001number 14 board of directors meeting today is September 17th. Um before we get started uh I would like to amend the agenda. Um I uh would like to move the chair's report um to the top of the um order and including in the chair's report I'm going to add a B um and that is going to be uh board member conflict of interest. So the agenda will uh be the ch the chair's report then public comments um and then we will continue on. >> Can any personnel matter be done in executive session? Um I don't have a personnel matter matter. >> It's well board member too. >> Um uh not we can discuss it when we get to get to it. >> Fair. >> Okay. >> Um I am going to ask that um with
002the minivan lease update that there will be a possible action item included on it. So, uh, just to clarify, moving the chair's report up, um, including an a possible action item on the minivan lease, uh, minivan and adding a, um, be a board member conflict of interest. Can I have a motion to approve the agenda, the amended agenda? >> So, move second. >> Moved um by Susan, second by Leon. Um, any discussion? >> All in favor? >> I Okay. Um, before we get started, why don't we quickly go around the room and um, I guess we have name tags now, so I don't know if we need to do this anymore, but why don't we starting with Adam and we'll just go around the room and uh, let everybody know who's here and um, then
003we'll move on. >> Appreciate this additions very helpful. Um, but Adam Carmichael, principal, man of the union. >> You ever forget, you can just look and remember exactly. >> So, I tried to do it the screen, but that was me cheating. Chris Magcguire, Mount Anthony Union Middle School principal. >> I looked at it, too, but make sure I said the right thing. >> Leon Johnson, board member. >> Uh Tim Payne, superintendent. >> Stephanie Mulligan, board member. >> Aden, board member. >> Glenn Thurber, board member. >> Susan Clayton, board member. >> Dave Frederickson, board member. >> Kristenstead, board member. >> Nelson Brownell, board member. >> Do you have board members? zooming in. >> And we have um Beth Wallace, a board member, and Scott Mcne, a board member as well. >> Okay. Um the first item
004on the agenda, the amended agenda is the chair's report. Um the uh we had a minivan lease update, and I'm gonna have uh Renee uh talk. >> And if you can make me a co-host, I can share my screen. Um, let me just take one of these and pass them around. So, um, after the last meeting, um, Holly's department and mine, uh, started working through the process of securing a lease, um, per the outline that the board gave us. So, up to $30,000 um, and not be not to exceed that. Um, I'm sorry. Trying to share the safety fund's not working. Uh, [Music] so $30,000 within three years. Um, all-wheel drive vehicle and um, preferably local if possible. So, working through that process, we weren't able to actually close the deal September, which pushed things
005out a little bit longer because the incentives changed. So, been working through the process over the last couple of weeks. We submitted our um application for financing and came back this morning that they couldn't offer the deal uh through Stevens that had given us the best price option because they had presented it as if it was a personal lease, not for a municipality. And because a school district is considered a subdivision or political subdivision of the state of Vermont, we are a municipality. So they quickly ran other options for us um which extended that and so that's why we're here tonight. Um it's beyond uh three years. So the options they gave us were a lease for 5 years or six years. Both of which would have an option to buy the vehicle outright for
006a dollar at the end of the lease. So what you have in front of you is just kind of running those numbers um with the leasing option. Uh option number one to lease for um the five-year term ends up being just over $50,000. Six-year lease would be uh 52291. With that, they also gave us an outright um purchase option, whether cash or they also gave us financing options, too. But the financing is actually uh more expensive than what the lease rates were. So I've also presented here um what the cash option was. So for that same vehicle uh 43,213 uh we also went back um asked and thankfully from Holly's department made several calls this afternoon trying to get other just cash options for other minivans. Um so you had comparative pricing here. We heard
007back from two. Both of those vehicles uh were offered as a Toyota Sienna hybrid. Um you can see the pricing there. They are all-wheel drive vehicles. Uh but neither of them are actually on the lot. Both of both the dealerships are anticipating those um vehicles arriving sometime mid October, if not into early November. So that's going to push those options off. Uh the Chrysler Pacific is actually on the lot and available now with Stevens. So all of that being said, the three-year lease option didn't actually work out. This is what we have available now. You can do with it what you want if you wanted. We basically just can't can't operate with what the motion was at the last meeting. It's it's not an option for us at this point. So >> happy to answer
008>> based on your like where you are now what would be your recommendation are does I mean what I'm looking at is >> if you're looking just buy >> um but that I don't know what the whether the >> just questions >> if you wanted to know the um the financing options so if we were to instead of just buying outright and paying the $43,000 for the vehicle um the five-year financing option totals 54,000 and a sixyear purchase is over 56,000. >> I think Beth Wallace has a question. >> Yeah, I'm wondering if there's any um difference in the service contract or the warranty between the buying outright option or the the five or six years lease. No, I mean they're they're new vehicles. Um, so it it would be the same regardless. You're going
009to have whatever comes with a brand. They're both brand or not both. They're all brand new vehicles. 2025 models. So they have their standard >> standard warranty 3 years 36 and then 560 on the powertrain. So the engine is good. Engine and transmission are good to 60,000 by warranty by cash. You can keep them going forever. I would make the motion that we purchase the Pacifica outright. >> I'll second it. We have a >> motion has a question. Um so any discussion? >> Well, yes. I had a question before that. Even though we were looking at the Pacific here, you looking at the miles per gallon uh city and highway compared to the uh the hybrids of 35 miles per gallon. We we we need to be thinking long term out here. Even though I
010there's no reason why we can't wait and weap the benefit of Vermont goal is to be hybrid and and totally electric along that line. And here we are going in an opposite direction for that and and we don't have to. I had a similar question but I don't and Mike not being here tonight is this something that we can wait on till mid November isn't that >> he he wanted it for >> wrote tomorrow >> I was thinking >> probably isn't going to happen so >> that's what I was thinking >> all right you can turn it around >> purchase it today it's not going to be working taxree or is there sales tax on >> No sales tax much rather be, you've heard me the last time, I'm not going to repeat myself, but
