Meeting Date: August 11 & 12, 2004

Present: Dick K., Frank S., Dave C., Jay N., Joe B., Madeline Y., Steve H., Bob S., Laurie S., Bruce G., Dick T. and Lynn Coale. Staff: Ray P., Bob J. and Michael Marks until 3:00

1. President’s Report - Peter spoke with us via speakerphone from Maine. He talked about his goals for the VPA.

• Peter started by commending Ray and Bob for the progress we made on the strategic plan and his goal is to have us continue making that progress.
• Continue co-hosting workshops with other organizations. He cited the positive words we received at the leadership academy.
• With IAL and VELA phasing out, we are going to have to step up and fill the gaps with leadership activities in Vermont.
• He worked with a group to look at site-based masters programs.
• Focus on high school reform work that we are becoming involved in.
• Hopes to have a president-elect on board with elementary or middle school background.
• To have some level of equity in regards to gender on Executive Council.
• He wants to continue to grow as a leader and appreciates this opportunity.

2. NAESP and NASSP Reports

NASSP – Bob Stevens talked about the leadership meeting in DC. This year they didn’t center on membership as they have in the past. There was much more emphasis on the “hill” visits. This year we met with Bernie Sanders and Jim Jeffords. They are all pro-education and always vote the “right” way. He talked about how we were encouraged to get more involved in promoting our views and positions.

NAESP – Dave Cobb talked about other aspects of NCLBA that we lobbied on. Rod Paige spoke to us and there appears to be more flexibility and a softening. The reps also asked how they could support us.

Federal Relations Report – Dick Taylor talked about the importance of using the association web pages to contact legislators. He then talked about Jeffords plan to introduce legislation about full funding.

Merger Study – The DC group reported about the proposed merger study between both associations. Whether there is a recommended to merge or not, there will be recommendations on how to better work together. Also, the study will be given to the national boards, and then they will decide if they will present it to the membership.

Bob S. made a motion to support the NAESP/NASSP merger study for about $1,300 and to let Ray decide how best pay for it. Madeline Y. seconded it. Unanimous approval.

3. Executive Director’s Report

• Political advocacy. Ray reiterated the need to use the web pages and talked about the changes in our VPA web changes on the legislative page that has direct links to the NAESP, NASSP and State Legislature web pages. Frank S. cautioned us because people will think that our speaking out against NCLBA is part of the problem. He further felt that the politicians have to promote the good schools on the stump. Dave Cobb talked about the Maine position on NCLBA. Ray mentioned that he hopes to craft/borrow a statement from MESPA.org.
• Appointments to ASC: Lynn Coal moved and Dick T. seconded appointments of Bill Lawson and Paul Moccia to the Activities Standards Committee. Approved.
• Election of President-Elect: Dick K. moved and Jay N. seconded Ray’s recommended process. Unanimous. Madeline Y. and Laurie S. were nominated. Each candidate gave some brief remarks about being the President of the VPA. They then left the room and we held a discussion about each candidate. The first vote was a tie, and then both candidates were given another opportunity to make a statement about their candidacy. On the second vote, Laurie Singer was elected as the President-elect. She then came up front to run the rest of the meeting. Bob made some suggestions for improvement in the process based on our first experience during the meeting. Ray will present a revised process at the next meeting based on Bob’s suggestions.
• Strategic Plan Status Report: Ray gave some highlights on the Strategic Plan Status report. Lynn C. talked about the hope of Tech Directors having a more collaborative relationship with high schools around issues of imbedded credit. Laurie mentioned a need to do something with mentoring. Ray recommended putting an Ad Hoc committee together to look into the issue.
• Joint Meeting VPA/SBOE/DOE: Ray talked about the joint meeting work with DOE for this event.
• Meeting Dates: The dates for the Executive Council meetings were reviewed from the packet of information. They are:
  
  September 21st – Joint VPA/SBE meeting at the State House
  November 18th - VPA Office, 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
  February 3rd-4th – Place TBA
  March 31st – Place TBA, 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
  May 3rd – Joint meeting with ASC, EC meeting, Annual Meeting and Hall of Fame

4. Director of Student Activities Report: We moved this up on the agenda because Bob had to leave to teach his college course. He reported on the following items:

• The decision by ASC about checking out the feasibility of dance. A motion was made and seconded to check into the feasibility of offering competitive dance no sooner than the 2005-06 school year. Approved.
• The possibility of sponsoring a chess tourney. The council was supportive of Ray checking this out.
• Frank S. suggested we look at a mathematics competition.
• Bob J. reported on outsourcing this year. He explained what we did compared to what we originally planned to do. We only “outsourced” the student council activity. We covered all the rest, with the help of some people helping at the championships.
• We are working with D.O.E., Vermont Humanities Council and Burlington Free Press on having a competition for an individual spelling bee student to attend the national.
• The program from the Positive Coaching Alliance that will be offered in the Barre area for coaches (elementary, middle, high school and youth sports).

