BURLINGTON BOARD OF SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS

Tuesday, August 9, 2005, 7:00 p.m.

Board Meeting

BOARD MEETING MINUTES

Ira Allen Administration

150 Colchester Avenue, Burlington, VT 05401

1. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

Commissioner Hale called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m.

2. PRESENT

Commissioners present:

Kate Baldwin, Marrisa Caldwell, Barbara Crook, Wallace Elliott, Thomas Fleury, Chris Haessly (by phone), Paul Hale, Fred Lane, Keith Pillsbury, Loyal Ploof, Amy Werbel

Commissioners absent:

Kathy Connolly, Erik Hoekstra, Jurij Homziak

Administrators:

Jeanne Collins, Acting Superintendent/Director of Special & Compensatory Education

Lyman Amsden, Advisor to the Board

Scott Lisle, Business Manager

Betsy Liley, District Grants Coordinator

Paul Irish, District Technical Director

Administrators Absent:

Sara Jane Mahan, Human Resources Director

Bonnie Clapp, Director of EEE/Co-Director Curriculum

Stephanie Phillips, Co-Director Curriculum

3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA

Motion (Baldwin/Fleury) to approve the agenda. The motion carried.

4. COMMENTS/QUESTIONS

Sharon Failton – Para-educator (2 yrs.) at Hunt Middle School. Given their education, experience, and assistance to children, para-educators deserve a livable wage.

Donna Iverson – Para-educator (9 yrs.). Understands financial pressures but urges Board to put people at the top of the Board’s list of priorities.

Emma Mulvaney-Stammick – Member of livable wage campaign and asks that the livable wage campaign be near the top of the budget priorities.

Terry Buehner – Head of BEA. Increase in livable wage is long overdue. Asks Board to remember that. Increase to livable wage should have been done a long time ago.

BEA concerned about ideas that are being discussed as possible solutions to budget issues. BEA urges administrative cuts before anything else. She raises concerns about busing, class size, impact on educational programs, etc. Argues that 744 students would be affected.

Ms. Buehner offered some suggestions for other places that the Board could cut.

5. SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT

School opens for students on 8/31. Teachers report on 8/29. New teachers have orientation beginning on 8/25. Bullying prevention program will be run once again.

Review of committee meetings.

The NPAs are focusing on the schools this year, and the Board will have an opportunity to present the budget and related issues.

a. Equity and Financial Issues

Presentation by Paul Irish and Lyman Amsden regarding student equity issues and financial issues facing the Board.

Commissioner Caldwell presented her questions and concerns regarding the results of the research.

Commissioner Fleury thanked Paul Irish for his work, and applauded the homogenous schools for the work that they do. He pointed out that one of the challenges that the North End faces is the departure of the middle class from schools in that area.

Commissioner Crook asked how the Dovetail program fits into this issue of equity. Lyman Amsden said that most the kids stayed on at Edmunds rather than returning to their home schools.

Comments by student members regarding experiences at Barnes.

Commissioner Caldwell said that if the District did more to keep middle class students in the old North End schools, this wouldn’t be an issue.

Commissioner Pillsbury said that once the process of variances created economic issues, the Curriculum & Policy committee decided to investigate it. He said that this not just a school issue, but also a community issue.

Commissioner Caldwell made it clear that she is not speaking against equity, but instead is opposed to taking the kids out of the Old North End. She believes that it would be better to bring the middle class students into it.

Commission Elliott questioned whether the limits on CCTA can be changed, so that kids can use them for other purposes than going back and forth to school.

6. COMMITTEE UPDATES

a. Finance Committee

Commissioner Lane presented the report of the Finance Committee.

b. Curriculum & Policy Committee

Commissioner Pillsbury pointed out that at the Board Retreat, there are some philosophical questions that he would like to discuss.

Commissioner Pillsbury also said that there would be a discussion regarding the issue of social responsibility and corporate branding.

Possible change of C&P meeting to Tuesday, August 23 at 5 pm.

c. Technology Committee

Commissioner Crook presented the report of the Technology Committee. Discussion of integration of technology into the curriculum.

d. Regional Tech Center

Commissioner Pillsbury said the Tech Center Committee is meeting every 2 weeks over the summer.

7. OLD BUSINESS

There was no old business before the Board.

8. NEW BUSINESS

a. Consent Agenda

Motion (Pillsbury/Baldwin) to approve the consent agenda. Motion carried.

b. Review of Board Retreat Agenda

Chairman Hale reviewed the agenda for the Board retreat.

9. EXECUTIVE SESSION

Motion (Pillsbury/Ploof) to go into executive session. The motion carried.

Motion (Caldwell/Fleury) to come out of executive session. The motion carried and the Board came out of executive session at 9:00 p.m.

a. Process for filling Superintendent vacancy

Motion (Caldwell/Baldwin) to authorize the Chairman to prepare a memorandum and press release summarizing the process by which the Board will conduct a search for a new Superintendent. The motion passed.

10. ADJOURNMENT

Motion (Fleury/Baldwin) to adjourn. The Board adjourned at 9:02 p.m.