PITTSFIELD SCHOOL BOARD
REGULAR MEETING MEETINGS
TUESDAY, JANUARY 13, 2015 – 7:00 PM
PITTSFIELD TOWN HALL
Lower level
I. CALL TO ORDER: Kris calls meeting together at 7:04 p.m. with Meg Powden, Donna Benoit (Business Manager for WNWSU), Ray and A.J. present.
II. CONSIDER AMENDMENTS AND DELETIONS TO THE AGENDA: Kris moves to add payment order under new business and to discuss Medicaid Reimbursement. Ray seconds approved unanimously.
III. PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS AND COMMENT: None.
IV. BOARD COMMUNICATIONS AND COMMENT: We received Common Level of Appraisal and it is 116% and that will not be appealed by the Listers per Kristin’s report. This CLA will help reduce our tax burden. Also the Board received a notification about health benefits for teachers.
V. CONSENT AGENDA
A. Minutes of December 16, 2014: With edits suggested Kris moves and Ray seconds approving the December 16th meeting minutes, approved unanimously.
VI. WNWSU REPORT: Meg reports on proficiency based learning initiatives and their grant award from the AOE to create pathways and individual plans and learn to teach for proficiency. WNWSU and OWSU are both working in groups to implement this initiative and truly personalizing learning for each student. New assessment tools are coming SBAC instead of necaps. Testing window from March to May and allows teachers to help get their students prepared to do well. These are computer based assessments that the students and teachers are getting used to currently. Kris reports that Pittsfield is still endeavoring to obtain a written agreement about the costs and other aspects of our move to WCSU. The issue of cost for the Woodstock High School bus and who pays for that remains unresolved. We ask Meg to look into working with WCSU to obtain such an agreement.
VII. NEW BUSINESS
A. Approve Budget for Fiscal Year 2015-16: Due to delays in getting tuition figures we are not able to approve a budget this evening and will call a special meeting to do so in the next few weeks. We reviewed the proposed budget with the information available currently. We will get statewide average tuition numbers later this week. We agree to have a special meeting on Tuesday January 20 at 7p.m.
B. Payment Order: Number 6 tabled to next Tuesday’s meeting.
C. Medicaid Reimbursement: Donna agrees to send us a form to create an action plan in order for us to use this money for our students’ benefit.
VIII. OLD BUSINESS
A. Merger update: Meg reports and thanks Ray for coming to the big January 5th meeting on merger even though we’re going in a different direction. Phase I (supervisory integration committee) is proposed to the SBE.
B. 504 update: Kristin did look into alternative transportation options for a 504 student and no responses to ads or inquiries different than what we have in place currently.
IX. POLICY: None.
X. EXECUTIVE SESSION: At 7:56 to discuss student cost issue. We are out of Executive Session at 7:58.
XI. NEXT MEETING DATE/AGENDA ITEMS
A. Special Meeting for approving the budget and do payment order #6 Tuesday January 20, 2015 at 7 p.m. and then next month February 10, 2015, 7p.m. in the Town Hall.
B. Agenda Items: See above and merger updates preparation for Town Meeting. For February meeting Jean Colver Sofield Award preparation.
XII. ADJOURNMENT: Kris moves to adjourn Ray seconds approved unanimously and adjourned at 8 p.m.
REGULAR MEETING MEETINGS
TUESDAY, JANUARY 13, 2015 – 7:00 PM
PITTSFIELD TOWN HALL
Lower level
I. CALL TO ORDER: Kris calls meeting together at 7:04 p.m. with Meg Powden, Donna Benoit (Business Manager for WNWSU), Ray and A.J. present.
II. CONSIDER AMENDMENTS AND DELETIONS TO THE AGENDA: Kris moves to add payment order under new business and to discuss Medicaid Reimbursement. Ray seconds approved unanimously.
III. PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS AND COMMENT: None.
IV. BOARD COMMUNICATIONS AND COMMENT: We received Common Level of Appraisal and it is 116% and that will not be appealed by the Listers per Kristin’s report. This CLA will help reduce our tax burden. Also the Board received a notification about health benefits for teachers.
V. CONSENT AGENDA
A. Minutes of December 16, 2014: With edits suggested Kris moves and Ray seconds approving the December 16th meeting minutes, approved unanimously.
VI. WNWSU REPORT: Meg reports on proficiency based learning initiatives and their grant award from the AOE to create pathways and individual plans and learn to teach for proficiency. WNWSU and OWSU are both working in groups to implement this initiative and truly personalizing learning for each student. New assessment tools are coming SBAC instead of necaps. Testing window from March to May and allows teachers to help get their students prepared to do well. These are computer based assessments that the students and teachers are getting used to currently. Kris reports that Pittsfield is still endeavoring to obtain a written agreement about the costs and other aspects of our move to WCSU. The issue of cost for the Woodstock High School bus and who pays for that remains unresolved. We ask Meg to look into working with WCSU to obtain such an agreement.
VII. NEW BUSINESS
A. Approve Budget for Fiscal Year 2015-16: Due to delays in getting tuition figures we are not able to approve a budget this evening and will call a special meeting to do so in the next few weeks. We reviewed the proposed budget with the information available currently. We will get statewide average tuition numbers later this week. We agree to have a special meeting on Tuesday January 20 at 7p.m.
B. Payment Order: Number 6 tabled to next Tuesday’s meeting.
C. Medicaid Reimbursement: Donna agrees to send us a form to create an action plan in order for us to use this money for our students’ benefit.
VIII. OLD BUSINESS
A. Merger update: Meg reports and thanks Ray for coming to the big January 5th meeting on merger even though we’re going in a different direction. Phase I (supervisory integration committee) is proposed to the SBE.
B. 504 update: Kristin did look into alternative transportation options for a 504 student and no responses to ads or inquiries different than what we have in place currently.
IX. POLICY: None.
X. EXECUTIVE SESSION: At 7:56 to discuss student cost issue. We are out of Executive Session at 7:58.
XI. NEXT MEETING DATE/AGENDA ITEMS
A. Special Meeting for approving the budget and do payment order #6 Tuesday January 20, 2015 at 7 p.m. and then next month February 10, 2015, 7p.m. in the Town Hall.
B. Agenda Items: See above and merger updates preparation for Town Meeting. For February meeting Jean Colver Sofield Award preparation.
XII. ADJOURNMENT: Kris moves to adjourn Ray seconds approved unanimously and adjourned at 8 p.m.
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