Regular Meeting of the Board of School Commissioners Minutes ~ June 9, 2026

School Board Members Present: Charlene Seward, Chair Marybeth Lennox-Levins, Clerk Brandi Barclay Karen Bossi Ryan Carney Courtney Collins Whitcomb Herbert Ogden Jen Rondinone Cathy Solsaa Stephanie Stoodley Christina Sweet Danielle Goldberg, Student Representative Amelia Shelton, Outgoing Student Representative Sophia Wu, Incoming Student Representative

Also Present: Pam Reed, Superintendent  Bianca McKeen, Assistant Superintendent Ted Plemenos, CFO Kerry Coarse, Director of Support Services Glenn Scott, Director of Facilities Marie Gilmond, ED of Tapestry & EPIC Programs   Collin Fingon, Greg Schillinger, Peter Franzoni (Rutland City Board of Aldermen), Chris Donahue (PEGTV), et al.

 

Call to Order - Chair Seward called the meeting to order at 6:01 p.m., followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

Roll Call - As noted above.

Board Norms - Chair Seward read the Board Norms.

Approval of Agenda - Motion by Stoodley/Bossi to approve the agenda. Motion carried.  

Approval of Consent Agenda
Motion by Bossi/Rondinone to add the Addendum to Personnel Memo #677 to the Consent Agenda. Motion carried. 

Motion by Stoodley/Bossi to accept the Consent Agenda. Motion carried.

Consent Agenda

1. Minutes of Previous Meetings
2. Personnel Memo #677 (attached)
3. Addendum to Personnel Memo #677 (added and attached)
4. FY27 IDEA-B and IDEA Pre-K Grants 
5. Summer Hiring Protocol 
6. Bid - Firewall Equipment Replacement (attached)
7. Bid - Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) Phone System Replacement (attached)
8. Bid - Proposal for MS Kitchen - Pre-Design Work (attached)

Communication
Public Input - None.

School/Program Updates

1. Rutland Schools Foundation Report

Colin Fingon provided the annual Rutland City Public Schools Foundation report to the Board of School Commissioners. The Foundation was established in 2014 by Mr. Fingon and former CFO Peter Amons to manage scholarships and awards as a 501(c)(3) non-profit. He reported that the fund has grown from an initial $283,000 to approximately $700,000, with a 10.1% ten-year track record. For the 2026 senior awards night, the foundation is facilitating 13 different awards totaling over $35,000. He clarified that while the foundation acts as a fiduciary steward, the school guidance offices manage the student applications. A major current objective is to encourage donors and classes to increase the value of their scholarships to ensure a meaningful financial impact for students, giving out more substantial scholarships that keep pace with inflation. Mr. Fingon reported that the Foundation aims to reach all students and support diverse career paths, not just those on a traditional college track. It facilitates two specific awards for Stafford Technical Center students, including a tools for trades scholarship to assist those entering fields that require their own equipment to start their careers. He reported that the Foundation is financially very solid. Anyone wishing to donate or establish an endowment fund can contact the Rutland City Public Schools business office.

2. Student Representatives’ Report: Student Representatives Amelia Shelton and Danielle Goldberg shared the following school updates.

Rutland Intermediate School celebrated a year of growth. Over the past several weeks, students have enjoyed a variety of experiences, including musical performances, educational field trips, and student recognition events. The 6th Grade Promotion Ceremony will be held on June 17th at 6:00 p.m. Gratitude was expressed for the dedication of RIS staff who have embraced change with professionalism, commitment, and enthusiasm.

Northeast Primary School celebrated the installation of a new playground. In May, second graders visited the Montshire Museum for hands-on science, while first graders explored nature and enjoyed ice cream at Rotary Park. The school successfully completed kindergarten screenings and hosted its "Picnic with a Book" literacy event with guest readers. Students also worked with muralist Mike Kin on a collaborative mural project. The month concluded with a field day featuring a family barbecue and a fire department hose-down.

Northwest Primary School second graders recently completed their annual hike to Rocky Pond and are preparing for a celebratory breakfast and "run the halls" send-off event. Mr. Cupoli and a 2nd grader joined Mrs. Coloutti and friends from Northeast to record a segment of Spotlight on Schools on PEGTV. Field Day will take place later this week. Gratitude was expressed to students, families, and staff for a great school year.

Stafford Technical Center recognized 80 departing seniors at the May 29th annual awards ceremony, where $34,000 in scholarships and tools were awarded. Student achievements include: 87.5% of seniors earned an Industry-Recognized Credential; 83.75% earned college credit; 76.25% participated in Work-Based Learning; and completed 3,014 hours of community service. Sixteen students just returned from the National SkillsUSA conference in Atlanta, GA; three students from RHS earned bronze medals in Action Skills (1) and Additive Manufacturing (2); and nine students earned Skills Certificates.

