Grand Isle School Board
Minutes
GRAND ISLE SCHOOL BOARD REGULAR MEETING
Monday, January 23, 2012, Grand Isle School
7:03 Meeting was called to order by Superintendent, Robert Phillips, in the absence of a Chair and Clerk of the Board.
Members present: Carol Miller, Herb Durfee, Mitch McGrath and Michael Inners.
Administration: Robert Phillips, Superintendent, and Troy Nolan-Watkins, Principal.
Public: Dan Foster, teacher, Mr. and Mrs. Burbo, David Gadapee and Trish Finkle.
Reorganization of the Board- Nominations for Chair- Mitch McGrath nominated by Herb Durfee, second by Carol Miller; Mitch declined.
Michael Inners nominated as Chair, pro tem.( Mitch, 2nd Carol). Michael accepted for this meeting and next meeting as pro tem. Vote 4-0.
Changes in Agenda
1. Request for judges for "Dancing with Teachers" PTA fund-raiser
2. Request from teacher for additional three hours credit reimbursement for graduate credits
3. Request for student to remain at Grand Isle School
Minutes of January 9, 2012 approved- 4-0
Superintendent Report
Budget presentation will be filmed for public use. One week lead time will be required. Filmed during regular work hours, Mr. Phillips will organize the project and Herb and Carol volunteered to assist.
Town Report Materials
Herb indicated that he received no response from board members to prepare the budget report to the town office. The Chair usually assumes this responsibility, but having no chair to complete the task; Mr. Phillips, Mr. Nolan-Watkins and Mr. Inners will prepare the document for the Town Clerk in order to meet the Wednesday deadline. Michael will write a short report recounting the facts of the budget. Tab D will be included. Mr. Nolan-Watkins has prepared the Principal's Report for the budget document.
Legislative Update
Mr. Phillips provided "Legislative Issues- VSA- January 19, 2012" .The brief overview of his report includes:
- appointment of the Commissioner (H.440)
- enlarge S.U. Boundaries to 16 units (S.194)
- incentives for S.U. Mergers
- residential education tax yield discussion
- State collection of education property tax
- public high school choice
- 7th/8th grade Act 150 Public School Choice
Board Discussion
Teacher request- Dan Foster- requested and additional 3 credit hours for class work toward his Master Degree. Board discussion about whether the reimbursement was taxable and what plans were in place if the class is full? In that case, Mr. Foster will enroll in a summer class, not online per his request.
Motion to allow Dan to be reimbursed for and additional 3 hours (9 total for the 2011-2012 school year) toward his Master's. Motion: Herb/Carol. Vote 3-0-1, passed.
Town Meeting Discussion- covered actual presentation, mailings, postcards, TV presentation and any publications the Board wanted to prepare/distribute in prep for Town Meeting. Mr. Nolan-Watkins will distribute report through the school publication and will make the report readily available for the public. Michael will put together a 15 minute presentation, addressing 6 or 7 significant line items in the new budget. Someone will need to compose, print, pay for and arrange mailing for the postcard , using the Town bulk mail system to distribute the information to all Grand Isle households. Michael stated that he did not have the time to do that task. Herb will do the job if no other Board member volunteered. Herb agreed. Traditional size postcard was selected.
Islander opportunities to inform the public regarding the budget: editorials, GI column, prewritten articles are needed. Each Board member was encouraged to write one letter to the Editor of the Islander. Five publications are available. The following will be written:
February 7- Michael
February 14- Carol
February 21- Mitch
February 28- Herb
March 5- ?
March 5, 2012, is slated as the Public Information Meeting
Future Meeting Dates: February 13 and 27.
Grand Isle School staff has requested that Board members serve as judges for the "Dancing with the Teachers" fund-raiser, Monday, February 20. Dinner begins at 5:30, followed by the competition. Herb and Carol volunteered as judges.
Board Correspondence and Sharing with Public Attendees
Trish Finkle= iPad information that supports 1:1 technology initiative.
Superintendent Phillips discussed the annual High School Fair hosted by GIS last Tuesday.
Board Action
Bills payment- $174,351.48- approved.
CVU bill announced vs allowable tuition question- denied.
Executive Session 8:05- 8:15
Decision to respectfully deny request based on past practice.
Agenda Building for Next Meeting
Elect Chair Pro Tem
Town Meeting
High School Progress Reports
Adjourned- 8:25
Respectfully submitted,
Carol Miller, Member