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 25, 2024
REGULAR BOARD MEETING – 6 PM
CUSICK CONFERENCE ROOM, WRCC, BRATTLEBORO
DRAFT MINUTES
Present
Anne Beekman (AB ), Tim Maciel (TM), Ruby McAdoo (RM), Shaun Murphy (SM), Eva Nolan (EN), Kim Price (KP), Brian Remer (BR), Colleen Savage (CS) Matt Schibley (MS), Deborah Stanford (DS)
WSESD staff and administration present Frank Rucker, Kerry Amidon, Brin Tucker
Others present
BCTV, Kate O’Connor
Absences
Summary
● Ruby McAdoo was approved as a member of the Putney Leadership Council.
● Frank Rucker spoke about the tax rate implication following the release of the Yield.
● The Board discussed ideas for preparing themselves for budget development and utilizing tools available by exploring documents from the IBRC, VSBA and the Vernon Board.
● July 9th will be the only Board Meeting scheduled for the month, recognizing there could be other meetings called (i.e. Executive Sessions)
● Looking ahead to next year related to the Panorama Survey, a committee was formed to work alongside Brin Tucker to review and consider questions included in the survey for 24- 25.
● The Board voted to rescind policy LSP2.
● The Board voted to rescind policy LSP12.
AGENDA
I. Call to Order
DS called the meeting to order at 6 pm
A statement was read regarding the hybrid meeting model being utilized at this meeting.
DS expressed appreciation for all the work that went into organizing and hosting the Board/Admin Retreat on 6/18/24
– If appropriate, agenda items are subject to Potential Action
Agenda amendment – Add under Board Matters – representative from the Board on the hiring committee for Academy vice principal.
Include a fiscal report to this agenda this evening and move the fiscal report to earlier in the agenda before Board Matters.
DS asked if this meets with the Board – there was no objection.
– If any Board Member feels that an item on the Consent Agenda warrants discussion, that item will be removed from the Consent Agenda and will be set aside for discussion. In this way the Consent Agenda will be approved in one motion. That request should be made now – or before the vote on the Consent Agenda.
II. Student Matters
TM encouraged the students to communicate positive matters as well issues the students would like the Board to consider.
No matters were presented by a student.
III. Public Comment on Non-Agenda Items
This is a time for the Board to listen and to take notes. It is not a time for the Board to respond to comments or to engage in dialogue with the public. If appropriate – the Board and Administration will work on next steps.
No matters were presented to the Board this evening.
IV. Fiscal Report
Kate O’Connor, Brattleboro resident, asked for information regarding the Yield and the effect it will hvae on the taxes this year.
Frank Rucker distributed an analysis providing information regarding the Yield. The yield approval process has been through several steps in the legislature. At the Annual Meeting, the district presented a budget based on an estimated Yield of 9899 as the Yield had not yet been set. On Jun 17, the Yield veto override occurred, and following current statute, the Legislature has set a “property yield” of $9,893 for every $1.00 of homestead tax per $100 of equalized property value and an income dollar equivalent yield of $10,110 for a base income percent of 2.0%. The non-residential tax rate has been set at $1.391. The equalized tax liability (line 11 on the document) is $1.502. All of this is used to determine the CLA. 60% of the residents in Vermont do not pay the tax rate, they fall under the Income Sensitivity (see on line 13). The CLA and the property tax information is shown on the second page. The Putney estimated tax rate is higher, but the town is in the process of reassessment. Properties are continuing to sell for higher value, and the towns are still working to realign.
Mr. Rucker proceeded to explain the process of utilizing this information to estimate your tax rate.
The Board has asked for a document outlining what each of the schools proposed individual budgets to meet the 3% freeze (with a caveat at the top indicating that the information presented is subject to change). Mr. Rucker noted that the majority of these proposals related to positions that were initially budgeted for, but had not previously been filled and now would not be. The district will continue to keep at the top of the list providing what is necessary to meet the needs of the students.
V. Board Matters
A. Discuss ways of presenting financial information to the public
Looking ahead to the budget development season, the Board is requesting tools to help understand the process. Mr. Rucker suggested looking at the VSBA website for information.
Kerry Amidon, Vernon Board Member, noted that there is a video tutorial put out by the VSBA related to how the tax rate is determined. Ms. Amidon also offered to share what the Vernon Board uses related to budgets. SM highlighted the work of the Independent Finance Committee to help make this involved information approachable to the Board and community members who are interested in learning and understanding more.
A discussion occurred about how to consider undertaking this task. It was suggested that a smaller group be the first to gather to discuss and present ideas. It was also suggested that the Board review the document created by the IBRC as it is very clear. It may be that this document meets the needs being presented. Liz Adams, Brattleboro resident, spoke about her appreciation of the work the fiscal department does.
Break started at 7:10 pm
Break ended at 7:18 pm
B. Leadership Council Updates
A request was presented to approve RM as a member of the Putney Leadership Council.
AB MOVED TO APPROVE RM AS A MEMBER OF THE PUTNEY LEADERSHIP COUNCIL. MOTION
SECONDED.
VOTE WAS CALLED. MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
C. Board Sub-Committees
The Social Justice Committee discussed the importance of hiring people of color into leadership positions. All are welcome to join when this committee meets. This committee expressed appreciation for having HR Director, Mike Kelliher, present at their last meeting. This committee will meet 8/1/24 at 11 am, and subsequently will meet on the first Thursday of the month at 11 am, zoom meeting only. At the meeting on 8/1/24 there will be a decision on the three or four main topics to be discussed this upcoming year.
