Windham Southeast School District
Finance Committee Meeting – Tuesday August 10, 2021
5:00pm Meeting @ Cusick Conference Room BUHS
Members: Shaun Murphy – Chairperson, Michelle Luetjen Green, Jaci Reynolds, David Schoales
Board Recorder: Wendy Levy
Agenda
1. Approval of Minutes
2. Academy School Addition project
Bid process update
Construction funding update
3. HVAC project updates: Guilford, BUHS
4. WRCC Whetstone Village property disposition
5. Fiscal Year End FY21 Preliminary fiscal results
6. Recommendation to Board to Approve Warrants and Payrolls
7. Other
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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, JUNE 8, 2021
REGULAR 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 6:04pm.
DS announced changes to the agenda.
II. COMMUNICATIONS
DS announced TM has a resolution to present to the Board later.
DS acknowledged a previous plan to have the Teacher Leaders from the Equity and Social Justice
Committee present an update on their progress this year at the June 22 meeting. But, this is after the school year ends. So, this presentation will appear at the top of the agenda for the first September regular Board meeting. Mikaela Simms thanked DS and Superintendent Andy Skarzynski for noticing this.
Mikaela noted five Teacher Leaders are leaving this year: Cory Sorensen, Kylie Weld, Erica Garnett, Elyse Wadsworth, and Jessica Montenieri. Mikaela thanked all of the Equity and Social Justice Teacher leaders who submitted videos, and Shannon Kelly for putting the video together.
III. CONSENT AGENDA
– Clerk’s Report – Approval of Minutes for May 25, 2021
– Finances
Warrants of May 10, 2021
Warrant No, 1329 in the amount of $ 2,325.00
Warrant No. 1330 in the amount of 13,925.00
Warrant No. 1331 in the amount of 1,468.02
Warrant No. 1332 in the amount of 16,513.87
Warrant No. 1333 in the amount of 121.50
Warrant No. 1337 in the amount of 32,325.24
Warrant No. 1338 in the amount of 24,132.00
Warrant No. 1339 in the amount of 1,153.64
Warrant No. 1340 in the amount of 96,421.25
$188,385.53
Warrants of May 17, 2021
Warrant No. 1342 in the amount of $ 6,000.00
Warrant No. 1343 in the amount of 26,901.82
Warrant No. 1344 in the amount of 805.00
Warrant No. 1345 in the amount of 7,884.76
Warrant No. 1346 in the amount of 36,087.93
Warrant No. 1347 in the amount of 10,968.83
Warrant No. 1348 in the amount of 138,670.84
$227,319.18
Warrants of May 24, 2021
Warrant No. 1349 in the amount of $ 710.00
Warrant No. 1350 in the amount of 24,375.00
Warrant No. 1355 in the amount of 48,184.67
Warrant No. 1356 in the amount of 5,394.76
Warrant No. 1357 in the amount of 128,986.47
$207,650.90
Payrolls
May 7, 2021 $1,253,536.06
May 21, 2021 $1,451,385.85
– New Hires
Linda Alvarez – WRCC, Business Education
Kimberly Edgar – BUHS, School Nurse
Torin Riddle – Putney Central School, Middle School Social Studies
Nicole Thomas – Dummerston School, School Counselor
Julie Ackerman-Hovis — BUHS Choral Teacher
– Resignations
Ellen Boles – Oak Grove Music Teacher
Julie Ackerman-Hovis – Green Street Music Teacher
MOTION BY SM TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA — THE MINUTES OF THE MAY, 25 BOARD MEETING; THE WARRANTS FROM MAY 10, MAY 17, AND MAY 24; THE PAYROLLS FROM MAY 7 AND MAY 21; THE NEW HIRES; AND THE RESIGNATIONS — AS PRESENTED. TN SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
IV. PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS
None.
V. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
– ESSER Update – Plan for Getting Public Comments
Deb Kardane presented an update on the District’s Recovery Plan. Highlights included:
• She submitted the plan to the state on June 1.
