WINDHAM SOUTHEAST SCHOOL DISTRICT
53 Green Street
Brattleboro, VT 05301
www.wsesu.org
NOTICE OF BOARD MEETING
The Windham Southeast School District Board will meet remotely at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 16, 2020 via Zoom:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/95443475244?pwd=UjU4aDFWSXNsMFdSRTd0UXhHaDh2Zz09
Meeting ID: 954 4347 5244
Passcode: QD1QmC
One tap mobile
+13017158592,,95443475244#,,,,,,0#,,239516# US (Washington D.C)
+13126266799,,95443475244#,,,,,,0#,,239516# US (Chicago)
AGENDA
I. CALL TO ORDER – 6:00 p.m. – David Schoales, Board Chair
II. RECOGNITION OF VISITORS
III. CONSENT AGENDA
• CLERK’S REPORT – Approval of Minutes – December 2, 2020
IV. COMMUNICATIONS
• Review and next steps in the establishment of the Leadership Councils as the system for effective communications among all stakeholders in the school district community. Board will consider directing LCs to meet every two weeks; immediately schedule meetings for early January; and take up problem-solving around operations in the schools as their agenda while pandemic restrictions continue.
V. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
• Updates on planning for second semester
• Principals recognition of people an actions that have been especially helpful during reopening
• Possible options for improved PD/collaboration/planning prep opportunities for staff
VI. FISCAL REPORT
• Several Principals will report on budget priorities
• FY ’22 WSESD Budget Presentation
• Admin/Staff review/update Strategic & Action Plans
• Review staffing assignments and rations, class sizes
• Draft FY ’22 WSESD Budget
• Proposed FY ’22 WSESU Budget
VII. COMMITTEE REPORTS
• Leadership Council Reports
• WSESD/WSESU Diversity/Equity Committee
• Finance Committee
• Personnel Committee
• Policy and Amendment Committee
• Programmatic and Performance Equity Committee
• Climate Crisis Task Force
• Communications Council
• Social Justice Committee
• WSESU Board
VIII. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
A. Policy Review
• D16 – Electronic Communications Between Employees and Students – Adoption
• F37 – District Equity Policy – Adoption
• F38 – Prevention of Sexual Harassment as Prohibited by Title IX – Adoption
B. Vermont School Boards Association (VSBA) – Membership
C. Consideration of Annual Meeting Article to schedule a district-wide vote to dissolve the WSESD and return to local board governance structure.
IX. NEW BUSINESS
A. PreK Partnership Agreement – Action Needed
B. Act 250 School Impact Questionnaire – Renaud Gravel, Inc. – Bridgman
Quarry, Vernon – Action Needed
C. Policy Review – Updates
• D12 – Policy on Prevention of Harassment of Employees – 1st Reading
• F29 – Limited English Proficiency Students – 1st Reading
Policy Review – New
• F39 – Students Experiencing Temporary Housing Insecurity – 1st Reading
D. Change Regular Meetings to the first and third Mondays – Possible Action
E. WSESD Board Evaluation – Consider contracting for a community survey on the performance of the Board
X. Public Comment on Non-agenda Items
EXECUTIVE SESSION (If Needed)
…
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
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2020
REGULAR BOARD MEETING – 6:00PM
REMOTE LOCATION
DRAFT MINUTES
WSESD Board Members Present: Liz Adams (LA), Anne Beekman (AB), Michele Green (MG), Tim Maciel (TM), Shaun Murphy (SM), Emily Murphy Kaur (EMK), Thomas Nolan (TN), Jaci Reynolds (JR), David Schoales (DS), Kelly Young (KY)
WSESU Administrators Present: Per the attached list.
Media Present: Rich Melanson (BCTV)
Others Present: Wendy M. Levy (WSESD Board Recorder), Others per the attached list.
I. CALL TO ORDER
Chair DS called the meeting to order at 6:03pm.
DS made changes to the agenda.
II. RECOGNITION OF VISITORS
There were none.
III. CONSENT AGENDA
– Clerk’s Report: The minutes of the November 18, 2020 meeting.
