​PITTSFIELD SCHOOL BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING

Monday, December 19, 2016, at 7:00 p.m.
Pittsfield Town Office Building
Special Meeting

MEETING MINUTES

I.    Call to Order:  Ray and A.J. present.

II.    Amendments to the Agenda

III.    Approve Minutes of Previous Meeting: November 7, 2016: Ray moves to approve and A.J. seconds, approved unanimously.

IV.    Community Engagement/Public Comment: We discuss Jenn Iannantuoni’s email regarding Killington SB consideration of a side by side under Act 46. Her counter proposal was to have Pittsfield give up school choice to join KES and send secondary students to Woodstock. At this time the Pittsfield School Board will take no action on the email as we continue to discuss options under Act 46 for presentation at Town Meeting.

V.    Action/Discussion Items
1.    New Business:
•    Payment Orders: #4 Killington 1/3 tuition 23 students $98,141, WCSU 1/3 tuition 21 secondary students $111,993; Board Stipends, Patty Haskins Treasurer $200, Ray, Kris and A.J. $350 each; Total: $211,384.  Ray moves to approve and A.J. seconds, approved unanimously.
•    FY18 Budget: Time spent reviewing tuition list and making adjustments to estimates. We think there will be 33 elementary and 29 secondary students, total of 62, including pre-K students. This is a decrease from last year’s estimate of 73 and from FY 15’s 80 students. 
•    Payment for School Board: Ray moves to approve payment and A.J. seconds and approved unanimously.
•    WCSU Tuition Agreement: reviewed, they request Board Chair sign it so we table until next meeting.  A.J. reviews and notes that because we are now in the WCSU and they do our SPED work, our prior concern about billing is moot and the agreement is ok to sign as is. 

2.    Old Business:
•    Update on Act 46:   We discuss the Killington proposal (see above) and updates on WCSU plan as well as potential legislative changes.   
•    Review and Approve Checkbook Reconciliation (Nov/Dec) Ray moves to approve after review and A.J. seconds, approved unanimously.

VI.    Reports
1.    Review YTD Financials: Reviewed as directed.

VII.    Agenda Setting for January Meeting: WCSU Tuition Agreement, Directors’ Report and Budget.

VIII.    Adjournment: A.J. moves to adjourn at 7:45, Ray seconds, meeting adjourned.
        
      Next Scheduled Meeting:  January 10, 2017, at 7:00 P.M. at the Pittsfield Town Office Building

​PITTSFIELD SCHOOL BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING MINUTES

Monday, November 7, 2016 at 7:00 p.m.
Pittsfield Town Office Building

I.    Call to Order: Kris calls the meeting to order at 7:10 p.m. with Ray and A.J. present.

II.    Amendments to the Agenda:  None.

III.    Approve Minutes of Previous Meeting: October 11, 2016.  Kris moves to approve, A.J. seconds, approved unanimously.

IV.    Community Engagement/Public Comment:  None.

V.    Action/Discussion Items
1.    New Business:
•    Payment Orders:  No. 3.  Killington Mt. School ½ tuition 3 secondary students $22,159.50, Otter Valley ½ tuition 1 secondary $7,000, Rochester ½ tuition 1 secondary $10,000, Stockbridge Elementary 3 elementary, 2 pre K ½ tuition $25,473.50, Sharon Academy ½ tuition 6 secondary $44,319, Cushing Academy 1 secondary $7,150, Rutland City 2 secondary $7,250, 1 Stafford $480.85, and 504 costs 1st and 2nd Q $12,932.95: Total $136,765.80. Kris moves to approve, Ray seconds, approved unanimously.   

2.    Old Business:
•    Update on Act 46:  Discussion of current understanding of effort to merge with Plymouth, no news.  Report on VPR was discussed about the likelihood of some change to Act 46 prior to Town Meeting either from change of Governor and Secretary of Education and/or because of Legislative involvement.  Ray will reach out to Killington’s school board about potential consolidation ideas as well. 
•    Review and Approve Checkbook Reconciliation: tabled until next meeting.
VI.    Reports
1.    Review YTD Financials: tabled until next meeting.

VII.    Agenda Setting for December Meeting:  Checkbook Reconciliation for November and December.  Work on Budget.  Payment for School Board.  

VIII.    Adjournment:  Kris moves to adjourn and agreed unanimously at 8:00 p.m.

​Approved: Ray Rice, A. J. Ruben, December 19, 2016

​PITTSFIELD SCHOOL BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
Tuesday October 11, 2016, at 7:00 p.m.
Pittsfield Town Office Building

Minutes 

I.    Call to Order: Kris calls the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. with A.J. and Richard Seamans attending. Ray sent his regards.

