WSESD Board Meeting Agenda and Minutes

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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 at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday,
June 21, 2022 in the WRCC Cusick Conference Room and remotely via Zoom.
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AGENDA
I. CALL TO ORDER – 6:00 p.m. – Kelly Young, Board Chair
II. CONSENT AGENDA
• CLERK’S REPORT – Approval of Minutes – June 7, 2022
III. Public Comment on Non-agenda Items (10 minutes)
IV. Unfinished Business
A. Sexual Abuse Investigation Update
B. SRO Task Force Recommendations Update
V. Committee Assignments
VI. Administrative Report
• Monthly Report for School Board
• Panorama Climate Survey Update
• Erin’s Law Update
• MTSS – Presentation
VII. Fiscal Report
VIII. New Business
A. Summer Meeting Schedule
B. Student Representatives to the WSESD Board
C. Policy and Amendment Committee:
• Policy B3 – Board Conflict of Interest – Review/Update – 1st Reading
IX. Executive Session – 1V.S.A. §313(a)(3) The Appointment or Employment of Public Officer or Employee, Provided that the Public Body shall make a Final Decision During Open Meeting
X. Executive Session – 1V.S.A. §313(a)(1)(E) Pending or Probably Civil Litigation or a Prosecution, to Which the Public Body is or may be a party
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
TUESDAY, JUNE 7, 2022
REGULAR BOARD MEETING – 6:00PM
HYBRID MEETING: WRCC CUSICK CONFERENCE ROOM & REMOTELY VIA ZOOM

DRAFT MINUTES

WSESD Board Members Present: Chairperson Kelly Young (KY), Liz Adams (LA), Anne Beekman (AB), Lana Dever (LD), Michelle Green (MG), Tim Maciel (TM), Shaun Murphy (SM), Emily Murphy Kaur (EMK), David Schoales (DSC), Deborah Stanford (DST).
WSESD Board Members Absent:
WSESU/WSESD Administrators and Staff Present: Wendy M. Levy (Board Recorder), Mary Kaufmann, Nancy Weise, Frank Rucker, Mark Speno, Keith Lyman, Paul Smith, Mikaela Simms, Jon Sessions, Mike Szostak, John Gagnon
Media Present:
Others Present: Mindy Haskins-Rogers, Sherri Keefe, Kaiya Colby
Please note: this attendance may be incomplete.

I. CALL TO ORDER

Chair KY called the meeting to order at 6:02pm.

TM announced the deadline extension for recruiting student representatives to the WSESD Board was successful: they received excellent candidates. TM and LD interviewed them. Because they can only have two representatives, TM said DSC made a suggestion: have a student representative advisory committee with regular meetings with the Board.

MOTION BY TM TO AMEND THE AGENDA TO DISCUSS THE STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE ADVISORY COMMITTEE. DST SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED
UNANIMOUSLY.

MOTION BY TM THAT THE BOARD ESTABLISH A SCHOOL BOARD STUDENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE (SBSAC) WHOSE MEMBERS WILL BE CHOSEN INITIALLY FROM CANDIDATES FOR THE STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE SEATS. THIS COMMITTEE WILL MEET AT LEAST ONE TIME PER MONTH AT BUHS AND WILL INCLUDE AT LEAST ONE BOARD MEMBER. DST SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

MOTION BY TM TO ALLOCATE $500 STIPENDS FOR EACH OF THE STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES CHOSEN TO SERVE ON THE BOARD. MG SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

MOTION BY KY TO AMEND THE AGENDA TO INCLUDE A MOMENT OF SILENCE AND PRESENTATION ABOUT THE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS WHO LOST THEIR LIVES IN TEXAS, AND OTHER STUDENTS AND TEACHERS WHO LOST THEIR LIVES IN A SIMILAR WAY RECENTLY. DSC SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

KY led the moment of silence while Paul Smith displayed photos of the students and teachers who died in Texas.

II. CONSENT AGENDA

– CLERK’S REPORT –
Approval of Minutes – May 17 and May 24
KY announced Deb Gass requested the following changes to the May 3 minutes: “EES Director Deb Gass discussed the item and its guidance, which is to increase staff salaries by at least 2.28% (not 2.8% as noted in the current minutes) for COLA and quality improvements. She said the Policy Council’s recommendation is to give everyone this raise, as well as an additional $1 raise to their hourly pay rate. The funds will be awarded on July 1.”

