February 22, 2012
Roaring Fork School District
Board of Education Meeting – District Office
3:00 p.m.
3:00 p.m. Employee Recognition - Karen Dixon, Receptionist, District Office
Workshop - Communication Audit discussion with CASB - Ken Delay and Jennifer Reeves
Ms. Reeves and Mr. Delay gave an overview of the process of conducting a communication audit for our school district. A complete proposal was submitted to the Board members. Mr. Bill Lamont also spoke to the Board about his continuing commitment to help facilitate this audit. Funding has been provided by the Aspen Community Foundation and the Manaus Fund.
5:00 p.m.
I. Order Mr. Hamilton called the February 22, 2012 meeting to order at 5:00 p.m.
It was noted for the record that Mr. Ray would be absent from the meeting. The Tech Audit report and the Moving On report will be tabled until future meetings.
II. Agenda Motion: Mr. Johnson moved that the Board approve the agenda, as presented. Second: Mr. Biggs.
AYE: Mr. Biggs, Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Johnson, Ms. Lott Richardson, Mr. Stettner. Motion passes.
III. Consent Motion: Mr. Johnson moved that the Board approve the consent agenda, minutes of the
Agenda February 8, 2012 meeting and Routine Personnel Changes, as presented.
Second: Ms. Lott Richardson
AYE: Mr. Biggs, Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Johnson, Ms. Lott Richardson, Mr. Stettner. Motion passes.
IV. Minutes Approved in consent agenda.
5:15 p.m. Open Forum
Mr. Hamilton read the open forum statement at this time. The following persons spoke before the board:
Paul Scott, Glenwood Springs - Mr. Scott made a proposal to the board regarding a pilot program integrating his studies of a perfection performance educational system.
GSHS Girls' Swim Team members presented their reasoning for continuing the Girls' Swim Team.
5:30 p.m. Presentation of Governor's Awards to Glenwood Springs High School, Basalt Elementary School and Basalt Middle School.
The Board congratulated these schools for their excellence and their recognition by the Governor of the State of Colorado. They were presented with framed certificates issued by the 2011 Governor's Distinguished Improvement Award.
5:35 p.m.
V. New Business
A. Discussion/Information Items
1. Canyon Creek School Grant Application
Ms. Pelland gave a brief history of the Canyon Creek School House and the devoted people who have worked over the years to keep it a viable structure. The building is in dire need of foundation repair and this grant will help with the cost of maintaining this historical building. The Canyon Creek Community group has raised $10,000 so far with another $10,000 to go to qualify for the 25% matching funds. The State Historical Fund would supply the remaining $80,000 if the grant is awarded.
2. Budget Discussion
Ms. Pelland gave an overview of the school budgeting process, reserves, anticipated cuts from the state and required expenditures for the coming year. The Board discussed its priorities for adding back programs or adding new programs. Mr. Hamilton stated that the board would offer suggestions, but would defer to administrators and teachers who have made recommendations. A final Interest Based Bargaining recommendation will be presented to the Board on April 18, 2012.
Mr. Stettner is uncomfortable using reserves. He would like to see each building's top ten list of priorities.
Mr. Johnson asked Ms. Haptonstall and Ms. Pelland to guide the board regarding reserve use.
Mr. Hamilton would like to see continued energy savings plans implemented in the schools. Full-day kindergarten is also a priority for him, realizing that some schools may not have the facilities to accommodate increased kindergarten enrollment. He is concerned about the lack of nursing staff at our schools. With the district's plan to conduct a communication audit, he would like to see a Public Information Officer and perhaps a part-time grant writer position implemented. He would also like to see each building have wireless capability. This item is included in the tech audit. Matt would like to see a facility plan update, a capital improvements plan. Ms. Pelland explained that the last Capital Improvement plan was done in 2004. She and Larry Estrada, Director of Facilities, are currently updating that plan.
Mr. Biggs would like to bring community input into the conversation. He would like to see custodial equipment upgraded to optimize staff efforts.
At this time, questions from the audience and the remote sites of CMS and BES were taken.
3. Tech Audit - Tabled
4. Moving On Report - Tabled
5. Staff reports
Judy Haptonstall: Judy expressed concern about participating in the Race to the Top program. The amount of funding received is not equal to the time and effort needed to complete all the data, status, annual surveys, etc. reporting. She recommends that our district decline in participating.
Shannon Pelland: No report
6. Board Reports
Terry Lott Richardson: Ms. Lott Richardson attended the BHS Band Fundraiser and an informational meeting about Child Pornography.
Daniel Biggs: Mr. Biggs and Richard Stettner will be meeting with members of AJUA and local Police Chiefs on February 29.
7. Superintendent Search Update
A master schedule has been created for the timeline of the search. Nikki Jost has been working very hard to coordinate all committee meetings. The online survey was completed by 348 people. Hazard, Young, Attea and Associates conducted 46 focus group meetings. HYA will be discussing the search at the March 14 meeting. Mr. Hamilton discussed the timeline of board member involvement in the final interviews.
B. Action Items
1. Routine Personnel – approved in consent agenda.
2. Approval of Best Grant application for the re-roof of BHS
Motion: Mr. Johnson moved that the Board approve the Best Grant application for the re-roofing of Basalt High School, as presented, and to authorize the Superintendent to sign the contract.
Second: Mr. Stettner
AYE: Mr. Biggs, Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Johnson, Ms. Lott Richardson, Mr. Stettner. Motion passes.
3. Review and approval of bus bids.
Motion: Mr. Johnson moved that the Board approve the bus bids, as presented. Second: Mr. Stettner.
AYE: Mr. Biggs, Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Johnson, Ms. Lott Richardson, Mr. Stettner. Motion passes.
4. Review and approval of the full-day kindergarten tuition rates for the 2012-2013 school year.
Motion: Mr. Johnson moved that the Board approve the recommended tuition rates for full-day kindergarten for the 2012-2013 school year, as presented.
Second: Mr. Stettner
AYE: Mr. Biggs, Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Johnson, Ms. Lott Richardson, Mr. Stettner. Motion passes.
5. Approval of the authorization to allow the Superintendent to sign the Medicaid Contract.
Motion: Mr. Johnson moved that the Board approve the authorization to allow the Superintendent to sign the Medicaid Contract, as presented. Second: Mr. Stettner
AYE: Mr. Biggs, Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Johnson, Ms. Lott Richardson, Mr. Stettner. Motion passes.
Open Forum - there were no requests to speak before the board at this time.
Executive Session
Motion: Mr. Stettner move that the board convene in executive session for the discussion of a personnel matter under C.R.S. Section 24-6-402(4)(f) and for the discussion of individual students where public disclosure would adversely affect the persons involved under C.R.S.Section 24-6-402(4)(h), inviting Judy Haptonstall and Shannon Pelland to join us. Second: Mr. Biggs
AYE: Mr. Biggs, Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Johnson, Ms. Lott Richardson, Mr. Stettner. Motion passes.
These minutes shall reflect that the board discussed the topics authorized in the motion to go into executive session and that no formal action was taken in executive session. This executive session was electronically recorded.
Return to Regular Session
VI. Adjourn.
Motion: Ms. Lott-Richardson moved that the Board adjourn at 7:00 p.m. Second: Mr. Biggs
AYE: Mr. Biggs, Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Johnson, Ms. Lott Richardson, Mr. Stettner. Motion passes.
Respectfully submitted, Respectfully submitted,
Cynthia L. Hallford Daniel Biggs
Recording Secretary Secretary/Treasurer of the Board