011to buy it outright and own it. It's an asset that the district can depreciate and it seems like it's something that's instantly available. >> I do have to agree with um Leon on that hybrid. I will tell you from couple of decades in the car business that October 28th and November 14th is an estimate at best and supply chain and this that the other. You got something that's on the ground and ready to go and we have a need for it and I'm done. Thanks. Have a motion. >> We do have a motion. So are there any other discussion? Is there any other discussion? >> Okay. U motion to approve the Pacifica. >> Oh, sorry. That's your hand. >> Oh, sorry. Go ahead. >> Yeah, sir. I was just going to to speak to the
012electric option. Um I wondered, do we have other electric vehicles in the fleet? Do we have charging stations? I know that that's the goal of the state by I think 2035, but it sounds like we're we're a long way off from that goal on the state level. I just want >> it's not it's not electric. It's a hybrid >> hybrid. It's a different so it's not they don't charge. >> They don't have to be charged. >> But do I mean the point of purchasing a hybrid would be that we would charge it. Correct. >> Yeah. or no >> no it's a the hybrid is not I mean but you know from a personal perspective like we we uh have multiple electric vehicles and they are they state does accommodate for it but this does not
013require charging or like installing a charger or stations and you know to Leon's point it I mean the gas mileage is a significant difference you know I think the challenge that I have is weighing the like a com like getting something that will work for the school district this year with or you know and the efficiency which obviously is better I think in the Sienna you know but we don't know when we're actually would be able to get it I think that that's the challenge that we have to weigh so I don't you know I mean we have a motion we could amend it we could you go ahead >> are these how when this is used it's going to be for long halls or is it going to be majority for short hops to
014places. >> It's my understanding based on last me the last meeting it's going to be used for potentially both is that I mean >> it'll be used during the school day to have students going to community based learning opportunities. So it'll remove that barrier for kids who don't have a car of their own to get to sites throughout town and around the surrounding area. And then after school, it'll probably be the longer holes of a golf team playing for a Burton and only taking a handful of kids in a specific situation. >> So am I to assume that the short holes will be the majority of use? >> Uh it would be used Yeah, it would be used daily by community based learning, I would assume, and it will probably be used several days a
015week by um by the athletic teams. Any other thoughts? I mean, we have a motion on the table to approve the um the purchase of the Pacific. >> All in favor? >> I um on the screen >> and two on the screen and um opposed Leon. um ocean carriers. >> Where do we store this vehicle? >> Well, it's my understanding like based on some conversations with Renee today that we have vehicles at NA Anthony both for maintenance and you know other um what did you say we have >> driver's ed vehicle? I'm not I >> Okay. Um we will move on to uh the I the second item um B which is a board member conflict of interest. Um Sandy Foster uh emailed me today and had identified that there may be or um could
016be the appearance of a conflict with um for her with the um hiring of the assistant the hiring process of the assistant superintendent search. So she will not be engaging in board member activities until the process is complete. Um the reason just to give you clarification the reason why this is not in executive session is that per our um board member conflict of interest policy uh I think it's 7205 um it states that when this has been it will be placed in the meeting. So I just that is you're welcome. Um so that is it and we can move on to public comments. No public. Okay. The consent agenda we have minutes, warrants, retirements, leave of absence, resignations and nominations. Can I have a motion to approve um them as presented? >> Second by Glenn.
017Second by Leon. Any discussion? All in favor? Okay. Uh, we will move on to finance. There was a treasur in August 2025. I don't know that I just want to confirm it hasn't been posted. I don't did not see it. Um, before I Oh, we have it. Okay. Can I have a motion to the approve the treasury report as presented? So moved. Motion by Susan. >> Second. Second by Scott. Any discussion? All in favor? >> Okay. Uh we'll move on to operations and in under operations. Okay. >> Yeah. So just a reminder to folks who might be joining us uh for the first time or board members. Uh we are being purposeful in reporting out per the month. So in August to talk to you about staffing. September we're talking to you about building updates.
018So, this is work that was done in the last three to six months. Holly Anderson will be here as the um representative, the director for that. Excuse me. Next month, we will be talking about uh student achievement and grant update. And then in November, we'll be talking about special education. So, hopefully that helps folks uh just be aware of the topics that will be coming. Holly was in the banner this morning. So, uh, if you read your banner above the fold, a nice long, uh, article about the updates for the elementary school board, uh, presentation. So, I just want to congratulate her on that. They quoted her early and often. I love reading about that. Susan knows over my Cheerios every morning, a copy of my banner. So, uh, Holly is here this evening. She'll
019only be speaking about the MAU buildings because, of course, this is the MAU board. uh you can we will be posting a link to her slideshow on the website so folks want to see uh all the buildings they can do that and we missed the Arlington schoolboard meeting last week uh the chair will be uh rescheduling that u but folks from Arlington want to check tune in they can catch that too and Holly and I will work on that by the end of this week the slideshow will be up >> excellent thank you friends I'm going I need to make you a co-host that you're asking for. >> I took that presentation um from the for the whole district and just for you guys >> um >> should be available to me. Uh, so thank
020you friends. I'm so excited as always to talk about our buildings. Uh, for those of you that don't know me, I'm Holly Anderson. I'm the director of facilities management and operations here for the SPSU. And I do have more fun than Legally Allowed at Work, so I'm excited to talk about all things construction. Um over the last over the recent past, we've gotten a bunch of different buckets of money. Uh as you guys know, we got a large bucket of money for the Arbessor projects to address indoor air quality. And then as a uh as an SU we went over um or we went to different opportunities for grants and prizes and uh we got um uh an energy prize from the Department of Energy. It was $100,000 to start and then once we put
021our plan in place, we got another check for $50,000. Uh the the EPA funds were for the electric buses in Arlington when you guys were talking about the hybrid. My ears perked. So thank you for that. Uh we also have been working with the state of Vermont uh to work on our biomass systems to make those as efficient and effective as possible. And always as part of this work uh we work in conjunction with efficiency Vermont to build custom product projects so that they can give us more money. Uh we have a little over a million square feet uh in the district. The oldest building is 1809 was the first operating year to the middle school which clearly is in your district and everything in between. So we have a lot of opportunity for improvement.
