001Yes. >> Well, welcome everyone to the meeting of the WNESU board, school board of directors with the Bellis Falls Union High School, Wednesday, September 17th, and calling the meeting to order at 6:01 p.m. Let's do a quick round of introductions. I don't see a fact TV but we are recording the record anyway but let me start with Mary please. >> Mary Howard Hall grafted thank you >> Karen Blanchard Westminster Center Lyn Morgan >> Andy H superintendent >> Cheryl Charles Westminster team Buy Westminster Caitlyn Dashen Rockingham >> Chris Gibbing Rockingham Paul Bosi I represent Rockingham on the high school board. >> Thank you. And then to the screen, Jamie >> Jamie Staro from Westminster. >> Thank you. And Hardy. >> I'm Hardy. Merryill Grafton, Athens. I represent Grafton. >> Thank you. And Kathy, >> it's just
002me. >> Somehow we couldn't hear you, Kathy. >> Wait, we we're losing We lost the owl. So, I'm going to try and keep that going, but we can keep the meeting going. they it's being recorded and everything still. >> Okay, great. Thank you. Uh everyone, um looking for adjustments to the agenda. >> I I do would ask that if we could move um what is it? Uh 8A proposal of the adoption of the articles of agreement. >> Um if we could do that after the minutes just because we do have Jill Graham here as a guest to be able to answer any questions. Um and then um I would request um if we could u discuss a contract issue with an employee uh in executive session if we can do that at the end. I
003think it'll be very quickly. >> All right. Are there any other adjustments to that? I just had an announcement about the finance committee being not next week, but I don't know if that really needs to be um an agenda item, but I guess you could make a point. >> Okay. Well, >> wherever it fits. >> Okay. Uh let me call for any uh communications and public comments if there are any. Looks like not right. With that, then the next item of business is to review and approve the minutes from August 20th. Can I have a motion that effect? >> Move to approve the minutes from August 20. >> Thank you. Any uh discussion, corrections, anything of that kind? No. All right. So, there's a motion to approve the minutes from August 20th. I'll call by
004roll call. Uh Jamie, how do you vote, please? Yes. >> Thank you, Hardy. On the minutes, Hardy. >> Yes. >> Thank Kathy. >> Yes. >> Thank you. Perfect. And in the room, um, all of those in favor signify by saying I. I. >> Any opposed? Any abstain? All right. The minutes are approved. And so with that, let's go right into the discussion of the board of cooperative education services. And welcome Jill. Thank you for being here. >> You want to start us off? >> Um well, we had at our last meeting uh we had presented um and proposed adoption of the articles of agreement uh for the Vermont Learning Collaborative Boseies um and there had been um some discussion. Jill presented some information um but um wanted and then uh we tabled it so that
005folks could read and come up with any questions. And so um happy to try and answer any questions. Um and Jill's here also to try and clarify some questions. We did send out uh some information around um there was questions around uh what how dues uh would work. Uh essentially um dues are uh are paid in to pay for um administrative costs at this time. Um and those dues though um have variances based on the number of um districts that join the Boseies. So um the more districts that join the Boseies that lowers the cost down for each of the the member districts as that goes through. So um currently right now um two districts have uh adopted the articles. Um and this week there are a couple other districts that are uh posed to
006be looking at it. Um and then going into October. Um so uh the hope is that all eight of the districts that are currently make up the Vermont Learning Collaborative are going to join the Boseies. Um but then it could be open for others in the future which would then lower our costs. So um but the proposal the estimate for next year is is um just uh right around 20,000 if not a little bit higher uh assuming that u all those member districts are joining me >> and the current fee that we paid to the Vermont Learning Collaborative which is not the same but is 17,000 or 19,000 >> I think it was 19,000 Jill is that correct? Yes. >> Yeah, she's >> sorry. Would that mean we wouldn't have the fee to the Vermont
007Learn? I don't know if anymore. >> Correct. So, so um I think one of the questions that came up um last time was or maybe it was after in another different district board meeting was, you know, the Bose versus the Vermont Learning Collaborative. We are still currently the Vermont Learning Collaborative. Um the AOE has to approve um and officially name us a Bosey which won't be happening until Januaryish. Jill is that uh potentially >> most most likely we're we're our timeline is that we hope to send the ratified articles agreement from the SUS and the SDS that we have um shortly after November 1st. So, so then that's when the Boseie would then be be created and that's um and so um any fees that were paid in for this year would then just continue
008on uh with the Bose, >> right? >> Oh, they would so that would be credited to >> Yes. Yeah. Yeah. So, so the the the the the fees that we're talking about just around $20,000 would be for FY27 >> fiscal year. >> And you're saying nothing additional for this year, >> correct? >> Okay. Yeah. Let me go to questions just a minute. Yes. >> So, but you're saying that the total that needs to be raised is 160,000. So, if there are three members then >> it could be more. Yes, >> it could be more. So, you're saying it's 20,000 if all eight members join. >> Yeah, I I said that. I'm sorry if I didn't say that. >> But then you kept going back to it's 20,000. And so far, you have two, right? >>
009Correct. >> And they are >> uh Mountain Views and Springfield. >> Okay. Well, um, everyone's had I'll come to Lyn. Everybody's had a chance to read the documents. I I hope. and uh we'll have further discussion. Lena would have a comment or question. >> Um I wasn't clear as to what the difference is between the Vermont Learning Collaborative and the Bosu. >> Yeah. So that and and Jill, I'm going to lean on you a little bit. Uh we've talked about this, but the Vermont Learning Collaborative is a is a 501c3. So that's, you know, it's a nonprofit organization. um and it cannot serve as um working with certain federal grants because it's a 501c being a Bose and um being um acknowledged by the um agency of education, they can administer grants and um and
010other pieces that you can't do under a 501c3. So that's the the big piece. There's a lot about um how monies flow. And Jill, is there I think some additional things is that um any um employees of the Boosezie would then be able to access Vermont retirement systems be able to access Vermont health care like what our teachers access um under the 501c3 they can't. So there's some positives there. Um so Jill, I don't know if there's additions for that. >> Yeah. Well well done Andy. Um as an educational entity as a Boseies we do have greater capacity to help provide support to our members. Um so that may mean fiscal management of grants such as the you know title one or title three. um we have greater capacity to provide educational programming um more
