Policy and Amendment Committee
September 20, 2022 at 3:00pm
in the WSESU Central Office
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AGENDA
I Approval of Minutes from 9/6/22
II On 9/13/22 the following policies were successfully re-adopted by the Board
F12 – Transportation
F23 – Policy on the Prevention of Harassment, Hazing and Bullying of Students
F26 – Participation of Home Study Students in School Programs and Activities
H1 – School-Community Relations
On 9/13/22 the following policy was successfully adopted by the Board
F41 – Policy on Section 504 and ADA Grievance Protocol for Students & Staff
On 9/13 the following policies were successfully presented for a 1st reading
C7 – Board Relations with the Administrators
D7 – Volunteers and Work Study Students
II. Continue Review
H7 Leadership Councils
III. New Business
Discussion about generating new policies to meet needs in the School District as well as prioritizing the following policies :
G8 Local Action Plan
D2 Professional Development
F1 Student Conduct and Discipline (Hold pending review of all related policies)
D1 Personnel-Recruitment, Selection, Appointment, and Background Checks
Regarding including students in the hiring process
IV. Additional Policies highlighted by the Policy and Amendment Committee for review
G1 Curriculum Development and Coordination
D4 Educator Supervision and Evaluation
H2 Parent Involvement Policy
Meeting to conclude at 4:30.
Policy and Amendment Committee
53 Green St.
Brattleboro, VT 05301
Sept. 6, 2022
DRAFT MINUTES
Members attending: Deborah Stanford (DST, Chair), David Schoales (DS, Vice Chair), Tim Maciel (TM, Clerk), Liz Adams (LA, via Zoom). Absent: Shaun Murphy
Guests attending: Barbara Nowakowski (BN), Paul Smith (PS), Mark Speno (MS), via Zoom), Maggie Foley (MF, via Zoom)
DST convened the meeting at 3:02 pm.
Minutes of 08.22.22 meeting approved.
DST presented a summary of policies successfully readopted by the full WSESD Board (see 09.06.22 agenda for details).
POLICY REVIEW
H1: Leadership Councils
Extensive discussion of Leadership Councils:
– Need to hear from all LC reps before making changes to the current policy.
– Currently, many inconsistencies in quality and posting of minutes, attendance, and structure/content of meeting (e.g. who actually sets the agenda, board reports, etc.).
– The P&A Committee should leave the matter of how LCs are organized and run to the Administration. The Board’s responsibility was to get Article 15 approved and to draft an LC policy, which it did.
– Each LC should have common expectations.
– The P&A Committee should charge the Superintendent with the task of determining how members of LC’s are selected and how other procedures are handled.
– It’s important that members are not selected by the principals. There should also be a time frame for selecting members, they shouldn’t be allowed to “jump in” whenever they want.
– Letters/emails of interest should be required of prospective members stating why they want to join. Some LC’s need to actively recruit members.
– Principals must present slate of prospective LC members to the Board for approval.
– How each LC functions is up to the Superintendent. It is up to him to determine guidelines and procedures for establishing and running LCs. If any policy is not followed, it is the responsibility of the Board to bring it to the attention of the Superintendent who must assure that the policy is followed.
– Concern that some issues should not go to LCs for fear that some principals may dismiss the issues.
– Principals should have a minor voice in LC discussions and should not run the meeting or set the agenda.
– Reminder that each Board Rep on the LC should present salient issues being considered by the Board and should ask the LC for opinions.
– Board should read, acknowledge and thank the LCs for minutes. Also, minutes should not quote or attribute comments to particular members.
– Each LC should receive the Action Plan for the District and should be asked to endorse – not approve – the plan. Each LC should follow some version of Robert’s Rules to show its involvement.
– Superintendent will consult with principals, LC chairs and other stakeholders to establish policy recommendations and protocols for LCs. He will then present his proposals to the P&A Committee.
– Superintendent wants to create atmospheres at LCs where all members of a community feel comfortable in showing up and participating.
– Current policy notes that students should participate in LCs “when appropriate.” Committee agrees that even fourth graders could contribute to some discussions.
– Cordiality is not consistent for different groups of community members. LCs should invite and welcome people who are new to schools.
– BN in the Central Office could provide an orientation for all LC chairs and clerks/notetakers. P&A Committee strongly supports this suggestion.
– LC policy should repeat the statement in the Community Relations policy that all LC meetings must offer remote access.
– It is up to the discretion of the principals whether or not to require background checks of minors. Depends on the situation. [Note: Following the meeting, the HR Director noted that any background check of minors requires permission from the parents/guardians.]
– Volunteers may be used to transport students to events within a 20-mile radius (roughly the area of the District). Events further out need bus transportation by certified carriers.
– Superintendent will look into possibility of using Moover and West River Transportation.
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Next Meeting: Tuesday, September 20th, 3:00 – 4:30 pm.