Rutland Middle School held Field Day today, and will start YES Plan tomorrow. 8th grade students will be celebrated with a Clap Out on Wednesday, where 6th and 7th grade students will line the hallways to cheer them out of their last day of middle school.

Rutland High School graduation week is in full swing. Achievements will be celebrated on Wednesday at Senior Awards Night, where over $140,000 in scholarships will also be distributed. Special thanks to Sarah May for coordinating this event. More than 527 awards were presented to 242 students in grades 9-11 at the Underclass Awards Ceremony last week. Special thanks to Cassie Smith for coordinating this event. Graduation is Thursday night!

3. Recognize Outgoing Student Representative - Amelia Shelton

Superintendent Reed and the Board recognized outgoing representative Amelia Shelton for her years of service and wished her well as she prepares to attend Stanford University.

4. Welcome New Student Representative - Sophia Wu

Superintendent Reed welcomed incoming student representative Sophia Wu, who was elected by the RHS student body. Principal Schillinger introduced Sophia, a rising junior who wants to be more involved with the school and help make it a better environment for everyone. She is active in the Art and Key clubs and has participated in community service, including Soup Bowls for Hunger and the Halloween Parade.

 

5. Afterschool Program Report
   Executive Director of Afterschool and Summer Programs, Marie Gilmond, reported that afterschool and summer programs are essential for students and the community for many reasons beyond supervision, including serving as a safe haven, providing meals, offering new experiences, offering academic support and enrichment opportunities, fostering community partnerships, etc. She noted that the program served 738 students this year, throughout the school year and summer. She emphasized the impact of programming dosage, noting that 46% of participants reached the 90-plus-hour mark, many with significantly more than 90 hours, a level that research correlates with academic and social gains. 

Executive Director Gilmond highlighted the increase in student engagement, with significant gains in the number of students attending 90-plus hours of programming across all buildings, attributed to the emphasis on providing high-quality programming over the past several years. Infrastructure, partnerships (school, family, and community), and program practice all contribute to high-quality programming. She reviewed evidence of success from 25-26, which includes a team from Northeast and Northwest receiving national certification in mental health literacy awareness, the first-ever afterschool program to achieve this. There are many new projects on the horizon, including a magic residency for the summer and the launch of a Kindergarten Readiness Camp next summer, supported by the Bowse Health Trust.  

 

6. Building and Grounds Summer Work
   Director Glenn Scott presented the summer project plan. He noted that these projects are in addition to routine summer maintenance (general maintenance and painting, lawn and grounds care, and detail cleaning and floor care) and summer program transportation.

• RMS Kitchen Classroom: A full renovation is underway to create an ADA-compliant learning kitchen, including roll-under sinks and cabinetry on one side. Old cabinets and a wall have been removed, awaiting asbestos flooring abatement; once that is complete, walls will be repaired, and flooring and cabinetry will be installed.
• RMS-RIS Breezeway Roof Replacement: Each year, a roof is replaced in rotation. This year's project is the breezeway roof that connects RMS and RIS, which has standing water. The roof will be replaced by Vermont Roofing and will take a day or two. 
• RIS Flooring: The largest summer project will be replacing the ground-level flooring. This is the last of the RIS flooring replacement project. The bottom floor has layers of tile that are constantly in need of repair. This flooring will be replaced, with the asbestos mastic abated, along with the flooring in two classrooms where concrete is heaving. Also, a side and rear entrance will be resurfaced.
• STC Flooring: Continuing flooring replacement plan, year four. The second-floor west tile will be replaced, and the asbestos mastic will be abated. This will be the next-to-last year of this project. Next summer, the central connecting hallway flooring will be replaced. 
• Asphalt/Sidewalks: Extensive repairs are planned for the RHS/STC faculty lot, the RIS rear parking area, and the Northeast walkways to eliminate trip-and-slip hazards and drainage issues.

In response to questions from the Board, Mr. Scott reported that his team is working on preparing classrooms and buildings for the transition of some classrooms from the Allen Street Campus to the Pierpoint Campus. Future repairs of the Gleason Road parking area were also discussed. Proper repair of this parking area will cost around $80,000, as the ledge needs to be drilled down. There is a plan to lay asphalt from the walking path to the gate and the front row of parking in the next year. In the meantime, it will be checked to ensure it is level and safe. Signs for handicap parking spots were also added. He noted that some work had already been done to help level the parking area with some sand and hardpack. It is an overflow parking lot at the time, but no one is required to park there.