022>> Uh and then as you'll see the we have um Arlington buildings, SVSU buildings, and the NAU. Can you hear me? >> Yeah. Oh, >> we just recognized some of the kids. That's all. >> Oh. Oh, that was not intentional. I didn't do that. I swear. >> Uh, so as part of the our besser funds, we finally uh added air conditioning to the middle school. The construction of the middle school contemplated air conditioning. So, uh, a lot of the pieces and parts were already in place. So, we ordered the chillers, installed them, and thank you, Principal Fire, for all your patience, uh, during commissioning of the air conditioning system. As always with any construction projects um any construction project uh there are always hiccups and uh we experienced a lot of them. So thank you
023very much. Um also I wanted to point out I invited the director of uh MAU facilities uh Tony Denafhrio and I want to thank him for his service um his time here working at the district and all these efforts would not be possible without him. So thank you. Uh and then at the high school uh we also got a number of our Besser funds. We added air conditioning and ventilation systems to the gym if you were there for graduation. Um very exciting. Uh we also added air conditioning ventilation to the gymnasium and the gymnasium, the cafeteria and the auditorium. And so those are now all three air conditioning conditioned and indoor air quality standards. Uh in addition to that, we've replaced uh a roof that we've talked about previously, which I'm happy to report no
024longer has speed bumps on it. And uh the the funds that you approved when last we met, we have uh received the materials that we got under warranty and fixed the roof. And it's really beautiful. I'm happy to take any of you up there to look at it. The roof drains are also clear. It's exciting. Um and uh yeah, we've got a cafeteria we did a while ago about painting new tables, new lighting, all that kind of stuff. So, um as working with the state and as part of our master plan, we've gone through and anticipated uh what the capital expenses moving forward and in the next 10 years will be. And so, uh this has all of our schools on it. Um but you guys are there. Can you off for just a minute,
025Holly, on that back slide? So for folks who are watching this at home or board members who want to go back and look at I appreciate Holly organizing it. It lists schools on the first column. The replacement value which folks have pointed out really that's what it would cost to that's a state number. >> So the value of the building if you have an interest in a specific building average need which is Holly's anticipation of what you're going to spend on a yearly basis to keep the building up. And then there's a 10-year total. I draw everybody's attention to the bottom right corner. The total 10-year total is a $22 million plus investment. Um, so just again, we're trying to provide you with information thinking about budgets as we are going into budget season in
026November and December. And this is a really good this was this figure is in there for me because I'm visually in need of this kind of layout only. >> Okay. Um, and uh, knowing this, we have we have lots of work we have to do throughout the district. These are just some examples of the projects that we know are on we're going to have to um, manage and take care of in the next 10 years. I'm happy to go through them. >> Could you highlight just for folks uh, some of the ones you pointed out for the high school and middle school, please? >> Sure. So, we still need to go through and do HBAC upgrades. The 84 edition has the existing or the original unit ventilators. Uh so that's about a million dollars for
027that addition to do all three floors. >> The high school. >> Yep. Uh so high school um building envelope. Some of the glazing, some of the glass is original to the building. So it doesn't it doesn't have all the bells and whistles of new glazing where it's like UV protected and has all the films and argon fil. Um, >> and they're expensive to replace when they break. >> Yes, very much so. Uh, ADA upgrades. Uh, we still have, um, bathrooms we need to address. Uh, the lockers in the in all of the hallways we ripped out. They have, uh, outlived their useful life. So, we we have some bigger things coming up as far as roofs and and and other such projects. Yeah. So, I uh I wanted to let you guys know as part
028of act 73, the state um has put together uh uh school construction committee and um I'm excited to be serving on it. So, I'll be able to come back to you and talk about um progress as the state moves forward with planning right at 73. I appreciate I thank Holly for taking time to serve on that. There are four working groups I think right now at the state level doing various things. Obviously school construction it's been non-existent in the state of Vermont for over 20 years since the middle school was uh built. So it's nice to have representation from our district sitting on that committee. I appreciate that. >> Is it time for questions? >> Oh wait on me Susan. Um I I see you have a call and I I could be wrong so
029correct me if I am that at one point you presented that the Green Mountain Power had some um funds for the lighting at Spinel. Um I didn't see anything there that was going to need it and it is need so >> Oh that's excellent. So uh I'm glad you brought that up. I'm working with >> You knew I would >> ar I'm like oh my god let me talk about this. Oh, >> um uh we're we're working to put together an energy project that has the Spanelli lights in it. I didn't include them in here because they would be um zero funded. So, what we're looking for is a bunch of backable grants and other funding opportunities so that it doesn't hit our budget at all. Uh that's the strategy we went. Not that this
030pertains to this board specifically, but we um that's the the tact we took for the Arlington School District to get the four electric buses and the charging in infrastructure. It cost the taxpayers of Vermont zero and we got uh 1.6 million in assets. So that's the same thing I'd like to do with Spinelli. Um included in Spinelli would be building management system optimization. um uh replacing of old uh refrigerators, kitchen accutraons, like things that are in the boiler rooms and in the back of house that no one will see. No one cares what polar they are, but will make a huge difference in how our buildings operate and the efficiency and costs over time. >> Did I answer your question, Susan? >> Yeah, Dave's going to follow up, I think. ADA upgrades. Does that include
031the bleachers you talked about? >> Yes, they are ordered. They are coming between >> Yeah. I'm like they're they're coming uh between the sports seasons. >> October in November 3rd the Thanksgiving. They will be in Salt. >> Yeah. >> In between there somewhere. There'll be about a week and a half that'll do. >> Yeah. So again, with the bleachers, we won't have as many seats, but they will be accessible. They'll have aisles. They'll have wheelchair accessible seats. And they'll be all electric. We're pulling them in and out. But >> that makes me feel better. I won't have to watch Dave climb the steps in cowboy boots. >> Yeah. >> My balance isn't as good. >> So, no. So, Susan, that's your point. My hope is to come back to the board with with a laundry
032list of things we'd like to do. >> That would be awesome. Can I ask a followup question though? Um, given the changing climate and funding climate, it does are like should we be adding in the cost of like the real cost of things in case that there aren't grants? I mean, because ultimately we like it is I think it's not at some point it's not a wish, you know, we like we need some of those upgrades to happen. >> Oh, absolutely. And some of um and let me answer you in a long long-winded way. Our food service program is profitable. So, we have a a bucket of money there that every time we need to replace a dishwasher, a a reserve, any of that kind of stuff. Um, we can use those funds to replace