• The team will continue gathering community input.
• This is the beginning; not the final product.
• A description of the goals and philosophy for collecting feedback.
• The recovery advisory team is developing a website: WSESU Recovery Plan.
• The website is a work-in-progress, and includes a survey.
• Schools have begun planning for recovery; Deb gave details on its structure and participants.
DS asked about the outreach plans for announcing the website. Deb reported the website is currently
under review by the advisory team and should be ready by the following week.
Paul Smith explained some details about ESSER I, II, and III. Highlights included:
• Financial details.
• Funding requirements set by the federal government.
• The “meaningful consultation” requirement, and who that includes per the federal guidelines.
• The deadline for receiving some of the ESSER funds, how it will affect the recovery team’s
work, and some challenges of this process.
• A document, “ESSER III Summary for Meaningful Consultation.”
• A review of the document’s components, including its goals, plans, and an initial list of possible
groups and forums for consultation.
• A review of the three-year ESSER III proposal.
DS noted this funding is available over three years, and the District can continue to amend the plan
during that time to adjust for what is working and not working.
TM asked about the line item in the funding for additional staff support, specifically whether these
positions will be temporary. Paul responded: some of them, but that it still to be determined.
SM asked about the recovery advisory team. Deb replied with details on the participants, so far, and the
process and goals. She noted this is all emerging.
– Update on Community Conversations Around the School Resource Officer Position
Andy Skarzynski provided a history of the process, and who is taking on this project. He noted there
was some discussion about having the leadership councils perform this work, but he questioned
whether this is a suitable task for them, especially because they are a new entity. He pointed out that
Policy D3 speaks to the Board having the responsibility to remove positions, so this should be a Board
project, and they can develop a task force.
DS reported that after Andy discussed this subject with him, he consulted with AB, EMK, TN, KY,
Mikaela Simms, and Mike Szostak for their thoughts. This led to DS creating a proposal to create a
WSESD SRO Task Force. DS shared a document detailing this task force, and he asked for input as
soon as possible. The document reads:
“WSESD SRO Task Force Proposal
June 8, 2021
Our primary responsibility is to meet the needs of all our children. We propose creating a broad Task
Force with the composition, competence, and support to engage students in exploring the issue of School Resource Officers and recommending to the Board options on how to proceed.
We propose this Task Force focus on a number of ‘deliverables’ to the Board:
Determine a transparent approach that will integrate the community into the process of determining the way forward.
Identify students, particularly those who are under-engaged at this point, to join the process.
Examine our current model, and research information nationally to identify the positives and negatives of SRO programs.
With facilitation and support as needed, develop innovative models for our district that incorporate the positives and eliminate the negatives identified in their research.
Bring a recommendation(s) to the Board.
Stipends- we have consulted our attorney on the process of providing stipends for Task Force participants.
Begin in August- set schedule and identify resources and needs
Report in December- in time for budget consideration
Recommended members- Diversity Coordinator, Restorative Justice Coordinator , Administrator with demonstrated experience in Restorative Justice, Community Justice Center- organizational skills and help creating the report, Law Enforcement representatives, Social Studies Dept. Chair , Transitions Program, Youth representatives, Social Worker- Transitions Program, Counselor- Transitions Program, BUHS Counselor Board members- Tim, Anne, and Thomas have agreed.”
A discussion ensued on this proposal, which included input from Board members, WSESD staff, and members of the public.
Most of the commentary came from Youth For Change participants and their allies, who expressed anger, disappointment, and dissatisfaction with such things as the process, the lack of power-sharing, the lack of representation of BIPOC students and other marginalized people, and the lack of acknowledgement of the discrepancy between white students’ and BIPOC/LGBTQ/disabled students’ experiences with the SRO. Discussion ensued on including more representatives from marginalized groups and fewer from law enforcement, learning from what other towns in Vermont have done about their SROs, and working with the Windham County NAACP.
DS said the Board is creating a process to hear opinions and integrate community voices into this project.
