LITCHFIELD BOARD OF EDUCATIONLITCHFIELD BOARD OF EDUCATION REGULAR MEETING DECEMBER 13, 2006 |
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A regular meeting of the Litchfield Board of Education was held on Wednesday, December 13, 2006 at 7:00 p.m. in the Center School library.
Board members present were: Mr. Shuhi, Chairperson; Mrs. Reardon; Messrs. Costa, Fairchild, Gorman, Noone and Tourtellotte. Mr. Simone and Mr. Falcetti were excused.
Also present were: Dr. Vita; Mrs. Perusse; Dr. Breslin; Dr. Stuhlman; Mrs. Longobucco; Mrs. MacDoanld; Mr. Zaremski the public and the press.
MOTION made by Mr. Costa and seconded by Mr. Fairchild: to add to the agenda as item V b a discussion on early dismissal on December 22, 2006.
MOTION carried. All votes were in the affirmative. There were no abstentions.
MOTION made by Mr. Costa and seconded by Mr. Tourtellotte: to approve the minutes of the November 14th special meeting and the November 15th regular meeting with the following corrections on page 2537 the word “Motion” is misspelled and on page 2544 under “Old Business” the motion should read “MOTION withdrawn by Mr. Tourtellotte and second withdrawn by Mr. Falcetti.”
MOTION carried. All votes were in the affirmative. There were no abstentions.
Public Comment and Correspondence
Mr. Waugh presented an update on the School Building Committee including: results of the tour taken last Thursday; project on time and within budget; updated schedule for different areas to be turned over; painting status; gym status and completion; possible need to create a committee to prioritize the fine tuning issues; completion date for Intermediate School end of March and high school November; budget contingency around one million dollars; floor colors; parking status and safety concerns; and input from Trooper Doyle.
Board members discussed the following: parking lot comes out of contingency; approximately $100,000 for parking issues; plans for fixing old bathrooms; some students refuse to use them; need to prioritize according to state application and limits; need to develop a list of priorities; possible inclusion of Board member on committee to prioritize; and good if Mr. Waugh was on the committee since he is so familiar with school needs.
Mike Stedronski reported on the Student Council activities at the high school.
Mrs. McKenna commented on the all day Kindergarten possibility including the following: need for educational initiative and not economic or social; reviewed studies done associated with low socioeconomic populations; gains lost by middle school; have preschool advantage here; not certain there is an educational initiative here; findings from the State; unstructured play; Board needs to know its community; suggest broaden survey to all taxpayers and not just those entering Kindergarten; status of towns in Connecticut; no new material introduced in afternoon; extending 4 and 5 year olds time in school; why not extend the day or year for the older students who have so much to learn.
Mrs. Penny commented on program enhancements and possible input from the community when and if the time comes that some need to be cut.
Mr. Murray complimented the Board and administration for voting their conscience and for what the people in town want and wished everyone a happy holiday.
Dr. Vita noted that the new school bus will probably be at the next Board meeting for viewing.
Special Presentation
Beth Manners presented a Spanish enrichment program for early grades. “Classroom Spanish for Kids” is designed to be done by the classroom teacher, an aide or a foreign language teacher. Students at Center School participated in the first lesson as a sampling. Kids are active and the lessons are short. A teacher’s manual is followed with a CD for listening. There is little prep needed and the instructions are listed.
Board members discussed the following: possible danger in learning the wrong pronunciation if the teacher is non Spanish speaking; CD pronounces everything correctly; younger children learn pronunciation easily; step in the right direction; need to start early; window of speaking comfort closes around age 10; scheduling gap easy to adjust; impressed with program; very similar to successful Italian program held in the past; curriculum done in small chunks; teacher needs to be enthusiastic facilitator; immersion experience that is interdisciplinary; this is non consumable use.
MOTION made by Mr. Tourtellotte and seconded by Mr. Gorman: to add to agenda as item V c, a discussion on adding this pilot program to the curriculum.
MOTION carried. All votes were in the affirmative. There were no abstentions.
New Business
MOTION made by Mr. Tourtellotte and seconded by Mr. Gorman: to approve the payment of invoices and adjustment to line item expenditures as required.
MOTION carried. All votes were in the affirmative. There were no abstentions.
Dr. Vita reported that there would be no adverse impact on the co op program if we decide to change December 22nd to an early dismissal day. However, noted that Region #6 will not have an early dismissal and that a change at this time might be problematic for parents.
Board members discussed the following: nice holiday gesture; less academic activities on that day; needed to be discussed earlier due to burden on parents; some high school teachers planned lessons for the whole day; not a transportation issue; have done it in the past; more prior notice; most students, teachers and parents appreciate it; and historically not a problem in classes.
MOTION made by Mr. Noone and seconded by Mr. Costa: to approve changing December 22nd to an early dismissal day.
MOTION carried. All votes were in the affirmative except Mrs. Reardon, Mr. Fairchild and Mr. Tourtellotte voted in the negative. There were no abstentions.