033it so it doesn't come out of our operating capital. How do I do this? Okay. >> I think I was more fitting about like the points or the components to the the sports facility. >> Yeah. So I um I'm always looking for different ways to skin the cat. To answer your question, yes, if we are not successful, we'll have to look at those in different in in future um budgets. But right now, I'm I'm operating under if it's reads for me and I would like as much to get as many assets as possible while they're still available. >> Any other questions? I might she can see if anybody else >> I didn't see anything raised. SC. >> All right, there you go. Great. >> Thanks all. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >>
034Um we will move on to policies. Um the first one is uh adopt for um policy 6190 holiday observance. Um, I have a motion to approve uh 6190 as presented. >> So moved >> by Glen, second by Leon. Um, any discussion? >> All in favor? >> I uh the next one is uh 1025 public complaints about personnel. This is uh to adopt this policy. Uh can I have a motion to approve this policy as presented? >> Moved. >> Okay. Um any discussion? All in favor? Um we have policy 1090 use of school facilities. This is to adopt the policy. Can I have a motion to approve as presented? So move second. >> One second by Leon. Any discussion? >> All in favor? >> I. >> Okay. We have uh policy number 5156, student nutrition and
035wellness. Can I um This is to adopt. Can I have a motion to approve this policy as presented? Moved by Leon. Second by Glenn. Any discussion on this policy? Yes. any way that that would open the door for students to uh take a course or being educated on how they could lose weight. We have programs for all kind of problems but uh obesity don't have anything for. I wondered would this be something that we could use to offer a class on that or >> I I wasn't in policy. I don't want to sound like I'm pooing. I think that would fall more under curriculum than >> than policy. >> Health and committee would address that through the curriculum. >> I'll remember >> any other discussion. I'll just beat the same drum um on, you know,
036wanting to also consider compliance after these policies are passed um to be checking in on compliance. This is the policy that um articulates the requirement to offer 30 minutes of um moderate to rigorous activity for K through 12 per day. We've had some good conversations um with Superintendent Payne about, you know, we can check the box by saying we offer athletics. Um but there are gaps between seasons and um we've talked about how many students actually take advantage of those athletic programs, especially if you consider multi-season athletes. Um, so in favor of the policy, just want to put that on our radar to continue to think about compliance. >> I think I said, correct me if I'm wrong, but that's where some of the after school like the offerings for middle school after school. >>
037Beth, we had this we started this conversation at the elementary school board, right? As we were talking about this policy was that >> they start to blend. Sorry. We start. No, we talked about it at this meeting when the policy was warned because because middle and high school um don't have recess, right? Recess is the obvious like way to to meet the standard. Um and then we revisited it at the policy committee meeting. >> Oh, thank you. So, so just to reference, and Beth already covered this for some folks, the educational quality standards, it says each school K through eight will uh provide at least two physical education classes per week. Each school grades 9 through 12 has a one and a half year physical education or equivalent requirement. We meet that in this district,
038but that's the checking of the box. The second paragraph is the one we were having conversation about. You shall offer options to students. Sorry, the voice is stating grades K through 12 to participate in 30 minutes of physical activity within or outside of the school day. Physical activity may include recess, movement built into the curriculum. It should not it does not replace physical education class. So, we talked about we did talk about sports. We did talk about uh extended school day activities. That might be more of what the middle school offers, but we did talk about why do kids not access this? what's the barrier to them having those opportunities. So that's um an opportunity to have conversation going forward. Now I did share that with Melissa Senle, director of curriculum and I also talked
039to Ashley Walker who is the school nurse at the middle school but who's also very much connected to the health and wellness committee and so I started that conversation. D >> I can share a mid uh in my principal report. I can also share an additional update about movement in the school day at the middle school now. >> All right. We did I mean did we do we vote? All right. We have a motion on the table um to adopt of 5156 student uh nutrition and wellness. Uh uh all those in favor. >> I >> Okay. Uh we'll move on. Uh this is to Warren policy number 6382 home study programs. >> A motion by Eric Bon. So >> by Gwen, are there any discussions on this policy? >> I was asked a question by
040Beth Policy Committee with regards to if you're a homeschooled kiddo and you're participating in a in a high school sport u as far as bumping a MAU student. So if you bear with me just for a second, I asked for clarification on that point. And this is from Mike Mallaloy uh athletic director. Per VPA policies, homeschool students residing in the district are equal are seen as equal to MAU. They are considered the same same rights to play sports participate. Members of a uh member to member. So someone who plays for Sacred Heart Highland Hall or BBA in the case of volleyball, Grace Christian, those students cannot displace an MAU student. No cuts are allowed if a membertomember or private school student is participating. That is not true for homeschool. They are seen as an MAU
041student. So cuts could be made. It could impact somebody who is attending all day at MAU. If a homeschool kid was captain, you were cut from the team. That was correct. Just clarify that was raised in an earlier conversation. I'm happy to repeat that again at the policy committee. Tim, I think the discussion that we had at the policy committee, which was pretty indepth, was around language included in the policy. I I think the and I don't have it right in front of me today um around access and availability of um slots. So, if you read through the policy, it sounds like home study students have the option to participate in um public school activities and extracurriculars as long as there are spaces available. And so, the interpretation um of the policy committee at our
042last meeting was that that meant available spaces like you know a a team that is not making cuts um things like that. So, it's a it's I'm surprised to hear that interpretation, Tim, and it's a little bit different than what the interpretation of the policy committee was. >> You may want to invite Mike to join us at the next policy committee just to talk about policy versus how it's being implemented. >> Is that okay, Beth? Are you all right if I do that? Invite him to the next policy committee. >> Yeah. And thank you so much for going the extra step, Tim, and um looking into the other the other schools as well and how those are handled. Appreciate it. >> This this policy is being warranted as >> Right. >> All right. So, we
