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 Tuesday, March 16, 2021 via Zoom.
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Meeting ID: 936 6696 9528
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NOTICE OF MEETING
The Windham Southeast School District Board will meet remotely at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 16, 2021 via Zoom.
AGENDA
I. CALL TO ORDER – 6:00 p.m. – ADMINISTRATION
A. Nominations/Election of Board Chair __________________________
B. Nominations/Election of Board Vice-Chair _________________________
C. Nominations/Election of Board Clerk _________________________
D. Nominations/Election of WSESU Voting Members
• Brattleboro: __________________________
• Dummerston __________________________
• Guilford __________________________
• Putney __________________________
E. Establish Meeting Days/Time __________________________
F. Committees
II. RECOGNITION OF VISITORS
All newly elected school directors must take their Oath of Office prior to participation in the meeting.
III. CONSENT AGENDA
• CLERK’S REPORT – Approval of Minutes – February 19 and March 2, 2021
IV. COMMUNICATIONS
• John Gagnon, Principal – Guilford Central School
• Mary Kaufmann, Principal – Oak Grove School
V. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
• Discussion of BUHS School Resource Officer (SRO)
VI. FISCAL REPORT
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
• Early Education
• WSESU Board
VIII. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
IX. NEW BUSINESS
A. Academy School Addition/Renovation Project Review – Possible Action
• Use of Fund Balance and Reserves in the Budget Process – The Board will consider funding options for the proposed Academy Construction Project.
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
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2021
SPECIAL BOARD MEETING – 6:00PM
REMOTE LOCATION
DRAFT MINUTES
WSESD Board Members Present:
WSESU Administrators Present: Andrew Skarzynski (Superintendent); Frank Rucker (Finance Director)
Media Present: Rich Melanson (BCTV)
Others Present: Wendy M. Levy (Board Recorder),
I. CALL TO ORDER
Chair DS called the meeting to order at 6:02pm.
II. WITHDRAWAL INFORMATION FLYER
The Board reviewed and deliberated over the long-form WSESD withdrawal flyer drafted by the Communications Council.
DS introduced the subject, including giving a brief history of the process.
DS reviewed meeting etiquette, including online considerations, and asserted the need for all parties to follow procedure to facilitate the Board achieving the goals of the warned meeting. As such, he reminded attendees to direct all comments to the Chair.
Jaime Contois asked about an information session and the press release.
DS shared the draft of the long-form information flyer, and reviewed its sections. The flyer detailed comparisons between the two possible outcomes of the upcoming vote—dissolving the merger, or retaining the merger—and their potential practical, operational, and financial implications. DS noted that many of the statements in the flyer were discussed at Tuesday’s regular Board meeting.
A lengthy discussion on the flyer ensued among Board members, Superintendent Andy Skarzynski, and Board Recorder Wendy M. Levy. Highlights included:
• Whether to change the mention of the number of Board members.
• Possible confusion over a section that referenced students paying tuition.
• Minor copy-edits.
• DS noted the role of Putney Central School Leadership Council (LC) Chair, Ruby McAdoo, who created much of the flyer’s contents for the LC.
• The teachers’ contract, and RIF implications.
• Whether to omit the “COVID” section, and its possible effects on voter confusion.
• How the vote could affect ESSER (Elementary & Secondary Schools Emergency Relief Act) funds and shared resources across the district’s schools.
• Clarification of the flyer’s authorship.
• Using “Vermont State Legislature,” or, “Vermont State Board of Education,” in some sections of the flyer.
• Using consistent language across both versions of the flyer: the short-form and the long-form.
MOTION BY TN TO CHANGE THE SENTENCE IN THE FLYER TO, “THERE IS NO LAW THAT ADDRESSES THE WITHDRAWAL OF STATE-FORMED DISTRICTS.” LA SECONDED.
A discussion ensued on the review process of editing and approving this document. MG objected to the motion on the grounds that it disrespected the work of the Communications Council. DS asked the Board to remain focused on the content, not on judgements of someone’s intentions behind wanting to make changes to the document.
