Present: Chris
Tormey, Roman Kokodyniak, Niall McCallum, Tim Gochey, Regina Quinn, George
Burlison, Lillian Alexander, Cecilia Gulka, Scott St. John, Sue Polen, Charles
Wanzer
Level 3 – Grievance Hearing – Grievance re: contract issuance. Did the Administration violate the
master agreement,
including but not limited to Article 10 (contract
issuance) on Friday, April 18th, when they issued contracts that
were
non-binding, after adding to the bottom the
typical/former year contracts, ÒNote 2Ó (right to terminate contract)? There
was extensive discussion on this matter. The Board and Association agreed to
extend the time that the
Board/contract
needs to reply to the grievance. George will develop the language and
email it to Charlie.
1. The
meeting was called to order by Chris Tormey, Chair at 6:12 p.m.
2. Approval
of Minutes
a. The
minutes of August 25, 2008 were approved on a motion by Tim Gochey, second by Chris
Tormey.
So
voted.
b. The
minutes of September 2, 2008 were approved on a motion by Tim Gochey, second by
Chris Tormey.
So
voted.
c. The
minutes of September 15, 2008 were approved with a minor correction on a motion
by Tim Gochey,
second
by Chris Tormey. So voted.
3. Public
Comment
There
was no public comment this evening.
4. Student
Report: Lillian Alexander
& Jese Feltus
There
was no student report this evening.
5. Principal's
Report: Regina Quinn
a. Update
on Co-AD Interviews – Regina handed
out a job description for the Co-AD position. It is as follows: Co-Athletic
Director
This
temporary, part-time (approximately 20%) position will be filled through the
end of the 2008-2009 school year. This
is a shared position with the Athletic Director. The stipend normally given to the Athletic Director will be
shared (AD = 80%/Co-AD = 20%). The
purpose is to assume some of the responsibilities previously held by the
Athletic Director, and to share some responsibilities as needed through the
remainder of this year. The
position may be filled by one individual or shared among two.
Responsibilities to assume fully:
● Assumes
responsibility for the organization and scheduling of all interscholastic
athletic events including
the posting of schedules in a timely manner. Ensures that all coaches and the main office staff receive
regular updates to the schedule.
● Communicate
with other staff members, including the PE teacher, the Facilities Director,
and the Executive
Assistant to the Principal, regarding shared use of the gymnasium.
● Arranges
practice schedules for coaches on the playing fields and in the gymnasium,
coordinating with the
Facilities Director regarding use of the school facilities for other functions.
● Communicates
with recreation officials regarding the use of town owned playing fields.
● Ensures
that students, coaches, refs, bus drivers, parents, and office staff know when
games have been canceled.
Responsibilities to share with the Athletic Director:
● Represents
the AD at home games on an as-needed basis.
○ Supervision
of ticket sales and fundraising activities associated only with the games covered
by the Co-AD.
○ Serves
as the official Cabot School representative for games at which the Co-AD is representing the AD.
It was recommended to the Board that Billie Marcotte
be hired for this position. (See
Board Action)
b. Test
Scores – Regina reviewed the test
score results with the Board.
Cabot School did very well.
c. Grant – Regina reminded us that we applied to the VT
Department of Buildings and General Services for support for the completion of a
playground/recreation center around the beginning of September. The 2008
General Assembly appropriated funds through a competitive grant process to
support municipal and non-profit
organizations statewide that provide services to youth or adults in either an
individual community
or recognized community service area.
We received a letter from the Commissioner thanking us for our application
and approving us for a grant of $13,015.43. There will be a special presentation by the
Governor and our local Legislator on October 17, 2008, at l p.m. in the House
Chamber of the Vermont
State House.