011independently um which will be exciting for the region and as Andy said we will have greater flexibility to be recognized for state and federal grants that can help to bolster programming and support our members within the region. >> Any other uh questions or comments? this is a time to discuss it because we will be taking a vote. >> Yeah. >> But to recap, the the real purpose of this organization is to help us with placement settings for >> that is just one piece of it. >> Special education. >> It is not just special education. It's uh around offering professional development for all uh teachers. Um, and so, um, it's also when we go to look for any staffing member, we can we can access the Bosezie because Jill has a greater capacity of a network
012at times to get out and and to look and they can uh the Bose can screen applicants for us and and things of that nature. So, it's not just for special education. It started as a special education kind of initiative. Yes. Um, but it's not solely special education >> team. Um, Jamie, I have a question, but I saw Jamie had her hand up before I did, so if Jamie wants to go first, I'll vote. >> Um, sure. Thanks, T. I can't find the little hand raised thing, so I just raised my hand. Um, I I guess can you tell me um a little bit about why we join before it's actually a Boseies yet if it hasn't been like officially approved? Is there any issue with that? And is there any going to be any
013like stops to that process happening? >> Great, great question. Is it okay, Andy, if I jump in, >> please? Yeah. >> Um, no, great question, Jamie. So, the legislature approved um House Bill 630 back in June of 2024, which allowed the formation of boards of cooperative educational services. So, we've actually worked very closely with the agency of education since November. They have seen the articles of agreement. They have reviewed them. They gave us some feedback. We were responsive in the spring, made some additional changes um and added some information per their suggestion and we have been um what's the word I want to say? We have been assured um that once they receive the ratified articles of agreement that they will be um pushed through for approval. >> Jamie, anything additional? Okay, I saw your
014hand. Teen, you're next. I have two things. So, one is well, I have three things. One is I think it's a great service if we can um cut down some of the cost without a district placement. That is very expensive bill we have to pay. Um another I two okay so my two questions are one do we pay um so people who are like if we get someone who the BOSI has said like here's an SLPA or something like that that can work now between a couple different districts do we pay an additional fee to the BOSI like we do for when we have contracted services um which are make it a much more expensive employee that's number one and number to is there was a thing about um for termination of um membership in
015the BOS you need like 12 months in advance to do um termination of the contract and that um my only concern with that is like we get a membership fee and it's going to be four times as much as it was the last year but we haven't given them 12 months notice and so we would be stuck in with that much higher bill than we were going into it, if that makes sense. >> Yeah, I'll let uh um Jill um kind of expound upon a few things, but um the we work really hard when we were looking at numbers this year is to get the numbers before we go into budget season, right? So that that decision can be made by different boards prior to it. because as they're going into budget season, they need
016to know what that cost is going to be so that it's not like a you're not getting a bill or a cost in June after you've already approved your budget. So that year leave time like we're currently >> be a year though. >> Yeah. >> Because the fiscal year starts in June, June 31st, right? Or July one. >> Correct. So we're currently in it. if we didn't adopt this these articles and chose not to join it. Yeah. We stay in the collaborative for the remainder of this year without paying any extra dollars. >> Yeah. But my thing is like let's say in three years they're like oh now the cost to be in a Bosei the membership is $100,000 >> and we're like well we don't want to do that next year but it's too
017late because we haven't given them 12 months notice. >> Jill, can you help with that? That makes sense. >> Sure. So, so two there's two different um there's two different sections actually. there's termination of the Boseies, meaning the entire agency is closing, and that's a clause within the articles of agreement. Um, and that requires a 12-month process. Um, because the agency obviously has a lot of um threads that would need to be followed and closed in order to ensure that all assets are taken care of. Um so that's that's one um component of the articles of agreement. But should a member withdraw that's a different section um which is section 8 um and forgive me I'm just quickly I'm just quickly scrolling. Um membership withdrawal um is listed as withdrawing as of July 1st. Um
018and written notice is in is needed in order to withdraw and we ask for at least a six months notice from a member for withdrawal. >> Okay. >> So that's reasonable because that's within the financial >> Yes. >> Or the Yeah. And so then my other question is what what are we paying for or is there a fee like an additional fee for employees who we get through your services who we might or may not be sharing with other districts? >> Yeah, great question. And it can look a lot of different ways. So, when we do staffing and recruitment, one of the things that we ask our members is, is this someone that you're looking for full-time, part-time, are you interested in sharing, is it contractual? And sometimes, if it's a full-time hire, the district
019may just say, "We want you to do the leg work to hire this person, but then we want them to be our employee." And so we do all of the marketing, the recruitment, we do the screening, as much as the district would like us to do. And then that person becomes the district's employee. And quite frankly, as Andy said earlier, right now, becoming a district employee for people who are have been in the education field is is much more attractive because they have access to Vermont teacher retirement, etc. And I'm very upfront with candidates when I when I have that conversation. Um, however, if we were to split someone, and I'll give you a real life example. So, we have a board certified behavior analyst who's currently split between two districts. Three days in one
020district and then two days in another district. The costs for those districts include that employees salary and benefits and then an 8% administrative cost. Thank you. >> Welcome. >> Any any other questions or comments? Uh just to clarify the the timeline with the dues because I think it's all in here, but just to see what it actually would look like. So the membership fees are set no later than June 15th of the prior fiscal year. Is that right? When I on uh page 10. Um, be one. I just want to make sure I'm understanding the uh the timeline accurately. So if it's the preceding fiscal year, does that mean that like June 15, 2027, we would find out what is owed >> or FY28, >> which would No, she >> no FY29. >> So actually
