MAU Board Meeting - August 21, 2025

001or high school district number 14, board of directors meeting. Today is August um 20th. Uh I'm going to quickly go around the room and have people recognize uh state their name and um position for um the notes. That way that person will start with you. >> Sure. Uh Adam Carmichael, principal of Mount Anthony High School. >> Magguire, principal of Mount Anthony Union Middle School. Scott Mcini, board member. Tim Payne, superintendent. >> Stephanie Mulligan, board member. Sandy Foster, board member. Katie Aken, board member. >> Glenn Thurber, board member. >> Susan Playhouse, board member. >> Dave Frederick, board member. Y, board member. >> Mike Mallaloy, director of athletics and activities. >> Nick G, director of human resources. >> Okay. >> Um, the first Oh, and we have Beth >> Beth Wallace board. >> Great. Um, the first

002item on the agenda is public comments. Are there any public comments? Seeing none, we'll move on to the consent agenda. We have minutes, warrants, retirement, leave of absence, resignations, and nominations on the agenda. Uh and I have a motion to approve uh them all in state u by Susan. The second >> that's >> um by Glenn. Okay. Any discussion? >> All in favor. Okay. Motion carries. We move on to the >> finance report. Uh we have the treasures uh report from June and July. Can I have a motion to approve their reports as presented? >> So moved. >> Moved by Scott, seconded by Leon. Um any discussion? All in favor? >> I. Okay. Great. Uh we will move on to the funding plan to resurface the track. Uh and there is an action requested. because

003that I apologize. I saw Holly earlier and I thought she perhaps is could present >> um >> so I can speak I I I didn't know it was on the agenda but I've been speaking with what can you say what is on the like what action is >> it just says action or I was just looking for the >> agenda says funding plan to resurface the track >> action Okay, thank you. Um, so I've been in discussion with Renee. I didn't know it was going to be on the agenda this uh this month, but uh one of the things that we want to do is uh get ahead of ourselves and start planning on getting the track resurfaced. It it has been um again 20 plus years since the track has been uh resurfaced. And

004one of the one of the things that I talked to Renee about at about the end of the year was there was an athletics um fund b there was a fund bounce in excess of uh of money that was not spent last year in the uh athletics and activities uh budget and one of the ideas was to take that money instead of you know putting it into the um you know the regular fun can shifted over to a lot some of that um for track resurfacing which we're hoping to be able to then start the bid process and get it ready to go this spring so that we can you know possibly get it get it resurfaced. If not um then we would you know look on you know putting it into like a budgeted

005you know kind of item. But there is monies that were left over at the end of uh last fiscal year in the athletics and activities funds that we want to earmark for um you know for track resurfacing >> and those go ahead. Well, I I was just going to ask is the the the money that's left over would that be to go through the process of getting the bids and that or that would go directly towards the resurfacing of the track. >> Right. So, we're not looking to rip the track apart and redo it. We're looking to >> essentially top coat like and get reline, recoat, really refresh what we what we have. >> The action that is requested would be What? >> So I I think we have to get board approval to take

006funds that were um like that were not spent last year from the athletics and activities funds and like you know shift that over to like um because I think that's one of the things that Renee had told me it's we just can't do it. We've got to um talk to the board about taking the monies, let's say, and again 75,000, 100,000, however much was was left in there. Um, and use those beer mark those for track improvement, track research. And that just so that I'm because sometimes the athletic it's it's not the activities piece of it like the gate like or is this this is what was in the general in the budget from last year >> that was un that went unspent >> that went unspent. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Um I know

007that in the past and somebody else can correct me. I know that in the past like we have as a board voted to uh propose like I think like we had a I think it's just about a million dollars that we had held from a prior year roll forward um that we had held for other but not to offset like the current year activity. Um I don't know. Uh I think personally I probably would need more information from Renee to understand what the total amount of roll forward like as the you know of um >> for the district uh there is without reserving something. I'm definitely not opposed to it. I just want I I think we probably need I need a little bit more of a presentation or understanding of the last funds are

008in that are left over from last year and we could probably >> Yeah. And I think that's a great point in improvement. If there's 100,000 left and we think it's going to be 75,000 to do the work then and we go through the bid process and because we should and it turns out to be 65 then you know but but knowing those things before we act I think is important. Um, I know we do have like the fiscal like the activity that was in the report from just like the updates, but I think I probably would want to hear a little bit from Renee in terms of >> and I als continues to be an issue. I mean, you know, it's it's border, you know, bordering on not safe. And I've heard through the grapevine,

009we can't even get the bulbs anymore that are needed should the should they fail. So, how are what are we thinking about as far as upgrading lights? So I I believe there was a for you know discussion maybe at some point last year that Holly brought forward about pursuing um either an energy efficient uh I'm not sure where that is but I know that was the direction that um at least operations was going to see what was out there from there. So, I've kind of deflected that a little bit and left that on the operations side to see where and I haven't got an update from uh from that side of things. >> And with that, that's not on the agenda. Can we stick to just the plan about the track and agree that we

010want a number before we >> make any action on it? I think that >> I didn't know this was on the agenda. So, uh, >> so for clarification for when we're coming back and this works out I think this works out in our favor because what is scheduled for September and fairness to Mike is Holly is coming to talk about building updates for each board during the month. So, we can put this on our to-do list. She can that'll give Mike time to sit and talk with her and Renee and she can update the board when she comes back and says, "Listen, this is what you're looking at." As part of MAU report, she can also talk about athletics. The lights don't work. The grass looks green. Finally, you know, uh, the track need is

011tired. As someone who runs on it twice a week, it gets tired. So, Mike could be prepared to do that. Yeah, we can. >> Let's t I'd say like table it till next. >> That sounds fine. that and I think one of the Renee just because you're s like one of the questions that I had is like you know how comfortable you'd be with having board set aside funds that was rolling over for tax dollars like that would normally roll over um for this purpose. So I um yeah so that would be great. >> It's definitely within your purview to do that and once we actually close out 25 we'll be able to look at what we have for fund balance and then make the decision. >> Okay, perfect. I think we just need these

012four pieces to that puzzle to be able to >> Sounds great. Could is it possible to also request a poly or do you I know that under that track is decaying >> what like stumps so >> future future sink holes. >> Correct. So, I think from my perspective, I'm not I'm not advocating not to do something, but from my perspective, I'd like to know like uh if we resurface it and we have a sinkhole the next year, like what how much literally how much tax dollars we're putting into a sinkhole as opposed to dealing with the underlying problems if that makes sense. >> Yeah. >> Okay. That would so why Oh, go ahead, Lean. >> So, along that line before I do, I would say something else. we were working off of a list of

013things that supposed to be looked at and then somebody can say that this is a priority off that list of items along that line. So, I don't know where that that list is, but but you should be thinking about that, but I'm going to formally make the motion to table this uh fund plan for the surfing of the track until another date so that we can come back. So, I need to formally do that. I make >> So, we have a request to table um this until the following meeting. We can have a presentation for it. >> All second. Um, so we a second by Scott. Any discussion? All in favor? >> Thanks, M. Sorry. >> Okay. >> Um, >> thanks Rene. >> Thank you, Renee. Sorry. >> Sorry. >> Uh, it's operations. >> Thank

014you. Okay, we're move on to operations. And there is a minivan the Swift Athletics Department. Yeah, all over the place today. Um, so I had operations, this I knew was going to be on the agenda. I had operations uh put together a um, you know, kind of a proposal. Mr. Payne and I, when Mr. Payne was the principal last year, I want to say it was, you know, maybe September, August, September, October, it was early in the game. And one of the things that I talked about was um was saving some transportation costs. And there are lots of times where we send a a bus on trips that we don't need a a bus because we only have a few people, you know, going on on the trip. Uh we used to be able to

015use Enterprise in town as a as a rental uh van place for smaller trips, but uh something a new Vermont state law would, you know, required us or in basically the enforcement was we were not no longer able to rent vehicles for school use via enterprise. Um, so that kind of kickstarted an idea to say, "Hey, wouldn't it be great to have a community-based learning minivan that could then double as an athletics minivan for those trips that have five kids, you know, going somewhere or four kids going to um, you know, a track competition and we're paying for mileage sometimes for like coaches and sometimes they're taking their vehicles or we're we're scrambling or we're putting people on buses where uh we're we're spending hundreds if not close to $1,000 sometimes where if we had

016a a van that we could use um that would be that would be ideal. So they uh they use one in the SU I think within the student services like side of things. I think there's multiple ones. I wanted um you know one that could um that could store things as well. So, we went away from like an SUV type and went to a minivan that you actually have some trunk space in the back and say you're taking the golfers um you know you can put golf clubs and and kind of store that. So, um the it was budgeted. This was something that we added to the to the budget. So it is it was expected um and the budget uh amount that we have is put in in the in the recommendation and then