– Finance:
Warrants of August 31, 2020
Warrant No. 1052 in the amount of $7,344.99
Warrant No. 1056 in the amount of 3,900.37
Warrant No. 1057 in the amount of 1,192.99
Warrant No. 1058 in the amount of 790,069.10
$802,507.45
Warrants of November 2, 2020
Warrant No. 1121 in the amount of $14,164.25
Warrant No. 1123 in the amount of 94.69
Warrant No. 1124 in the amount of 372.27
Warrant No. 1125 in the amount of 4,601.41
Warrant No. 1126 in the amount of 56,064.86
$75,297.48
Warrants of November 9, 2020
Warrant No. 1129 in the amount of $13,337.80
Warrant No. 1131 in the amount of 13,540.09
Warrant No. 1133 in the amount of 201.98
Warrant No. 1134 in the amount of 346.32
Warrant No. 1135 in the amount of 160,113.47
Warrant No. 1136 in the amount of 4,003.20
$191,542.86
Warrants of November 16, 2020
Warrant No. 1137 in the amount of $29,396.42
Warrant No. 1138 in the amount of 89.91
Warrant No. 1139 in the amount of 505.00
Warrant No. 1140 in the amount of 860,143.86
$890,135.19
Warrants of November 20, 2020
Warrant No. 1142 in the amount of $50.00
Warrant No. 1143 in the amount of 11,585.00
Warrant No. 1145 in the amount of 474.37
Warrant No. 1148 in the amount of 551.34
Warrant No. 1149 in the amount of 132,012.63
$144,673.34
Payrolls
August 28, 2020 $1,251,902.20
November 9, 2020 $1,282,193.10
November 20, 2020 $1,417,444.16
MOTION BY TM TO ACCEPT THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED. EMK
SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
LA mentioned some omissions in the draft minutes’ attendance. DS asked Board Recorder Wendy M. Levy to answer. Wendy said she had asked for help in the past because taking attendance for a Zoom meeting while taking minutes is almost impossible. She said TN has been helping, but the attendance is still challenging to capture. A discussion ensued. EMK noted the Zoom platform allows meeting administrators to capture attendance and issue a report, which can go to Barb Nowakowski. DS asked Andy Skarzynski to look into this.
IV. COMMUNICATIONS (and) IX. NEW BUSINESS
– Pupil Weighting Study – Resolution
DS announced a coalition of school boards from around Vermont have joined to promote the implementation of the recommendations from the Vermont Pupil Weighting Factors Report required by the legislature. He said the coalition has contacted the WSESD Board to invite them to join.
Frank Rucker spoke about this, and some of its implications on the WSESD’s tax rates, and ability to continue intervention programs. Frank agreed the Legislature needs to follow the coalition’s guidance, and he explained why.
DS said it’s important for school boards to actively participate in crafting policy, and the ultimate goal is equity. He advocated for joining the coalition.
MOTION BY DS THAT THE BOARD APPROVE THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION: “BE IT RESOLVED, THE WSESD HEREBY JOINS WITH OTHER VERMONT SCHOOL BOARDS TO ADVOCATE TO THE VERMONT LEGISLATURE FOR THE ADOPTION OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE VERMONT PUPIL WEIGHTING FACTORS REPORT (ACT 173 OF 2018 § 11).” LA SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
EMK asked if the coalition addresses the block grant. DS responded: no, just the weighing study.
KY noted this resolution is about equity.
DS pointed out that this motion doesn’t commit the Board, but in the future there may be costs associated with this resolution.
V. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
BUHS Principal Steve Perrin announced the hiring of a new Latin teacher for the school, Catherine Domareki, who also has extensive remote-learning expertise. Catherine will replace the Latin teacher who passed away earlier this year, said Steve, and she will serve for the rest of the school year.
MOTION BY MG TO APPROVE THE EMPLOYMENT OF CATHERINE DOMARECKI AS THE BUHS LATIN TEACHER. EMK SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Superintendent Andy Skarzynski gave his report. Highlights included:
• WSESU participated in surveillance testing. It went well: approximately 45% of staff were tested, and there were no positive results. Andy praised the nurses and staff for their great work.
• Post-holiday attendance is slightly low, but nothing alarming. Staffing is a challenge.
• The administration is working on transitions to expansion models. The District is ready to pivot to remote learning if it becomes necessary. Expect a bigger report on the spring.
