001Welcome to the May 22nd special board meeting. We will um call the meeting to order at 611. Let's rise to say the pledge of allegiance, please. I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Boulders going everywhere. Okay. So, present we have here Sarah Thompson here will be writing. Great. Thank you so much. And I will say the mission statement. The Volunt Board of Education's mission is to provide our students the skills essential to reach their highest potential in a safe environment for learning as they aspire to become responsible, respectful, and civic-minded members of society. We commit to help educate, challenge, and inspire each child to excel as lifelong learners who can adapt constructively
002in an everchanging multicultural and technological world. Okay. So, we don't have any guests remaining or any comments um or any scheduled guests. I think we had to um uh we'll be planning the transportation meeting and presentation for our next meeting in June. So, um we can move to the consent agenda. Do we have a motion to approve as presented? Motion. All in favor? I I Any opposed? None. The eyes have it. Okay. So, we don't have um Mrs. Sephto here tonight, but we did get a report for her. Yeah, she I think it's pretty straightforward. She's got a very busy end of year. Yeah. She she just said it's the same as the the last meeting, so we're fine. Yeah. And we'll um we'll see her potentially tomorrow for the eighth. That's in the agenda
003for new business. Oh, yeah. That's fine. No, I'm just that's not the superintendent report. Yeah. And then Lloyd gave you a just summary of what's happening with special ed and uh I'm moving ahead. Kate, move ahead. Please. Calendar. I'm I'm not going to give it to you for January. is just, you know, wrapping up things that are happening. I do want to say two things to add to my report. Indeed, he I wrote them down, so I'll give you my notes, but uh Lance Hagen uh just saved he's with the learn tech services and he just saved us $1,47060. And what was happening is the no before the next three-year contract was coming up. That's part of our cyber security professional development for teachers. And if we have a professional development program, we get a
004reduced rate on our cipher insurance. And uh Lance was going through the schools that he he served and he called no before and he got a you know, so we're we're in with a group. So I just thought I'd share that with you. Then the other thing is the state, I just got the memo, they approve uh $40 million in additional um allocations for excess cost for throughout the state. That's special ed. Volunt's allocation was $4,588 and that just goes back into the town because we full fund special ed placements. We're not going to mess around with trying to wait for the state to reimburse it because in all my years of administration, they've never followed through with what they allocated. And then the ECS grant for the state for Volunttown is still is listed
005at 2,200 2,677 or minus the [Music] 114566. And this was mentioned in the U meeting the other night. That was the largest state reduction that's happened. Now, I'm not sure they're going to pull out a lastm minute deal with it, but it looks very very dull doubtful. And then, of course, the next year that goes up to even higher. So, that's something that needs to be doubt developed. Um we processed our REAP grant uh for 23,775 and there's a number of things that we do with that. Um and then um you got the uh enrollment and other figures but uh that's it for me Kate. Any questions for Mr. Burrows? and his second to last board presentation. Oh, I think we're good. Thank you for covering all that. Um, we can move on to the
006budget presentation. I know we um we all met on Tuesday for those that could make it. Um, I think it was a pretty succinct presentation about the the board of education budget and successfully received. Yeah, successfully received generally. I think it was I'm watching the state numbers statewide. We might have the lowest budget increase. Wow. But we'll see what happens because uh they're presenting budgets and then some towns might vote to have a zero. But u I'm I sure hope things go well with that referendum. Sounded like things were, you know, generally positive around our end. Yeah. So, okay. Budget. Please go vote and pass our spending plan if you can. Yes. June 3rd all day long. All right. And our building committee update. Yes. the building committee met and uh we've signed a um
007we accepted a bid from New England services and controls for the library for $44,950. And as you know, we're using a combination of uh uh town HVAC funds that they've allowed us to access and a little bit from the uh school budget for next year, which is in the construction services account. So, you're well aware of that. It would be good if you could just uh confirm the um decision of the building committee to offer the contract to New England service and controls. Motion second. All in favor? I I opposed. None. Motion passes. Yep. That was that was a successful building committee meeting and I think that was one of your last as well. So we tried to um tie blue sands with that but the whole committee was very gracious of him and gave
008him a very heartfelt um you know thank you for all of his work on that committee and his care for the building and all the things that he's done over the years with those people on that committee. So, it was a nice it was a a nice Thank you. testament. Okay. Uh item number three of old business is the transportation update relating to the buses. Yes. Uh okay. Um let's see. The first thing is that uh in the past two times we have used Wells Fargo municipal funding and I talked to Tracy and Julie about this and they said you don't have to use the bid process with this and I will tell you last time nine years ago we tried to get another company to see if we can get a better price and