MOTION BY LA TO AMEND THE MINUTES OF MAY 3 AS DESCRIBED. DS SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

KY announced Deb Gass requested the following changes to the May 17 minutes: “EES Director Deb Gass reported on the recent inspection, and failure, of the two fire escape stairways at the Canal Street School. After much searching, Deb found an inspector, who declared both structures are in need of repair, including a roof built over them to prevent further deterioration. The estimated cost is $95,000.(current minutes read $81,000, but I reported $91,000 and the final bid is closer to $95,000) Deb said she recently learned about a grant opportunity to fund the project from the regional Head Start office. It is very time-sensitive, she said.”

MOTION BY DSC TO ACCEPT THE EDITS TO THE MAY 17 MINUTES. LA SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

MOTION BY LD TO APPROVE THE MAY 24 MINUTES. DSC SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

– FINANCES –
Warrants of April 11, 2022
Warrant No. 1301 in the amount of $2,210.00
Warrant No. 1302 in the amount of 150.00
Warrant No. 1303 in the amount of 63,715.34
$66,075.34
Warrants of April 18, 2022
Warrant No. 1305 in the amount of $15.44
Warrant No. 1306 in the amount of 6,000.00
Warrant No. 1307 in the amount of 12,388.75
Warrant No. 1308 in the amount of 245.00
Warrant No. 1309 in the amount of 132,301.59
$150,950.78
Warrants of April 25, 2022
Warrant No. 1310 in the amount of $12,756.80
Warrant No. 1315 in the amount of 40.52
Warrant No. 1316 in the amount of 179.00
Warrant No. 1317 in the amount of 400,450.46
$413,426.78
Warrants of May 2, 2022

Warrant No. 1319 in the amount of $30,732.89
Warrant No. 1321 in the amount of 600.00
Warrant No. 1322 in the amount of 1,949.00
Warrant No. 1323 in the amount of 6,086.54
Warrant No. 1324 in the amount of 77,541.17
$116,909.60
Warrants of May 9, 2022
Warrant No. 1325 in the amount of $1,861.76
Warrant No. 1326 in the amount of 1,941.00
Warrant No. 1330 in the amount of 6,900.00
Warrant No. 1331 in the amount of 560.00
Warrant No. 1332 in the amount of 712.50
Warrant No. 1333 in the amount of 8,422.74
Warrant No. 1334 in the amount of 800,682.32
$821,080.32
Warrants of May 16, 2022
Warrant No. 1336 in the amount of $4,098.00
Warrant No. 1337 in the amount of 52,453.43
Warrant No. 1338 in the amount of 18,017.53
Warrant No. 1339 in the amount of 6,000.00
Warrant No. 1340 in the amount of 97,724.78
$178,293.74
Warrants of May 23, 2022
Warrant No. 1343 in the amount of $563.00
Warrant No. 1344 in the amount of 5,029.47
Warrant No. 1345 in the amount of 196,711.09
$202,303.56
Warrants of May 31, 2022
Warrant No. 1349 in the amount of $2,375.00
Warrant No. 1350 in the amount of 300.00
Warrant No. 1352 in the amount of 375.00
Warrant No. 1353 in the amount of 2,568.75
Warrant No. 1354 in the amount of 4,351.87
Warrant No. 1355 in the amount of 611,604.29
$621,574.91
Payrolls
April 8, 2022 $1,367,342.33
April 22, 2022 $1,371,915.92
May 9, 2022 $1,347,086.89
May 20, 2022 $1,591,346.33


III. PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS
There were none.


IV. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
A. Sexual Abuse Investigation Update

DSC gave the report. Highlights included:

• There is nothing new to report.
• The investigation continues.
• The Board expects a report within a few weeks.
Mindy Haskins Rogers of Northampton, MA, and a BUHS alumna, asked if the investigation is soon to end due to the report being imminent. DSC responded: No.
Mindy asked if the Board planned to release the findings to the public in a way that provides clarity but also protects survivors’ privacy. DSC responded: The Board will release what it can without violating reporters’ privacy.

Mindy asked if the Board will release perpetrators’ names. DSC responded: He does not know. A discussion ensued on how and who issues the reports and conducts the investigations, and what may be reported.

Mindy said she is concerned about transparency and accountability so that families can protect their children.

A discussion ensued on the independence of the investigator and the attorneys, possible conflict-of- interest, and how the Board is creating a layer of independence for the investigation.

DSC said the Board keeps asking the attorneys whether it can release information, and the attorneys keep saying, “No.”

Mindy said there had been investigations on Hecker, but he still had access to minors and students and families knew of the investigations. She said transparency is important.

MG said the investigation is not just about incidents, but whether the Administration in the past acted correctly. She said this is why the Board is kept away from the investigation. She said this is an ongoing process and will take a long time.

Sherri Keefe asked if the District will send out a press release before the investigation is complete. She said this will help inform survivors who live outside of the community. DSC responded: Yes, the Board is working on a comprehensive outreach plan. KY asked Sherri for suggestions on places the Board can contact, if Sherri has that information to share.

