Addison
Northwest Supervisory Union
Unified
Union Study Committee
Session #4
Vergennes
Union High School Library
Agenda
1. Call to Order
2. Action on Minutes of June 22, 2004
3. Public Comments
4. Study Committee Members’ Comments
5. Review of Protocols
6. “Now & If” - ANWSU Business Operations –
Donna Corcoran
7. Areas of Inquiry – Revisit in Relationship
to §706(b)
8. Next Meeting Date and Agenda
9. Adjournment
ANWSU Governance Study Committee
Meeting Minutes -
VUHS Library
Committee Members Administration
Guests/Visitors
Kristin Bristow Laurie Gutowski (absent) Tom O’Brien
Samantha Kayhart Amy Johnston (absent) Donna Corcoran
Adela Langrock
Linda Hawley (absent) David Kayhart
Dennis Mueller (absent) Scott Gaines Consultants
David Tatlock Paulette Bogan Ray Proulx
Karen Petersen Sid Bosworth (absent) Wendy Hovey
1. Call to Order: The meeting was called to order by K. Bristow
at
2. Approval of
Minutes: Motion by D. Kayhart, seconded by S. Kayhart
to approve the minutes of
3. Public Comment: None this evening.
4. Study Committee Members’ Comments: Ms. Bristow indicated that meeting with Wendy Hovey was very helpful. Having someone from outside the system raise questions was thought provoking about key aspects of what we are doing, etc.
D. Tatlock asked about the
possible consolidation in
Dr. Proulx apologized for not being at the last meeting and explained that he had been subpoenaed.
5. “Now & If” – Business Operations – Donna Corcoran, Business Manager, presented an overview of what the business office currently does and how it might change with a consolidation of districts. VASBO (VT Association of School Business Officials) recognizes 24 skill areas and Ms. Corcoran used several for headings and reviewed them. A copy of her report is attached to the file copy of these minutes.
Ms. Corcoran also distributed information regarding total budgets, offsetting revenues, state and federal grants, payroll and W2’s.
In regard to student transportation services, S. Kayhart indicated that she would like to see elementary and high school students on separate buses.
ANWSU Governance Committee
Page 2 of 3
Chair Bristow asked if the Business Manager could see specific areas where savings/consolidation of services might benefit the business office. Ms. Corcoran noted that if a consolidation occurred, she could foresee her office having additional time to look at the following:
· Provide better reporting to boards
· Seek additional bidding areas
· Provide more analysis
She also noted that staffing could change, either in schools or the central office, as a result of a consolidation of districts.
6. Areas of Inquiry – revisit in relationship to §706(b)
Dr. Proulx reviewed the timeline – 4 more of these meetings, with decision in October – public forums held in November and December – early spring, send decision and information to the State Department and State Board for approval, and hold the vote at Town Meeting in March.
A. Langrock expressed the concern that this timeline may be too rushed and would prefer that a decision not be made in the fall, if this committee is not 100% ready to move it forward at that time.
D. Kayhart indicated that we keep talking about money – that savings would be the one thing to gain taxpayer support. We need to look at other things, i.e. inequities between buildings, the services provided to students, the same benefits for all students, and the physical plants. If we prove to our communities that we are consolidating in order to provide what’s best for all students – regardless of where they live – they will support it. How much money we save and when/where – who knows at this point. We need to be looking at curriculum, special education services, and building usage.
K. Oxholm spoke about pre-school
through grade 1 staff working on a project to address the needs of 5 autistic
students. We are working with the
Addison County Counseling Services, who will contract with the
Having students in one place would be advantageous in that it would provide flexibility to move students/staff around, students could be grouped together for specials and still maintain a classroom setting, and caseloads would change.
P. Bogan expressed a concern that trying to separate special education students would be identifiable – of the problem/specific need or of a special program. We would need to be sensitive to that and how it would be accomplished.
PreK-6 student teacher ratio information for specials, i.e. music, physical education, etc., will be provided next month.
ANWSU Governance Committee
Page 3 of 3
R. Proulx indicated that this committee needs to have focused forums. What information do you need? How can it best be organized to assist you in providing that information to your communities?
K. Petersen indicated that she would like to see enrollment projections. Dr. Proulx indicated that he has that information to present this evening, if we have time to review it.
Superintendent O’Brien indicated that a charge to our Consultant is to draft a report for the Committee to review.
D. Kayhart asked Dr. Proulx if others, who have already studied consolidation, have seen specific areas where savings have occurred. He replied that, in one district they cut 5 staff from their business office – they started with 9. He indicated that he sees this SU as a well oiled, lean machine and does not expect money savings to be a big issue here.
Dr. Proulx presented a report of enrollment projections, prepared by Paul Tracy. It’s a 10 years of trend analysis, using cohort survival methodology. Dr. Proulx called attention to the pages containing the projections for the 4 schools, noting that this information does not include the 130+ students enrolled elsewhere – either in private schools or are being home schooled.
Mr. O’Brien indicated that the 4 school pages and the executive summary will be included in the next agenda packet.
7. Next Meeting Date & Agenda – Chair Bristow indicated that the analysis
information from Dr. Proulx and Kitty Oxholm (for a more in-depth report of special education) will be on the next agenda. Wendy Hovey indicated that she has a class on Tuesdays and will not be able to make the next 3 meetings, unless the night changes. The next meeting date was discussed and the consensus was to leave the meetings on Tuesdays.
The next meeting will be August 10, at
D. Kayhart and S. Gaines are in charge of the food.
The meeting was adjourned by the Chair at
Respectfully submitted,
Sally A. Bushey
Recording Secretary