 

7. Strategic Plan Update
   Superintendent Reed gave a brief introduction to the update, noting that the full report is in the Board packet and will be posted on the website. During the second year of the strategic plan, 18 of 19 strategies (95%) are currently in process, exceeding the anticipated 14. The reporting format was updated to remove multi-year notations, as all current goals are multi-year. Updates on the Priority Areas are as follows: 

Teaching and Learning: Assistant Superintendent McKeen gave a high-level overview of the work done this year. The district completed a curricular review for K-6 with standards alignment in math and literacy. Ongoing summer work aims to refine the literacy block across all five pillars – phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension – to ensure sufficient instructional time. Schedules have been adjusted to ensure minimum instructional times: 120 minutes for K-3, 90 minutes for 4-6, and 60 minutes for math. To address the lack of time for the current math curriculum, a new K-8 math program is being implemented. The district pivoted schedules to stagger in-service days throughout the year for professional development in math and literacy instructional practices. The district contracted with a math consultant to work with teams of teachers on math instructional practices and is using budget resources to better align with the needs of students and staff, increasing intervention and refining roles. The district is streamlining assessments in K-11, exploring diagnostic assessments, and establishing a consistent K-6 grade book and common local assessments. Teacher Leader roles have been refined with an instructional focus. The restructured calendar will allow for half-day data analysis sessions throughout the year. 

Assistant Superintendent McKeen noted that the district has become more consistent with communication by implementing specific tools tailored to different grade levels. She also highlighted that the district has increased the accessibility of translated documents for families and students, ensuring information is more readily available. Furthermore, to improve access to school events, she noted that the district is increasing resources for families, including transportation for those who need it and addressing other potential barriers that might prevent participation in the school community. 

Evolution of Wellness through Inclusive School Communities: Director of Support Services Kerry Coarse provided a high-level overview of this year's work. The district opened the year with a well-received back-to-school luncheon for all employees featuring an international speaker. The district has intentionally increased its social media presence to highlight staff, events, and job opportunities, which is successfully driving recruitment for vacancies. Consistent district-wide guidelines for digital safety and cell phone use were developed with staff input. All buildings purchased interactive games and outdoor equipment for every student to use throughout the summer to encourage healthy habits away from screens. Infrastructure changes include expanding early childhood education with a classroom at both Northeast and Northwest, which will follow the standard school calendar with a full-day schedule. To best serve students and utilize building space, some high school classrooms will move to the Pierpoint Campus, providing students access to Pine Hill Park and a new sugar house. The Allen Street Campus will continue to serve grades 4–12. Age differences at ASC will be managed through grade-banded classrooms and strong student-to-staff ratios; administrators noted that students at the campus often share similar life experiences and have a sense of connection and empathy. 

To ensure district consistency, a new Coordinator of School Safety and Crisis Response position was created to oversee handbooks, drills, HHB (Hazing, Harassment, and Bullying) investigations, Title IX, and McKinney-Vento coordination. This coordinator is not a police officer but will identify safety trends, ensure compliance with processes, and help support students with safety concerns at home. 

Resources for Success: Superintendent Reed provided a high-level overview of this year's work, noting that the district’s priority is to secure, cultivate, and empower a diverse community. The addition of a human resources manager has been instrumental in shifting to an active recruitment model, including changing posting locations, using international recruitment agencies, and maintaining a database pipeline of potential candidates. To address barriers to employment, the district revised its application process, moved to an online paperwork system, analyzed the salaries of non-aligned employees to make individual adjustments rather than a flat rate, and established a database of housing resources for new employees moving to the area. Insights from surveys and exit interviews led to a redesigned staff orientation and a revitalized mentor program that will begin training this summer. Professional development is now heavily focused on literacy and math instruction, and a new supervision and evaluation system for administrators will begin in the fall. Infrastructure highlights include the ribbon-cutting for the new Northeast playground on June 10th and upcoming plans for renovations to the Rutland Intermediate and Middle School (RIMS) cafeteria, kitchen, and entryway, which will be discussed at the June 23rd special meeting. 

In response to questions regarding national performance gains in Mississippi and Louisiana, Assistant Superintendent Bianca McKeen explained that the Vermont Agency of Education (AOE) is undergoing a transformation and is creating a dedicated curriculum and instruction division. She noted the district is working closely with the AOE to ensure curriculum alignment with high-quality resources and mentioned an upcoming literacy summit on August 17th. 

