BLUE MOUNTAIN UNION SCHOOL BOARD MEETING

GARVIN LIBRARY
January 6, 2016
Present:
Board Members: Sara Dennis, Nicole Guida, Paul Hazel, Judy Murray, Tom Page,
Wade Parker, Josh Souliere, Bruce Stevens, Chair
Administration: Emilie Knisley, Scott Blood, Donna Waelter, Lori Blood
Members of the Public
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The meeting was called to order at 7:00 PM by Bruce Stevens, Chair

Budget Overview for FY17 and Act 46 Cap
a. Taxes are expected to decrease once again (rates as of today)
b. Looking at 1.598% increase
i. Proposing to use $164,100.00 from surplus funds
c. Shared proposed staff changes
d. Program Improvements were enumerated
e. The Board requested that the Supt. and Business Manager send more
detailed information for each cost center to Board members and to post it
on the website.
Educational Quality Review Visit: Overview
a. Team from the State will be coming to BMU on January 13th for an
Educational Quality Review
b. A draft of the schedule for the day of the visit was shared
c. Will be looking for evidence of the Educational Quality Standards
d. At 5:30 PM on Wednesday, January 13th, there will be a reporting out of
the preliminary findings from the day
i. Public is invited
Act 46 Update
a. Supt. Knisley gave background of what has been done by BMU thus far
and what might happen going forward
b. Bradford, Oxbow, and Newbury have already voted to enter into a study
committee with BMU
Consent Agenda
a. Motion by Paul Hazel, seconded by Sara Dennis to approve the Board
minutes of December 2, 2015. Motion voted on and approved with two
abstentions (Nicole Guida and Tom Page)
b. Orders were approved by committee
c. Administration reports
i. Principal Scott Blood highlighted his report
1. Has seen Differentiated Instruction as a need for
Professional Development
2. Curriculum will drive Proficiency Based Learning
3. Described J-Term
ii. Business Manager Lori Blood
1. Spoke about setting Tuition Rate for 2017

a. Recommended setting Announced Elementary

Tuition rate at $13,000 for 2017
b. Recommended setting Announced Middle
School/High School Tuition rate at $15,000 for
2017
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Report of Committees
a. Community Relations (Judy Murray)
i. Newsletter insert in press
ii. Literacy Night March 10th
Action Item
a. Motion by Josh Souliere, seconded by Sara Dennis to move to form a
study committee with the Blue Mountain School District, Newbury School
District, Bradford Academy and Graded School, and Union High School
District No. 30 to analyze the advisability of forming a union school
district under Act 46. Motion voted on and approved unanimously
b. Motion Sara Dennis, seconded by Josh Souliere to engage Fothergill,
Segale, and Valley from Montpelier, VT as auditors for BMU for 2016,
2017, and 2018. Motion voted on and approved unanimously
c. Motion by Josh Souliere, seconded by Paul Hazel to approve the Financial
Management Questionnaire. Motion voted on and approved unanimously
d. Motion by Tom Page, seconded by Josh Souliere to set the announced
Elementary Tuition rate at $13,000 for 2017 and the Middle School High
School Announced Tuition rate at $15,000 for 2017. Motion voted on and
approved unanimously
Correspondence
a. Letter from Sec. Rebecca Holcomb stating that the Agency of Education
has completed the background check on Emilie Knisley and has no
concerns about Mrs. Knisleys suitability to serve as Interim Supt. of
Schools at BMU
Old BusinessNone
Executive SessionNone Needed
Review To Do List
a. Added administrative contracts
Setting the Next Agenda
a. January 13, 20165:30 PMpreliminary report from Educational
Quality Review Visiting Team
b. January 13, 20167:00 PMBudget Warning

Meeting adjourned at 9:08 PM

Respectfully submitted:
Nancy Perkins, Minutes Clerk
The minutes are in draft format and are unofficial until formally approved by the
Board at a subsequent meeting.