Note: These proposed minutes should be considered preliminary until they are approved as reflected in
the minutes of the next board meeting.
WINDHAM SOUTHEAST SCHOOL DISTRICT (WSESD) BOARD
TUESDAY JULY 8, 2025
REGULAR BOARD MEETING – 6:00 PM
WRCC CUSICK CONFERENCE ROOM AND REMOTELY VIA ZOOM
DRAFT MINUTES
Present
Deborah Stanford (DS), Kim Price (KP), Anne Beekman (AB), Riley Bristol (RB), Jessica Everlith (JE), Jocelyn
Fritts (JF), Tim Maciel (TM), Ruby McAdoo (RM), Brian Remer (BR), Colleen Savage (CS), Matt Schibley
(MS), Willow Sharma (WS)
WSESD staff and administration present (includes remote attendance) and
Kerri Beebe, Hannah Parker,
Others present
BCTV, jmurphy’s iPhone, Liz Adams, Olivia, David Schoales,
Absences
Summary
● The Board welcomed two new student representatives for the 25-26 school year.
● Universal Pre K contracts were approved for the upcoming school year.
● A summary will be requested from Legal Counsel of work and cases litigated, settled or considered for litigation or currently awaiting resolution involving WSESD/SU in the past three years.
● In light of the approval of bill H.454 by the Senate and House of Representatives on June 16, 2025, the WSESD board voted to remain within a Supervisory Union within a larger governance region to the extent practical to the new redistricting task force.
AGENDA
I. Call to Order
– Hybrid Statement
– If appropriate, agenda items are subject to Potential Action.
– If any Board Member feels that an item on the Consent Agenda warrants discussion, that item will be removed from the Consent Agenda and will be set aside for discussion. In this way the Consent Agenda will be approved in one motion. That request should be made now – or before the vote on the Consent Agenda.
– Amendments to the Agenda
DS noted that warrants will require signatures which shall be signed by board members in person at central office as well as signatures from board chair as well as clerk universal pre k contracts.
II. Student Matters
None noted at this time
III. Public Comment on Non-Agenda Items
This is a time for the Board to listen and to take notes. It is not a time for the Board to respond to comments or to engage in dialogue with the public. If appropriate, the Board and Administration will work on next steps.
None noted at this time
IV. Board Matters
A. Welcome to the 2 new Student Reps: Willow Sharma and Riley Bristol
DS noted that she will recognize them again once the school year starts back up.
B. Leadership Council Updates
TM inquired about leadership chairs meeting. TM notes that Leadership Council is a policy to uphold and recommended hosting a meeting with the chairs of the LC’s.
DS indicates this should be done in collaboration with administration.
C. Board Sub-Committees and SU Updates
Policy Committee currently has only 2 voting Board members: Anne and Deborah
Discussion ensued regarding timing of meeting and board members ability to join.
RM inquired about SU update regarding policy on superintendent contract and evaluations.
DS indicated Pietro Lynn is currently reviewing the policy and there is not currently an update
Brief discussion ensued regarding contracts and evaluation practices.
D. Universal PreK (UPK) Contacts: Kerri Beebe
Kerri Beebe briefly presented the UPK Contracts, both public and private. The district pays 10 hrs of UPK
JF MOTIONED TO APPROVE UPK CONTRACTS AS PRESENTED BY KERRI BEEBE, SECONDED, VOTE WAS
CALLED, MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
E. Update on Board Retreat, July 22, 2025 5-9pm (Kim, Tim, Ruby, Deborah)
DS discussed upcoming public meeting to review board retreat and subsequent goals
F. Update re Board Goals (Kim, Tim, Jessica, Ruby)
RM discussed board member homework for board retreat in regards to board goals
G. Selection of 3 Board Members to meet with NEASC team as part of accreditation of BUHS – Monday, October 20 at 2:15 (Recommendation for Board Chair and LC Rep to participate.)
