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Annual School Meeting
March 6, 2006
The School Meeting opened at 7:00 pm with a discussion of having the school go first next year and continuing to alternate back and forth each year. The School will begin next year at 4:00pm.
The Moderator Lanny Smith made introductions of the Town Clerk, Barb Torian and the School Board Sylvia Gonzalez, Phil Buchwald and Jeff Pratt.
Susan Jeffries, business manager for the Supervisory Union, who lives in Starksboro, was allowed to speak. Motion was made by Pam Marsh and seconded by Rick Shappy.
The warning was read. The warned meeting does not start until 7:30 so no decisions requiring a vote will be made prior to 7:30.
WARNING
NEW HAVEN TOWN SCHOOL DISTRICT
The legal voters of the New Haven Town School District are hereby warned and notified to meet at the Town Hall in New Haven, Vermont on Monday, March 6, 2006 at 7:30 P.M. to discuss and transact the following business. Articles 1 and 4 require a vote by Australian Ballot to take place on Tuesday, March 7, 2006 at the New Haven Town Hall between 7:00 A.M. and 7:00 P.M.
ARTICLE 1: To elect a moderator following nominations from the floor.
Pam Marsh nominated Lanny Smith to be the moderator. There were several seconds.
Lanny Smith will moderate the meeting.
ARTICLE 2: To elect the Town School District Officers for the ensuing year by Australian Ballot. No Discussion
ARTICLE 3: To act upon the reports of the New Haven Town School District Officers.
Susan Jeffries will talk about Act 68. On page 113 of the Town Report, how taxes are calculated. The budget plus any separately warned articles plus the Mt. Abe assessment equals the gross act 68 budget. This is then divided by the # of equalized pupils. This is compared to the States base amount. (equal to tax rate of 99cents prior to the CLA adjustment). Discussion of projections for declining student enrolment. This year the tax rate would have gone down if there were no CLA. The CLA has dropped from 97% to 85%. More discussion of the CLA (Common Level of Appraisal) Discussion of who is eligible for the tax prebate. More people are eligible than the number who file. Discussion of how children at Mt. Abe and Beeman are weighted differently for the equalized pupil calculation.
Lowell Nottingham: Wondered about the debt service. Page 101 of the Town Report. Balance is $350,000. Discussion of how principle and interest are listed in Town Report and how they are paid.
Rick Shappy: wondered what type of a plan was in place to address the declining student enrollment. Sylvia Gonzalez: The board has been looking at it. The teaching staff is quite experienced and some of the teachers will be retiring and there will be a natural change. If we have more teachers than we need then the board will need to address the situation. The board tries to balance what is needed for the kids with what we can afford.
Rick Shappy: How long before teachers are fully vested in their retirement. 10 years based on 3 0r 5 of the highest years of earning. More discussion of retirement programs.
Pam Marsh made a motion to accept the reports. Seconded by John Peters.
Jeff Pratt: would like to speak about some of the board initiatives. Financial, quality of service, readiness for the future. These are the 3 areas of the initiative. Would like to focus on communication with the staff, community and the district; all have various complexities. Discussion of the forum that will be held on Wednesday night at which Val Gardner will be presenting ten trends that this group of kids will be graduating into. What types of educational experiences do we want for our kids and how can we balance those with the resources available. The hope is to create a strategic plan to move forward with. Discussion of student assessments and facilities plan.
Pam Marsh made a motion to allow principal Carol Barnes to speak. Several seconds. Carol Barnes was allowed to speak. She spoke of the warm nurturing and dedicated staff; and about the many wonderful programs. She invited the public to please come in and see what is happening in the school as well as ask any questions they may have.
Discussion over types of assessment tests and the results. Beeman student scores have dropped over the last several years. Discussion of what the school is doing to bring the scores up and why they may have fallen. Discussion of how these scores may or may not relate to how the kids do in college. More discussion of how hard it is to compare different tests and scores.
Reports acted on.
ARTICLE 4: To establish salaries for the New Haven Town School District Officers for the ensuing year. The question was moved by Sue Ford and Tim Bouton. Sue Ford: What were the salaries last year? The chair received $1200.00 and the officers received $1000.00. Sylvia Gonzalez: The board dropped their salaries to $600.00 in the budget. Discussion of how to keep the salaries the same as they were last year when the proposed budget has lower number. Discussion of the budget being voted on by Australian Ballot and not being able to change the number. Discussion of it being nice that the board was willing to reduce their salaries. The town’s people would like to keep them the same as last year.
Jeff Everest: Pointed out that the warning says articles 1 & 4 by Australian Ballot when it is actually Articles 2 & 5 that will be voted on by Australian Ballot. Discussion of process to validate the meeting. Will carry on as if this were a typo and will validate the meeting at a later date. Question called by Amos Roleau and Larry Buck. Debate was stopped. Voted to pay the officers including the treasurer each $1000.00 and the Chair would receive $1200.00. Passed.
ARTICLE 5: For discussion only: VOTE TO BE TAKEN BY AUSTRALIAN BALLOT ON TUESDAY, MARCH 7, 2006 FROM 7:00 A.M. and 7:00 P.M.
Shall the voters of the New Haven Town School District appropriate $1,753,140 necessary for the support of its school for the year beginning July 1, 2006? Discussion of how to change the budget. Can’t change the budget. This is a 4.4% increase from last year. Discussion of pre-audited expenses and audited expenses. Just found out that there is a $24,000.00 surplus for last year. Jane Aube: The board worked really hard and is doing a good job.
ARTICLE 6: Shall the voters of the New Haven Town School District authorize the Board of School Directors to make available school facilities and equipment for other specified purposes, if those purposes appear to be in the best interest of the residents of the district, due consideration being given to efficient, economical and appropriate use of the facilities and equipment? Article moved by Pam Marsh and Tim Bouton. Passed.
ARTICLE 7: Shall the voters of the New Haven Town School District authorize the Board of School Directors to borrow money in anticipation of taxes according to state statute? Article moved by Kathy Barrett and Al Karnatz. Passed.
ARTICLE 8: Shall the voters of the New Haven Town School District appropriate $15,000 to be placed in the Long Term Facilities Improvement Fund? Article moved by Pam Marsh and Margaret Carothers. Pam Marsh: Makes since to put money aside it will cost less later. Kathy Barrett: How much is in the fund. About $18,000.00. Discussion of it being a good idea to be putting money aside. Discussion of what condition the facilities are in. Pretty good. Discussion of how the funds will be used. Will the board come back to the voters to spend? The board does not have to but usually does. Discussion of the difference between maintenance and capital improvements. Question called by Al Karnatz and George Jaeger. Passed
ARTICLE 9: To hear and report on any further business which may legally come before this meeting. Kathy Barrett: Substitutes like to work at Beeman the best because there is such a great atmosphere and good attitude. Jeff Pratt: Would like to publicly acknowledge the efforts of the staff who have been very responsive and do a great job. Thank you to Phil Buchwald for serving on the board.
Lanny Smith: Urged people to support articles 2-6 on the Mt. Abe Ballot.
Adjourn 9:15