Unified
Union Study Committee
Session
# 12
January
11, 2005 - 6:00 P.M.
Agenda
1.
Call to Order
2.
Minutes of
3.
Public Comments
4.
Study Committee
Member Comments
5.
Articles of
Agreement – Final
6.
Content and
Procedures For Public Engagement
·
Brochure
– updating, printing, dispersing
·
Community
groups – who & when
·
Phone
call campaign – organization, timing
·
Information
for Town Reports
·
Display in
library, post office, Shaw’s – posters
·
Solicit
board members for Unified Union
·
Establish
warning language
·
Vote
passage process – powerpoint.
·
Voter
checklist
·
Large
& small forums – community based
·
ANWSU
Special Meeting – January 25th
·
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
Samantha Kayhart Amy Johnston Donna Corcoran
Adela Langrock Nancy Larrow
Linda Hawley (absent) David Kayhart
Dennis Mueller Scott Gaines Guests/Visitors
David Tatlock (absent) Paulette Bogan Wendy Hovey
Karen Petersen (absent) Sid Bosworth (absent) Jill Bourgeois
Consultants
Winton Goodrich
1. Call to Order: The meeting was called to order by K. Bristow
at
2. Approval of
Minutes: Motion by L. Gutowski, seconded by D. Kayhart to
approve the minutes of November 30 and
3. Public Comment:
Wendy Hovey commented that it was nice to be back. She has been following the group’s progress through the minutes.
4. Study Committee Comments:
S. Kayhart reported that she and Superintendent O’Brien went to the Addison Selectboard meeting. The members of the group were quiet and respectful listeners, with no opinions expressed.
D. Mueller reported that he and Paulette Bogan went to the Panton Selectboard meeting and had a similar experience. The only concern expressed was having a single board deal with both elementary and secondary issues and giving appropriate attention to both levels.
L. Gutowski reported that she and David Kayhart went to the Ferrisburgh Selectboard meeting, which did not go very well. They were very negative, asking why Ferrisburgh would want to change, etc.
D. Kayhart noted that mentioning the possibility of state
involvement and forcing the issue brought out negative reactions in both
Vergennes and Ferrisburgh. Both David and Laurie noted that the only
positive reaction was received when they mentioned equality for students when
reaching
Superintendent O’Brien reported that he and a group visited the City Council on December 14 and it seemed to go fairly well. However, a review of the video tape of the end of the meeting showed 2 very negative members speaking out against a governance change.
Winton Goodrich suggested that Selectboards be provided with copies of written reports. He reminded the committee that many peoples’ minds can’t be changed.
Amy
Johnston commented that the reaction she received from people at the band
concert in
Scott Gaines reported that he, Superintendent O’Brien, and Nancy Larrow were at the Chamber of Commerce meeting, which, overall, went fairly well. The issues that he saw were local control and money (what will it cost; how much will we save).
Paulette Bogan commented that listening to and addressing the emotion first is very important.
5. Articles of Agreement: The final copy of the Articles of Agreement was e-mailed to all committee members.
Superintendent O’Brien, Kris Bristow, Samantha Kayhart, and Ray Proulx attending the State Board of Education meeting, where the Articles were approved. The State Board was very supportive. Two small changes were made that day, to Article 5(d) and 12 (b).
6. Public Engagement:
A summary of the planned video was distributed. Filming by RETN will take place on Thursday, January 13, with a segment planned as well that includes the Commissioner of Education and the Governor on January 25.
A brochure needs to be put together, and much of the information being prepared for the video can be used for the brochure.
Superintendent O’Brien distributed a list of public engagement meetings that he knows about and noted that we need to confirm who will be attending each event.
General discussion took place around the format and content of the January 25 public forum. Mr. Goodrich indicated that the video will be essentially ready. Consensus was to use the video as part of the evening program.
Discussion ensued regarding ensuring that a forum be held in each community. The decision was made that each town/city will host an event, no matter how small. Various other public engagement activities and items were reviewed.
7. Other:
Mr.
Goodrich asked how many videos and CDs will be needed. These will be paid for by grant funds. Consensus was 500 DVDs and 100 videos would
be needed. It was suggested that the
cover carry the message to “watch and pass on”.
The next meeting is January 25 at
The next meeting (after that) was scheduled for February 7
at
The meeting was adjourned by the Chair at
Respectfully submitted,
Donna H. Corcoran
Recorder