[0:00] (upbeat music)
[0:03] At this point we will call-
[0:04] Recording in progress.
[0:06] Meeting of the Addison
[0:08] Central School District
[0:09] School Board to order
[0:11] on July 20th at 6.03 p.m.
[0:15] We will start off with introductions.
[0:19] Jason, if you want to start.
[0:20] Jason Chams?
[0:22] Laura Hartson.
[0:23] May we have a double?
[0:24] Jess Venable-Nodak.
[0:26] Robin South.
[0:27] Steve Orzak.
[0:29] Ron Mecklen.
[0:30] Steve Cash.
[0:31] Nellie Colaso, Assistant Superintendent.
[0:33] Jamie Rital.
[0:35] Sonya Eflin, Director
[0:37] of Equity, Inclusion,
[0:38] and Restorative Practices.
[0:40] Thank you.
[0:42] So at this point we will
[0:44] move to our first agenda item,
[0:48] which is a motion to adopt the agenda.
[0:51] So moved.
[0:53] Right.
[0:55] Do you want to do an amendment now or?
[0:57] Yes, I think we do
[0:59] need to agenda the agenda.
[1:02] (laughing)
[1:04] Amend the agenda.
[1:05] Sorry folks, a little bit
[1:07] of a summer haze coming off.
[1:11] Yes, I think we need to amend the agenda
[1:14] because we have the
[1:15] executive session as agenda item H,
[1:19] and we will need to make a
[1:20] decision on the individual
[1:22] that is going to fill
[1:23] the vacant shore on seat
[1:25] after that executive session.
[1:28] So is there a motion to amend the agenda?
[1:33] So moved to amend the
[1:34] agenda to insert an action item
[1:37] after an H to appoint
[1:40] the shore representative.
[1:42] All right.
[1:43] Is there any discussion about the motion?
[1:49] All right.
[1:49] All those in favor of
[1:51] amending the agenda,
[1:52] please indicate by saying aye.
[1:54] Aye.
[1:55] All those opposed, please say nay.
[1:59] All right, we have amended the agenda.
[2:04] All right, our next item of business
[2:06] is the first public comment period.
[2:09] Actually Jason, before we go forward,
[2:11] do we have any board
[2:12] members joining us online?
[2:15] I think you can see.
[2:17] I think you're seeing Ann.
[2:18] All right, yes, if
[2:19] we've had some of our--
[2:20] That's our Ann.
[2:20] That's our Ann.
[2:24] (board members clapping)
[2:27] All right, Ann, if you
[2:28] could please introduce yourself.
[2:34] All right, try that again.
[2:38] We did not hear you.
[2:40] I tried the first time.
[2:44] All right, thank you.
[2:51] All right.
[2:53] So at this point, we're on to our first
[2:56] public comment period.
[2:58] We will start in the room.
[3:00] If there are individuals that would like
[3:02] to make a public comment,
[3:03] and then we'll go online,
[3:05] I will remind everyone that
[3:06] there's a three minute limit
[3:08] on public comments.
[3:10] So if at this point, anyone in the room
[3:12] would like to make a public comment,
[3:14] please raise your hand with this.
[3:18] I'm not good at this sort of thing,
[3:19] so don't pull me responsible.
[3:23] I am-- Do you mind saying your name?
[3:26] Sorry. Yeah, thank you.
[3:27] I've never been to one
[3:28] of these things before.
[3:29] My name is here Bergeron.
[3:31] I am a Shoreham resident.
[3:33] My daughter is a senior
[3:35] this year at the high school,
[3:37] and we have the privilege
[3:39] of being next door neighbors
[3:41] to Ms. Abigail, and
[3:43] I'm here to support her
[3:45] as being on the school
[3:47] board for the Shoreham opening.
[3:51] I think Abigail, does it
[3:55] really matter which one?
[3:57] Okay, I think Abby
[3:58] would make a great addition
[3:59] to the school board.
[4:00] She is very determined,
[4:02] she's very passionate.
[4:03] She cares about the future
[4:06] of the school for the kids.
[4:09] She's a great mother.
[4:10] She's got three
[4:12] wonderful girls who she teaches
[4:16] all kinds of amazing life skills too,
[4:19] and how to just be great girls.
[4:22] Like today, my 15 turkeys
[4:25] wandered over to her yard.
[4:28] And it was great.
[4:31] She was fantastic and patient,
[4:33] and I think she would do her best,
[4:38] and just be determined
[4:42] and will have any issues
[4:44] that need to be addressed.
[4:48] Yeah, she'd make a great addition.
[4:51] So I'm not good at this,
[4:54] so that's all I have to say.
[4:55] That's all right, thank you.
[4:57] You've seen some of my
[4:58] missteps this evening,
[4:59] so it happens.
[5:01] All right, did you
[5:05] have anything else to say?
[5:07] Not that I can think of on this spot,
[5:09] because public speaking, not my thing.
[5:14] (laughing)
[5:15] Thank you.
[5:16] All right, so at this
[5:18] point, we will move online.
[5:20] I see one hand online.
[5:22] Megan, would you like
[5:24] to make a public comment?
[5:30] Go ahead, Megan.
[5:32] Can we now?
[5:33] Yep, you can. Yes.
[5:35] Okay, so I would also
[5:37] like to say my opinion
[5:42] about how wonderful it would be
[5:45] an opportunity for Adam Murphy
[5:46] to be a member of the
[5:49] board representing Shoreham.
[5:51] I am currently a teacher at Shoreham.
[5:55] I had been the pre-school,
[5:56] or I had been the kindergarten teacher,
[6:00] and I did one last year,
[6:03] and I'll be the
[6:05] pre-school teacher there this year.
[6:08] And this year, from
[6:10] wonderful getting snow abbey,
[6:12] she knows the Shoreham community,
[6:14] she knows the people of Shoreham,
[6:17] and she is an amazing
[6:18] advocate for the family
[6:20] and for the children there,
[6:23] and I think she would be an amazing
[6:25] addition to the board
[6:26] as a Shoreham representative.
[6:28] (mumbles)
[6:32] All right, thank you, Megan.
