THETFORD SCHOOL DISTRICT

Tuesday February 13, 2007

Thetford Elementary School

The School Board meeting was convened at 7:10PM in the Art Room.  The following were present:  Andy Boyce, Robin Brown, Kristen Downey, Jennifer Reining, Susie Weider School Board; Alice Worth, Principal; Virginia Stone, Secretary; Wendy Hovey, OESU Superintendent; Keith Thompson,

Agenda Review – no additions/deletions

Action items – none to report on

Minutes – MOTION:  (Reining/Downey) moved/seconded to approve the minutes of the meeting on 1/23/07; aye:  Boyce, Brown, Downey, Reining; abstain:  Weider.

Orders – MOTION:  (Brown/Downey) moved/seconded to approve order #15/06; unanimous.

Public Comment – none

Reports

Principal’s Report – Alice Worth circulated her written report with information on the NECAP test results, planning for foreign language instruction at TES 2007-20008, and events of interest:  the Talent Show, Mud Season

Madness offerings for students, and curriculum work/workshops staff is participating in; and the status for hiring a new paraprofessional to serve as a

personal care aide.  Discussion.  MOTION:   (Weider/Reining) moved/seconded to approve a paraprofessional contract for Sara Hummel and authorize the chair to sign when prepared; unanimous. Copies of the VT Department of Education’s “School Quality Standards Status Report:  2006-07 School Year” were given to Board members.  This is a self-assessment tool, which when completed, will require Board signatures.

7:25PM-7:30PM  Pete Sonnhalter, Kevin, Lily and Connor Brown joined the meeting.

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Reports

Superintendent’s Report – Wendy Hovey informed the Board that the “Governance” meeting would be on May 3rd at Oxbow with Vermont’s Education Commissioner in attendance.  Discussion:  Proposed changes and their effect on

education in Vermont, and status of legislation to enact the changes.  Wendy Hovey also reviewed with Board members two draft charts she developed:  Prior

Expectations (Formal/Informal) and Developing Expectations. Discussion will be on a future Board agenda.

Other Business

Review Facilities Policy/Thetford Recreation Committee Discussion:

Discussion with Pete Sonnhalter and Kevin Brown, Town Recreation Committee, role of a Town Recreation Coordinator and changes and maintenance of the school’s athletic field.  Board members were given two handouts:  Thetford Recreation Coordinator Roles and Responsibilities and Thetford Recreation Committee-Elementary School Field.  The Board will continue to work with the Recreation Committee on issues and in developing a working agreement between the town recreation committee and the school to insure coordination of activities.

8:20PM - Pete Sonnhalter, Kevin, Lily and Connor Brown left the meeting.

Adopt Strategic Plan – Discussion and review of final draft. 

MOTION:  (Reining/Brown) moved/seconded to adopt the Strategic Plan; unanimous.  The Plan will be checked for typographic errors and formatted for presentation at Town Meeting.  No changes will be made to the approved content.

Adopt School Board Code – MOTION:  (Reining/Downey)

moved/seconded to adopt the School Board Code; unanimous.  Board members signed same and it will be posted on the school bulletin board.

TA Capital Project – Heinz Trebitz spoke on the TA informational meetings and facilities tours and shared handouts on the proposed capital project at Thetford Academy.  The Board continued the discussion of the Board’s position and response to the proposed capital project.  Andy Boyce circulated correspondence on Thetford’s list serve from Ann Swanson, Priscilla Hall, TA trustee, and Kristen Downey’s draft statement for the Board,  regarding the capital project. The Superintendent was asked to put the TA Capital Project on the agenda of the 2/27/07 Board meeting.

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Executive Session:  MOTION:  (Brown/Reining) moved/seconded to go into Executive Session to discuss the Superintendent’s Evaluation, the premature dissemination of which would clearly place the Board at a significant disadvantage; unanimous.  Heinz Trebitz, Keith Thompson, Virginia Stone, Alice Worth, and Wendy Hovey left the meeting.

Out of Executive Session at 9:20PM.  No action.

Adjourned:  MOTION:  (Boyce/Brown) moved/seconded to adjourn at 10:20PM; unanimous.

                                                                                                                                                Virginia Stone

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