009it reached the point where it was so complicated with the contracts I called Fred and I said, you know, I can't get a straight answer and I've got a company that they they're so good. I I got all the things. I got the prices. So, um what happens is I'd like you to uh just uh well, we don't have to do the B base price. Just authorize the superintendent to sign a lease purchase with Wells Fargo. Now, let me give you the numbers. if we finance for 5 years. And uh the thing is that uh you know they they gave us a quote on financing $518,963 but that doesn't include trading in the value of our current buses. Now School Lines, they're the Bluebird company. they have access to tradeins and a network that they
010can use. So, they're coming in within the next, you know, few days. They'll go through the four buses that we want to trade in. And our mechanic recommended these buses and then I'll get a price for that. So, we might not be uh financing 518,963. No, if we borrow for five years, the interest rate is 5.58%. If we borrow for six years, it would be 5.62. But with the trading in and and what's happening, I think I've got about uh what was it? 99,000 budgeted, you know, for the it's in the budget for the payment of the lease purchase, but that can be a fixed amount for a number of years. And if if we wind up getting a better quote for the lease purchase and we also, and I did this in the past,
011you make an upfront payment. So you're not doing 11 months worth of interest on that money. So you get a savings on that if you just, you know, prepay the whole thing. And last time we paid off the buses in three and a half years with some good financial management. I don't like having debt. I look at ways that we can pay it off as soon as possible. And the other thing is you have four older buses that are are are going to wind up costing. Now look, um we we got our quote in to school lines and I signed off on that and uh you know Scott Davis just told me he said Bluebird is not giving anybody any quotes right now because of the tariffs and because of the other things. So, we
012had a slight increase of the bud buses, but I think in the future it's not going to be $2500. So, we're locked into the four buses. I want to lock in sign this thing tomorrow to lock into a rate for the financing and then uh we can see where we go from there. And I I'll I'll tell with Lebre coming in for the transportation meeting uh the you know in in June. He's done this for before. I met with him and he's been out and we've looked at things. Um you know I talked to him about my approach and he said yeah I'd use that approach too. So if you could just authorize me to sign a contract with Wells Fargo I'll go ahead and do it. Motion. Second in favor. I I opposed. None
013heard. Um motion passes to sign the p purchase lease agreement with Wells Fargo. Let's get our buses. I'm concerned. We see a new bus every day of some sort going through. Um okay. So we can move to new business. Okay. Personnel seems think we have a few movement in personnel. Adam, I think we're looking for a resignation authorization. Say, say that again. Personnel. Resignation. Oh. Um, let's see. Personnel. Yes. Accept the resignation of Carol O'Donnell, para profofessional. A par professional. Okay. So, we need a motion to accept the resignation of Carol O'Donnell as PAR educator and thank her for her time with kids. Second with regrets. With three. Yes. Um, all in favor? Any opposed? None heard. And then the next I I met with Megan Black and uh the the selection committee did a
014wonderful job. I think Kate served on the committee. They had some wonderful applications, very very competitive. They chose three people to teach lessons. the team observed them and uh I met with Megan uh she's master's degree first for you know second year which is within our budget proposal and u you know I I just think uh she she really uh looking for well I'm not going to look forward I would have looked forward to you know to seeing her but uh you know just a motion to approve the appointment of Megan is that for third third grade or is that for currently for third. Yes, that's what we're hiring for. Um or is this Brett who's going to move to to junior high? Motion. Second. All in favor? I motion passes to approve and welcome
015Megan Black as a new teacher within the Vontan school system. Congratulations, Megan. Okay. Uh item number two of new business policy 2000. This is these are a slew of as if you've taken a gander at them only about a quarter through all ones relating to such right. Yeah, I think I want to make I mean I I look through them all, but I I feel like there's certain ones where I I want to make sure that the the group feels we they're necessary that feel like they're but they've been we've had them since 1990. Um I know DD sent them through with you know just all the cave updates. Um Yep. Right. I thought it was interesting that we have an administration policy when we have job descriptions. I know. Yeah. Okay. That was the
016only one that was like you would think that this would be more because we have we have job descriptions. We have our own goals, the board's goals. Yeah. The superintendent's goals and then we have our our evaluation and the superintendent evaluation. So, you would think all of this stuff really would be encompassed in one of those three other documents, would you? I don't think a book puts out job descriptions, do they? I have never I don't remember. They have they have a booklet for general general general kind of very broad educators. So, substitute I would I would almost be okay with removing this and I mean we can make sure that there's nothing glaring that's not me not in our goals or job description, right? What is that? You have to remove this is the
017administration policy. Yeah. It talks about like the board superintendent relationship. The board and superintendent's responsibilities, the superintendent's responsibilities. Yeah. Is this mandatory? Some of these are mandatory to have policy. Yeah. The basic concept is just it's so vagely like, you know, blah. I don't really Yeah. Yeah. And even if we wanted to like so there's a section here about the like the board superintendent relationship I would almost be if if we feel like that's important then I would almost be inclined to like connect the two like have like a one p like and it's either I mean we could even attach it as like an appendix to our goals and their goals right an appendix so like and not have it as a policy. Yeah, I think that might be a graph thing. We just