6. Superintendent's
Report: George Burlison
a. Bus
Leasing Proposal Update – The
Board reviewed the bus leasing information presented by George. The
different scenarios are as follows:
I. DATCO
& MLC (Lease to Purchase)
5 Year Proposal
Buses/unit
cost et all:
a) TUS – 6 x (77) passenger bus @ $77,567 = $465,402 x
3.99% = $502,612.45
(5
annual lease to purchase payments of $100,502.49)
b) Cabot – 2 x (71) passenger bus w/auto chains @
$79,133 = $158,266
plus
1 x (24 +1) handicap bus w/auto chains @ $65,309 = $65,309
$223,575
x 3.98% = $227,941.45
$223,575
(5
annual lease to purchase payments of $45,588.20)
c) S.U. purchase – 9 units = $688,977 x 3.985 = $730,554
(5 annual payments of $146,090)
* Vendor will buy buses back at end of 5th
year of $25,000 per bus.
* Vendor will sell buses for same price
if we purchase fewer i.e. only two units at a time.
* Finance Co. (MLC) will do Òcommercial
leases as well but they are at higher rate.
=======================================================================
II. Clark
& Baystone Finance (Lease to Purchase) 5 Year Proposal
Buses/unit
cost et all:
a) S.U.
– 8 x (71) passenger bus @ $80,000 = $640,000 x 4.35% = $785,128
(5
annual payments of $157,025.60)
1) Cabot
– 2 buses – would pay 25% x $157,025.60 or $39,256.40
2) TUS
– 6 buses would pay 75% x $157,025.60 or $117,769.20
* Vendor will buy buses back at end of 5th
year for $20,000 to $25,000 per bus.
=====================================================================
III. Multifunction
Utility Bus
a) Cannot
be used to routinely transport students Òto and/or from schoolÓ.
b) Can
be used for field trips and/or other co-curricular activities & events.
c) Average
costs without handicap accessibility 48,000 to 52,000 (with handicap accessibility,
add $3,000 to $6,000 more.)
=======================================================================
IV. Financials
a) Bus
Sinking Funds: (Both Cabot and TUS have planned to budget $20K per year.
1) Cabot
– as of 09-12-08 - $71,003.94 + $5,000 additional budgeted for FY09
2) TUS
– as of 09-12-08 - $41,151 + $9,500 additional budgeted for FY09
b) 3
Year Maintenance Costs: (Both
Cabot & TUS have budgeted $20,000 per year for 1) Cabot
- $71,481.42 maintenance)
2) TUS
- $75,040.00
c) Each
District (Cabot & TUS) could use existing balances in bus sinking funds
plus a percent of annual budgeted
maintenance costs to offset annual expense of lease to purchase
agreements.
1) TUS
would have $50,000 in reserve fund plus $20,000 planned maintenance costs to
contribute initially.
2) Cabot
would have $76,000 in reserve fund plus $20,000 planned maintenance costs to
contribute initially.
3) Each
district thereafter would need to find (budget) the difference owed for the annual payment for their district and the
amount normally budgeted for maintenance
and the bus sinking fund (approximately $40,000 - $45,000 per year).
The
Board reviewed and discussed the information. They will make a decision and vote on the bus leasing at the
next Board meeting scheduled for October 20th.
b. 403(b)
Plan – David Larcombe spoke to
the Board about the Internal Revenue Service issuing new regulations affecting how schools must deal
with 403(b) plans. Some of the
regulations have already become
effective, most of the regulations will require implementation beginning
January 1, 2009.
Compliance with these regulations would involve: 1) form compliance (a written plan
document must be in place on January 1, 2009, and 2) operational compliance
(management of benefits and eligibility, contribution limits, transfers,
rollovers, loans, contract exchanges, hardship withdrawals, etc., which must also
begin formally on January 1, 2009.)
David
would like the Board to adopt the Washington Northeast Supervisory Union 403(b)
Plan, as described in the
Provisions Summary, the notice of Eligibility for 403(b) Plan Salary Deferral,
and the 403(b)
Plan Investment Providers. For the
first year of implementation, the list of Investment Providers is intended to
include all the providers used by school employees in FY2008, with the addition
of the recently established VT State TeachersÕ Retirement System 403(b)
Investment Program.
