53 Green Street
Brattleboro, VT 05301
www.wsesu.org
NOTICE OF BOARD MEETING
The Windham Southeast School District Board will meet at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 25, 2022 remotely via Zoom.
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AGENDA
I. CALL TO ORDER – 6:00 p.m. – David Schoales, Board Chair
II. Executive Session (approximately 20-30 minutes) – 1 V.S.A. §313(F) – Confidential attorney-client communications made for the purpose of providing professional legal services to the body.
III. Unfinished Business
• Sexual Abuse Investigation Update
IV. CONSENT AGENDA
• CLERK’S REPORT – Approval of Minutes – December 14 (pending), December 21, 2021, January 11, 2022
• FINANCES
Warrants of December 20, 2021
Warrant No. 1181 in the amount of $ 543.00
Warrant No. 1185 in the amount of 700.00
Warrant No. 1186 in the amount of 650.00
Warrant No. 1187 in the amount of 161,002.31
Warrant No. 1189 in the amount of 1,307.79
Warrant No. 1090 in the amount of 75,766.88
$239,969.98
Warrants of December 28, 2021
Warrant No. 1092 in the amount of $ 537.17
Warrant No. 1094 in the amount of 2,257.57
Warrant No. 1195 in the amount of 13,989.50
Warrant No. 1196 in the amount of` 4,827.11
Warrant No. 1197 in the amount of 122,556.60
$144,167.95
Warrants of January 3, 2022
Warrant No. 1198 in the amount of $ 1,255.00
Warrant No. 1202 in the amount of 561.50
Warrant No. 1203 in the amount of 15,223.88
Warrant No. 1204 in the amount of 1,045.41
Warrant No. 1205 in the amount of 126,602.74
$144,688.53
Warrants of January 10, 2022
Warrant No. 1208 in the amount of $867,855.41
$867,855.41
Payrolls
December 17, 2021 $1,669,510.22
December 31, 2021 $1,144,099.58
V. Policy Review – Policy C7 – Board Relations with Administrators
• The Board will consider: guidelines for communications with administrators; setting goals and objectives for administrators; input for annual performance reviews for each administrator.
VI. Interdisciplinary Climate Report Card Project – The Board will consider supporting the interdisciplinary Climate Report Card Project – This spring, the Underground Workshop, in partnership with the Vermont Energy Education Program (VEEP), is offering a collaborative reporting project for Vermont’s students: “Climate Report Card for our Schools.” The project invites students from across the state to collect data, stories and interviews, comprising an valuation of their schools’ progress toward sustainability. Participation is open to students in middle school, high school and college. The “report card” will use five criteria to evaluate progress: heat, electricity, transportation, food systems, and curriculum
VII. Administrative Report
• Retirements / Resignations
• FY 2023 Budget – Discussion / Action Needed
A. Warning Articles for March 1, 2022 Australian Ballot Voting – Action Needed
B. Act 250 School Impact Questionnaire – Vernon Green Addition – Action Needed
• 1 V.S.A. § 313(a)1B – Labor Relations with Employees
….
Board at a future meeting.
WINDHAM SOUTHEAST SCHOOL DISTRICT (WSESD) BOARD
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2021
REGULAR BOARD MEETING – 6:00PM
HYBRID MEETING: DUMMERSTON SCHOOL/REMOTE LOCATION
DRAFT MINUTES
Media Present: BCTV
Others Present: Kerry Amidon (WSESU Board Chair), Lilly DePino, Mindy Haskins Rogers, Deb Kardane, Wendy M. Levy (Board Recorder), Paul Smith
I. CALL TO ORDER
II. CONSENT AGENDA
– CLERK’S REPORT
DS noted the draft minutes from the December 14, 2021 meeting will come at a later date.
