Draft: Subject to Board Approval

     WINCHESTER SCHOOL BOARD MEETING                

WINCHESTER SCHOOL LIBRARY

JUNE 5, 2008

Board Members Present: V.Cole, B. Moser, G. O'Neal, W. Hildreth, C. Duquette

Administration Present: D. Funkhouser, P. Bigelow, T. O'Connor, D. Crisafulli

The meeting was called to order at 6:30 pm by Chair, C. Duquette.

MINUTES:

G. O'Neal MOVED to accept the minutes of the May 15, 2008 meeting as printed; SECONDED by: W. Hildreth, VOTED: 4-1 (B. Moser - no), MOTION PASSED.

BOARD BUSINESS:

POLICY:

W. Hildreth MOVED to accept the Evaluation of Board Operational Procedures policy; SECONDED by G. O'Neal, after discussion, V. Cole amended the motion to approve the policy as a final reading; SECONDED BY: G. O'Neal, VOTED: 5-0, MOTION PASSED.

V. Cole MOVED to accept the Evaluation of the Board policy as a first reading; SECONDED by: G. O'Neal, VOTED: 5-0, MOTION PASSED.

C. Duquette asked that Dr. Crisafulli bring the proposed tool he would like used, i.e., the School Board Association policy, etc.

G. O'Neal MOVED to accept the Winchester School Board Policies and Administrative Procedures policy as a final reading; SECONDED by: W. Hildreth, VOTED: 5-0, MOTION PASSED.

V. Cole MOVED to accept the School Board Legal Status policy as a final reading; SECONDED by: G. O'Neal, VOTED: 5-0, MOTION PASSED.

G. O'Neal MOVED to accept the Winchester School Board Powers and Duties policy as a final reading; SECONDED by: W. Hildreth, VOTED: 5-0, MOTION PASSED.

G. O'Neal MOVED to accept the Board Member Authority policy as a final reading; SECONDED by: V. Cole, VOTED: 5-0, MOTION PASSED.

G. O'Neal MOVED to accept the Winchester School Board Elections policy as a final reading; SECONDED by: W. Hildreth, VOTED: 5-0, MOTION PASSED.

V. Cole MOVED to accept the Board Member Qualifications policy as a final reading; SECONDED by: G. O'Neal, VOTED: 5-0, MOTION PASSED.

G. O'Neal MOVED to accept the Board Member or District Officer Resignations policy as a final reading; SECONDED by: W. Hildreth, VOTED: 5-0, MOTION PASSED.

G. O'Neal MOVED to accept the Board Member Removal from Office policy as a final reading; SECONDED by: V. Cole, VOTED: 5-0, MOTION PASSED.

G. O'Neal MOVED to accept the Unexpired Term Fulfillment policy as a final reading; SECONDED by: W. Hildreth, VOTED: 5-0, MOTION PASSED.

V. Cole MOVED to accept the Recognition of Organization and Operation of the School Administrative Unit (SAU) School Board policy as a final reading; SECONDED by: G. O'Neal, after discussion, VOTED: 3-2 (C. Duquette - no, B. Moser - no), MOTION PASSED.

V. Cole MOVED to approve the Winchester School Board Member Ethics policy as a final reading, SECONDED by: G. O'Neal, VOTED: 4-1 (B. Moser - no), MOTION PASSED.

G. O'Neal MOVED to accept the Board Member Conflict of Interest policy as a final reading, SECONDED by: B. Moser, VOTED: 5-0, MOTION PASSED.

G. O'Neal MOVED to accept the Board Organizational Meeting policy as a final reading; SECONDED by: W. Hildreth, VOTED: 5-0, MOTION PASSED.

G. O'Neal MOVED to accept the Board Officers policy as a final reading; SECONDED by: V. Cole, eliminating the position of and deleting any reference to, the Secretary,

VOTED: 5-0, MOTION PASSED.

B. Moser MOVED to accept the Appointed Board Officials policy as a final reading; SECONDED by: V. Cole, VOTED: 5-0, MOTION PASSED.

G. O'Neal MOVED to accept the Board - Superintendent Relationship policy as a final reading; SECONDED by: W. Hildreth, VOTED: 5-0, MOTION PASSED.

Mission Statement:

The Board received a copy of the Mission Statement in their packets.  It has not been updated in six or seven years.  Dr. Crisafulli suggested at some point the Board could look at it.

                D. Funkhouser suggested putting it out now to the teachers and look for feedback.  Will look to have a follow-up meeting in the Fall.

AYP - Dr. Hodgdon:

The Board received information, reviewed and asked questions of Dr. Hodgdon..

Dr. Hodgdon advised the school scores and district scores look slightly different because the first year base line is only grades three through six.  Hopefully, next year the school and district scores will be the same.

B. Moser asked why we can't have a sheet for each grade; feels it would be easier to understand how each specific grade is doing.