017the kind of proposal lays out from there. So, uh, it would be used by the athletics, uh, department for those shorter or smaller trips with five or less, um, you know, student athletes going on, you know, a trip wherever. And sometimes it could be used for, and I'm thinking New England music festival, they're taking uh, you know, three trips or three um, three students going on a, you know, an all state or something like that. So, I think it will be used a lot. Um, and I think it's a it's going to be good for the for the school to have this as a um as an option and more costefficient. I think >> it's also you're also partnering with community- based learning which will mean that they can be used during the day. >>

018It's an equity issue for kids who don't have transportation to get to job sites and work experiences and things like that. That's helpful as well. So, I mean, it's a it's an opportunity to use these vehicles all day, which I would say the SU's vehicles right now are probably school-based, school day based opportunities. >> And I appreciate Mike problem solving and trying to solve instead of sending, you know, the four kids who qualified for New England track on a bus, putting them in a minivan, saving a little gas, and being a little more responsible. So, is there a possibility for someone else to transport with that minivan that's not being used during the school day or after the school day? The ones that you said that are available that the SU has already, >> those

019are through the um it's not a Mount Anthony. Uh I think those are the >> student services. So, it's a different um we don't have any um like kind of control over over those. Um and I think like some their transportations are sometimes I know last year they were bringing kids to Rutland and bring like I mean it's uh um picking up you know kids. So I I think they're used a a lot. Um you know and they're they're more of like you know structured based. So I I think um I don't think the timeline would work and I I'm not even sure that the >> we did talk about that a little bit early on that Sandy with that was that their their schedule is so individualized it was a little harder than a

020a regular school bus where you could count there's an 8 o'clock run a 12 o'clock run. So it proved a little challenging when we were initially trying to problems. >> Okay. Go ahead. No, I just want to let Beth have a question. So we know um I just want to know about policy 3101 and how you can keep and maintain those records for that transportation driver. um how I can keep and maintain the the records as to um >> that's the mandatory drug and alcohol for anyone who drives students on a regular basis policy. >> Right. So it's these are going to be again I'm not talking you know it's not going to be open to whoever wants we would have a coach like you know say it's the the golf coach you know or

021again head of the you know the course director whenever they have to then go through our typical um you know kind of insurance bit and kind of back like I will know who's using that they go through Miss Gabri most of the time in the in central or in our main office and they'll kind of get all that, you know, paperwork done. So, and we do go through the what's that >> you're referring to the drug the drug testing >> random the random testing that's required. I if if I remember correctly from southwest if there isn't something in the this area for the district or this district because of that like I would encourage you to talk to uh superintendent of Southwest Tech because they do if they I'm sure they still do because because

022they do have vans and drivers they do have when I worked there years ago they had like a testing company literally would blow up a van um >> if if not there's other options in town that that could fill that need. >> But there still has to be something. >> I don't disagree. >> Yeah. >> I'm just saying there's other options to fill it. So, I'm sure that we'll be able to follow and deploy that policy. >> And I know that you're saying that with three students, um, you may not want to bring a, you know, 75 passenger bus, but they also have those smaller buses that is there a difficulty getting them. charges the same no matter it's a big bus or a small bus. It's not that it they're actually harder to get

023because those are slotted out oftentimes to um you know uh special ed or you know specific um you know student services needs. Um, and then you would need a CDL. Like, again, if we were to get like a Southwest Tech, um, it's it's getting a whole CD. It's a whole other, you know, kind of can of worms that you're opening. This is just a Toyota Sienna. It's just a, you know, regular minivan. It's not a um, it's not a, you know, a big passenger van, right? So how many times each year for the six or less you feel that you'll need six or less students that you'll need or equipment what is the number that approximate that that you're using to decide on this cost? Um, I mean I can count like it on like

024I I I mean we're lo we're talking last year it was probably 15 to 20 different times that I had we had to like figure something out you know in terms of um >> middle school track was for correct four kids >> right I mean and so we we sometimes combined with Arlington on trips to like save like it's constant like transportation is a huge part of my of my day and it's constantly working to try to uh problem solve. Like there are a lot of times where the track and field coach or the like are driving like kids to events like and like in their own in their own vehicle and then we are paying I understand but we are paying um mileage and the mileage costs are it's a lot once in a

025while to reimburse. >> Yeah. And I just want to let ask her a question quickly and >> thank you. I um I apologize I can't be there in person and I'm going to have to hop off soon because I'm at a parents meeting for the golf team um tonight at the high school. So super relevant to golf um this transportation issue. Um last year for states there was an enterprise van that had been um reserved and then the coach got there the night before and um it was no longer available so we all had to to scramble to get our kids up to Burlington for states. Um my question is what's the difference between a 16 passenger van and a minivan? Um, as far as I know, you don't need a CDL for a 16

026passenger van. And I think that would be much more versatile. Um, and when you talk about I and I'm just speaking about um golf. I don't know about ski. Maybe uh Scott, you have more information on like numbers of skiers, but for the golf team, the girls and the boys typically um are going to all of the same matches and that exceeds the four person. You know, you're talking then 8 to 10 players uh plus their coaches. So, I'm wondering if you know there are huge cons to getting an a 16 passenger van versus the minivan. >> Yeah, in the Beth, this is Mike. In the um kind of explanation, the bid summary, um it's Vermont state law that um we're running into. There's the education side and then there's the state law. Um the

027we we have to have it says um the options explored only included vehicles with less than 11 seats as required by Vermont state law. And then the the um there's also a an explanation that you can't transport more than five students at a you know. So our our Vermont education high school law is I think six people is the most that you can have in a van of people that are unrelated, you know, is kind of the the law. Um so we did look at that. Um, but this is um in order to not have a CDL like through like or the it may not be a CDL but a driver's uh bus drivers um certification. Um we needed to stick with six. That was what that was what was decided in the research. Can

028I speak also to the I like the community the idea that it could be used for the community based learning as like an employer that receives some of those students like it uh when there's a very rigid time it's hard to make it it's hard to make it work or allow the student to h actually get an experience with the very short amount of time that they're given and if they can't drive sometimes that's a problem and I know that it it has benefited Southwest Tech to have somebody that can move people around even um so that would be a nice added benefit. Was there some? >> Yeah, I believe in everything that everyone has said. The need is there. Um the the way to deliver it is obviously more cost effective than do for.

029I'm going to speak directly to the terms and why are we leasing. Um there's the potential a for overage in mileage and there's also the potential in underage if it's an actual word or underage or under mileage where we're in a position where we could be giving back equity that we've paid for to a partner. Why not buy it? >> So I gave this to the operations folks to like to do that uh do the work. I I did not do any of the of the research and the bid process and stuff like that. So I think it is a similar and you know others can speak about liability or or whatever but I think it's very similar to what was done with um the the SU you know sport utility vehicles that they already

030have that they're using also the driver's ed vehicles like I I think they went into um into that. So I'm not exactly sure. Um I know we're allotted just a certain amount within our within the budget. We didn't you know we didn't get a a you know enough to to purchase and it was set I think you know per a certain amount per uh per school year. So um you know it's a three-year you know proposal for $21,000. So, it's essentially what $7,000 a year um is what is what what they >> car payment. >> It will cover the car payment. But, and I mean this is the last thing I say about it because I don't want to get dug in here, but if you're going to buy a $40,000 minivan, why not own

031it in six months and have no payment on it going forward rather than leasing it with the potential over under either or and then giving up equity. And so I think what we want to do I think the the safety is it's a three-year plan to then re-evaluate where we are at at three years and like rather than I I think we're going to use it. We're going to like you know you know I think it's going to be great but I don't know that the the original plan was to to buy it outright. >> I think it's an appropriate question a great question to ask Renee. you know, what are the pluses and what are the >> there could be I'm sure she we we leased and we had a part of this conversation

032when we were talking about it at the on the SU board level for the for the bands that we purchased >> or I apologize it's you know >> which I appreciate. Um but the other question I have is is there consideration um there about a year ago there the community-based program Dream uh that's out of Willowbrook I think Apple um bought an enterprise leftover vehicle that they had a van and it was $12,000. Now, that was a year. Maybe maybe it's 15 or $18,000. >> 25 >> is still significantly less than any of these other options. Is that something that we could also consider? >> You know, we didn't we didn't pursue that. that wasn't what the um again I'm going back to you know September October of last year when we sat in the

033was in your office uh and we were kind of digging through all the stuff that because again they had done the operations folks had done the investigation for the for the SU I think we didn't even consider purchase because it was a number that Mike and I I mean that was a much bigger number to buy outright So I think we said, "Hey, there's a model already existing in the SPSU of leasing a vehicle. We can't access that vehicle for a number of reasons, but there's a opportunity at the high school where two programs could benefit from having this type of transportation available to kids throughout the day. Uh, and you know, $21,000 was a smaller ask in the budget process rather than coming back and saying, "I'm gonna buy three vans, you know, >>