– FINANCES
Warrants of November 8, 2021
Warrant No. 1134 in the amount of $ 3,641.00
Warrant No. 1137 in the amount of 690.05
Warrant No. 1138 in the amount of 769.99
Warrant No. 1139 in the amount of 2,754.33
Warrant No. 1140 in the amount of 174.00
Warrant No. 1141 in the amount of 251,568.58
$259,597.95
Warrants of November 15, 2021
Warrant No. 1143 in the amount of $ 50.00
Warrant No. 1144 in the amount of 197.00
Warrant No. 1145 in the amount of 31,998.00
Warrant No. 1146 in the amount of 450.00
Warrant No. 1147 in the amount of 1,261.81
Warrant No. 1148 in the amount of 93,064.07
$127,020.88
Warrants of November 22, 2021
Warrant No. 1150 in the amount of $ 17,706.73
Warrant No. 1151 in the amount of 60.00
Warrant No. 1153 in the amount of 12,282.24
Warrant No. 1158 in the amount of 412.50
Warrant No. 1159 in the amount of 1,675.16
Warrant No. 1160 in the amount of 164,496.93
$196,633.56
Warrants of November 29, 2021
Warrant No. 1162 in the amount of $ 2,654.54
Warrant No. 1163 in the amount of 1,206.94
Warrant No. 1164 in the amount of 90,570.99
$94,432.47
Warrants of December 6, 2021
Warrant No. 1166 in the amount of $ 593.63
Warrant No. 1167 in the amount of 1,769.00
Warrant No. 1169 in the amount of 399.95
Warrant No. 1170 in the amount of 1,040.66
Warrant No. 1171 in the amount of 8,726.07
Warrant No. 1172 in the amount of 1,013.00
Warrant No. 1173 in the amount of 850,024.04
$863,566.35
Warrants of December 13, 2021
Warrant No. 1174 in the amount of $ 1,267.77
Warrant No. 1175 in the amount of 2,049.00
Warrant No. 1178 in the amount of 2,512.50
Warrant No. 1179 in the amount of 1,177.67
Warrant No. 1180 in the amount of 93,969.50
$100,976.44
Payrolls
November 5, 2021 $1,394,000.72
November 19, 2021 $1,527,970.55
December 3, 2021 $1,383,677.95
MOTION BY MG TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. AB SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
There was none.
• Recovery Plan Update
◦ Tier I Math and Literacy Curriculum Currently Being Piloted
• This new curriculum is being considered at the present time.
• Why is it being considered? Teachers expressed a need for an updated curriculum, lessons from COVID, and changes in the field.
• This could increase student engagement and access.
• There was a recent survey.
• A review of the areas of the curriculum that are changing (math and literacy), and some details about the changes.
• A review of some staff feedback.
• What’s next for the staff?
• How this program relates to the recovery learning plan.
• The projected timeline for the pilot and implementation of the curriculum.
A discussion ensued on how this program will be assessed.
A discussion ensued on including the subject of the climate emergency into the curriculum.
Interim Superintendent Mark Speno spoke about the importance of updating the curriculum, and he thanked Deb and Lilly for their presentation.
V. FISCAL REPORT
• FY ’23 Windham Southeast Supervisory Union Budget Review and Its Impact on Windham Southeast School District Budget
• Act 173 Impact
Finance Director Frank Rucker discussed the FY23 WSESU Budget review, including a brief overview of its development process and components. He shared and reviewed a document, “WSESU FY23 Proposed Budget Program Summary.”
Frank distributed copies of the document, “WSESU FY23 Proposed Budget,” to in-person attendees, and directed online attendees to where, on the website, they could find this document.
A discussion ensued on Special Education, the Special Education funding formula, and how it relates to the tax rate and the weighting study.
Frank announced the SU Board is meeting on December 22 to vote on the budget.
DS advocated for moving slowly on the SU budget approval process because of anticipated action on Act 173. He also said the SU Board needs time to analyze staffing, especially in regards to Act 173’s implications. He noted the need for careful consideration on uses of COVID money, especially because this funding will disappear. He asked the SU Board to consider whether ESSER should fund more mental health workers. He recommended discussing this with the principals and not just looking at the numbers.
SU Board Chair Kerry Amidon disagreed, and said the SU Board has been moving slowly and deliberately. A discussion ensued.
A discussion ensued on the priorities, and participants, in developing the budget.
VI. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
A. Update on the Educator Sexual Misconduct Investigation
MOTION BY MG TO AUTHORIZE THE CHAIR TO ENTER INTO CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS TO RETAIN THE INVESTIGATIVE SERVICES OF AIMEE GODDARD OF BUEHLER & ANNIS PLC BRATTLEBORO. KY SECONDED.
