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LITCHFIELD BOARD OF EDUCATION Regular MeetingDecember 12, 2007 |
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A regular meeting of the Litchfield Board of Education was held on Wednesday, December 12, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. in the Litchfield Intermediate School cafeteria.
Board members present were: Mr. Shuhi, Chairperson; Ms. Carr and Mrs. Reardon; Messrs. 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; Mr. Crowe; Dr. Nardone; the public and the press. Special Presentation
Leslie Sheldon and Tammy Gunning from All-Star transportation and in conjunction with STPC/PTO, summarized a school bus safety presentation including the following: years of service; all new buses; one 29 passenger van; safety features included; bigger windows; higher mirrors; lower steps; hand rails; 5 speed wipers; push button amber lights; steering wheel controls; one step pre-trip procedure; alarm system for students still left on bus; 2-way radio; extensive background checks; classroom requirements; time involved to get a driver; monthly safety meetings; hot topics discussed; kindergarten orientation; bus evacuation practice; snow and ice training; procedures for winter driving; and thanks to STPC & PTO for putting this together. Dr. Vita outlined the procedures for delays; closing and early dismissal including the following: discuss with area Superintendents at 4:30 a.m.; discuss with highway department; have collaborative agreement with Region 6; use recommendation of highway department; need to cancel before 6:00 a.m. for parents who need to go to work; need for parents to make the decision to send the student to school or not during inclement weather; and student safety is most important. Board members discussed the need for highway department to guarantee that all the roads will be treated before the buses have to use them. MOTION made by Mr. Falcetti and seconded by Mr. Simone: to add to the agenda as item 9(b) under Executive Session a discussion of Personnel matters. MOTION carried. All votes were in the affirmative. There were no abstentions. MOTION made by Mrs. Reardon and seconded by Mr. Simone: to approve the minutes of the special meeting on November 13, 2007 as submitted with the following correction on page 2648 under public comment Mrs. Harrison, it should read “funds to/from the technology area.”
MOTION carried. All votes were in the affirmative. Mrs. Reardon and Ms. Carr abstained. Public Comment and CorrespondenceMr. Waugh reported on the school building committee status including the following: incomplete list, punch list and wish list; temporary certificate of occupancy; work over Christmas break; issues in Science areas; dampers and ventilation issues; tiles; painting; siding; coping; grounds to be finalized in the spring; parking area; parking solutions; technology projectors; FF&E to state for approval; contingency; glare on windows in gym; and timeline for FF&E. Rachel Clarkin-Breslin reported on the student council activities at the high school. Mrs. Fabbri reported on the STPC activities including the following: thanks to PTO for co-sponsoring this evening; thanks to Mr. Prescott and his student, Mike Pope, for designing the flyer for parent academy activities; welcome to the new Board members; and the new fund raiser concession stand at the games will begin after the New Year and volunteers are needed for that. Mrs. Eisenhower reported on the PTO activities including the following: two fundraisers were held, student pictures and wrapping paper; daughter dance was successful; upcoming assemblies; and parent academies sponsored with the STPC. Mr. Murray commented on the following: electing new officers; Mr. Shuhi a fair chairperson; congratulations to new and re-elected Board members; education and financial responsibilities; high school field trip; a concern over the remark made by Ms. Carr during the debate; requesting an elaboration on the comment to tell the public what she meant. Mrs. Penny commented on the following: success of the all day Kindergarten program for her son; keep the 1:00 p.m. option open; surprised by the report card expectations; concerns over the $5,000 baby sitter fee to oversee the coach; and the need to know what their role is and how are they monitored. Dr. Vita will respond via the website for others to see the response. Ms. Scozzafava commented that the field trip request she made for this evening has had a grant accepted so the price per student will be $5.00 less. New BusinessMOTION made by Mrs. Reardon and seconded by Mr. Falcetti: to move item V(c) to the first item of new business. MOTION carried. All votes were in the affirmative. There were no abstentions.
