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HIGHGATE SCHOOL BOARD MEETING Minutes

HIGHGATE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LIBRARY


March 12, 2015
6:15 PM
Present: Connie Beyor, Chairperson, Nola Gilbert, Chad Larivee, David Roddy
and Richard Flint.
Others Present: Marcel Choquette, Principal, Karen Casavant, Assistant
Principal, Winton Goodrich, Superintendent, Channel 16 Cameraman, Terry
Brace, Pierrette Bouchard, School Board Secretary-Visitors from the
community and staff: Liza Comiskey, Donna Fitzgerald, Ralph Comiskey,
Louanne Collins, Kelly Thomas, Diana Fackler, Dean Fackler, Mark Maskell,
Sr.,Cynthia Nye, Kristian Gabree, Shelley Laroche, Penny Hakey, JoAnn
Campbell.
Connie Beyor called the Meeting to Order at 6:25pm.
Board Re-Organization:Winton Goodrich, Superintendent explained that this
meeting is the board re-organization meeting. Winton requested nominations for
the board chairperson. Motion to nominate Connie Beyor, by Richard Flint,
seconded by David Roddy. Nola Gilbert motioned to cease nominations and cast one
ballot for Connie Beyor. Board approved 4-0 with Connie abstaining from the vote.
Connie requested nominations for the board vice chairperson. Motion to nominate
Nola Gilbert as vice chair by David Roddy, seconded by Richard Fllint. Board
approved 4-0 with Nola abstaining from the vote. Connie requested nominations for
the board clerk. Motion to nominate Chad Larivee as board clerk made by Nola
Gilbert and seconded by Richard Flint. The board approved 4-0 with Chad
abstaining from the vote. Connie requested nominations for 3 representatives to
the Supervisory Union Board. Motion to nominate Connie Beyor made by Richard
Flint, seconded David Roddy. Board approved 5-0 vote. Motion to nominate Richard
Flint made by David Roddy, seconded by Nola Gilbert. Board approved 5-0 vote.
Motion to nominate David Roddy made by Richard Flint, seconded by Nola Gilbert.
Board approved 5-0 vote.
Agenda Amendments:Add the following: Barn Dance, Photography Contract, Roof,
Status of Budget, Projected end of the year date, next years calendar, sixth grade
end of the year trip, Ag Committee, Executive Session- Correspondence personnel
contract, legal issue, student issue to the agenda
Public Comments:
Liza Comiskey thanked Karen Casavant for support partnering
with the library and duct tape derby. She also thanked classroom teacher Ms.
Dufresne for making the derby sled and her participation. Liza Comiskey read a
letter expressing their concern over the Safe Room at the Highgate School.
Other community members spoke about their concerns. The ten community
members left the meeting.
Old Business:JoAnn Campbell was present to talk about the issues that the board
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may have around the proposed barn dance. The barn dance planned for June 27
is
a fund raiser for the Highgate PTKO. The school insurance rider covers the barn

dance because it is a fund raiser for the school. They will need a certificate of
insurance from the liquor vendor. Win discouraged selling/using alcohol at the barn
dance. Franklin County has the highest alcohol and drug abuse in the State of
Vermont. Nola Gilbert thanked JoAnn Campbell for all her volunteer work. JoAnn
Campbell left the meeting at 7:35pm.
Buildings and Grounds:
Richard Flint explained that they have roof leakage in the
valleys. Connie recommended that they remove the snow from the roof. Terry
mentioned that if they rented a Bil-Jac, it could help in removing the snow. Terry
has used a roof rake to get the snow off. Win mentioned that the roof needs to be
fixed and removing the snow is only a short term solution. Win stated that he will
work with Terry to obtain an analysis completed of the roof and come back to the
board with proposals on how to fix it.
Check Warrants: Connie Beyor has reviewed the bills and recommended that they
approve the check warrants. Motion to approve the check warrants totaling
$
111,333.00
. Made by Richard Flint, seconded by David Rood. The board approved
5-0 vote. Motion to approve the standard payroll warrants, NEA Dues and State of
Vermont made by David Rood, seconded by Richard Flint. The Board approved 5-0
vote.
Approval of Prior Board Meeting Minutes
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Motion to approve the February 4
minutes made by David Roddy, seconded by
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Richard Flint. The board approved 5-0 vote. Motion to approve the February 19
informational meeting minutes with the Town of Highgate Select-board prepared by
Wendy Dusablon was made by Richard Flint and seconded by David Roddy. The
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board approved 5-0. Motion to approve the Feb 19
informational meeting board
minutes prepared by Nola Gilbert by Richard Flint, seconded David Roddy. The
rd
board approved 5-0. Motion to approve the March 3
, 2015 minutes by Richard
Flin, seconded by David Rood. The board approved 5-0.
Financial Report
: Connie referred to the January 2015 financial report. It appears
that the budget has been overspent by $41,687.00. Connie asked if the board
should freeze the budget and give the principal discretion on what he absolutely
needs to spend. Motion to freeze the budget and provide discretion to the
principal to make necessary purchases and if questions arise, consult with the board
chair and vice chair. The board approved 5-0 vote.
Principals Report:
Photography Contract:Marcel reported that he has received quotes from three
photography vendors. The school has been using Lifetouch for the last several
years. All three vendors are willing to connect a yearbook with pictures or provide
separate year books. Cold Hollow Photography has provided the lowest quote. They
are more than half the cost of other vendors. Cold Hollow will give back $2.00
back to the school for every package that is purchased and $1.00 whether the
package is purchased or not. Geskus will give back $2.00 per package bought and
the yearbook includes everybody at a cost per book of $14.81. Lifetouch will give
back $2.00 back per package. Motion to go with Cold Hollow Photography Richard
Flint, seconded by David Roddy. The board approved 4-1 vote. The board discussed
letting the teachers, PTKO and Heather L make the decision about the yearbooks.