Mindy said that if the names of perpetrators are released, it may encourage other victims to come forward.

B. Update to Follow-Up Plans Regarding SRO Task Force Recommendations

Superintendent Mark Speno gave an update. Highlights included:
• Interim BUHS Principal Chris Day issued a report.
• Chris contacted Brattleboro Police Chief Norma Hardy, who said the Brattleboro Police Department cannot offer an on-call officer.
• The work continues, including with Windham County Sheriff Mark Anderson.
• The SRO Committee members met that day with Mikaela Simms.
Mikaela Simms reported on some of the recommendations the students had from the SRO Committee meeting. They included:
• Offering students options for their skill classes.
• Issues about the hall and bathroom monitors.
• Developing proactive skills.
• Offering students social time and places to be social while in school.
BUHS student Kaiya Colby, who attended the SRO Committee meeting, spoke about the discussion there. Highlights included:
• The need to increase restorative justice in school.
• School climate.
TM noted the SRO report called for more mental-health supports. At the BUHS Leadership Council meeting, they voted to increase mental health counseling. TM recommended the SRO funding be reassigned to immediately fund a new mental health worker. Mark noted the District just hired new social workers, but the SRO funding amount is not enough to pay a full-time mental health worker.
TM asked Mark to please find the funds as soon as possible, because students are asking for this.
V. COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS
KY announced Board members who requested being part of committees.
MOTION BY AB TO ADD EMK TO THE PROGRAMMATIC AND PERFORMANCE EQUITY COMMITTEE AND THE ACADEMY SCHOOL LEADERSHIP COUNCIL, AND DSC TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE. DST SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
DST reported the Policy & Amendment Committee met recently, and will meet again soon. DST, DS, TM, SM, and LA are members. DST encouraged the public to attend the twice-monthly meetings and get involved. She said the agendas and minutes are on the WSESD website, and the meetings are available on Zoom.
AB reported on the Personnel Committee. Highlights included:

• As of the end of May, there are 35 new hires in WSESU and WSESD, including 10 rehires of current staff on one-year contracts.
• There are still 50 open positions.
• The committee recently hired a new BUHS counselor.
LA gave an additional personnel-related report: the committee hired a BUHS Interim Assistant Principal: Traci Lane. She will replace Chris Day while he is out on military leave, and she is new to the District, said AB.

VI. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

Mark Speno gave his report. Highlights included:

• This is the end of the school year, and it’s the busiest time of the school year.
• This has been a long and stressful year.
• He wants to celebrate what they achieved: the District focused on in-person learning, and they did it, even with remote options and quarantines.
• Kids are graduating!
MG led a round of applause.
Mark noted many students and teachers are attending sports and theater events and cheering on the
students. This is important for community-building.
TM reported the BUHS Leadership Council spoke at their recent meeting about the huge amount of support for students participating in the Special Olympics.
TM asked if the June 13 graduation ceremony will be filmed. Mark responded: Yes. BAMS Principal
Keith Lyman said the June 15 BAMS graduation ceremony will take place on the field, and BCTV will film it.
Academy School Vice Principal Jon Sessions shared a slide show, and presented on developing EST (Educational Support Teams) at all of the District’s schools. Jon noted he will be the Putney Central School Principal next year. Highlights from the EST presentation included:
• What ESTs are.
• Why they are important.
• How ESTs operate in the WSESD.
• Schools are often challenged to connect people with the supports they need, and ESTs do that.
• Every school in the state has an EST.
• The Administration tries to have EST continuity in schools across the District.
• There has been an increase in EST need the last few years.
• A high level of referrals to ESTs means the system is working.
• ESTs help families get involved, which is good.
• A review of some of the EST-related activities this school year.
Jon shared and reviewed a document, “MTSS Kid Talk Form.”
DST asked about creating time for teachers to collaborate. A discussion ensued.
TM asked about EST helping to identify students who are at risk for dropping out. A discussion ensued.
Jon shared a document, “WSESU District-Wide EST Referral Form.”
Jon shared a document, “EST Plan Form.”
Jon’s presentation continued, with the following highlights:
Having District-wide consistency with EST processes and forms is important because students move, or go from elementary schools, to BAMS, to BUHS. A discussion ensued.
Mike Szostak asked about students attending their own EST meetings. A discussion ensued.
Guilford Central School Principal John Gagnon spoke about EST being an intervention, the schedule for checking in on the student, and then releasing them from EST as their needs get met and their challenges are resolved.
DSC asked about measuring progress. Jon responded: It is on an individual basis and highly personalized. A discussion ensued on methods of measurement, EST accountability and continuity, and statewide standards.
DSC asked about levels of family participation. Jon said it differs by school, but is about 2/3. A discussion ensued on parent conferences and student-led presentations.
DST spoke about her experience with teaching, and not having access to EST-type information because it is considered “tracking.” A discussion ensued on not using EST to set up expectations, especially negative ones.
A discussion ensued on what happens to the EST plan when the goals have been met and the plans are “retired.”
KY ended the discussion and asked Jon to send the Board the slide show presentation. She said there could be more discussion at a later meeting.