MOTION made by Mr. Costa and seconded by Mrs. Reardon: to approve the purchase and implementation of the “Classroom Spanish for Kids” curriculum as demonstrated by Beth Manners.
MOTION carried. All votes were in the affirmative. There were no abstentions.
Old Business
Dr. Vita reported that after a review with Policy and Personnel Committee, the end result was to ask Dr. Breslin and Mr. Crowe to come up with a version of what had been presented and incorporate the information into a format to insert in the Student Handbook. It would include a progressive continuum of intervention and apply appropriately to all students. The intervention would be up to the school and could refer to the code. Student is already in Board policy with a range of intervention there, also.
Board members discussed the following: need to champion a new code to be implemented in time for spring sports meeting; need to have attorney look at it; if administrative rule then Board does not need to vote on it; Board should endorse the document; need to reflect intent of Board; if not a Board policy then don’t have to enforce it; Board policy is a simple statement; on school grounds and off school grounds; very specific criteria to follow; set by courts and state statutes; and code of conduct goes beyond the policy.
Board members reviewed and discussed policy #4118.16(a) and #4218.16(a) regarding paid leaves for caregivers for children for a second reading. The following was discussed: page 2 #4 under paid leave; this goes above and beyond what is legally required; could be discretionary; need to stay the way it is written; point is to take care of child; issues withadoptive parents; need for consistency; not to have exceptions; and reviewed and reworded by our attorney.
Dr. Vita reviewed the proposed program enhancement for 2006-07 including all day Kindergarten, science and specials. A brief meeting was held this evening to review the all day Kindergarten possibility with interested people. An informational survey will be sent out in January to parents who will be enrolling students for Kindergarten. This recommendation is purely educational based and not economic based. There could be fewer referrals to special education or support skills and a better transition from Kindergarten to first grade. Why put kids in a situation when we can give them a proper start with a more complete foundation.
Board members discussed the following: need to set our priorities; need for curriculum and technology to review priorities for program enhancements; predetermined cuts; parent prerogative; possible transition days for the beginning of the year; special teacher for Science; new position posted but FTE may not change; comparative study; transportation vs. teacher costs; and options for world language and instrumental music over the next three years out.
Mr. Gorman left at 8:45 p.m.
Board members discussed the 2007-08 budget development process including the proposed schedule; Board of Finance budget schedule; and the capital piece of the budget for which the town put in a lot of the requests regarding the facilities as listed. The preliminary budget will be presented February 14th and will be presented to the Board of Finance on February 26th.
Superintendent’s Report
Dr. Vita reported on the following:
Board members discussed the following: strong feelings toward royal blue and toward navy blue; need for further discussion; possible student decision; when decided it will be 10 years before uniforms will be consistent; not appropriate for Board to decide; Board should decide and end everything; students tend to buy navy blue uniforms; people who raise funds for athletics care about the school color; need to forward concerns to Mr. Crowe; everyone thinks it is the color in their era; students’ preference; STPC parent concerns; if Mr. Crowe can’t settle it then bring it back to the Board for further discussion; possible feedback from the community; Sports Booster Club input; beyond athletics with band, debate and other teams; and strange having two colors, should phase in one color.
Administrative Reports
Mrs. Longobucco reported on the following at Center School including: all day Kindergarten studies were not from low socio economic schools; 20 pages of studies; more information out there; parents did express interest in the program and there will be a survey for review.
Mrs. Longobucco reported on technology including the building project moves and budget needs.
Dr. Stuhlman reported on the following at the Intermediate School including: DARE program will be eliminated in 5th grade but a new 6th grade curriculum will be started next year; meeting held with a playground consultant went very well; Cynthia Tompkins and Kelly Conforth are joining forces to plan a Spanish portraiture unit; and the first art news letter will be completed soon.
Mr. Simone arrived at 9:15 p.m.
Dr. Breslin reported on the following at the high school including: at the NEASC conference discussion was held on our new schedule with the common planning time; people impressed with the schedule; athletic season has started; moving guidance and administration offices, constant chess match; and need for asbestos abatement over the holiday.
Mr. Zaremski reported 20% of students receiving services received some sort of honor roll recognition in the newspaper.
Mrs. Perusse reported on the following: Board of Finance meeting held; auditor had no recommendations for the Board this year; budgets have been received; putting numbers together; need to have everything in place; cleaning issues; and art room issues.
Mr. Shuhi requested that calendars scheduling concerts and other activities on the same night as the Board meeting should be avoided so Board members can attend these functions.
Committee ReportsCurriculum and Technology
Mr. Costa reported that the committee met briefly to discuss the Spanish program presented this evening.
Finance and Facilities
Mr. Noone noted that we are now in the budget season and a joint meeting will be held in February with the town and Mr. Crowe.
Negotiations Liaison
Dr. Vita reported that the contract is at town hall.
MOTION made by Mr. Reardon and seconded by Mr. Fairchild: to adjourn the meeting at 9:30 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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