034and I know my first ask was 11 pack like exactly what Beth's saying. I'm like, I want like a bigger one cuz I used to work at camps and I'd have, you know, 13 kids in the back of, you know, vans and I'd be driving them around like and stuff. We were found we couldn't do that. And I'm like, okay, can we get two minivan? Like, I mean, again, we can't do that. So, um I think we just whittleled down to like, hey, let's do let's work on one and see how it see how it goes. >> Offer one other thing. Sandy asked a good question. I mean, how often do you use them? I mean, we and it's a great question. We know that kids are going to every year there's going to be

035teams who qualify for it's playoffs really. You're talking about smaller number of kids qualifying for so you know that's going to happen, but it really depends yearon year what teams what teams are going to be competitive and go that far. I in my mind the lease is an opportunity to test it for three years. All right, we could answer Sandy's question. We used it X number of times this many kids accessed it. We didn't use the mileage. That didn't work out well for us. But we went over the mileage and we overspent because we had to go back and pay for the overage item. >> But couldn't we also rent that minivan? >> No. I think that's the pro I think that that's the problem. >> Vermont law doesn't allow it. >> Yeah. >> Is

036what Mike was saying. an enterprise that yeah, I had a question or >> Yeah, I we'll we'll move on in a second though, but um >> I can't believe I'm gonna say this, but I'm a I'm a proud minivan dad. Um it happened really suddenly. Um you know, I'm I'm I'm dealing with it. Uh but where I'm going there is to do >> you're really not. >> You have to do a lot of research with with that a ski family. um they are they're they work really well for us. And um all of the options that are listed here are all-wheel drive with the exception of the Odyssey. And when we're thinking about uh there's not an all-wheel drive option in in Honda. Um and when you're thinking about what some of the winter sports

037and the roads that some of these these vehicles could be on the it it's not even the cheapest one, um ironically, but um spending the extra and having an all-wheel drive I think means a lot when you're talking about living in Vermont, >> putting kids in vehicles driving on snowy roads in Vermont. >> So, you're saying the Pacifica is not an all >> You can get all you can get a Pacifica, an all-wheel drive, and a Sienna. >> Yep. >> Um, >> so that was the recommendation is the the Pacifica was the was the one that was recommended. So, >> but they may not have considered >> they may not have recommended it uh all-wheel drive. Okay. So, I don't know that every one of them are. So, it's just something for you for you

038to think about. >> Okay. >> And I promise this is the last question I promise on this on this subject. Um, does putting the teams in a different vehicle than a regular yellow school bus that everyone else has, does that violate in any way a title n law which doesn't equitably put the same kids in the same buses? >> Oh, some of the teams show up in these bands. Yeah. awesomely wrapped vehicles. I mean, what the ones for the >> I I mean, I don't know if they the >> I mean, the >> it's certainly become common place in other >> You're talking about the small bus versus the big I guess I >> about a rental uh anything other than a yellow school bus. So what ends up happening most again I'm looking at

039this as as things whittle down and like most of our teams are more than six seven people like we can take Nordic ski in that in that one minivan they're not like their equipment alone wouldn't you know probably you know fit in there but when there's two kids that qualify for a New England you know festival that would be an option that we then could could use. So, I don't think it in any way because these kids will all be have been using the yellow buses or the regular buses all throughout the year. It's just as it moves along, there's less and less kids that are going to some of these, you know, bigger events. Um, so it ends up being, I think, a costsaver in the end because we're we're using our vehicle as

040opposed to like renting something separately if we ever could or finding um or paying for mileage that somebody else is driving. >> Thank you. So yeah, >> the last thing Sandy mentioned something really important. As we wander down this path, we have to consider the protection of the school, the district, and the teachers along that line. There is a very there's a numerous documents in the terms of policies and procedures that individuals should be following. And so if we're going to go down that path, the form just like we had a regular field trip uh filled out and you had things down there and it signed, it would be great to have that so that the teacher or the instructor will know that they've done what they supposed to done in and in and protecting

041themselves, the student, and the district will not be at risk because uh somebody is going to be looking at the document say, "Well, you maybe missed one or miss this out here and you can get it all and you have it under control. That's all. >> It's a good point >> because you might think I have a license but maybe I don't. >> I do. >> And if you have it today, you may not next week. >> Okay. Are there any other questions? >> I don't know what we're doing. Are we >> Yeah, I don't I was my question. I think we're just looking for you guys to accept the recommendation as presented that we can go ahead with the um like it's it's in the agenda. I know I printed off but the um

042is to lease for three years and then revisit after that um you know this uh particular vehicle and I'm going to Scott brought up the you know all-wheel drive. We'll we'll like check on it's a Chrysler Pacifica is what the operations department came up with. >> So I'll move to accept the proposal as recommended by athletic department. >> We um have we end with a motion there. Any second? >> I'll second with a comment. Okay. Going to Superintendent Payne's comment that maybe this is a pilot program. We do it. we learn from it and we know what to do when the three years is up. >> Feel like we don't have enough information that there could be other options that were not explored and I wish that we could do that before we move forward.

043>> I accept your comment as well. >> Thank you. Okay. So, we have a motion on the table to accept as >> and a second by um Gwen. >> Now, there's a discussion. Sorry, >> I do have one I took issue with one thing here and maybe this is the marketing side of me, but we're purchasing we were going to lease a vehicle from Sarah Nemer of Saratoga when all our kids do and and we all ask all our local auto dealers for donations to our programs. So, I kind of feel like why go out of town? I and whenever possible I shop in Bennington and I think we should too. That's my only comment. >> Say let Stevens wrap it. >> Yeah, even better. >> You know, they're I I think it's terrible to

044go out of state out of town and out of state. >> It's not that much difference. >> It really isn't. And hey, we'll barter and some football tickets. I I think um so my one comment in this is that my uh the motion as or the um request is has a specific dollar amount that's tied to the Pacifica that you are that that you're recommending. My concern is that to Scott's point that it may not be the all-wheel drive and I would would agree that I would vote for personally would vote for the all-wheel drive from a safety perspective. >> I'm stopping it as we speak. I'll see if I can >> with the Chrysler Pacifica, it's a it's a um series option higher. You it >> you're buying a different trim level to get

045the all >> to get the allwheel drive. It's not it does not come standard. And with the Sienna, to my knowledge, it does. >> That's my understanding also. >> That would certainly deflect to a gentleman. >> You know, I take a lot of pride in >> and share that with us, Scott. It used to be Porsches and you know now it's minivans. >> Uh is there a way that we could amend like like give amend the um motion to add enough? >> Well, I think there would have to be a stipulation in there if you decided to go with the Pacifica that it has to do has. >> Okay. >> But I I stand by what I said earlier. So, as a way forward, you've given Mike directions. Mike, we would prefer you get a

046van that's all-wheel drive. We'd like it sourced locally if it's possible, but we empower him to figure out if there's a deal locally to do. >> Yes. >> And if you'd like a a ride along, friend, I volunteer. >> There it is. >> Okay. So, you making the motion. >> Okay. >> Are you making Are you making >> Friendly amendment? >> Yeah. Well, you're going to have the amendment. Okay. So, you're amending the motion. Well, you want to amend our motion? >> Yes. You making it and it's great, but you don't. >> So, I amend the motion to give Mike Malloy the ability to rewrite check on the Pacifica, make sure it's all-wheel drive, and um try to get one locally if that. >> Okay. >> So, but we're putting the ball in your cart.

047>> Gotcha. >> That's my report back. >> Okay. Uh any discussion? still haven't come up with the piece on the how do we on this form that Leon greatly brought up um that whole piece of it. How do we regulate who's driving it? How do we ensure that we're going to be complying with the drug and alcohol testing policy? Um so I don't know that we have all our ducks in a row. So it it just is a little uncomfortable for me to move forward without having those pieces in place. How do we uh handle that now already when we have >> drive work coaches doing it now? They do it and before they get like they go through they go to Christina they put their insurance in they sign all like there's all this

048there's nobody who's driving that I don't know about on >> remember going on field trips having to fill it all out >> what I'm saying is that I don't think it's happening right now that we're not following that policy 31 3101 is what I'm sharing >> I can say that I have not given anybody a random drug test if that's part of the policy, but I don't um I I I don't know that that's in my like and so for me these are two different issues, right? So one is the the approval or the the vote with respect to this. The other is are we in compliance with respect to that that policy is what you're asking, right? and we're not going to enforce necessarily enforce the that policy through just one purchase that it

049sounds like there's other areas that we are that we could have exposure in. So I you know and from a board perspective we're not going to go in and evaluate what they're doing. So we're going to ask like from my opinion I would ask the superintendent to evaluate it to see but we could do that outside of >> this this motion. Are you is that something that you'd be comfortable with with respect? >> Absolutely. and then making sure that it gets done. I just feel that we don't have anything. It sounds it appears >> I mean to say we don't I don't >> just a point of clarification. So could we address your concern if Mike's going to have to come back to the board and I would say report out this is the deal

