Green Mountain Union High School
Board Minutes
August 12, 2010 5:00 p.m. UNAPPROVED MINUTES
Board Present: Bill Bourque - Chair, Alison DesLauriers - Vice Chair, Arne Jonynas, Gene Bont, Ginger Roper, Geralyn Donohue
Administration Present: David Adams - Superintendent, Tom Ferenc - Principal Mike Ripley - Associate Principal
Public Present: Chris Rosengrant -SAPA-TV, Janet Currier - Recording Secretary
Call to Order: Chair called meeting to order at 5:03 p.m.
Consent Agenda:
Approval of Minutes of July 6, 2010: Alison made motion to approve minutes but to add location of NewsBank as location of Retreat meeting. Minutes approved as amended. Geralyn abstained.
Apple Lease Agreement - Action Requested: David said this agreement is to lease hardware from Apple in the amount of $29,994.00 for laptops. Alison made motion to approve the Apple Lease Agreement as presented. David said the special education department has new I Macs that were purchased with AARA money and they were delivered to Green Mountain in June. Board approved Lease.
Draft Board Goals - Discussion: Bill said the 2010-2011 goals were discussed at the July Board Retreat. He read the goals aloud. Discussion and questions ensued. Tom gave an explanation of how the goals were chosen and how they overlap. He said the school action plan followed the curriculum audit and they hope to have it finished soon for board review. He said the action plan is attached to the goals.
Curriculum Audit Review of Recommendations - Discussion: Geralyn said the Executive Board met on Tuesday and were given a presentation by the Supervisory Union Policy Committee of their recommendations for the five curriculum audit recommendations. The Committee recommended adopting a single set of policies, procedures and job descriptions for the entire Supervisory Union. This will be the first recommendation that they as a committee will be working on. The first policies they plan to work on are Curriculum Management and Professional Development, and this will be a huge project. Geralyn continued to review the recommendations and the impact areas.
David then spoke of the changes and added responsibilities that are going to be required of the Supervisory Union by 2012. He said they expect the State Board to adopt the Common Core Standards next week. Discussion ensued. The Executive Board adopted these recommendations at their meeting on August 10, 2010.
Academic Mentor Grant Announcement - Tom Ferenc: Tom introduced Mike Ripley from Cavendish who has been hired as the new Associate Principal. The board
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welcomed Mike to Green Mountain.
Tom said he applied for a $50,000.00 grant and he found out about 3 weeks ago that we will receive it. The grant will run through March 2012. It is to be used for an Academic Mentor which is a tutor to assist the students. The Board thanked Tom for this work in acquiring this grant.
Nominations - Action Requested:
- Academic Mentor - Tom recommended hiring Karli King to work in this position at $15.00/hour.
- Administrative Assistant - Tom recommended hiring Brendan McNamara as Administrative Assistant for 204 days/year at salary of $27,369.00.
- Social Emotional Program Coordinator - Tom recommended hiring Claire Schroeder for this position that would be paid for with Medicaid monies.
- Alison made motion to hire Karli King at $15.00/hour to be paid for with the Academic Mentor grant; to hire Brendan McNamara as the Administrative Assistant for 204 days/year at salary of $27,369.00; and to hire Claire Schroeder as the Social Emotional program Coordinator to be paid with Medicaid money. Board approved all three hires.
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- Reports:
- Superintendent: David said according to Act 153, by December 15th the boards have to have a discussion regarding consolidation of supervisory unions.
- He said that the Commissioner has set an amount of 2.2% that Green Mountain must reduce their 2012 budget by. This is an amount of $99,868.00. He explained how the reduction has to be made and he said that Meredith would meet with the Board finance people to explain the Challenges for Change requirements. If this reduction can not be met then we have to let the Commissioner know by December 15, 2010 so he can notify the Legislature.
- David told the Board that there will be an Administrative Team Retreat on Monday and then the Administrative Team will be doing a Curriculum Management Training for 4 days.
- Principal's Report: - Tom Ferenc: Tom gave the Board a copy of a letter from Robert Appel stating that Green Mountain has successfully met the State's requirement with regard to the civil rights case that was filed against Green Mountain a few years ago before Tom arrived. Tom told the Board of the things that are already plugged in for the upcoming school year and said they are going to continue teaching these things of how we want to live to the students. Bill Bourque read the letter aloud. The Superintendent and Board said 'well done' to Tom and the Green Mountain staff.
- Tom told the board about the 7th grade first day and tours of the school for the 7th graders. The school and grounds are coming together nicely. He said the calendar is being worked on for next year. He gave an overview of what is going on with the staff and said that he is
still looking for a Health Teacher and a long-term sub but they are getting close. The School Action Plan Team have been meeting this summer. August 27th will be opening day and they are going back to a model used 30 years ago. Tom talked about
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- other activities planned for the 27th and changes for the year as well. School starts at 8:00 a.m. for grades 9 through 12 and at 7:50 a.m. for the 7th and
8th grade middle school students.
- Tom said that personnel-wise, Opportunities In Learning has everything in place for the start of school. The space is being organized.
- Board Report: Arne said that they are at the point of awarding the contract for the GM Lighting Project. Lawrence & Lobber's bid was in the range of $45 - $46,000.00 and the others were in the $60,000.00 range. Lawrence & Lober is the company that is being recommended to do the project. The grant was for $50,000.00 and GM was to add $10,000 to the grant. Arne made motion to expend the $50,000.00 Lighting Grant and add the required $10,000.00 of Green Mountain money to begin the Lighting upgrade Project. The Board gave their thanks to Tom Burke for his efforts for Green Mountain.