[6:37] All right, is there
[6:39] anyone else in the room
[6:40] that would like to make a public comment?
[6:45] All right, then you'll go back online.
[6:48] Is there other individuals online
[6:50] that would like to make a public comment?
[6:52] (mumbles)
[6:59] Anyone online would like
[7:00] to make a public comment,
[7:01] please raise your hand
[7:03] so that we can see it.
[7:06] All right, at this point,
[7:07] I'm not seeing any other
[7:08] comments in the room or online,
[7:11] and so we will move to
[7:13] our next agenda item,
[7:15] which is agenda item C,
[7:17] recommendation to approve the minutes
[7:20] of June 22nd, 2026.
[7:23] So moved.
[7:24] All right, is there any
[7:26] discussion about this motion?
[7:31] I thought these were
[7:31] especially clear minutes.
[7:33] Thank you very much.
[7:34] No question.
[7:37] So any other discussion?
[7:41] All right, we will move
[7:42] to vote on the motion.
[7:44] All those in favor,
[7:45] please indicate by saying aye.
[7:47] Aye.
[7:48] All those opposed,
[7:50] please say nay.
[7:52] All right, the minutes
[7:54] from June 22nd are approved.
[7:58] Our next order of business
[7:59] is the Addison Central
[8:01] School District Bills,
[8:03] and I will turn that over to you, Jess.
[8:05] Wow, okay.
[8:06] Bear with me, everyone,
[8:07] because there's quite a few.
[8:10] So the first two are from June 29th.
[8:15] So we have a general fund warrant
[8:17] in the amount of $532,927.66
[8:25] and a payroll warrant in
[8:27] the amount of $111,639.80.
[8:34] There's also a general
[8:35] fund warrant from June 30th,
[8:38] because there was a few things
[8:43] in that last day of the
[8:44] fiscal year that needed their own.
[8:48] Stack of things to be approved.
[8:51] So the June 30th general fund warrant
[8:55] is in the amount of $133,469.28
[9:02] as well as a payroll warrant
[9:04] in the amount of $104,634.12.
[9:09] And then there is the first few bills
[9:17] of the new fiscal year.
[9:19] So a July 10th general fund warrant
[9:22] in the amount of $1,182,678.12.
[9:30] And then a July 8th payroll warrant
[9:33] in the amount of $196,000.
[9:36] $625.90.
[9:41] And I'm happy to make the motion
[9:44] to improve the warrants that I just read.
[9:50] Yeah, go for it.
[9:53] Great, I would love to make that motion.
[9:59] Yeah, all right, so you're saying--
[10:02] That's me making the motion.
[10:03] We're a little rusty here.
[10:07] Yeah.
[10:08] All right, is there any
[10:09] discussion about the motion?
[10:12] All right, we will go
[10:14] ahead and vote on the motion.
[10:16] All those in favor,
[10:17] please indicate by saying aye.
[10:19] Aye.
[10:21] Opposed, please say nay.
[10:24] All right, we have approved the bills.
[10:27] Thank you for going through those, Jess.
[10:30] With that, I'm happy to make the motion.
[10:31] With that, I will turn
[10:33] it over to Dr. Colazzo.
[10:35] Wendy is in a CSU meeting currently.
[10:40] She's going to join us
[10:42] later on in our agenda.
[10:44] And she said that if
[10:46] it supports pleasure,
[10:47] she's happy to report on the beginning
[10:49] of the CSU
[10:50] conversations and how that went.
[10:52] But for now, I'll turn it over to you.
[10:55] Hello, everyone.
[10:56] So our first order of business is the
[10:59] personnel appointments,
[11:00] resignations, and requirements.
[11:03] I just want to point out
[11:04] that we're really excited
[11:05] to have built the
[11:06] position of the full-time
[11:09] non-union, non-step for athletic trainer.
[11:13] That's one of those pieces
[11:13] that we're really looking forward to.
[11:16] We are also really happy
[11:18] that Peggy will be covering
[11:20] for the appointment
[11:23] for the classroom teacher
[11:24] that we had filled.
[11:25] But unfortunately, that person
[11:29] couldn't take the position due to a
[11:30] distance and a moving.
[11:31] So we were really happy that we found
[11:33] Peggy to cover for us.
[11:35] And then we had a late resignation.
[11:37] So those are those pieces
[11:38] that I wanted to highlight
[11:39] for today, these are these.
[11:48] I'll make a motion to
[11:49] accept the appointments
[11:51] and resignations as...
[11:52] (indistinct)
[11:59] (laughing)
[12:03] (indistinct)
[12:07] All right.
[12:12] Is there any discussion about the motion?
[12:17] All right, we will go ahead
[12:19] and vote on the
[12:20] appointments and resignations.
[12:23] All those in favor,
[12:24] please indicate by saying aye.
[12:26] Aye. Aye.
[12:28] All those opposed, please say nay.
[12:32] All right, the
[12:33] appointments and resignations.
[12:34] (indistinct)
[12:35] Oh, sorry.
[12:37] Yes, any abstentions?
[12:38] Yep.
[12:40] Thank you.
[12:43] All right.
[12:44] So we have made it to
[12:46] agenda item F this evening,
[12:49] which is board candidate introductions
[12:53] with questions and answers.
[12:56] And so we have a vacancy on
[12:58] the board in the Shore of Sea.
[13:01] That was left by Barb moving to France.
[13:04] So tonight we have two candidates of me
[13:07] that are interested in
[13:08] fulfilling that role.
[13:10] All board members should
[13:11] have letters in their email
[13:15] from each of these candidates, I believe.
[13:19] And so the plan is to have the candidates
[13:23] both introduce themselves,
[13:26] answer questions that the board has.
[13:30] And then after we have
[13:34] gone through that Q&A session,
[13:36] we will go into an executive session
[13:39] to discuss the appointment,
[13:42] and then we will come
[13:43] out of executive session
[13:45] as we amend the
[13:45] agenda to make the decision
[13:47] on filling that seat.
[13:50] Is there any questions from board members
[13:53] as far as processes or anything?
[13:56] Is anyone missing any of
[13:57] those emails that I referenced?
