CCS School Board Tackles Difficult Issues
by Rowan Beck,
May 5, 2011, page 6.....

At the regular School Board meeting Tuesday, April 26, the discussion included a variety of policies affecting board members, non-resident teachers with children, and students. The larger than usual turnout included parents who waited patiently for a discussion of bullying.
Board member Kristin Wright, who represents CCS on the CSSU District Policy Committee, led the discussion of a number of policies including one involving conflict of interest. Board member Clyde Baldwin questioned why the policy expanded the definition of conflict of interest, as it is already defined for public officials in Vermont statutes. The proposed process for dealing with a conflict of interest was also debated. Under the policy, if a board member is thought to have a conflict of interest by other board members and the accused member disagrees, there would be an informal hearing made up of the other board members. They would decide whether the conflict exists. It was suggested that this could create discord among board members and limit the board’s ability to work as a team, and that an alternative would be to have a group unrelated to the board determine whether a conflict exists. Wright is going to return to the policy committee with the board’s questions and thoughts.
When the topic of bullying was reached, board members indicated they believed that CCS had a problem even though the official data did not substantiate it. Audience member Donna Speilman expressed her frustration with the bullying her daughters have suffered for the three years that they have attended CCS. Monica Marshall, PTO president, described the frustrations that she had been hearing from other parents. Sue Thibault suggested a survey go out to all the students and parents, and a parent added that the paraeducators who monitor children in the cafeteria and on the playground should also be included anonymously. Board members agreed that they need to get to the root of the problem. They questioned the effectiveness of PBIS – the Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports Program that is being used at the school. Clyde Baldwin relayed that bullying was a common occurrence historically but wanted to know how the school could approach it differently to get better results. Donna Speilman asked, “Does a child have to be bleeding?”
An action item on the agenda was related to a teacher’s request to expand the “enrollment of children of non-resident teachers program.” With this program, a teacher’s child receives a voucher and is allowed to attend the school free of charge, waiving the $12,000 tuition. After discussion that at times became rather heated, the board ultimately decided no on a vote of 3-2. Opposing members felt they had to say no because it could be costly for the school and would set a precedent. Chair Lynne Jaunich pointed out that there are other people who own land and pay taxes in Charlotte, but live in another town and have to pay tuition. Tom Scatchard, who represents CCS teachers at School Board meetings, spoke in favor of the grant saying the teacher would be able to perform her duties better if both her children were at CCS, since she would be available before and after school. Lastly, during the directors’ comments portion of the agenda, Andrea Holmes, who missed earlier audience communications, voiced her displeasure about rumored upcoming staffing changes and her fear that Sara Raabe, a fifth grade teacher, would lose her job. Holmes said there was “ a lot of fat in the teachers’ contracts that could be cut out,” making enough to keep Raabe. She also spoke out against the “last hired first fired policy.” She commended Raabe’s teaching abilities and said it would be a great loss to the students if she were replaced. The administration and the board assured her that the teacher configuration has not yet been set for next year.