DS TOOK A ROLL-CALL VOTE
LA: ABSTAIN
AB: ABSTAIN
TN: YEA
MG: NAY
SM: NAY
KY: YEA
TM: ABSTAIN
JR: NAY
MOTION FAILS WITH TWO YEAS, THREE NAYS, AND THREE ABSTENTIONS.
DS opened the floor to the public. He reminded attendees to keep their comments focused on the articles. DS reviewed the Robert’s Rules of Order procedures for being recognized by the Chair, and for speaking.
A discussion ensued on lack of a listing in the flyer for a Brattleboro information session, and the lack of a Brattleboro information session. Board members and the following attendees participated: Ruby McAdoo, Jaime Contois, and Bethany Ranquist.
DS said that the Board can conditionally approve the flyer to include mention of a session if there is a session to include.
MOTION BY SM TO APPROVE THE LONG-FORM INFORMATIONAL FLYER AS PRESENTED. TN SECONDED. THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
DS began a discussion on the Brattleboro information meeting, and a possible date for it: immediately after the budget meeting on Tuesday, February 23. DS noted that the budget meeting is historically brief, and that WSESD Finance Director Frank Rucker will have a lot of information on the budget to present to attendees.
MOTION BY JR TO ISSUE A PRESS RELEASE ANNOUNCING THE WSESD BOARD WILL BE AVAILABLE IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE BUDGET MEETING, USING THE SAME ZOOM LINK, TO INFORM THE PUBLIC ON THE SCHOOL WITHDRAWAL ARTICLES. MG SECONDED. THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Andy requested an Executive Session before the meeting adjourns.
MG announced the Communications Council will work on publicizing the information session.
III. PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS
A lengthy discussion ensued, with Board members, Andy, and the following attendees participating:
Emily Hartz, Bethany Ranquist, Jaime Contois, Mary McLaughlin, Tosha Tillman, Alisha Kaeppel, Tammy McNamara, Ellen Rago,
Highlights included:
Gratitude for keeping consistent language in both versions of the flyer.
A question, and explanation, about how the long-form flyer will be distributed to the public.
A question about how members of the public can address their concerns with the Board.
A concern that the information session and the Brattleboro Selectboard meet-the-candidates meeting are happening at the same time.
A question about the names of the people who asked for these articles to be included on the Town Meeting ballot.
Whether the Board is required to release the names of its members who requested these articles be included on the Town Meeting ballot.
The process by which articles are included in the Town Meeting ballot vis-a-vis the Board and petitions.
A request for Board members to speak about why they voted to include these articles on the Town Meeting ballot.
If the Board decided not to make this decision available to voters, it would deny voters the opportunity to decide whether to dissolve the merger, and that would be inappropriate.
A concern that voters are overwhelmed and do not have enough information to vote.
A question about why this vote is happening now.
The reason for the LCs’ existence, and their role.
A request for more information about the LCs and their relationship to the Board.
A question about whether the LCs were consulted before the Board put these articles on the ballot, and a concern that this happened too quickly.
A discussion on LCs.
The history of local opposition to the Act 46 merger, and the request of many in the district to reverse it, as an explanation of why the Board put these items on the ballot.
An acknowledgement that voting to dissolve the merger will not actually “reverse” the merger and automatically bring schools back to their pre-merger structures.
DS called for a break from 7:43-7:48pm.
The discussion continued between the Board, Andy, and the following members of the public: Beth Bristol, Tara Castine, Maggie Foley, Robin Morgan, and Julianne Giordano.
Highlights included:
• The LCs.
• A request for Board members to rotate their schedules to attend each LC to get to know the people they are representing.
• A comment on the structure for the community to provide input at Board meetings.
• Gratitude for the time the Board put into this issue.
• Gratitude for the LCs.
• A complaint about prohibiting administrators from discussing the vote unless asked.
• A request to reschedule the regular Board meetings on a day different from the day the Brattleboro Selectboard meets.
• The challenges of scheduling regular Board meetings, and a commitment that the Board will keep trying to find a better meeting time.
• A question about whether all of the Board members will be at the information session.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
MOTION BY MG TO ENTER EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS A PERSONNEL MATTER. TN SECONDED. THERE WAS NO VOTE ON THIS MOTION.
The Board invited Andy to join them.
