Education

AGENDA – 8/22/2023

I. Approval of Minutes from 7/11/23

II. Updates
H7 Leadership Councils
F42 Student Dress Code
E17 Fire and Emergency Preparedness Drills
H8 Access Control and Visitor Management

Summary:
● The committee heard a presentation from Human Resources Director Michael Kelliher on plans to increase staff diversity.
● The committee voted to recommend that the three diversity-related questions developed in 2022 be included on all applications for licensed teacher or administrator
positions, if possible on Schoolspring.
● The committee made a recommendation that every hiring committee include at least one person representing a diverse viewpoint with a preference for lived experience.

Agenda
I Call to order – Anne Beekman, Chair
II Approval of minutes of July 26, 2023
III New Hires
IV Resignations/retirements
V Other business

II. Brattleboro board seat outreach: discuss plans for “meet ups” to encourage board candidacy in Brattleboro (bring suggestions to 8/8/23 board meeting).

The committee reviewed outreach suggestions:
● a radio ad
● outreach by superintendent to former teachers
● request for principals to send a message to currently enrolled families

AGENDA
I. Call To Order – 6:00pm – Kelly Young, Board Chair
Review of Agenda
II. Student Matters (5-10 minutes)
III. New Business –
* Panorama – Follow-up Questions & Concerns
* G-8 Local Action Plan

Summary:
● The administration provided updates about District summer camps, use of school buildings as emergency shelters, PCB abatement and window replacement project at Oak Grove School, and the BUHS mascot rebranding process, and a presentation about the school climate surveys conducted in the spring.
● WSESD Head Start classrooms at the Canal Street School will move to Birge Street in the fall and the administrators and Special Education team is developing plans for utilizing space at Canal Street to provide services for more pre-K students with special educational needs.
● The board adopted the following updated policies: E17 Fire and Emergency Preparedness Drills, H8 Access Control and Visitor Management, and F42 Dress Code, which will replace all previous dress codes in WSESD schools, including LSP1, the former BUHS dress code.

Attached, please find minutes of the 6/28 WSESD Programmatic and Performance Equity Meeting.

AGENDA
I. Call To Order – 6:00pm – Kelly Young, Board Chair
II. Student Matters (5-10 minutes)
III. Administrative Report –
* Hires / Resignations / Retirements
* Summer Programming
* Update on contingency plans for buildings to be utilized as shelters in the event of future climate emergencies
* Update on BUHS re-branding and mascot selection – Action Required
* Update on selection of Restorative Justice Coordinator – Possible Action Required

Agenda
I Call to order – Anne Beekman, Chair
II Approval of minutes of July 12, 2023
III New Hires
IV Resignations/retirements

The Social Justice Committee will be bringing the following recommendations to the
WSESD Board and Policy and Amendment Committee meetings for consideration:

● The 2021-22 WSESD Social Justice committee developed three questions related to diversity and equity that should be included on all job applications. Currently only part of the first question seems to be included on job listings. The Social Justice Committee recommends that this be remedied and that all three questions are asked on every job listing for the district.

On a motion by Kim Price, the minutes of June 7, 2023 were approved.

On a motion by Anne Beekman, the committee accepted the recommendation of administration to hire Kerri Beebe, WSESU PreK Coordinator.

On a motion by Anne Beekman, the committee accepted the recommendation of administration to hire Tara Sullivan, BUHS Special Education teacher.

Agenda
I Call to order – Anne Beekman, Chair
II Approval of minutes of June 7, 2023
III New Hires
IV Resignations/retirements
V Other business
V Adjourn

SUMMARY: The WSESD Board and members of the Vernon School Board and Administrators attended a retreat together on June 26 to develop goals and priorities for the Continuous Improvement Plan. Administration will begin developing budgets without the support of ESSER funds in September. All schools held graduation ceremonies including BUHS, which was the final one on June 16. There was a discussion of how board members should attend when seating is limited due to holding the event indoors. The board considered new policies regarding the dress code, fire and emergency preparedness, access control, and leadership councils. The report on the sexual abuse investigation has been delayed due to new information received by the investigator. The Board adopted a set of norms to inform their meetings. The Board has not yet received any applicants for the vacant Brattleboro seat but hope to appoint someone at their next meeting on July 25. Administrators will be holding a planning retreat on August 7 and the Board hopes to hold one later that month. Tim Maciel was added to the Social Justice Committee.

AGENDA – 7/11/2023
I. Approval of Minutes from 6/20/23
New Business including reconsideration of current agenda

Chair DS convened the meeting at 2:32 pm and read hybrid statement.

I. Approval of Minutes and confirmation of next meeting date

The minutes of 06/05/23 meeting approved by assent.

A discussion took place on whether the Policy and Amendments Committee will meet during the summer. It was agreed that there will be one meeting in July, specifically focused on planning a calendar and setting priorities for which policies to review in the coming school year.

AGENDA
I. Call to Order / Introductions / Recognition of Visitors
II. Review of minutes
III. Items to discuss related to programmatic & performance equity:
a. Universal Pre-k access
b. Rotation of school board meetings
c. Food Services in the district