Dr. Vita distributed copies of the “Building Related Issues from Board of Education and School Administration, May 2007.” Mr. Crowe reviewed the list with a label of “one” being high priority, “two” medium priority and “three” low priority. The Litchfield Intermediate school included stairwells, hallways, new bathrooms, classrooms, floor tiles, existing bathrooms, auditorium, elevator, nurses office/guidance room; principal’s office; gymnasium, exterior doors, intrusion alarms, maintenance, technology/server room, landscape courtyards, and other considerations. Litchfield High School included the lobby, gymnasium, hallways, MS wing, trainer’s room, MS computer lab (room 224), art classrooms, rooms-learning center, technology education, choral music, kitchen, café, server room/building technology, guidance reception, lavatories, library, principal’s office area/reception, nurse’s office, maintenance, intrusion alarms, landscape courtyards, field equipment, ceiling tile, other issues. Weight room will be ready when it can be emptied of the storage of supplies. This list will be revised and sent to the building committee. A walk-through will be scheduled for Board members early in January. Dr. Vita opened the floor for Board Chair nominations.
NOMINATION made by Mrs. Reardon: to nominate Mr. Katzin as Board Chair. Mr. Simone: seconded the nomination. Mr. Falcetti moved to close the nominations.
Mr. Simone seconded that. Mrs. Reardon, Mr. Noone, Ms. Carr, Mr. Simone, Mr. Shuhi, Mr. Gorman, Mr. Falcetti and Mr. Katzin voted for Mr. Katzin. Mr. Katzin opened the floor for Vice Chair nominations. NOMINATION made by Ms. Carr: to nominate Mr. Gorman as Board Vice Chair. Mr. Noon seconded the nomination. NOMINATION made by Mr. Falcetti: to nominate Mr. Shuhi as Board Vice Chair. Mr. Simone seconded the nomination. Mr. Falcetti moved to close the nominations.
Mr. Noone seconded that. Mr. Falcetti, Mr. Simone, and Mr. Shuhi voted for Mr. Shuhi.
Mrs. Reardon, Mr. Noone, Ms. Carr, Mr. Katzin, Mr. Gorman voted for Mr. Gorman. Mr. Katzin opened the floor for Secretary nominations. NOMINATION made by Mr. Noone: to nominate Mrs. Reardon for secretary of the Board. Ms. Carr seconded the nomination. NOMINATION made by Mr. Simone: to nominate Mr. Falcetti for secretary of the Board.
Mr. Falcetti declined the nomination. Mr. Simone withdrew the nomination. Mr. Noone, Ms. Carr, Mr. Katzin, Mr. Simone, Mr. Shuhi, Mr. Gorman, Mrs. Reardon and Mr. Falcetti voted for Mrs. Reardon. Mr. Katzin thanked the Board for entrusting him with the Chairmanship. Although he is not an experienced leader, he does have board experience. He thanked Mr. Shuhi for his years of service. He has always been open, honest, helpful, good things got done and his attention to detail will be missed. Mr. Katzin outlined and distributed the changes in sub-committees including changing from three to four sub-committees including Programs & Personnel, Finance, Facilities & Technology, and Policy. Board members are assigned to the committees but can review this for finalization to occur in the January meeting. MOTION made by Mr. Shuhi and seconded by Mr. Gorman: to approve the payment of invoices and adjustments to line item expenditures for 2007-08 budget as required. MOTION carried. All votes were in the affirmative. Mr. Simone abstained. MOTION made by Mr. Simone and seconded by Mr. Shuhi: to appoint Charles (Chuck) Conn as the second representative from Litchfield to the Regional Agricultural Science & Technology Program (VO-AG) at Wamogo Regional High School for a three year term. Dr. Vita noted that Mark Harron was appointed at the last meeting and is the chair on the committee. Mr. Conn is very anxious to join this organization too. MOTION carried. All votes were in the affirmative. There were no abstentions.
MOTION made by Mr. Simone and seconded by Ms. Carr: to approve an out-of-state field trip to Boston on December 19, 2007 for the Forensic Science classes of Litchfield High School under the direction of Mr. Fowler and Mr. Markelon. MOTION carried. All votes were in the affirmative. There were no abstentions. MOTION made by Mr. Simone and seconded by Mr. Noone: to approve an out-of-state field trip to Lenox, Massachusettes on March 20, 2008 to see “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” under the supervision of Ms. Lynn Scozzafava and two teachers plus two additional staff members. MOTION carried. All votes were in the affirmative. There were no abstentions. Old BusinessDr. Vita distributed copies of the Torrington Public School Draft Calendar for 2009-2010. The surrounding districts go along with the Torrington calendar once it is approved. We will develop a Litchfield area calendar around it. Mr. Shuhi requested a discussion of the possibility of having an early dismissal on Friday, December 21, 2007. MOTION made by Mr. Shuhi and seconded by Mrs. Reardon: to have an early dismissal on Friday, December 21, 2007. MOTION carried. All votes were in the affirmative. There were no abstentions. Board members discussed the following: need for flexibility on the parents’ part; need for babysitters; numerous early dismissals already scheduled throughout the year; kids not truly engaged the day before the break; and parents probably wouldn’t mind leaving work on Friday for an early dismissal. Dr. Vita noted that this needs to be added to the agenda and he is procedurally against this idea. It is very difficult to change a calendar so close to the event.
