Unified Union Study Committee
Session # 5
August 10, 2004
At 6:00 P.M.
Vergennes Union High School Library
Agenda
Betty Lewis, Carol Spencer & Kitty Oxholm
ANWSU Governance Study Committee
Meeting Minutes -
Central Office
Committee Members Administration
Guests/Visitors
Kristin Bristow Laurie Gutowski (absent) Carol Spencer None
Samantha Kayhart Amy Johnston Donna Corcoran
Adela Langrock Nancy Larrow Kitty Oxholm
Linda Hawley (absent) David Kayhart Betty Lewis
Dennis Mueller (absent) Scott Gaines
David Tatlock Paulette Bogan (absent) Consultants
Karen Petersen Sid Bosworth Ray Proulx
Wendy Hovey
1. Call to Order: The meeting was called to order by K. Bristow
at
2. Approval of
Minutes: Motion by A. Langrock, seconded by N. Larrow
to approve the minutes of
3. Public Comment: None this evening.
4. Study Committee Members’ Comments: Ms. Bristow referenced the article in the Addison Independent regarding the move of the VUES principal to VUHS as a 1-year interim, and how that points out how we are already working as one district. D. Kayhart echoed Ms. Bristow’s comment.
5. Review of Population Projections – Ray Proulx noted that a decline in student population will continue overall, while the overall citizen population increases, which reflects a state-wide trend.
6. Curriculum & Instruction – Kitty Oxholm presented information regarding her duties in relation to Title I, Educational Support System, and Special Education. She provided an overview of ESS and Title I. Reading Recovery and preschool for at-risk children are under Title I, consolidated with other Federal funds to provide school-wide programs.
In response to a question about how EST’s might change, Ms. Oxholm indicated
that a change in governance might facilitate interaction among schools, i.e. broaden the scope of available services.
There are 5 special educators at VUHS, 4 at VUES, 2 at FCS and 1 at ACS.
S. Bosworth pointed out that VUES has adopted a philosophy that embraces a lower student/teacher ratio for special education students.
Ms. Oxholm
noted that, because our schools are small, disability categories are scattered
around the supervisory union and spoke about the “new” autism program –
School-Based Autism Team – that will serve students identified with
autism. Kitty also provided information
about the Inclusion Program that the
Betty Lewis indicated that the teacher/student ratios across areas were included in the mailing. She distributed information about what is common and what is different between the schools in the different curricular areas, and reviewed this information with the Governance Committee. Ms. Lewis noted that, though some of the programs vary among the schools in literacy, the profiles provide common standards and objectives across the district. Math profiles and Science profiles are in place K-8. Betty pointed out areas where a change of governance might facilitate greater flexibility in use of staff and sharing of resources.
Carol Spencer distributed a copy of the first issue of the Supervisory Union Professional Development Newsletter.
Dr. Spencer indicated that all ANWSU administrators are now taking a new, common approach to curriculum across the grades as a result of the profiles. We are also in the process of writing a common action plan. Carol reviewed the 2004-05 assessment schedule.
Copies of the materials distributed by Dr. Spencer, Ms. Oxholm and Mrs. Lewis are attached to the file copy of these minutes.
7. Overview & Discussion of Analysis – Dr, Proulx noted the following:
· We now need to start sorting and making sense out of all the information gathered.
· He has provided a beginning of the data sorting and findings and noted that, tonight we can start to take an overview and determine what additional information is needed and what further conclusions can be reached.
Area 1 – Enrollment – information reviewed earlier.
Area 2 – Master Contracts – Dr. Proulx noted that in most districts looking at a governance change, we have to conquer a large obstacle of multiple contracts, which is not the case for ANWSU.
K. Bristow noted that seniority does differ by school.
Area 3 – Debt Load – The largest share of debt
belongs to VUHS and thus to all 5 towns.
Elementary distribution of debt varies – this is an area that the Committee
will need to address in its recommendations.
Area 4 – Staffing – no significant change anticipated.
Area 5 – School Boards
Area 6 – General Operations
Area 7 – Current Assets – may want to look at this in relation to debt load.
General discussion ensued regarding how to look at this information and how to resolve the differences. Dr. Proulx pointed out the several ways to approach it. Consensus was that we need to look at facility needs assessments.
Area 8 – Legal – Dr. Proulx summarized legal opinions needed around unified union voting when you have a union district.
The timeline was reviewed.
The next meeting is September 14th at VUHS in the Library. David Tatlock and Sid Bosworth are in charge of food.
The meeting was adjourned by the Chair at
Respectfully submitted,
Donna H. Corcoran
Recorder