II.    Amendments to the Agenda: none.

III.    Approve Minutes of Previous Meeting: September 14, 2016: Kris moves and A.J. seconds, approved minutes unanimously.

IV.    Community Engagement/Public Comment: None. 

V.    Action/Discussion Items
    1.    New Business:
        •Payment Orders:  None. 

    2.    Old Business:
        •Update on Act 46: Discuss VSBA memorandum on Act 46 problems.  Kris notes one suggestion is to let a single district be one side of a side by side.  
        •Review and Approve Checkbook Reconciliation:  Kris moves to accept the CR, A.J. seconds, approved unanimously.  

VI.    Reports:  Finance Report with Richard.  Discuss that we have a surplus from fiscal ’16 and review spreadsheets to help explain. Mostly it has to do with fewer children in school and fewer SPED and 504 costs than had been expected.    We discuss working on a next budget and consideration of a reserve fund to cushion additional kids or SPED/504 or SU administration expenses.  We share our understanding of likely number of students and potential pre K and Kindergarteners to be same as last year.

VII.    Agenda Setting for November Meeting: update on Act 46, payment orders, minutes, check book reconciliation, superintendent and finance reports.  Kris contacted Plymouth SB chair but has not had a reply to her contact effort. Richard reports it is possible Plymouth is moving forward with giving up choice to join WCSU’s proposed ED.  We will await follow up from Plymouth’s SB chair, but in the meantime will continue pursuing a stand-alone option and potential legislation to allow a single side by side arrangement. 

VIII.    Adjournment:  Kris moves to at 8:05 p.m., A.J. seconds and approved unanimously. 

Approved:  November 7, 2016
​                     Kris Sperber, A.J. Ruben
     

Pittsfield School Board of Directors' Meeting
​​Wednesday, September 14, 2016, at 7:00 p.m.
Pittsfield Town Office Building

Minutes 

I.    Call to Order: Kris calls the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. with A.J. attending.

II.    Amendments to the Agenda: none.

III.    Approve Minutes of Previous Meeting: August 24, 2016: Kris moves and A.J. seconds, approved minutes unanimously.

IV.    Community Engagement/Public Comment: None. 

V.    Action/Discussion Items
1.    New Business:
•    Payment Orders:  #2 prior year charge to Sharon Academy $14,730.44 for SPED; Rutland Public Schools 1st Q 2 students $7,250: $21,980.44 total. A.J. moves to approve, Kris seconds, approved unanimously. 

2.    Old Business:
•    Update on Act 46:  Kris reports on contact with Plymouth board chair.  No news but we’ll be on their agenda September 12th. At this point it does not seem financially advantageous for them to join with us.  Kris will follow up with board chair for any updates on their meeting last week.   Ray had previously reported that WCSU may want to be reorganized by next June and they are interested in our timeframe.  Kris and A.J. discuss wanting to have a plan to give to Town Meeting to avoid Act 46 penalties, either side by side, or asserting we can meet standards on our own, or that we join WCSU. 
•    Review and Approve Checkbook Reconciliation:  Kris moves to accept the CR, A.J. seconds, approved unanimously.  

VI.    Reports:  Finance report indicates we finished last year with approximately $300k surplus. Kris will get information from Richard Seaman analyzing how that occurred and what to expect.  Kris moves to talk Patty about putting some of this surplus in an interest bearing account if not there already, A.J. seconds and approved unanimously. 

VII.    Agenda Setting for October Meeting: update on Act 46, payment orders, minutes, check book reconciliation, superintendent and finance reports. 

VIII.    Adjournment:  Kris moves to at 7:45 p.m., A.J. seconds and approved unanimously. 

​Approved October 11, 2016:  Kristin Sperber, A. J. Ruben

​Minutes of the Pittsfield School Board August 24, 2016
Pittsfield Town Office 7:00 p.m.