018have an appendex on our goals and use this as a guide, right? As long as it's not as long. It's better to see it there than it is in like a strange policy. I think you know good reminder of Yeah, it's a good Yeah. So that's that's 200.1 is the board superintendent relationship, right? And we have to have descriptions here. Yeah, I just a few few questions or changes to that one. It looks like under their required policies, all of the 2000 series is not required. Okay. So, any of these you could do. I I just want to remind the board that you just signed a contract with a new super and my contract is ending, but within the contracts there was an evaluation component and I had six areas that I asked the board
019to evaluate. So, you're going to look at that in a little while and that's a legal binding. So you could you could you know have a policy but when it comes down to the dayto-day things it's that signed contract that takes precedent over anything. Is it required? Um you know mentioning that you have an evaluation is important and I'm a big one for evaluation but it has to be flexible and you know you may want to change some things from year to year. So, you know, this is a first reading. I would be interested in what Scott has to say with some of the policies that that he's worked with because he's the one that's going to be, you know, wind up, you know, first drafting this for you. And quite frankly, all of these
020administrative things, all of the policies two through seven, this is a first reading. Table them to your next meeting. What's um what month do we do goal setting for us superintendent? November. You well you've you've already done your goal setting. So your goal setting has to occur and you I think we did it in April this year which is good because the board's goals are used for the teachers for them to write their evaluation and that's set in stone. So if you don't Yeah. If you don't have your goals, then the teachers have to hold up and then they have to revise them if the board's changes priorities. Yeah. I'm almost wondering if we just table this until we do our goals and his goals because because the other piece is we would want if
021it's going to be a superintendent board uh relationship, we would want to allow him the opportunity to weigh in on that. So maybe we can Oh, yeah. this like a month or two before we do our goal setting. Get this all like what we want that appendix to look like and just table it for now and leave it as is for now. Your group is okay with that. I think that's great with that makes sense. The only thing was that what was the uh job description? Does that go in there or is it is that I mean there we don't have that particular is there not an HR policy? Not really. No. Okay. I mean, if not, I mean, that one's pretty basic. Yeah. But you'll have a job description. I think we can approve
022that one, too. I don't even think we need it. Well, unless we say it and then we don't have to have it here at our meeting. It determines who does it. question wouldn't this be like a creative HR policy? We we don't even I mean we don't have to have a policy that says we have job descriptions. We have job descriptions. We just have them. Yeah. I just the superintendent of school shall develop job descriptions. I think we just strike this one. This just says what our job descriptions are going to have. a title, the statement of duties, who the employee is directly responsible for, and education and training require. I mean, this is a lot of them from 1990 are very some of them are just one sentence like this one was right. It's
023just you guys can your policy book just Well, again, let's maybe we'll table this one too as the pack and decide, you know, once we talk with Scott, he wants to I just I mean, we don't have to have a policy that says we have job descriptions to have job descriptions, right? We we have job descriptions for ADA compliance and for the posting of jobs essentially. So okay so you know what we're doing with that. So table table table table till 7 item number eight is our self evaluation and that we already do that. Oh that's where am I? Oh this is a recommended evaluation timeline. So they have it right here. You see that? Are we on the board self? We are. Yeah the board self. Look, uh, I I tried to go through
024that and list everything you've accomplished and put priorities. Um, you're certainly going to, you know, when the new surfer comes in, look at some of your priorities. But this is just a listing of basically your achievements, what you've done, and then what might be priorities for the board in the future. So, it's a statement of uh where we where we've been and where we want to look at. And um you know you can go through um you know as many reading as you want. This is a self evaluation. So uh you know it's up to you with what you'd like. But if you treat this as a first reading and uh Kate, I don't know how you want to do this, but uh you know it' be good to maybe have a self evaluation for
025this year, you know, completed by June and then when Scott comes in for his meeting, you could show this to him and he might also have a lot of suggestions about the evaluation process, what to add in, especially with the priorities for you know like just having that kind of group. Yeah. The priorities going forward. Um I think that makes sense. I think just want to get everybody's, you know, just quick read on their particular particulars of what we want to confirm for 2425. It's up to you if you want to do that now or just bring it back for June. Isn't it? Oh, this is Look like May's been forever. We have under the person hiring the new super. Yeah, it's under the first from educational leadership, I believe. Wait, I saw it first.
