LITCHFIELD BOARD OF EDUCATIONREGULAR MEETING May 3, 2006 |
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A regular meeting of the Litchfield Board of Education was held on Wednesday, May 3, 2006, in the Center School library.
Board members present were: Mr. Shuhi, Chairperson; Mrs. Reardon; Messrs. Costa, Fairchild, Falcetti, Gorman, Noone, and Simone. Mr. Tourtellotte was excused.
Also present were: Dr. Vita; Mrs. Perusse; Dr. Breslin; Dr. Stuhlman Mrs. Longobucco; Mrs. MacDonald; Mr. Zaremski; the public and the press.
MOTION made by Mr. Gorman and seconded by Mr. Fairchild: to move agenda item IV b to after approval of the minutes.
MOTION carried. All votes were in the affirmative. There were no abstentions.
MOTION made by Mr. Fairchild and seconded by Mr. Falcetti: to approve the minutes of the April 19, 2006 meeting with the following correction on page 2490 under the vote for policy # 9270 Conflict of Interest, it should state that all votes were in the affirmative except for Mr. Falcetti, Mr. Shuhi and Mr. Simone who voted in the negative.
MOTION carried. All votes were in the affirmative. There were no abstentions.
Special Presentation
Mr. Markelon, Environthon teacher at LHS, introduced the five students involved including Amy Katzin, Chloe Bourne, Billy McGeehin, Sean Corning and Kyle Courtney. All presented an overview of their upcoming competition regarding Greenhouse Gases Global Warming.
The Environthon students have competed over the past 5 years and have attended National Competition status 4 out of 5 of those years.
Public Comment and Correspondence
STPC representative Jessica Buck reported on the following: ROBOTICS contributions from different school departments; four $500 scholarships to be given; sponsoring senior field trip; teacher luncheons; 8th grade moving up; 7th grade parent night; graduation reception; and presentation regarding predators – keeping children safe.
Emily Skelton presented the student council activities at the high school. Board members received thank you notes from Joanne Murphy, Jan Warner, Janice Metro, Joanne Bertrand, Colleen Rodger and Sherri Irwin for flower arrangements from the Board members for Administrative Professional Day.
Special Presentations
The School Building Committee will meet tomorrow evening at 7:00 p.m.
Michael Allen from Education Connection reported on the School Food Services including the following: strategies with vendors; salads and fruits; new menu software; breakfast program at the high school; safe and sanitized atmosphere; new bill passed #381; 80,000 meals served each year; need for balance; increases for next year; entitlement dollars reduced; subsidized costs; and where we are and where we are trying to go.
Board members discussed the following: other towns using this service; food service signed off several years ago; and appealing, healthy, well prepared food.
New Business
MOTION made by Mr. Simone and seconded by Mr. Fairchild: to approve the payment of invoices and adjustments to line item expenditures as required.
MOTION carried. All votes were in the affirmative. There were no abstentions.
MOTION made by Mr. Costa and seconded by Mrs. Reardon: to approve to proclaim May 3, 2006 as Litchfield’s Celebration of National Teacher Day. (Copy of Proclamation attached.)
MOTION carried. All votes were in the affirmative. There were no abstentions.
Old Business
Dr. Vita reported that the budget hearing went very well and that the town meeting will be held on May 10, at 7:00 p.m. in the Litchfield Firehouse.
Dr. Vita presented the school Wellness/Nutrition/Physical Activity policy #6180.1 for a second reading with the suggested revisions included.
Superintendent’s Report
Dr. Vita reported on the following:
Administrative Reports
Dr. Breslin reported on the activities at the high school including the following: scheduling update; new wing move for the middle school going well; robotics team; fashion show; Chelsea Knox won the Hartford Symphony Competition and will play with them; 8th grade scholar leaders Alexandra Stedronsky and Michael Ringquist; Corissa Rodgers and Johnathon Zullo are scholar-athletes; National Honor Society induction; Michael’s Cup second place recipients, based on sportsmanship; job shadowing with 25 students; prom issues and safe driving presentation for students.
Dr. Stuhlman reported on the activities at the Intermediate School including the following: scheduling; challenges of special services during renovation; all classrooms will likely be ready for the start of school; mile run next week; 7th grade transition going well; shadowing begins in 2 weeks; moving up June 21st at Wamogo; fourth to fifth has already begun; high school students working as hall monitors for fourth graders when they visit; meet the teacher night before school starts and fourth grade parents night on May 25th.
Mrs. Longobucco reported on the activities at Center School including the following: ACES was held today; healthy eating; Kindergarten orientation next week; Grade 3 to Norman Rockwell Museum; Grade 2 went to White Memorial; and class placement process starting soon.
Mrs. Longobucco reported on technology including the following: cable run; cable replacement; tech needs; summer plans; phasing; meeting with technology people tomorrow; O & G very easy to work with; very accommodating; presentation to building committee; and sense is that issues can be resolved.
Mr. Zaremski reported on special services including the following: distributing a copy of the 12 page IEP document which used to be one page; 165 students involved need annual review every year; May is crunch time for reviews; and complexity and volume of the process.
Mrs. Perusse reported on the following: budget watch; need to balance budget; close grants; building project has great problem solvers; addition showing on the I. S.; money for utilities costs will not be coming from the Governor as anticipated; and there will be a percentage back for some of the cost. Committee ReportsCurriculum and Technology Committee
Mr. Costa reported that the committee met last week with discussion of the new candidate who should start on May 25th. Also, long-range development for technology will be discussed with the Tech Plan to be submitted. This will be on the agenda for next time.
Finance and Facilities Committee
Mr. Noone reminded the Board of the May 10th meeting where the budget should get passed if all goes well.
Policy and Personnel Committee
Mr. Fairchild noted that a review of policy #6180.1 Student Wellness, Nutrition and Physical Activity reading took place.
MOTION made by Mr. Simone and seconded by Mr. Costa: to move to Executive Session at 8:15 p.m. to discuss Personnel and pending litigation.
MOTION carried. All votes were in the affirmative. There were no abstentions.
Executive Session
Present were all the above Board members and Dr. Vita.
Open session resumed at 9:10 p.m.
No action was taken.
MOTION made by Mr. Simone and seconded by Mr. Falcetti: to adjourn the meeting at 9:11 p.m.
MOTION carried. All votes were in the affirmative. There were no abstentions.
Respectfully Submitted, Donald Falcetti, Secretary Joanne Bertrand, Recording Secretary
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