1. Call to Order: 7:10 p.m. Kris calls the meeting to order with Ray and A.J. present.
2. Amendments to the Agenda:  Ray asks to add Jean Colver Sofield Award update, approved unanimously. Kris asks to add discussion of the Tuition policy, approved unanimously.
3. Approve Minutes of June 22, 2016 minutes:  Kris moved to accept and A.J. seconded, approved.
4. Community Engagement/Public Comment:  None.
5. Action/Discussion Items
   1. New Business: 
      1. Payment Order #1 Discussion about Kris sending email to Pre K at Killington asking for parental verification of residency form prior to us issuing payment.  Kris moves to authorize $2319 to be paid to the Pre K program upon receipt of the verification forms. Ray seconds, and approved unanimously.
      2. Discuss Pre K agreement between Killington Pre K and WCSU, review agreement and approve Ray signing.
   2. Old Business
      1. Act 46: A.J. discusses the new guidance from AOE that requires the Board to either join a union district or prove we satisfy specific criteria by November 2017.  We go over the criteria we’d have to satisfy (Section 2 of Act 46) if we do not join a union district.  Kris agrees to contact Plymouth’s board again to see if us joining with them as a “choice” side by side in the emerging WCSU union district is possible.  We discuss obtaining data on child performance and costs if we need to be on our own.  A.J. agrees to follow up with AOE to find out if the November 2017 plan must be approved by Nov. 30th or just submitted and what will happen tax-wise to Pittsfield if we do not satisfy the Section 2 criteria or join a union district, and will report back.  We discuss working on the proposal to join with Plymouth and provide options to Town on Town Meeting Day as well being prepared to call a special meeting in the Fall of 2017 if no satisfactory plan is in place.
      2. Check book reconciliation:  We will do this next month as we did not connect with Patty to get the documentation.
      3. Jean Colver Sofield Award update:  Ray reports that the plaque is done and updated.

        6.  Reports: No Superintendent or Business Manager report:  Not here, no reports.
        7.   Agenda for September Meeting: all of the above (sans Sofield award).
        8.  Adjournment:  Ray moves to adjourn, Kris seconds, adjourned at 8 p.m.
Minutes provided by A.J. 
Approved September 13, 2016, by Kristin Sperber, A.J. Ruben

​I.    Call to Order: Kris calls the meeting to order at 7:10 p.m. Richard Seaman sent notice he would be unable to attend and offered ideas for next meeting discussion in August.  A.J. present, Ray not in attendance with notice.  

II.    Amendments to the Agenda:  none.

III.    Approve Minutes of Previous Meeting: May 25, 2016 and June 6, 2016:  Kris moves to amend the payment order number from 9 to 10, A.J. seconds, approved and both minutes accepted unanimously.

IV.    Community Engagement/Public Comment:  None.

V.    Action/Discussion Items
    1.    New Business:
    •    Payment Orders #11:  Repay Town for overpayment $11,647.76, WNWSU SPED $6,233.50, Rochester ½ tuition     three students $30,000, Bethel ½ tuition one elementary $8,250, two secondary $13,500, Killington $1,136.80,     Rutland Town ½ less prior year reimbursement $6,500, Hartford ½ tuition votech $1,057.99:  Total $76,749.76.      Kris moves to approve, A.J. seconds approved unanimously.

    2.    Old Business:
    •    Update on Act 46
    •    Review and Approve Checkbook Reconciliation for April and May: Kris moves to accept reconciliation after     review, A.J. seconds, approved unanimously.
    •    Jean Colver Sofield Award Update:  The Board notes it awarded the Jean Colver Sofield Award to Andrew     Borden, Congratulations Andrew and good luck in college next year! Ray took care of notification and will work on     the plaque.

VI.    Reports: None.

VII.    Agenda Setting for August Meeting: Act 46 Update, Payment Orders, Checkbook Reconciliation, etc.

VIII.    Adjournment:  Kris moves to adjourn at 7:45 p.m. and A.J. seconds, meeting successfully ended.

Minutes respectfully submitted by A.J. Ruben.

Signed:  Kristin Sperber, A.J. Ruben

​PITTSFIELD SCHOOL BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING MINUTES
Monday, June 6, 2016, at 7:00 p.m.
Pittsfield Town Office Building


I.    Call to Order:  Kris called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. with Ray and A.J. present.

II.    Amendments to the Agenda: None.

III.    Executive Session: Title 1, §313,VSA
•    Jean Colver Sofield Award:  executive session was entered at 7:05 to consider the applicants for the award. There were three applicants.  Executive Session ended at 7:45. The Board will announce the winner of the Sofield award at the next meeting after the student has been notified. Ray will do the notification and get the plaque updated.

IV.    Adjournment: Kris moved and Ray seconded to end the meeting. Adjourned unanimously at 7:48 p.m.

Approved June 22, 2016:  Kristin Sperber
                                              Ray Rice
​

​PITTSFIELD SCHOOL BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
Tuesday, May 25, 2016, at 7:00 p.m.
Pittsfield Town Office Building

MINUTES

I.    Call to Order: Kris calls to order at 7:02 p.m., Ray absent with notice, Richard Seaman, A.J. and Caleb Hawley present.