050I got. This is what we run it from. At that same time, I'm happy to commit to coming back and addressing policy. We reviewed the policy. This is the form. This will be the expectation going forward. Again, it's a pilot. It's a good opportunity to revisit who gets to sit in the seat and drive. >> Um, and then I also think we should have not to exceed a certain amount of money so that when he is going out, he doesn't get that luxury van that >> and I don't know what that is. Um, so Scott would turn to you and ask if you're looking at those um bids that are there. Um they range from 583 to 829. >> So Sandy, just reading down on the bottom of the proposal FY26 budget season. Um as

051such the funding was split between athletics and community based learning and was budgeted for $8,040 a year. So that would be not to exceed $24,000 for like the, you know, the three year. We were under that as far as the bid, but we budgeted $8,000 and $8,040, you know, >> and that could be based but that could be based on a on a vehicle that is not what we've talked about here, which is an all-wheel drive vehicle, right? So to be >> No, I'm saying in the budget that we put in. So, what we settled on was a $21,000 vehicle, but I think we have a budget up to $24,000, you know, $120. >> Yeah. And I guess my my only concern would be is the only way we get what we want and not

052luxury, but safe and all-wheel drive is at 30. Then that's that should be our number. >> And I agree with you that that we want to make sure if we are going to do this that it's done right. Okay. So, we have a motion on the table. Um, we have had a discussion there. Uh, are there any amendments to the motion or we >> I would amend the motion to say not to exceed $30,000 over 36 thou 36 months. >> Correct. So, we have an amendment. >> Well, I mean, I don't know if we You said the money was already set aside. >> There's a budget. We currently have in the budget 8,400 tons, but I mean I can find other, >> you know, if I didn't need it. >> So, we have I mentioned

053not to exceed the $30,000 over the three years. Is that um Okay. >> And uh any other discussion? >> I'll second it. >> Okay. Thank you. Second by Kristen. Okay. With no other discussion, uh all in favor? >> I >> Okay, motion carries. Um and I will will note then work with uh Superintendent Payne uh to make sure that when we come back to report on when they report on the ban that we discuss just discuss the compliance with respect to uh the policy. Is that >> absolutely >> okay um moving on where there are no policies on the agenda. Um, so we will move on to the administrator's report and back to the athletics board. >> Um, so principal Payne, former principal pain, uh, messaged me in the in June saying that the board

054would like a, you know, kind of spring wrapup. And what I'm prepared to do, if you know, if this is what you guys are looking for, is give you uh a snapshot of the season we just had the following season. So, you know, uh in the winter, I'll give you a a fall wrap up and so on when I'm doing the next uh nomination. So, the first thing was the the spring wrap up and I included that uh for the board. On the middle school level, it's all about participation in the amount of teams that we had. And we had 124 different seventh and eighth graders playing a a sport in the spring. Um, three softball teams, two baseball teams, both our girls and boys lacrosse team happened. Uh, we can thank the board for

055for making that happen. It's only going to get bigger from there. And then the track and field uh was huge numbers for track and field. So, but feel good about the middle school numbers because that's the future uh right there. Um and then the high school side, um you can see that we had a very successful, you know, spring with, you know, three SVL uh championships. Um we were the top seed in baseball, the number two seed in softball, the number two seed in girls lacrosse. Um, we made the semifinals in uh in boys lacrosse as well. Um, and we had two individual track state champions. Logan Baker uh won the triple jump um as a 10th grader as 10th grade male and Ella Palisano won the high jump as an 11th grade female. In

056addition, we learned that Ella was named the Gatorade track athlete of the year, which is uh which is quite an honor uh for her as well. And our participation was up as well with 167 unique athletes um for the for the high school side of things. So, um if you want something different in the presentation or like more specifics, I'm happy to include more. I tried to keep it um you know pretty pretty basic but um just you know how many people and kind of did we win a team you know uh championship and when there's individual titles how did we do uh with that so >> it's helpful thank you >> um and then the other uh bit that is our fall coaching nominations I gave you the memo um we're fortunate to every

057position filled as of as of right now. Um, and we've got some a lot of good returning coaches and we do have some, you know, new coaches uh taking over uh for this year. Um, I did also include our new uh boys varsity basketball hire. Um, just so it's official. I know I messaged uh Stephanie back in June just to give you a heads up, but um just to let everybody know where we're at. Um I think as of right now we're we're sitting, you know, pretty good with the with the staff and everybody is uh you know, the high school has started and the middle school is uh is beginning shortly. So, >> thank you. >> Any questions? Mike, I had a question in one of the checks. Uh, huddle. >> Yeah. >> How

058many teams use Huddle? >> So, every varsity team uses Huddle in some way. And I'm saying the team. Um, the way that the AD package works, which is what we purchased, is they take their game and they send it to Huddle and Huddle breaks everything down. Um, so, um, it's it's a it's a real nice tool for, uh, for everybody to to have and then they're able to pick segments and you don't have to imagine you used to watch, you know, videotape for like for forever and, you know, ceue things up and stuff. This is all they can do highlights, they can do analysis. So, um, the AD package gives every team the capability. Even like lacrosse, you could use an iPad, film it, and send it into Huddle and they would do the So

059even the fields that we don't have a camera because Spinelli has a camera, Kate's gym has a camera, um they can film their game, away games, they can film it, send it into Huddle and uh it'll give them full stats and game analysis and everything. So >> everybody's utilized. >> Yes. Yeah. Yeah. So we do have the two camera systems. The second camera is the NFHS Pixelot one. That's for the streaming. That's if people want to watch the games. Um, but uh the huddle camera is filming for people to do the analysis of the of the games. >> Uh, thank you. Uh, we'll move on to the um high school report from console. Well, I just want to I gotta start by thanking Mike for his marathon performance start us off there. Um, and just

060want to take one more moment just to as my first board meeting as principal formally introduced myself as new principal at the high school. Um, those you haven't met personally. I'm Carich. I know we did introduction at the beginning, but pretty excited to be here tonight. So, um, yeah, let's roll into it. I'm also really proud to be able to start off this first report. sharing some big positives from our school about our AP results from the last school year. So, wanted to start there um for the 2425 school year um our results were outstanding um and exceeded prior years. So, just some overall highlights, we had 81 students who took a total of 151 AP exams um past May across 13 different AP courses. 91% of those students scored a three or higher. So,

061that's been a really huge point of pride this summer amongst our AP teachers, those students, and as the word spread through our staff. Um, looking back historically, that percentage also shows an increase over the last three years. Um, 2023, we had 80%, then 82%, now we're at 91%. So I clearly feel that speaks to the students hard work and the dedication of our teachers throughout the school and that we're trending in that positive direction even with such high scores will continue to improve. Um it's really encouraging. Um we had 35 students who were recognized as AP scholars last school year 18 of whom were AP scholars with distinction which is the highest level. So again, that just speaks to the work that's being done um with our AP program at our school and that we're

062really excited to continue and grow going forward. So your highlights from last school year. Um getting into the summer, we'll review from summer school. Uh we had two very well attended successful summer school sessions ran for two weeks each throughout the month of July. Uh we had the support of 10 classroom teachers. 100 students attended summer school and successfully recovered 138 credits during that one. So this is going to go a long way to setting those students up for success going into the new school year and another encouraging academic moment for us there over the summer again. Uh so going to staff, we had some new hires, but we're excited. They were welcoming several new staff members to the team this year across many different departments. So, including some math, social studies, science, English, foreign

063language, uh, student support services staff, uh, library clerk, new secretary, new maintenance staff. So, we have a really robust new team coming in, strong skill set. Um, looking to continue the good work that we're doing there. Uh, some building and maintenance updates. So over the summer, we're doing important maintenance, building updates, uh completing those, you know, ensuring safe and welcoming environment for the students coming back. Uh we did significant roof repairs over part of the building. Uh we replaced over 30 interior doors. And probably most notably for the community, most visibly, I'm sure everybody's noticed, new digital sign on the corner of uh Parkin County. Uh so that's looking very nice. colorful nice information out there. Getting uh more recent into this week. So yesterday and today we welcome students and families into the building

064for our student walkthrough days. Uh allow students just to get comfortable, pick up their schedules, kind of walk through, find their classrooms. Um we had school pictures available for them to do. uh locker assignments and uh yonder bag distribution started taking place for students that showed up. More to that later here um tomorrow evening. Getting excited to welcome our 9th grade students uh and their families for our freshman orientation. That'll 5 to 8 tomorrow evening. Uh we're going to have food available and our admin team and other staff are going to be on hand. really provide important information about the upcoming school year for the freshmen and their families and just a good opportunity for them to come in, you know, get used to the school before the actual year starts. Um, with that in

