Attendees: John Alberghini, Vicky Congdon, Gail Conley, Phil Graff, Fred Kenney, Ann Whitman
Guests: Steve May

Meeting came to order at 7:10 pm.

GENERAL ITEMS

1. There were no comments from community members.

2. Principal’s Report:
The outdoor lighting is not working. Carl Sword has determined that the problem is either at the bottom of one of the light poles or underground. Pulling the wire out of the conduit will require a crane, and he recommends waiting until spring. John will have a motion detector light installed in the parking lot.
The Breakfast with Santa raffle raised more than $800 for Smilie. Thanks to Kathy Sirois for coordinating this event and to other community members for helping with it.
Smilie’s Winter Concert was well attended. The overflow parking area filled up and needs to be better organized for future events.
The ski program begins on February 9.
Enrollment for December is at 96 (inc. preschool).

3. Superintendent’s Report
Dr. Conley distributed a budget summary of the approved budget for FY 2006. The board again discussed a contingency fund. Establishing this type of fund requires a warning and vote by the town, so would not affect the school budget until 2006-07. The board would recommend a specific amount to be set aside in the fund; annual approval by town voters is required to save any budget surplus in the contingency fund .

4. Committee reports:
Curriculum: Work is ongoing to align high school curriculum with the Vermont Framework of Standards and to align CESU curriculum with No Child Left Behind standards. Ann is on the search committee for Jim Massingham’s replacement.
Transportation: Committee recommended to the MMU board that the high school academic day be lengthened by 30 minutes to solve the wait time at the end of the day currently experienced by high school students. Phone coverage for the bus garage has been put in place. Bob Magee expects to be fully staffed with drivers by the end of January.
Negotiations: Committee is reviewing the final proposal from the NEA for the new teacher contracts and establishing ground rules for the negotiations process. Negotiations for a CESU support personnel contract are also beginning.

ACTION/DISCUSSION ITEMS

1. December minutes: Ann asked that item 3 under Action/Discussion (Laura Nassau’s budget presentation) be amended to include more detail on the variables that affect the tax rates, such as equalized pupil assessment formula, state spending adjustment, and the common level of appraisal. Ann moved to approve the minutes as amended: Fred seconded. All in favor.

2. The Board reviewed the draft of the Bolton School Board and Principal’s Report for the annual Town Report. Fred will incorporate changes and send out revised version for final review.

3. The Board discussed the need to appoint someone as moderator for 2005 School Directors meeting to replace Mark Andrews. Joss Besse was suggested. Fred will clarify the procedure for appointing someone for this year and determine if someone also needs to run for this office for the 2006 meeting.

4. Lisa moved that the Board approve the warning for the school directors annual meeting. Ann seconded. All in favor. The warning includes an item separate from the school budget asking the voters to approve establishment of a contingency fund.

5. Lisa moved to approve the revised invoice edit list in the amount of $87,069.54; Vicky seconded. All in favor.

Meeting adjourned at 9:30 pm.

Next meeting is scheduled for February 2, 2005, at 7 pm at Smilie School.

Respectfully submitted,
Vicky Congdon
Approved as amended