Deborah, Tim and Ruby will be the three board members to attend this meeting.
H. Procedures for Procurement as they relate to board expenses
DS referenced the policy shared by Mo Hart and encouraged board members to directly contact Mo Hart for purchases.
TM asks of administration – Is Thomas Transportation the best value when it comes to transporting sports teams and referenced policy practice of competitive bidding process
I. Update on Admin/Board Retreat on June 24, 2025
DS opened up discussion and reflection regarding Admin/Board retreat. To view the full discussion see recording of meeting on BCTV.
The board will request of admin to reconvene the planning committee and potentially debrief as whole board in Aug with Admin.
RM – indicated concern about EES not being a part of the Admin Board Retreat and consider having an LC for the Pre K site at Canal St.
J. Discussion of Board oversight as it relates to Harassment, Hazing, and Bullying
DS opened discussion regarding the topic, board members expressed concerns and perspectives. To view the full discussion see recording of meeting on BCTV.
DS noted the need to come back to the letter sent to the AOE regarding the HHB Advisory Board and the subsequent response.
Went into break at 7:28
Came back from break at 7:38
K. Consideration of the request that the Board should ask the district’s attorney for the history of all litigation over the past three years including any pending issues.
RM MOTIONED THAT WSESD BOARD CHAIR REQUEST FROM LEGAL COUNSEL DETAILS AROUND THE
PREPARATION AROUND A WRITTEN SUMMARY OF ALL CASES INVOLVING THE WSESD/SU WITHIN
THE PAST 3 YEARS. THE SUMMARY SHOULD INCLUDE ALL CASES LITIGATED, SETTLED, CONSIDERED
FOR LITIGATION, OR CURRENTLY AWAITING RESOLUTION. THE SUMMARY SHOULD ALSO INCLUDE
THE NATURE OF THE MATTER AND ANY FINANCIAL OR POLICY IMPLICATIONS TO THE EXTENT
PERMISSIBLE BY LAW. IT IS UNDERSTOOD THAT THIS SUMMARY WILL BE DISCUSSED ONLY IN
EXECUTIVE SESSION BY THE WSESD BOARD AND NOT REVEALED TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
SECONDED
Discussion ensued regarding this topic, to view the full discussion see recording of meeting on BCTV.
VOTE WAS CALLED.
AYE NAY ABST
AB x
JE x
JF x
TM x
RM x
KP x
BR x
CS x
MS x
DS x
Total 8 2 0
MOTION PASSED 8-2
L. Update on legislative issues related to education (Tim & Jocelyn) Legislative Update and Webinar
● Discussion of reaching out to our constituents on these critical issues.
● Discussion of remaining within an SU as well as future size requirements (4,000-8,000) of an SU. The request is that the SD Board adopt the following motion as well as suggest that the SU Board adopt a similar motion:
MOTION (RSCA)
RM MOTIONED THAT THE WINDHAM SOUTHEAST SCHOOL DISTRICT (WSESD) – BEING COMPOSED OF THE MEMBER TOWNS OF BRATTLEBORO, PUTNEY, DUMMERSTON, AND GUILDFORD – MOVES TO REMAIN WITHIN A SUPERVISORY UNION, WITHIN A LARGER GOVERNANCE REGION TO THE EXTENT PRACTICAL, UNDER THE TERMS OF H.454 AS APPROVED ON JUNE 16, 2025 BY THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF VERMONT. THE WSESD WILL SUBMIT OUR STATEMENT OF INTENT TO THE NEW REDISTRICTING TASK FORCE WHEN IT IS ESTABLISHED AND WILL REACH OUT TO CONTINGUOUS SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND SUPERVISORY UNIONS TO EXPLORE COMBINING INTO A LARGER SUPERVISORY UNION IF POSSIBLE. SECONDED. VOTE WAS CALLED.
Discussion ensued regarding this topic, to view the full discussion see recording of meeting on BCTV.
