Unapproved Minutes Lothrop School Board Meeting June 17, 2015 Lothrop Board Members Present: Bonnie Bourne – Chair; Clarence Greeno; Michelle Rawls; Margaret Daly Others Present: Sara Raabe – Principal; Deb Alexander – Incoming Principal; Andy Kepes – Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment I.

Call to Order The meeting was called to order by Bonnie Bourne at 8 PM. Consent agenda was explained by Bonnie Bourne. The agenda and other routine items are approved in total without discussion. If a member of the board wishes to discuss an item in detail, it may be pulled off and discussed later in the meeting. The remainder may then be approved without discussion. A motion was made by Clarence Greeno and seconded by Michelle Rawls to approve the use of consent agenda. The motion passed unanimously.

II.

Opportunity for Citizens to Address the Board No citizens were present at the meeting.

III.

Consent Agenda Minutes approved for meetings of May 14, 2015 and May 28 2015. Orders were approved in the amount of $656,888.01. Monthly Financials for May 2015 accepted. Personnel Resignations and Hirings: Exiting employees: Thomas Culver-Head Custodian, Samantha Funk-Music Teacher, Katherine Hall- French Teacher, Lauren QuintanaKindergarten teacher, Tripp Westcott- 5th grade teacher, Marcia Westcott LEAP, Jasmin Jandric - Technology New Hires: Mallory Buxton-Erickson- Kindergarten teacher, Elizabeth Corey- 6th grade teacher, Sharon Ladago- Early Ed teacher, Carolyn Mader-Music teacher, Erik PearsonsFacilities Manager, Susan Tribou-5th grade teacher. Tax Anticipation Note-Motion to approve a tax anticipation note for FY2016 in the amount of $550,004 with Lake Sunapee as a line of credit with and annual interest rate of 1.75% beginning July 2015 through June 20, 2016. Motion was made by Clarence Greeno and seconded by Margaret Daly to accept the consent agenda. The motion was passed unanimously.

IV.

Financial Authorization of Signers for Summer Orders. Bonnie Bourne recommended approving all board members as summer signers to avoid delays in signing orders if a particular member is out of town. Estimated Year End Financial Review and Anticipated Action – action previously taken at an earlier meeting. No action taken. Bond Anticipation Note – This is a short term loan of $970,000 for construction. Money in full bond is being paid off by Burditt Fund interest. Clarence Greeno noted that Jim Rademacher, town trustee can money to pay off loan in a timely manner. The construction committee has authority to change orders up to $10,000. Clarence Greeno moved and Michelle Rawls seconded approval of above actions. Motion passed unanimously.

V.

Principal’s Report Sara Raabe reported the All School Celebration was a success despite being held at the school due to rain. The family BBQ took place the same day. The PTO and parent volunteers contributed to the activities. After School Program Update – Deb Alexander has visited SOAR at Neshobe, Boys and Girls Club in Rutland and LEAP program as well as being familiar with Tapestry in Rutland and VAC after school program at Castleton Elementary in order to learn about programming and funding sources. Currently LEAP is funded by multiple small grants and has maintained a low enrollment fee. An advisory committee has been formed to look at the current program. A flyer was sent home encouraging parents to fill out a survey on fees, needs and desires for afterschool services. The committee is tentatively scheduled to meet by the end of the month to create the survey and look at possible programming and funding. Summer Information – The construction project will begin as soon as school is out. Summer school will take place at St. Alphonsus and will begin July 6. Erik Pearsons is working with custodians to create a cleaning and painting schedule. Sara Raabe thanked the board for their support over the past two years. The board thanked Sara for her work and Deb Alexander expressed appreciation to Sara for help with transition. During discussion on construction project, Sara Raabe noted that several teachers are leaving and new ones moving in. Approval of the board is needed for teachers to dispose of outdated materials. A motion was made by Clarence Greeno and seconded by Michelle Rawls to give authority to teachers to dispose of outdated curriculum. Motion was approve unanimously.

VI.

Unfinished Business/New Business/ Business of the Board Update on construction project – Clarence Greeno noted the project will start on June 18. $11,000 has been flagged for a grease trap and $8000 is needed for attic insulation. Sara Raabe

stated that the basement insulation had been prioritized due to the equipment being available and therefore more efficacious to do. The construction committee will be meeting once a week and can change priorities. Erik Pearsons has been collecting old equipment that can be resold; how this is done will need to be approved by Brenda Fleming. If there are any surplus funds, they are to be used on the priorities of the construction project. Appoint Board Vice Chair and Board Clerk – Bonnie Bourne nominated and Clarence Greeno seconded Margaret Daly for Board Clerk. Michelle Rawls nominated and Margaret Daly seconded Clarence Greeno for vice chair. Both motions approved unanimously. Review cost of Multiage Model – Sara Raabe presented the following information. There are some unknowns at this point about cost savings, primarily how much the early retirement package would cost. This would apply to two current teachers and would be based on seniority (age and years of service). The plan would be to go from the current model of 14 teachers to 11 classroom teachers plus one math interventionist, therefore saving the amount or two teacher salaries. One way to keep cost down during the transition and with training would be to use a train the trainers model in which Andy Kepes and two others at the cost of approximately $5000 who would then provide ongoing professional development for classroom teachers. There would also be a cost of training 9 teachers over 3 days in the summer at the cost of $500 each. Andy Kepes stated he would be available to work with communicating the concept of multiage classroom to the community. Debra Alexander noted that one classroom hour daily will be needed for the guided math model. The school will meet the required minutes for math and language arts for next year, as social studies and science will be integrated in to math and language arts. Bonnie Bourne asked Sara Raabe and Debra Alexander to consider what we need to do this summer in anticipation of these changes and this will be discussed at future board meetings. Andy Kepes emphasized the fact that the community needs to feel like it is a part of this decision and how the final outcome looks. He is available to aid with communication with the community. One of the main issues provoking the multiage classroom discussion is small class sizes versus being able to continue certain educational programs. LEAP Program – deferred to a later meeting due to time constraints (RNESU/Brandon Town School meeting immediately following). Future Planning – Clarence Greeno made the motion and Michelle Rawls seconded that the Pittsford Board agrees to collaborate with any and all interested RNESU member districts to participate in a committee to study merger options, challenges and opportunities under H.361 culminating in a study committee report to boards and communities, and to apply for an Agency of Education merger grant per VT Statutes Chapter 11, Section 706. VII.

Date of Next Meeting: Pittsford School Board Retreat – July 9, 2015 at 6:00 PM at The Blue House

VIII.

Adjourn: Clarence Greeno motioned and Margaret Daly seconded that the meeting be adjourned at 8:55 PM.

Respectfully submitted, Margaret Daly, Board Clerk