065mind, next week you have our first days, right? So, looking forward to welcoming staff back as we know on Monday and Tuesday for inservice activities. Then what everyone's especially excited for next Wednesday we'll welcome ninth grade students back for their first official day of school. Uh we'll provide a day for just the ninth grade students to come in get adjusted acclimated. So a lot of lot of activities here this weekend and next with the first day just to make sure it's a smooth start for our freshmen. Um then Thursday and Friday 10th through 12th graders will come back and join them. So we'll have a full school building by the end of next Beth is trying to say she's in the >> Yeah, she just >> Thank you. So, by the end of next week,

066school is up and running, feeling good, looking ahead into the year. Just some quick reminders for the first month here. Uh we have open house scheduled for the evening of September 24th, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. So that'll be a good time for families to come in, join us, meet their students, teachers. Uh and some updates about the new school year. Uh we have our new high school schedule set in place. Um I think uh the the previous principal may have alluded to his experimentation with the schedule. Uh and we have another iteration coming out this year to to try. So, we'll be running uh five 67 minute instructional blocks throughout each school day. Students will have four of these 67 minute classes during the day. Their fifth block will be a pairing of a 40inut

067interest block class with their lunch. So, that will round out their schedule. In addition to those five blocks, uh we'll update on what was called flex last year is now our seminar. So our flex block I said renamed the seminar um which is many of you probably remember we used to call this block in the day seminar. So we're going back to that. Uh and that will be a separate 20 minute block of time between blocks two and three in the morning for students. Um we are grouping individual seminars also into like larger pods. So students will have their individual seminar teacher and each of those will be in a larger pod of four seminars. What this is going to do is give us opportunities to collaborate and connect with larger community beyond just the

068one seminar class. Okay. and allow teachers and students to partner up with each other and also allow us to deliver our SEAL curriculum in a more differentiated manner. So using the four seminars together in a pod, be able to continue to use our school connect curriculum to deliver social emotional learning to our students. But instead of having 9th through 12th graders together um getting social emotional learning lessons that may be one day more appropriate for seniors than the freshman in the class and vice versa, we'll be able to use the pod format to have lessons delivered specifically to 9th graders, specifically to 10th, specifically 11th and 12th graders that are developmentally appropriate for their specific age range. So we're excited about that new ability there. We're also going to have counselors assigned to each of

069these pods. Counselors are going to be able to assist uh furthering our uh personalized learning plan development during seminar. Again, in a very um targeted, structured, more um appropriate way. And counselors being a side of the pods will allow for specific postsecary information and support for our students, especially our seniors. um which another detail of the pod is there will be one seminar and that's specifically a senior seminar in each pod. So be able to target postsecary information uh to those seniors in a more um concise and direct way. And then final point going back to what I alluded to earlier. I said um part of the walk freshman orientation and birthdays were distributed yonder bags, right? So everybody should be familiar with the yonder bags that we introduced last year. Um, very happy to

070be able to say that the high school was ahead of the curve like integrating our cell phone policy and ganderbag system last school year, which is um with Governor Scott signing into law this summer uh a statewide ban on cell phone use during the school day. And we know that that's going to be implemented or expected to be fully implemented by next school year. But because we started the yonder bag system last school year, we're going to continue it this year. We feel like really setting ourselves up well, prepare our students, our families, our community or staff uh to be relatively comfortable with them and the restriction on cell phones by the time next year it is a little bit more serious and you know we have to be complying with this law. So, um,

071feel really prepared, ready to work together with the entire school community to meet those new requirements. So, as I mentioned earlier, we've already begun distributing the bags. And we'll continue through freshman orientation tomorrow night, first days of school, and by the end of next week, all students will have these yonder bags and be very clear on the expectations for using them. and we'll continue to support them through this year, reminding everybody about all just helping each other get ready be in compliance with law next year. >> Thank you. Um >> I I have actually I have one. Is there >> um do you have a a number on the number of open vacancies you have >> right now going into this school year? >> We are I we can answer that question under superintendent report

072actually. Okay. That's fine. Happy to do that. We can give you a snap. So that means you cut out favorite time slot. First of all, I just want to say hello to everybody. It's been a little bit since we sat down together and uh I want to say congratulations to Principal Carmichael uh in his new position and also Superintendent Payne in his new position. And I look forward to working with both of them very closely in these positions. We, you know, as Mr. Payne and I did, we've talked about, you know, continu continuing our work, collaborating, working closely as an MAU team, but we already had a couple meetings and discussions over the summer. So, I'm really looking forward to the partnership. Um so I wanted to start with uh summer school. Um a lot

073the same topics that Adam has in his report for me as well. Um had a really uh successful summer school uh experience this year. Um we had about 40 I don't the exact number about 40 to 45 students uh that came and uh participated in our summer school experience. We also had about 20 students that participated in our experience lit camp. um summer experience. Um so uh you know it was very engaging really looking at alternative ways to engage students. Some of the things I'm really big on you know if the student is not showing proficiency um you know you can't just you can't just try again the same with the same methods. You have to you have to get creative and you have to you know look at engaging them in other ways. and

074the staff that worked uh you know and the the coordinator who spoke to all of you guys in the spring, Kelly Brooks, um really uh worked closely with me and really um you know they go above and beyond with their planning and their methods and uh you know really trying to you know interject student interests uh into into what they teach and it was a really you know I hung out with them daily. uh spent some time with them every day. Uh and it was a really just a really positive experience. Uh so and that was uh the staff break up of that was a site coordinator uh six teachers um someone that focused on social emotional learning uh for each of the classrooms uh who was a behavior interventionist. Um so that was the

075breakdown of the the staff. Um, talking about facilities and grounds, um, we just hosted for the second year in a row the RAM clinic at the middle school. Uh, it stands for remote area medical. Uh, it's, uh, with the volunteer corpse. Um, and they, uh, you know, they come up, it's really an amazing undertaking. They come up with like, you know, a huge tractor trailer truck and basically set up, you know, a clinic, uh, inside the, you know, wing of the school and the the gymnasium and the the cafeteria area. Um, so I, you know, I just know that that it's a free medical clinic and it serves a lot of a lot of people that, you know, might not be able to get the support and the help that they need. Uh, so that

076was a really good thing. And it's and I just also want to point out it puts a real um, you know, it creates a real challenge for the maintenance crew at the school. Um, they embrace it with open arms. Certainly no complaints, but the reality is that, you know, they have a a big job to do. We're we're, you know, doing summer school for the month of July. have the RAM clinic coming in, you know, for uh you know, for three days in August. And, you know, they're they're trying to go through uh get the building, you know, cleaned, uh, you know, waxed, which, you know, you're you're bringing all the, you know, everything out of every classroom buffed out and everything. And then, you know, the the normal repairs of of the building as

077well. Uh, so they did a great job, uh, you know, with all of that, you know, whe you know, the painting, the cleaning, the waxing. Um, and then just one other point on facilities and grounds. Actually, Adam reminded me of it. Um we we also uh had our our digital sign fixed over the summer uh finally. So that was that was good. Um I pulled in one morning and the the the sign was like out of the you know the uh brick frame and you know as I looked at it I thought it was like you know you know like an virtual you know reality like picture of Vermont. I had to double take like no there's just nothing in there. It's just blank you know. So but that's been replaced. they came back, you

078know, back the next day or two and and you know, it's all set. So, that's working well. Um, and oh, and I wanted to give a special thanks to uh Mark Hayes, our maintenance foreman, who was just hired mid year last year. So, just kind of learning the ropes, you know, between 8th grade celebration setup and everything and and you know, orchestrating this whole uh you know, cleaning of the school. Um, and Tony Don Offrio for his support with that and the whole maintenance group. Um, we have student walkthroughs happening this week at the middle school. It's always super exciting. Um, having awesome conversations with kids and families. Just so much excitement in the building. Lots of nerves. Um, but it's just really fun. It kind of, you know, on Monday when it started, uh,

079you know, it just it interjects this like extra excitement into me for the school year and it it just kind of reminds me why I do this. Uh, so those walkthroughs happen Monday, Wednesday, Friday this week 9 to 2. We also offer walkthrough times Tuesday, Thursday during that same time. But we also offer an evening hour uh both on Tuesday and Thursday 5:30 to 6:30. Um I hang out and and uh you know work with family schedules, give some tours and stuff. Mrs. Austin, one of my associate principles, helped me out last night for the evening slot. So I appreciated that. Um, I learned, you know, over the last couple years, like, you know, I always say like I really should have someone come and help me with this and not be the only one