5. Approval of Minutes

The Executive Council minutes from May 4th and the Annual Meeting minutes from May 4th were approved.

6. Elaine Pinckney, Deputy Commissioner of Education – Elaine joined us in the afternoon and again for dinner.

7. Executive Session – Personnel Issue. Lynn C. moved, seconded by Dick T. that the Executive Director may have the option of choosing life insurance or VPA annuity funding as long as the costs are neutral between the two options. Motion passed.

Thursday, August 12, 2004

Present: Dick K., Frank S., Dave C., Jay N., Joe B., Madeline Y., Steve H., Bob S., Laurie S., Dick T. and Lynn Coale. Staff: Ray P. and Bob J.

1. Un-audited financial report – Ray gave highlights of the un-audited report:

• Did not use the reserve that was budgeted.
• We are anticipated to be $12,000 in the black.
• Net between budgeted income and expenditures was -$622.21.
• Frank S. raised the issue of some sports or activities charging fees and some not. Ray will refer issue it to the ASC. Bob will provide a delineation of which sports and activities pay a fee and which won’t.

2. Recommendations for Committees – The list was provided in the packet. Dave C. moved and Jay N. seconded to approve the recommendation for committee assignments. Approved. A motion was made by Dave C. to authorize Ray and Bo to fill committees, Jay N. seconded. Approved.

3. Update on Issues

• Ray talked about legislative issues that we may be facing in the upcoming legislative session ranging from sports to professional.
• Lynn suggested we have a legislative slate or positions.
• Frank S. asked if he envisioned a time when high schools or the VPA does not sponsor interscholastic activities. Why are we doing it if there is no longer a level playing field? How far are we from letting others run the programs, and so be it.
• Madeline Y. recommended we work on being more proactive. Ray and Jay will work with legislative committee to work on increasing the voice of actual principals at the legislature.
• Frank S. talked about drafting a team’s bill of rights. It might help people to better understanding of team versus individual rights. Bob will email NFHS to see if anything exists.
• Dick K. asked that on the November agenda we formally address the question of restructuring the VPA. He cited the improvement on the legislative and professional development side, but we are still mired in the original mission. Time at the next meeting to frame questions. The questions would be: Should we think about restructuring the VPA?
• Lynn C. cited that most of our committees are still sports and activities. He gave as an example that we don’t have a NCLBA committee.

4. Guests: School Nurses-SharonLee Trefry, Ann Bannister and Nancy Coleman joined us at 11:00. SharonLee worked from a PowerPoint and she will send a copy to Ray so that it can be sent out to the Executive Council members.

• Sharon gave a brief history and data of school nursing in Vermont schools. Some themes: training and expertise differences between LPN’s and RN’s; difference in wages between schools and hospitals; shortages we will soon face; implications of hiring an Associate Nurse (lower wages, start-up costs, etc.); and the School Health Coordinating Council.
• Bob J. asked how many nurses were on teacher contracts versus being hired on an hourly basis. SharonLee wasn’t sure, but she feels that it is increasing. But it may go in the other direction, due to opening it up to associate nurses.
• Suggestions for VPA support:
  - Get our word about importance of training for associate degree nurses.
  - The need for supervision and possible compensation for supervisors.
  - SharonLee passed out an idea sheet.
  - Ann Bannister will send info to us about workshops and we will include the information in the musings.
  - Email addresses: strefry@mtabe.k12.vt.us ncolmen@svsu.org and abannister@rutlandhs.k12.vt.us

5. Guests: VSBIT-John Guttman, Ray Proulx and Joe Zimmerman

• John G. and Joe Z. explained the role of VSBIT and the self-evaluation they are going through. They came to meet with us to get our feedback on what they are doing.
• Joe Z. talked about the School Management Resource Center. They suggest that districts should have a HRC person and a plant manager. They have a planner on staff and can provide workshops on Human Resources for schools. Joe wondered if principals would be interested in attending those workshops. They also provide grants for Human Resources. They also have a full-time physical plant engineer on staff and he is often in schools dealing with athletic field maintenance to construction. He mentioned the Engineered Cleaning program – software can convert square footage into time to do tasks, etc. They can provide support on management training and that leads to risk management. When they are out in the field, they see many workers’ compensation exposure issues. They are committed to loss prevention measures in their buildings. There are some freebies (Tim is available by phone and can give a day or two.) but longer commitments require some investment. They provide about 75% of the funding in grant form.
  Bob suggested that we get the information from VSBIT about opportunities. John Gutman will make info available to our association. VSBIT.org (password)
  
  

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