LITCHFIELD BOARD OF EDUCATION

REGULAR MEETING

MAY 21, 2008

A regular meeting of the Litchfield Board of Education was held on Wednesday, May 21, 2008, at 7:00 p.m. in the Litchfield Intermediate School art room.

 

            Board members present were: Mr. Katzin, Chairperson; Ms. Carr; Ms. Fabbri; Messrs. Falcetti, Noone, and Shuhi. Mrs. Reardon, Mr. Gorman and Mr. Simone were absent.  (Mr. Gorman arrived at 7:10 p.m. and Mrs. Reardon at 7:30 p.m.)

 

            Also present were: Dr. Vita; Mrs. Perusse; Mrs. Johnson; Mr. Zaremski; Ms. Marinelli; Ms. Longobucco; the public and the press.

 

                        MOTION made by Mr. Falcetti and seconded by Mr. Shuhi: to approve the minutes of the April 30, 2008 meeting as submitted.

 

                                    MOTION carried.  All votes were in the affirmative.  There were no abstentions.

 

                        MOTION made by Mr. Shuhi and seconded by Ms. Carr: to approve the minutes of the May 15, 2008 special meeting as submitted.

 

                                    MOTION carried.  All votes were in the affirmative.  Mr. Noone and Mr. Katzin abstained. 

 

Mr. Gorman arrived at 7:10 p.m.

 

Public Comment and Correspondence

 

            Mr. Waugh reported on the Building Committee updates from the last 3 meetings including: review of change orders; close out punch list items; critical items; landscape, painting, drainage, concrete and sidewalk issues; blocks issues; regular meetings of architect and construction manager to finish up the job; FF&E purchases; contingency funds; completion date; status of parking lot; results from flooding; and plans for dedication ceremony.

 

            Dana D’Amico reported on student council activities at the high school.

 

            Mrs. Fabbri reported on STPC activities including last parent academy held at the last meeting on differentiated instruction K-12; book fair to be held the first week of June; and over $6,000 given back to students and teachers.

 

            Mr. Sandrib asked the Board on an update regarding the remediation plan for Special Education especially since now another special education staff member has resigned since the last Board meeting.  He also wondered if the Board was doing the search for the Superintendent internally. 

 

            Mr. Katzin outlined the internal search that is being done.

 

            Dr. Vita commented that the system expects to redeploy resources and staff within the school and has already assigned a replacement for Mrs. Smith. The Board does not anticipate adding any new positions for next year but with extensive and intensive programs at the middle school, students will have a strong and comprehensive support program.

 

            Mrs. Harrison commented on the building committee meeting where a discussion was held on blocks popping out from the 1976 addition at the high school. This was brought up before the project started as an issue to be corrected and should be corrected before the project is completed.

 

            Mrs. Knox commented on concerns over the Board’s choice of cutting teachers and staff to cover the Board of Finance request to cut $100,000 instead of looking elsewhere such as programmatic accounts.

 

            Mr. Falcetti commented on the wonderful concert held last evening at the Intermediate School and his concerns over the logistics of the number of parents participating and the parking issues. Credit should go to the staff for doing such a great job with such a huge undertaking.

 

            Mr. Murray commented on the Board’s difficult task of making budget cuts and commended the Board for being fiscally responsible and concerned with the well-being of students.

 

Mrs. Reardon arrived at 7:30 p.m.

 

            Jamie Gerst commented on the cuts the Board has made and wondered if they affected the art program offerings.

 

            Board members received a thank you note from Mrs. McCormick for her recognition on Nurses’ Day and a letter from Guy Wolff & Erica Warnock complimenting the special education department at the Intermediate School.

 

            Mrs. Longobucco updated the Board on the Center School events and activities including: end of year assessments; letters sent with end of year events with dates and times; and photos taken by a parent of the art show work are now available on the web site.

 

            Ms. Marinelli updated the Board on the Intermediate School events and activities including: successful band concert held last evening for all grades and 5th and 6th grade band members going to Six Flags Park for a band competitions.

 

            Mr. Johnson updated the Board on the curriculum writing process that will be done over the summer to align K-12 curriculum.  Many will be in place by fall and the goal is to complete the process by next June.  Staff participating in professional development  and CEU (continuing educational units) will be tapped to share their experiences.