026I was looking at her hiring. I was like, I was looking at her hiring. I saw it. I just read it. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, it looks pretty comprehensive. I just be anything that we Go ahead. I'm fine with Yeah, I'm fine with it, too. I'll make a motion to approve. Second. Okay. All in favor? I I guess it's done. You're approved. We just decided to spend another half million. Yeah, we don't mind. We don't care. Welcome donuts. Chocolate. All right. So, we have approved this as we did that as presented. Okay. Superintendent selfie bell. Yep. Superintendent selfie bell is another the other attachment here. Adams. Does he have one to pass out? He has one to pass out. Did you pass out your self evaluation? Yeah, he did. down there. Yep. Huh? Priorities for
027the future. Enjoy retirement. That's a good one. That's a good one. Oh, you're on my evaluation. I would uh I would just appreciate it if you made a you know maybe a motion to uh just let me meet with either Kate or another board member to put down u you know evaluation notices. But this is just a listing of what I've accomplished this year. But you're required by my contract to evaluate me every school year. And unless something happens in the next four weeks, you know, this is the evaluation that I put down. And it's up to you if uh you know, you want to, but u you know, Kate and I meet all the time. If uh there was a motion just to you know have the board chair meet with Mr. burrows and
028sign off for the board, then that would be a nice going away quick present for you because you don't want to spend hours reviewing this. You're going to be setting up an evaluation format for the new super and this is the one that I I presented and quite frankly, where did this come from? my second meeting with the board of ed. They got to the superintendent's evaluation and they spent one hour talking about the format of of what the evaluation was and I just said stop. Let me come back with something and see what you think. And I went through, you know, accomplishments and priorities and listed some of the things and they said, "We like this." So it that's what's been in existence for the last 19 and a half years. So it's up
029to you and the new superintendent to work it out. But as I said before in his contract and in mine, there's always some categories that you you as a board must evaluate because there's a legal contract on that motion. Second. Okay. All in favor? I do. That does it. Yeah. You did the agenda, Chris. You We should have You're smiling. Meeting. Yeah. Okay. So, um the town referendum again is June 3rd at 7. No, that's not at 7. That's I I think we said it's like all day in the gym. Um in town hall. So, that is Oh, is that town hall or gym? It's at the town hall because we the kids have school. Yeah, I think it's a town hall. All right. It doesn't matter to me. Can I request an in addition
030to next meeting's agenda? Sure. I'd like to name this building after Adam in some capacity. The Adam Burough's administration or however we word it. Okay. As a reflection of his years of service here. All right. That's a good idea. Worth a discussion for added the motion to add the building after you. Well, do we want it for next meeting or just make the motion now? Make the motion. I mean, we can make the motion now or somebody needs to propose what it is, what it's going to be, right? Yeah. So, to discuss discuss time to think about it and then he might want middle name, you know, and then make a recommendation next meeting. Yeah. To the June 12th. June. Yeah. What's it called now? Like I Okay, so I thought that was a joke,
031but it's really called my house. Like I thought that was like a you know play like central office. Central office. Yeah. I was like I think that's a kind of Yeah, right. That's what we call it in the White House. Yeah. Adam's White House. Adam's White House. Adam's Adams Burough's central office. I've always, you know, I I couldn't I couldn't write the White House down. I always put central office, you know, just as what call it what it is, Chris. That's that's that's a surprise. My gosh. Um is a uh I thought I thought I was going to get a little plaque in this room or something, you know, but no, that's whatever whatever. Thank you so much. a bust with a budget with with a folder with a binder. We have to get the
032um Mrs. Burns the art teacher with Clay like coming up with something quickly together. Okay. Excellent. All right. The next board of education meeting is June 12th here in the central office um with the transportation report. All right. Um so moving to executive session. Do we have a motion to invite um Mr. Burroughs as a guest to executive session? Second. All in favor? I motion passes. Okay. Um, I would like to make a motion to add something to our executive session agenda uh to discuss classified contracts. I'll second and it's we'll add it to the agenda and then do all in favor. All in favor? I opposed. Nope. unheard. Motion passes to add a classified contract to the agenda of executive session. Needs to make a motion to move that agenda item to executive session.
033Okay. Second motion. Yeah. Motion to a motion to move classified contracts to the executive session agenda for or now for tonight for tonight's meeting. And then I need a second. All in favor? All in favor? I I to move that piece to the executive session and then we need a motion to invite Adam into executive session. Second. All in favor? Motion passes. Now we'll enter second round. motions. [Music] Okay. So, our action, we need a motion to authorize the superintendent to sign the classified contracts as agreed upon by the board of education. Motion second. All in favor? All in favor? I. Any opposed? Not hard. Motion passes. Okay, that's the only item for motion. Need a motion to adjourn. Motion second. Chris and Sarah. Uh motion everyone. I All in favor? I. All in favor?
034I. Motion passes. It is 7:59. There we go. Okay, ajourned. Thank you very much. Good night. Good night. May and again we are invited to the thing tomorrow the the breakfast tomorrow. Just anybody that can make it the eighth grade breakfast. Rather do the budget contract. Yeah. Thank you. We have to let DD know