Discussion ensued.
Mindy Haskins Rogers requested the scope of the investigation go back to the 1970s. She asked that the
investigation not use “euphemistic language” to downplay the magnitude of the harm in any of the
victims’ reporting. DS said the scope goes back to 1973, and will go until wherever the investigation
takes it, which could include the present time. DS said Haskins Rogers’s language recommendation is a
good one.
A discussion ensued on the gender make-up of the law firm.
VOTE ON THE MG MOTION: MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
VII. NEW BUSINESS
A. New Hires / Resignations
BUHS Principal Steve Perrin announced Chris Angell will retire from BUHS.
MOTION BY AB TO APPROVE THE RETIREMENT OF CHRIS ANGEL, WITH REGRET. JR SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
MOTION BY AB TO ADJOURN. LA SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:50pm.
DOCUMENTS PRESENTED:
• WSESD Board: Curriculum Update 12/20/21
• WSESU FY23 Proposed Budget Program Summary
• WSESU FY23 Proposed Budget
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.
Board at a future meeting.
WINDHAM SOUTHEAST SCHOOL DISTRICT (WSESD) BOARD
TUESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2022
REGULAR BOARD MEETING – 6:00PM
HYBRID MEETING: WRCC CUSICK CONFERENCE ROOM/REMOTE LOCATION
DRAFT MINUTES
WSESD Board Members Present: Chairperson David Schoales (DS), Liz Adams (LA), Anne Beekman (AB), Michelle Leutjen Green (MG), Tim Maciel (TM), Shaun Murphy (SM), Thomas Nolan (TN), Jaci Reynolds (JR)
WSESU Administrators Present: Steve Perrin (BUHS Principal), Frank Rucker (Finance Director),
Mark Speno (Interim Superintendent)
Media Present: BCTV
Others Present: Jamie Contois, Lana Devers, Mindy Haskins Rogers, Deb Kardane, Wendy M. Levy
(Board Recorder), Ruby McAdoo, Paul Smith
Please note: this attendance may be incomplete.
I. CALL TO ORDER
Chair DS called the meeting to order at 6:02pm.
DS announced changes to the agenda.
IV. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
A. Sexual Abuse Investigation Update
DS provided a brief history of the Board’s actions, including signing a contract with investigators. The next steps:
• The investigator will soon issue a press release about the investigation.
• The Board will step back until the investigation is in-progress—and possibly is complete—so as to not interfere with the investigation.
Mindy Haskins Rogers asked about the nature of Mr. Overtree’s role in the investigation. DS replied:
None; he is only the Board’s advisor.
B. Other Board Business
DS introduced Lana Devers, who is running for the School Board.
Lana spoke about her experiences in leadership roles, community service, and employment.
III. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
– COVID Report
Interim Superintendent Mark Speno reported District staff are overwhelmed by contact tracing duties per new state guidance. Soon, this task will shift to families. He will provide more information soon.
– Afghan Family Resettlement Activities
Mark introduced the ELL Coordinators. They explained the work they are doing to welcome the Afghani students and their families.
They shared a document, a slideshow titled, “Preparing to Welcome Students and Families from Afghanistan to WSESU.”
• 175 refugees from Afghanistan and other countries are projected to move to Brattleboro in the next year.
• The first families arrived last week.
• A list of community partners.
• A list of partners and projects within the WSESU community.
• Descriptions of multi-lingual- and English-language-learner programs.
• A discussion ensued on cultural support for the Afghani people who are moving here.
– Retirements / Resignations / Hiring
Mark and BUHS Principal Steve Perrin announced the names of staff who are retiring or resigning: Clark duPont, BUHS Art Teacher, is resigning; Janet Michaud, Guilford Central School Nurse, and Mary Ann Smith, BUHS Family and Consumer Science Teacher, are retiring.
Mark announced a new Pre-K partnership, with the Beaver Brook Children’s School in Wilmington.
MOTION BY JR TO APPROVE A PRE-K PARTNERSHIP WITH THE BEAVER BROOK CHILDREN’S SCHOOL IN WILMINGTON. LA SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
VI. FISCAL REPORT
– FY 2023 Budget Presentation / Discussion
– Setting the Dates
Mark noted the Board needs to set dates tonight for the budget’s public information meetings so the central office can send out the postcards to voters. A discussion ensued. The dates were established: January 25 and February 24.