D. Update on Teacher Appreciation – Friday, 6/7
Appreciation was expressed to RM for her organizational work to ensure that all teachers and staff were recognized by the Board. Special appreciation was noted for all those who helped deliver, and for the beautiful words BR wrote. For the 751 staff members, the cost was under $7 per person, and the grand total was approximately $5,000. This was strictly for the WSESD schools, so Vernon was not included. Consideration of including the Vernon School may be discussed next year.
The Vernon School Board does their staff appreciation at the beginning of the school year. Consideration of when to undertake this effort of appreciation for the WSESD staff will begin earlier in the year in the future and may include the Leadership Councils in that discussion in August.
E. Assess delivery of Panorama Data
The Board is requesting they receive the data provided to the Principals. Brin Tucker spoke to the way the principals access this data which is through the online interface. As some of the schools are smaller, it is hard to protect confidentiality. From the Board/Admin retreat on 6/18/24, the ideas generated for presentation of information to the Board are being organized and planned out by Whitney Lynde. That will be coming soon.
A suggestion was given about considering the importance of sharing the results with the public which will help keep people engaged in the process and participating in the future. Another suggestion was having a small group working with Brin Tucker to discuss custom questions to include in Panorama next year. Brin also suggested that there is value in assessing the timeline for administering the different surveys. EN asked for the proficiency information for each school
The working group for the Panorama Committee will be TM, EN, RM and MS. Their charge will be to work with the Curriculum Department to assess the Panorama Data that comes to the Board, the timing and the data presentation. Brin will reach out in August to start this discussion.
Liz Adams, Brattleboro resident, noted that the proficiency rates are published on the AOE website.
F. Data from Family Survey – Panorama
The results of the survey were compiled by MS in a very helpful format for the Board.
G. Process the 6/18/24 Retreat
MS shared his appreciation of the time with the Administration. The connections made and the work done were on point.
SM enjoyed the breakout sessions. The mixing of groups was great.
RM expressed her appreciation of the use of local businesses and felt that the location was successful. KP appreciated that the participation was honest and open. An expression of appreciation for the work put into the presentation by Brin Tucker and Whitney Lynde was very valuable. DS spoke about the value in the shared reading and discussion that took place as a part of the retreat was an exciting piece of the experience. TM pointed out that the discussion about the goals is so necessary. He hopes that there is more time devoted to the review of the goals.
Brin Tucker highlighted the co-planning of the retreat. The discussion around unpolished ideas as a group was a powerful experience. The discussion was rich and valuable. DS asked the Board to review policy G8 – which ties directly into the approval of goals. EN expressed the excitement in the visual presentations coupled with the information articulated. RM wondered if the Curriculum and Assessment Office would visit each Leadership Council in the fall.
H. Plans in place to protect students and staff during extreme weather conditions
With summer offering camp opportunities for students, the Board recognizes that it is challenging when the temperatures get high.. The hope is that there are locations where there are cooler settings, or water opportunities. Finding ways to cool entire buildings is not realistic.
I. Establish Summer Schedule for Board
With the absence of Admin in July it makes the discussions more challenging for the Board. If the regular schedule was adhered to, meetings would be July 9th and July 23rd. Suggestions were:
● Only hold Executive Sessions in July
● Take a break and do not have any Board meetings in July
● Have only one meeting in July
● Plan on only addressing Board specific issues, ie. norms, Board calendar, etc
MS MOTIONED THAT THE BOARD MEET ONE TIME IN JULY ON JULY 9TH AS A REGULAR BOARD
MEETING. (motion was amended to add the date) MOTION WAS SECONDED (amendment was seconded).
DS noted that there may need to be other meetings called.
AYE NAY ABST
AB x
TM x
RM x
SM x
EN x
KP x
BR x
CS x
MS x
DS x
Total 6 4 0
Kerry Amidon noted that if an emergency meeting was needed, it can be done without meeting in a public place. DS said that an emergency meeting would be more in line with a dangerous situation in a school.
The meetings in August are 13th and 27th. Those will stand for the Board.
J. Academy Job Search
The search for the Assistant Principal needs to be resumed. As per policy D1, Board participation is needed. On Monday, there will be a meeting. TM will join the committee, and RM would like to stay on.
VI. Consent Agenda
Minutes from June 4, 2024, June 19, 2024
AB MOVED TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. MOTION SECONDED.
VOTE WAS CALLED. VOTE PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
SM WAS NOT PRESENT FOR THAT VOTE
VII. New Business
A. Policy & Amendment requests the following be rescinded: Action Required
LSP2 Transportation – Pupil Transportation Utilizing Private Vehicle
LSP12 Enrollment of Children of Faculty and Staff
AB MOTIONED TO RESCIND LSP2. MOTION WAS SECONDED.
VOTE WAS CALLED. VOTE PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
SM, EN and RM were not present for the vote
AB MOTIONED TO RESCIND LSP12. MOTION WAS SECONDED.
VOTE WAS CALLED. VOTE PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
SM, EN and RM were not present for the vote
B. Policy & Amendment Presents for a 1st Reading:
D4 Educator Supervision and Evaluation
C. Any Other Topic for New Business
VIII. Unfinished Business
A. Policy & Amendment presents the following for 2nd Reading
E14 Environmental Awareness and Responsibility
F4 Searches, Seizures, and Interrogation of Students by School Personnel
F5 Searches, Seizures, and Interrogation of Students by Law Enforcement Personnel or Other Non-School Personnel
F41 Policy on Section 504 and ADA Grievance Protocol for Students & Staff
G13 Acceptable Use of Electronic Resources and the Internet
These policies are presented for a second reading. If there are no objections, they will be presented for adoption.
B. Any Other Topic for Unfinished Business
AB moved for adjournment, seconded, passed unanimously.
Adjournment at 8:42 pm
Minutes submitted by board clerk on 07/02/2024 with special recognition to Board Recorder Tracey Drotts.
A recording of this meeting is available on the WSESU website.
