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LITCHFIELD BOARD OF EDUCATION REGULAR MEETING FEBRUARY 7, 2007 |
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A regular meeting of the Litchfield Board of Education was held on Wednesday, February 7, 2007 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; Mrs. MacDonald; Dr. Stuhlman; Mrs. Woolley; Mr. Zaremski; the public and the press.
MOTION made by Mr. Simone and seconded by Mr. Noone: to add to the agenda under V c a discussion on a resignation.
MOTION carried. All votes were in the affirmative. There were no abstentions.
MOTION made by Mr. Simone and seconded by Mr. Tourtellotte: to add to the agenda as X Executive Session to discuss pending litigation.
MOTION carried. All votes were in the affirmative. There were no abstentions.
MOTION made by Mr. Simone and seconded by Mr. Falcetti: to approve the minutes of the January 24, 2007 regular meeting and the January 31, 2007 special meeting as submitted.
Mr. Murray’s statements were duly noted on page 2562.
MOTION carried. All votes were in the affirmative. Mr. Fairchild abstained for the special meeting.
Public Comment and Correspondence
Mr. Waugh reported on the school building project including the following: meeting held last Thursday; wall panels for external skin; need for different manufacturer; use same system; completion of external skin sometime around early May; color choices for outside; gym padding issue; water fountain issue; space for maintenance equipment; vehicles stored off campus; glass doors; parking lot; tech plan approved and moving forward; FFE plan; on budget and on schedule; $500,000 + contingency left; 71% completed at the high school; 81% completion at the Intermediate School; completion date for high school is November; and for Intermediate school it is May.
Board members discussed the following: film to block light in gym; and updated tech specs.
Mark Donne reported on the student council activities at the high school.
Mr. Murray commented on the increase of content on the Board’s website which could also possibly include more financial information. Congratulations to Harold Fairchild who will appear at the Lincoln Day Dinner to be recognized for all his community accomplishments.
Mrs. Penny commented on budget cuts if the budget is denied and whether full day kindergarten or other improvements might be prioritized to cut.
Mrs. Fischer commented that she gave the Board a list of questions at the last meeting and has gotten no answers yet. She also presented further questions including: possible difficulty in governing the students at the high school, all day kindergarten staffing, difficulty with first graders getting used to all day schooling, and questions about guidance services at the elementary schools.
Mr. Shuhi noted that forms for questions should be filled out so the Board can get back with the answers.
Mrs. Chawala commented on all day kindergarten and noted that she taught it for 10 years and can’t say that her students were better off or not. Young students are best served at home with family time. The early bird option is not good because kids question why they are different than the other students staying for the full day. Perhaps one class can have all early bird students so no one would feel different.
Mrs. McKenna commented on the transportation issue with the early dismissal option and the implications of early dismissal on student learning.
Dr. Vita noted that full day kindergarten is the program being proposed. Parents can pick up students at any time but the program is full day. The administration and staff feel all day kindergarten is the best program to offer. The afternoon will include reinforcement, and continuation of learning opportunities and activities presented in the morning to ensure students are successful.
Mrs. McCarthy thanked the Board for the response to her concerns and expressed her feeling that she did not support a full day kindergarten. Having one class of students who will go home early would be best for the students.
Board members received the following communications:
Special Presentation
Mr. Chuck Conn presented a summary of the Community Conversation on Education with a handout of a power point slide presentation previously discussed at the Community Conversation Follow-up meeting on January 25th. He indicated the purpose of the meeting was to move forward with outcome of the first meeting; primary concerns are community based; 4 focus areas of interest; strengthening communications; what could the business community do to enhance existing programs before graduation; increase parental involvement in school; budget more transparent document; ground rules; leave what is in place; several recommendations; parent teacher nights; continuous information on remaining aspect of construction project; using web sites and internet to communicate; furnishing vehicle to write to community (newspaper articles, school newspapers); school business partnership with LABA and EDC; parental involvement; broader communication with the budget process; and optimistic outcomes.
