WSESD

AGENDA
I. Call to Order / Introductions / Recognition of Visitors

II. Review of Programmatic and Performance Equity Committee mission:

a. Mission: Monitor school equity and performance, and work with district staff to develop recommendations to increase equity and performance throughout the district.

III. Committee focus / items for discussion (listed here are items that were considered in 2023/2024):

a. Food Services in the district: how can the board assess equity in food access across schools in the district?
b. Leadership Councils: how is the board doing with communications with LCs?

A motion was made to find that premature public knowledge would place the board at a disadvantage for the purposes of providing professional legal services to the body. Also inviting Mark Speno and Pietro Lynn.

RM made motion seconded by TM. Passed unanimously.

An email was sent to highlight issues with retention, including retirement, resignation, and reasons for leaving. The focus is on analyzing the factors contributing to and impacting retention. Mikaela is examining the reasons for employee turnover and the positions that people are leaving.

Michael mentioned that our school’s turnover rate is lower than the state average. The state turnover rate is 30%, while ours is approximately 12%. In Massachusetts, the teacher turnover rate is 12%. There have been several retirements.

The WSESD Personnel Committee will meet Wednesday, July 24, 2024 at 6:00pm, remotely only, via Zoom.

The Windham Southeast School District Board will hold an executive session at 6:00 p.m. on
Monday, July 22, 2024 – in person at the WRCC Cusick Conference Room, with zoom capability.

On a motion by Colleen Savage, the committee voted to accept administration’s recommendations for the following hires:

Alex Chisholm Green Street School
Mark Barns Green Street School
Gina Onorato, Green Street School

Summary
● Ruby McAdoo was approved as a member of the Putney Leadership Council.
● Frank Rucker spoke about the tax rate implication following the release of the Yield.
● The Board discussed ideas for preparing themselves for budget development and utilizing tools available by exploring documents from the IBRC, VSBA and the Vernon Board.
● July 9th will be the only Board Meeting scheduled for the month, recognizing there could be other meetings called (i.e. Executive Sessions)
● Looking ahead to next year related to the Panorama Survey, a committee was formed to work alongside Brin Tucker to review and consider questions included in the survey for 24- 25.
● The Board voted to rescind policy LSP2.
● The Board voted to rescind policy LSP12.

AGENDA

I. Call to Order
II. Public Comment on Non-Agenda Items [6:00 to 6:10]
III. 1 V.S.A. §313 (a)(1)(F) confidential attorney-client communications made for the purpose of providing professional legal services to the body.

F1 Student Conduct and Discipline – Review with BUHS Admin Cassie Damkoehler, assistant principal at BUHS, reviewed F1 with the committee. The following changes were made:
● In the Due Process section on page 4:
o The intro and bullet 1: stay the same.
o Bullet 2 becomes: “students’ right to a fair hearing before being suspended for up to ten days.”

The agenda was amended to add discussion on a VSBA business voting member under new business, using the Personnel committee for summer hires, and ideas on how to better insure follow up on board matters.

There being no changes made to the Consent Agenda, the board approved the Consent Agenda (items listed below) as presented on a motion by Tim Maciel.

DS Called for a motion to enter executive session under 1 VSA §313 (a)(1)(7) REVIEWING THE ACADEMIC RECORDS OR SUSPENSION OR DISCIPLINE OF STUDENTS. Inviting in Mark Speno

KP Moved and seconded, no discussion – motion carried unanimously

AGENDA – 6/28/2024
I. Approval of Minutes from 6/12/24 (5 minutes)
II. Evaluate (30 minutes)
F1 Student Conduct and Discipline – Review with BUHS Admin

III. Public Comment on Non-Agenda Items [10 minutes]

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.

The Windham Southeast School District Board will hold an executive session at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 19, 2024 remotely via zoom only.

Mission: Foster learning environments in which all members of the school community are safe, feel valued, and are appreciated, as well as promote policies and procedures that value equity and diversity in our schools.

I. Call to Order / Introductions / Recognition of Visitors

II. Updates

II. Updates
● The following policies were presented for a first reading on 5/28/24:
o E14 Environmental Awareness and Responsibility
o F4 Searches, Seizures, and Interrogation of Students by School Personnel
o F5 Searches, Seizures, and Interrogation of Students by Law Enforcement Personnel or Other Non-School Personnel
o F41 Policy on Section 504 and ADA Grievance Protocol for Students & Staff
o G13 Acceptable Use of Electronic Resources and the Internet

Summary
● The Board voted to rotate the location of the Board meetings among the schools again this year
● The Norms of the Board were discussed
● The Portrait of a Graduate work is actively being embarked upon by the district
● Four hires and one resignation were approved for the 2024-25 school year
● As it is hiring season, and the need to approve new hires in a timely manner, the Board voted to give the Personnel Committee authority to approve hires throughout the summer with the caveat that the Board still receive resumes and the committee keep the Board informed of their work
● The Board voted to authorize the Finance Committee to approve the warrants, payroll and to implement Capital Plan projects throughout the summer
● The Consent Agenda was passed

Presented for a second reading:
WSESU E6 Emergency Closings 2nd reading 6-12-2024.pdf
WSESU E7 Safety & Security of School Facilities 2nd reading 06-12-2024.pdf
WSESU E8 Tobacco 2nd read 6-12-2024.pdf
WSESU F12 Transportation 2nd read 6-12-2024.pdf
WSESU G14 Dissection 2nd read 6-12-2024.pdf
WSESU G15 Title I 2nd read 6-12-2024.pdf

The chair reviewed the process of 1% funds with the committee.

On a motion by Kim Price the committee moved to accept 16 applications for 1% funds from Academy School in the amount of $12,279.96.

On a motion by Kim Price the committee moved to accept 11 applications for 1% funds from Green Street School in the amount of $8,091.

1st Reading
– E14 Environmental Awareness and Responsibility
– F4 Searches, Seizures, and Interrogation of Students by School Personnel
– F5 Searches, Seizures, and Interrogation of Students by Law
– Enforcement Personnel or Other Non-School Personnel
– F41 Policy on Section 504 and ADA Grievance Protocol for Students & Staff
– G13 Acceptable Use of Electronic Resources and the Internet