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LITCHFIELD BOARD OF EDUCATION Regular MeetingOctober 24, 2007 |
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A regular meeting of the Litchfield Board of Education was held on Wednesday, October 24, 2007, at the Litchfield Intermediate School art room.
Board members present were: Mr. Shuhi, Chairperson; Mrs. Reardon; Messrs. Fairchild, Falcetti, Gorman, Katzin, Noone, and Simone. Mr. Tourtellotte was absent.
Also present were: Dr. Vita; Mrs. Perusse; Mr. Johnson; Mrs. Longobucco; Ms. Marinelli; Mr. Zaremski; the public and the press.
MOTION made by Mr. Katzin and seconded by Mr. Falcetti: to approve the minutes of the October 10, 2007 meeting as submitted.
MOTION carried. All votes were in the affirmative. Mr. Simone abstained.
Public Comment and Correspondence
Mr. Waugh presented an update on the school building committee including the following: progress made; finish wire trays; timing is good; $30,000 for ceiling tile issues; painting in classrooms; $28,000 for reflective paint; punch list issues; need for drinking fountain in Intermediate School; high school completion early November; kitchen, tiling, teachers’ room status; $132,900 savings to put back into the project; need for detailed account of technology and FF&E account status; move to contingency fund when needed; concerns about some blower noise interference; calibrate systems and then test for sound; and funds available.
Board members discussed the following: wish list; weekly walk through to wrap items up; need to review final list; panels in the art room; and panels to be installed.
Mrs. Fabbri reported on the STPC concerns expressed at the last meeting including: no open house this fall; need for the opportunity to meet the teachers; limited time scheduled for parent/teacher conferences; conflict with shared faculty; scheduling difficulties; need for teacher support; possible on line scheduling; and possible negotiations to have the teachers more available in the evening to meet with parents.
Mr. Murray commented on the following: a conversation with the curriculum coordinator who is extremely knowledgeable; status of interim principal and salary being offered if only 27 school days between November 15th to January 15th; candidates running for the Board should be attending meetings; and need for more parents to attend Board meetings.
Mrs. Harrison questioned the status of the parking lot since it was not covered in the earlier report.
Mr. Waugh noted that the company chosen for the parking lot has been asked to amend the proposal to meet the needs of the Planning & Zoning and will be getting back to the committee by the next meeting where a decision will be made.
Board members reviewed a handout from CABE.
MOTION made by Mr. Simone and seconded by Mr. Noone: to add to the agenda as item IV e. a discussion on an out of state field trip.
MOTION carried. All votes were in the affirmative. There were no abstentions.
New Business
Board members tabled the payment of invoices because a page was missing from the document.
Mr. Noone reported that the Finance and Facilities Committee met earlier in the evening and discussed and approved the specs for the Center School roof project as presented by Barry Berson.
MOTION made by Mr. Simone and seconded by Mr. Falcetti: to approve the specifications for the Center School roof project for submission to the State department of Education.
MOTION carried. All votes were in the affirmative. There were no abstentions.
Dr. Vita presented two options for Board of Education meetings. Option #1 has some months with 2 meetings and some with 1 meeting; Option #2 has 1 meeting/month with committee meetings to be scheduled accordingly.
Board members discussed the following: one meeting a month was tried before and it was found that meetings became too lengthy; schedule was given up because of the timing; committee meetings could be scheduled before regular Board meetings; gain efficiency with one meeting per month; perhaps more volunteers would be willing to serve on the Board if fewer nights out were scheduled; more discussion will be held at the next meeting.
Dr. Vita reviewed the request from Wamogo to re-appoint or replace the two representatives from Litchfield that serve on the Committee. Mark Harran is Chair of the Advisory Committee for the Vo-Ag Program at Wamogo and wishes to continue in that capacity. Roger Newberry does not wish to continue to serve on this Committee due to scheduling difficulties. Names will be sought to replace Mr. Newberry and will be presented to the Board at the next meeting.