MOTION BY TM TO ADOPT THE WSESD SRO TASK FORCE PROPOSAL AS PRESENTED. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
VII. COMMITTEE REPORTS
A. Reports/Updates
LEADERSHIP COUNCILS (LC)
Green Street School: JR reported they met recently and discussed new hires and end-of-the-year celebrations.
BUHS: BUHS Principal Steve Perrin reported they met on June 7 and had an organizational meeting and discussed the vision for this LC.
Guilford Central School: Chairwoman Beth Bristol reported they met recently and discussed goals, policies, the calendar, and communication methods with the Board.
WRCC: Director Nancy Weise reported they met recently and discussed the recovery plan, attendance, work-based learning, the early childhood education program, and the new electrical program.
Academy School: Academy School Principal Kelly Dias reported they met on June 3 and discussed goals, a purpose statement, increasing and diversifying the LC, and how the school can spend the ESSER funds.
Putney Central School: Chairwoman Ruby McAdoo reported she sent the Board a report of the year in- review, which includes recent LC discussion topics, such as events and values. Ruby announced this LC is meeting in June, pausing in July, and returning in August.
BAMS: BAMS Principal Keith Lyman reported they met on June 2 and discussed updates on the school year, the recovery plan, and ESSER.
Oak Grove School: TM reported they met recently and welcomed some members of the Green Street
School LC as guests to that meeting to discuss the latter’s success, whether to combine the LC and PTO meetings in back-to-back sessions, the difference between each entity’s objectives, and the LC’s structure.
Dummerston School: Dummerston School Principal Julianne Eagan reported they met recently and discussed the LC’s relationship to the Board, playground plans, the fundraising committee, collaboration with the town on campus projects, the recovery plan, ESSER, and next year’s needs.
DS and Ruby announced new LC members.
MOTION BY SM TO APPROVE THE MEMBERSHIP OF MAGGIE FOLEY AND TOSHA TILLMAN TO THE GUILFORD CENTRAL SCHOOL LEADERSHIP COUNCIL. MG SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
MOTION BY AB TO ACCEPT TARA CASTINE TO THE PUTNEY CENTRAL SCHOOL LEADERSHIP COUNCIL. JR SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
VIII. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
A. Board Consideration of Progress and Challenges After the First Year of Leadership Councils, and Adjustments Going Forward
B. Leadership Council Summit Planning
DS shared a document with LC questions to consider. He asked Board members to suggest how to proceed, rather than answering the questions tonight. A discussion ensued on the summit, that no administrators or Board members should chair the LCs, support, and accountability.
Former WSESD Board Chair Kristina Naylor spoke about the history and background of the LCs.
Robin Morgan asked if the LCs are supposed to advise the Board. If so, she said, they cannot do that without the Board communicating its needs to the LCs. She requested a regular structure, including receiving upcoming agendas. She asked DS to send his list of questions to the LCs. A discussion ensued on LC and Board communications. Beth Bristol and Ruby McAdoo supported Robin’s statements. A discussion ensued. DS made a suggestion: ask the Communications Council for their suggestions, and to bring a proposal and some next steps to the next Board meeting.
C. Policy Review: C6 – Board/Superintendent Relationship – Additional Reading
DS gave some background on this policy, and noted the Board has not implemented the C7 guidelines yet. The Board will return to this subject at future meetings.
IX. NEW BUSINESS
B. Ellen P. Darrow Scholarship
AB presented details and background on this scholarship, including its requirements, and, because of the merger, who decides the winner.
MOTION BY AB TO AWARD THE ELLEN P. DARROW SCHOLARSHIP TO MAGGIE FRAZER-OLSON. TM SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
C. Set Summer Meeting Schedule
DS requested the Board not meet in July. DS made suggestions for the two August meetings. A discussion ensued.
A. Board Approval of Recommended Pre-Qualified Bidders
Finance Director Frank Rucker reported the committee needs another week to review this. He requested the Board postpone this discussion until the June 22 meeting.