Central Office Reports

1. Superintendent’s Report

Superintendent Pam Reed highlighted the following topics. Coordinator of Support Services, Megean Martin, received the Annual Golden Apple Award from the Vermont Council of Special Education Administrators, awarded to one person each year for their outstanding advocacy and support for students with disabilities. Superintendent Reed reported that RMS Education Support Professional Elliott Frost was recognized by the Vermont Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired for his work with a student. Also recognized were the Stafford Technical Center students who attended the National SkillsUSA competition in Atlanta, GA, where three students earned medals, and six RHS students received skill certificates for proficiency in their industries. Stafford was also the only Vermont center to earn national awards.

Last week, the RCPS administrative team, school administrators, some central office administrative assistants, and the human resources manager received policy governance training with Jeanne Collins Deweese. The session provided participants with a deeper understanding of Policy Governance and a review of RCPS’ draft policies. Additionally, the team spent time discussing shifts in reporting and ways to develop communication with stakeholders. 

Each board member received a calendar magnet designed to help communicate schedule changes to families, as well as a newsletter produced by the students at Grove Street. Superintendent Reed reminded board members to sign and return their Conflict of Interest forms, and reported that moving forward board meetings will be listed in the Rutland Herald calendar. Superintendent Reed also announced that she is serving on a panel with the Joint Fiscal Office, superintendents, and directors of support services to provide feedback on special education funding.

Assistant Superintendent McKeen reported on the utilization of grant funding. Healthy at Home Kits were purchased and distributed to all students through the Anti-Tobacco grant. Colleen Shattuck was recognized for her expertise in ordering and putting together these kits. Also, summer music lessons (voice or instrumental) will be offered free of charge to all interested students entering grades 4-12 through Title IV funding. Students do not need previous experience or an instrument to participate in the program. Registration forms that were sent home need to be returned if students are interested.

There is a need for a special meeting late this month, currently scheduled for Tuesday, June 23rd, at 6:00 p.m. Topics include approval of food service contract, update on the RIMS renovation, and, if needed, appointments to committees as outlined in the passed legislation.

2. Legislative Outcomes

Chair Seward brought the Board’s attention to a document titled H.955 Roadmap: A Guide to the Bill as Passed, prepared by Maggie Lenz of Atlas Government Affairs. The legislation requires the following motion.

Motion by Lennox-Levins/Bossi to appoint Superintendent Pam Reed to represent Rutland City Public Schools on the Southwest Cooperative Educational Service Area (CESA) as required with the passing of H.955. Motion carried.

Commissioner Stoodley later gave a brief update on her VSBA board work. She noted that the VSBA board's regional representatives (Commissioner Stoodley and Pati Beaumont for Rutland) will be attending board meetings to provide updates on H.955. She noted that there will be a webinar on June 18th at noon to review all the bills passed this legislative session. Board members can sign up for the webinar on the VSBA website. Commissioners will also receive an email update from either her or Pati Beaumont with an update on H.955.

Governance Process

1. Board Work Plan

Motion by Rondinone/Solsaa to approve the Board Work Plan as proposed for the 26-27 school year. Motion carried.

Commissioner Solsaa asked about the procedural process for changing items on the work plan. After some discussion, several board members noted that a work plan should be a dynamic document. Chair Seward will reach out to Jeanne Collins Deweese for clarification. 

2. Second Reading of the Rutland City Public School District Governance Policies 

Motion by Lennox-Levins/Rondinone to approve the Rutland City Public School District Board Governance Policies. Motion carried (9-1).

Commissioner Bossi expressed concerns regarding the loss of board involvement and local control. Other members emphasized the shift to focusing on strategic "Ends" rather than operations. Chair Seward reviewed the shift in policy structure (board governance policies, federal and state mandated policies, and then district procedures). She also noted that the agenda will shift toward board work and collaboration rather than just presentations. 

3. Removal of Policies 

Motion by Levins-Lennox/Solsaa to remove the policies outlined in the agenda. Motion carried (9-1).

Commissioner Ogden raised the question of whether voting to remove policies was premature, given that the district procedures are not yet in place. Assistant Superintendent McKeen provided a review of the process used to decide which policies to remove. She noted that there were over 264 policies in place and that substantial time was spent analyzing them to determine which to remove. Those removed either contradicted the new governance policies or were already procedures rather than policies. All federal, state, and VSBA required or recommended policies were kept in place, as were any local policies that needed to remain in place and any policies for which there were questions. Staff were involved if a policy fell within their area of responsibility (e.g., the Director of Technology was consulted on policies related to technology). More time will be spent this summer on refining policies to meet VSBA guidelines. Any policy changes will be brought before the board for first and second reading as usual. Revised policies will be presented to the Board at the August or September meeting for review.

Adjournment - Motion by Lennox-Levins/Solsaa to adjourn the meeting at 8:03 p.m. Motion carried.

Respectfully Submitted,
Bethany Sprague, Board Recording Secretary