Of note David Schoales former board chair and currently on the steering committee of the RSCA discussed implications of H.454 and urged the board to support maintaining small local school boards
MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
TM MOTIONED THAT THE WSESD ALLOCATE $1500.00 TO THE RURAL SCHOOL COMMUNITY ALLIANCE.
SECONDED
Brief discussion ensued regarding this motion
MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
V. Consent Agenda
Approval of Minutes for May 27, 2025; June 9, 2025; June 24, 2025
Warrant of June 09, 2025
WSESD ARBITER PYMT 6/03/2025 in the amount of $2,408.00
BUHS ENDOWMENTS FAST 1463 in the amount of $11,000.00
SAF FAST 1464 in the amount of $132.18
WSESD FAST 1465 in the amount of $144,657.23
BUHS ENDOWMENTS FAST 1466 in the amount of $1,946.00
BUHS ENDOWMENTS FAST 1467 in the amount of $88,607.46
BUHS ENDOWMENTS FAST 1468 in the amount of $7,000.00
WSESD FAST 1469 in the amount of $18,206.94
SAF 1470 in the amount of $945.00
WSESD REGULAR 1471 in the amount of $44,975.18
Total Accounts Payable $319,877.99
Warrant of June 16, 2025
WSESD FAST 1472 in the amount of $1,723.00
BUHS ENDOWMENTS FAST 1473 in the amount of $440.00
SAF FAST 1474 in the amount of $438.82
WSESD FAST 1475 in the amount of $18,322.36
SAF FAST 1482 in the amount of $300.00
WSESD FAST 1483 in the amount of $12,927.85
BUHS ENDOWMENTS 1485 in the amount of $1,245.00
WSESD REGULAR 1486 in the amount of $189,063.69
Total Accounts Payable $224,460.72
Payroll #25 of 06/13/25 in the amount of $1,800,119.82
Warrant of June 23, 2025
WSESD CREDIT CRD PYMT 6/5/25 in the amount of $34,349.17
WSESD ARBITER PYMT 6/18/25 in the amount of $150.00
SAF FAST 1488 in the amount of $238.74
WSESD FAST 1489 in the amount of $5,143.64
SAF FAST 1590 in the amount of $668.31
WSESD FAST 1491 in the amount of $90,450.93
WSESD FAST 1492 in the amount of $41,025.15
SAF FAST 1493 in the amount of $7,546.94
SAF 1494 in the amount of $4,872.60
WSESD REGULAR 1495 in the amount of $50,358.18
Total Accounts Payable $234,803.66
Warrant of 6/30/2025
WSESD CREDIT CARD PYMT 6/23/25 in the amount of $22,280.37
SAF FAST 1496 in the amount of $1,853.32
WSESD FAST 1497 in the amount of $70,543.58
WSESD FAST 1501 in the amount of $57,175.63
SAF FAST 1504 in the amount of $1,787.31
WSESD FAST 1505 in the amount of $31,387.01
WSESD FAST 1507 in the amount of $25,859.66
WSESD FAST 1509 in the amount of $46,865.49
SAF FAST 1510 in the amount of $9,296.33
WSESD FAST 1511 in the amount of $2,893.15
WSESD FAST 1512 in the amount of $17,635.99
WSESD FAST 1513 in the amount of $200,274.64
SAF FAST 1514 in the amount of $300.10
WSESD FAST 1516 in the amount of $7,132.80
Total Accounts Payable $495,285.38
MS MOTIONED TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. SECONDED.
VOTE WAS CALLED. MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
VI. Unfinished Business
VII. New Business
DS indicated that she has 2x a month meeting with Mo Hart/Central Office and in regards to projects they are currently working on.
KP MOTIONED TO AJOURN THE MEETING OF THE WSESD BOARD. SECONDED.
VOTE WAS CALLED. MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:57 pm.
Minutes respectfully submitted on 7/11/25 by the Board Clerk.
A recording of this meeting is available on the WSESU website
