THETFORD SCHOOL DISTRICT

Tuesday February 27, 2007

Thetford Elementary School

 

 

         The School Board meeting was convened at 7:05PM 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 – additions:  Correspondence, Executive Session

 

Action items – none to report on

 

Minutes – MOTION:  (Weider/Reining) moved/seconded to approve the minutes of the meeting on 2/1/07; aye:  Boyce, Brown, Downey, Reining; abstain:  Weider.

 

Orders – MOTION:  (Brown/Boyce) moved/seconded to approve order #16/06; unanimous.

 

Public Comment – none

 

Reports

                  PrincipalÕs Report – Alice Worth circulated her written report noting that the NECAP test results will go home with students this week, the rescheduled Talent Show will be tomorrow evening, Mud Season Madness begins next week, plans are underway to host Ruby Bridges in November 2007, and how the winter in-services have worked this year.  Alice asked if Board members had any questions regarding the VT DOEÕs ŌSchool Quality Standards Status Report:  2006-07 School Year.Ķ   Copies of the report were given to Board members at the 2/13/07 Board meeting to review.  MOTION:   (Reining/Brown) moved/seconded to approve and authorize the chair to sign the VT DOEÕs ŌSchool Quality Standards Status Report:  2006-07 School Year.Ķ

            SuperintendentÕs Report – Wendy Hovey shared the Legislative Status Report prepared by John Nelson and Jeff Francis February 25, 2007.  Discussion of the handouts on 2/13/07:  Prior Expectations (Formal/Informal) and Developing Expectations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thetford School Directors 2/27/07                                                                                      page 2

 

Policy (7:40PM)

            1st Reading:  Community Use of Facilities (KG + KG-R + Application) – Wendy Hovey gave Board members copies of other OESU schoolÕs policies. Discussion. 

 

7:45PM - 7:55PM Heinz Trebitz and Priscilla Hall joined the meeting.

 

Board members will review the other schoolÕs policies and recommend changes/additions to the TES policy at the 3/13/07 Board meeting where the Community Use of Facilities will be on the Agenda again for a 1st Reading.

 

Correspondence

                  Andy Boyce read a letter of resignation from Nancy Cressman, art teacher.   MOTION:  (Boyce/Weider) moved/seconded to accept Nancy CressmanÕs resignation with deep regret; unanimous.

 

Other Business

                  TA Capital Project Discussion:  Reviewed draft of support for the TA Capital Project from the TSD Board of School Directors. 

MOTION:  (Weider/Reining) moved/seconded to approve the statement of support for the TA Capital Project as presented and amended; unanimous.  The statement reads:

                  The Thetford Town School District Board of Directors is committed to providing an excellent education from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. To do so requires exceptional teachers, a curriculum that meets the needs of well-rounded students, and facilities that foster learning. The existing facilities at Thetford Academy are in poor condition, outdated and inadequate.  The Capital Project is a positive step towards fulfilling our commitment to Thetford children.

 

A non-binding advisory vote on the proposed Capital Project appears on the School District Warning (Article VII) at the request of the Thetford Academy Board of Trustees as is required under section C.4 of the Partnership Agreement. 

 

The Thetford Town School District Board of Directors support for this project is based on the following conditions:

 

1.              The Thetford Academy Board of Trustees will be responsive to the results of the non-binding advisory vote on Tuesday, March 6, 2007.  If the town fails to support the project, then it is our recommendation that The Thetford Academy Board of Trustees not move forward with the proposed Capital Project in its current form.

 

Thetford School Directors 2/27/07                                                                                                        page 3

 

Other Business (contÕd)

                  TA Capital Project Discussion (contÕd)                        

2.              The non-binding advisory vote shall be treated as a bond vote where the total construction cost outlined in Article VII will not exceed $10,600,000.  It is our understanding from the Thetford Academy Board of Trustees that the scope of the project will be revised if costs exceed this amount.

 

8:30PM – Priscilla Hall, Heinz Trebitz and Keith Thompson left the meeting.

 

                  Annual Meeting Preparation (8:35PM) – Discussion of roles of Board members at the Annual meeting and explanation of the proposed 2007-08 school budget.  Andy Boyce as chair will lead the discussion.  Wendy Hovey was asked to provide some additional fiscal statistics for the discussion.

 

Executive Session:  MOTION:  (Brown/Reining) moved/seconded to go into Executive Session to discuss a personnel issue, the premature dissemination of which would clearly place the Board at a significant disadvantage; unanimous. Virginia Stone left the meeting.

 

Out of Executive Session at 9:10PM.  No action.

 

Adjourned:  MOTION:  (Boyce/Brown) moved/seconded to adjourn at 9:10PM; unanimous.

 

 

                                                                                                                                                Virginia Stone

 

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