – Curriculum & Assessment, Frank Rucker – Business Manager, Ron Stahley – Superintendent
Others: Nikki South –– Wells & Leopold (via Skype)
BCTV staff, members of the public including Jody Normandeau, Ines McGillion, Shaun Murphy,
Walter Breau, Eric Feindel
1. Work sessions will start and end on time.
2. Work sessions will last 2 hours unless decided otherwise by the Committee.
3. Members will give and receive with good intentions.
4. Members will follow “3 before me” as a guideline so all members have the opportunity to speak.
5. Members will conduct Committee business in front of the group.
6. Members will understand that silence on the part of another member does not imply agreement.
7. Members will site sources of evidence during discussion.
8. All members will be included in conversation and no side conversations will be conducted during the work session.
9. Members will stay on topic during discussions and will request the Clerk make note of additional topic(s) for future discussion.
10. Members will engage in the work at hand and administration will provide the space and support as needed to do so.
Agenda Items Led by
– Call to order Alice Laughlin
– Review, prioritize and establish desired outcomes for meeting Alice
– Review Study Committee member roles and public comments by Chair Alice
– Approve of minutes of previous work session – June 16 Alice
– Recognition of groups and/or individuals Alice
– Review Study Committee process by Chair Alice
– Study Committee Work Session Alice, Ron Stahley, Frank Rucker
– Review and Discuss the following with Nikki South via Skype:
– Review and Discuss Articles
– Review and Discuss Vernon School District Withdrawal from BUHS
– Review Proposed Timeline
– Public Information Campaign – Set Draft schedule for Town presentations Alice
– Set Draft Schedule for Study Committee Individual Town Presentations Alice
– Future meetings, Discussions Alice
– Adjournment
Work Session Minutes:
Chair Alice Laughlin called the work session to order at 6:00 pm with a review of the agenda. Alice welcomed the public present and shared that legal counsel Nikki South will participate via Skype in the work session until 7 pm. In light of this, the Committee agreed to provide time for public input near the end of the meeting. On a motion made by Ricky Davidson, seconded by Mark Truhan and so voted, the minutes of May 26 were accepted with the correction suggested by Ian Torrey to differentiate between Leadership and Advisory Councils. Alice Revis abstained since she was not present.
Nikki South, Alice Laughlin, Ron Stahley and Frank Rucker reviewed the July 6 draft of the report with the Committee and noted the following major points.
1. The intent for the participating WSESU districts to become a single unified district (no MUUD, no SU) with all members (excluding Vernon) defined as necessary. In a recent communication received by Central Office staff, the VT AOE states that it is the State Board of Education’s decision to align Vernon with another supervisory union. This latest information has been forwarded to the Vernon Schoolboard. In this same communication, VT AOE indicated that the State Board of Education’s review of any report is based on three main points:
a. the clear intention to create and support a preferred structure (such as the unified district),
b. the goals stated in Act 46 are met by the proposal, and
c. the longstanding independent authority of the SBE to redraw boundaries as they see fit remains.
Nikki South shared that the Committee’s current draft fits within the SBE’s context.
Without Vernon participating, the existing pattern of Vernon students attending BUHS is expected to continue. The tuition rate charged for Vernon students will cover the cost of Vernon’s debt and unified district services. The impact of losing Vernon’s K-6 students on the overall finances of the new unified district will be minimal. Frank Rucker shared that the cost of operate the SU with 7 entities is relatively high when compared that of a supervisory district (1 entity). If Vernon were to join the unified district, then costs would decrease further. When asked for clarification on the need to designate all members as necessary, Ron Stahley stated that a month ago this was addressed by the Committee. The feeling was that a MUUD was not desirable and that simple ballot language was best. As currently envisioned, the ballot language would consist of two questions – the first to release Vernon from BUHS/WSESU and the second to form a unified district among the remaining members.
2. Based on the Committee’s request, wording on Leadership Councils has been returned to the report as Article 15. Nikki South stated that all “mays” have been changed to “shall” to strengthen role of Leadership Councils. The sunset clause allows the unified board to reconsider the usefulness of Leadership Councils after 2019. If the Leadership Council structure is not working, then the unified board can decide the merits of discontinuing and vote on the same. In the ensuing discussion, it was suggested that the length of the sunset clause be extended to three years minimum. Additional discussion focused on removal of the sunset clause. Ron Stahley referenced item #13 from the June 16 minutes re: legal advice. Some committee members felt that while it is important not to limit future boards, it is important to retain local input through Leadership Councils and the act of discontinuing Leadership Councils should be difficult. If the sunset clause wording is removed, then the decision to end Leadership Councils if they are not working becomes a policy decision by the unified board according to Nikki South. Nikki also shared that this Article is one of the few Articles that is amendable by the future unified board. Committee members felt that Leadership Councils are necessary to bind ourselves together and that will deliberative action by a unified board is warranted. Alice Laughlin queried the Committee and the consensus was to remove the bold section at the end of Article 15.
Additional discussion on Article 15 and Leadership Councils centered on the clarification of their membership. Nikki South reminded the Committee that unified members represent the interests of all the unified district. As such, having a unified district member serve on each school Leadership Council presents a conflict of interest.
