LITCHFIELD BOARD OF EDUCATION

SPECIAL  MEETING

NOVEMBER 1, 2006

 

            A special meeting of the Litchfield Board of Education was held on Wednesday, November 1, 2006, at 7:00 p.m. in the Center School library.

 

            Board members present were: Mr. Shuhi, Chairperson; Mrs. Reardon; Messrs. Costa, Fairchild, Falcetti, Gorman, Noone, Simone and Tourtellotte. 

 

            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. Fairchild and seconded by Mr. Falcetti: to approve the minutes of the October 11, 2006 meeting as submitted. 

 

                                    MOTION carried.  All votes were in the affirmative.  There were no abstentions. 

 

Public Comment and Correspondence

 

            Mark Donne reported on the student council activities at the high school. 

 

            Mr. Waugh updated the Board on the status of the building project including: gym wall decision tomorrow night; engineer’s input; code requirements; two major sections turned over on December 22nd; bathroom issue; roof work almost finished; status of painting; additional items to list of enhancements; alarm system; flooring; and parking lot design.

 

            Board members discussed the following: clarification on wall of gym; facility use for basketball season; situation complexity; need to look at alternatives; and physical education classes can use an alternative area.

 

            Winnie Harrison questioned the gym wall issue and the three options that have been discussed but not decided on for construction. 

 

            Mike Murray discussed the following: thanked Dr. Breslin for a tour of the school; thanked Mr. Shuhi for putting the Building Committee minutes back on the Board of Education website; negotiation committee issues; composition of committee; and possibility of inviting a representative from the Board of Finance, Selectman, and community. 

 

Special Presentation

 

            Mrs. Maraia and Mr. O’Connell presented an overview of the elementary Science program.  Next Thursday all elementary teachers and high school teachers will work together on professional development relating to the science curriculum and instructional strategies.

           

            Dr. Vita reported on the importance of specialization of science; most elementary teachers are stronger in math and language arts with little course work in science; science related to competencies in math; replicating tasks; writing in precise way; if students had more intensive science experience at the elementary school they will be ready for more advanced, in depth science at the high school; leave the high school with a sound education; need for science specialist at the elementary level; have science lab/center; won’t need P.D. for staff to teach science or supplies to buy for all teachers; and alignment with State standards. 

 

            Board members discussed the following: makes economic sense; scheduling science appropriately to fit in with other specials; balance of curriculum; reprioritize and realign; test scores will tell a lot; challenge of the program; scheduling issues; plans for science room; science needs to be part of the curriculum; logistics; differential instruction; teacher feedback; and relief for elementary teachers to focus on math and language arts.

 

New Business

 

                        MOTION made by Mr. Tourtellotte and seconded by Mr. Simone: 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. Simone and seconded by Mr. Costa: to accept the recommendation of the administration to appoint Stacy Glanz to the 1.0 FTE certified position of Special Education teacher effective immediately with salary adjustment retroactive to the date she began as a long-term substitute. 

 

                                    MOTION carried.  All votes were in the affirmative.  There were no abstentions.

 

            Mr. Shuhi reported on the suggestion from the school building committee to perhaps acquire and install a new scoreboard at LHS through a possible sponsor contribution. 

 

            Board members discussed the following: need to keep as part of the building committee’s expense; not necessary to go out to bid; use of the school facility to advertise for profit making; revenue generated for private enterprise; possible small, tasteful plaque; not necessary to solicit a donation; need for scoreboard; advertising is in the play program and yearbook; scoreboard is

 included on technology list; donations would be great; what’s good, what’s not; $25,000 is available; could use money for something else if donations were made; possibly too competitive to find one advertiser; stay open to suggestions; and need to keep options open for consideration.

 

Old Business

 

            Dr. Vita reviewed the agenda for the upcoming hearing to discuss the “Code of Conduct.”  Mr. Robert Petricone will moderate the meeting where options will be presented.  Public comment will be included at the hearing. 

 

            Board members discussed the following: input from policy committee; currently not a policy; if policy is desired, policy committee will get involved; STPC input; put on website; and need to notify public.

 

            Dr. Vita reported on recommending eliminating the position of library/media assistant at the high school and post for a new information technology specialist.