021um if you backtrack, the June 15th date is considered the um well, let me back up a little bit. is the final transmission of and certification of the budget. However, if we back that up, the board actually votes um no later than May 30th on the budget, but the initial budget information is proposed by November 15th. So by November 15 or in this case by September 17th um of this year um members are made aware of what their cost would be for membership dues for the upcoming year. >> Okay. And then they would have until they would they would have 100 180 days prior to I wonder I don't know if anybody else is able to do this. I'm clearly not in this moment but like what it looks like in terms of dates like
022November 15th the budget is set and then at this point the we would have to take a vote as an SU to continue on should the membership fees go up considerably. What would that date be by which we would need to do that? >> So, >> like what what does the timeline look like? Because I think the fiscal years I get confused. >> So, if you got it in if you got it in November, you'd have to make a decision by December. >> Okay. >> Because you have six months and that goes through that gets you to June. >> Okay. And if I if I may, the goal is that membership fees reduce over time as the agency gains foothold, becomes stronger, and grows through consistent revenue streams. Um many um service agencies, for example,
023in Massachusetts do not charge membership fees, but they've been established for in upwards of 40 years. Um, some other educational service agencies in other parts of the nation do use a member membership fee structure, but it it it does vary. But again, the goal is that these membership fees reduce and hopefully eradicate altogether as the agency grows and becomes stronger. >> Yes. >> Yeah. So I I will make a comment that in this current environment it seems a little scary to be relying on grants coming in but um that's neither here nor there. I'm interested in the section on page seven that the Boseies can enter into contracts the purchase of supplies material service and purchase of land leasing buildings equipment. Is that something you're considering or is this just something that had to be
024included in in these articles because that seems to me like a could be an expensive item. So, if I may, um, the educational service agencies that are in existence, and again, I'm going to use my experience as an example. Um, both educational service agencies that I experienced in Massachusetts. One of them started by having renting classroom spaces within their member districts. However, they grew to a point where their needs eclipsed the available space and at that time populations in schools were increasing significantly and schools needed their own space for students. So that agency was able to enter into a contract to um lease and then subsequently purchase its own building in order to develop their programs for students who had higher needs. In addition, they had a transportation fleet and that transportation fleet provided really
025valuable and cost-effective services to its member districts. By fast forward um to the next educational service agency that I worked in um we had a building that was decrepit um and falling down. And so our population of students actually increased by 100% within the first two years of my being there necessitating the need for us to look for another building in order to meet the needs of our members. So we did that and we did lease a building and we were able to grow our population to meet the needs of our members again by by doublefold. We also began a transportation fleet again to provide that valuable service to our districts at a significant cost savings to the transportation that they were paying um for the region. So that information in these clauses are in
026here because the capacity of abose is amazing to be able to support the region and we don't want to limit that capacity um by by sort of being shortsighted about what the future can potentially hold. So there is language in here around the capacity of being able to purchase a building someday when there is a enough revenue stream and the agency is in a fiscally stable position or to be able to purchase equipment to be able to provide a valuable service um such as transportation uh to the region. I I just want to add that there's been members and and we've had conversations and we we'll come and we want to hey can we do this Jill can you know like we have we're all chomping at the bit and Jill has been very um
027good at saying we're not ready yet we're not there yet right like you know um like the compass school building is is wildly available and I know it's there and and and you know I reached out to Jill and I God, this be great for the collaborative and we, you know, has we're not there yet. It'd be, you know, if we were a few years down the road, maybe, you know, but we're just and you know, it's that I that idea of go slow to go fast, right? Is not to build too fast because we can get we can get out over our speed really fast. So, well, my other and Jill, maybe from your experience, you can speak to this. My other cons another concern I have is the far-flung nature of this organization
028all the way from Brattleboro to Woodstock. Right. >> Well, you uh I I wonder you know what were the structures of the towns you were in when you ran these agencies in Massachusetts? Was it also giant geographical areas or or was it uh with mountain ranges or was it uh a little more compact? >> Um so both areas that I served previously included both urban, suburban and rural school districts. I will tell you that the number of students served by those educational service agencies was probably anywhere from triple to quadruple the number of students that are served within the southeast region. So our total census in this area is just below 10,000 students. The last educational service agency that I um worked in served major urban districts such as Lawrence, Massachusetts, Lowel, Massachusetts, and Methuan,
029Massachusetts. Um those were three of the 16 members that we had. And those three districts alone serve a census of probably close to 50 or 60,000 students. Um, you contrast that with a tiny little town like Georgetown, Mass, which may have 5,000 students at the most. Um, all of them still used and needed the services of the educational service agency from Lawrence, which is very well healed and has lots of programming. Same as Lowel, which is very well healed and has lots of programming. The reality is their needs rise up to the point where whether it's a student or it's transportation or it's professional development for example or grant management um they would reach out to use our services on a regular basis and as far as the geographical area um most areas that I
030have served have had at least an hourish um difference in transportation or or um travel from from the southernmost to the northernmost or east to west. Um our area quite frankly is small. When you look at Boseies that are out in Colorado and the square miles that they cover um and the mountain reaches that they cover it is it is much broader and and much more significant. Even true in Vermont uh excuse me in New York um when you look at some of the square mileage that the Boseies in the northern part of the state cover. So, I've got a a a question or two for you, Jill, and with the board's permission, I'd like to make a couple of comments uh also about if people could re raise their voices just a little bit.
