BURLINGTON
BOARD OF SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS
September 12, 2006
Ira Allen Administration
150 Colchester Avenue,
Burlington, VT 05401
Commission Lane, serving as
temporary chair due to the absence of Commissioner Hale, called the meeting to
order at 7:01 p.m.
Commissioner Pillsbury agreed to serve as temporary clerk.
Commissioners:
Marrisa Caldwell, Katharine Chasan, Katherine Connolly, Barbara Crook, Wallace Elliott, Thom Fleury, Chris Haessly, Erik Hoekstra, Jurij Homziak, Fred Lane, Keith Pillsbury, Amy Werbel
Administrators:
Jeanne Collins,
Superintendent
Sara Jane Mahan, Human Resources Director
Scott Lisle, Business
Manager
Betsy Liley, District Grants
Coordinator
Paul Irish, District
Technical Director
Bonnie Poe, Special Services
Director
Absent:
Paul
Hale, Commissioner
3. APPROVAL
OF AGENDA
Motion (Caldwell/Fleury) to approve the agenda.
Motion (Werbel/Connolly) to amend the agenda to add
a discussion regarding the formation of an ad hoc committee on communications
to New Business. The motion carried.
The motion to approve the
agenda was approved.
4. COMMENTS/QUESTIONS
Lisa Gay-Timmonds announced that the High School
will be presenting "Beauty and the Beast" this fall. There will be
four performances on November 16-19, including Saturday matinée at 2 PM. 85
students are involved. Evening performances are Thursday, Friday & Saturday
at 7 pm. A November 15 performance will be held as a fund-raiser will be for
the district libraries.
5. SUPERINTENDENT’S
REPORT
-- On Nov. 16, David Berliner will speak at UVM
about poverty gap and achievement.
-- While District kindergartens are larger, overall
there are 30 fewer students in the whole district
-- Youth on Board is interviewing candidates for a
student board member
-- City Kids merger did not take place and it is not
anticipated to happen in the near future.
-- Child care will be provided in four schools after
schools
-- The superintendent thanked the BEA for the reception held at the beginning of the week at the Wyndham Hotel.
6. COMMITTEE
UPDATES
a. Finance
Committee
Commissioner Lane reported that the Finance
Committee meeting was canceled for lack of a quorum. He presented a proposal
from the City that the District hire two electricians to handle City electrical
tasks. The District will supervise the electricians and bill the City for their
time.
Motion (Connolly/Werbel) to approve the hiring of
two electricians pursuant to the proposal by the City of Burlington. The motion
was approved. Commissioners Homziak and Crook abstained; Commissioners Haessly
and Caldwell voted no.
TIME-CERTAIN PRESENTATION:
7:30 - 8:00 p.m.
5. EQUITY
TASK FORCE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT PLAN W/MARY JANE SHELLEY
Communication Plan draft #2 discussed by the Board.
6. COMMITTEE UPDATES
a. Curriculum
& Policy Committee
Commissioner Pillsbury presented the report of the
Curriculum & Policy Committee. A copy of the minutes is on file. The next
meeting of the Committee is September 19th.
b. Technology Committee
Commissioner Crook presented the report of the
Technology Committee. A copy of the minutes is on file.
c. Technical Education status on meeting of Essex & Burlington
boards
Commissioner Elliot reported on a meeting with two
representatives from U46 board. Proposed that both boards disseminate
information on the regional centers and explain the benefits. of the technical
centers.
7. OLD
BUSINESS
Commissioner Caldwell requested that the Finance
Committee report back to the Board about the impact of the new Health Care Reform
Law on the school district
8. NEW
BUSINESS
a. Consent
Agenda
Motion (Connolly/Fleury) to approve consent agenda.
Commissioner Fleury asked for a correction of the minutes from 9/6, noting that
he was absent. Also, Commissioner Fleury noted that at the August 30 meeting,
he voted the motion to postpone the Sept 6 meeting.
Commissioner Hoekstra noted that the September 6
minutes were missing from the list in the consent agenda.
The motion to approve the
consent agenda was approved.
The Board
Assumptions and Goals for FY 07 were distributed and a discussion scheduled for
the October meeting.
Commissioner Werbel withdrew
her motion for a discussion of the ad hoc communications committee.
9. FUTURE
AGENDA ITEMS
-- Discussion of Board Assumptions and Goals for FY
07
-- Discussion of Board committee structure
-- Expansion of school calendar to include holidays
from additional faiths/cultures
-- Availability of childcare for board members and
the public
-- Commissioner Caldwell's request to be
re-appointed to the Finance Committee
10.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Motion (Connolly/Werbel) to go into executive
session for the purpose of discussing contract negotiations with the Burlington
Education Association. The motion passed and the Board went into executive
sessions at 8:30 p.m.
Motion (Connolly/Hoekstra) to come out of executive
session. The motion passed and the Board came out of executive session at 8:40
p.m. The Board took no action.
10. ADJOURNMENT
Motion (Elliot/Pillsbury) to adjourn. The Board
adjourned at 8:40 p.m.