Fire Alarm:The fire alarm was impacted by the water leaking from the roof.
Richard Flint requested that the Simplex Contract not be automatically renewed by
noting the date of the termination of the contract and providing 30 days notice to
terminate the contract. The board wants building and grounds to review all the
contracts.
(Terry Brace left the meeting at 8:30pm)
Sixth Grade Field Trip:
Marcel reported that grade 6 wants to go to Granby Zoo
instead of Montreal. Along with the animals, they also have a water park
component. The board requested that Marcel explore all the U.S. and Canadian
Immigration requirements such as birth certificates, permission from
parents/spouse for child to go across the border etc so that it will go smoothly
when crossing the border. They recommended that only staff members ride the
bus.
End of the Year Calendar: M
arcel explained that the schools have been closed on
Dec. 10 and Feb. 2 for bad weather. Currently after making up the two snow days,
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the students will be in school until June 18
for the 179
student day with June
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19
being a staff in-service day. June 16
will begin Math Studio class for one to
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possibly two staff members. June 12
will be field days and June 16
is sixth grade
graduation. The board discussed the last day for students. Motion made for the
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last student day on June 16
and waive June 17
and 18
for student days by David
Roddy, seconded by Richard Flint. The board failed on a 2-3 vote. Motion made for
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the last student day on June 12
by Nola Gilbert, seconded by Richard Flint. The
board approved on a 3-1 vote with 1 abstention.
Ag Committee:
Richard Flint and David Roddy along with Win went to an Ag
committee meeting exploring other options on how they can use the 20 acres of
Cassidy Land. The MVU Ag Dept. has four steers that can graze the land and are
also willing to hay it. They talked about MVU and Highgate using the land for
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composting. By July 1
, MVU must begin composting. The composts could be put
back into the land for the garden, the field and/or sold. MVU would like to know
how much land does Highgate need for their school 3 or 4 acres? The next meeting
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is March 26
.
Superintendents Report:
Win would like the board to reflect on goal progress for this year and goal setting
preparation at the April meeting. He would like the board to do a self-assessment
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process. There is a board chair training on May 20
at Lake Morey. He would like
the board to go to the board development options on the Vermont School Boards
Association website.
Negotiations:The master contract agreement has been settled. Each board must
ratify the three year contract. They have increased the employee insurance
contribution by .5% to 18.5% in year three. The three year increases are 3% in
year one, 3.5% in year two and 3.65% in year three. Sheldon will increase their
student days by one day each year until they reach 186 days. Win would like to
have the master agreement signed at the next board meeting.

Support Staff Negotiations:Highgate will need two representatives for the


support staff negotiations. Connie Beyor and Nola Gilbert were appointed as the
representatives.
Professional Contracts:The professional contracts are ready for approval and the
boards signature for tonights meeting.
Volleyball Competition:Win would like volunteers to participate in the Franklin
Central SU vs Franklin Northwest SU Volleyball competition.
Town Report:The board would have liked the opportunity to budget to pay their
share of the Town Report instead of having this go into effect immediately. Win
recommended that the board include Federal and State Requirements data in the
Town Report next year. The State Law has requirements around the assessment
data and the action plan.
Next Meeting Dates:
Highgate Board Meeting-April 9, 2015 @ 6:15pm
FNWSU Board Meeting-April 1, 2015 @ 6:30pm in Franklin
The board recessed the meeting at 10:00pm.
Executive Session and Adjournment:
Adjournment:
Respectfully submitted,
Chad Larivee
Highgate School Board Clerk

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