031>> Oh, okay. I'm sorry. That would be great. >> Thank you. So, my first question, Jill, has to do with how long these boards of cooperative educational services or educational service districts have been available in the United States and how many states have been using them. >> That's a great question, Cheryl. they um go back to the 50s. Um that's really when educational service agencies started to form and by the mid50s these these associations started to to split away from the superintendent association because they knew they needed something different. They knew they needed to work together um but they knew they needed their own support system. And so really by the mid-50s and the 60s um the association for educational service agencies was was founded. I don't think it had that name but essentially it
032was founded at that time. Um so if you look at for example Nebraska their educational service agency history goes back to just that time the 50s. Um in Massachusetts it goes back more to the 70s. Um, so it varies depending upon the area of the nation. Um, I have actually a lovely map and if you'll forgive me and let me just see. I do have the ability to share. Oh, I do. I don't have the ability to share. I have a map if you would like to see it. >> Um, >> you should have ability now, Jill. >> Oh, perfect. Um, let me just make uh Oh, I lost you. Okay, hold on. Um, can you see that? >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Yep. Yep. >> Okay. Oh, I'm sorry. Um, so this map is actually
033a great example. It is a couple years old, but only the gray states um that you see are states that do not currently have um legislation around educational service agencies. All the other states represent educational service agencies in some way, shape or form. So you can see um that they exist um in almost every state in the nation. >> Right? That was that was my sense of it. I began working with them called ESDs, educational service districts in Washington state, I would say 50 years ago. Uh, and I certainly lived in Colorado for a long time and knew them there as well. And I find them, you know, the two points that Chris, you raised at our last meeting. One was a concern about getting out and I think the getting out looks reasonable to
034me. I mean, you you can still consider it ownorous, but I think it's there's a a process laid there for a member district or supervisory union to to withdraw and the business about owning property that was also a concern. I think it still has to go through a board and every board would discuss it also and we have a representative to the Boseis board. But I think bigger picture um a couple of things. They have been shown to save money. And the spirit of the law right now with Act 73 is about saving districts money, but they're trying to do it by forced consolidation and creating mega districts. I like the Boseis model. I've looked at the research. I've looked at the evidence that says that savings are achieved and we can do it by
035voluntarily cooperating. And I believe that in the first of the year when the when the recommendations of the redistricting task force go to the legislature, I think we'll have a better case if we're already in a Boseies already working cooperatively without losing our autonomy as a supervisor unit. I think that's a scenario. Um I I just think we'll have a stronger case for uh not making massive changes where there's no evidence that cost savings are going to come with it when in turn there are cost savings at least the the research shows through boards of cooperative educational services. Another reason that I think it's a good idea is the extreme costs of special education. We've seen that as a real increase and challenge for our budget and we heard from Heather Willis Doxy that she's
036already seeing benefits to children and lesser costs because you can do it through people Jill is would be able to coordinate the staff persons who can be divided at a lesser cost than contracting in the same way. So for um those reasons I personally am supportive of it. We don't have a motion on the floor though. So, anybody who's willing, we had a sample notion I think that was sent to us, Andy. It was sent in the materials. I don't know whether anybody has it in front of them. >> Right. One last question. >> You bet. Uh is there a if the legislators their infinite wisdom do not create supervisory unions? Uh they go to single school districts >> is their plan for what would happen if you're a member of one of these the
037we'd no longer be a member district, you know? I mean, I think that wouldn't be one. >> I I think there like when we've had the conversations with the AOE representatives around this and whatnot, >> it's kind of like a we haven't gotten there yet. So, we don't they don't have an answer for Chris. I guess I'm trying to Yeah. Like, in essence, they say like like we lease our office, right? Our SU office. We have a five-year lease on that. >> Oh, I know. >> How how do you get out of all these different things? We every district, every SU has commitments and so all that >> I was actually more interested in the answer from Jill. >> Frankly, she's >> we so AOSIES can support any structure. We are we are a piece
038of the puzzle and it doesn't matter how large or how small and again I I gave that example of working with major urban districts who were part of our membership as well as more smaller regional school districts. um we can serve all of those needs and we have that flexibility to be dynamic no matter what the size whether it's large whether it's small whether it's many whether it's few um we we can still support those structures you know some some of the educational service agencies may only have four or five members and some may have 18 and the number of students that they serve may vary depending upon where they where they are in the nation but they're still providing um those services that are integral to the needs of their members. I move that
039the Windom Northeast Supervisory Union Board vote to one approve participation as a founding member supervisory union in the proposed Southeast Vermont region board of cooperative educational services under 16 BSA Chapter 10. Two, approve and adopt articles of agreement for the Boseies as presented. Three, authorize the board chair or designate to sign the articles of agreement and submit them to the Vermont Secretary of Education as required by 16BSA symbol 603 and four. Authorize a supervisor union or school district representative to participate in organizational meetings and take all necessary steps to implement the Boseies in accordance with Vermont law. >> Okay, that's the motion on the floor. Any further discussion? You ready for a vote? Then those in the room, signify by saying I if you approve the motion. >> I >> Any opposed? Any abstaining? Okay.