[14:02] All right, so I think at this point,
[14:05] if the individuals that are interested
[14:08] in being candidates for the board,
[14:10] we would like for you
[14:11] to introduce yourselves.
[14:12] If one of you wants to go first,
[14:15] we don't have a particular process.
[14:18] But yeah, either of you
[14:20] would like to introduce.
[14:24] I'll go.
[14:26] Abigail Murphy, most of you have known me
[14:27] because I've been coming
[14:28] to these meetings frequently
[14:30] since before the merge
[14:31] with the Shore and Bridgeport
[14:32] communities.
[14:34] I have been involved with that
[14:37] and all the leading up to that
[14:40] with meetings here, but
[14:42] also in the community.
[14:44] Been on the PTO
[14:47] committees, transportation,
[14:49] trying to figure that
[14:50] out in afterschool programs
[14:52] in our communities.
[14:54] I feel that as a, I've
[14:57] been immersed in Shoreham
[14:59] and the ACSD
[15:00] community since I walked these
[15:03] walkthrough this building.
[15:05] So I graduated from here in 2006.
[15:09] So I have been around for a while
[15:12] and I have a lot of
[15:13] connections with a lot of families
[15:15] with the new ACSD.
[15:17] I am a mom of three, as you heard,
[15:19] and a business owner
[15:21] in the next town over.
[15:24] And so have the
[15:25] flexibility as a mom to be on board
[15:28] and be committed to learning
[15:30] and be here.
[15:33] I have also been a foster
[15:34] parent within Addison County.
[15:37] So advocating for children
[15:39] has been a huge on my list
[15:42] to make sure they are safe and happy
[15:45] finding community and connection.
[15:51] Yeah, and so I think
[15:52] we'll have the other candidate
[15:54] introduce themselves as well.
[15:56] And then we'll move into questions
[15:57] and the answer does that work?
[15:58] All right, yeah, thank you.
[16:01] My name's Deborah Pinkerton
[16:03] and you know that I came in,
[16:05] visited for the last meeting
[16:06] and then also sent the followup letter.
[16:09] So I thought I would just bring that,
[16:10] maybe just highlight some of
[16:12] the things I wrote in the letter
[16:13] and elaborate it a little bit.
[16:16] But I will start off to
[16:17] say that both Abby and I
[16:19] both bring sets of
[16:21] strengths to the table.
[16:23] They're different strengths,
[16:24] but I will attest that
[16:27] Abby is a wonderful neighbor
[16:28] and she's a wonderful mom
[16:31] and I've enjoyed getting to know her.
[16:33] And as she serves, she
[16:35] knows that I would support her
[16:37] and I know that she
[16:37] would do a wonderful job.
[16:39] And so, but again, I
[16:42] bring some different strengths
[16:43] to the table and that's okay.
[16:45] So like I said, I'll
[16:48] just read some of this.
[16:49] And this letter was sent on
[16:50] June 23rd after I visited.
[16:53] And I said, "Dear Dr.
[16:55] Baker and ACSD School Board,
[16:57] thank you for the
[16:57] opportunity last night to observe
[16:59] and to learn more about the
[17:00] duties of a local school board.
[17:03] Everyone was very welcoming
[17:05] and I felt very comfortable
[17:06] following the discussions."
[17:09] And then, well, I kind of
[17:10] jumped to my credentials
[17:12] that I have bachelor of science
[17:15] in secondary education English.
[17:18] My teaching certification is current.
[17:21] I have a master's degree in English
[17:24] and I also have a doctorate in
[17:26] educational leadership.
[17:30] In my career, I've
[17:31] been involved in higher ed
[17:32] for over 20 years as
[17:33] an adjunct instructor
[17:34] and or a writing tutor.
[17:36] Most English teachers serve
[17:39] as writing tutors as well.
[17:40] So I've been in education
[17:42] for a good amount of time.
[17:45] And I have, we were from Pennsylvania
[17:49] and so where I worked
[17:51] was in Philadelphia area,
[17:52] colleges and universities.
[17:56] I currently teach
[17:57] English composition online
[18:00] for one particular university in Nevada
[18:03] and for one in
[18:05] Pennsylvania, that's where we're from.
[18:09] We know with COVID
[18:10] that education went online
[18:12] and so some of these
[18:13] opportunities I had to stay online.
[18:17] I am certified to teach online.
[18:21] I'm also a substitute
[18:22] teacher in the ACSD district.
[18:28] I've subbed in three of the
[18:29] buildings in this district.
[18:33] And I feel like that
[18:33] affords me a perspective
[18:36] that not everyone has.
[18:39] As far as my family, I'm married,
[18:42] I have four grown children,
[18:43] all four of them have
[18:44] graduated from college.
[18:47] I enjoy four grandchildren,
[18:49] one of whom has special
[18:51] needs is on the autism spectrum.
[18:54] And so I feel like again, that affords me
[18:57] a particular
[18:58] perspective that not everyone has.
[19:02] I have owned a home in Shoram since 2014.
[19:09] As far as community service,
[19:11] I volunteer for Meals on
[19:12] Wheels through Middlebury Agewell.
[19:16] I lend a hand as a poll worker in Shoram
[19:18] during election days.
[19:21] I serve on Shoram's,
[19:22] I have served on
[19:23] Shoram's Planning Commission.
[19:28] And the reasons for serving,
[19:29] so if one of the questions would be,
[19:31] why would you like to serve in this
[19:35] capacity on this board?
[19:37] I'm semi-retired, semi-retired,
[19:40] which means I do have the time.
[19:42] And I'm interested in
[19:43] giving back to the community
[19:44] in a way that uses my training
[19:48] and my experiences to benefit,
[19:51] I wanna say not only Shoram's students,
[19:54] I mean, obviously I would be representing
[19:56] Shoram and their needs,
[19:59] but I'd also like to
[20:00] benefit all the students,
[20:02] all of the students who are
[20:05] represented in our district
[20:08] to be able to
[20:09] contribute to creating policies.
[20:13] And I did close the letter
[20:15] by saying that I'm respectful,
[20:17] I'm very respectful, Abby,
[20:19] of the fact that
[20:20] others might be interested
[20:22] in serving this way.