 

            Colleen Lasky, Jamie Gerst, and Sarah Legendre, members of Peer Educators advised by Ms. Heuschkel, outlined the events and activities taking place at the high school to better inform students of possible consequences that could result when driving under the influence.

 

            Mrs. Perusse updated the Board on the budget process and the renovations and changes done on the Central Office over the April vacation. 

 

Superintendent’s Report

 

Dr. Vita reported on the following:

  • After 3 years, the system is thinking as a PreK-12 school district which is a big step forward.
  • Spring newsletter is coming up and any entries must be submitted by June 5th.
  • Interviewing and assigning is being done for staffing next year.
  • Extra duty assignments will be done by the first week of June.
  • All evaluations are being finalized for the end of the year.
  • End of year events have been and/or will be sent to all Board members from all schools.

 

Old Business

 

            Mr. Katzin updated the Board on the Superintendent’s search process including a public forum to be held on the 28th at 7:00 p.m. in the Center School gym.  A moderator is still needed.

 

            Mr. Johnson reported that there are 10 applicants so far and 4 or 5 more is expected tomorrow and Friday.  Applications close on the 23rd.  Mrs. Knox is the Board of Finance representative. 

 

 

New Business

 

                        MOTION made by Ms. Carr and seconded by Mrs. Fabbri: 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.  There were no abstentions.

 

                        MOTION made by Ms. Carr and seconded by Mrs. Reardon: to authorize the Superintendent enter into a Memorandum of Agreement with Education Connection for the continued provision of food services to the students in the Litchfield Public School for 2008-09 school year. 

 

            Mike Allen from Education Connection updated the Board on the food services provided by Ed Connection. He reviewed the program with questions from the Board including: the advantages for using a “not for profit” organization instead of the large “for profit” companies; government commodities; management fees; calorie and fat concerns; fees charged; involvement with local organizations and groups; programs held and to be held; menu issues; review from the State; other options; funding for the services paid completely by the cost of the lunches. 

 

                                    MOTION carried.  All votes were in the affirmative.  There were no abstentions.

 

                        MOTION made by Ms. Carr and seconded by Mr. Gorman: to approve and certify that all food items offered for sale to students under the school district’s jurisdiction, and not exempted from the nutrition standards published by the Connecticut State Department of Education on August 1, 2006, will meet said standards for the 2008-2009 school year, and will exclude from certification food items that do not meet the Connecticut Nutrition Standards, provided that such food is sold in connection with an event occurring after the end of the regular school day or on the weekend, such sale is at the location of the event, and such food is not sold from a vending machine or school store.

 

                                    MOTION carried.  All votes were in the affirmative.  There were no abstentions. 

 

                        MOTION made by Mrs. Reardon and seconded by Mr. Gorman: to accept the resignation of (LHS special education teacher) Emma Lee Smith effective at the end of the 2007-08 school year with regret.

 

                                    MOTION carried.  All votes were in the affirmative.  There were no abstentions.

 

                        MOTION made by Mrs. Reardon and seconded by Mr. Noone: to set the tuition rate for non-resident students at $8,500 for grades K-6 and $10,200 for grades 7-12.

 

            Dr. Vita noted that this rate does not include transportation fees because these students will not be using the buses to get to school.

 

                                    MOTION carried.  All votes were in the affirmative.  There were no abstentions. 

 

Committee Reports

 

            Mr. Shuhi reported that the Facilities and Technology Committee met on May 7th and discussed signage from two different businesses; roof solutions; cleaning schedule; limited summer usage of schools; and structure and organization of the technology department.

 

            Board members discussed the possibility of developing a policy for signage and commercial use on school property.

 

            Mr. Noone noted that the Finance Committee is pleased that the budget passed.

 

                        MOTION made by Ms. Carr and seconded by Mr. Gorman: to adjourn the meeting at 8:45 p.m.

 

                                    MOTION carried.  All votes were in the affirmative.  There were no abstentions.

                                                                        Respectfully submitted,

                                                                        Tina Reardon, Secretary

                                                                        Joanne Bertrand, Recording Secretary