080here for this this year because then of course you get busy and everything and then the evening comes and you're like but Mrs. Austin had my back this year. So that's cool. Um, staff in service days obviously you guys know the days Monday, Tuesday, next week 25th, 26. uh we're focusing on a a simple but very important theme of uh supporting stu supporting the whole student the whole child uh behaviorally, academically, socially and also supporting our staff in doing that and that and that's an important piece of it as well. Uh so we we have an initiative that we've started the first year I was principal um actually before I transitioned into it, Mr. Bane and I worked on it a little bit together back five years ago. Um it's called cultivating community and we

081really focus for the first month on some again simple but really important things establishing norms in classroom settings with students really engaging them in the process. Not just saying hey this is what happens in this classroom but like saying hey what do you want our classroom to be like how are we going to behave how are we going to kind of hold each other accountable through that. Um so norm setting um reviewing expectations per our uh you know PBIS system and our behavior matrix for the school. We have expectations listed in all the different settings, classroom, hallway, cafeteria, and we really again get into not only again talking about them, but also like kind of modeling what that looks like and having students practice what that looks like in those different settings. Um, so that's

082a big part of it. And then also community building activities. Um, you know, a big part of middle school, you know, philosophy and education is building that sense of community on your team. It's a smaller, you know, it shrinks the building down from 500 kids, 100 staff, 60 60 teaching staff roughly, and shrinks that down to, you know, a more manageable group to get to know and feel comfortable with. Um, we also are going to be diving into our pillars uh at the middle school. I think you're going to hear me talking about this more this year and really leaning this is something that's existed for a number a few years at the high school. It connects to our mission and our vision statements, but I think it's even more important than them. And they're

083simple pillars of consistency, growth, and engagement. And so, you know, everything we do, we kind of look through the lens of that. We're also engaging students in conversations about what consistency, growth, and engagement means to them, not just through the staff and the administrative view. Um, so I'm I'm excited to cultivating community initiative, and I'm excited for that. um new hires. Uh give a little report out on that. Uh we had two math openings. We both filled both of those openings. Uh they've been approved by the board and they are excited and in the building. Um foreign language teacher uh who is also excited and approved and in the building. Um we're in the process of uh of interviewing for an academic interventionist. We're working with a number of candidates and uh you know we'll

084likely have some information over to the Mr. G very soon. Um, we're searching for a clinician still. Had a few challenges in the search, but um, you know, I'm optimistic and we're we're searching still searching for a a school-based clinician and we are uh in the process of hiring a special educator as well. Um, so, you know, we technically have, you know, to answer the question about openings, technically you'd say like three openings, but two of the three are kind of well underway in the hiring process. Um and I and that is that is my report for tonight. Thank you. Thank you. >> Very thorough. >> Tough act to follow. >> Both words very >> use move on to the superintendent. >> So um I'll just review this. We've we're working our way through. Nick

085and I are working our way through the calendar as board meetings. And I'm gonna say this in front say this at the start. Some of you have already seen some of this information. But in order to organize my brain and uh answer feedback from the board of making presentations from the superintendent, relevant uh and useful. Uh we've mapped out a calendar. Uh and so Nick is the my leadoff hitter this evening to talk about staffing. uh kind of a snapshot of the district, some challenges at the state level just to help folks be aware. In September, my plan is to bring Holly Anderson as uh chief of operations in to talk about buildings and now athletic facilities. We could talk about that. October, we're going to talk about grants. Um especially given the uncertainty of

086the past summer. My hope is that by doing staffing, building, and grants in that order, that will allow boards to be better informed as they get into the budget work of November and December. Um, and then we'll come back in January. Uh, we'll talk about um student achievement, work our way into, you know, receing of the board in March and things like that. But a little bit of logic as far as the presentations, they won't dominate the agenda. Athletics will do that for the sport going forward. Um, but Nick is uh Nick is the first presentation this evening and again some of you may have seen this information. We're going to share this again next week with DSU and I'll I'll do a little bit of changing up of that but you should be able

087to plan on what director or presenter you're going to see from the superintendent chair as we go forward the next couple of months. >> So um the report that I'm going to give is sort of twofold. uh a bit of staffing update and then some lensure uh kind of uh information. Adam and Chris made my job a little bit easy on the staffing side. So MAU wide you employ roughly 191 employees as Adam indicated uh fully staffed at the high school. Uh as Chris indicated, two of those openings he mention are actually SU openings. Special educator accepted this afternoon. So that's wonderful. So the clinician we're still looking for and the academic interventionist which is the MAU position. We're in talk with that candidate right now. So if they accept from an MAU perspective, we

088would be fully staffed at both buildings. So I just want to pause for a moment because it's probably been five years since we can say that. So that's really wonderful. Um the second part, so the staffing part, very easy. Uh the second part here is lure and there have been some requests both from board members but also from just community community members and parents about lenture. What does it mean to have a provisional license? Are we seeing more of them? Uh what does it mean that my child has a teacher with an emergency license? What does this all mean? So, this is included in the board packet, so you can read it at your leisure. There's a lot of links in there with lots of information and articles that you can read as you have.

089We'll read all of this. Um, but I want to highlight a couple things. First, as an SU, we have 350 teachers. That's spread out across all of our schools. Um, MAU specifically, uh, has roughly 109 licensed educators between the two schools. Um, of those 14 beyond provisional emergency licenses. So, what is an emergency? What is a provisional license? An emergency license, which I don't like the name. It sounds very scary, but that's the name from the AOE. It's a one-year temporary license. It's granted to a teacher who has a bachelor's degree. That bachelor's degree need not be in their discipline, right? So, it doesn't need to be a math degree to get a math emergency license. Okay? Those can't be granted for certain things like special education, nursing, administration, things like that. A provisional license

090is a two-year license uh granted to teachers who meet a number of different requirements including having a degree or coursework in their field uh having completed the pra practis exam in their field. So a provisional license is a higher bar. You have to have either you know experience education or passed credentials uh in that field. Uh so it's just important to kind of understand what those two are because we are seeing more of them. The chart that I've included here um is actually from an article that I'll reference more than once. It is an article by from VPR from 2024 that talks about the rising number of provisional and emergency licenses in Vermont. And what this shows, it maps out the number of those licenses between 2017 to 2024. Uh one would presume certainly anecdotally

091from our experience that if that chart continued into 2025, that number would continue to rise. For those of you who can't see, this is nearing 900 out of about 8,000 licensed educators in the state of Hawai. So there are a lot of provisional and emergency and they're increasing each year. Over that same period, just for reference, over that same period, the SV SPSU went from 22 provisionally licensed teachers to 41. So our data essentially is mirroring what we're seeing across the state, which is an increasing number of provisional and emergency licenses. As I said, specific to the MAU, of 109 educators, you're going to have 14 this coming year who were covered under provisional or emergency licenses. Um, I want to jump over to that article. I said I would reference it. Of course, when

092I share Oh, it worked. There we go. There are two other charts. I I think this is just a really great article that helps frame this all. Um, I'll zoom in a little bit more for you. Make this easier to see. This article is something we certainly know. um at least we've seen uh on our end and this is the number of people completing traditional teacher prep programs in Vermont which has decreased substantially since from 2000 this is down to 2022 um and this is part of the the the national and state teacher shortage right less uh less uh high school graduates are going into education education prep programs so less teachers are graduating um there's one article linked here that talks about the national shortage being estimated at 200,000 teachers So, it's significant. And

093so, we're it's it's playing into the increase in provisional emergency licenses as people come from other industries, second careers, they're trying education when they didn't necessarily go to college for that purpose. The other interesting chart from this article, oh, does anybody like to subscribe? Um, this is a statewide chart. Again, Vermont Public Radio put this together with data from the Agency of Education. This is 2022, so it's a few years old, but it maps out the whole state by school. And what percentage of their teachers are professionally licensed, meaning not provisional, not emergency, I have my professional license. That ranges from schools that have 100% to schools that have 50%. So when we go down to our corner of the state all the way down here and we highlight our schools, MAU specifically, this is

0942022 again, middle schools at 90%, the high school here at 80%. 80% is as from our numbers, the the the lowest of any of our schools would be 80%. that are professionally licensed. So few 20% or fewer that are professionally or businesses. When I flip back over to my presentation, the second page here, and I'd encourage people to read this, I won't read all of it. Talks about opportunities. So this is the new landscape of what licensing and hiring looks like and will probably look like for the foreseeable future. What are our opportunities? What have we done? And what can we consider doing? So I highlighted some of the things we've done as an SPSU. uh things that not everybody might know about hiring teachers through the H-1B and J1 process. So we have now

095seven teachers um excuse me, eight teachers in total who are who have come to us from other countries who are working under H-1B or J1 visas. Uh the Philippines, we have a teacher from China, um other places like that and we're continuing to work on that process. Uh one of the articles I cited down here, this is just a plug for the SCSU talks about I think North Country being the first uh district in the state to do that. Uh they were about a year behind us. So, uh, SCSU was first in stinky. Um, talk about some of the things we've done with professional development funds that the board graciously approves through the budget, including, uh, sponsoring programs through Castleton, Vermont State University for both licensed administrators and licensed teachers. And that's something that I