040To uh those online, uh Jamie, how do you vote, please? >> Yes. >> Thank you, Hardy. >> Hi. >> Thank you, Kathy. >> Hi. >> Thank you very much. All right, that has been passed >> and we'll follow through with the uh the documentation of the vote for the complete motion must be recorded and documented in the meeting meeting minutes that will be done. A copy of those minutes along with the signed articles of agreement signature page must be submitted to the Vermont Learning Collaborative, which we will do. And then once all the hired meeting minutes and signed approvals are received, the collaborative, we'll submit the compiled article, all articles of agreement, including all founding members to the Vermont Secretary of Education uh for approval. And then I think I' I'd reinforce again that this
041has been in the in the works for a while and that you've worked closely with the agency of education. I did see a document early that had their edits and their suggestions to it and their and their questions. Um, you know, I do think it has the potential to save us money uh and and and serve student needs, >> which is really what it's what it's all about. So, thanks everybody. And Jill, thank you for joining. Uh we appreciate your time. >> I want to look forward to I know you're within reach if we need to ask any. >> Absolutely. I want to say thank you and I also want to say congratulations um to the board and to the supervisory union um for being trailblazers and for making history as um becoming part of
042the first Boseies in the state of Vermont. Um, we are really looking forward to to great things and this is really exciting news to be able to share with the rest of our board which I will let Andy do. Um, so I don't steal your steal your thunder, but thank you again for the time and I really appreciate the great questions and the great conversation. >> Thank you. Thanks, Jill. >> Thank you, Jill. >> All right, with that, let's go to the superintendent report. So yeah, I I mean first and I didn't put in the report and I apologize, but um you know, we've had you know, school opened on August 27th. It's been I can't express uh how much positivity there was in opening and and just being around in the schools and seeing
043the kids back in and seeing more tears from parents as they're dropping kids off and kids enjoying running into the buildings and um you know, just um seeing how our teachers are just got underway. Um and you know it's just been again real positive walking around and you know we uh we brought out the cell phone policy you know the bellto bell policy uh we've had I would say an antic what we anticipated as far as violations you know then obviously high school and the middle school are the two areas that it impacted the most um and there's only been a few students who have gotten to like a level three or beyond. Um, and that kind of jives with other districts who have who were before us that put in a policy like that,
044similar size schools and whatnot. So, it's it's um it's just great to when you come walking in this building to not see a bunch of kids with their heads down in their cell phones. Um, at lunchtime, kids are doing >> they're talking. Yes. I couldn't remember what it was. they're they're talking, they're conversing, they're having those things. And so um it's just a it's really uh neat to see and uh you know, it's a lot of credit to our our teachers and our administrators because they're the ones who are enforcing it and you know, having to deal with it. But you know, also kudos to our uh our kids for following it for the most part. And uh and there's been some thank yous from kids. They you know, I don't know if they'll run
045up and say it into your face, but you do hear um kids are saying thank you. So, just wanted to uh give that shout out. Um couple of things. Uh the the first thing I had on my report was some legislative updates. We got um this from the agency of education around the federal FY26 budget. So, they're they're not on the same fiscal calendar as us. Um and so there is a budget vote coming up. Um and so they, you know, there's what they're laying out is that they believe that um the House and Senate um will pass um a budget and it'll be signed by the president. So that's one thing that they believe is going to happen. Uh the second one is the House, Senate, and the President will agree to a short-term
046continuing resolution which will kind of keep FY25 levels where they are. um or they won't agree and there'll be a a shutdown. Um the shutdown really just affects how we access um >> the uh Department of Education um and uh or what's left of it. Um, sorry I shouldn't give my commentary there, but um the the big piece is that with the FY26 uh proposed budget from the Trump administration, it does have some significant cuts to title two. Um, and the House version has some significant cuts to title two and title 4. and the Senate version actually has some increases uh slight in title two and title four. So, um there's some work that needs to kind of happen there. Uh but um the worry is is that u we are potentially uh going to
047lose some access to title funds that we have access in the past. Uh title two has to do with professional development. Title four is uh safe and healthy schools. So um and we fund approximately four FTEES uh using those two grants currently. Um so the monies are moved um some of the money is moved out of title 2 and out of title four into schoolwide so that we can access it. So we fund two academic interventionists >> currently um through uh that move over to schoolwide and then our restorative practice um coordinator and our home to school liaison is funded out of the title two and title four as well. So those are the FTEEs. talked about the Boseies um just talked about the title funds um policies and we'll go over those later um
048but I just wanted to kind of explain um I think I said we've been really upside down on on having our policies updated and so we kind of did a little bit of a marathon push and bring some policies to you that to get us up to date. Um, but there are about 55 policies that we're recommending um, actually be removed because they're outdated or they're covered under the new policies. And I think that it's appropriate that we do a first reading and a second reading kind of on those policies and look at them and not just kind of, you know, I know there's a new 10-day waiting period, but because we're talking about removing policies that we really wait until next um board meeting and and allow people time to read through those and
049have some discussion around those. Um so that's my recommendation on that. Um I also included um some uh recently decided Supreme Court cases and just uh what those um implications could be um for us. The big one is around the um sorry I pull it up and I can tell you better um instead of just it's the first one which is around the muham uh Muhammad and versus Taylor and that was decided in June and that was uh a parent can um request to opt out of uh LGBTQ inclusive story books based on religious beliefs And um and so that piece right now we're working with uh legal counsel and just with the Vermont Superintendent Associates Association and the Vermont School Boards Association to kind of get some guidance around if a parent comes in