043have a motion to warn the policy. All those in favor? >> Moving on to 4450. will warn um the electronic communications between employees and students. Um can I have a motion? Okay, Leon, >> I can buy Glenn. Um any discussion on this warning of policy? Okay. Can I have a motion to uh warn policy as presented? >> Say hi. I then want >> Okay, >> we can move on to the administrator's report. Student representatives. >> So, high school's happy to have uh one of our two student representatives with us this evening. Um our other one is uh playing a volleyball game tonight at Pittsfield. Uh but tonight we have a junior, Althia Rodokia, with us. And I'm gonna turn it over to Althia. >> Hi. Um yeah, I'm a junior. Um, so even though like
044school year has just begun, uh, things have already gotten kind of busy at MAU, um, sports, fall sports has started. We've got, I think, boys and girls, soccer and cross country, um, football, volleyball, and golf. Um, a notable mention among those is the girls varsity golf. There's been a lot of like increased interest and participation. Um, our homecoming football game is Friday, October 3rd. So, please come support us. It would be really fun. Um, our clubs have also started getting busy. Um, the drama club last week had auditions for the fall musical which extract this year. Um, the performances aren't until November. Um, so to go. Um, Interact Club has recently formed a relationship with the second congreg second second congregational church and we're helping with Sunday suppers a couple times a week and those
045suppers help to support like the underprivileged people in our community. Um, Interact is also helping with harvest fest, Soberfest, and Pancake Breakfast. Um, NHS National Honor Society is just getting organized for the year with new officers since a lot of them graduated last year. Um and student summit is working hard to organize a lot of upcoming events. Uh the main one is home homecoming which is um Saturday October 4th and um spirit week which is the week before that. I think it's the week of September 29th. Yeah. Um and on the Friday of that week we have the pep rally scream off which is the tradition at MAU. just like we're usually outside, but if it's if it's the rainy or something, we'll be in the gym and it's just whichever grade screams the loudest
046basically. But it's really fun. Um, oh yeah, and the seniors will also start painting their parking spots soon. Um, the last thing is last May we had a very high percentage of our AP students pass their exams, which is of course good for the school, but also for the students because they work really hard all year long. Um, and so the continuation of like continuation of these programs and like the support for them is really important. Um because it it's just like it they're like challenging but they're also really rewarding. I took two APs last year and they were like my favorite classes ever. So >> thank you. >> Thanks for coming bringing us the student perspective. >> And I I have to say I did go to my first football game in a probably
047since my son played. Boy, you guys are louder than ever and so coordinated. I was so impressed. And so many contributors, 30. >> Yeah. >> Holy crow. It's great. And it was a win. >> Yeah. >> Super. >> Thank you very much. We'll move on to the um high schools administrative. Uh, so I will do my best not to be repetitive. Sophia said it better than I could for a couple of uh highlights there. Um, although I will say I'm going to ask everybody to pray for good weather for that Friday at the end of the homecoming week. Um, because of the screen office in the gym, I probably will not be able to hear you at the next board meeting. So hope that we're out on the football field for that one. Um, so
048just a couple other highlights. uh off to a strong start. A lot of positive energy in the building this school year. Um Althia mentioned Interact Club doing a lot of good volunteering work. Won't speak any more to that. Thanks for highlighting that. We also have our community based learning program is off to an excellent start uh with students working so far in 12 different uh with 12 different community partners. Uh more scheduled to start in other locations soon. Um, so we do appreciate the generosity and the support of our community partners, uh, helping provide that experience for our students. Um, the, uh, football team has started a Patriots Helping Patriots program. Uh, their goal is to support local veterans in the community. Uh, they are donating uh, right now $1,020 from a recent fundraiser that
049they held to the Vermont Veteran Home uh, to help with creating a new activities kitchen. So, uh, and talking with, uh, coach Gordon today, he was mentioning how the players, your team, they're extremely grateful for having that opportunity to be able to pay it forward. Um, on to some future highlights. Uh, next Wednesday we have half day at the high school. So, just a little logistical information about that. So, dismissal for students is at 11:05 on our half days. Uh, teachers will stay for the full day. We'll have inservice in the afternoon. Um the high school is hosting the middle school during that inservice. So we'll bring uh McGuire and his staff down the hill to join us. Uh part of a district-wide seal professional learning day. Um proud to say that this professional learning
050uh all of the the PL is being delivered by SVSU staff. So not outside contractor anything like that. uh they are all facilitating sessions on various topics for the rest of their colleagues. Uh staff are able to choose their sessions that they are most interested in attending and uh again looking forward to that uh that same day. So uh next Wednesday is kind of a busy day. Uh that evening we have our open house schedule for wel welcoming families into the building. Uh it is not a traditional parent teacher conference event at the high school. We'll run our open house that will begin with offering dinner to families in the cafeteria from 5 to 5:30. Also during that time they can make dinner, meet and greet and socialize. Um and we're also going to have
051extracurricular informationational tables available for clubs and activities um that we're offering at the school this year. Uh so advisors for those clubs would be available. Um this families will have information out for them to uh to look at. Then families will have the balance of the evening to visit classrooms and teachers uh walking through their students schedule to get a feel for it. Uh we'll end the evening with our title oneformational meeting and uh dessert at 7. So looking forward to that. Should be a good night for all. Uh we already spoke to the homecoming week. Um, and did you mention the dance on Saturday? >> Yep. Okay. So, end of the week. Um, uh, looking forward after that week, uh, NAU is going to be bringing a team to the unified champion uh, champ
052unified champion school soccer tournament at Norwich University on October 7th. Um, schools all over the state are represented and it's going to be MAU's third year for that event. And uh just a little note, so uh some people may have received our uh ROOC call phone notification um on Monday afternoon for a planned emergency egress drill this week. Uh just to note that that is just a normal fire drill notification that might have sometimes that vocabulary gets questioned. questions. >> On to the middle school. >> Thank you. >> Um yeah, so uh thank you for covering a couple things. That's helpful. Um positive start at the middle school. same thing, you know, that Adam said, you know, I've seen I've had several uh staff members come up say, you know, say something to the effect