096hope we can grow over time. Um, funding teachers who enroll in the Grow Vermont Ed program. So, those are teachers who have their provisional license, right? So that's not going to help us with the pipeline of of growing our own teachers, but it helps us once we get that teacher who says I want to go through the provisional license process and I'm going to go through peer review is supporting them through this program. It's a collaboration between the NEA and Vermont State University to help teachers through the peer review process which is a daunting process and a lot of folks are going through it. But this is proving to be a fantastic program. We're getting really really great um you know feedback from teachers who are doing it. So we're funneling teachers who are going

097through peer review into this program. It's led by the uh her name's Juliet Long Champamp. She's the director of I think professional learning for the NEA for the National Education Association of Vermont. Um and then the last thing that I've noted as you know something that the board has supported and done is is the increasing salaries. I can't put a number on what that has done for our fill rates or our retention rates. But given that both of our schools anticipate being full, given that I gave a pretty similar update with the elementary district that they were almost entirely full, I have to think that while I can't come back to you with data and say the salaries helped, I have to think that that's working wonders in terms of recruitment and retention. And the

098last thing, these last two paragraphs, very brief. Um, some things that are happening in other parts of the state that we as an SU could think about. Modifications to our contract that might permit the granting of experience for teachers with industry experience. It's something Southwest Tech does. Now, of course, they teach a very different curriculum, but something that we could consider. Um, other things would be sponsoring things like apprenticeship programs. We're seeing those pop up. Um, it's something that even we might even be able to do through the NEA if we have a large enough cohort that was interested in doing an apprenticeship program. And then at the state level, I would not presume for a second to tell the state what to do. Uh, but the AOE has started to open up waiver options

099and flexibilities that simply didn't exist, granting waivers for certain tests when people get within certain standard deviations. Um, making it slightly easier. It's traditionally pretty rigid process. Making it slightly easier. and other states have started to do similar things even more extreme things in terms of changing pathways to teacher lenture. So second page just some opportunities and at the bottom whole bunch of articles not all bad stuff not just about the teacher shortage but about what other states are doing what other school districts are doing and some just good reading about reality of lenture and where we stand. Yeah. they're in the new hire orientation. Do you go through the process of what happens after the two years if they have not? >> Yeah. So, I actually do individual license conver licensing conversations with every

100teacher. So, today I think I met with four different teachers to help them uh write and submit their provisional plans. Um, so they absolutely know provisional is a two-year license. If you don't do it, technically, don't let anybody at home know. There's a third-year extension option for teachers who have made significant progress and have run into obstacles. But um yes, they know that these are they don't become professional licenses. They entail a lot of work. You've got to either go back and get a degree, go through peer review. So yes, we're very clear with them that um there are time constraints that they have to be mindful of. >> There's probably not enough data yet as far as um what are the retention rates for these teachers? Um, and can you guesstimate that? >> Oh,

101that's a really good question. Uh, I would say that anecdotally, so I don't I don't have the data to support it. I would say that retention rate for a provisionally licensed teacher is going to be lower than a professionally licensed teacher. Um, not all of our provisionally licensed teachers will ultimately get their professional license. Most of them do, but some of them just the whole prospect is daunting. starting a new career in a new industry they did not get trained for while also going through peer review or going back to school for their master's program, taking their practice tests and everything else that the job entails. So, I would have to assume I feel comfortable saying the retention rate for a teacher hired under a provisional license or an emergency license is lower than someone

102who's hired under professional license. Leon had a question that Beth I think has >> don't let the statistics fool the community out there with that number rising up in terms of license. We're doing a hell of a job in education of kids and students and that's what we need to know and point out the the the the rigorous requirements and all these things that I'm tired and I think you hear Nick saying we've got people that are not caring about going to college and saying getting a degree and we're pulling them in from other places but the restrictions and the on who we can put in those places have not yield and you're trying to get them to give up some of that and says we're going to give some points for this and we're

103going to give some points for that so that we can fill uh uh the requirement that are structured for those areas by no means education is being uh sacrificed out here. I just want you to know I'm I'm saying this this school and this place shines that all the classes that we bring and that's been 25 30 years I'm seeing it. So I want to make sure that the parents hear that and the public hear that we are really working hard on our kids. >> Yeah. And I would say Oh, sorry. >> Sorry, Le. I think that we absolutely heard that with the 91% AP, right? That is fabulous. That's a fabulous number >> before with the math when we talked about all of the the math for AP I mean requirements and so forth.

104I brought it up two, three years ago. I'm saying, okay, just look at what's happening out here. But you could be easily uh the public can easily look at and say, well, the the the number of lensures and all this kind of stuff just skyrocketing and they they get sort of shaky. I wanted to make sure we we point out that that's not the case. >> I think the highest percentage, if I understand you correctly, was 20% in any one building of provisional or temporary. >> So, go ahead. That's another piece as well. >> I just want to I want to thank a the schedule and have the framework of knowing what's coming as far as these go. Um I think that's going to be really helpful for us. And I would also like to

105thank Nick for this information. I think too often when I've heard um provisional and uh emergency it's come almost as in a negative context um without understanding of that's living in a living in a vacuum um without understanding of the the broader uh environment that is the state of Vermont and and the nation. Um, and so having this information, um, having it be public on Cat Mount on Cat TV and, you know, I hope it's it's the type of it it's the type of message that really should also be a part of a banner story. And I hope they hear this, too, because it it really does um it really does help quell fears and misconceptions that are out there. Um, and so, thank you, >> Kathy. Has a question. about a question. >> Yeah,

106thanks for the great presentation, Nick. Um, and for taking time to schedule this, Tim, I have two questions and just a a support, actually three questions. So, um, as someone who went through the peer review process to add an endorsement to my educator's license, uh, while I was working, while I had a young kiddo at home, that is a really big commitment. It's um a daunting process and at that time I was fortunate enough to have a mentor assigned to me, Karen Bernell. If I if she had not been holding me accountable and helping uh walk me through that that process that is also very lengthy, I don't think I would have would have done it. So my question is um do we have peer review mentors for those folks with provisional licenses who are

107going through that process? >> First question. >> Yes. Yes. So every every new teacher gets a mentor regardless of whether they're doing peer review or not, but specifically we're we're utilizing we're leveraging the Grover Vermont program. We're we're we're making it just shy of a requirement. So I would say we don't make it an absolute requirement, but every single teacher that we've hired in the last two years who's going through peer review, we're encouraging them and strongly encouraging them to go through that Grow Vermont ed program because what that provides them is first of all it's a it's a it's a accredited course through BSU led by like I mentioned that director of professional learning for the NEA who's guiding them through the entire peer review process. Um, so they have even I would say

108even better than sort of a mentor here who's done the peer review. It's somebody who Julia Longamp scores peerreview portfolios, right? So she's the expert. So she's leading them through in this course. Uh, I think they meet Tuesdays from 4 to 5:30 is the course pro is the for the fall semester. Um, so we we feel so strongly about that that we're prepaying that program for teachers who do it instead of our normal reimbursement model. Um it's the same cost to the district either way. But um we're doing that because we want people we don't want there to be any obstacles. If somebody says yes, I want to do that and you're telling me this is going to make my process better and more enriching, then please let me do that. Because prior to the

109exist existence of that program, we saw teachers really struggle through peer review for all the reasons you said. They're working a brand new job. They've got families. They've got other commitments. They're trying to learn the trade and they have to do this very daunting year or two-year long portfolio process. And so we're taking full advantage of this program and using that as basically our model for guiding people through the process. >> That's great to hear, Nick. Um, thank you for that. Uh, along the same lines, um, the apprenticeship that you you mentioned, I appreciate having recommendations for our boards on how we can um, continue to improve recruitment and retention. not a big fan of waiverss because I do think that our teachers need some uh preparation and actually teaching. You know, subject matter isn't

110isn't enough in my opinion. Um but I've seen the power of apprenticeship models for early childhood education and um would strongly support us investing in that. But I know that there's um public school precedent for that in the northern part of the state and I'm wondering if that's something that the MAU board could decide to support independently of SPSU or would that be an SPSU wide decision? >> That's a good question. I my immediate response would be I don't see any reason why any individual board couldn't do it. Um I think the need is suide. I think when you look at shortages in STEM, so your math and science teachers specifically would be mostly middle and high school district, middle district, uh but there's no less of a shortage of elementary teachers or special education

111teachers, which are going to be elementary and SCSU. So certainly I assume it's something that through the budget the MAU could support individually. It could be something we could look at as a whole SU. And there are models you mentioned. I think uh I think Colchester is one that's done something. So there are models out there that we could look at. um and if they're getting good returns on it and we could get some of that data and then come back to you and say, "Hey, here's a success story and potentially talk about what that model would look like, what it would cost, and we could have those conversations as we enter budget season, which will be used." >> Great. I think those of I have one more those of us on the SPSU board

