COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL OF VERMONT

STATE EDUCATION BOARD

MINUTES

Wednesday, October 5, 2005

Members Present: Dwight Davis, Richard Fraser, Blanche Kelley, Dave Mulholland & Albert Pearce

Members Absent: Dave Luce, Don Messier and Wilma Paronto

CHSVT Administration Present: Bob Lucenti, Director

Stephan LaTulippe, Principal

Maureen McIntyre, Business Manager

Guests Present: Tom James, Chair of the Dept of Education State Board

The meeting was held at the Northwest State Correctional Facility in St. Albans

The meeting was called to order at 9:40 a.m., and introductions were made.

1. Northwest State Presentation of Education Programs:

Barb Hagen, Special Education Instructor, introduced herself to the Board and

gave a preview of what their program presentation would include. Seven residents would be sharing their thoughts and the experience they have had while attending, or working, at the Community High School of VT.

The first resident, Dwayne B., started by sharing that he has his GED and will be completing his requirements to receive his HSD soon. He participates in the garden program and said that Barb Hagen is a supreme supervisor. He has built confidence and feels a great sense of accomplishment while participating in this program. The garden distributed tons of produce to the local food shelf and much of the produce is used in the facility kitchen. He said the Horticulture and Computer programs really help him deal with his stress and social skills. He respects and appreciates the education faculty at NWSCF. He is also participating in the Baking Course and feels these programs are very effective. He is grateful that this facility has such a wide range of educational programs to take advantage of and participate in.

Gary N. was the second resident to speak to the board. He works as a computer instructor for CHSVT. He shared work from students who attend the computer studies course. He finds it truly amazing how this course helps with the student’s confidence level. He believes this program really helps the residents when they return to society. They have software to use for research projects, but do not have access to the internet. All the residents understand that access to the internet is a security issue and they accept this.

Resident Tim B. was the third resident to address the board. Prior to his incarceration, he was a Para-professional at a public school. He was approached and asked by the facility education staff to work with the CHSVT education program. He and Special Education Instructor, Barb Hagen, facilitated a three-part plan program. The first part is Evaluation Analysis of basic skills. This teaches the student to understand their alphabet, multiplication, comprehension, etc.. The second part is Educational Goals. He works with each student to define their educational goals, for example, to be able to read, know how to write a check, resume writing, the basics. The third part is the Reintegration Process. This is to provide assistance with finding housing, a job and money management. This program promotes self confidence. One student who participated in this program could not read when he began three months ago. Now he is able to write a letter to his family. His wish list is to have better access to education material and catalogues.

James K. addressed the board by sharing that he has been in a few of our facilities. He was at the Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility and then at the Northern State Correctional Facility. He respects CHSVT faculty at all of the sites. He was also sent to Kentucky. He did, however, get upset by so much movement within the system. He said that Kentucky was in the dark ages compared to Vermont regarding educational services. When he was transferred to NWSCF, he was very impressed with the variety of programming that was offered here. There is so much to choose from. This is because the State facilities offer both, academic and vocational programs. He attends the Graphic Arts program with Scott Tomlinson. He really enjoys this class. He loves the idea of inmates teaching classes. It is not as intimidating for the students. When a resident learns something new, they automatically pass it on to another resident. He shared the CHSVT calendar with the Board. This calendar was made in the Graphic Arts class. He plans on pursuing education when he is released. His wish list is for more education courses. He feels the best programming is to never stop learning!

Resident Brian L. shared how he really enjoys the Graphic Arts program and the Cooking Course. He has been at NWSCF since 1999. He is 25 years old and received his HSD in 2001. He expressed how great he thought the education faculty is. He stated that when he received his diploma, his spirits rose tremendously.

Resident Scott L. spoke about the creation of a new Career & Resource Center, which is a collaborative effort between Vocational Rehab, CHSVT, Department of Corrections, Vermont Offender Work Program and the Department of Employment and Training. The Center will focus on job skills, education, experience and career assessment in one package. It’s been implemented through the Workforce Development Program Federal Grant CHSVT received. Scott is very excited about this new Career & Resource Center and is looking forward to the finished product.

Ray H. spoke about his participation in the Baking Course. He is learning professional baking skills. These are skills he did not have before learning them here at NWSCF. His is also participating in the Serve-Safe Course and is enrolled in the Computer Skills Course. He has also participated in a Horology Course, which deals with clock repair. He wants to pursue this trade when released. He feels the education programs at the NWSCF are very beneficial.

Bard Hagen, Special Education Instructor, continued the presentation by explaining that this facility has an average of 20 residents that are under the age of 22. This facility has more of an older population. The vocational programs offer Industry Certification in the Automotive program and will be offering Industry Certification in the Graphic Arts program. Scott Tomlinson, Vocational Instructor, is in the process of pursuing certification in this field from GATF/PIA for Graphic Arts Industry Certification.

Mary Jo Scott, Correctional Instructor, John Cross and Scott Tomlinson, Vocational Instructors, all stopped in to speak briefly with the Board about their programs.

