Thetford School District

Thetford Elementary School

Board Minutes: Tuesday, April 8, 2008

 

 

         Jennifer Reining convened the School Board meeting at 6:08PM in the Art Room.  The following were present:  Robin Brown, Karen Kaliski, Jennifer Reining, Elise Tillinghast, School Board; Wendy Baker, OESU Superintendent

 

The parents canceled the scheduled student hearing.

 

Executive Session - MOTION:  (Kaliski/Brown) moved/seconded to go into Executive Session at 6:10PM to discuss a student issue, the premature dissemination of which would clearly place the Board at a significant disadvantage; unanimous.

Out of Executive Session at 7:15PM.  No action.

 

7:16PM Alice Worth, Principal; Virginia Stone, Secretary; and Darrin Clement joined the meeting.

 

Agenda Review – added under Reports:  TA Report

 

Action Items – no report as Andy Boyce absent

 

Minutes – MOTION:  (Kaliski/Tillinghast) moved/seconded to approve the minutes of the meeting on 3/25/08; unanimous.

 

Orders – MOTION: (Brown/Kaliski) moved/seconded to approve order #18/07, March payroll deductions, and the payroll for the 11th of April, 2008 with VEHI Health and Dental payments; unanimous. 

 

Public Comment/Correspondence – Darrin Clement shared his views with the Board on granting tuition exceptions.  The Superintendent requested that he give a signed copy of his 3/26/08 letter to the school secretary for the Board files.  Discussion:  Board communication with the public and the Strategic Plan objective regarding it.  Elise Tillinghast volunteered to draft and circulate to members of the Board for discussion at the OESU Carousel meeting on April 23rd, what the Board plans to focus on in the coming year.  Board members pointed her to Andy BoyceÕs commentary at the Annual School Meeting for content.  When the Board approves her draft, it will be submitted for publication in the Town Newsletter.

 

Reports

                  Financial Report – Audit:  The Superintendent distributed copies of the financial audit performed by Fothergill, Segale and Valley, CPAs for Board members to review.  Linda Rosa, OESU CFO, will be available for discussion of the audit and any other financial concerns at the OESU Carousel meeting on April 23rd.

 

Thetford School Directors 4/8/08                                                                                                                             page 2

 

7:45PM Keith Thompson, Don Fifield and Tig Tillinghast joined the meeting.

 

Reports (contÕd)

            SuperintendentÕs Report – Bargaining on a Supervisory Union Wide Basis:  The Superintendent circulated copies of the Act 82 legislation together with a letter from attorney Dennis Wells regarding it.  Board members were asked to review both documents prior to the OESU Carousel meeting on April 23rd where there will be a discussion of the legislation with Dennis Wells in attendance.  She outlined the planned agenda for the OESU Carousel meeting.

 

Business 

                  Discussion re:  TES as Designated Red Cross EVAC site with Don Fifield, ThetfordÕs Emergency Management Director.  Don Fifield is in the process of updating the TownÕs Emergency Plan.  He had e-mailed information to Andy Boyce and will forward same to the other Board members, Keith Thompson, TES Facilities Manager, and Jim McGrath, OESU COO.  MOTION:  (Kaliski/Reining) moved/seconded that the School Board evaluate the use of Thetford Elementary School as a Red Cross EVAC center; unanimous.

 

8:00PM Don Fifield and Tig Tillinghast left the meeting.

 

Reports (contÕd)               

                  PrincipalÕs Report – Alice Worth reviewed the Draft School Calendar for 2008-2009, which had been sent in the Board meeting packet, with the Board and Superintendent.  Discussion focused on full days of in-service and how they should be distributed throughout the year.

 

8:20PM Darrin Clement left the meeting.

 

                   The Superintendent took the lead in revising the calendar to Òprotect instructional time for the children.Ó  OESU will make the changes to the TES calendar for school year 2008-2009.  The Superintendent also requested that the minutes reflect her concern that TES parents only receive written reports on their childrenÕs progress twice a year under present practice.  She will be discussing this concern and a potential change for 08-09 with the Principal.

 

8:55PM Keith Thompson left the meeting.

 

                  Alice Worth also reported on hiring for the Art Position.  MOTION:  (Reining/Kaliski) moved/seconded to offer the Art Position to Kelly Lewis; unanimous.   Alice also reported on the time-line and process for hiring for the Fourth Grade and Guidance Positions.  Robin Brown agreed to serve on the search committee as the BoardÕs representative.

 

 

Thetford School Directors 4/8/08                                                                                                                             page 3

 

Reports (contÕd)

                  Thetford Academy – Karen Kaliski reviewed the agenda for the TA Executive Committee meeting on Wednesday April 9th.  She asked Board members to e-mail her any questions or concerns that they would like her to bring up at the meeting.  Discussion:  Updating the Secondary Options Committee Report.

 

Business (contÕd)

                  Future Board meetings and agendas: 

                  April 22nd:  This may be just an executive session. 

                  April 23rd:  OESU Carousel meeting at Oxbow High School with individual boards meeting separately after their joint meeting.

                  May 13th:  Candidate interviews for the Fourth Grade and Guidance Positions. Interviews will be conducted in Executive Session.

                  May 27th:  NECAP discussion and a report and discussion with Keith Thompson, Facilities Manager, on replacement of the water pumps.

 

Adjourned: :  MOTION:  (Reining/Kaliski) moved/seconded to adjourn at 9:20PM; unanimous. 

 

                                                                                                                             

 

                                                                                                                                                Virginia Stone/Robin Brown

 

These minutes are not official until approved by the School Board.