The meeting began with the normal Call to Order, Agenda Review, and Flag Salute.
The first Community Comments portion of the meeting included a comment from a community member regarding pride month and related topics.
The Consent Agenda included the approval of a warrant, transfer to ArbiterSports Account (this account pays for sports referee payments and is in the amount of $15,000), contracts, and the approval of Facilities, Regular, and Policy Committee meeting minutes.
The Reports to the Board portion of the meeting included:
– Superintendent Report discussed the three-year $450,000 VT Act 178 Afterschool Center Grant awarded to MTSD and Milton Family Community Center that will be supplemented with Title I and IV funds that will expand and strengthen after-school programming for K-8 students, with a goal of engaging 80% of MES and MMS students in learning, creativity, and fun by the end of the year. Also noted the creation of a Parent Advisory Group and will be seeking membership beginning in August. Its purpose will be to provide input and outreach to technology initiatives (e.g. cell phone policy, A.I., and social media education) and discuss and provide outreach to Milton families regarding VT’s Education Transformation transition. Expected to include 2-3 parents from each school meeting monthly for 60-90 minutes, possibly first Thursday of each month. Finally, provided some updates from the VT Agency of Education and provided a legislative update.
– Finance Report was presented by the Finance Director with monthly financials information provided in the packet.
– Committee Reports. The Policy Committee has several policies to bring to the next board meeting. Discussed District Quality Standards.
The Presentations portion of the meeting included:
– A presentation regarding the benefits of the “Wise Benefits Platform” for handling supplemental insurance was given. MTSD currently offers Life and Long-Term Disability Insurance through Aflac. Sales pitch is from a different insurance provider servicing ten other districts in Vermont that use this platform that would be more digital and efficient than current paper processes. However, the requirement with this provider, would be to add two additional supplemental benefit plans in addition to the current two offered through Aflac. It sounded like this would be at no expense to the town as it sounded like the employee may be responsible entirely for the costs of these supplemental insurance offerings.
– A presentation of Student Progress Monitoring was provided. Continue to be looking at growth, not proficiency, based on how these tools measure. Please watch the LCATV video for the full presentations.
The Discussion portion of the meeting included:
– Purchase of Science Kits were discussed with information regarding the costs in the packet. ECA Ready-To-Teach Science Kit Services totaling $21,189.60 that has been budgeted for.
– CFG Grant Funded Strategies request to use various programs to assist teacher instruction in math and literacy totaling $122,900. Pending grant funding.
– Specialized Equipment Loan and Sale. Equipment one of the students had who is leaving that another school district could use would like to loan until they obtain their own. Additional equipment would like to sell that’s under the $500 limit to not need to list for sale publicly.
– Board Input on draft Continuous Improvement Plan (CIP). See LCATV video for extensive discussion.
– Joint Meeting with Selectboard Agenda Items. Occurring June 30th at 6:00 at the Town Offices. Possible topics include discuss issues with the dogs, what “Hot Topics” are occurring for each, and congratulations to Chris Taylor as new Town Manager.
– Staff Recognitions. Options including Coffee on Fridays, Custom Notecards, Employee of the Month Parking, and Years-of-Service Pins and costs were discussed. Details in packet. The board would like to do the employee-of-the-month and employee milestone at MTSD pins at convocation.
– Board final discussion of Action Items. Board member requested separation of voting for board policy B20 Personnel Recruitment, Selection and Appointment (Recommended) from all other policies that could be voted on jointly. Board member spoke about the numerous concerns with this policy, its implementation, and why they would be voting “no.”
The second Community Comments portion of the meeting included a comment from the same community member from the first Community Comments responding to the board member in the final discussion of the Action Items relating to reasons for wanting to vote “no” on policy B20.
The Action Items portion of the meeting included the purchase of Science Kits, Specialized Equipment Loan and Sale, and the adoption of several policies, including (copies in packet):
– Passed purchase of science kits.
– Adopted the following policies:
o A23 Community Engagement and Vision (Recommended)
o B3 Alcohol and Drug Free Workplace (Required)
o B20 Personnel Recruitment, Selection and Appointment (Recommended) Two board members were opposed.
o C8 Pupil Privacy Rights (Required)
o C9 Wellness (Required)
o D24 Special Education (Recommeded)
o E21 Distribution of Non-School Sponsored Literature in Schools (Recommended)
– Approval of $2,000 towards materials for staff recognition.
The Board Comments portion of the meeting included two board members who commented on going to the recent middle school play and high school graduation ceremony, one board member provided an example of how “equity” in schools has been implemented in other school districts, and one board member commented on being excited to see the MTSD staff come celebrate at their staff celebration event.
An Executive Session that was scheduled to conclude the night was cancelled.