• Andy reviewed some work on remote-learning, including what staff and teachers are doing, and social-emotional learning.
• Andy announced upcoming staff meetings on the following subjects: diversity, recent technological additions, and recruitment strategies.
• Andy noted Mikaela Simms is participating in a statewide task-force on diversifying the educational workforce.
Mikaela gave an update on creating a diverse candidate recruitment and retention development team.
Highlights included:
• Recent webinars on diversifying the education workforce. Mikaela gave a report on the topic.
• There are monthly meetings for all educators of color.
• Mikaela shared a report on the Vermont Education Diversity webinar and reviewed some of its sections, including statistics on people-of-color by age group in the state’s population. The takeaway: the population of youth-of-color is increasing.
DS thanked Mikaela for her report.
Frank reviewed some of the HVAC project updates, including their upgrades, how they improve air quality and programming for the COVID era, and their dates of implementation. He mentioned the funding program ends this month, so people are working hard to complete the projects in time. But, this has presented challenges with finding vendors.
The main projects, said Frank, are at the Academy School, Guilford Central School, and BUHS; other projects at a smaller scale that are halfway finished are at Putney Central School, Vernon, and Oak Grove. Frank noted the only project that has an implication on remote-learning is at Academy School.
DS thanked Frank for his work.
Frank praised Robert Clark for going outside of his core responsibilities to ensure the schools’ HVAC projects’ are going well, and the results have been great. Frank also praised all of the schools’ facilities personnel.
VI. FISCAL REPORT (AND FINANCE COMMITTEE REPORT)
Frank summarized the discussion held at the Finance Committee meeting, held an hour before the Board meeting began. He focused on the memorandum from the Tax Commissioner about the education yield forecast, which is one of four critical parts of the tax rate. Highlights included:
• The committee members discussed the memorandum and its implications on budget planning.
• Much will be determined by whether the Legislature follows through on its support.
• Will the tax rate really increase across the state by an average of 9-cents? Every school is different.
• The committee emphasized that this is only a forecast.
• Congress will likely approve another COVID relief act, and the Tax Commissioner alludes to this in the memorandum.
• Frank is disappointed that this is the starting point, but he’s not surprised.
• A review of the next steps, including working with WSESU on their budget.
• The draft budget will be available at the December 16 Board meeting.
• DS noted the District will have extra costs that are currently unknown, including to fund supports for mental health and tech support. He asserted the Board will start with the budget the District needs to assure staff and students have the resources they need.
• LA pointed out that last year the Legislature expressed interest in back-filling the Education Fund, and then paying it back over many years. LA committed to contacting Senator Becca Balint to push for this, and added, “things may well change.”
Frank resumed his report on the Finance Committee meeting, and the fiscal report. He presented the capital planning update on the Academy School project. Highlights included:
• Frank shared and reviewed a communication from Cory Frehsee from Stevens & Associates on the work the team is doing, and a timeline for design, bidding, construction, and move-in.
• Nadav Malin from Building Green is presenting sustainability workshops in the next few weeks to refine and review design goals and plans. The Board is encouraged to join the workshops.
• A review of the Board’s schedule for deciding on funding and bidding, and how the public is informed.
• Frank urged the Board to stay on-track to start the bidding process, award a bid, and begin construction on time.
• DS asked about expense totals. Frank reviewed some changes made on the project, and gave the total: approximately $2,220,000, possibly more. He noted the higher energy-efficiency means decreased energy costs over time, and Nadav’s workshops will review this.
• DS asked if a separate vote is necessary if the Board decides to fund the project using capital reserves, and not a bond. Frank responded: yes, and it should either be on the March 9 ballot, or, if it’s a bond vote, on a ballot on March 2. A discussion ensued on the statute that supports the Board’s authority to approve moving money from capital reserves.
• A discussion ensued on design and funding schedules, planning, and design costs.
• A discussion ensued on holding a special meeting to review the project and its funding.
DS said some of the Finance Committee meetings contain subjects the whole Board should discuss, and he explained why. Frank responded: in other Board meetings, the Finance Committee would always recap their proceedings to the full Board, with input from Frank and Andy. SM noted Wendy M. Levy is taking the minutes for the Finance Committee meetings, they are good, and anyone can review them.
JR said that tonight’s Finance Committee meeting was her first, and she liked having the discussions in a small group.