JR led the discussion. She also serves on the Finance Committee.
• JR’s learning process as a new Finance Committee member this year.
JR shared and reviewed a document, “WSESU Recovery Plan.” Highlights included:
• The plan focuses on students’ social-emotional needs.
MG discussed being on the Finance Committee, and the District-wide focus on equity in spending and how it relates to the District merger.
Mark discussed two new positions:
• The COVID Coordinator, and how the role may change.
• The Recovery Coordinator, which is still unfilled. He explained this position’s responsibilities, and noted it is basically like an Assistant Superintendent.
• These are both WSESU positions.
– FY23 Budget Review
Frank shared and reviewed a document, “WSESD FY23 Proposed Budget Summary.” Highlights included:
• The budget is up 6.8%, but grants cover much of the increase.
• Total proposed general operations expenditures are $59,842,990.
• A review of funding sources.
• The estimated tax rate is going down, but student spending is going up. This unusual relationship can be explained by more federal funding coming to the District.
• Frank is still awaiting the equalized student numbers from the state, and he hopes they will arrive this week.
• The three main reasons for the budget’s increase: staffing, WSESU Special Education services, and capital improvements.
• Some of the major cost reductions are from: the local share of the food service program decreasing, the bond debt interest has gone down, and transportation assessment revenue has gone up.
• Enrollment numbers are recovering.
• The Brattleboro estimated tax rate is projected to remain the same: $1.74. Dummerston and Guilford’s tax rates are expected to be lower than last year’s.
• Higher statewide property values help lower the tax rate, too. DS opened the meeting to comments from the Board and the public.
• The need for outdoor structures, such as playgrounds. The budget should fund a landscape consultant to help with this. It may cost between $5,000-$7,500 and ESSER 3 funding should pay for it.
• There is a need for funding parent engagement in the school community. This could help with student attendance and social-emotional learning. ESSER 3 funding could pay for staffing and events to achieve this.
DS reviewed how Annual Meeting historically executed budget talks, and that this process included recommendations made from the floor. He recommended sending requests to the administration, and having them rework the budget as necessary, including Ruby’s items.
TN asked where in the budget the following two items are addressed: climate change and workforce diversity.
Frank responded to the climate-change item, and pointed out energy-efficiency projects in the capital budget.
Mark responded to the workforce-diversity item: There is a full-time Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Coordinator, and the administration is working on hiring someone to fill that role. There are currently no candidates, but he hopes that will change in the spring, or in the new year. Additionally, the administration hopes to hire other new positions to improve the District’s diversity. A discussion ensued.
DS asked AB to take over as Chair.
Jamie Contois, a parent of students from the Putney Central School, said the school, and the District, need more after-school programming. Frank, and Paul Smith, and Deb Kardane, noted this—as well as summer programming—is included in the current budget, and in ESSER 3.
TM asked about the budget item for the Oak Grove School Custodian. A discussion ensued.
TM asked about Board stipends.
DS resumed his place as Chair.
A discussion ensued on whether to extend tonight’s meeting by 20 minutes, as the 8pm meeting end was approaching, or to wait until the next meeting. The decision: wait until the next meeting. DS asked TM to postpone his stipend question until then.
VII. CONSENT AGENDA
Tabled by DS.
VIII. PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS
Tabled.
IX. EXECUTIVE SESSION
MOTION BY LA TO ENTER INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION UNDER 1 V.S.A. § 313(a)1B – LABOR RELATIONS WITH EMPLOYEES, AND 1 V.S.A. § 313(a)3 – THE APPOINTMENT OR EMPLOYMENT OR EVALUATION OF A PUBLIC OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE. TM SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
The Board entered into Executive Session at 7:49pm.
The Board rose from Executive Session at 8:16pm. They took no action.
MOTION BY AB TO ADJOURN. LA SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:17pm.
DOCUMENTS PRESENTED:
• Slideshow: “Preparing to Welcome Students and Families from Afghanistan to WSESU.”
• FY23 WSESU Budget Timeline Spreadsheet
• WSESU Recovery Plan
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
at the next meeting.
