NORWICH BOARD OF SCHOOL DIRECTORS
REGULAR MEETING
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1, 2005
7:03 P.M., MARION CROSS SCHOOL LIBRARY
Minutes
Present: Board members Cheney, Gray, Kaplan, Sachsse, Vitt; Administrators Gersen, Aubin, Edson; and four members of the public. Recorded by R. Lohr
1. Call to order - Chair Sachsse called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m.
2. Approval of minutes
Linda Gray moved and Deb Kaplan seconded a motion to approve the minutes of the regular and executive session meetings of May 4, as submitted with changes. The motion was unanimously approved.
The change to the regular meeting minutes on Item 4, the Board indicated that it “may” be interested in the wood chip boiler for the school.
3. Communications and Reports
a) Report of Chair:
(1) Calendar - Chair Sachsse announced that the next regular Board meeting will be prior to the Board Retreat scheduled for Thursday, August 18, 1:00-10:00 p.m., at a location yet to be decided.
b) Reports of Administrators:
Assistant Superintendent’s Report – Assistant Superintendent Aubin mentioned that the energy project (a PV installation and lighting upgrades) would require a public vote that could occur in a special district meeting or be incorporated into the scheduled March meeting. The biodiesel tank has been delivered for the pilot bus program. Aubin is continuing to look into how the fields bond issue would be treated by the state with regard to per pupil cost calculations and the excess spending provision. The Board was concerned that, if the cost of the fields are included in those calculations, the Norwich voters would find it difficult to support a bond for new athletic fields. The Board also asked John Aubin to investigate the eligibility of the fields for state funding based on information they got at their summer retreat in 2004.
Principal’s Report - Principal Edson reviewed his written report, highlighting the call for donations of plates or pottery for a mosaic sign for the school. He reviewed the loss of Federal grants, but felt that daily operations will not be influenced at this time. He asked the Board to discuss ideas for other funding mechanisms for such programs on a future Board agenda.
4. PTO Report- PTO Chair, Cinny Bensen reported that the next PTO meeting is scheduled for Monday, June 6th at 2:30 p.m. in the Art Room. There will be a family survey conducted to encourage feedback about the PTO. Cinny Bensen described the gifts endorsed by the PTO that totaled $2,500. The PTO gifts included a pedometer program, educational DVDs, lighting fixtures for the lobby display case, yarn for the art department, and $1000 in matching funds for an artist-in-residence program. The next award request deadline is November 1. The PTO is helping coordinate a food drive for The Haven, which may become a 6th Grade community project next year. The PTO expressed its appreciation for the Board’s work on behalf of the school. The Board recognized and expressed its appreciation for the job that Cinny and the PTO has done.
Deb Kaplan moved and Margaret Cheney seconded a motion to accept the PTO reward gifts valued at $2,500. The motion passed unanimously.
5. Business requiring discussion
Board Educational Goals for 2005-06, Long Range Strategic Plan - The Board discussed integrating LAP goals with long-range strategic Board goals and agreed to make the development of the long-range goals the focal point of the retreat. Rob Edson and Wayne Gersen will prepare a set of draft goals based on the school’s philosophy and broad categories such as education, facilities, staff, budget, etc. This would be a starting point at the retreat and would incorporate specific achievable outcomes to be accomplished within specific time frames.
Board Educational Goals were distributed in a document to the Board and their approval will be on the agenda at the next Board meeting. It was suggested that the Board get a facilitator for the retreat and the school leadership team be included in portions of the meeting.
6. Business requiring action
The Board discussed the Local Action Plan (LAP) process and Principal Edson reviewed a document produced by the LAP Committee. There were four categories in the 2004-05 goal-setting process including writing, math, climate of respect and multiage classrooms. Goals for writing and math will be continued while the other category goals will be discontinued. The climate of respect has now been incorporated into the school culture and philosophy. The committee decided that multiage classes would not be used as a method to manage class size at this time but could be revisited.
Margaret Cheney moved and Deb Kaplan seconded a motion to approve the Local Action Plan for 2005-06 as proposed an attached to the original meeting minutes packet. The motion passed unanimously.
7. Future Agenda Items
Future agenda items included strategic goals, financial matters and funding mechanisms.
8. Adjournment
Linda Gray moved and Margaret Cheney seconded a motion to adjourn at 8:26 p.m. The motion passed unanimously.
The meeting adjourned at 8:26 p.m. |