The Board entered Executive Session at 8:05pm.
The Board rose from Executive Session at 8:27pm and took no action.
MOTION BY TM TO ADJOURN. TN SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:29pm.
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.
….
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, MARCH 2, 2021
REGULAR BOARD MEETING – 6:00PM
REMOTE LOCATION
DRAFT MINUTES
WSESD Board Members Present: Listed Below
WSESU Administrators Present: Andrew Skarzynski (Superintendent); Frank Rucker (Finance Director)
Media Present: Rich Melanson (BCTV)
Others Present: Wendy M. Levy (Board Recorder),
I. CALL TO ORDER
Chair DS called the meeting to order at 6:01pm.
DS announced changes to the agenda—tabling item XII (Committee Reports)—per the administration’s request to keep this meeting short because school is starting the next day and they need to rest.
II. RECOGNITION OF VISITORS
None.
III. CONSENT AGENDA
– Clerk’s Report & Finance: Approval of Minutes from the February 16, 2021 and February 23, 2021 meetings, and the warrants and payrolls as follows.
DS announced that because of a question from the Board Recorder about the February 19, 2021 minutes that neither he nor Superintendent Andy Skarzynski could answer, he is tabling review of those minutes until a future meeting.
Warrants of February 1, 2021
Warrant No. 1224 in the amount of $ 6,426.25
Warrant No. 1228 in the amount of 2,250.00
Warrant No. 1229 in the amount of 162.92
Warrant No. 1230 in the amount of 3,696.00
Warrant No. 1231 in the amount of 14,409.11
Warrant No. 1232 in the amount of 106,292.75
$133,237.03
Warrants of February 8, 2021
Warrant No. 1234 in the amount of $ 33,233.47
Warrant No. 1235 in the amount of 311.00
Warrant No. 1236 in the amount of 1,186.76
Warrant No. 1237 in the amount of 843,809.94
$878,541.17
Warrants of February 15, 2021
Warrant No. 1238 in the amount of $693.39
Warrant No. 1239 in the amount of 314.97
Warrant No. 1244 in the amount of 5,469.75
Warrant No. 1246 in the amount of 2,500.00
Warrant No. 1247 in the amount of 1,595.23
Warrant No. 1248 in the amount of 158,583.81
Warrant No. 1249 in the amount of 10,176.58
$179,333.73
Warrants of February 22, 2021
Warrant No. 1251 in the amount of $ 373.59
Warrant No. 1253 in the amount of 35,116.88
Warrant No. 1254 in the amount of 1,195.00
Warrant No. 1255 in the amount of 58,128.26
$94,813.73
Payrolls
January 29, 2021 $1,254,600.91
February 12, 2021 $1,374,035.27
MOTION BY TN TO APPROVE THE FEBRUARY 16, 2021 AND FEBRUARY 23, 2021 MINUTES; THE FEBRUARY 1, 2021, FEBRUARY 8, 2021, FEBRUARY 15, 2021, AND FEBRUARY 23, 2021 WARRANTS; AND THE JANUARY 29, 2021 AND FEBRUARY 12, 2021 PAYROLLS. SM SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
No amendments or discussion.
IV. COMMUNICATIONS
None.
V. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
– COVID Update of Ongoing Expansion of In-person Instruction Andy gave his report. Highlights included:
• Big news! Teachers of grades Kindergarten-12th Grade are scheduled to be vaccinated soon, and more news will be released about that by Friday. It may be the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. The administration is very happy about this news.
• One teacher, Henny Walsh of the Putney Central School, is retiring, and two are resigning: Kylie Weld of Oak Grove School because she is moving from the area, and Cate Hagarty of Oak Grove School, who is taking a different position at BUHS.
MOTION BY MG TO ACCEPT, WITH GRATITUDE AND REGRETS, THE RETIREMENT AND RESIGNATIONS AS PRESENTED. LA SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
MOTION BY JR TO APPROVE THE RESIGNATION OF .6 FULL-TIME-EQUIVALENT TEACHER CATE HAGARTY, AND HIRE HER AS THE BUHS SPANISH TEACHER. MG SECONDED.
