BURLINGTON
BOARD OF SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS
Tuesday, November 22, 2005
7:00 p.m.
Special Board Meeting
Burlington High School
52 Institute Road
Commissioners:
Kate Baldwin, Marrissa Caldwell, Katherine Connolly,
Barbara Crook, Wallace Elliott, Thomas Fleury, Chris Haessly, Paul Hale, Erik
Hoekstra, Jurij Homziak, Fred Lane, Keith Pillsbury, Loyal Ploof, Amy Werbel
Administrators:
Jeanne Collins, Acting
Superintendent and Director of Special & Compensatory Education
Lyman Amsden, Advisor to the
Board
Sara Jane Mahan, Human
Resources Director
Scott Lisle, Business
Manager
Betsy Liley, District Grants
Coordinator
Paul Irish, District
Technical Director
Absent:
Bonnie Clapp, Director of
EEE/Co-Director Curriculum
Stephanie
Phillips, Co-Director Curriculum
Commissioner Hale called the meeting to order at
7:05 p.m.
3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Motion (Connolly/Crook) to approve the agenda. The
motion carried.
4. REVIEW
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BOARD'S GOALS BY LYMAN AMSDEN
Presentation by Mr. Amsden of proposal to sell Taft
and Ira Allen, and re-purpose Barnes.
5. PUBLIC
COMMENTS/QUESTIONS
Alan Parker Parent of students at Barnes; takes
exception to comments regarding quality of students. Objects to closing of Barnes.
Dislikes idea of sending kids to the neighborhood schools of other kids.
Concerned about possible bullying by other kids.
John Tucker Resident of Old North End. Made a
decision to live in area because he felt that he had a lot in common with people
in the area. Is amazed that the effects of Katrina have reared its head in
Vermont. Speaking tonight because he is concerned about the people in the area.
Jonathan Kassam One children in Barnes, another
heading into Barnes next fall. Feels that issues of class need to be addressed.
Also feels that this unfairly targets both the Old North End and elementary
school students. Suggests that closing Barnes will make it difficult to pass
the school budget.
Kolby Kirby Member of Wheeler PTO. Acknowledges
fiscal concerns of districts. Thinks that Board should look at consolidation in
a broader way; suggests K-2, 3-5 buildings. Also approves of District
reconsidering the Dovetail program, because it draws kids out of Wheeler and
Barnes.
Zoe Robb -- 6th grade at Hunt; just
finished Barnes. Liked having friends in the neighborhood, where she could walk
to their houses. Thinks that it brings people together more.
Karen Bushey Thinks that Barnes is very important
to the neighborhood and the Old North End kids. Has concerns about proposal:
thinks that technology piece smacks of classism. She doesn't think that parents
will seek variances to send their kids to Wheeler. Also concerned about rise in
class size. Questions whether the District can effectively sell Taft, and the
impact that might have on taxes. Also thinks that if class sizes go up,
eventually District will have to build new schools. Concerned that kids from
Old North End will not be well received by other schools.
Liz Curry Resident of Old North End. Proposal is a
threat to the parents and residents of the area. Feels that the proposal is
divisive. Supports idea of a public task force to discuss the options for the
schools.
Vince Brennan Father of 1st grader in
Barnes. Doesn't think that the process was open enough. Thinks that the
proposal pits the rest of the City against Barnes. Points out that the new
field is affecting the current budget crisis, and that the information should
have been available last year. Believes that kids will not get the same level
of love in a larger school. Supports the idea of a task force.
Melissa Terrill -- Mother of a child in the Head
Start program. Grew up in the Old North End; believes that schools in Old North
End were better than schools elsewhere. Also believes that neighborhood is
particular strong in its support of the school. Concerned about long-term
effects on kids. Likes the fact that Barnes and Wheeler are the most diverse
schools in the state. Thinks that Board needs to look at the emotional and social
aspects of the situation. Some schools are not on the bus line; wonders what
happens if kids get sick. Believes proposal is prejudiced against Old North
End.
Phil Fiermonte -- City Councilor in Ward 3. Board
should be aware that proposal has created a lot of angst in neighborhood. Does
not believe that open hearings are engaging the community in the
decision-making process. Says that the City Council will not approve sale of
buildings if the proposal goes forward as is. No proposal will succeed without
buy-in of Old North End.
