WSESD

III. Updates

Mike Kelliher gave an update on efforts to recruit a more diverse staff. The district has just launched an employee referral program. For certain positions, if an employee refers a candidate who doesn’t already work for the organization, and they end up being hired, the referring employee will receive a bonus: $250 at time of hiring and $250 after six months of employment. There have already been a couple of inquiries. As of today there are 38 open positions but not all are part of this referral program – it is reserved for positions which the leadership team has identified as difficult to fill.

The WSESD Windham Regional Career Center’s  ADVANCED MANUFACTURING ADVISORY BOARD MEETING will be held on Thursday, November 9th at 2:30 p.m. at the WRCC TIC building.

Summary:
● A student representative on the board shared about an unmet need for students to make social connections during class.
● The administration presented about the budgeting process and timeline, including the need to make adjustments now that ESSER funding has been discontinued.
● There was a discussion about whether the district should continue administering student climate surveys twice a year in order to improve school climate. Ultimately the board voted to follow the administration’s recommendation to conduct the survey only once a year.
● The board voted to re-adopt three updated policies: E10 – School Crisis Prevention & Response, E15 – Security Cameras and F9 – Student Substance Abuse Prevention. The board presented three more updated policies for a first reading: C9 – Notice of Non-Discrimination, D11 – Public Complaints about Personnel, and F2 – Bus Discipline.
● The board approved $458,735.95 of carry over funds for EES from last year’s budget. These funds were unused due to not being able to find a contractor for planned kitchen renovations at the Birge Street facility and having to close some classrooms due to lack of staff. The funds will be used to complete the renovations under a scaled down plan using internal staff and for retention and wellness bonuses for employees.
● The board discussed adding the SEPAC to meetings they promote on the WSESD facebook page. They will seek input from the Special Education administrator and consider further at a future meeting.

AGENDA

Mission: Foster learning environments in which all members of the school community are safe, feel valued, and are appreciated, as well as promote policies and procedures that value equity and diversity in our schools.

I. Call to Order / Introductions / Recognition of Visitors

SUMMARY:
● Students expressed the need to increase attendance at Working Toward Justice Day.
● A new representative from Brattleboro, Matt Schibley, was appointed to the board by unanimous vote.
● The Superintendent gave a summary of the day’s professional development activities, which focused on executive function and student engagement.
● District Literacy Coaches gave a presentation on the science of reading and how that informs district practices.
● The Board adopted an updated policy on Personnel Recruitment, Selection, Appointment and Background Checks.
● The board heard updates from the Academy School and BAMS Leadership Councils.

AGENDA
I. Call to Order [6:00 to 6:05]
II. Student Matters [6:05 to 6:15]

III. Administrative Report [6:15 to 6:45]
– The budgetary process, how the Budget is built to meet the goals and established timeframes leading up to 03/2024. [25 Minutes]

Agenda
1. Approval of Minutes
2. FY24 Fiscal Year 1st quarter Financial Statement review
3. FY25 Preliminary Budget Development Planning Discussion
4. Capital Project Implementation updates

NOTICE OF BOARD MEETING
The Windham Southeast School District Board will meet at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 10,
2023 in the WRCC Cusick Conference Room and remotely via Zoom

AGENDA:
● Curriculum Review
● Tour of Facilities
● Equipment Inventory (BUS/Transportation)
● IRC’s and Duel Enrollment opportunities
● Future of Pleasant Valley Watershed as a Forestry outdoor learning lab

SUMMARY:

● Two new student representatives joined the board, Alora Lawyer and Jayden Gonzalez.
● Administrators presented information about the WSESU Continuous Improvement Plan, and a discussion of this plan will continue at the next board meeting.
● PCB testing has been completed for all WSESU schools. Results have come back clean for Vernon, Green Street and Academy Schools. PCB remediation at Oak Grove is complete and due to be re-tested. Results are still pending for other district schools.
● Seven community members have applied for appointment to the vacant Brattleboro seat on the board. Their names will be shared to the public before the next meeting.
● There was a discussion of whether to implement stipends for staff members participating on Leadership Councils. Mark Speno will bring a recommendation about this to the next meeting.

Agenda:
1.Current enrollment
2.Current challenges
Technology
Transportation

WSESD
Policy and Amendment Committee
The WSESD Policy and Amendment Committee will meet Tuesday, October 3, 2023 at 2:30pm
in the WSESU District Office, 53 Green Street, Brattleboro and via Zoom.

I. Approval of Minutes and confirmation of next meeting date
The minutes of 9/5/23 meeting approved by assent.
The next meeting for the Policy and Amendments Committee is scheduled for: Tuesday, Oct 3, 2023.
DS amended agenda to add Policy C9 (Board Commitment to Non -Discrimination) to the discussion, as there is a reference to C9 in D11 (Public Complaints About Personnel).

The WSESD Programmatic & Performance Equity Committee will meet from 2:00-3:00pm on Sunday, October 1, 2023.  The meeting will take place in the Conference Room of Putney Central School, 182 Westminster West Road, Putney. Access the building via the side entrance (glass hallway).

I. Call to Order [6:00 to 6:05]

II. Student Issues [6:05 to 6:15]

III. Introduction to New Student Representatives [6:15 to 6:20]

KY announced that a third Executive Session is being added for 1 VSA §313(a)(1)(F), confidential attorney-client communications. It will happen in-between the two Executive Sessions on the agenda.

Business Administrator Frank Rucker shared and reviewed a document, “WSESD FY2023 Expense Summary, dated 9/11/23”, for the twelve month period ending June 30, 2023. Highlights included:

• There are many transactions this time of year, and most of them are things that happen beyond the District’s control, such as government receivables. These receivables are reconciled before presenting the final document to the auditors at the end of September.

The Windham Southeast School District’s Windham Regional Career Center Regional Advisory Board will meet Thursday, September 21, 2023 at 11:30 a.m. in the WRCC Cusick Conference Room, 80 Atwood Street, Brattleboro, Vermont. To join the video meeting, click this link: https://meet.google.com/ypo-attp-kgt  Otherwise, to join by phone, dial +1 904-383-7979 and enter this PIN: 546 958 080#  Please RSVP to Joyce Rathbun 802-451-3586 or jrathbun@wsesdvt.org 

The Windham Southeast School District’s WRCC Culinary Advisory Committee will meet Monday, October 2, 2023 at 5:30 p.m. at 80 Atwood Street, Room 182,  Brattleboro.

The Windham Southeast School District’s WRCC Business Program Advisory will meet Wednesday, October 4, 2023 at 4:15 p.m. in Room 292, 80 Atwood Street, Brattleboro.

CALL TO ORDER—6:00 p.m. – Anne Beekman, Chair
The chair announced that the previously scheduled presentation on Act 173 is postponed until the October meeting.

On a motion by Deborah Stanford the board approved the minutes of August 16, 2023.