Nikki South stated that Leadership Council membership is defined on page 9 of the 7/6/16 draft report and nothing prohibits a unified member from attending Leadership Council meetings and sharing information from the Leadership Councils with the unified district board. Committee members felt it important for unified district board members to be at Leadership Council meetings as an active listener and Richard Glejzer will work on draft wording to submit to Alice for review by legal counsel.
3. Vernon is not included in the report as a member of the proposed unified district. Nikki South confirmed that Vernon could be included in the report and proposed unified district, if desired by the Study Committee. Ron Stahley shared that on 8/9/16 Vernon will hold a vote of its electorate to withdraw from BUHS. This is the first of two steps that must be completed for Vernon to exit. The second step is a vote by all member districts to release Vernon from BUHS. Alice Laughlin stated that Vernon is not included in the current draft report to be respectful of Vernon’s position. Frank Rucker stated and Nikki South confirmed that if the initial Vernon vote fails, then Vernon could be listed as an advisable member to the proposed unified district.
Alice Laughlin thanked Nikki South for her participation in the Committee’s work session and the Skype session ended.
With the approval of the Study Committee, Alice Laughlin opened to floor to public comment which included the following thoughts/concerns/ideas:
– a town vote on school closing is not included,
– there is not exit strategy for towns to leave easily,
– Title 16 section 724 is the appropriate means for a member to exit,
– local communities do not have a voice on Leadership Councils,
– no term limits for unified board members,
– the sunset clause on Leadership Councils allows the unified board to revoke at will and further silence local input,
– the need for school board input on the final draft (not working draft), and
– Vernon does not want to leave WSESU or BUHS but wants to retain school choice.
Ron Stahley led a review of the proposed schedule. Frank Rucker stated that submission of the report to the SBE at its September meeting and subsequent vote of the electorate in November offers the following advantages:
The benefits of the unified district will reach the students and voters sooner.
Development of the unified district budget for Town Meeting in March 2017, and
Ron Stahley will provide invaluable input during the planning stages for the unified district before it becomes operational and before Ron’s retirement in July 2017.
Alice Laughlin proposed that the current draft of the report be issued to local school boards for review and comments. Ideally local board feedback would be available starting at the next Study Committee work session on July 20. Some members expressed concern since local boards may not meet prior to July 20 and the results of Vernon’s’ vote will not be known until after 8/9/16. Ron Stahley stated that if all boards review by 8/24/16, then the results of the Vernon vote will be known and feedback from the VT AOE on the draft can be sought. The Committee requested that the changes discussed be added prior to sending the draft report to local boards. Further clarity on the Leadership Councils and implicit information due to statute is needed (i.e. who nominates, length of service, ability of unified board to revoke an appointment, etc.). Ron Stahley will ask legal counsel for wording and advice as discussed by the Committee. The Committee’s understanding is that Leadership Council members are nominated annually at Town Meeting and appointed for one year terms that coincide with the unified district fiscal year.
On a motion made by Alice Revis, seconded by Mark Truhan, and so voted unanimously, the Committee agreed to release the report with changes discussed to local boards for review and feedback by 8/24/16.
Frank Rucker led a quick review of the financial information in the Appendix. This information includes 115 tuition students to BUHS from Vernon, tax rates calculated per current laws, and $150k transition grant used for legal fees to set up new unified district. The information is for FY16 and it is difficult to look accurately at the first four years of operation of a unified district because future actions of the legislature (base tax rates, new actions, etc.) cannot be predicted. Frank stated the baseline tax rate as shown is $1.60 which remains above the state average of $1.55. There will be incremental savings as the efficiencies of a unified district are realized. Frank reminded the Committee that the fiscal model provided last fall shows the potential impact on property taxes if nothing is done (loss of phantom students, etc.).
The Committee’s next work sessions are on July 20 and August 25 from 6-8 pm in the Cusick Room – WRRC. Agenda items for 7/20/16 include:
– Review Executive Summary, Articles of Agreement and proposed schedule,
– Review feedback from local boards who have meetings scheduled prior to July 20th,
– Discussion of format and information for the public and possible town forums, and
– Other related matters, as needed.
On a motion made Alice Revis, seconded by Ricky Davidson, and so voted, the work session ended at 8:10 pm.
Action Items before next meeting and Responsible party
Revise report per 7/6/16 work session and distribute to local boards Ron Stahley
Send revised sentences re: Leadership Council to Alice Laughlin/legal counsel Richard Glejzer, Alice Laughlin
Review 7/7/16 draft and provide local board feedback on or before 8/24/16 All
Forward financial and legal questions to Alice at alicelaughlin@rocketmail.com All
Forward items to attach to report to Amy at amhbeg@gmail.com All
Verify that info is posted on Act 46 Study committee page on WSESU website Amy Wall, Barb Nowakowski
Update financial data and list of assets excluded/included in consolidation Frank Rucker
Review information previously gathered on merger options with local boards All
Respectfully submitted, Amy Wall – Committee Clerk