050and has that concern, how do we, you know, do it? But we already do it. I just want to be clear if a parent came in and and had a concern over something already, we have a process. we have policies in place and and we work with that parent and we provide an alternate education for those uh students. So um I don't see it as such a major uh implication for us on how having to um comply with that. So, um, and then there are, uh, director's reports in there, but I don't know if, and then the other piece is the district quality standards and educational quality standards that went into effect on July 1st. Um, and then there was supposed to be a self assessment that boards were supposed to do and districts were
051supposed to and central office. Um the agency is behind and so I know it's the first time Chris I mean it's just you know um and and so um we're supposed to have done a whole bunch of things um but they haven't given us those things. So um it's being pushed off until um uh later into October um if not into November. So um just but we'll bring that to you all as the rubrics come out as we get them. So >> question. Yes, I wasn't. >> Yes, go ahead. >> Uh I wonder what your plan was for. Um are we going to look at those as a board SU board in October or something or at some point? >> Well, I definitely think we should. I read them all today and I I think
052they warrant discussion. I was actually pleased at so much of what I read. >> Yeah, we're not in bad shape. >> Yeah. Um, and but I do think we should all I I think though let's wait for the request that comes to us what we're supposed to do and see what and then and then dive into it. Does that make sense? Rather than >> Yeah. I just wondered how you were going to >> Yeah, I but I I do encourage everybody to read them. Uh, you know, the two links, the um district quality standards are one and then the revised education quality standards are another. They're two different documents and they're substantial. Uh there's quite a bit to them both. Uh and and so before we discuss it in that I'd like to read the
053>> anything else you >> one thing it in that I mean it mentioned uh office hours at the agency have regarding the rubrics. Now what are those office hours reporting? Is that something we're supposed to access to learn about? Um I I I can't this came to superintendent. Um so I can't speak to what their intent was if if it was supposed to be broader because typically things come through the uh schoolboard association. Um I don't have a problem if people want to kind of join and be in the background or whatever. But um we'll get invited. We'll get and they're all they're all hyper uh or video. So we can just um >> join and and kind of jump in and they when the agency hosts office hours, they kind of open it up
054>> and sometimes they talk for an hour or 55 minutes and then they give you five minutes to ask questions and sometimes they give you 55 minutes to ask questions and sometimes there's one person there and sometimes there's many people there. So >> So not necessarily a training. No, they're they're they're like if you want to ask questions around like maybe like I I I'm speculating here, but October 8th will be around the district quality standards and so then they'll open that up if board members want to come and ask questions around it type of thing. So there'll be more information coming. >> Okay. Okay. >> Any other questions? Yes, >> this might be totally off topic. you can tell me to put it somewhere else, but I this came up in another venue and
055so I was wondering if uh looking at Ricky's report and thinking about all the policies we have if our district has considered adding an AI policy or if there's anything like I did some looking because I'm like very unfamiliar only have passing familiarity with how it's used in some other places but it doesn't seem like there's a lot of state guidance there. Um I didn't know if that was something we considered or would consider at some point. >> Yeah. So Ricky and I have talked about that. Um I've asked Ricky to kind of hold off on bringing that because I wanted to get us up to >> Yeah. And and so if we I feel like we can get there and at our next policy meeting we can start bringing some of these policies that
056are um around that and Ricky has started drafting some um some potential um language for folks to look at. Um but he he was right on top of it as it kind of hit. There is not a lot of guidance. Um I I do belong to um I sit on a representative board for Kosen which is uh consortium of school networks which has to do with technology and they're pushing out some uh AI stuff too. So >> thank you. Just asked Kubt to make us a policy. Well, that's actually what Ricky and I did actually. Um, >> and he was like, "This is a really good this is really good." Like, so so that's that was like last year sometime we we actually went in and did that. He was impressed by it. But >>
057so still looking at the educational quality standards and the self assessment that we're going to be there's an issue to do. um they have said that our assessment is due in the window between October 15 and November 21st. >> Looking at our schedule of meetings, our next one is October 15, uh which is the same date that that window opens. And then we have another one of November 19th, which would be right before this is due. So it could be the case that we have time in our regularly scheduled meetings to discuss them before we submit our assessment if we do something like submit it on November 20th just ahead of the deadline of November 21st or something like that. So we'll see if they meet their own deadline. >> Sure. >> Okay. Next topic
058is um review and approve the policies that were brought forward. >> Yeah. >> Andy's gonna present. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Um so um would you like me to just speak to each one or um >> but all of these are I know there's there's 10 of them. So um I I can go real quick. So u D21 is uh has to do with what we call educational support teams. It's um they are required by law um that we have them. It's part of our multi-tered systems of support um for supporting kids um and prior to um in the continuum of moving towards special education or regular education on both ends of the spectrum. Um and so uh we utilize uh so all that is is a revision of a of what was currently
059in play. Um the numeration is is changed because the there was some change at the schoolboard association to how they enumerate them. >> Um so the uh D23 the selection and access to instructional materials again that was uh we had a a current policy like that. So that policy is in the current one is actually in the removal um bucket. So um but it um same went with D20 uh D21. So it's just uh talk it's a revision of how uh selection and access of instructional materials happen. Uh D20 has to do with curriculum development and coordination. Um that um means that at the SU level we try to uh push out a singular curriculum and and that all of our schools are um following the same curriculum and students are getting an equal access.