TM asked how projects are prioritized in the capital planning budget. Frank responded: according to the systems’ or assets’ installation date and expected useful life. Sometimes, he said, this is adjusted by the results of energy audits, or if a facility’s shortcomings affect the learning environment. The latter is a high priority, he said.
Frank noted the capital plan is on the District website and it is quite detailed. SM encouraged all Board members to review the warrants and payrolls, and the capital plan. All reports have very clear information, he added.
VII. COMMITTEE REPORTS
LEADERSHIP COUNCILS
Putney Central School and Dummerston are meeting on December 3.
Guilford Central School: SM reported they met November 19. 17 people attended. They heard school Board and administrative reports. Principal John Gagnon gave reports on remote-learning, the school parade, enrollment, outdoor learning and its spaces, the Farm-to-School program, and the budget.
Putney Central School: Ruby McAdoo reported they met on November 16, and she sent a report to the Board. They are continuing their work on intention, process, family engagement, art projects, and organizing their work. There is a new Facebook page. A discussion group for the school and community has formed around social equity and justice.
BAMS: Principal Keith Lyman reported on their recent, and brief, meeting, which has 9 attendees, including Board member LA. They discussed surveys, the second semester, and an update on the hybrid/remote students. Keith has a new administrative intern who will create goals for the year, including connecting with each other and other LCs.
WSESD/WSESU DIVERSITY/EQUITY COMMITTEE
This committee has not met.
FINANCE COMMITTEE
This committee gave their report earlier in the meeting.
PERSONNEL COMMITTEE
KY reported this committee met recently and approved the BAMS 1% requests, pending Keith Lyman’s confirmation that the work was completed.
COMMUNICATIONS COUNCIL
DS asked MG about surveys. MG said she will send them out soon.
POLICY AND AMENDMENT COMMITTEE
TM asked if the committee has set a date to review the Climate Crisis Task Force report. AB responded: they will meet on December 7 at 4:30pm, and AB sent the notice to Barb Nowakowski earlier that day.
TM congratulated TN and Eva on their new baby, Donovan, who was born on Friday.
WSESU
Kerry Amidon reported the SU will meet on December 3 at 6pm. They will address the Special Education and food service budgets. On December 10 at 6pm they will meet again and take action on the budget.
VIII. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
A. Policy Review
D16 – Electronic Communications Between Employees and Students – 2nd Reading
F37 – District Equity Policy – 2nd Reading
F38 – Prevention of Sexual Harassment as Prohibited by Title IX – 2nd Reading
DS said these policies are all on the District’s website for review. At the next meeting, the Board will consider them for ratification.
DS gave a reminder about the upcoming period for getting one’s name on the ballot to elect new Board members. The best place to start, he said, is to contact people’s respective Town Clerks.
DS raised the question of allowing the District’s towns’ voters to dissolve the merger and revert to individual town school boards. He noted all towns voted against the merger, but he has not heard of anyone seeking to dissolve the merger in the District. If someone is interested, he said, they get a petition and get the question on the ballot. He invited interested parties to contact him. KY thanked DS for raising the issue, because people may not know this option is available. She said it would be good to get community feedback on whether this structure is working or not.
X. PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS
There was none.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
There was none.
MOTION BY AB TO ADJOURN. LA SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:37pm.
Respectfully 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.