II.    Amendments to the Agenda: None.

III.    Approve Minutes of Previous Meeting: April 20, 2016 Kris moves to approve and A.J. seconds, approved.

IV.    Community Engagement/Public Comment: We welcome Caleb, who has two young children and is interested in learning more about the school board activities in the hope of joining in the future.  Thank you for coming Caleb!  Kris reports on email from David Kelley asking for school choice towns to join an online forum to discuss challenges to school choice towns posed by Act 46.  We agree to sign on to keep abreast of developments in this unique and fast-changing arena.    

V.    Action/Discussion Items
    1.    New Business:
        •    Payment Orders:  No. 10 Holderness School ½ tuition $7148.50. A.J. moves to approve Kris seconds approved unanimously.
        •    Review YTD Financials- WCSU Business Manager Richard provides charts and we discuss the financial data.  We have some questions on 504 costs, 2015 WNWSU assessment and SPED costs and Richard will follow up on that for next year’s budget.  Richard projects a surplus given the change to our new SU and paying off our deficit, among other factors. If we get this surplus we can work with Richard on the best way to utilize that money to prevent future deficits. 

    2.    Old Business:
        •    IRS Bond Letter Report- Dir. Of Finance (tabled from last meeting):  Richard reports efforts to find out more about this without success.  No follow up from the IRS. Richard reports Killington got one too. He recommends just ignoring it. A.J. moves that we end pursuit of why we got this sent this letter and Kris seconds, approved, no further action.
        •    Update on Act 46:  Discussion about current understanding of Act 46 and options and implications for Pittsfield moving to a new agreement or doing nothing. The board continues to study the issue. Kris reports on attending Plymouth School Board meeting, part of the new two rivers SU, and they are new to school choice. TRSU is large (geographically and number of schools).  Plymouth is considering what to do and giving up school choice is on the table. Kris will follow up with the Plymouth school board on the idea that our equalized per pupil spending, while currently really high, was based on deficit costs and will be reduced in the future. We continue to think joining with Plymouth as a choice, side by side with WCSU would be a good option.  
        •    Review and Approve Checkbook Reconciliation: Tabled to next meeting. 
        •    Jean Colver Sofield meeting: Ray texts in that Patty sent letters out to seniors and Ray was unable to pick the letters up in time for the meeting.  Ray will follow up and report back. The Board may require an emergency meeting to get the award made before graduation.

VI.    Reports: none.

VII.    Agenda Setting for June Meeting: Jean Colver Sofield Award update, payment orders, Act 46 update, check reconciliation.

VIII.    Adjournment:  Kris moves to adjourn at 8:25 p.m. A.J. seconds, meeting adjourned.

Approved June 22, 2016:  Kristin Sperber
                                              Ray Rice

     

PITTSFIELD SCHOOL BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
Tuesday, April 20, 2016, at 7:00 p.m.
Pittsfield Town Office Building

I.    Call to Order:  Kris calling to order at 7pm with Peter Clarke as our guest and Ray and A.J. present.

II.    Amendments to the Agenda:  Ray moves to add Colver Sofield Award to Old Business.

III.    Approve Minutes of Previous Meeting: March 15, 2016:  Kris moves to approve and Ray seconds, approved unanimously.  

IV.    Community Engagement/Public Comment: None.

V.    Action/Discussion Items
    1.    New Business:
    •    Approve FY17 meeting schedule for publication and distribution: We discuss the proposed schedule and discuss that May 10th won’t work so we agree to move it to May 25th Wednesday at 7 pm. 
    •    Payment Orders:#9 Woodstock HS 1/3 tuition $7,381.51; Killington Elem. 1/3 tuition $118,686.18; Rutland City 504 costs $2,839.17, 4th Q $7000, Killington Mt. School ½  4 students  $31,861.75:  $247,768.61.  Kris moves to accept, Ray seconds and approved unanimously.
    •    Code of Ethics- Ray Rice signed his copy.
    2.    Old Business:
    •    IRS Bond Letter Report- Dir. Of Finance (tabled from last meeting) No update, put on agenda for next meeting.
    •    Update on Act 46: Peter Clarke updates on options.  We ask about potential side by side with Plymouth and the current WCSU and his work with the Granville/Hancock side by side as he is working with both groups. An hour long presentation ensued with the result being that there is no clear benefit to Pittsfield by joining the Hancock Granville side by side nor joining the WCSU as a side by side (no partner yet identified).  Instead the most reasonable path seems to be to wait and see and file our assertion that we meet Educational Standards in November 2017. Peter states that because we are a full choice town there are no financial penalties that could accrue to Pittsfield if our filing is rejected but SBE could move us into an ED at that point. We believe there’d be time to negotiate and create a good result if that occurred. We thank Peter very much for his time and he offers to be available to answer additional questions. Thanks Peter!
    •    Review and Approve Checkbook Reconciliation: Kris moves and Ray seconds and approved unanimously. 
    •    Jean Colver Sofield Scholarship: Ray reports that the letters to the seniors in town will go out this week and we’ll vote during May meeting.