112should should remember that and carry that back to um that board as well. But the last question I have is around um retention of new teachers, especially from outside of the district. So folks who have met here or who have moved here. Um I was fortunate to meet one of the new teachers at the high school doing a walkthrough yesterday, gentleman who he and his wife had relocated from Milton to come teach at MAU, which was great to hear. The first thing I said to him was, "So you found housing?" Uh because I think that's a huge barrier, right? and he said, "Well, it was difficult, but they did find housing. Um, now they're looking for doctors." Right? So, we know that when we're recruiting people new to our community, that retention is an uphill

113battle. Um, and is something that would make our lives easier if we if we kind of are proactive in that retention piece. So, um, Nick, I I happened to mention this to Matt Harrington earlier today, too, who's the the director of the Chamber of Commerce, and they have a special grant through the state called Grow VT, not to be um confused with the Grow Vermont Ed program. Um but they have a staff member specifically designated at the Chamber of Commerce to help uh businesses, nonprofits, local organizations with retention of um workforce new to the area. Um and part of that it's a completely free service. Um, Luis Liscari is the the guy at the chamber and he, you know, works one-on-one with people who have recently relocated to help with things like finding health care

114or finding a notary or a vet or connecting them to SH's young professionals so that they can make social connections and are more likely to um stay in the area. And so Nick, my my last question was um whether you've had any connection with the chamber and Luis specifically or whether you would consider exploring that. >> Absolutely. I I have not I know Luis came more either Luis or potentially Lu's predecessor came to teacher orientation last year. We had a booth setup booth model where folks new teachers were able to go and visit different booths. Um so we do have a connection with them. I have not spoken with them specifically about this but would be happy to because both recruiting and retention is affected by absolutely housing. We have had teachers uh staff members

115none this season but I remember last hiring season at least two had to return had to withdraw offers uh you know resend their acceptance because they couldn't find housing. So on housing alone and I know finding primary care physicians pediatricians um so this is service I didn't know about but I love it. I would be happy to connect with Matt Luis and find out more. So, I appreciate that. >> And Beth, I would add to that that I have a a request for a meeting with Dan Monks as interim town manager and I've reached out to Trey Dobson at the hospital to try to connect. Um, we I don't think we've had a presence of those conversations for a while. So, I'm just trying to plug in. Of course, the hospital's in the middle of

116a transition for leadership right now. So that may take a little bit longer, but I think that'll be positive too as we're I mean all three groups are facing the same challenge of getting people here and then having them stay. So I'm happy to participate in that conversation too. >> Great to hear that that's happening. >> I saw Dan today just at the post office and that he mentioned that he's looking forward to whatever. Um one quick comment that I just I know this is uh thank you for the presentation. I think it's really helpful. uh going into budget season what I want to highlight is that I you know one of uh part of our contract for with teachers is to provide uh ed the education component that you're speaking of and after going

117last year spending a lot of time in interviews you know we had very qualified internal candidates for positions that I sat in on and that is because our community is investing in in training them while we're on the job and I think that's sometimes I believe that's why people a component of why people would stay. >> Yes. >> Also, so uh just you know for the next round of negotiations that that should stay in for my >> I just have two uh things for my for my seat. First Nick, thank you sir for hanging out. We're going to be on the road next week. I'll talk about our next show if you want tickets in advance. So um two things in the community. Uh, I just want to recognize folks reading my banner in the

118paper. So, uh, the I am, I will, I'm afraid uh, art project. I don't know if folks have been downtown lately. It's, uh, posted on what I remember of the old castle theater building. Uh, it's a piece of art that was created by Tracy Malloy, connected to Mr. >> Sister. Yeah. She was an MAU graduate. >> Yeah. A Shbury resident, MAU graduate, current living in the big city. Uh, >> put two and two together. No, I don't. >> I wouldn't either. Um the uh working with two of our uh of the MAU art teachers, Annie Mcnes and Tracy Bush students um created this piece. I encourage you if you're out and about downtown to take it in. It's really impressive. Uh Trac um sorry, Tracy Malloy has experience doing this in other cities. We're proud

119to support that work and then it'll be on display through I think December 1st. So, folks get a chance. Um, the other thing is I want to thank uh the MAU uh athletes and coaches, specifically the cross country running teams and the girls soccer team. We had a bonding experience as we p participated in the battle day parade on Sunday. For those of you who missed it, it was a warm sweltering day. We got to sit on Safford and Gage Street for about an hour as we waited for the parade of fire trucks to go down Main Street. had a grand old time leaving and and we saw several of you out there and uh it was it was a fun day to be had. Uh and the goal next year is we'll get a

120few more varsity teams out there. That'd be good to see. It was nice to it was nice to see the kids smiling, waving to people they knew. That was nice to see. I also want a really quick plug for Chris's alternative u approach to summer programming. had the pleasure of visiting students who worked through that. Uh to engage in a conversation with a kiddo who may not have found success during the school year and just to see their passion and talk about their projects. It could be go-kart racing. It could be art. Uh kids just lighting up. They got to direct I mean pick their own topic, direct their own learning. Uh they get presented in artwork and written word. Um yeah, it was truly amazing. and I forget the young lady who did it

121all as a writing journal clearly at an honors level and I encouraged her to consider that as she goes to the high school. But well done to the staff and the teachers who support those kids. >> Thanks for coming. >> Absolutely. >> Meant a lot to >> uh one last thing for this board. Uh there is a SU board meeting scheduled for next Wednesday the 27th at 5:30. This is part of the continuing work by the SU board which is represented here by a number of members uh working with Tracy Rend as our facilitator. Our work on next Wednesday is to move toward goal setting by the board. As part of that process, I plan to provide an update on the position of assistant superintendent. I I'll save that report for them. That was my

122re my promise to the chair. And then I'm happy to come back in the next month to give this board and other boards a puff data as we move through that process. Um but there will be a there will be an update folks if folks have an opportunity to watch that. uh meeting on CAT TV and check-in. That's it for me. >> I have a comment for Superintendent Be. Um I just want I'm taking off my board hat for a moment and putting my banner hat on. Um if you don't know, we recently held our back to school event and I want to thank um you and Katie West for all the cooperation you gave us for the insert. If you noticed, it was all SU content in there. Normally we use AP content because

123we couldn't get any before, but now that um communication has been great. >> Thank you for bringing that up because I was so happy to see that. Yeah, >> I noticed very much. Um and it was wonderful to see. >> We we appreciate it. Made our it made my job a lot easier >> except for the running around at Willow Park. >> Can't drool for those. >> You guys did great though. They had a thousand people there. That's a big lift. So, >> we gave away 350 um stuff backpacks. Um and it was it was the event just grows and morphs every year. >> Yep. >> That's awesome. >> And it's really wonderful. >> Our work. >> Yeah. >> It's a heavy lift for two people. >> Yeah. >> Uh any other questions for Superintendent

124P? Um, one, there's a lot of information by the Vermont School Board Association in terms of superintendent and chairs and vice chairs training and all that other kind of stuff and I don't know whether you had a chance to >> I was actually going to highlight that. >> We don't we don't want to forget that because they supplement. Yeah, I I was just going to say that there there is a training on October 29th and um for the board officer superintendent training and the annual conference for at Vermont school board associations and I've u you know forward do you in order to register do you want people to email? >> Yeah, we can help you with that. That's >> um if people want to email me I will throw in a list of names on

125um and we'll get get people registered but strongly urge >> to Leon's point, last week was orientation for new superintendents. There's seven of us in the state of Vermont. Got to meet members of the Vermont School Boards Association Association. Yeah. So that that's two-day uh workshop last week. Uh we'll be traveling with Renee Gordon in September to Lake Mory for the business administrators. They asked to bring your superintendent. I do have a conflict in October with a family function on the 29th and 30th, but I will have an alternative plan to have a designate there, but would absolutely love to have uh board members plan to attend that. Um, again, trying to grow our presence at the state level would be helpful. >> I got to go last year with Leon and it was wonderful.

126My first time experiencing it. was really really amazing to network with other board members but also they did a fabulous job of like bringing students to um share and my niece was there so that was a really fun little treat. Um they had kids performing and they had kids presenting projects and it was really really wonderful. It would be great if at some point some other schools can also take part. Um the only other item I had on my uh list for the chair's report is um with a new superintendent, new school year, I just wanted to say if there's topics that we or questions that uh the board members have for superintendent Payne or other administrators, I think have sending them to myself or Scott as the chair or the vice chair uh and

127we will send them on to uh the superintendent so that he can uh gather that information. I appreciate it. I just don't want to drop several folks have sent me some emails. I just want to be conscientious and I'll drop a request for information. So that >> that's it. I have a motion to adjurnn. >> So second, >> thank you.