The
Board discussed and decided it was a good idea to go ahead with this. (See Board Action) The Board thanked David for his presentation.
c. Woodchip
Project Update – The Board
discussed the woodchip project briefly.
David gave them updates that he knew about. We went out to bid for woodchips to approximately twenty
vendors. Roman suggested we put
out a public relations notice/update to the community re: the progress of the
new woodchip plant.
7. Board
Discussion
a. ACT
62 Requirements/Bus Safety –
Cecilia Gulka spoke about preschool children and the installation of child
safety restraint systems on our school buses, appropriate for young children,
as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. (See AAP Policy Statement: School Transportation Safety, July 2007) ItÕs not law but is recommended. About a year ago Headstart began using
them and is now a requirement for those children being transported. Cecilia asked the Board, since we are
currently looking into bus leasing, to look into having booster seats installed
in the first few rows for preschool children. These seats would also convert to regular seats for other
children if not being used by preschoolers. So Cecilia requested of the Board that if we lease or
purchase new buses that we make sure we have the booster seats installed. SheÕs not asking that we retrofit them
in our old buses. The Board will
consider this request.
The
next thing Cecilia talked about pertained to Act 62 regulations. Act 62 went into effect July 1, 2008
and along with it many of the rules promulgated for its implementation. However, we were given an extension
until July 1, 2009 for three of the provisions. These relate to issuing contracts with private preschool
programs, the requirement for accreditation, and the requirement that we adopt
a new assessment system from one of two approved by the state. These last two would require a
significant time commitment on her part that cannot be squeezed into the
teaching day. Cecilia is asking
for 50 to 60 additional paid hours spread over the remainder of the school year
to accomplish the STARS accreditation and the training in and implementation of
the new assessment system. The
Board discussed and agreed to give Cecilia 50 extra paid hours. (See Board Action)
The
Board thanked Cecilia for her presentations.
b.
Food Service Report – Scott talked about the food service program
and purchasing organic local food versus other food. He admits that organic food can be better for you, etc. but
is much more expensive to purchase.
It was also suggested that Scott check with local farms re: any extra
produce they might be willing to donate or let us purchase at a reduced
rate. We should grow our own food
and use it. IreneÕs
class
grows stuff in the greenhouse but they sell most everything at the FarmerÕs
Market.
How
do we provide nutritious meals without seriously increasing costs to the
program or the individuals and
size of the meals are some things we need to think about. Also, how can we draw more kids in for breakfast?
The
Board asked Scott how could they help him not to go/be in the hole? What more realistic support can the Board give you? Chris asked Scott if he got more income
from the state or federal government according
to the numbers of children he feeds?
Scott said the biggest thing is the free and reduced. If you have
mostly free and reduced, you are golden.
For every kid that eats a free breakfast you would get from the state roughly
$2.29. HeÕs not worried about
lunch as they do very well with that.
We need to get more
breakfasts.
We
will have Scott come in again to give the Board an update on his program and
how itÕs going. The Board
thanked him for his report.
8. Board
Action
a. On
a motion by Tim Gochey, second by Chris Tormey the Board adopted the Washington
Northeast Supervisory Union 403(b) Plan, as described in the attached
Provisions Summary, the notice of Eligibility for 403(b) Plan Salary Deferral,
and the 403(b) Plan Investment Providers.
So voted.
b. On
a motion by Chris Tormey, second by Tim Gochey the Board approved Elyse Bellamy
as Paraeducator for 2008-2009. So
voted.
c. On
a motion by Chris Tormey, second by Niall McCallum the Board approved 50 hours
of additional paid time for Cecilia Gulka to get the STARS Program in place. So voted.
d. On
a motion by Roman Kokodyniak, second by Chris Tormey the Board approved Billie
Marcotte as Co-AD for 2008-2009 (This is approximately a 20% position sharing
the AD stipend 20%/80%). So voted.
9. Adjournment
On a
motion by Chris Tormey, second by Tim Gochey the Board adjourned the meeting at
9:50 p.m.
So
voted.
Respectfully Submitted,
Joanna Brickey
Transcriber