053of this. It's been like our smoothest start so far. Um so that's a really positive thing. Happy to hear that from people. Um we had our open house already Thursday, September 11th, last Thursday. Um we had our annual title meeting before that. Um and then we went into our open house. Um we had about 300 people. I would say at least 300 people in attendance for our open house. I was really pleased with that. We had about 520 students in the building. So it was, you know, it was well attended. Put up 300 chairs. They were almost all full. And then people were um continuing to come in afterwards. Um we had tables set up there for our prevention coordinator, our school-based clinicians, um and the PTSA. And PTSA was generating a lot of interest
054uh from, you know, for new members. So that was really cool. Um, and I I was approached by several teachers after the open house, especially teachers that taught, you know, unified classes or intervention classes and things like that. And they were just really thrilled about the number of parents, family, students that they had visiting our classrooms again, saying that it was like some of the highest numbers that they've ever had. So that was really promising. Um, so that was the open house. We're we're going to be doing our MAP testing, our measures of academic progress, district level assessment that we we take here. You guys are um well aware of of the assessment at this point. Um we're doing our ELA test on the 23rd and then our mathematics test on the 25th. Um always
055want to give a shout out to the testing coordinator because they work a lot of behind the scenes hours to like set up uh you know secure testing environments, figure out different groupings. There's a lot of work that goes into preparing and facilitating the test and doing makeups. Um, so Rachel Kit um is my testing coordinator and I'm very lucky to have her in that position because it'd be very hard to keep up with with all of that organized testing. Um, and then we I've told the board before that we um we have really been leaning into some uh growth celebrations uh following testing, some schoolwide celebrations and team level celebrations. and that seems to be a real motivator uh for middle school students to try on the test. And we found when they put
056their best effort in, we see the growth. Um so we're going to continue to do that. Um last year I came to talk to the board uh about some uh concrete pieces that were around the out they're like concrete slabs that are on the side of the wall around the exterior of the middle school. They're about 2 feet by two feet roughly. Um, and the the request was, "Hey, can" and the original design of the school was for these to have some artwork on them. They're, you know, to be painted on them. So, I have a mural club at the middle school and the board was gracious to say, "Yeah, that sounds like a good plan." And, uh, approve that. And, uh, we have our first artwork popping up around the exterior of the middle
057school. Um, there's a a nice trout, uh, out front. There's they're all kind of like Vermont based theme uh pictures. There's a cow. There's a a lovely bird on a branch. Um I'm rooting for a nice buck, but we'll see if I if I get my wish. There's one right not too far from my office, but it'll be kind of neat. Um but hey, they're they're coming around and I would encourage you to check them out. They're really they're really well done. They're getting a lot of recognition and comments and so it's pretty cool. They're all student generated artwork. Um I wanted to share that I've continued to commit this year to a newsletter to go home to students start well just students as well but really directed towards families. Um right now I commit
058to sending this newsletter every other month. Um has a lot of different information in in there. Um you know everything in this first uh month I sent it out at the very end of August first week of school for for the September newsletter. um everything from drop off procedures, yacht pouch information, uh important dates of a running calendar, clubs and activities, just you know, etc., etc. And again, just a nice way to try to increase communication with families. Um, we're speaking of clubs and activities, we're going to be uh starting our clubs and activities very soon and working with Kelly Brooks, the site coordinator kind of oversees uh the 21st century grant that funds uh some after school programs and uh clubs and activities which is you know funded out of the MAU budget. Um
059he is working on sign I've met with him. He's working on signups and generating you know a list a little different in the high school and that we do signups with students because developmentally in the age just making sure that we have permissions to be there and people know where they are after school. Um so we're going to be sending out information uh for signups in the next week or two and uh we're going to be beginning programs either on October 6 or Tuesday October 14th because we're off that Monday. And then I just wanted to put a a little note in uh about the movement discussion that we were having a little while ago. Um so uh you if you recall in our schedule we have an exploratory block which is like a student
060interest block and it cycles through the year. Um we used to do a procedure where students signed up for different offerings. Um it it got to be pretty complicated to manage. You know students signing up for different offerings six times throughout the year. Um, and there is some contractually contractual pieces to be aware of because it's a uh student contact time for teachers, not time that can have a prep attached to it. So, we shifted gears a little bit this year. Um, and moved to some pre-planned offerings, uh, six different offerings throughout the year. So, there's it shifts once each trime Yeah. So, there's two offerings each trimester. And one of the offerings is a movement exploratory. So all students in the middle school uh participate in that for one six of the year and
061there's various options during the movement exploratory of you know walking options disc golf options uh gaga ball um there's some other uh uh choices as well. Um, so again, you know, I know we've talked about, you know, some of the after school offerings, the PE component of it. Um, we've talked about, you know, the movement between classes, but we're we're, you know, just kind of trying to increase the the movement of students during the day, and this is just another piece that we've uh we've layered into it. So, it just it made me think of it when the conversation came up a while ago. >> All I got tonight. >> Thanks, Chris. Very good. >> Superintendent report. Uh I made a promise that every time I meet with the board, I'm going to give you
062an update on the latest things uh involved around Act 73 and the uh the effort to reform education or revamp vet education in the state of Vermont. Uh last Thursday, November the 11th, I met with a statewide uh group of superintendent uh in Rutland. Uh we had small group discussions about uh the various parts of the legislation and how it impacts planning. It was nice to talk to folks who are superintendent of large districts, small districts, supervisory unions. Some folks are veterans, some people are brand new. Um that will carry over to our we we meet uh in a quarterly fashion. So it was just good to touch base with folks. I have nothing to report out on that as the Vermont Superintendent Association is kind of forming its uh talking points moving into the
063December January time frame as of course is anticipating the maps and all that good stuff. Uh I have a meeting this Friday the 19th with the rural school and community alliance. Uh they've been gracious enough to invite me to participate in an online meeting. I'm interested in being a member. Um I know that there are superintendents in the state who have um worked with their boards to write letters of support. I'm going to attend this meeting. I'll come back to the SU meeting and report out and I'll get directions from the board however they would like to uh proceed. Uh and also wanted to say that I've been attending almost feels like weekly but uh weekly meetings hosted by the secretary of education and her staff various topics. Uh the latest one was about graduation