- Board approved.
- Committee Reports - Policy - First Read - D-21 - Family Medical Leave: Geralyn said that this is not a new policy but has been changed from the original policy. She reviewed the changes. Ginger Roper questioned the wording of the policy. Discussion ensued regarding accrued leave and short-term disability benefits. This will be researched before the next board meeting.
- Other Business: Bill thanked Janet for all her help over the years. This is her last GM board meeting as she is retiring. The Board all thanked Janet and said they would miss her.
- Alison said the Board needs to discuss holding the supervisory union meeting to meet with Rutland Windsor and Rutland South supervisory unions. Windsor Southwest will be the host. She said September 14th is the date they are looking at and it will be held at Jackson Gore.
- Executive Session - Personnel and Negotiations: Alison made motion to enter Executive Session to discuss personnel and negotiations at 6:30 p.m. Board approved.
- Geralyn made motion to come out of Executive Session at 7:05 p.m. Board approved.
- Alison made motion to hire Mike Ripley at a salary of $60,400.00 for 220 days. The total salary will be offset by Medicaid funds. Board voted unanimously to hire Mike Ripley.
- Adjournment: Alison made motion to adjourn at 7:07 p.m. Board approved.
- Respectfully submitted,
- Janet Currier
- Recording Secretary
Green Mountain Union High School UNAPPROVED MINUTES
Board Retreat Meeting Minutes
July 6, 2010 12:00 p.m.
Board Present: Bill Bourque - Chair, Alison DesLauriers - Vice Chair, Arne Jonynas, Gene Bont, Ginger Roper
Administration Present: David Adams - Superintendent, Tom Ferenc - Principal
Public Present: Pam O'Neil - GMUHS Guidance, Janet Currier -Recording Secretary
Call to Order - Bill Bourque called meeting to order at to order at 12:29 p.m.
Public Comment - None.
Approval of Minutes of June 10, 2010 - Ginger moved approval of minutes as presented. Board approved unanimously.
Nominations and Resignations:
David said that Allan Garvin should be appointed as Outdoor Leadership Program Teacher to be paid with Medicaid monies. Alison made motion appoint Allan Garvin and to approve $1,000.00 in Medicaid monies to fund the Outdoor Leadership Program. Board approved. Tom Ferenc reported that the trip has already been taken and 7 Green Mountain students participated along with three chaperones. Tom then reviewed the requirements of the students during and after the trip.
David then asked for approval to hire Lora Kasten as a para professional to work as an individual aide with a student from a sending school. He also asked the board to approve Sue Willis and Bruce McEnaney as para-professionals at Green Mountain as well. Alison made motion to hire Lora Kasten, Sue Willis and Bruce McEnaney as GM para-professionals with salary placement to be determined by the superintendent. Board approved.
David then presented Rachel Root's nomination as a full time Special Education Teacher to take over Mary Barton's position and to be Department Chair for the Special Ed Department as well. Ginger made motion to approve Rachel Root as full time Special Education Teacher at a salary of $47,106.00. Board approved.
David requested approval to increase Deb Franks position from .5 FTE to a .83 FTE and to recall her at a .17% increase to teach grades 7/8 reading labs. Alison made motion to hire Deb Franks as an English Teacher at .83FTE with salary to be designated by Superintendent. Board approved.
Assistant Principal - Tom said that the administration is recommending that Mike Ripley be hired as the Assistant Principal pending a background check. Alison made motion to hire Mike Ripley as Assistant Principal with salary to be determined but not to be more than budgeted amount. Board approved.
Update on Bridge Construction: David said he has an update on the two bridges, #8 and #9 and that they will be done in the same construction period. There will be detours through Springfield and also on the Green Mountain Turnpike and River Street. Chris Williams of the State of Vermont Dept. of Transportation said they can only go into the rivers to do work after June 1st and must be out by mid October. Pre-Construction work will begin on May 16th, 2011 on bridge #9 and they plan to be done in June. They anticipate that by July 16th, 2011 all work on both bridges will be done. Bill suggested doing the small bridge last to not make such an impact with
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detours for the school buses and school traffic. David said by supporting the current plan we
would be supporting the local merchants.
Other Business: Tom Ferenc had a letter from Roberta O'Donnell who teaches Yoga. She thanked Green Mountain for letting her class use the GM space for free. She said she took donations and gave $1,000.00 to the Chester-Andover Family Center in appreciation.
Tom reported that the Green Mountain Graduation ceremonies were wonderful.
Ginger Roper said she has been approached about bringing a Cuban band to Green Mountain to perform and work with the students for $500.00. Alison told Ginger that teachers could write a mini-grant to request the money. Ginger will have Mariselle Lucerno contact Tom Ferenc about this.
David shared a note of thanks from Tom Ferenc's family regarding the board gift in memory of his Dad. He also had a note of thanks from Arlene Rallis for her marble clock.
Executive Session- Personnel: Alison made motion to enter Executive Session at 12:54 p.m. to discuss personnel issue and requested that the Administration stay. Board approved.
Alison made motion to come out of Executive Session at 1:24 p.m.
Alison made motion to release Jane Mitchell from her contract with regrets and to wish her well.
Board approved.
Adjournment - Board meeting adjourned at 1:25 p.m. to begin working session of the Board Retreat.
Respectfully submitted,
Janet Currier
Recording Secretary
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