2023-04-12 HUUSD Board Meeting Recap
- April 17, 2023
- Ed
- 2.5 Minute Read
The HUUSD School Board met in person (with an option for remote participation) last Tuesday, April 12, 2023.
Kristen clarified that the number of students in Fayston is currently 74 in grades K-5 and 23 preschoolers, for a total of 97 children.
The meeting began with public comment from Dr. Mel Houser of Montpelier, who offered comments regarding the draft Restraint and Seclusion Policy.
Board Reports:
- Board Chair Kristen Rodgers highlighted Harmony Devoe (Harwood Middle School student), who was selected to be part of the Vermont State Youth Council.
- Leadership Report - A written report was provided and no questions were asked.
- Superintendent - Dr. Mike Leichliter did not provide a report but was asked about and provided some information regarding the state’s unsmooth transition to a new standardized testing vendor for this year.
Topics for discussion:
- Magna Award Reception - Dr. Leichliter and Kathy Cadwell attended the National School Board Association conference and accepted this award.
- School Board Meeting Schedule - The schedule was reviewed and no changes were made.
- First Read Restraint and Seclusion Policy - Committee Chair Ashley Woods provided some background information and an overview of the changes made in the draft policy. Board members asked questions of and provided feedback to the committee members. Board members requested changes to the language. A straw poll indicated that the current draft should be brought forward to be warned at the next meeting.
In action items, the Board:
- Approved a motion to appoint Victoria Taravella and Danielle Dukette to the Policy Crosswalk Committee.
- Approved a motion to accept the Evergreen Roofing, LLC bid for Harwood High School roof work in the amount of $368,600.
- Approved a motion to appoint Mandy Couturier as Director of Multi-Tiered Systems of Support, effective July 1, 2023.
- Approved a motion to appoint Ben Clark to the Moretown Principal Hiring Committee.
- Approved a motion to appoint Bethany Turnbaugh as Assistant Principal, Harwood Union Middle/High School, effective July 1, 2023.
Board Members present:
Michael Bishop (Fayston), Ben Clark (Moretown), Danielle Dukette (Fayston), Kelley Hackett (Waterbury), Life LeGeros (Duxbury), Jake Pitman (Waterbury), Kristen Rodgers (Moretown), Bobbi Rood (Waitsfield), Cindy Senning (Duxbury), Victoria Taravella (Waterbury), Marlena Tucker-Fishman (Waterbury), JB Weir (Waitsfield), Ashley Woods (Warren)
The Board welcomes feedback from our community and one of the easiest ways to share your thoughts is to send an email to [email protected], which will go to every Board member. Additionally, at the beginning of each Board meeting we invite public comment. Alternately, reach out to your neighbors who are on the school board and share your thoughts in a personal email or phone call (see a list of Board members and contact information at).
The Board’s next meeting will be on Wednesday, April 19, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. Community members may attend in person in the Harwood library or remotely via zoom (), or watch it broadcast live on Youtube (). Agendas and other related documents are available at huusd.org.