060Um, the C27 has to do with the student distribution of literature and that has to do with uh putting in place some policy around if a student wanted to pass out information at a school, it just puts some regulations around that um and authorizes us to create some procedures for that. Um F17 which is head lice. Um, while currently the Vermont School Boards Association does not have a model policy around headlines, I did speak with our nurses and they did say that we follow um what was the current um policy. This is just updating that policy. So, it's just you reviewing it and um um updating it. uh educational records. C C1 has to do with how uh we retain educational records, but also how uh families can access them. It basically says that we
061comply with FURPA. Um F20 has to do with fiscal management and general financial accountability. Um again, uh we had maybe three or four different policies in the past that kind of covered that would cover that. This consolidates those all down. um F-27 communical disease uh mitigation measures. Um this was used to be covered under a policy that was specific around AIDS and HIV and so obviously communicable diseases are much larger than that. So um this consolidates that um E21 is distribution of materials. This has to do with um the schools and the board's responsibility on if someone from the outside wants to distribute materials, how we can ensure that we aren't having inappropriate stuff being uh distributed. >> Um and then uh C70 has to do with the use of restraint and seclusion. That is
062just an update of what we call rule 4500 which um is required um and how we report those to the agency of education. >> Any questions about any of the policies? I was really struck by some being so old and then you know when they were initially passed and that that kind of thing. So this and I actually had thought that we had gotten up to speed but we had not. Well, we we we had been taking some big blocks and getting there. And and again, when uh when Priscilla Lambert was on the board, she really did a good push uh to get all the required ones updated. And now we're into the recommended and to the the lower ones. And so just getting those up to date >> and and with this and with
063the actions to remove some in the next two meetings or like that will be current is what you're saying. it we'll be back on a cycle of starting to review the ones that Priscilla had already had us just review because it's it should be on a three-year cycle. So, we'll kind of get going on reviewing those so that we don't get so far behind. So I move to approve uh policies D21, D23, D20, C27, F17, C1, F20, F27, E21, and C70. >> Thank you. Motion on the floor. Any discussion? I just want to thank the policy committee for their time in particular. Andy prepared us really well ahead of time and we had some questions, but it's really a combination of all these agencies coming together and our kids just benefit by the work. It's
064amazing. Our schools are run really well. I'm actually pretty proud of it. Sorry, this thing's falling off. >> Go ahead. >> Thank you so much. Any additional comments or questions right in the room? All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Any abstensions? Okay. And online, Hardy, how do you vote, please? >> I. >> Thank you, Kathy. >> Hi. >> Thank you, Jamie. >> Yes. >> Thanks. All right. You unanimously approve. >> Thank you very much. >> One step further. All right. >> Thank you. >> Uh, so the next item on the agenda is the Rural School Community Alliance update. I sent you the or we sent uh the letter that was sent from the supervisory union to the redistricting task force just to summarize and to include the dates
065that each of our member districts as well as the SU uh board had voted uh our preference to remain in a supervisory union. So that is now documented and has been submitted and was submitted in advance of their most recent meeting was September 10. And secondly uh also submitted by the full rural school community alliance uh not not just our SU uh to be on record but just some additional uh commentary including the some of the fiscal analysis that in particular Dr. Jeannie Alberta, retired mathematics professor from Middbury, has helped us prepare using agency of education data. Um, in addition, if if there are any questions about any of that, please ask or or let me know. And if there are questions that we have as an SU that you'd like the full alliance to
066address, you know, don't hesitate to do that. I'd also like to know because I think this relates to it does relate to the redistricting task force where we're submitting comments. Did all the schoolboard chairs get an email yesterday? Okay. Asking us to respond to a survey. Yeah. >> And then today we got an additional um message from the Vermont School Board Association. try to find that document that uh tells us what the questions are in this particular um survey. And here it is. So, um the redistricting task force has asked all schoolboard chairs to complete a survey no later than October 6th. And we got this yesterday. Uh, and the questions include, have you discussed redistricting as a school board? What information, insights or details have those conversations included? Have you or has your school
067board taken or do you plan to take a formal position on redistricting? The answer is yes. In our case, we've done that and we've sent our position to the redistricting task force. and they go on with further questions um including what are the strengths of your current district? What are the challenges or weaknesses of your current system? What opportunities do you see as a member of a bigger district? What opportunities do you see as a member of a bigger district? So, I'm trying to figure out how we can respond to this and do it in a responsible way and have everybody have time to discuss it. and it wasn't, you know, on the agenda worn tonight at discussion. Uh, and they want it by October 6th and our next meeting >> is October 15. >>
068Okay. >> Pardon? >> We'll have a meeting before then. >> So, you you could take that to your board that board. Okay. >> Yeah. My my plan was to um I I was glad to see all of the questions because I opened the Google form yesterday and couldn't get through it without answering. So um I was going to use some of what we discussed in our last meeting when we talked about it to start some of the questions and send that out for folks to review ahead of time. And then I'm sure because we didn't organize our discussion around this particular prompts, we would have other thoughts or feedback. It is a lot of boards to coordinate giving the thoughtful review of those questions to >> right. >> I'm sorry. What was the date they
069went back? >> By uh October 6th. >> October 6th. Okay. So, >> two of our boards will have met by then. >> No, I'm just looking at the calendar. Yeah. So, >> so maybe the others want to have special meetings to discuss them and I'll go for the chat. You know, >> I I I could also ask if an extension could be >> Kathy's online. >> Seems like >> Kathy has a question or a comment. She saying she said the graph board she can be part of this conversation. Well, absolutely. Yeah. >> Lynn is actually the chair. >> I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. She's the SL board. Forgive me for that. Right. And so, yeah, look to see, but I I I I suggest that we have conversations with our boards, but I'd also like
