THETFORD SCHOOL DISTRICT

Tuesday March 14, 2006

Thetford Elementary School

The meeting was convened by Wendy Hovey at 7:00PM in the Art Room. The following were present: Andy Boyce, Robin Brown, Darrin Clement, Jennifer Reining, Susan Weider, School Board; Alice Worth, Principal; Virginia Stone, Secretary; Wendy Hovey, OESU; Keith Thompson, Staff; Dan & Dana Grossman, Olivia Chapman, Roxanne Eastman, and Curtis Richardson

Dan Grossman swore in newly elected Board members.

7:05PM Dan and Dana Grossman left the meeting.

Board Reorganization

Nominations for Chair were entertained. MOTIONS: (RB/DC) moved/seconded to nominate Andy Boyce as Chair and (AB/DC) moved/seconded to nominate Jennifer Reining. Discussion of the Chair’s role. Jennifer Reining withdrew her name, and Andy Boyce was voted Chair, unanimously. Andy Boyce took over running of the meeting.

MOTION: (Weider/Reining) moved/seconded to nominate Robin Brown as Clerk of the Board; unanimous.

MOTION: (Weider/Reining) moved/seconded to authorize Robin Brown to review and sign Board Orders on behalf of the School Board; unanimous.

Andy Boyce will continue as representative to TA and Susan Weider agreed to serve as OESU representative with Robin Brown and Darrin Clement.

Agenda Review - Additions: Correspondence

Action Items - None

Minutes - MOTION: (Clement/Reining) moved/seconded to approve the minutes of the 2/28/06 Board meeting; aye - Boyce, Brown, Clement, Reining; abstain - Weider

Orders - MOTION: (Brown/Reining) moved/seconded to approve order #18/05; unanimous.

Public Comment - Curtis Richardson thanked Board members, on behalf of the TA Board of Trustees, for serving on the School Board. Discussion of an e-mail to Andy Boyce from Priscilla Hall, Chair TA Board of Trustees, regarding Representative Jim Masland's amendment to present legislation for the purpose of removing capital costs at TA from per pupil cost calculations. MOTION: (Clement/Boyce) moved/seconded to formally support the clarification amendment Representative Masland has proposed re private schools being exempted from including capital costs in per pupil spending calculations; unanimous. Andy Boyce will call Representative Masland to reinforce the Board’s wish in this matter. It is understood that passage of this legislation/clarification will not impact discussion of governance issues at TA which will affect state aid for construction.

Thetford School Directors 3/14/06 page 2

Reports

Principal’s Report - Written copies distributed. Keith Thompson provided copies of the Thetford Improvement Society’s proposals for a sidewalk from Houghton Hill Road to the US Post Office, plus the school’s proposal. Discussion of maintenance, liability and lighting issues. The Board supports the school’s proposal to have the sidewalk go behind the school if liability issues are resolved. Wendy Hovey, Superintendent, will look into the liability issues and report to the Board on the 28th.

8:00PM Keith Thompson left the meeting.

Alice Worth discussed other parts of her report and noted upcoming events, including one not in her report, the March 21st meeting for parents on puberty education. She also distributed a model policy from the VT Department of Education, “School Crisis Prevention and Response” which the Board will consider in the next round of policy review.

Superintendent’s Report: Wendy Hovey reported that the four teachers who have submitted their resignations under the Early Retirement Incentive Program meet the criteria. MOTION: (Clement/Reining) moved/seconded to approve Lee Funston’s, Bonnie Irwin’s, David Kelman’s and Lynn McRae’s requests for the Early Retirement Incentive Program; unanimous. Alice Worth will notify the teachers personally, Wendy Hovey will send letters of official notification, and Andy Boyce will send letters of thanks on behalf of the Board for the teachers’ years of service to Thetford’s children.

Wendy Hovey reported on the OESU Board’s work on evaluation protocols. a copy of which she distributed to Board members. The draft of the OESU Administrative Evaluation Protocols will be on the agenda of the TES Board meeting of 2/28/06.

Wendy Hovey reported on restructuring of the OESU office placing curriculum development in the hands of the principals thus removing the need for a curriculum development position at the OESU office. A new position, Chief Operations Officer is proposed to assist schools in dealing with facilities issues. She is asking Principals to generate lists of jobs such a person might help them with, and from these lists a job description will be developed. She expects to advertise this position in April.

8:20PM Tracy Borst and Lisa Swett joined the meeting.

Other Business

Correspondence -Jill Graff, Treasurer requested the Board authorize Rebecca Buchanan’s signature on bank account #036000824. MOTION: (Clement/Reining) moved/seconded to authorize Rebecca Buchanan, Assistant Treasurer, as signatory on bank account #036000824; unanimous. Andy Boyce and Robin Brown signed the form.

Agenda 3/28 - The Board asked that staffing be on the agenda for the next meeting in light of the resignations.

Thetford School Directors 3/14/06 page 3

Executive Session 8:25PM

MOTION: (Boyce/Reining) moved/seconded to go into Executive Session to discuss Contract Negotiations, the premature dissemination of which would clearly place the Board at a significant disadvantage; unanimous. Virginia Stone, Tracy Borst, Olivia Chapman, Roxanne Eastman, Curtis Richardson and Lisa Swett left the meeting.

Out of Executive Session at 8:45PM. No action.

Adjourned: MOTION: (Reining/Clement) moved/seconded to adjourn at 8:46PM; unanimous.

Virginia Stone/Robin Brown