[20:24] And I just close again by saying,
[20:27] thank you for your
[20:28] consideration, Dr. Pinkerton.
[20:32] Thank you.
[20:33] Thank you.
[20:34] All right, so at this point,
[20:36] board members, we've heard introductions
[20:38] from both candidates.
[20:40] I think we can open it up to a Q&A.
[20:43] I think similar to how we
[20:46] navigated the conversation
[20:48] with previous board seats,
[20:50] I think that's we
[20:52] focused on topic at hand
[20:55] for questions kind of concise,
[20:57] and I think use these
[21:00] candidates time efficiently.
[21:03] Anyone with questions?
[21:05] Jason.
[21:07] I was hoping you could
[21:08] each tell us your thoughts
[21:10] on the district's
[21:11] equity based strategic plan.
[21:19] That's fine.
[21:20] (laughing)
[21:21] I would not be able to
[21:23] give a lot of information
[21:25] or details on that,
[21:26] but that doesn't mean
[21:26] if I was on the board,
[21:28] I would make sure that I would become
[21:30] familiarized with it
[21:33] and be able to
[21:33] contribute the best that I could.
[21:35] I think just to make it easy
[21:37] so we don't keep
[21:38] having going back and forth,
[21:39] Abby, you introduced yourself first,
[21:42] and you answered that question first.
[21:44] So the next one, if it's two,
[21:46] we'll have you go first, Abby.
[21:48] We'll just kind of go back and forth
[21:50] so there's some sense to it.
[21:52] Is Abby going to answer that?
[21:54] Abby's answer the same way.
[21:56] I think that equity and
[21:58] equality is a huge thing.
[22:00] I grew up with a handicap aunt
[22:02] who was nonverbal or non-agilatory.
[22:05] So there's some back there.
[22:12] Jamie.
[22:14] Thanks you guys for coming here.
[22:16] I was wondering if
[22:16] maybe you could just say
[22:18] the extent to which
[22:20] you're familiar with our work,
[22:21] what you see as a few important things
[22:27] facing the board over
[22:28] the next year, let's say.
[22:30] What do you think?
[22:31] What's your
[22:31] understanding of what kinds of things
[22:32] we'll be dealing with?
[22:34] Right now there's conversations
[22:36] of the Cornwall and Waveridge.
[22:40] And I think that's pretty big.
[22:42] I think that being an open
[22:44] conversation has been good
[22:45] from what I've heard from the community.
[22:49] And I think another year of
[22:52] keeping an eye on our budget
[22:54] is gonna be huge with all this coming
[22:57] down from the state.
[22:58] I think that we are,
[23:05] there's a lot of change
[23:07] in the next five years
[23:10] across the state, not
[23:11] just in our small towns.
[23:14] Thanks.
[23:16] Well, I would agree with
[23:17] the budget and finances
[23:19] and some of the changes that have
[23:20] transpired recently.
[23:22] But I'd also say as an educator
[23:25] that one of my priorities that I see
[23:28] and that I think I've heard more about
[23:30] is supporting students in the classroom
[23:37] outside of, I wanna say
[23:40] technology and cell phones
[23:43] and in education there was a shift
[23:46] to get technology into the classroom.
[23:48] And now I think there's
[23:49] a little bit of a shift
[23:50] to manage it a little bit better,
[23:53] especially with students
[23:54] coming in from the summer
[23:57] and just having free
[23:58] reign over cell phones
[24:00] and iPads and all kinds of digital.
[24:02] So, and I see it in higher ed as well.
[24:05] So these seniors are gonna
[24:08] hopefully go off into college
[24:09] or into a trade where they would not,
[24:14] they have to be equipped.
[24:15] They need to be
[24:16] equipped to be able to use AI
[24:20] and AI tools and chat GPT tools.
[24:26] However, we want to also manage that
[24:31] as they come into the classroom.
[24:32] I think one area that I
[24:35] see could use improvement
[24:37] is working with students to get back
[24:40] to understanding how
[24:43] just the art of reflection
[24:46] and mindfulness and instead of always
[24:49] having to be so busy
[24:52] that they sometimes
[24:54] have concentration issues.
[24:56] And so I think I would be
[24:58] very supportive of the teachers
[25:00] and all the grade levels
[25:02] on how to manage technology
[25:05] and their ability to focus and yeah,
[25:10] to be able to focus
[25:11] better in the classroom.
[25:12] And I think that'd be
[25:13] advantageous all around
[25:15] for the educators and for the students
[25:17] to be able to manage that, so.
[25:21] Okay.
[25:25] So, all right, question Steve.
[25:28] Both of you mentioned that you would be,
[25:31] that part of your job is to advocate
[25:33] for the community.
[25:35] This is a district wide appointment.
[25:37] Can you please address
[25:39] how you will keep the focus
[25:40] on the district rather
[25:41] than the individual school?
[25:44] I think it's your turn Deb.
[25:48] It's fine.
[25:49] (laughing)
[25:53] Well, I think my focus first of all,
[25:55] coming in would be as a learner
[25:58] and to show humility
[26:02] in being able to learn
[26:04] from the members that
[26:05] were on the board already.
[26:08] And I think that some of the policies,
[26:12] I would be interested
[26:13] in some of the policies
[26:16] of being set for the students and,
[26:26] I think it would just really concentrate
[26:28] on whatever the policies
[26:29] are that would be presented
[26:31] to be able to learn the most that I can
[26:33] and to be able to
[26:34] contribute some of my background,
[26:37] some of my experiences.
[26:38] I mean, things like curriculum mapping,
[26:44] being able to analyze data on how
[26:49] students are performing
[26:52] as far as the learning outcomes.
[26:58] I think identifying the learning outcomes
[27:01] for the different age
[27:02] groups, from different grades,
[27:04] being able to analyze the
[27:06] data of how they're performing
[27:08] and how to turn it around
[27:11] and improve their performance.
[27:13] And to learn what their challenges are.
[27:17] And again, filling the shore, see,
[27:22] but also seeing what the
[27:23] needs are of the other buildings
[27:27] in the district and trying
[27:28] to just make a difference
[27:30] in contributing to the
[27:31] policies that the board would make.