D. Authorization for the WSESD Finance Committee to Approve Warrants and Payrolls During the Summer Months
E. Authorization for the WSESD Personnel Committee to Make Hiring Decisions During the Summer Months
MOTION BY SM TO AUTHORIZE THE WSESD FINANCE COMMITTEE TO APPROVE WARRANTS AND PAYROLLS DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS, AND TO AUTHORIZE THE WSESD PERSONNEL COMMITTEE TO MAKE HIRING DECISIONS DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS. AB SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
F. Planning EES Training
DS announced the Board will discuss this on June 22.
G. Structural Adjustments to Reduce the Length of Meetings
MOTION BY TN TO TABLE THIS ITEM UNTIL THE JUNE 22 MEETING. MG SECONDED.
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
H. Using Hybrid In-Person/Zoom Format for FY22 Meetings
JR announced the WSESU Board will try this at their upcoming meeting, and she will report the results to the WSESD Board.
I. Ethiopian Refugee Resolution
Alex Beck of the BDCC reported on the work being done by the BDCC Welcoming Committee on improving inclusivity in workforce development. He noted immigration is integral to these plans, as it will bring more volunteers and workers to the Brattleboro area. The BDCC is working with many community partners to assess what is needed for Brattleboro to become a refugee resettlement community, specifically for people arriving from Ethiopia. The BDCC is seeking letters of support from across the community, and Alex noted the young people who may arrive if this plan is successful will be WSESD students.
TM expressed his support for this proposal, and he noted Governor Phil Scott and Senator Patrick Leahy support welcoming refugees to Vermont. TM shared the resolution (below) that he wrote, and
Alex made a suggestion for a change to the document. A discussion ensued. Andy indicated his support. SM said that even though the proposal is centered on Brattleboro, other WSESD schools should support this, too.
MOTION BY SM TO ADOPT THE ETHIOPIAN RESETTLEMENT PROJECT LETTER, WITH THE AMENDMENT, AS PRESENTED. AB SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED 8-1, WITH KY ABSTAINING.
X. PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS
Bethany Ranquist thanked Andy for calling a half-day on June 7 due to the heat-wave.
Bethany requested the Board include Y Aspire in the conversations about ESSER funds and afterschool programming. DS asked Deb to put Y Aspire on the list of “meaningful consultations” for the recovery planning. Deb agreed this is a good idea.
MOTION BY AB TO ADJOURN. TN SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:40pm.
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.
WSESD Resolution Re: EDCC and Ethiopian Refugees (as revised 6/8/2021)
Recognizing the value that students from diverse backgrounds bring to our classrooms and realizing how well-positioned WSESD schools are to provide exceptional education, English language training, and social and emotional support to the children of refugees, the Windham Southeast Supervisory
District enthusiastically supports the Ethiopian Community Development Council’s proposal to establish a branch office to initiate a Reception and Placement program in support of refugee resettlement in the Brattleboro area.
The WSESD board also recognizes and supports the work of the Ethiopian Community Development Council in organizing a program that advocates for and directly supports refugees as they seek a safe and secure home community. We recognize that BDCC is committed to implementing a proven model that will effectively support New Vermonters as our community works collaboratively to support their success.
As President Biden and Governor Scott continue to emphasize the positive impact of refugee resettlement and the moral imperative of accepting refugees into our community, we believe now is the time for our community to play our role in making our nation, state and area reflective of the values of inclusivity we all share.
The WSESD looks forward to continued collaboration with the BDCC in its work to support refugees.
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WINDHAM SOUTHEAST SCHOOL DISTRICT
53 Green Street
Brattleboro, VT 05301
www.wsesu.org
NOTICE OF BOARD WORK SESSION
The Windham Southeast School District Board will meet in the WRCC Cusick Conference Room at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 10, 2021.
WORK SESSION AGENDA
I. CALL TO ORDER – 6:00 p.m. – David Schoales, Board Chair
II. POLICY REVIEW AND GOALS
