Education

I. Call to Order / Introductions / Recognition of Visitors

II. Review of minutes

III. Focus item for discussion:
a. Food Services in the district: how can the board assess equity in food access across schools in the district? (Consider info to request from Frank after budget is finalized)

• The following policy was presented for a first reading on 11/28/23 and will go for a second reading on 12/12/23:
o F32 Student Distribution of Literature
• The following policy went for a second reading on 11/28/23 and will be presented for adoption on 12/12/23:
o D1 (Personnel Recruitment, Selection, Appointment and Background Checks)

Tate introduced the team who discussed their areas of focus for improvement and the work they continue to do to meet the Continuous Improvement Plan goals. Brandy discussed the pre-school area and the new classroom being added at the Canal Street facility. Whitney spoke of her elementary groups focus on literacy and how changes in the law allow special educators to spend more time on teaching reading. According to a recent survey, the new case management model is working very well. Kevin also discussed how the case management model is working at BAMS and their desire to expand it to BUHS. They will use a vacancy to add a case manager, without adding to the budget, to build more capacity to keep kids in classrooms and work toward the CIP goal of 80% of students spending 80% of their time in core classes.

WSESU Business Administrator Frank Rucker shared a document: a spreadsheet, “All WSESU Students Except Students Tuitioned Out BW Prime Source.”

Mr. Rucker shared and reviewed a document: a spreadsheet, “WSESU Budget FY25 Prime.”

The committee discussed the best way to utilize the shared drive that was created for board members. Beyond the use for creating a resource of publications to subscribe to, which was voted on at the 11/14 WSESD meeting, the drive could be used to house orientation and meeting documents for board members to read.

The Windham Southeast School District Communications Council will meet from 12pm on Friday, December 8, 2023. The meeting will take place in the WSESU Central Office Conference Room at 53 Green Street and remotely via Zoom.

AGENDA
I. Call to Order [6:00 to 6:05]
II. Student Issues [6:05 to 6:15]
III. Administrative Report [6:15 to 6:50]
– Social Emotional Learning [35 Minutes]
IV. Education Tax Rate – Budget Impacts & Legislative Action [6:50 to 7:35]

Superintendent Mark Speno, Curriculum Coordinator Brin Tucker, BUHS teacher Celena Romo, Oak Grove Principal Mary Kaufmann, Putney Central School Principal Jon Sessions, and Academy School teacher Laureen Reavey presented an update on the implementation of Multi-Layered Systems of Support (MLSS)

WSESD Policy and Amendment Committee will meet Tuesday, December 5, 2023 at 2:30pm
in the WSESU Central Office, 53 Green Street, Brattleboro and remotely via Zoom

I. Approval of Minutes and confirmation of next meeting date
The minutes of 11/7/23 meeting approved by assent.
Agenda was amended to correct the date of next scheduled meeting.
The next Policy and Amendment Committee meetings are scheduled for:

Summary:
● Student representatives spoke about bullying and inappropriate behavior that is going unaddressed in classes at BUHS, and the need to cultivate a positive and loving culture in the community.
● Superintendent Speno introduced a book, “Introduction to the Governance Code,” that Board members and administrators will read and discuss at next June’s retreat.
● Putney Central School Principal Jon Sessions and Guilford Central School Principal John Gagnon gave presentations about family and community engagement via the leadership council and parent-teacher organization.
● WSESU Business Administrator Frank Rucker gave an outline of the timeline for the budget development process over the next few months.
● The Board voted to approve pre-qualification for four firms to bid on the Oak Grove School HVAC project.
● The Board approved payrolls and warrants that included the final payment on the 22-year bond for renovations to BUHS.

The Windham Southeast School District Finance Committee will meet Tuesday, November 28, 2023 at 5:00pm at Guilford Central School, 374 Schoolhouse Road, Guilford. 

The meeting was called to order at 5pm by Jaci.

On a motion made by Jaci and seconded by Maggie the agenda was amended to table all other agenda items until after the finance committee meeting.

All members were contacted multiple times announcing the meeting time, place and agenda. No members were able to attend.

D1 Personnel Recruitment, Selection, Appointment, and Background Checks
• Reviewed edits from prior meeting.
• D1 will go for a first reading at the 11/14 Board meeting.