Call to Order

The meeting was called to order at 6:45 p.m. Selectboard members Lewis Sumner, Mitchell Green, Bradley Rafus, and School Board members Homer (Chum) Sumner, Paul Blais, and Kim Tefft were present, as were Steven Cohen, Ray Combs, Alice Aldrich, Andrew Rice, Peter LaFogg, Fred Cheney, Brian Siano, David Thurber, and Robbin Gabriel.

Changes and/or Additions to Agenda

None.

New Business

Cael Scholarship Awards
Steven Cohen, trustee of the Don Cael scholarship funds, gave an update on financials. Cael monies have been in CDs with TD Bank, but those are being phased out. Cohen, after research, advised moving the funds to Brattleboro Savings and Loan CDs. Scholarships are paid from the interest earned on the CDs; Board members noted that interest rates have been very low in recent years. Cohen also announced that a $500 donation has been received from William Ashcroft, for the purpose of awarding two $25 scholarships each year for ten years to the student who has made the most academic progress in the school year. One student in grades 1-4 and one in grades 5-8 would receive the award each year.

Chum Sumner spoke about the effect the formation of the Act 46 Southern Valley Unified District may have on the yearly scholarship award process. There is the possibility that endowments currently administered by the Halifax School Board may be turned over to the new District Board. Sumner is awaiting attorney review of the situation; if the opinion is that the endowments move to the Unified District Board, the Halifax Selectboard may be requested to take over that responsibility, to assure awards continue to go to Halifax students, in accordance with the donors’ intentions.

Three scholarship applications were opened and reviewed. Mitch Green made a motion to award $500 each to James Barcomb, Jr., and Maxwell Cohen, to be paid in two installments, one at the beginning of the first semester and one at the beginning of the second semester. Chum Sumner seconded the motion, which passed, 6-0. The third application could not be considered, as a required document was not submitted.

Old Business

None.

Other Business

None.

Hearing of Visitors

None.

Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 7:15 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Robbin Gabriel
Selectboard Secretary