VII. FISCAL REPORT

Frank Rucker recapped the Finance Committee meeting. Highlights included:

• A review of revenues.
• The latest revenue sources.
• The District is on-track for the end of the Fiscal Year.
• ESSER funds.
• There will be a transfer of surplus funds into Capital Reserves.
• There are no significant variances.
• The Fiscal Year will close out in about three weeks.
• There are many capital projects in-progress.
• There was a meeting that day with the Agency of Education to discuss replacing windows, and a statewide awareness for environmental contaminant testing. Academy School passed on PCBs, and asbestos remediation is in-progress. Oak Grove has PCBs in the caulking, with updates soon. Frank said he expects federal financial support for testing and remediation, and remediation will occur in the summer.
MOTION BY KY TO EXTEND THE MEETING BY 15 MINUTES. DSC SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
VIII. NEW BUSINESS

A. Act 250 School Impact Questionnaire
Mark reviewed the questionnaire and why it is being presented to the Board: Commonwealth Dairy is embarking on a project which is a result of waste-water violations. There is no expectation it will lead to an increase in staff or affect the school system.
MOTION BY DSC TO APPROVE MARK SPENO SIGNING THE ACT 250 SCHOOL IMPACT QUESTIONNAIRE. MG SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
B. Ellen P. Darrow Scholarship
AB explained the scholarship and its history. She said the Putney representatives to the WSESD Board
decided the winner: Noah Hed.
MOTION BY AB TO AWARD THE ELLEN P. DARROW SCHOLARSHIP TO NOAH HED. LA SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
C. Authorization for the Finance Committee to Act on the Board’s Behalf to Award FY ’23 Capital Project Bids, and to Approve Warrants and Payrolls in July and August
MOTION BY SM TO AUTHORIZE THE FINANCE COMMITTEE TO ACT ON THE BOARD’S BEHALF TO AWARD FY ’23 CAPITAL PROJECT BIDS, AND TO APPROVE WARRANTS AND PAYROLLS IN JULY AND AUGUST. DSC SECONDED.
A discussion ensued at TM and DST’s request. TM expressed his objection on the grounds that the WSESD Board has a fiduciary responsibility. DSC explained the reason for this motion: in the summer when the Board does not meet regularly, missing a deadline could damage the bidding process. SM supported this statement, and said the Board needs to be nimble to support Frank’s work, and to avoid losing contractors.
VOTE ON THE SM MOTION: MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
D. Motion to Award the Guilford Central School HVAC Bid to BG Mechanical in the amount of $225,860
MOTION BY MG TO AWARD THE GUILFORD CENTRAL SCHOOL HVAC BID TO BG MECHANICAL IN THE AMOUNT OF $225,860. AB SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
E. Motion to Award the Academy School HVAC Bid to BG Mechanical in the amount of $374,988
MOTION BY AB TO AWARD THE ACADEMY SCHOOL HVAC BID TO BG MECHANICAL IN THE AMOUNT OF $374,988. MG SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
F. Summer Meeting Schedule
This item was tabled until the June 21 meeting.
IX. EXECUTIVE SESSION
KY noted the Board had four Executive Sessions.
MOTION BY KY TO ENTER INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION UNDER 1V.S.A. §313(A)(1)(A) WHERE PREMATURE PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE WOULD CLEARLY PLACE THE STATE, MUNICIPALITY, OTHER PUBLIC BODY, OR PERSON INVOLVED AT A SUBSTANTIAL DISADVANTAGE. TM SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. MOTION BY KY TO ENTER INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION UNDER 1V.S.A. §313(A)(1)(A) TO DISCUSS CONTRACTS. MG SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
KY announced Mark was invited to two of the four Executive Sessions.
The Board entered Executive Session at 8:04pm.
The Board rose from Executive Session at 9:30pm.
MOTION BY KY TO APPROVE KY’S COMMUNICATION TO APPROVE KY’S STATEMENT AS APPROVED AND DISCUSSED AT EXECUTIVE SESSION. MG SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
MOTION BY AB TO ADJOURN. LA SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:32pm.
DOCUMENTS PRESENTED:
• WSESD EST Slide Show.
• “MTSS Kid Talk Form.”
• “WSESU District-Wide EST Referral Form.”
• “EST Plan Form.”
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.

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