[27:34] I wanna say as a team,
[27:35] community, a team person,
[27:39] as far as what's
[27:41] discussed and what's decided,
[27:42] the best that it could.
[27:47] My understanding is
[27:47] that we all represent,
[27:49] all children and staff within ACSD.
[27:51] And my decisions to take this chair,
[27:58] the C is based on the conversations
[28:01] that are being had in these communities.
[28:03] I have been in the Bridgeport community.
[28:05] My children are in 4-H clubs there,
[28:09] with Shoreham community, as you all know,
[28:11] but also Cornwall and
[28:12] Webridge communities.
[28:14] I'm pretty, my kids,
[28:16] I chose my kids to do
[28:17] a different daycare or
[28:21] pre-kip school program,
[28:23] because, and so I met
[28:25] with Ripton families
[28:26] and Cornwall families
[28:27] and Webridge families.
[28:28] And these conversations,
[28:31] all school conversations have happened
[28:34] with all of those people
[28:36] through my connections there.
[28:39] And I have some
[28:40] pretty strong relationships
[28:41] with other individuals in other schools.
[28:44] And I grew up in schools.
[28:46] My mom is a retired teacher.
[28:48] So I do see the importance
[28:50] of education and public ed
[28:53] and what it really means to kids.
[28:58] And I think that that's my...
[29:03] Thank you.
[29:10] So while it's selected for the C,
[29:15] you would definitely
[29:16] represent all of these CSD voters
[29:20] and families.
[29:22] We would, as the Shoreham representative,
[29:24] be counting on you as kind of a liaison
[29:26] in the Shoreham community.
[29:28] Sure.
[29:28] So, and that community
[29:31] will be going through
[29:32] like a lot of changes in the coming year,
[29:35] as you're well aware.
[29:36] So, yes, my question
[29:38] is what you're hearing
[29:40] from your neighbors that
[29:42] you would like to bring
[29:43] to the work of the board.
[29:46] I think there's still a
[29:47] lot of unanswered questions
[29:48] for both communities
[29:49] on this consolidation.
[29:52] But we're, this is
[29:53] the second time around.
[29:54] So I think we're, as a community,
[29:57] trying to make the
[29:58] best of it and figure out
[30:00] what is best for all these children
[30:04] in this big transition for them,
[30:06] how we can support all of the teachers
[30:08] because it's a big
[30:09] transition for teachers as well.
[30:12] I think there is only
[30:13] two teachers from Shoreham
[30:16] that are gonna be at
[30:17] the Recorder building,
[30:19] but other support staff
[30:20] will be there, I think.
[30:22] Just making sure that the
[30:23] kids are, I think that for me,
[30:25] and I'm in the building,
[30:27] I've been in the
[30:28] Shoreham building every day
[30:31] and having conversations with my kids.
[30:32] They're in T-ball and soccer
[30:34] and having open conversations with
[30:37] parents at those events.
[30:39] And just, yeah, so.
[30:46] Well, I think we all realize that change
[30:50] is not easy for a lot of people.
[30:54] There are some people
[30:54] that thrive on change,
[30:57] but some people, it's just
[30:59] difficult and any sort of change.
[31:02] So, I mean, I would be
[31:03] going in with the mindset that,
[31:06] this is change and
[31:08] it's change for families.
[31:09] It involves
[31:11] transportation and it involves sports.
[31:15] I mean, I served with Molly
[31:17] Kerr on one of the committees.
[31:19] I mean, she's a wonderful
[31:20] addition to our community.
[31:23] But when I served in
[31:26] the Shoreham building,
[31:28] is it Jenny Erbman,
[31:29] who's the principal over at
[31:30] at Pittport now?
[31:32] And so I worked with
[31:33] her and worked with other,
[31:36] some of the other teachers.
[31:38] And again, I feel like
[31:40] being in the classroom,
[31:42] understanding classroom management,
[31:44] understanding curriculum,
[31:46] understanding the needs of the children
[31:49] from an educator's
[31:50] perspective of being in the classroom
[31:54] and things like the library subbing for
[31:58] Abby in the library.
[32:01] And just understanding
[32:02] how the school functions
[32:04] is a different perspective
[32:05] that I feel like I can bring
[32:07] to helping the
[32:08] families in the transition.
[32:12] So we do know families also
[32:14] and have heard different conversations.
[32:16] And some of those
[32:18] conversations can get quite emotional.
[32:22] And I think something that
[32:24] I would bring to the table
[32:25] would be trying to keep a calm demeanor,
[32:29] try to be a good listener,
[32:32] try to come up with different options.
[32:37] And so, I may be
[32:39] thinking one option might be,
[32:42] advantageous and I
[32:43] might have a conversation
[32:44] with someone else that
[32:45] would have a comfortable
[32:46] and personal perspective.
[32:47] And I'd like to feel like
[32:49] I'm a flexible kind of person
[32:50] that way when it
[32:52] comes to making decisions.
[32:54] I would like to be firm when
[32:57] the decision needs to be made
[32:59] but I'd like to also be
[33:00] flexible to hear the hearts
[33:03] and not just, it's
[33:04] not just paper and names
[33:07] written somewhere, their families,
[33:09] they represent many years
[33:11] of being in the community.
[33:12] Like Abby's been in
[33:13] the community many years
[33:15] and she could tell
[33:17] you some of the stories
[33:18] of these families a
[33:19] lot better than I could
[33:21] but I do feel like since
[33:22] I've been here 16 years,
[33:25] two years, that I've
[33:27] gotten to know families
[33:29] and have served in the town
[33:30] and could represent the town
[33:32] and this transition as best they could.
[33:37] Thank you.
[33:43] Other questions?
[33:52] All right.
[33:54] Call.
[33:57] All right, I think at this
[33:58] point for the two candidates,
[34:00] is there any last
[34:01] statements you would like to say
[34:03] to the board or anything?
[34:05] Thank you.
[34:06] And I will, if I don't get the seat
[34:08] but I will still be here, as you know,
[34:11] sitting right here
[34:13] supporting as best I can.
[34:16] I'm sorry, I just was
[34:17] trying to actually remember
[34:19] the question that I asked when
[34:21] we've gone through this before
[34:22] so that's why I've sort of joined.