Board members discussed the following: very worthwhile process; spirited discussions; consistency in issues brought up; target areas are very helpful; variety of things going on as part of the plan; and large cross section of people making themselves resources to the school.
New Business
MOTION made by Mr. Fairchild and seconded by Mr. Falcetti: to approve the payment of invoices and adjustments to line item expenditures as required.
MOTION carried. All votes were in the affirmative. Mr. Simone abstained.
MOTION made by Mr. Simone and seconded by Mr. Falcetti: to approve the out of state field trip to Bentley College for LIS to participate in mock UN.
MOTION carried. All votes were in the affirmative. There were no abstentions.
The Litchfield Education Foundation subsidizes this program.
MOTION made by Mr. Simone and seconded by Mr. Gorman: to accept the resignation of Laura Duncan with regrets.
MOTION carried. All votes were in the affirmative. There were no abstentions.
Dr. Vita noted that coverage for the position is in the works.
Old Business
Dr. Vita reported on the budget process including the following: adjustment in the budget development schedule; joint meeting with the Board of Finance on March 1st; and Board review on February 21st.
Board members discussed the impact of the Governor’s speech on the budget.
Dr. Vita reviewed the 2007-2008 calendars for Litchfield and Wamogo.
Board members discussed the following: productive times; 12 hours total; one extra PD day at Wamogo; constraints due to Vo Ag program; need to coordinate before calendars are approved; possible early dismissal on December 21st and last day of school; need to assure parents that early dismissals are productive; and possibly give parents an outline of PD activities.
Dr. Vita presented the POCAD educational recommendations the Finance and Facilities Committee presented in a letter distributed to Board members.
MOTION made by Mr. Costa and seconded by Mr. Simone: to endorse the letter as drafted and submit to the POCAD Board.
MOTION carried. All votes were in the affirmative. There were no abstentions.
Superintendent’s Recommendation
Dr. Vita reported on the following:
Board members discussed the following: news conduit; bulk mail issues; possible distribution with other flyers; include articles from paper in the website; and public computers available at the library. Administrative Reports
Dr. Breslin reported on the following at the high school: graduation set for June 14th at the Warner Theater; Region 6 scheduling issues; change to 50 minute 7 period day; gain of 25 hours; and Litchfield and Wamogo high schools will have the same schedule. Plan to adjust current schedule to eliminate dropping classes and meet daily.
Board members discussed the following: Wamogo ready to go with the new schedule; adjusted schedule provides flexibility to students; possible internships senior year; and need to discuss it further at the next meeting.
Committee Reports Facilities and Finance Committee
Mr. Noone reported on the committee meeting held on January 31st as multi faceted. It sent the budget process in motion along with the facilities issues discussed earlier and a review of the maintenance issues. The next informal meeting will be held with Leo Paul and Barry Berson on February 13th.
Policy and Personnel Committee
Dr. Vita noted that the Code of Conduct behavior expectations will be included in the high school handbook after legal opinion is sought. It will include expectations for athletes and attendance expectations. Further discussion will be held at the next Board meeting.
Mr. Tourtellotte commented that the wording on an amendment made on January 24th needs altering and commented that the email from Mr. Dranginis seemed overly strong regarding the school colors issue.
MOTION amended by Mr. Tourtellotte and seconded by Mr. Falcetti: to recognize royal blue and white as the official Litchfield school colors and when possible and/or practicable, uniforms and other school items shall reflect these colors.
AMEMDMENT carried. All votes were in the affirmative. Mr. Costa abstained.
MOTION made by Mr. Simone and seconded by Mr. Tourtellotte: to move to Executive Session at 8:50 p.m. to discuss pending litigation.
MOTION carried. All votes were in the affirmative. There were no abstentions.
Executive Session
Present were the above Board members and Dr. Vita.
Open session resumed at 9:00 p.m.
No action was taken.
MOTION made by Mr. Simone and seconded by Mr. Falcetti: to adjourn the meeting at 9:16 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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