064requirements as there is a timeline for that as well. Um they laid out what they're doing right now collecting a lot of information. There will be opportunities for the community and schools to give feedback starting in December through the spring. So I will try to update that as we move along. The second item regarding uh this is the MAU middle school. Just want to let the board be aware the security system, camera system at the middle school is 10 years old, well past its useful life. According to the IT, it makes uh it's difficult to replace parts. Uh in May of this year, the camera system sustained a complete failure. It was able to apply a band-aid. That is a highly technic term they've included in this. Uh the camera system is continuing to experience
065significant issues that are impacting the overall function and performance causing issues for the security team's operations on a daily basis. Uh this is from Adam at Souzar IT who is our contractor for technical support. They will be publishing an RFP for onetoone replacement of the camera system. A walkthrough was completed in May to ensure the camera system that we are going out for would adequately meet the needs of the building. We will be coming back. Renee and I in October uh with a request um for the board to consider to replace that. I will just say this that a camera system is vital to security. It's daily operations. Both buildings have familiarity with and I want to just say just because the middle school is new doesn't mean the camera system doesn't need to be
066replaced. But we will bring that for your consideration in October. Just more information than anything for a conversation. And then the last thing is a shameless plug for myself. I want to thank uh Katie West. As we sat down in the first weeks of my uh new role here in the superintendency, I told her I'm already missing kids. I miss not having students running around in the hallway, giving me a sense of, you know, uh purpose during the day. So, she and I came up with an idea and she helped me film the first one. Uh we're calling it simple questions with Superintendent Mr. Payne. Uh we've had our first filming with Avery Kamarta who is a junior at the uh at the high school. And the idea behind this is we will travel to
067different schools each month. We're going to ask a similar questions. We may flex that a little bit. Um our next uh I think the next school we're going to is uh Monument, I think is where I'm going. And we're going to be filming that this week. It's a lot of fun. Uh it's a lot of fun for me. I don't know about if it's a lot of fun for you. It's a short clip. You can find us on the YouTube. Like I said, simple questions with superintendent Tim. Um 200 views so far. I feel like hey, you know, it's all right. We'll go with that. But Avery was fantastic. I want to also thank Katie for um shooting it, editing it, posting it up. She has also launched a a podcast for the SPSU. Adam
068was featured on that along with Tyrell. It's a really good conversation. I'm not as adept at the podcast. So next month I'll come back and I'll tell you where you can find that. Uh Tony and his daughter are the subjects of the latest version. So we'll make sure we push that out for folks to see too. So a nice plug for our communities and thank you for everybody the the students and the staff who are participating in the effort. That's it for me. >> Can I just say that when I received the uh email notification, it still says Superintendent Cole Keane. Oh yes, that has been addressed. >> I appreciate that. Uh yes, we had to send out a uh unfortunately we had to send out a note. Uh and uh while the message inside
069is signed by myself, it is sent by James Coline. So it assures me that next time it will be me. And Beth has her hand up. >> Yeah. Um, it was fun to see the simple questions with Superintendent Payne on Facebook. So, thanks for doing that. Um, I heard through the grapevine that there's a legislative breakfast happening and I'm not in the next couple of weeks, maybe the first week of October. And my question was whether that is only for like elementary school administrators or who the intended audience is for that. >> Oh, excellent question. Let me just grab that really quick. I'm not checking my social feed. Um the legislative breakfast is October 6th. It's from 8 to 10. It is it is traditionally not been a public meeting, Beth. It is mostly for
070board members, uh administrators, and legislators to participate. So, I will make sure that that gets out to everybody to participate in that. We recognize that the timing is difficult for folks who have a nine-to-five commitment. Um, I'm just honoring the tradition of when it was hosted in the past and we can take feedback going forward, but October 6 from 8 to 10th. >> Yeah, we could definitely get and how to respond for attending. >> Yeah, absolutely. >> I used to receive the meth the emails from superintendent's office. I do not anymore and that's probably because I had a little board break. If I could get back on that list, that would be great. Um, that was the first thing I had. The second question I had, I thought that you said um at the last
071meeting you were going to update this board on where we were at with super with the assistant superintendent position. >> I wasn't sure if we were going to cover it. I'll get the SCSU item that might >> It's fine. It's fine even way. I don't I can do it now, too. that a little bit and if you want to just go ahead. >> Excellent question. Let's do that. Uh so again, just for folks who may be new to the process, we have posted for an interim assistant superintendent as a it would serve through they the the individuals would serve through June of 2026. So, it's a uh it's a one-year position with the idea that we would post a full posting in December and then do a January, February search, a full-blown search for an
072assistant superintendent in a permanent position. Uh closing date for that application was last Friday. Screening committee met today with Nick G and did first pass through the applicants. And then the next step is that that committee will meet and have interviews with candidates. They pick >> I guess I have a follow-up question to that. So we have a process in place. I'm not calling it a policy. I'm not calling it a procedure. I don't know what it's called. We have a process. We work that process through multiple positions last year, but one seemed to work. So what I'm asking is that the process need to be changed or because if it doesn't need to be changed we would have an assistant now right because I know the people on that screening committee did a lot
073of work held a lot of meetings met with a lot of people I do know that someone was people were put forward and nothing happened. So I don't know if the process needs to change or I'm just throwing it out there. I don't know >> this may be directed more towards board like the board members as a whole right like in terms of the process. Yeah. I mean I I kind of I'm kind of piggyback to it. I mean if the process is looked at like um I think that we as a board or the boards collectively should be thinking about like transparency in these processes. you know, right? I've um in this case, like I didn't participate. Uh you know, I see what's on the agendas. Um you know, and I've had multiple people
074come up to me as a board member and with various levels of speculation about uh what Superintendent Payne, you know, he wants to go in a loan or he has, you know, is um saving some cash. Uh you know, whatever the reason is that we're at this point, like there is a lack of transparency in these process. And I think if we look at it, you know, um from my and just one more personal aspect to it, uh I as a board member would really like to see the our new superintendent um move forward strategically and um engage both with what's happening in our state and like what's happening in our community. And in order to do that, we need to provide him the resources in order to be able to do that. if we