2. Review of October Minutes & Acceptance of November Agenda:

Dwight Davis made a motion to accept the meeting minutes of September 7. 2005 and the Agenda for the October meeting. Richard Fraser seconded the motion. There was no discussion. The motion was called and it passed unanimously.

3. Education Issues Vital to CHSVT School Approval – Bob Lucenti:

Our school approval process has been delayed for some time due to a disagreement between the DOE and the DOC regarding who is responsible for providing special education services in the community - the Local Education Agency, or the Department of Corrections. The school approval application was submitted by the CHSVT to the DOE in June of 2003. This is a complicated issue because some think the CHSVT is a public school and others think we are an Independent School. Bob has attended meetings with Steve Gold, Deputy Secretary of Administration, Cindy LaWare, Deputy Secretary of Human Services, Rob Hofmann, Commissioner of Corrections and Richard Cate, Commissioner of Education. Steve Gold recommended that the Attorney General’s office review the issue and make a recommendation.

Bob shared a document that he gave out at a meeting with Deputy Secretary Gold, Deputy Secretary LaWare and Commissioners Cate and Hofmann. This document is for study purposes only. It list five options regarding special education services in the community, along with the concerns and costs for each option. Bob discussed each option with the Board. Bob also mentioned that he is trying to avoid litigation, which did happen many years ago at the Vermont State Hospital and Brandon Training School.

Blanche said that she just recently read an article where a parent is suing the DOC because materials for a corrections program aren’t sufficient for this student’s skill level.

Presently, we are doing Option 5 of the document. However, the CHSVT administration supports Option 2.

Dwight mentioned that more alternative education programs, especially within public school, would be helpful in preventing crime. Tom James asked what Dwight meant by “alternative.” Dwight stated a program similar to CHSVT within public schools. Dave Mulholland said that an Individual Graduation Plan for all students would be the ideal.

Bob stated that he will share the report from the Attorney General’s office once he receives it.

4. Annual Report to DIE State Education Board per Title 28 VSA:

The Board asked Mr. James why they have not been invited to one of the DOE State Education Board meetings to deliver an annual report on the CHSVT. Mr. James said he did not think his Board planned on inviting this Board to one of their meetings. A short discussion ensued. It was agreed that the CHSVT State Education Board would send the DOE State Education Board the CHSVT Annual Report. All seemed in agreement that this is a way for our school to report to the DOE State Education Board.

5. New Board Members -Appointments to Boards & Commissions – New Directive:

There is a new policy/directive regarding appointments to Boards and Commissions. Central Office staff has been told about this new directive, but have not actually seen it yet. This new directive states that a recommendation to a Board or Commission needs to be submitted to the Agency of Human Services Office, and we no longer contact the Governor’s Office. CHSVT administration will get a copy to share with this Board.

6. School Updates – Bob Lucenti:

An article written for the National Center for the Study of Adult Learning & Literacy was shared with the Board. This article was written by one of our Special Education Instructors, Tom Woods. Tom did an excellent job with this.

Bob also shared results of a School Culture survey that was completed over the summer. This survey was completed by the faculty of CHSVT and the results were very good.

Bob let the Board know that we had a winner of the Beryle Gardener Award. The student was from the Caledonia Community Work Camp. This award is a $200 award. The nomination letter, to the Beryle Gardner Award Nomination Committee is attached to the minutes.

7. School Updates – Stephan LaTulippe:

Stephan announced that we have hired a new Vocational Coordinator at the Northern State Correctional Facility in Newport, Broni Plucas. Broni started employment with us on October 3, 2005. This is the first vocational coordinator position in a facility.

Stephan also shared that he was the luncheon guest speaker at the Vermont Retired Teacher’s Association meeting in September. Vocational Coordinator from the Barre street campus, Gene Rembisz, joined Stephan along with two of his students. All of them, Stephan, Gene and both students spoke to the group and were very well received.

8. New Business:

Blanche Kelley shared an article covering the recent graduation at the Southern State Correctional Facility. The Rutland Herald did a very nice job with this.

Bob Lucenti shared that Commissioner, Rob Hofmann, strongly believes that our residents need hope in their lives and education is that hope.

Dave Muholland wrote a resolution regarding our guest, Mr. Tom James. Stephan LaTulippe made a motion to accept the resolution and Dwight Davis seconded. There was no discussion. The motion was called and it passed unanimously.

A discussion regarding whether we should meet at the Bennington Campus for the November took place. Because we have had a vacancy there since the end of August, and there is only one instructor at this site, it may be best to swap the location with a meeting location scheduled for spring. Interviews for Bennington are scheduled for October 11^th, and 12^th, and this would not allow much time for a new Correctional Instructor to prepare for the State Education Board meeting scheduled in Bennington on November 2, 2005. It was decided that we would swap the location from Bennington to St. Johnsbury for the November meeting. The November meeting will be held at the Caledonia Community Work Camp.

Dwight Davis made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Dave Mulholland seconded the motion. The motion was called and it passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 12:40 p.m.

Respectfully submitted

Maureen McIntyre