Special Reorganizational Meeting of the Board of School Commissioners - March 18, 2025 - REVISED

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RUTLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS

SPECIAL MEETING OF THE BOARD OF SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS

REORGANIZATIONAL MEETING

March 18, 2025 – REVISED

School Board Members Present:	Also Present:
Sara Atkins-Doenges	Superintendent William Olsen
Karen Bossi	Assistant Superintendent Bianca McKeen
Ryan Carney (Arrived at 6:03)	CFO Ted Plemenos
Justine Franko	Director of Equity & Inclusion Pam Reed
Marybeth Lennox-Levins (Elected Clerk)	Corey Smith
Marisa Neary
Charlene Seward (Arrived at 6:12)
Cathy Solsaa (Elected President)
Stephanie Stoodley
Christina Sweet (Left 7:00 PM)
Jen Rondinone
School Board Members Absent:
Student Representative Amelia Shelton
Student Representative Amaya Tonda

Superintendent Olsen called the meeting to order at 6:00 pm, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. He noted the addition of Personnel Memorandum #664.

Welcome New Board Members and Administration of Oaths - Oaths were administered:

·         Sara Atkins-Doenges – Three Year Term

·         Karen Bossi – Three Year Term

·         Christina Sweet – Three Year Term

·         Marybeth Lennox-Levins – Three Year Term

·         Jennifer Rondinone  – One-Year Term

Election of Officers – Chair of the Board:

Nomination by Commissioner Lennox-Levins, seconded by Commissioner Doenges– Commissioner Solsaa for School Board Chair.

There were no other nominations.

Commissioner Bossi cast the first vote. The Board elected Commissioner Solsaa as the School Board Chair.  Motion carried

Election of Officers – School Board Clerk:

Nomination by Commissioner Doenges, seconded by Commissioner Franko – Commissioner Lennox-Levins for School Board Clerk.

There were no other nominations.

Commissioner Stoodley cast the first vote. The Board elected Commissioner Lennox-Levins as the School Board Clerk.  Motion carried.

Board Committee Assignment Discussion – President Solsaa asked that Commissioners email her as soon as possible regarding what Board Committee assignments they would like to sit on.  The first set of meetings is scheduled for Tuesday, March 25, 2025, and she would like to know who would be interested in those committees.  She highlighted Board operating information, including  The Rutland Herald is the Board’s designated paper for announcements, Board development opportunities, Board representation, email protocol, and Roberts Rules. Mr. Olsen added information concerning negotiations and Board representation.

Consent Agenda

Motion by Commissioner Lennox-Levins, seconded by Commissioner Franko to add B. Personnel Memorandum #664 to the Consent Agenda.   Motion carried.

Motion by Commissioner Lennox-Levins, seconded by Commissioner Bossi to approve the Consent Agenda.  Motion Carried

A.      Personnel Memorandum 664 (Attached)

Commissioner Stoodley introduced Corey Smith to the Board.  Corey was recommended to be the next Rutland Northwest Primary School Principal starting July 1, 2025.  All welcomed Corey to the District. 

Executive Session

Motion by Commissioner Seward, seconded by Commissioner Carney, at 6:19 pm that the Rutland City Board of School Commissioners enter into an executive session with Bill Olsen, Bianca McKeen, Pam Reed, Ted Plemenos, and Bill Meub, for the purpose of consideration of contract negotiations, the premature release of information regarding the subject which would place the Board at a substantial disadvantage. Motion carried.

Commissioner Sweet left the executive session at 7:00 PM.

Motion by Commissioner Bossi, seconded by Commissioner Seward, to come out of executive session at 7:30 pm. Motion carried.

Motion by Commissioner Bossi, seconded by Commissioner Seward, to release proposed letter that was reviewed by the board.  Vote:  8 yes with 1 abstention (Rondinone).  Motion carried

Motion by Commissioner Seward, seconded by Commissioner Bossi, at 7:32 pm that the Rutland City Board of School Commissioners enter into an executive session with Bill Olsen, Bianca McKeen, Pam Reed, Ted Plemenos, and Bill Meub, for the purpose of consideration of providing professional legal services to the board, the premature general public knowledge would clearly place the board at a substantial disadvantage.  Motion carried.

Motion by Commissioner Bossi, seconded by Commissioner Doenges, to come out of executive session at 7:35 pm. Motion carried.

Adjournment

Motion to adjourn by Commissioner Stoodley, seconded by Commissioner Bossi, to adjourn the meeting at 7:35 pm. Motion carried.

Respectfully submitted,

Cherie Bizzarro, Recording Secretary