070the SU board to be able to to weigh in and we can't do that tonight without it seems boring. It doesn't seem logical for them to put put that particular, you know, have it so close together. They didn't give us any time to work on. I agree with that. I think that's appropriate. don't think they really care what we have to say. So any that's that's an issue be addressed and I'm trying to think about open meeting as well because even if we draft a response um it you can't really share a document with all board members. Can we do that? >> As long as it's on a warn meeting they could review it ahead of time. I'm asking >> yeah you can re you can provide information as information. Mhm. >> It's just >>
071no action. >> It's just a commenting back and forth that you all can't do. So, >> but if Lynn were to have a question, she could email you, Cheryl, >> right? >> And and you could respond to her. But if Lynn and Chris and you get on an email together, that's when you violate. So, >> sorry, this is the state's office or the school board. It's simple. they uh has sent us >> I think it came from the I think the actual survey is from the redistricting task force. >> Okay. >> And the Vermont School Board Association responded to a request to send us the questions ahead of time so that we as of since yesterday because yesterday it came as a live survey >> and people wanted to know what the questions were before
072they dove in to try to answer them. And again, how do you get public participation? >> It's an invitation is what it it's >> Yeah, I think it's a manipulative gesture on their part to send us that with two weeks turnaround time. >> Sorry, but not to be negative. Sorry, Kaitlin. Oh, I was just I was wondering if it was the plan was to discuss it in the October 10th redistricting task force meeting and that was the reason for the turnaround, but maybe if we no more could push the deadline because there's another one the 28th, but I don't know what >> again who's to say how like it's a lot of open-ended questions. I'm not sure how you consolidate that from everybody who responds to it in the state. And so, um, I wonder
073if we as a board might want to consider a a motion to, uh, ask for, uh, an extension of time to say that we're concerned about this. If, you know, we we we are our >> our SU member district chairs and the SU board chair have received this request to complete a survey by October 6th. And we believe that that is insufficient time to get public engagement and consideration and would uh respectfully request uh an extension and we'll ask our superintendent to uh send that message on our behalf. That's good to do that. >> Did you just make that motion? So >> we did. Yes. >> I thought so Paul. All right. So something to that that effect. All right. Well, so there's a motion on the floor. Uh any additional discussion. >> The gist
074of it is to request an extension expressing our concern about the pen. >> All right. All those in the room extend uh signify by saying I. >> I. Any opposed? Any obstac? Okay. And on the screen uh Jamie. Hi. >> Thank you Kathy. Hi. Thanks Marty. >> Hi. >> Thanks. All right. So unanimous and you'll express that on our behalf. >> All right. So then I think that we're moving into an executive session and we'll need to have the purpose of which is to discuss a contract related matter involving personnel uh and employee of the district premature knowledge of which would compromise the parties involved. So move. >> Thank you. Paul has moved. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. Any >> opposed. And how do you vote? Jamie. >> Hi. >> Thank
075you, Kathy. >> Hi. >> I saw your hand. Thank you so much. >> All right. We have reconvened. We're back in session as a supervisory union board. We've had a discussion. Is there any action that the board would like to take? Chris, >> um at this point, uh I move that we grant a variance uh in the um supports staff agreement. help me on this >> on the statement for retirement to >> retirement statement date >> uh >> per the request of an individual and leaving this window open for the balance of the Yes, >> very eloquent message. >> I think that did it though. I think that accomplishes the purpose. So, there's a motion on the floor. Uh, let me go to the screen just to bury this a little bit. Jamie, how do
076you vote? >> Thank you, Kathy. >> Hi. >> Thank you, Hardy. >> Hi. >> Thank you. Those in the room signify by saying I. >> I. >> Any opposed? >> I'd like to abstain, please. >> Sure. One abstension. >> All right. So, noted. >> All right. Uh I think with that, we're back in session and it's time for director's comments. Let's go around the room. you take. >> The one thing I wanted to say is that yesterday the Holocaust Center and Keem posted a documentary or a lecture on the LGBTQ um annihilation during the Holocaust. And so when this thing came up about, you know, that about these folks um maybe not wanting their children >> to know that there are people in our community. I'm so connected to what that was. I mean, it's
077a book and a documentary about this. So I wanted to just mention that >> how history >> how what what's going on now as a history that we can help to support our children. That's what I wanted to say. But I felt it was a great meeting and I'm glad we made the decisions that we did. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Good discussions and helpful information today. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Uh nothing. Thank you. Also, >> no add on to what Karen said, it saddens me that we are creating schools that can be less inclusive to our children. >> We go the screen. Uh Jamie, anything to add right now? >> Kathy Hardy >> also. Um, so I will add that in reading the um the educational quality standards documents of the
078notion of inclusivity and recognizing differences and honoring them from learning styles to uh other other dimensions of our uniqueness is really pervasive and I thought that the documentation was really quite solid and good and principled. Uh so I actually look forward to the our looking at those quality standards and how we uh support them uh for our students and our families and our community. So with that, our next uh meeting is on October 15th and I'm actually coming back from a trip to Abu Dhabi of all places and um I land that day and I think I'd suggest Chris if you're here as vice chair if you could chair the meeting and that I'll join remotely because I'm not at all sure what I'll bring back from long flights um like that. Uh, so if
079that works, that would be my advantage. >> I'll check it. It's near that stretch where I disappear for a week. >> Okay. Well, let's take a look at that. >> I think it's okay though. >> It's fine. >> In worst case, I would chair it remotely, but I think that's awkward. I think it's better to have somebody in the room uh chairing the meeting >> and I would I will participate, but I just won't do it in person. >> I think it's okay. >> All right. And with that, we can adjourn the meeting at 7:20. Thanks everybody. Good to see you all. >> Thank you. >> Yes.