Name (Original Name) Join Time Leave Time
WSESD Board 12/02/2020 05:32:45 PM 12/02/2020 07:37:17 PM
Brattleboro Community TV 12/02/2020 05:33:13 PM 12/02/2020 05:33:30 PM
Rich Melanson – BCTV 12/02/2020 05:33:30 PM 12/02/2020 07:37:17 PM
Kelly Dias (She/ Her) 12/02/2020 05:52:35 PM 12/02/2020 05:53:31 PM
Chelsea Wiehl 12/02/2020 05:53:18 PM 12/02/2020 05:53:31 PM
Kelly Dias (She/ Her) 12/02/2020 05:53:32 PM 12/02/2020 07:37:16 PM
Chelsea Wiehl 12/02/2020 05:53:32 PM 12/02/2020 05:57:16 PM
Jaci Reynolds 12/02/2020 05:55:06 PM 12/02/2020 05:55:49 PM
Kerry Amidon 12/02/2020 05:55:42 PM 12/02/2020 05:55:48 PM
Jaci Reynolds 12/02/2020 05:55:49 PM 12/02/2020 07:37:05 PM
Kerry Amidon 12/02/2020 05:55:49 PM 12/02/2020 07:37:12 PM
Mary Kaufmann 12/02/2020 05:56:23 PM 12/02/2020 05:56:28 PM
Mary Kaufmann 12/02/2020 05:56:28 PM 12/02/2020 07:37:15 PM
Chelsea Wiehl 12/02/2020 05:57:27 PM 12/02/2020 05:57:38 PM
Chelsea Wiehl 12/02/2020 05:57:38 PM 12/02/2020 07:36:37 PM
Amber Rose 12/02/2020 05:57:50 PM 12/02/2020 05:57:57 PM
pesmith 12/02/2020 05:57:51 PM 12/02/2020 05:57:58 PM
Anne Beekman 12/02/2020 05:57:56 PM 12/02/2020 05:58:02 PM
Amber Rose 12/02/2020 05:57:58 PM 12/02/2020 07:18:14 PM
Paul Smith (He) (pesmith) 12/02/2020 05:57:59 PM 12/02/2020 07:37:17 PM
Anne Beekman 12/02/2020 05:58:02 PM 12/02/2020 07:37:13 PM
Keith Lyman- Brattleboro Area MS 12/02/2020 05:58:19 PM 12/02/2020 05:58:42 PM
Michelle Green 12/02/2020 05:58:32 PM 12/02/2020 05:58:41 PM
Michelle Green 12/02/2020 05:58:42 PM 12/02/2020 07:37:13 PM
Keith Lyman- Brattleboro Area MS 12/02/2020 05:58:43 PM 12/02/2020 06:00:24 PM
Wendy Levy 12/02/2020 05:59:25 PM 12/02/2020 06:00:06 PM
Herve Pelletier 12/02/2020 05:59:26 PM 12/02/2020 06:00:04 PM
Timothy’s iPad 12/02/2020 05:59:40 PM 12/02/2020 06:00:03 PM
Julianne Eagan 12/02/2020 05:59:59 PM 12/02/2020 06:00:10 PM
Moriah Carney 12/02/2020 06:00:00 PM 12/02/2020 06:00:11 PM
Timothy’s iPad 12/02/2020 06:00:04 PM 12/02/2020 07:37:18 PM
Herve Pelletier 12/02/2020 06:00:05 PM 12/02/2020 07:33:23 PM
WM Levy Board Recorder (Wendy Levy) 12/02/2020 06:00:06 PM 12/02/2020 07:37:17 PM
Julianne Eagan 12/02/2020 06:00:10 PM 12/02/2020 07:37:12 PM
Moriah Carney 12/02/2020 06:00:12 PM 12/02/2020 07:36:46 PM
Murphy 12/02/2020 06:00:17 PM 12/02/2020 06:00:24 PM
Murphy 12/02/2020 06:00:24 PM 12/02/2020 07:37:02 PM
BUHS ZOOM 12/02/2020 06:00:26 PM 12/02/2020 06:00:30 PM
Andrew Skarzynski 12/02/2020 06:00:28 PM 12/02/2020 06:00:32 PM
BUHS ZOOM 12/02/2020 06:00:31 PM 12/02/2020 07:37:10 PM
Andrew Skarzynski 12/02/2020 06:00:32 PM 12/02/2020 07:37:17 PM
Jon Sessions 12/02/2020 06:00:35 PM 12/02/2020 06:00:46 PM
Amer Latif 12/02/2020 06:00:44 PM 12/02/2020 06:00:49 PM
Jon Sessions 12/02/2020 06:00:46 PM 12/02/2020 07:13:40 PM
Jodi Nutting 12/02/2020 06:00:48 PM 12/02/2020 06:00:53 PM
Ruby McAdoo (Amer Latif) 12/02/2020 06:00:50 PM 12/02/2020 07:37:11 PM
Jodi Nutting 12/02/2020 06:00:53 PM 12/02/2020 07:20:50 PM
Flo Levin 12/02/2020 06:01:11 PM 12/02/2020 06:01:14 PM