[34:25] Your question.
[34:26] Yes.
[34:28] (laughing)
[34:29] I didn't wanna just, okay, thank you.
[34:33] I just wanted to be consistent
[34:35] as we've done this process before
[34:38] and I feel like it's a little more fair
[34:40] if we have our questions kind of similar
[34:43] as the issues are similar.
[34:46] So the question that I asked last time
[34:48] and I'll just repeat again
[34:49] if you guys will indulge me
[34:51] is what thoughts or
[34:54] creative solutions do you have
[34:56] for the board as it tackles the challenge
[34:58] of facilities planning
[35:00] and our five-year
[35:01] capital improvement plan?
[35:06] Deb, I believe you're
[35:08] up first on this one.
[35:09] Thank you.
[35:11] Well, if I read
[35:12] correctly, I think Barbara,
[35:14] that was the committee that she served
[35:16] on, is that correct?
[35:18] It's one of the committees she served on.
[35:21] Come on, come on.
[35:21] Okay.
[35:23] I think that I would have to,
[35:31] I would have to first of all,
[35:37] go to the sites and learn more
[35:40] about the needs of the sites.
[35:43] I can't say that I
[35:45] know all of the buildings
[35:47] from that perspective.
[35:49] So I would need to go and I would, okay.
[35:52] So one thing that I've
[35:53] learned in life is that,
[35:55] when you take on a particular venture,
[35:59] you don't have to know
[36:00] everything about that,
[36:02] but you do need to
[36:03] know the people who know
[36:05] or you don't know.
[36:07] And so I think if I served on the board,
[36:10] I don't expect myself to,
[36:14] I mean, I have a lot of confidence,
[36:15] but I don't expect
[36:16] myself to know everything.
[36:19] And what I would do is
[36:21] I would find the people
[36:22] who know the things that I don't know
[36:26] and know them better than I know them.
[36:30] And I would just ask a lot of questions.
[36:33] I mean, education, that's really,
[36:35] one of the first things
[36:37] we learned as educators
[36:39] to learn how to ask questions.
[36:41] And so I guess I would
[36:42] just visit the sites.
[36:44] I would ask a lot of questions.
[36:46] I would try to connect
[36:47] with the people who know
[36:50] and understand what all of that involves.
[36:54] And then hopefully I would
[36:56] be able to bring to the table
[36:58] information that would benefit, again,
[37:00] the whole school district.
[37:03] And that's the best way I
[37:04] can answer that right now.
[37:09] It's about issues, exactly right.
[37:11] About learning and
[37:12] listening to our communities
[37:14] and listening to just our communities,
[37:20] and parents and kids.
[37:23] I think also
[37:23] listening to our little kids,
[37:25] they might be little,
[37:26] but there's a lot in there.
[37:30] This is, for instance, my kid is six,
[37:33] never ridden the bus.
[37:34] And she all of a sudden is
[37:36] calling one of the bus drivers,
[37:38] not the, that's not the nice bus.
[37:41] And so these kids are
[37:44] having baseline conversations
[37:45] and we may be listening to them as well
[37:47] as kind of a gist of that.
[37:49] But also I think our
[37:51] five-year plan is gonna change.
[37:54] It could change over the next five years
[37:57] based on what happens at a state level.
[38:01] And so I think we also,
[38:02] we'd be ready for that
[38:03] and thinking about bigger changes
[38:06] and how to support all of our community
[38:10] through those changes, not
[38:11] just what our thoughts are
[38:13] for the next five years.
[38:15] (keyboard clicking)
[38:19] In the interest of asking
[38:21] basically all of the questions
[38:23] that we asked last week,
[38:24] I'll ask Taryn's question, which is,
[38:27] what's the main motivation
[38:28] that brings you to the board?
[38:32] I think having three
[38:33] little girls that are young,
[38:36] entering the school's system,
[38:41] and been a foster parent and seeing
[38:45] that end of things as well.
[38:47] I also wanna be able
[38:50] to support our children
[38:52] and the best way that I can is serving
[38:57] and learning from you guys
[39:01] and working as a team to continue
[39:03] to support our children and our staff.
[39:06] (keyboard clicking)
[39:09] For me, my motivation is I'm an educator.
[39:14] I've been an educator and
[39:16] I want to stay an educator
[39:18] and my experiences, my credentials.
[39:22] I'm a community member that pays taxes.
[39:24] I am a parent, so I understand,
[39:28] even though my children are
[39:29] grown and I have grandchildren,
[39:31] I remember the days when
[39:33] they were coming through
[39:35] school just like this
[39:37] and I was involved then.
[39:39] And I just feel like
[39:41] some of these experiences
[39:43] that I can use to
[39:45] benefit the school district
[39:48] with new decisions and
[39:49] policies that are made.
[39:54] Thank you.
[39:58] Board members, is there
[39:59] any further questions?
[40:01] (keyboard clicking)
[40:03] All right.
[40:06] All right, so Abby, you've had a chance
[40:09] to address the board.
[40:10] Is there any additional thoughts
[40:11] that you would like to share
[40:12] after this last couple of questions?
[40:14] All right, then I will
[40:15] turn it over to you, Deb,
[40:16] for any final thoughts.
[40:18] I would be excited to be able to serve.
[40:21] I've had a chance to get to
[40:22] know some of you a little bit.
[40:23] Now, when I had this first
[40:24] conversation with Barbara,
[40:25] I wasn't sure, and that
[40:27] first time when I came,
[40:29] it was just to really
[40:30] kind of check it out.
[40:31] We do not have a lot of confidence,
[40:33] but I feel like as I've
[40:35] gotten to know some of the issues
[40:37] and some of the people
[40:38] and how the board functions
[40:41] and the jobs of the board,
[40:45] I started getting more and more excited.
[40:47] And so I would like to be
[40:49] able to bring that confidence
[40:51] and excitement to the board.
[40:55] All right, thank you both for your time
[40:57] and for submitting your emails
[41:01] and taking time on
[41:03] previous occasions to be here.
[41:06] Yes, great, thank you so much.
[41:08] Is this?
