Jan. 6 Meeting Notes

In attendance:

Allegra Miller, Carla Wuthrich, Betsy Knox, Heidi Bouchard, Nancy Wood, Kristin Miskavage, Tanya Jones, Maureen Locker, Kim Hopwood, Doug Stewart, Kim Gordon, Lisa Ayer, Alyssa Lasher, Ali Douglas, Sue Bergeron, Kate Dodge, Jeff O’Hara.

Presentation from the School Board

Facilitated by Keith Roberts, Board Chair

• Review of the budgeting process. The board starts around Thanksgiving each year reviewing the budget with administration, SU administration, and budget buddies.
• Budget buddies are Hinesburg residents who are non-board members. There are 5 this year including Paul Lasher, Tina Specht, Stacy Riley, Dave Brown, and Larry Telford. Meetings are held November-January to refine a draft budget to submit to the community.
• This year, the annual school meeting will take place prior to Town Meeting Day (voting day), at 6 pm in the auditorium of CVU on Monday, March 3^rd.
• The meeting will be similar in format as compared to past years.  However, voting will be done on Town Meeting day (Mar. 4) by Australian ballot.
• The next budget meeting is January 13^th; with the final meeting on January 15^th to work on the details. Both meetings are at 6 pm in Paul Rocheleau’s room at HCS.  The meetings will also be broadcast through RETN.
• The baseline budget is the document that the board starts from. It shows the cost for delivering the same program next year as this year, with no changes.  This year’s baseline budget was a 2.7% increase (which was smaller than last year’s increase).
• Decision packets from the administration were offered and shared with the board. None of these options have been voted on, the proposals are as follows:
• Hiring 2 new classroom teachers for 2014-2015 academic year including new 1st grade and 4^th grade teachers. This is to meet the demand of a growing enrollment at HCS and compared to the class size guidelines given by the state.
• These additions would be paid for by eliminating the Family Consumer Science program, reducing some positions to part time (math coordinator to .4 ) and changing the delivery model of Tier 2 services (essential math and literacy support) so that services would be offered by skilled para-professionals.
• Adding a middle school level student support position (this would offer both guidance and behavioral plan support at the middle school level).
• School budgeting is only a portion of the overall property tax. The state of Vermont has proposed a $.07 increase in the state-based education tax. This is nothing that our school/building budget process has any control over.
• Per pupil cost for HCS is slightly declining due to the increase in student population.
• A joint Town Select Board and HCS board meeting took place in December. The board learned that VTRANS is proposing to add sidewalks to Silver Street as part of “Safe Routes to School.” This would bring students to the top of Silver Street to cross during morning rush traffic without a light or crossing guard, plus two parking lots. VTRANS has been told of the safety concerns, but are not yet demonstrating consideration of this notion.  Contacting Bill Lippert or VTRANS directly to share your opinions around this proposal.

Questions:

• What influenced the idea of eliminating the family consumer science program? What would replace that time?
• Due in part to the new Common Core Standards, classroom teachers have more demands on their time than ever before, and they will likely expand current blocks to fill the FCS void.
• Jeff O’Hara shared that the middle school health teacher would likely cover some of the topics covered in FCS.
• Maureen Locker shared that school quality standards included Family Consumer Science, but does not include world languages for younger students.
• Cost (bang for your buck) has been analyzed and keeping world languages for younger students did not have an overall high impact on cost.
• Are there any other proposed budget cuts that HCS families should know about?
• There are 2 more budget meetings left in the process, and information and ideas are always changing. The information provided tonight is accurate as of today; however, that may change before the final budget is proposed to the community.
• For example, an additional bus route was proposed, but due to cost ($30K) the plan was not further explored. Work will need to be done to the White Building to take on the increasing number of students that is coming up in the system. 

PIE Updates

Celebrations and Help Needed

• The band played during lunchtime before the holiday break; everyone enjoyed the music and festivity.
• Science readers have been received and are being used. Betsy Knox shared her thanks for the PIE grant.
• 3^rd graders are starting their rainforest project.
• 6^th graders are starting research on a country. Students are using the Evernote app on the iPad to help students organize their research/thinking.
• Kindergarten is starting their winter themes.
• 5^th graders are studying capitols and explorers.
• 2^nd graders are studying symmetry and snowflake formation.
• 6^th grade is doing the Penguin Plunge.  In the past a foundation has donated money to help all students who want to participate.  Any donations are welcomed; also let anyone with business connections know if they might be able to support this effort. Contact Paul Lasher.

Help Wanted

• Betsy Knox is looking for help printing out information from DVDs and putting it in a notebook for teacher reference. Time would be spent in the computer lab and start with one grade level, then progress to others from there. This could be done at school or at home (if you don’t mind using your printer ink).
• Katie O’Brien is looking for help taking down lanterns from Dwali. She is also looking for clean baby jars with lids, and plastic water bottles with caps.
• Tom Darling requested help guiding students in “make overs” and helping with clothing choices for both boys/girls. Unsure if there are resources in the community who would be willing to help (hair dressers, stylists, make up artists, etc). If you know anyone, let him know.

Principal’s Report

• Best practice in math is continuing with some workshop days happening (so this is why your student might be having a sub).
• Common Core work continues re: how to combine current curriculum with the Common Core.
• Rehearsals have started for the spring musical “The Little Mermaid” which will be presented in April.
• HCS recently received a $1,000 grant from the Zimmerman Foundation. This grant will support multi-grade art projects. Ideas include a new mural by the front office, creating a sign for the garden, etc.

Fundraising Update

• Thank you to Heart of Vermont Productions for a $400 donation to PiE.  This was in thanks for our volunteer efforts at the Dynamic Duathlon race in Hinesburg in October 2013.
• PiE has asked to be a beneficiary of an upcoming Community Supper at the Hinesburgh Public House.  Thanks Heidi Simkins for following up on that request.
• Our next event is the Pancake Breakfast and Basket Raffle on deck for Saturday, March 15.  More soon on how you can help.
• February 10 is the next deadline for getting your box tops/labels for education in to your child’s classroom.
• The fundraising committee is looking for more volunteers to help support the events. They hope this spring to get some new parents involved to help decrease burdening the same people in fundraising efforts. 

Staff Appreciation

• A staff massage day is being planned for February. Please let Ali Douglas know if there are any ideas that we can help support as a group. 

Enrichment

• Aimee Frost and Kitty Frazier are starting a chess-playing group. This will be a 4-week session for K-4 students.  They need parents to help from 3-4pm on the following Mondays:  1/27, 2/3, 2/10, 2/17. You can come to one or all the sessions.  If you’re able to help, or could donate a chess set or accessories, please email Aimee Frost or 482-3276.
• GeoBee is next week. Barb Spaulding and Kitty Frazier have been working with 3-5^th graders on this effort.

Playground Improvements

Frank Twarog had initiated the conversation about improving our playground after visiting a natural playground in Woodstock, VT.  Creating a committee to look at space, talk about feasibility, and simple first steps (like a sandbox).  Secretary will check in with Frank and see if the conversation will be continued more formally at an upcoming PIE meeting.

Next PIE Meeting is February 3, 2014 at 6 pm.