MOTION made by Mr. Gorman and seconded by Mr. Simone: to appoint Mark Harran, a representative from Litchfield to the Regional Agricultural Science & Technology Program (VO-AG) at Wamogo High School for a three year term.
The two representatives will eventually report back to the Board.
MOTION carried. All votes were in the affirmative. There were no abstentions.
Board members discussed the out of state field trip to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC and noted how this may be the only opportunity for some students to visit such a place.
MOTION made by Mr. Simone and seconded by Mr. Gorman: to approve an out of state field trip to NYC with the AP US History students and AP English Literature students on a date to be determined.
MOTION carried. All votes were in the affirmative. There were no abstentions.
Old Business
Board members reviewed the 2008-09 calendar draft that is aligned with Region 6 and Torrington school systems.
MOTION made by Mr. Simone and seconded by Mr. Falcetti: to approve the school calendar for 2008-09.
Board members discussed the total early dismissal days adding up to over 3 days of missing instruction which is not common to many schools.
Dr. Vita noted that this was agreed to in order to be aligned with Wamogo. Two days are tied in with conferences and one at the end of the year was approved by the Board. There have been benefits for the staff with worthwhile staff development programs following the early dismissal time.
Board members discussed the following: obligated to provide CEU’s; ask Wamogo to have fewer early dismissals; possible time to meet with teachers; and input from the Curriculum Coordinator to improve teaching skills for a positive impact on students.
MOTION carried. All votes were in the affirmative. There were no abstentions.
Dr. Vita reported that the 2009-10 calendar has two drafts. Draft 1 proposes the April vacation on the third full week of April and Draft 2 proposes it on the first full week to include Good Friday. The calendar for 2010-11 also has the vacation week on the third full week of April. These drafts will be brought to the Litchfield County Superintendents meeting on Friday, November 2nd.
Board members discussed the following: try to come to an agreement especially for sports leagues; need to align for families; vacation and practice issues; and possible change in the county guidelines.
Mr. Crowe distributed “Global Connect” emergency communication system packets to the Board and discussed the following: dovetails to Power School; database of phone numbers; most current information; update weekly; from start to finish 15-20 minutes; takes 20 – 25 minutes to call all the numbers; announce snow days, early dismissals; try not to be too annoying; system keeps trying until someone answers; not sure if will replace snow chain; can do possible polling with it; and was used as a political tool for campaigners.
Board members discussed the following: different from town; town is more costly; can add anything needed; Power School will be presented soon; could put bus routes and numbers on it; if emergency the time is decreased through a special process; and phenomenal technology.
Superintendent’s Report
Dr. Vita reported on the following:
· Appointment of interim LHS principal with input from the Board to be announced tomorrow. · Search process for permanent principal position will start with the search committee of 12 including various members of the school and community; application deadline is November 13th; members will review applications; contact made for interviews; interviews held; sign confidentiality agreement; common set of questions; record preferences; someone in place late January early February. · Board members discussed the following: possible opportunity to sit and talk to candidates; didn’t do for Intermediate School principal; not necessary; search committee is pretty inclusive; need for best appointment we could make; 3 Board volunteers already; time of interviews; student involvement; work schedules involved; possible 11-12 identified; 1 hour for interviews; 2 days involved; Board will make the appointment; need for balance on committee; and process worked well for the Intermediate School principal. · Grant funding from Seherr-Thoss has been received for the Chef-in-residence and Robotics. Chef Jill will present to the Board during the November meeting. Funding also came from the Litchfield Hills Food Service. · General information including home economics and food science, all day Kindergarten, leadership council meetings and National Honor Society induction invitation for Tuesday evening.
Committee Reports
Finance and Facilities Committee
Mr. Noone reported that the budget process has the prepared target dates now and the Center School roof project will start soon.
Policy and Personnel Committee
A meeting is needed and planned for the 13th. Curriculum and Technology will also be held at the same time if possible.
MOTION made by Mrs. Reardon and seconded by Mr. Gorman: to adjourn the meeting at 8:25 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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