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June 2008, Issue 2008-4
TOP STORY
VSBA ONLINE ACADEMY We are proud to introduce a new method for school board members to access professional development online free! The VSBA Online Academy is a new section of our website where you can view short workshop videos with handouts that address subjects including: Board code of conduct, executive session, handling public complaints, contract negotiations, Roberts Rules, Policy Governance and more. We will be adding new training videos in the coming months.

Now you and your fellow board members can receive targeted, concise professional development training anytime- day or night. Check out this new service and please tell us what you think. Our goal is to provide the easiest, most useful assistance possible via our Online Academy, and we will refine the service based on your feedback. Visit the VSBA Online Academy on our website (www.vtvsba.org) and click on the link near the top of your screen.

In This Issue
  1. Ten Tactics the Union Might Bring to the Negotiations Table and How to Respond
  2. Legislature Adjourns; No Repeal of the Two-Vote Requirement
  3. Funding Options for School Energy Work
  4. Federal Rule Changes Proposed for Graduation, Testing and More
  5. Cate Resigns; Talbott Appointed Interim Commissioner
  6. When Childhood Collides with NCLB: A Review
  7. School Performance Groups Wanted!
  8. Second Circuit rules against student in off-campus speech case
  9. VSBIT CORNER: New 403(b) Regulations: Schools Consider Options New Rules, New Risks and New Consequences
  10. VSBA Resolutions
  11. Schools at Risk: A Unique Perspective
  12. VSBA Around Vermont
  13. VSBA Leadership Award Nomination
Ten Tactics the Union Might Bring to the Negotiations Table and How to Respond
by Michael Jazzar
Since the first school contract was negotiated in 1962 with teachers in New York City, collective bargaining has become an integral part of public education in America. Today, according to the Education Commission of the States, 33 states have collective bargaining laws governing the rights of public school employees to organize, negotiate, exercise sanctions and strike. The legislation varies widely from state to state. For example, in a number of states, legislation covers all public employees, while in other states a specific law covers only school employees. More
Legislature Adjourns; No Repeal of the Two-Vote Requirement
By David Cyprian, VSBA Legislative Analyst
The legislature wrapped up early this year, adjourning on May 3rd, and few of the most significant issues that were discussed regarding state level education policy were resolved. This includes the two-vote requirement, which the House agreed to repeal, but the Senate did not. The two-vote requirement will now go into effect for 2009-10 school budgets that must be developed in the coming year. Major changes to top-level governance that both the House and the Senate considered were also not enacted. Even relatively smaller issues, such as the fate of the statewide calendar system, were tabled as a result of disagreement between the two bodies. More
Funding Options for School Energy Work
By Norm Etkind, VSA SEMP Director
Schools districts that want to save money by making their schools more energy-efficient face a difficult task but there are many entities and funding sources that can help them get through this process.

First, the overall nature and scope of a project needs to be determined.
More
Federal Rule Changes Proposed for Graduation, Testing and More
School districts would face a series of changes to the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act under modifications proposed by the U.S. Department of Education in April. The department contends that their proposals would "clarify and strengthen current Title I regulations in the areas of assessment, accountability, supplemental educational services, and public school choice." More
Cate Resigns; Talbott Appointed Interim Commissioner
On May 16th, Richard Cate announced that he would be resigning as Vermont’s Commissioner of Education. Ten days later, the State Board of Education appointed William Talbott, formerly the Department of Education’s Chief Financial Officer, as interim Commissioner. More
When Childhood Collides with NCLB: A Review
By David Cyprian
Author Susan Ohanian, a Charlotte resident and former teacher, has published a passionate, literary retort to the obsession with standardized testing that has engulfed public education in America. When Childhood Collides with NCLB is a book of tightly related poems exploring the relationship between tests, learning, students and teachers. Ohanian unabashedly ridicules the notion that standardized tests are improving public education. Her verse is flush with pithy attacks on both the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) law, which mandates extensive testing, and NCLB’s proponents, including the Bush administration, certain business interests, and others. More
School Performance Groups Wanted!
School performance groups interested in demonstrating their talents to school leaders from across the state during the VSA/VSBA Annual Convention are invited to contact VSBA. More
NSBA Legal Clips: Second Circuit rules against student in off-campus speech case
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit (CT, NY, VT) has ruled that a Connecticut school district that disciplined a student for vulgar and derogatory remarks made off-campus did not violate her free speech or equal protection rights. Avery Doniger, a student at Lewis Mills High School (LMHS), served on the student council and also was junior class secretary. After a student council planned event, known as Jamfest, was postponed for a third time, four members of the student council, including Avery, sought to garner community support for the event by sending out a mass e-mail encouraging recipients to contact superintendent Paula Schwartz and urge her to hold Jamfest as scheduled. More
VSBIT CORNER: New 403(b) Regulations: Schools Consider Options New Rules, New Risks and New Consequences
New IRS Regulations affecting 403(b) Retirement Plans More
VSBA Resolutions
VSBA Resolutions are the Association's official positions on important educational issues and are adopted by the membership for each biennium. More
Schools at Risk: A Unique Perspective
By Gerald W. Bracey
VSBA Resolutions are the Association's official positions on important educational issues and are adopted by the membership for each biennium. More
VSBA Around Vermont
Laura Soares has completed the draft phase I governance study report for Underhill, Underhill I.D., and Jericho School Districts. Working with Holden Waterman, I have prepared a similar draft phase I governance study report for Hartland and Hartford. Work continues in Whitingham and Wilmington as they focus on a facilities bond vote in March 2009. More
2008 VSBA Resolutions Submission Form
VSBA Resolutions are the Association's official positions on important educational issues and are adopted by the membership for each biennium. More
VSBA Leadership Award Nomination
Nominations are invited for the 2008 VSBA Leadership Award. This honor may be presented by the Vermont School Boards Association to a school board member or an entire school board that has demonstrated extraordinary leadership. More

Mark Your Calendar

  • VSBA Regional MeetingsM
    Please consider attending the meeting in your area. The regional meetings are FREE of any charge. The meetings will begin at 5:00 with a light dinner, continue into regional elections and regional discussions followed by a workshop/discussion time regarding statewide issues.

    VSBA, like all membership organizations, depends on participation from you "local school board members" for its strength and vitality. The primary purpose of VSBA’s regional meetings is to provide you the opportunity to provide important input and representation to the Association by electing members from your region to serve on the VSBA Board of Directors and Resolutions Committee. The VSBA Board provides direction and support for the programs and services offered to the member boards, while the Resolutions Committee recommends positions on various issues that the Association membership acts upon at the Annual Meeting.

    • 9/4/08-Orange & Washington, Spaulding Union High School
    • 9/8/08-Chittenden & Grand Isle, Winooski High School
    • 9/11/08-Essex, Caledonia, & Orleans, Lake Region Union High School
    • 9/15/08-Addison County, Middlebury Union High School
    • 9/18/08-Bennington & Rutland, Manchester Elementary School
    • 9/22/08-Franklin & Lamoille, Bakersfield Elementary School
    • 9/25/08-Windsor & Windham, Green Mtn Union High School

  • VSBA/VSA Annual Conference - coming October 30 & 31!
You may register for these or any other VSBA workshops by visiting: http://www.vtvsba.org/develop/develop.htm.

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