MOTION WITHDRAWN by Mr. Shuhi.
SECOND WITHDRAWN by Mrs. Reardon. MOTION made by Mr. Shuhi and seconded by Mr. Gorman: to add to the agenda as V(c) a discussion on having an early dismissal on Friday, December 21, 2007.
MOTION carried. All votes were in the affirmative. There were no abstentions. Board members discussed the school calendar status and option for 2009-10 and 2010-11 including early dismissals coordinated with Wamogo; possible early dismissal before the winter break in the future. MOTION made by Mr. Gorman and seconded by Mr. Noone: to establish the schedule for the 2008 regular Board of Education meeting as presented on Option #1-a. MOTION carried. All votes were in the affirmative. There were no abstentions. MOTION made by Mr. Gorman and seconded by Mr. Noone: to approve an early dismissal on Friday, December 21, 2007. Board members discussed the following: loss of educational time; some educational opportunities that day; 2 classes after lunch; issue of VO-AG students; both schools have to agree on early dismissal; and in previous years, Wamogo didn’t agree to change. MOTION denied. All votes were in the negative, Mr. Shuhi voted in the affirmative. There were no abstentions. Superintendent’s ReportDr. Vita reported on the following:
Board consensus was to formalize the document through the Policy Committee and bring any concerns back to the Board. Administrative ReportsMrs. Longobucco updated the Board on the full day kindergarten program reporting that it is very successful with very positive feedback. Originally 8 students left at 1:00 p.m. and it is down to 2 now. A full report will be done at the February Board meeting. Mrs. Longobucco reported that a grant to work with Education Connection with Technology has been obtained to develop 8th grade needs assessment and needs assessment with the staff.
Ms. Marinelli reported on the “Chinese Immersion” activity held at the Intermediate School last Wednesday. 19 visitors engaged the students in all the grades. It was a great success and she intends to repeat this next year. Dr. Nardone reported on the use of PowerSchool to send progress reports home to parents through the Internet. Letters were sent home notifying families of the procedure and since this trial is for mid-term reports, any glitches can be worked out before report cards are sent home at the end of the semester. Exam schedules were also sent home with the letter and concerns about having cell phones and I-Pods in school. Board members discussed the advantages of PowerSchool since students are just as excited using it as the parents are. Mrs. Perusse reported on the 2008-09 budget development process with a timeline of the budget development schedule included. The benefit renewals will come in mid-January, which is a big portion of the budget. Fuel will go in at $2.75 and the VO-AG enrollment will go up from 26 students to 32 students. Mrs. Perusse reported on the Capital Budget submission status including a pickup truck and maintenance building need. If the maintenance building is covered through the building committee it would be reimbursable. Mrs. Perusse reported on the FF&E status for school construction project. The appointment to meet at the State department has been moved to January 9th. There are still unresolved issues so the timing is not too far off. Desks have already been purchased and a good chunk of technology has been purchased. Mr. Crowe reported that the Center School roof project is in process and should be completed next week. Timing and the weather are a concern. MOTION made by Mr. Simone and seconded by Mr. Gorman: to move to Executive Session at 9:50 p.m. to discuss pending litigation and claims and personnel matters. MOTION carried. All votes were in the affirmative. There were no abstentions. Executive SessionPresent were all the above Board members and Dr. Vita. Open session resumed at 10:25 p.m. No action taken. MOTION made by Mr. Simone and seconded by Ms. Carr: to adjourn the meeting at 10:26 p.m. MOTION carried. All votes were in the affirmative. There were no abstentions. Respectfully submitted, Tina Reardon, Secretary Joanne Bertrand, Recording Secretary
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