 

            Board members discussed the following: need for the technology specialist; real visionary idea; integrating skills with technology; need for long range plan; have technology plan and plan for district; position was eliminated; need to eliminate a position to establish a position; upgraded the position to benefit the system more; and job description is available.

 

                        MOTION made by Mr. Costa and seconded by Mr. Falcetti: to approve eliminating the position of LHS library/media assistant and establish an additional information technology specialist position as recommended by the administration. 

 

                                    MOTION carried.  All votes were in the affirmative.   There were no abstentions.

 

            Dr. Vita noted that the principals, director of public works and the Facilities and Finance Committee reflected on what the Board wants to do.  The public works director will submit with the town budget what the school maintenance needs are.           

 

Mrs. Perusse distributed outlines of the Capital Improvement Program Project Requests and reviewed them with the Board.

 

            MOTION made by Mr. Costa and seconded by Mr. Tourtellotte: to approve the capital projects as recommended by the Facilities and Finance Committee and administration, to be submitted to the Capital Improvement Committee by November 15th.

 

                        MOTION carried.  All votes were in the affirmative.  There were no abstentions.

  

Superintendent’s Report

 

            Dr. Vita reported on the following:

  • Update on facilities: bus parking lot in use with fencing going out to bid; auditorium in good shape and on time for the play performances; maintenance coping with medical leaves and hiring new part timers; floor upkeep is a process in the works. 
  • Construction updates.
  • Meeting with the Park and Recreation Department and the compromise reached to share the costs of building use during off school hours.
  • Plan for basketball program since no gym will be available in the near future.
  • Issue of the color blue for the school and the need for one color to be decided since too many shades of blue are presently being used. 
  • Community Conversation to take place at the high school on Saturday, November 4th and as many Board members as possible are asked to participate.

 

Administrative Reports

 

            Mrs. Longobucco reported on the following at Center School: marking period ending; upcoming parent conference schedule; Veteran’s Day plans; in-service next Thursday on differentiated instruction; and good feedback from visitors who toured Center School as a model school. 

 

            Mrs. Longobucco reported on technology: new budget being submitted to the central office; building project getting ready to be submitted to the State; use of School Dude; and accountability for maintenance and technology requests.

 

            Dr. Stuhlman reported on the following at the Intermediate School: short staffed with custodians; health and fitness day on January 25th; promoting health food choices; Halloween celebrated with orange and black and no candy; report cards will be going out soon; parent conferences scheduled next week; and Veterans’ Day celebration possibilities.

 

            Dr. Breslin reported on the following at the high school: scheduling for next year; NEASC continuation; internet safety assembly; issues and new location for PE classes; and new math teacher, Leah Schultz, invited to present at the Atlanta conference.

 

            Mr. Zaremski reported on Appendix D, “Classroom and Facility Accommodations,” with emphasis on student precautions in the classroom environment. 

 

            Mrs. Perusse reported on the following: Budget Sense is now on the network; visiting schools and training on Friday; School Dude also being used now and was well received; distributed the FF&E list for the Intermediate School and the high school; issues with high school art rooms; and eligibility for reimbursement on floor cleaning equipment. 

 

            Board members discussed inviting the building committee members to tour the new addition and review the concerns that have been discussed.

 

Committee Reports

Finance and Facilities

 

            Mr. Noone reported that the committee met to discuss and highlight the Center School issues and needs.  Also, the committee discussed the budget process.

 

Policy and Personnel

 

            Mr. Fairchild noted that the Committee has scheduled the meeting on November 14th to discuss and review the “code of conduct.” 

 

Negotiations

 

            Dr. Vita reported that the committee would meet tomorrow at 5:00 p.m. with Paul Parsons, and Dave Geiger, and representative from the LEA.

 

                        MOTION made by Mr. Simone and seconded by Mr. Gorman: to adjourn the meeting at 9:45 p.m.

 

                                    MOTION carried.  All votes were in the affirmative.  There were no abstentions.

 

                                                                        Respectfully submitted,

                                                                        Donald Falcetti, Secretary

                                                                        Joanne Bertrand, Recording Secretary