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
VI. FISCAL REPORT
– New Information or Documents Relating to Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) and COVID Relief Fund (CRF) Grant Opportunities
DS asked about updates to the ESSER funds.
Finance Director Frank Rucker shared a document, FY21 Grant Summary, and provided some details on grant funding and school expenses, including for the Windham Regional Career Center (WRCC) and HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) system upgrades.
Frank noted the huge amount of work that went into this, and staff, administrators, and workers in the Central Office all contributed.
VII. COMMITTEE REPORTS
This item was tabled by the Chair.
VIII. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
None.
IX. NEW BUSINESS
A. Academy School Addition/Renovation Project Review
– Use of Fund Balance and Reserves in the Budget Process
Frank led the discussion on this item. Highlights included:
• A brief report on the conversation Frank recently had with Cory Frehsee of Stevens & Associates to review the next steps of this project’s process.
• A document, Academy School Project Planning Notes.
• A review of the history of the project.
• A reminder to the Board that the civil engineering study should begin soon.
Frank reviewed his recommended timeline for Board actions for this project:
• March 16: decide on funding and then, if borrowing is included, establish a date for the electorate to vote.
• April 6: approve the schematic design.
• April 20: set the bidder prequalification process.
• April-May: work on design development.
• May 3: the Board interviews interested bidders.
• May: conduct public hearings on the project.
• May: hold a warned meeting to vote to authorize funds.
• June 1: the Board selects the prequalified bidders to participate in the bidding.
• June-July: conduct contract development.
• August: work on the bid, then announce the opening of the bidding.
• September: award the bid, then begin construction.
SM thanked Frank for his presentation. He questioned the timeline, specifically regarding the start of construction—was it not supposed to begin earlier in the year?
Frank agreed, but after talking with representatives at Stevens & Associates about it, he learned that because the Board did not have this on the agenda in December and January, the project fell behind. Frank noted the components of the timeline have to occur.
EMK asked how long it will take to complete construction.
Frank responded: Six months, and some work can continue during the winter.
EMK followed up: Will construction disrupt school?
Frank responded: Yes, but not with the functioning of the school.
Academy School Principal Kelly Dias said she hoped the windows could be replaced in the summer, when school is not in session. She provided details on the use of some of the shared rooms that will undergo construction, and noted construction could pose some challenges, but school staff will be flexible.
Frank noted that these potential disruptions will be part of the planning workshops, and that this is part of project management. He asked Kelly to continue providing input throughout the project.
DS asked if the project could be segmented to begin the window replacement sooner.
Frank responded: We can discuss this at the next few Board meetings, but it is better to keep the project intact as one entity.
SM agreed with DS and Kelly on replacing the windows first, if possible.
Frank said this can be the priority for the next few meetings, and it is part of the schematic design process.
Frank referenced the state statute that enables the Board to warn a meeting, in a simple format, for the electorate to vote to authorize the District to borrow funds for this project. He noted it is a simpler process than calling a meeting for a bond.
Frank explained why he recommends this funding plan, and not a bond, and he offered some history.
Frank reviewed the three funding options, their pros, cons, and possible implications.
DS clarified some aspects of Frank’s suggestion for the article’s language.
SM said Frank’s timeline is well laid-out.
MOTION BY SM THAT THE BOARD PROCEEDS WITH THE TIMELINE, AND THE METHOD OF FINANCING, FOR THE ACADEMY PROJECT AS RECOMMENDED. JR SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
X. PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS
Frank noted both of the workshops are part of refining the schematic design and civil engineering services. The latter needs to happen, and it is best to procure that through the same entity: Stevens & Associates. Frank wants the Board to be aware that this is happening.
Ruby McAdoo reminded the Board that Leadership Council development is necessary. She asked if the Board had a plan for addressing this, including hosting a summit.
DS responded: It will be on the agenda for the March 16 Board meeting.
Bethany Ranquist reminded the Board that School Board meetings are the same night as some towns’ Selectboard meetings, and this poses a challenge for people who want to attend both. She asked the Board to address this as a priority after the new Board reorganizes.
SM agreed, and noted this conflict is difficult for reporters, too.
MOTION BY AB TO ADJOURN. MG SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:55pm.
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.
