(Approved Monday, March 12, 2007)

WESTMORE SCHOOL DISTRICT

BOARD MEETING MINUTES

JANUARY 18, 2007

After having been duly warned regarding a change in time, date, and location, the January 2007 Westmore School District meeting was held on January 24, 2007 at 3pm at the Orleans Central Supervisory Office. Present from the board: Auburn Harter, John Alexander and Anne Alexander. Ron Paquette, Superintendent and Susan Watson, Business Manager were also in attendance.

The meeting was called to order at 3:10 pm by Chairman John Alexander. The minutes of the September 14, 2006 meeting were approved as written on a motion by Auburn, seconded by John and so voted.

Ron distributed a handout titled, "Success in Vermont Schools" from the VSA, VPA, and VSBA. According to "Education Week’s Quality Counts 2007" data, Vermont schools performed third best in the nation in achievement and achievement gains. Ron also discussed initiatives in the supervisory union meant to refine efforts to align curriculum from sending schools to the high school and to address particularly reading needs according to assessment information at the high school. Math and science assessments are also being studied to address areas indicating need for improvement.

Restructuring of special education delivery services is a topic Ron has been working with at the administrative level with the Director of Special Services, Holly Preston and with school principals. The state has been honing numbers in its audits which requires more detailed record keeping at the school and supervisory union levels. He gave a brief explanation of possible changes in disbursement of Title I, and Medicaid monies to meet the state’s requirements.

Susan Watson, the newly hired business manager, showed the board the reorganization of the central office and shared information regarding announced tuition rates for area schools. Because Westmore tuitions its elementary students to schools in the supervisory union the numbers are of particular interest. The six elementary schools have set a rate of $8,000 and the high school’s tuition rate will be $8,670 for towns that don’t belong to OCSU whose students choose Lake Region for their high school.

John has recently spoken with Dave Smith, the bus driver, regarding route changes this year. Dave feels that the new route is working well to date, and the roads haven’t yet been a problem. He will keep us informed on safety issues.

There have been changes in Westmore elementary student numbers with four students now residing in other towns.

Superintendent Evaluation Forms were distributed to board members. They’ll be filled out and collated and sent to OCSU Board Chair Dan Lussier by Monday of next week.

The meeting was adjourned at 3:55 pm on a motion by Auburn, seconded by Anne and so voted.

The next Westmore School District meeting will be held on March 15, 2007 at 7pm at Lake Region Union High School.

Respectfully submitted,

Anne Alexander