Addison Northwest S.U.
Unified Union Study Committee
Session # 11
December 15, 2004 -
6:00 P.M.
Vergennes Union High School Library
Agenda
1. Call to Order
2. Action on Minutes of November 30, 2004
3. Public Comments
4. Study Committee Member Comments
5. Articles of Agreement – Final Draft Review
6. Content and Procedures For Public Engagement
• Bring school calendars for Jan. and Feb.
• Brochure – feedback; Website preview
• Decide who attends community groups
• Phone call campaign
• Information for Town Reports
• Set up permanent display in library, post office, Shaw’s – posters
• Solicit new board members for Unified Union
• Establish warning language
• Vote passage process – powerpoint.
• Voter checklist
• Invite people to small forum meetings in homes and organizations
• Decide who will present info to community organizations – PTO, Rotary, Chamber,
Lions, (5) Select Boards, (5) School Boards, Fire Fighters, Senior Groups,
Grange, VFW, Faculty Mtg.
• Editorials; Letters to Editor, etc.
7. Other Business
8. Next Meeting Dates
9. Adjourn
ANWSU Governance Study Committee
Meeting Minutes -
Committee Members Administration Guests/Visitors
Kristin Bristow T. O’Brien Bob Owens
Nancy Larrow D. Corcoran Rick Kerschner
Laurie Gutowski C. Barnes Diane Cousino
Dennis Mueller Greg Hamilton
David Kayhart Consultants Rose Wenzel
Paulette Bogan Winton
Goodrich
David Tatlock
Samantha Kayhart
1. Call to Order: The meeting was called to order by K. Bristow
at
2. Approval of Minutes: K. Bristow noted that there are no minutes available to approve because Sally has been incapacitated and they are not typed.
3. Public Comment: None at this time.
4. Study Committee Members’ Comments:
N. Larrow reported that she went to City Council meeting last evening with several other committee members and had received a call from a council member today. His point is that people will be concerned about the dollars; tax rates, assets, etc. He also requested that any further information be distributed to the Council as it becomes available.
D. Mueller commented that it might be beneficial for one or two committee members to attend the January and February City Council meetings.
K. Bristow reported that she passed out some brochures at the band concert – many people didn’t know anything about it; also many people were surprised that it would be one board and one budget; there was concern about passing a single budget.
W. Goodrich noted that we need to talk more about tax liability than the tax rate.
D. Tatlock reported that he spoke to the Ferrisburgh Central School PTO on Monday evening and spent about an hour discussing it. The response was tepid to lukewarm and folks understood it best when compared to VUHS. Concerns were still heard about the danger of losing programs that are important to the Ferrisburgh community.
5. Articles of Agreement: The final draft of the Articles of Agreement was e-mailed to all committee members. K. Bristow questioned the wording on 12 (b) about when a special meeting could be held to vote to have budgets decided by Australian Ballot – suggested a change of wording from “in March” to “prior to March”.
The State Board of Education meeting is on December 21 and
we are on the agenda after lunch –
6. Content & Procedures for Public Engagement:
Bob Owens, ANWSU Technology Coordinator, demonstrated the governance related web site that he, Superintendent O’Brien and Hilda Tallman have set up. The site includes an opportunity for feedback. Bob provided committee members with information and a password that will allow them to review comments that the public submits. The intent is to utilize that feedback to provide better and more current information to the public, prior to the vote in March.
Mr. Goodrich reported that he met with RETN representatives
and they are willing to come to VUHS to film a marketing/informational piece of
10 to 15 minutes to be aired on RETN.
There is also the potential to have video copies made for members of the
public to view who live in communities that don’t have cable access. Possible dates are January 10, 11 or 13 – day
or evening. Superintendent O’Brien suggested
that the presenters should be representative of the 5 communities. Winton indicated that the video would be
available around February 1. K. Bristow,
D. Mueller, N. Larrow, D. Tatlock, and either
Mr. Goodrich also met with Cope Associates of Burlington and got ideas about other places to distribute information, i.e. at local businesses, the Opera House, the Laundromat, etc.
Bob Owens noted that it will be important to let people know that most of the public information materials are being paid for by a grant.
Regarding the video, Mr. Goodrich suggested that each of the
5 presenters take an area to concentrate on when developing material. It was agreed that Sam/Amy will do equity and
facility; Dave Tatlock, efficiency;
Sam Kayhart reported the following dates for public relations:
January 4 – Addison Selectboard –
January 4 – Ferrisburgh Selectboard
–
January 5 – Chamber of Commerce – Scott
G., G. Hamilton,
January 10 – Panton Selectboard –
January 13 – American Legion –
January 18 – Rotary – 7:15 AM – Kris B., Dave Kayhart
February 2 – Lion’s Club –
February 8 –
Dates will be e-mailed to all committee members and they will be requested to sign up for meetings that need coverage.
Various public engagement activities still need a point person to organize them, including:
Consensus was that another meeting of the committee will be
needed – scheduled for January 11 at
Superintendent O’Brien announced that an ANWSU Board meeting
will be held January 25 at
The meeting was adjourned by the Chair at
Respectfully submitted,
Donna H. Corcoran
Recorder