Moretown Elementary School

Present: Board members Lisa Ransom, Deb Hunter, Jay Pilliod, John Schmeltzer and Amy Bolger

Principal Roberta Barone

Absent: Superintendent Bob McNamara

The meeting was called to order at 6:05 pm by Deb Hunter.

Recreation Committee Report

Resident Karen Horn and son Amos joined to provide information about a half pipe

which was donated to the town/school. Board members discussed pros and cons of

accepting the donation. The discussion was tabled pending gathering of additional

information relating to safety, liability, an appropriate location for it, etc.

Bob reported that the local standards board from WWSU is getting successfully off the

ground again this year and that the mentors are "up and running". Bob also shared that

Aldo Bianchi, a noted mathematician and trainer, will visit the district for a public

meeting on October 4; he will also provide 20 days of training to 6^th – 12^th grade teachers

throughout the district. Roberta noted that additionally, there will be a mathematics audit

conducted, during which the auditors will interview parents, teachers and students about

math at MES. Based on their assessments, these expert mathematicians will then be able

to identify our strengths and advise us on any areas for improvement.

Roberta shared that students from 1^st grade up were assessed using a tool called the

"Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy". The data gleaned will help guide teachers

in designing improved techniques for literacy instruction.

On September 29, Roberta will take several students chosen from the 3^rd, 4^th, 5^th and 6^th

grades to a student leadership workshop.

Finally, Roberta reported that we have applied for additional special education funds for

this year and that she is optimistic about receiving them.

John distributed a draft copy of the "Guiding Vision for WWSU", written by Bob

McNamara for board members to peruse.

He noted that teachers in the district overwhelmingly expressed approval of the opening

day inservice.

John, Jay and the other negotiating team members met with attorney Chris Leopold and

clarified that his role will be proactive, and that he will act as the board’s spokesperson.

At 7:18 p.m. Bob McNamara left the meeting.

Roberta reported that Bob rewrote the draft policy to be in compliance with VSBA’s

policy. Each school will now revise or accept this policy as written and craft their own

school procedures. Board members discussed the policy and made minor revisions. The

policy incorporating those revisions will be warned for the October meeting.

A member of the Moretown Select Board received a call from a representative of the

Methodist Church about installing a bathroom/septic line on church property. The Chair

of the Select Board asked for the MES Board’s input, since the proposed septic system

could adversely affect the school's water supply. John offered to contact the chair of the

Select Board, and provide a copy of a MES Board letter dated April 7, 2005.  The letter

was written in response  to a previous effort by the church to install said septic system.

At that time, the Church requested that the Board waive the school property line setback,

as well as a 200 foot isolation distance between the school's well and the church's

proposed leachfield. The 4/7/05 letter indicates that the Board accepted the

recommendation of Thomas  Nesbit, an engineer  who worked with the school as part

of the school expansion project.  (Nesbit, of the firm Dufresne-Henry, recommended that

the Board refrain from waiving the aforementioned  setback; Nesbit further

recommended that the Board not waive the isolation distance.)

In a motion made by Amy and seconded by Lisa, the August 30, 2006 minutes were

approved.

In a motion by Jay, seconded by John, the board approved the following board orders:

#19 for 57,668.24; #18 for 3,737.76; #17 for 12,238.76; and #16 for 33,231.44.

Jay showed board members a report documenting the findings of the feasibility study in

Warren around taxation and consolidation. The report is entitled "Warren School Cost

Study Group."

Jay noted that Bob and two board members have a other obligations which conflict with

the scheduled October meeting and future meetings scheduled for the 2^nd Wednesday of

the month. Alternative dates were suggested; Deb will ask Bob if the last Wednesday of

the month would be acceptable and will advise board members of his response.

On a motion by John, seconded by Deb, the meeting adjourned at 8:10.

Clerk Amy Bolger