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LITCHFIELD BOARD OF EDUCATION REGULAR MEETING FEBRUARY 6, 2008 |
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A regular meeting of the Litchfield Board of Education was held on Wednesday, February 6, 2008, at 7:00 p.m. in the Litchfield Intermediate School cafeteria.
Board members present were: Mr. Katzin, Chairperson; Ms. Carr; Mrs. Reardon; Messrs. Falcetti, Gorman, Noone, Shuhi, and Simone.
Also present were: Dr. Vita; Mrs. Perusse; Mr. Johnson; Ms. Della Volpe; Ms. Marinelli; Mr. Zaremski; Mr. Crowe; the public and the press.
MOTION made by Mr. Shuhi and seconded by Mr. Gorman: to add to the agenda as item IX Executive Session to discuss personnel.
MOTION carried. All votes were in the affirmative. There were no abstentions.
Special Presentation
Mr. Crowe, Ms. Marinelli, Ms. Della Volpe and Resident Trooper Holm presented information on school safety and security in the district. This presentation was one of a series of parent academies co-sponsored by the administration, the PTO and the STPC.
Mrs. Maraia, reported on the new Center School elementary Science Program in grades K-4.
Approval of Minutes
MOTION made by Mr. Simone and seconded by Mr. Gorman: to approve the minutes of the January 16, 2008 meeting as submitted with the following corrections; include Mr. Shuhi as present; on page 2665 the dates for the field trips should be 2008; and on page 2661 Harron should be Harran.
MOTION carried. All votes were in the affirmative. There were no abstentions.
Public Comment and Correspondence
Dana D’Amico reported on the Student Council activities at the high school.
Mrs. Fabbri reported on the STPC activities and events.
Mrs. Penney expressed her support for Mrs. Fabbri and encouraged the Board to appoint her to the vacant position. She also asked a question regarding room usage at the Intermediate School.
Mrs. Harrison also expressed her support for Mrs. Fabbri to be appointed to the vacant Board position and expressed her concerns regarding the building project.
Mr. Murray commended Mrs. Fabbri for her attendance at Board meetings, commended Tony Crowe on the Safety and Security presentation, congratulated Mrs. Perusse for her service to the district as Business Manager upon the announcement of her retirement, welcomed Ms. DellaVolpe as the new LHS principal, commended the elementary science program, and questioned wording in the school calendar.
Administrative Reports
Ms. Marinelli updated the Board on the Intermediate School events and activities including the Read-A-Loud program held on February 6th in which community members read to students in grades K-6.
Ms. Della Volpe updated the Board on the High School events and activities including PowerSchool, new student handbook, and end-of-semester activities.
Mr. Zaremski updated the Board on costs associated with out-of-district placements.
Mr. Johnson updated the Board on the revisions to the high school Program of Studies and curriculum initiatives.
Mrs. Perusse reported to the Board that the radon testing recently completed showed that all schools were well within acceptable limits.
Mr. Crowe updated the Board on the status of facilities, room usage, and building project impact on operations.
Superintendent’s Report
Dr. Vita indicated he was still waiting for information from other districts regarding the school calendar for 2009-10. He also announced a cooperative professional development activity with the Northwest Connecticut Chamber of Commerce.
Old Business
MOTION made by Mr. Simone and seconded by Mr. Gorman: to approve the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Litchfield Board of Education and Local 1303-392 of Council 4, AFSCME, AFL-CIO for the period of July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2012.
MOTION carried. All votes were in the affirmative. There were no abstentions.
Board members discussed the appointment to the Board to
fill Mr. Tourtellotte’s vacancy.
NOMINATION made by Mr. Noone and seconded by Mr. Shuhi: to nominate Mrs. Betsy Fabbri.
NOMINATION made by Mr. Simone and seconded by Mr. Falcetti: to nominate Mr. Ed Ryle.
NOMINATIONS closed by Ms. Carr and seconded by Mr. Shuhi.
Mrs. Fabbri spoke to the Board outlining her qualifications and the reasons why she should be chosen to fill the vacancy on the Board.
Mr. Ryle spoke to the Board outlining his qualifications and the reasons why he should be chosen to fill the vacancy on the Board.
Board members received the following correspondence including a letter from David W. Wilson and a phone call from Craig Miner supporting Mr. Ed Ryle to fill the vacancy on the Board.
Open balloting results: Ms. Carr, Mr. Noone, Mr. Gorman, Mr. Shuhi, Mr. Falcetti voted for Mrs. Fabbri; Mrs. Reardon, Mr. Simone voted for Mr. Ryle: Mr. Katzin abstained.
New Business
MOTION made by Mr. Gorman and seconded by Mr. Falcetti: 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.
Board members reviewed and discussed factors leading to the development of the preliminary 2008-09 operating budget including a handout of the “Litchfield Public School 2008-2009 Budget Status Report.” Dr. Vita outlined the administration’s progress in reducing the initial budget request from 8.93% to 3.95%. This budget – in the amount of $16,014,000 - would be worked on by the Business Manager for anticipated distribution to the Boards of Education and Finance on February 21st in preparation for the presentation to the Board of Finance on Monday February 25th.
MOTION made by Mr. Simone and seconded by Ms. Carr: to accept the resignations of Melissa Swift effective February 2008 – specific date to be determined and Jeanne Woolley effective January 31, 2008.
MOTION carried. All votes were in the affirmative. There were no abstentions.
MOTION made by Mr. Falcetti and seconded by Mrs. Reardon: to accept the resignation – for the purpose of retirement- of Margaret (Peg) Perusse (Business Manager) as of August 31, 2008, with regret.
MOTION carried. All votes were in the affirmative. There were no abstentions.
Committee Reports
Mr. Shuhi reported on the work of the Facilities and Technology Committee at the January 17, 2008 meeting. Next meeting date to be determined.
Mr. Noone reported on the activities of the Finance Committee meeting of January 30, 2008. Next meeting will be held in conjunction with the Programs and Personnel Committee on March 5, 2008.
Mrs. Reardon reported on the work of the Programs and Personnel Committee meeting of February 5, 2008. Next meeting will be held on March 5, 2008 in conjunction with the Finance Committee.
Ms. Carr reported on the work of the Policy Committee meeting of February 6, 2008. Next meeting dates to be determined by committee chair.
MOTION made by Mr. Simone and seconded by Mr. Gorman: to move to Executive Session at 9:25 p.m. to discuss personnel.
MOTION carried. All votes were in the affirmative. There were no abstentions.
Executive Session
Present were all the above Board members Mrs. Perusse and Dr. Vita.
Open session resumed at 9:40 p.m.
No action was taken.
MOTION made by Mr. Simone and seconded by Mr. Gorman: to adjourn the meeting at 9:41 p.m.
Respectfully submitted, Tina Reardon, Secretary Joanne Bertrand, Recording secretary
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