Dr. Crisafulli advised that was included in the information that was in the packet.

                Dr. Hodgdon - AYP information is not broken down by grades.  AYP is looking at the school as a whole.  To make AYP students need to achieve three out of four of the           following: participation, attendance, ability to improve and meeting target score.

Dr. Crisafulli explained the State reports AYP as a whole.  The Board can review information received in January for s breakdown, but not what is used as an accountability model; that's AYP. 

                Dr. Hodgdon advised he tried to give the Board a snapshot and the easiest way to explain it.

                Dr. Crisafulli reviewed the District Summary Report with the Board.

C. Duquette asked how teachers and administration are working to improve scores.

                D. Funkhouser advised meet weekly to discuss as a group, review what will be taught the next week, come up with strategies and then come back with data on how it went. 

                D. Funkhouser advised the staff and administration is more focused then ever on what the State wants the school to do.  This Summer many staff members are going to       workshops on teaming.  They have been using teaming since February.   A team will be meeting at the end of the month. Will bring more information to the next meeting.

V. Cole doesn't find reliability in testing; for example, the third grade is tested in one year and the same group the next year.

                Dr. Hodgdon explained that way they can track how students are doing.

B. Moser asked about specific classrooms.

                D. Crisafulli explained scores are broken down by students not classrooms.  Each week teachers report how students are doing, so it does show classroom breakdown.

B. Moser advised with all the information we are getting are we going to get information on how each classroom is doing.?

                Dr. Crisafulli is not sure he can give information by classroom.  There might be a legal question there.

                Dr. Crisafulli advised Title I will work with students who didn't do well.

                D. Funkhouser advised they are trying to keep a very tight grip on goals from the State.

FINANCIAL REPORT:

G. O'Neal MOVED to approve the manifest in the amount of $1,506,592.15; SECONDED by: W. Hildreth, VOTED: 4-1 (B. Moser -no), MOTION PASSED.

The Board received information on the 2008 budget; also need to think about the 2009 budget.

                Dr. Crisafulli advised will be short in next year's budget for utilities due to increased costs.  Need to look at what can be topped off, etc.

B. Moser asked are we hearing you to use this year's money to supplement next year's budget?  B. Moser advised he could not vote for that.

                T. O'Connor and D. Crisafulli recommended to the Board to top off the oil tanks and to use monies for other items as listed.

Dr. Crisafulli advised still using funds that were supposed to be used; we are still in the current budget until June 30. 

C. Duquette wanted to be sure we are not using regular ed monies for special ed costs.

                T. O'Connor - All special ed lines are negatives.  No special ed monies are being contributed to the budget forecast at the end of the year.

C. Duquette advised the Budget Comittee will say we budgeted $43,000 and used $28,000; why?  What didn't get done?

                T. O'Connor explained will have a better answer when we go before the Budget Committee.  Repairs and Maintenance are anticipated over multiple years.

                T. O'Connor explained this is a bottom line budget; may defer maintenance if other line items need funds.  Explained further.  Can do budget line transfers so when we produce      the report for 09/10 doesn't show not spent.  For example in oil line, don't anticipate needing in repair and maintenance, but do need in oil.  Downside is someone can come with the prior year report; would need explanation.

                Dr. Crisafulli advised there is no purchase order for shades yet; the cost is $13,000.

G. O'Neal MOVED to top the tanks and do what we can to lock that in; SECONDED by: V. Cole, after discussion, VOTED: 4-1, (B. Moser - no), MOTION PASSED.

G. O'Neal MOVED to pay the second half of the Power School purchase; SECONDED by: V. Cole, after discussion, VOTED: 4-1, (B. Moser - no), MOTION PASSED.

V. Cole asked for more information on Fast Forward.

                Dr. Crisafulli will include that for the next meeting.

                The Board will wait until the next meeting to make a decision.

 

21st Century Grant:

Dr. Crisafulli distributed information to the Board.  It has been approved in Monadnock and Hinsdale.  Will discuss at the next meeting.

C. Duquette asked about van; who is using it?

                D. Funkhouser will ask Jeremy Miller and get back to the Board.

                D. Crisafulli advised if the van is being used by others, they need to share the cost.

G. O'Neal asked how many years the Grant is for.

                Dr. Crisafulli advised two more years; will apply for a five year extension.  It is basically self-renewing.

T. O'Connor advised the Winchester School district is very favorable due to experience with after school programs.  That is why Hinsdale received their grant. 

                Asked D. Crisafulli to put it on for the next agenda.

B. Moser asked that a Personnel/Contract issue be put on the next agenda in non-public.

The Board will hold the next meeting in the Ford Building at 6:30 pm.

B. Moser MOVED to adjourn the meeting at 8:15 pm; SECONDED by: G. O'Neal, VOTED: 5-0, MOTION PASSED.

Respectfully submitted,

Peggy Higgins