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A
description of the meeting, who was there, action items and
the next meeting date.
Executive
Council Meeting Minutes
November 17, 2005
Present:
Peter E., Laurie S., Joe B., Dick K., Frank S., Judi M., Steve
H., Dave C., June S., Rob B., Debi P., Staff: Ray P. and Bob
J. Guests: David Driscoll (Principal Harwood UHS), Bob Stevens
& Tracy Gallo (DOE)
Welcome:
Peter welcomed members and guests to the meeting.
Approval
of Minutes: Minutes of summer retreat (August 10th
& 11th) approved. Moved by Dick K., seconded by Dave C.
Reports:
- President’s
Report: Peter handed out a written report that included
information on:
- High
School Completion Advisory Committee
- VPA2
- New Faces in New Places Workshop
- Lunch Meeting with State Board of Education
- NASSP Region One Meeting
- DOE Committee – Comprehensive High School
- Assist VPA Executive Staff as needed
- NAESP
Report: Dave C. handed out a written and pre-punched report.
The items included:
- National
advocacy
- School advocacy
- PLN – Frank S. reported that two of the PLN people will
lose their positions and PLN is no longer being funded.
However, they did get a grant and the Rhode Island association
will be the financial agent.
- Membership
- NAESP Conference-San Antonio
- NASSP
Report: Joe B. handed out a written report. The items included:
- Legislative
Issues
- Conferences
- Recommended speakers and programs
- Annual Convention
- National Issues
- Retirement of Bruce Gee from NASSP Board of Directors
- Federal
Relations Report: Madeline Y. couldn’t make the meeting,
but did send in a written report.
- NFHS
Report: Steve H. discussed his board meeting in October.
They discussed:
- Steroids
project
- Adopted a financial policy manual
- Dr. John Olson presented on assessment of high school
athletic programs. His experience was that he never received
complaints from parents of kids on individual sports. You
can contact him through NFHS.
- Discussions on rules.
- Approved new committee assignments.
Committee
Reports
- VPA
Principals’ Institute Planning Committee: Laurie S. reported
on the discussions on the new format for this year. Strands
might be differentiated instruction, High Schools on the
Move, cognitive coaching, and building literacy through
the arts. Three overnight dates (March, April and May).
- Annual
Leadership Academy Planning Committee: Ray P. reported on
the status of the planning for this summer. He mentioned
possible strands and speakers: Richard Rauthstein, Sam Chaltain,
Andy Hargreaves and Chris Jorenstad.
- Middle
Level Committee: Laurie S. presented a draft of a middle
level mission statement drafted by the committee and discussed
the importance of promoting the importance of middle level
education. Ray P. mentioned that Dave Barnet from DOE and
Linda Bourne from VAMLE. Approved with addition of II for
Turning Points: Frank S. moved, Dick K. seconded.
Guest:
David Driscoll said that he felt bad that we were in the middle
of the conflict with track issue. In Mass, parents did not
have direct access to the principals association. If parents
wanted to appeal anything, the principal had to appeal. He
passed out some materials from the Mass association. He then
shared some other thoughts: standard drug and alcohol policy,
minimum academic eligibility policy, conflicts with PSAT and
SAT dates, and sporting events during Jewish holidays.
Executive Director’s Report
- Personnel
Policy change, Section VI, A: Joe B. and Dave C. seconded.
Approved the addition of the following to A: At the discretion
of the Executive Director, part-time employees may be paid
for some or all of the above mentioned holidays.
- Co-sponsorship
of Firm Footings: Making Early Child Care and Education
Better in Vermont . The VPA will agree to be a cosponsor.
- VPA
Members’ Children Scholarship Program-Ray P. presented a
draft application. It was recommended that a committee be
formed prior to this going out. They would: complete application
form to include criteria. They should consider whether or
not parents involvement in VPA is one of the criteria as
a possible tiebreaker.
- Start
up of Elementary Committee – Ray P. reported that at Bob
Stevens suggestion, we will start an Elementary Committee.
He is meeting with Ken Rensem (DOE Elementary Consultant)
tomorrow and they will discuss the possible work that the
committee will do and get out an all call for members.
- Civic
Education Summit: Ray P. reported on the successful summit
that was held at the Vermont State House yesterday. Over
180 people attended. Ray P. was on the planning committee.
Director
of Student Activities’ Report: Bob handed out a written
report. Items included:
- Update
on fall season: Weather issues, site issues (Frank’s point
on bullet points for sites), and financing.
- Positive
Coaching Alliance: two offerings in the fall. It was the
first time that we offered the parents workshop
- Dance
festival will be held at March 11th
- Summer
coaches conference in collaboration with VSADA is being
worked on.
- Activities
Standards Committee February meeting. Discussions will include:
1. Community High School of Vermont
2. 8th grade students playing on sub-varsity teams
3. Sunday participation
4. Spelling Competition finals this Saturday. Single competition
in February.
5. Hockey Rule – in order to be on team for tournament,
you must be on roster for 60% of regular season games. We
may have legal challenges to this rule.
6. Catastrophic injury in football game. Bob talked about
the support that the family has received.
DOE
News: Tracy Gallo and Bob Stevens
Bob Stevens
Bob
S. complimented Tracy for her ability and willingness to
be an advocate with the Commissioner.
- Kate
Rogers is a contact for EEE. She is a new hire and is excellent.
- Manuela
Fonseca and Jim Squires early education contacts. They will
be in the legislature about early education legislation
and rule making.
- He
talked about capacity issues at their division.
- Ken
Rensem has been visiting elementary school.
- Bob
S. is hoping that we can find common themes that go across
school levels.
- Dave
Barent is working with middle and high school. He is involved
in VAMLE. a
- Bob
S. talked about the visits to high schools.
- Bob
S. talked about the HSOM day on Dec. 8th
- Wants
to work with counselors at schools. Shelly Cohen is working
with high school and tech center counselors.
- Bruce
Parks is an action-planning specialist. He is retiring at
the end of December. He has a PowerPoint on action planning.
- Looking
to figure out how to work with librarians.
- Wondering
if there could be a K-12 summit in the summer. Joe B. mentioned
that he had approached CSC about doing that.
Tracy
Gallo
She
mentioned the great people that have been hired in the past
year. She complimented Bob for the work he is doing.
- Teaching
All Secondary Students (TASS): Dennis Kane through higher
ed collaborative.
- DOE
is working on School Support Manual – support department
can provide to all schools.
- Opportunities
for input through email: licensing issues (special Ed and
guidance will be combined for HS and Tech.); guidelines
around enrollment protocols (special ed students in particular)
for going into technical education.
- Early
ed work in legislature.
- SQS
were adopted at September meeting. June S. asked when SQS
will come out and Tracy will let Ray know.
June S.
offered kudos for the high number of DOE folks who participated
in strands at the differentiated instruction conference on
November 1st.
Pending
legislation: Peter E. and Ray P. gave updates on
the following legislative issues.
- AEL
funding: Peter passed some info out from the High School
Advisory Committee to the legislature. Peter discussed the
issue of funding issues related to use of the education
fund for AEL.
- Rep.
Lippert’s bill on harassment
- Farm
to school legislation
- World
Language in SQS
- NCLBA
NECAPS
Other:
- Membership:
Ray P. is working on a ‘VPA Member benefits’ document. People
agreed they will help make phone calls.
- Regional
Meetings: Ray P. asked if people would be willing to host
regionals. Rob mentioned the ones being held by Peter Mello.
- Recent
Professional Involvements: see Agenda Memo
Next
Meeting: February 2nd & 3rd, place TBA
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