James Hasslem -- Vermont Workers Center. Is aware of
the issues, and believes Board is trying to help the kids. Disagrees with idea
that Board knows what is best for kids in Old North End. Does not like the idea
that Board will adopt a budget shutting Barnes without input from Old North End
parents. Also thinks that real purpose of proposal is to balance budget, not
help kids.
Elizabeth Curtis -- Runs program for Children and
Youth in Old North End church. Is concerned that there is not enough discussion
about social support for kids and families in the proposal. Thinks that there
are a number of issues that need to be addressed: transportation, social
support, etc. Argues that proposal for 50/50 socio-economic mix is a high-stress
situation for kids.
Dawn Moskowitz -- Mother of child in Champlain;
works in Old North End. Thinks this is a conversation we should have had a year
ago. Is asking the Board for an interim issue for February, and then a
longer-term solution for the community as a whole.
Colin Campbell -- 20 year resident of Old North End.
Father of three Barnes children. Former City Councilor from Ward 3. Thinks that
all conversations are about money; suggests that socio-economic concerns are
mere cover. Does not think that the plan is a solution, but merely a proposal.
Thinks that it is specious to talk about equality of opportunity when burdens
are not equal. Proposal will not remove financial challenges. Thinks that the
swap of land for parking lot is a metaphor for proposal. North St.
Revitalization Project never contemplated closure of Barnes.
Martha Abbott -- Graduate of Burlington schools,
former City Councilor from Ward 1. Believes that parents need to be more
involved in the governance process. Questions why Board would close a school in
which parents are involved and send kids to schools out of reach of parents.
Also questions idea of sending kids to more materialistic schools. Suggests
that Board and City Council set up a task force to consolidate city resources
and administration.
Jim Tribus -- Parent of Barnes 1st grader, educator,
and community member. Child is warm, safe, and within walking distance. As
teacher, does not think that testing tells the whole story. Believes that
busing kids to other schools will interfere with kids' progress. As a community
member, feels frustrated that Board is trying to tell Old North End residents
what is best for their children. Supports the idea of a task force involving
members of community and representatives.
Heather Reamer -- Parent of Barnes student. Believes
that focus on socio-economic issues is disingenuous. Wants to know if there is
any other plan out there. Concerned about issues of transportation for parents
and kids. Asks what Board has done to address broader issues. Wants to know if
cost-savings from closing Barnes will be realized. Why put three disparate
programs in one building? Why not spread them out? Wants to know why other
proposals weren't announced.
David Zuckerman -- State Rep. from Old North End. Stresses
importance of parental involvement; believes that the proposal will prevent
parental involvement. Suggests threatening to close Smith to urge New North End
voters to support budget. Believes that Old North End children do not need
another disruption in their lives. Thinks that school budget should be
discussed in terms of income, not size of cent increases.
Doug King -- Compliments Board on its goal of
removing obstacles to learning. Also likes the idea of reading coaches in the
schools. Believes community should have a real discussion on class and its
effects on the City. Believes that Lyman Amsden gave it his best shot in
putting together a proposal.
Allison Seger -- Mother of three District children.
Works as a social worker at Barnes. Staff at Barnes was devastated by
possibility of shut-down, because of impact on children. Thinks that it is
possible to come up with other ideas.
Kate Stein -- Mother of pre-schooler, resident of
Ward 3. Believes that it may be partly a financial decision, but believes Board
has best interests of children in mind. Children are resilient, and will get a
good education wherever they go.
Barbara Pryne -- Resident of Old North End. Feels
that proposal fails to accomplish its goal; thinks that the proposal should be
thrown away. Does not believe that residents will support budget. Asks if
people would put their children on city transportation. Example of soccer
players who dropped off team once they moved out of neighborhood. Believes that
proposal is flawed due to classism. Points out inability of Barnes students to
participate in Wheeler program.
Terry Buehner -- President at Burlington Education
Association. Reiterated statement about emotional reaction of Barnes staff.
Discussed process by which Barnes staff came up with additional proposal.
Believes that Board should consider a number of options.
Ira School -- Parent, grandmother, and
great-grandmother of Barnes students. Believes it is not fair to shut down the
Barnes school and bus kids elsewhere.