[41:09] What does this say or who does this say?
[41:12] At this point, you are
[41:14] welcome to either come or go,
[41:16] your own accord.
[41:18] We will continue to
[41:19] move on through our agenda.
[41:21] We do have an executive session
[41:24] where we'll be discussing the appointment
[41:26] after we come out of
[41:27] that executive session,
[41:29] we will be voting.
[41:30] At this point, as a board,
[41:33] Wendy has offered to share
[41:35] an update on her CSU meeting.
[41:38] If we would like to do that now,
[41:40] we could do that later
[41:41] in the agenda as well.
[41:44] So I don't know what
[41:45] folks would like to do.
[41:47] Wendy, you are willing to...
[41:50] I am, I serve at the
[41:51] pleasure of the board
[41:51] and I'm getting these
[41:52] latest phone numbers for me.
[41:54] (laughing)
[41:56] Can you just quick clarify?
[41:57] I'm sure, so they will not be here
[41:59] during the executive session?
[42:00] Correct. Correct.
[42:01] Okay, so make sure you
[42:02] guys don't have to understand.
[42:03] Okay. Yeah.
[42:06] Second public comment.
[42:07] Yes, so we can do it in
[42:09] the second public comment
[42:11] and then do the CSU update.
[42:12] We can do the CSU update before.
[42:15] You just don't wanna
[42:16] miss that opportunity.
[42:18] Gooder, it's still what people want.
[42:20] Yes, we definitely will get
[42:21] to the second public comment
[42:22] would people like to do the CSU update
[42:25] before that?
[42:26] Yes, we can. All right.
[42:28] Do we need to amend
[42:30] our agenda to do that?
[42:31] I don't think so.
[42:32] All right.
[42:34] So Wendy, we will turn it
[42:36] over to you for the CSU update.
[42:39] And then what we will do
[42:40] is it will go CSU update,
[42:43] second public comment,
[42:45] then we will go into
[42:46] the executive session.
[42:48] And then after that, we will
[42:50] come out and vote on vacancy
[42:53] and then we will adjourn.
[42:55] And so you are both welcome to stay
[42:57] until the point that we get
[42:58] to that executive session.
[43:00] And then we'll come back.
[43:01] The question is how long
[43:02] is your executive session gonna be?
[43:04] Should I just, can we
[43:05] stay until you like come back
[43:06] or should we, could you vote before?
[43:09] Like if you wanna be here for that?
[43:12] No, we will do what we have on our agenda
[43:14] and as we amended it,
[43:15] I am not going to speculate
[43:17] on how long our executive session,
[43:19] just so I don't put myself in a position
[43:21] where I waste a bunch of your time
[43:23] waiting for us to be done
[43:24] and we are having
[43:25] important conversations.
[43:25] Your link will be back open now.
[43:27] Is that how that works?
[43:29] Yes, that is the plan afterwards.
[43:32] Right, correct.
[43:33] After your executive session,
[43:34] you're gonna vote back up.
[43:35] And I'll also call both of you.
[43:37] Okay.
[43:38] And so we're welcome
[43:39] to stay for Dr. Baker's,
[43:42] Yep, correct.
[43:43] I'd like to take some notes.
[43:47] Turn it over to you.
[43:48] Okay, so we did have the first meeting
[43:51] of the CSSA that we were a part of,
[43:56] which I think is the Chittenden South.
[44:01] You know, I might not
[44:02] have that name quite right
[44:04] in that sense.
[44:05] We were all happy to
[44:06] be in the room together
[44:07] and there's a lot of interest.
[44:12] There were staff from all districts
[44:16] that many of the districts that,
[44:19] I think I was never worth a mark,
[44:20] but many of the
[44:21] districts who also attended,
[44:23] a couple of board
[44:23] members from the districts.
[44:27] Today was an organizing meeting.
[44:29] We have set a scheduled meetings
[44:31] where the third Friday of every month,
[44:36] we'll be meeting from about 9.30 to noon.
[44:39] And it's a lot of up front work.
[44:42] Adam Bunting and I are co-chairs
[44:45] of the CSSA.
[44:46] So we will be trying to learn,
[44:51] especially if we can, about the processes
[44:53] that we follow and so
[44:55] that we can get it up
[44:56] and going as smoothly and
[44:59] efficiently as possible.
[45:00] There is a statewide
[45:03] cohort that is forming
[45:06] of members of CSSA's
[45:11] that can learn together
[45:13] around some of the national models.
[45:15] And so forth so that we're all able
[45:18] to kind of do that
[45:20] efficiently and at scale
[45:21] and move on to go
[45:23] ahead and join that cohort.
[45:26] I think there's some maybe some worry
[45:31] on the part of all of
[45:33] us about the process
[45:36] of standing up a CSSA
[45:38] and the cost of that
[45:40] while we understandably have to continue
[45:43] to do some very complicated services
[45:45] inside the district.
[45:46] So, for example, to get an
[45:49] executive director on board
[45:50] that is gonna be able
[45:51] to move things forward,
[45:53] they aren't gonna be able to
[45:54] move it forward right away.
[45:57] So that those are
[45:57] kind of a duplicate cost.
[45:59] So that's on all our minds.
[46:03] For each of the districts,
[46:05] the superintendent is
[46:07] the designee voting member.
[46:11] I thought that we would
[46:11] appreciate understanding that.
[46:15] So, we kind of just worked
[46:17] through some of the basics
[46:19] and the next time we're
[46:20] gonna meet is September 18th.
[46:23] Yes, and the dependent and the seven days
[46:26] are our papers of record and CDSD,
[46:29] Champlain Valley School District
[46:31] will host the website for now.
[46:34] So there will be a dedicated website
[46:35] and we will have a
[46:37] link that points to that.
[46:39] So we'll make sure that
[46:41] Darcy puts on our calendar
[46:43] those meetings as well,
[46:45] they're public meetings
[46:46] and the board members themselves
[46:49] will try to be in attendance,
[46:51] but I'm sure there'll
[46:52] be a Zoom link as well
[46:54] for anybody that would like to come in.
[46:57] They're recorded and posted just like,
[47:02] we follow all the same open meeting laws
[47:04] as where the boards do.