075can't provide him the resources, then we cannot expect him to strategically place like work in that space. He can't be in both, you know, like there's too much going on with our districts. But that that's just my opinion. So, I would ask that the SPSS thinks about that for the next time. >> And I I would share I absolutely not willing to go it alone. I heard that in the community, too. Like, do you get it out of what you say? No. Uh, I'm strongly advocating for an assistant superintendent. We're a big enough district in the state of Vermont. You need the help, especially anticipating a change that could come down the pipe for us. >> Uh, I participated in both of those searches in the spring, still wearing a principal's hat. I think uh
076it was good to go through the process. Uh, definitely got feedback from the facilitator and Nick uh for the next time that we do it. I think it addresses some of the questions about uh transparency about what the decision- making was. So understood >> but as a part I want to be clear I was a participant of that I would be leading the final on this I would work closely with the chair for trans any other thoughts around that item >> we'll just go I think >> go ahead >> just to go essentially this could move to the next item on the agenda but um as the chair of the um SVSU board. Uh I' I've certainly heard heard the feedback here. Um and will do, you know, whatever possible in my role to help
077help make sure that the the process for the interim superintendent as well as the process for um the the upcoming assistant super assistant superintendent, I should have said upcoming assistant superintendent search uh plays out to to ensure that it is as transparent as we all want it to be. Um >> um Oh, go ahead. >> If I can go into the next part of a update from the S from the SPSU. >> Um you know, there's a number of board members that that sit on this board that also sit on the ASD board. Um and have uh presence on on the SVSU board. Um and I, you know, I'll publicly thank all of them as part of my MAU uh board update. and that the last two meetings we have had marathon and that's probably
078putting it um lightly marathon meetings um where we're doing some really really excellent work work that I've been wanting to do for for quite some time and that I'm I'm I know that the end result is going to be something that you know we can all be proud of. Um, we're really working to set strategic goals for the Southwest Vermont Supervisory Union board and doing that in partnership with the superintendent because because I feel those goals should frame some of the goals for the superintendent. um this isn't being done in a vacuum and you know my main message today is this isn't being done in a vacuum and that um there will be parts of the that there will be opportunities to we will present these goals to each of the individual boards that that
079feed the Southwest Vermont Supervisory Union Board and we will go through um similar exercises with th those boards and those board chairs too um so that there's hopefully a bit a much more of a waterfall and a and a cohesiveness um between all of our boards. That we're working towards single goals and that the superintendent um has clear has these clear go has clear goals um from which to work. Um that you know everything lines up and that there's not he he or she if there were a future future woman in the role um wouldn't feel like they have um to do different things. >> Yeah. going forward. Just to play off what Scott's saying, I would like I I'm going to leave the SPSU report as an item on the agenda going forward because
080I think having, you know, I know everybody's on various boards, but having that in like just an update in this space will help us be informed and understand the directions so that we can have, you know, we have a complicated system and we should try to be as cohesive as possible. >> And that's that's that's the goal here is that hopefully we can make a complicated system a little less so. >> Yeah. Thank you. >> Any um questions for Scott or any other SPSU board that comments that >> and if I missed if I missed anything glaring that other members of the the SPSU board would love to would like to add, you know, um feel free. >> No, I just think that you're 100% right, Scott. I think the meetings that we've been having
081have been great. We having discussions that should have been um had quite a while ago. So, I'm really excited about the work that we're putting in. Great. Great. >> Um well, if there's nothing else, can I have a motion to adjourn? >> I do. >> Okay. Yeah. >> I just want to I'm sorry. Sorry. Sorry. I want to publicly um thank Miles um Smith um a MAU freshman um I I think what he did I don't know if everybody's familiar he literally I think helped saved a woman from a burning fire. >> So I wanted to make sure that I publicly thanked him for not being able to sleep the night before the first day of school and alerting the fire department immediately. I I think you should be commended. That's all. >> Thank you.
082Just one thing we >> Thank you for highlighting that. uh because I'm on two different boards, Southwest Career Development Center and this one and we used the meet for policy committee on this board the first Monday of the month and we were meeting at the Southwest Vermont uh board the first Monday of the month as well, but we met at 10:00 in the morning and this one was meeting at 4:30. I forgot totally forgotten about it. At the at the beginning of the year times came around they voted to move the meeting to 4:30. So now I got two 4:30 meetings in which I can't be on a uh committee and a regular meeting at the same time. And so I'm going to have to get off of the committee because I can't meet policy
083and SPSU at the same time. I mean, I get the software for my career developer. >> With your blessing, I'd like to bring it up as an agenda item. It might reposition our so that we could retain your decades long participation. >> What >> with your bless >> when is your next policy going? >> Not till October. That would be sure how that will work too with Sandy being >> the regional technical center policy to off date. So >> with that other announcement this evening there could be further effect or not as well. But if again I'd be disappointed to see your wisdom go elsewhere >> then I would look to rearrange >> or at least put it out for um >> are you willing to see if they could >> or it's not something
084we can make a decision here but >> I would speak a lot of yes there's a lot of meetings taking place but then you >> superintendent and so forth time so forth the chair and we can figure that out. Absolutely. >> Okay, great. Well, I'll let you can just let us know otherwise it doesn't work. >> Thanks, Liam. >> All right, motion to adjourn. >> Oh, maybe. >> Wait, sorry. I just want to put in the plug that um especially following up on Susan's um comment about the football game that the Booster Shack is still looking for volunteers um to serve food and sling candy bars and sodas during some of those games. Um you can't really see the game from the booster shack which is a bummer, but you can see the scoreboard and
085it's a ton of fun. So I would encourage folks to sign up for a shift. >> It is a lot of fun. Hey Scott, how can they see you? >> Hey Scott, can I call you with a request about SU after this? >> I'll text you. Let me >> I didn't realize I was on mute. Barking dogs. >> I don't do too. >> Good night, everyone. brought in that amazing speaker for their bullying prevention. Whose speaker is it?