VI.    Reports: Ray reports on the WCSU board meeting, training on how schools are funded and where the budget money comes from for each school.

VII.    Agenda Setting for May Meeting: Jean Colver Sofield meeting; IRS Bond letter update from Richard Seaman; payment order; Act 46 update.

VIII.    Adjournment: Kris moves  adjourn at 8:40 p.m., approved unanimously. 

Approved: Kristin Sperber
​                   Raymond Rice

​PITTSFIELD SCHOOL BOARD
MARCH 15, 2016 
MEETING MINUTES

1.    Call to Order: Alice Worth, WCSU Superintendent, called the meeting to order at 7:15 p.m. with Kris and A.J. present, Ray notified us he would not be available tonight. 
2.    Reorganization of the Board:        Alice asks for motion, A.J. moves to elect Kris as chair, Kris seconds, approved unanimously; Kris moves to elect A.J. as secretary, A.J. seconds, approved unanimously; Kris moves to elect Ray as WCSU representative, with caveat that if he’s unable to go either Kris or A.J. is authorized to attend and vote for Pittsfield, A.J. seconds, approved unanimously. 
3.    Consider agenda amendment: None
4.    Review minutes of February 9th PSB meeting and review minutes of March 1st Annual School Directors. Kris moves to approve both, A.J. seconds approved unanimously.
5.    Public comment: Kris reports a Pittsfield parent noted appreciation for services received from the WCSU and we conveyed that to Alice with thanks.
6.    Action Discussion:
a.    New business Payment orders #8: Randolph Tech one student $8221.68; Stafford Tech  2nd semester $424.32; Rutland City 504 second and third quarter $11,884.83: Total $20,562.51 Kris moves A.J. seconds, approved unanimously.
b.    Old business Review check book reconciliation. Kris moves to approve, A.J. seconds. Approved unanimously.
a.    IRS bond letter: Alice will follow up with Richard as we last got information on this in October 2015. Tabled until next meeting.
b.    Update on Act 46:  Alice reports on WCSU’s meetings with Peter Clarke. They requested data to address the issue of whether schools were substantially equal across the WCSU schools. Data assessed against new educational standards that are not quantitative.  The result was a determination that it would be impossible to provide substantially equal education amongst all schools in WCSU. Next week they will start assessing the financial equality among WCSU districts.  They will consider allowing Peter to add Pittsfield in this part of their evaluation.  Alice reports WCSU  met with Plymouth, a WCSU choice town, and have been told Plymouth is not sure whether to give up school choice or to try and form a side by side Educational District, perhaps with Pittsfield, connected to the forthcoming WCSU ED and maintain choice that way.  Kris agrees to follow up with Plymouth’s board chair to discuss this option which could be a new alternative to keep choice without having to join with Granville and Hancock and go back     to the White River SU. Alice will ask Peter to evaluate how a new side by side would look with Plymouth and Pittsfield and WCSU’s larger ED.   We discuss how our high spending increase and high equalized pupil costs will make it hard to get a partner as our joining will increase their costs as our equalized pupil expenses would be merged and averaged.  Kris asks that Peter consider that our equalized pupil expenses should be going down. We agree to hold off on asking for a “706” evaluation to join Hancock and Granville until we know if joining with Plymouth.
7.    Reports Superintendent: Alice notes she does a monthly report prior to the WCSU board meeting and Ray gets those.  Otherwise she would contact us if any new policies impacted us.   
8.    Director of Finance: none.
9.    Adjourn:  Kris moves to adjourn at 8:30  and A.J. seconds, adjourned.
For next meeting:  review minutes, check book reconciliation, Act 46 Update, payment orders, IRS letter.
Minutes respectfully submitted by A.J. Ruben 
Signed by: Kristin Sperber, A. J. Ruben, Ray Rice
April 20, 2016