Smilie Memorial School, Bolton VT
Meeting came to order at 7:10 pm.
Attendees: John Alberghini, Vicky Congdon, Gail Conley, Fred Kenney, Lisa Wells, Ann Whitman
Guests: Karen Newton
General Items:
1. There were no comments from community members.
2. Karen Newton gave an update on the Community Club: She reported on funds in the account (about $3,800 in the CC fund and $270 in the Technology Fund). Some funds have recently been used to purchase a LCD projector. Other uses discussed were purchase of a snowblower and the leveling and spreading of gravel along the fire lane to increase parking space at the school.
Karen’s youngest child is graduating from Smilie this spring, and Karen will be leaving the Smilie community. The Board recognizes her many, many hours of volunteer time and energy, and on behalf of Smilie and Bolton, thanks her for her years of community service.
3. Approval of previous minutes: Fred moved to approve the January minutes; Ann seconded. All in favor. Vicky moved to amend the December 2003 minutes to reflect that the Board approved the November 2003 minutes at the December meeting.
Principal’s Report:
Smilie has begun to set up its computer lab in the Art/Music room.
The fluoride program with the school nurse will begin in February. The Nurturing Parent Program (a series of workshops for families) began in January.
Smilie is offering supplemental math instruction to students in grades 1-4 four days a week.
Students will be creaing a anti-drug mural with Karee Wiltshire.
John distributed a letter from the Vermont Institutes acknowledging Smilie’s impressive gains in mathematics scores over the past five years. Smilie will be publicly recognized as being among the 15 top-gaining elementary schools in the state.
After-school activities: 36 students are participating in the ski program, which starts on Feb. 11. A cooking class and indoor tennis were offered in January.
K enrollment: John projects a large incoming class (22 for sure, potentially 25-26 students). There are currently 19 in the preschool. Per the motion approved by the Board in January 2003, Smilie hires a PT assistant at a class size of 15-19 and splits the class at 20, which means losing the 60% K day. If the enrollment reached 30, we would need a FT assistant (1 for each session). Some options discussed were hiring of a second teacher and running two 60% Ks, in a loop with two 40% preschool classes. There would be some overlapping space and scheduling issues to be worked out. Another option is two 50% K classes and a return to having the Lund Center teach preschool. A schedule of two classes with three 60% days, one full day, and one day off for each class was also discussed.
Action/Discussion Items:
1. Superintendent’s report:
The MMU Board has taken a position against the proposed Regional Technical Academy, feeling there are too many financial unknowns and that it is a very expensive proposal serving a small number of students. The Richmond, Jericho, and Underhill ID elementary boards have also taken a position against the proposal. The Smilie Board decided not to take a position on the RTA at this time. Lisa noted that MMU principal Bob Stevens does not support the RTA and has noted the negative effects he feels it will have on our school district.
Dr. Conley distributed a letter he wrote to Rep. Gaye Symington regarding a further improvement to Act 68 and the Common Level of Appraisal procedure as well as a summary of insurance premiums as a percentage of the budget, as requested by the board.
2. Fred moved to accept the revised invoice edit total of $13,681.26: Vicky seconded. All in favor.
3. Committee reports:
Policy: Fred distributed information from a presentation on Internet filtering and updated the Board on the committee’s discussion of this issue. The CESU librarians are opposed to Internet filtering. The Board does support a policy on Internet filtering. The Board discussed corporate sponsorship but does not feel there is a need for a policy at this time. The Board reviewed the Controversial Topics policy. Ann questioned some of the vague language and the varied interpretations as to what could be considered “controversial.” The Board feels this is not a significant issue at the elementary level.
Curriculum: A district-wide system of student assessment that coordinates with the VT standards is currently being developed to comply with Act 68 as well as No Child Left Behind. Local system must in place by Sept. 1, 2005. There was discussion about strengthening the foreign language program in the middle schools.
Special Ed.: Meeting scheduled for Feb. 9 at 7:30 to review the spec. ed. budget.
The meeting adjourned at 9:20 pm. The next meeting is scheduled for February 21 at 2 pm at Smilie Memorial School.
Respectfully submitted,
Vicky Congdon, Clerk
Approved as amended