[47:07] So are there questions or thoughts?
[47:12] Can you just remind us of the districts
[47:14] that we are group with?
[47:16] Yep, so Champlain Valley School District
[47:20] has the high schools people know most,
[47:22] that's where CBU is the high school
[47:24] and the surrounding towns around that.
[47:26] Mount Mansfield School District
[47:27] is Mount Mansfield Union High School,
[47:29] Jericho, Richmond, those are the towns
[47:34] that are kind of in that area.
[47:35] And then there's as in
[47:37] Central, as in Northwest,
[47:39] Mount Aide School District
[47:40] and Lincoln School District
[47:42] and the Career Center as well.
[47:49] Any other questions?
[47:53] Well, thank you Wendy.
[47:56] Stepping into the spotlight quickly.
[47:59] That's okay, it's
[48:00] fortuitous that that was this evening
[48:03] so I just thought
[48:05] you'd appreciate knowing
[48:06] that we at least we had made a start
[48:08] and we have a series
[48:10] of scheduled meetings
[48:10] and we'll continue.
[48:13] All right, so at this point,
[48:16] we are onto agenda item G,
[48:18] which is our second public comment.
[48:21] We will operate the same as we did
[48:23] during our first public comment.
[48:26] Comments are limited to three minutes.
[48:29] We will start in the room.
[48:30] If there's anyone that would
[48:31] like to take a public comment
[48:34] and then we will move online.
[48:35] Is there anyone in the room that would
[48:38] like to make a comment?
[48:41] All right, so we will go online
[48:44] and then I'm seeing one hand, so Rebecca.
[48:51] Hi, I also wanted to just
[48:53] speak on behalf of Abigail.
[48:55] I am proud to support
[48:56] Abigail for the school board,
[48:57] she's a thoughtful listener,
[48:59] a strong advocate and a proven leader
[49:00] who is deeply invested in our community.
[49:03] While she is running for the short on C,
[49:05] Abigail understands
[49:06] that every decision made
[49:07] by the school board
[49:08] impacts children and families
[49:09] across all of our towns.
[49:11] She is committed to ensuring
[49:12] that every child is supported,
[49:14] valued and given the
[49:15] opportunity to succeed.
[49:17] Abigail consistently puts kids first,
[49:19] listens with an open mind
[49:21] and leads with integrity and compassion.
[49:23] She has my full support
[49:24] and I encourage others
[49:25] to support her as well.
[49:27] Please know that I had to pre-write this
[49:30] so that I didn't
[49:30] fumble over all of my words,
[49:32] but I am super excited that
[49:34] we have some Sharm residents
[49:36] who are willing to take that toll
[49:39] and join the board and helping others.
[49:44] Thank you, thank you Rebecca.
[49:49] All right, well, continuing on,
[49:52] I'm not seeing any
[49:53] public comments in the room
[49:55] so we will stick with
[49:56] the online public comments.
[49:59] Is there anyone else online
[50:00] that would like to make a public comment?
[50:06] All right, we'll do one last call.
[50:09] I'm not seeing any
[50:10] hands online or in the room.
[50:14] All right, so that concludes
[50:16] our second public comment period.
[50:19] So at this point,
[50:22] we are contemplating
[50:25] entering executive session.
[50:27] Is there a motion?
[50:29] I move to enter executive session
[50:30] for one of the SA 31383 to
[50:33] appoint the public officer.
[50:35] I'd like to invite Doctors Closso,
[50:38] they've got a plan,
[50:39] I'll call on them inside their second.
[50:41] All right, is there any
[50:44] discussion about this motion?
[50:48] All right, we will vote on the motion.
[50:52] And did you have a comment?
[50:55] No, I'm just waiting to
[50:58] be unmuted for voting.
[50:59] All right, thank you.
[51:01] All right, all those in favor,
[51:04] please indicate by saying aye.
[51:06] Aye.
[51:07] All those opposed, we say nay.
[51:11] All right, the motion is approved
[51:13] and we will move into executive session.
[51:16] (upbeat music)
[51:18] All right, at this
[51:22] point, Mary and Heather,
[51:24] I think I will turn it forward to you
[51:27] if you're prepared or
[51:28] if you need another--
[51:28] Sounds good, so for the board action
[51:33] of appointing the
[51:34] Shoreham seat on the board
[51:38] until the end of the term,
[51:42] and I guess it's ends March.
[51:44] March of 27th.
[51:46] I'm not sure what
[51:47] specific date March of 2027.
[51:50] So I'm gonna go around and
[51:51] just name board member names.
[51:54] And if you can, please
[51:56] identify whether you are voting
[51:58] for Abby Murphy or Deb Pinkerton.
[52:01] And it would be helpful if
[52:02] you just start very clear
[52:03] about that, so I have--
[52:07] That's lots of B's in those names.
[52:08] Top of my list is Steve Cash.
[52:11] I'm assuming you'll be voting Steve, so.
[52:15] Abby.
[52:16] Okay.
[52:18] Jason Shanks.
[52:19] I'm Deb Pinkerton.
[52:21] James is not here.
[52:23] Laura Hartson.
[52:25] Deb.
[52:27] Ron Matt.
[52:28] Abby.
[52:30] Jamie McCallum.
[52:31] Abby.
[52:33] Myself, I'm voting for Deb.
[52:36] Steve Orrzeck.
[52:37] Deb.
[52:39] Jess.
[52:42] Abby.
[52:44] Ellen.
[52:45] Abby.
[52:49] Barb Wilson is obviously not here.
[52:50] Robin, Abby.
[52:53] And Anne.
[52:55] Abby.
[53:02] Seven votes in favor of
[53:03] Abby, four in favor of Deb.
[53:05] So Abby.
[53:07] Bye.
[53:09] All right.
[53:11] Well, we have selected
[53:13] the Shoreham board member
[53:15] at this point, and that
[53:17] is the end of our agenda.
[53:19] Is there a motion to adjourn?
[53:23] So moved.
[53:24] All right, thank you.
[53:27] Thank you.
[53:29] So you're calling?
[53:30] Thank you.
[53:31] (laughing)
[53:31] (static)