Present:
Board: Dr. Bont-Chair, Sharon Huntley, Stuart
Lindberg, Jessica Goodman, and Amanda Tyrell
Administration: George Thomson-Principal, Linda Waite-
Superintendent and Chris Adams-Business Manager
Public: LPCTV, Virginia Walsh Mack-Recording
Secretary, Ellen Cameron, Tracy Churchill, Peggy Svec, Mike Ripley, Brian
Benoit, and four members of the community.
Call to order
Dr. Bont called the meeting
to order at 5:38 p.m.
Comments from the
Community
Steve,
the 5/6 basketball coach, asked if he should be doing anything relating to
safety in light of the tragedy in CT.
The area does not have cell service; has this been addressed. Discussion: a number of parents that stay for the practices. The biggest issue for George, Leigh and
Irene today were parents raising issues.
He said today was a good day.
He explained to the students why the flag was at half mast. A state trooper was at school today to
be supportive. Teachers spoke to
students in age appropriate ways.
George locked the front doors after school. The last lock down drill went well. He will let the students know there
will be a practice drill this week.
The reality is if someone
wants to get in the building they will.
The experts say to get back to a normal routine.
Linda
began communicating with the principals and board chairs with steps she felt
need to be taken. All of the doors
of the school should be locked.
After meeting with Chester law enforcement, all of the doors at CAES
were locked and all but one door at GMUHS was locked. She feels all of the school boards
should consider a system similar to CAES.
Linda has a letter for the school boards outlining procedures and
recommendations. We need to start
feeling comfortable when law enforcement is present. Linda feels the doors should be locked when possible. Suggestions: locking doors, fire safety concerns, the concern for time it
takes for law enforcement to respond; should the town select board be
approached, possibly working with the town of Ludlow, look at other schools
security systems.
Brian Benoit expressed his
concerns with the public library being connected to the school, the safety
issues and the possibility of empowering the staff in some way. Linda’s recommendation is to look into
enhancing security systems and changing the locks on the classroom doors. There is the concern that using mace
could do more harm than good.
Recess is also an issue. The possibility of getting training from
law enforcement and having a school resource officer at school was discussed. Jessica made a motion to authorize the
administration to continue to look into safety issues for the school. Motion approved.
Approval of Minutes of November
20, 2012
Jessica
made a motion to approve the minutes of November 20, 2012 as presented. Motion approved.
Policies
Prevention of Bullying Policy F32 – Second
Read/Adoption – (Action Requested)
Sharon
made a motion to accept the Prevention of Bullying Policy F32 as
presented. Motion approved.
Finance
FY’ 2013 – 14 Budget
George gave the board the second
draft of the budget and went over the changes (explanation sheet attached). The increase in the assessment is in
part due to the line items coming out of the local budget and going to the
supervisory union. This is
actually a decrease from this year’s costs. Discussion ensued in support for the Administrative Assistant
to the Principal position. Chris
said it will be more efficient to move the CTES books to the SU. Stuart does not agree. Linda said the board directs the
administration on finances. Sharon
made a motion to move the financial services to the principal’s office in the
budget. Discussion ensued. Motion approved 3:1.
George continued to review
the budget. Centralizing
transportation was discussed.
Chris reviewed the EEE and Collaborative Preschool portions of the
budget. The potential for a
capitol improvement fund was discussed.
Two Rivers Supervisory
Union Update
Linda reported the finance
committee is meeting at 9:00 a.m. Thursday morning. The board meeting is Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at GMUHS. The board is planning on approving the
SU budget. The facilities
committee is looking at properties to house the SU.
Principal’s Report
George gave the board a
budget summary. There is nothing
outstanding that George knows of.
Roof update: George has spoken to the people
involved and is finishing the class action suit application. There is no cost to CTES.
With all of the technology CTES has it is frustrating that
they do not have high speed internet service; the fiber optic service is
coming.
The Holiday program was the highest attended performance in 20 years. CTES has had three emergency closing
days. Friday will be a makeup
day.
George will need to work on
the locks so it will not be fixed tomorrow morning.
Superintendent Report
Linda shared a letter to
community members with the board.
Support staff will have
mediation tomorrow at GMUHS.
Teachers’ fact finding is scheduled for January 10th.
Other Business
None
Executive Session
Sharon
made a motion to go into executive session at 7:45 p.m. to discuss staff
negotiations and to invite George and Linda. Motion approved.
The board came out of
executive session at 8:32 p.m. No
action taken.
Adjournment
Sharon made a motion to
adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 8:33 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Virginia M. Walsh Mack
Recording Secretary
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