Stu McGowan -- Former PTO Chair at Wheeler; former
PTO President at EMS. Fixes up Old North End property. Staunch supporter of
inner city schools, but basic fact is that majority of Old North End kids don't
make it to graduation. People in room are success stories; other people aren't
there. His kids were among few middle-class kids in Wheeler; had difficult
transition. Believes that economic integration needs to happen sooner. Proposal
is a stab at a problem that exists, and it might do something. What's happening
now isn't working. The system is not succeeding. Board needs to think about
kids who are not present. Would like to volunteer for task force.
Emma McGowan -- Former Wheeler student. Skipped
class at Bard College to be here. Initial gut reaction was to oppose idea, but
believes that new proposal is different. Thinks that other consolidation
proposals have been rooted in classism. Wants to know why Burlington ignores
the low graduation rate of Old North End students. Believes that middle-class
families are moving in to the Old North End, but also believes that children
are not going to Old North End schools due to variances or private school.
Gary Golden -- Behavior specialist at Barnes and now
at Hunt. Believes that something does change when kids move out of Old North
End environment. Questions whether people would turn out to support clustering
of low-income families into one area of city. Notes that students with whom he
works do not cross Pearl Street. Old North End students in Hunt have a hard
time catching up; gets more difficult each year.
Thomas John -- Question regarding school lunch
program.
Ann Tewskbury-Frye -- Teacher at Barnes and now
Wheeler. Now aware of the fact that schools have closed on the Hill and in the
New North End. Believes that kids need more role models so that they know what
to do. Loves her job at Barnes and wants what is best for her kids. Also
willing to serve on a task force.
David Crangler -- Doesn't believe that anyone thinks
that the process is working. Thinks that Board needs to change its process.
Doesn't believe that statements at the NPA were accurate. Believes that people
want a task force to work towards a solution. Doesn't believe that Lyman Amsden
did what the community needs.
6. WORKING
SESSION OF THE BOARD
A. Date
for Next Hearing at Barnes
The Board discussed a hearing date for another
hearing on the Amsden proposal. The consensus was to hold the meeting on
November 29, 2005, from 7 - 9 p.m.
Motion (Caldwell/Haessley)
to withdraw Lyman Amsden's proposal.
Motion (Lane/Werbel) to
table the motion as premature.
Baldwin Yes Caldwell No Connolly Yes Crook
Yes Elliott Yes
Fleury No Haessly
No Hale
Yes Hoekstra No Holmziak Yes
Lane Yes Pillsbury
Yes Ploof No Werbel
-- Yes
The motion is tabled.
B. Discussion
of Dates for Superintendent Search
Commissioner Hale reviewed the dates for the
superintendent search. He asked the Board to review their calendars and report
and conflicts.
Brief discussion regarding
the superintendent process.
Motion (Haessley/Caldwell)
to amend the superintendent process to schedule additional public hearings.
Commissioner Caldwell said that she thinks it is
important to open up the process again. Asks to amend Commissioner Haessly's
motion to schedule time to discuss the public comments.
Commissioner Werbel said that she took good notes at
the public comment session and will use them when the candidates come in.
Commissioner Holmziak believes that it is important
that each Board member use his or her own set of questions.
Commissioner Hoekstra
supports a more central location, but would like the process to remain the
same.
The motion failed.
Motion (Hoekstra/Haessly) to find a more central
location for the superintendent interviews. Recommendation by Commissioner
Werbel that the Administration be asked to do that. Commissioner Baldwin asked
that it be a school
Motion carried.
C. Discussion
Relating to Emergency Construction Aid
Explanation by Acting Superintendent Collins of need
for emergency construction aid.
Motion (Haessly/Connolly) to
approve inclusion of application for aid on consent agenda.
7. APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA
Motion (Werbel/Haessly) to approve the consent
agenda.
Questions by Commissioner Connolly regarding
specific amounts of applications for state aid.
The motion carried (Commissioner Caldwell
abstained).
8. EXECUTIVE SESSION STUDENT MATTER
Motion (Haessly/Pillsbury) to go into executive
session. The motion carried.
The Board went into executive session at 9:45 p.m.
The Board came out of executive session at 10:03
p.m.
Motion (Holmziak/Lane) to adopt the recommendation
of the student discipline subcommittee as presented by Acting Superintendent
Collins. The motion carried.
The Board adjourned at 10:05 p.m.