LITCHFIELD BOARD OF EDUCATION

REGULAR MEETING

JUNE 11, 2008

 

A regular meeting of the Litchfield Board of Education was held on Wednesday, June 11, 2008, at 7:00 p.m. in the Litchfield Intermediate School cafeteria.

 

            Board members present were: Mr. Katzin, Chairperson; Ms. Carr; Ms. Fabbri; Ms. Reardon; Messrs. Falcetti, Gorman, Noone, Shuhi, and Simone. 

 

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

 

                        MOTION made by Mr. Noone and seconded by Ms. Carr: to move item VIII f. to X a. to follow Executive Session to discuss Personnel.

 

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

 

Student Recognition and Reception

 

            Mr. Katzin announced that the following students will be recognized with a certificate for their leadership and accomplishments and their potential to do really great things in the future:

 

LIS

·         Jenna Almai

LMS

·         Sarah Peterson

·         Rocky Mancini

LHS

·         Dayna D’Amico                                  Liza Noone    

·         Rachel Clarkin-Breslin                        Adam Clair

·         Elizabeth Binstadt                              Brian Sandrib

·         Kyle Courtney                                                Hillary Wiles-Lafayette

·         Jaimie Gerst                                        Ryan E. Litwin

·         Douglas Slohm                                    Kaci Belancik

·         James Blake

 

A brief reception was held after the presentations.

 

 

                        MOTION made by Mr. Shuhi and seconded by Mr. Falcetti: to approve the minutes of the May 21, 2008 meeting as submitted.

 

                                    MOTION carried.  All votes were in the affirmative.  Mr. Simone abstained.

 

Public Comment and Correspondence

 

            Board members publicly thanked Dayna D’Amico for her participation as Student Council liaison to Board for this past year.

 

            A representative from the PTO expressed thanks to all supporters and outlined the fundraising and social events held and funding provided to the schools.

 

            Mrs. Fabbri commented on slippery floors in the high school entrance during wet weather and how several people fell or almost fell.

 

Administrative Reports

 

            Mrs. Longobucco updated the Board on the Center School events and activities including: end-of-year activities; PTO social and concert; kickoff of summer reading and math packets; field day for tomorrow at Community Field; Flag Day celebration on Friday; and moving up on Monday afternoon.

 

            Mr. Noone commented on attending Mrs. Johnson’s open house class and complimented the students and the teacher for their work.

 

            Ms. Marinelli updated the Board on the Intermediate School events and activities including: Mr. Parker receiving $10,000 from LEF for the ropes course; artist in residence masks are on display and culminated today; celebration for summer reading at LIS was held last night; moving up will be on the 16th at 6:30 in the auditorium and tomorrow is field day.

 

            Ms. Della Volpe updated the Board on the High School events and activities including: middle school moving up on Friday at 6:30 p.m.; spring fling will be held on Friday; exams will finish on Monday; the Warner is set for graduation on Thursday; scheduling updates that could conceivably be at 90% success rate for fulfilling student requests.

 

            Board members requested a full presentation on the scheduling after it has been developed.

 

 

            Ms. Tenney commented on the need for Professional Development for teachers for training in teaching 85 minute classes.

 

            Mr. Johnson thanked the Central Office staff and the administrators for all their support this year.

 

            Mrs. Perusse updated the Board on the end-of-year clean up and the grant process.

 

Superintendent’s Report

 

Dr. Vita reported on the following:

  • Transition and preparing for the upcoming year.
  • Teaching positions and assignments.
  • Student needs.
  • Grant submissions.
  • Summer custodial staffing.
  • Budget issues.
  • Security system update.
  • Truck replacement needs.

 

Mrs. Perusse reviewed a memorandum regarding permission to make a request to the Board of Selectmen to allocate approximately $20,000 (net of the insurance check) to purchase a replacement truck and plow assembly. The insurance company sent a check for $9,112.50 related to the truck loss.

 

                  MOTION made by Ms. Carr and seconded by Mr. Simone: to approve authorizing the business manager to compose a letter requesting funding of a truck in lieu of the capital budget.

 

Old Business

 

            Dr. Vita reported that after meeting with Leo Paul a proposal was made to share the cost of the roof and the Selectmen would contribute $3,000 toward the cost.

 

                        MOTION made by Mr. Shuhi and seconded by Mrs. Fabbri: to accept Leo Paul’s offer to share the cost of repairing the roof and we will pay half of that cost.

  

            Board members expressed concern over the contract language and whether the Board was responsible for the repair.

 

                        MOTION withdrawn by Mr. Shuhi.

 

                        SECOND withdrawn by Mrs. Fabbri.

 

                        MOTION made by Ms. Carr and seconded by Mrs. Reardon: to approve that the Board of Education provide the town with its copies of the bids or quotes that we have received for the roof and that we will pay the balance of the cost of the roof repair over $3,000 but not to exceed the sum of $3,000; said contribution to be made as a contribution to the town without assuming or admitting future responsibility for repair or maintenance of the building.

 

                                    MOTION carried.  All votes were in the affirmative.  Mr. Simone abstained.

 

New Business

 

                        MOTION made by Mrs. Reardon 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. Gorman: to accept the resignation of Suzanne Kolpa (teacher) for the purpose of retirement effective at the end of the 2007-08 school year.

 

            Board members expressed thanks for her years of service.

 

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

 

                        MOTION made by Ms. Carr and seconded by Mr. Simone: to accept the resignation of Robert G. Robles (library/media specialist teacher) at the end of the 2007-08 school year. 

 

            Board members discussed the issues expressed by Mr. Robles.

 

 

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

 

                        MOTION made by Ms. Carr and seconded by Mr. Gorman: to authorize the Superintendent to accept and act upon all resignations and to recruit and appoint certified and non-certified staff throughout the summer prior to the first Board meeting in September.

 

            Board members discussed positions needed at this time and requested any updates over the summer.

 

                                    MOTION carried.  All votes were in the affirmative except Mr. Falcettti, Mr. Shuhi and Mr. Simone who voted in the negative.  There were no abstentions.

 

                        MOTION made by Mr. Shuhi and seconded by Ms. Carr: to authorize the Superintendent to submit all state and federal grant applications (Consolidated grants; IDEA; Adult Education; Titles I, II, IV, V; Perkins; Technology; BESB; Special Education Excess Cost; Transportation; E-Rate; Etc.) as necessary to meet the required submission dates.

 

            Dr. Vita noted that these are all entitlement grants and some are rolling submissions.

 

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

 

Committee Reports

 

            Mr. Shuhi noted that a possible Facilities and Technology Committee meeting might be needed to discuss the roof issue.

 

            Mr. Noone noted that a meeting of the Finance Committee will be held before June 30th.

 

            Mrs. Reardon noted that the Programs and Personnel Committee is involved in the Superintendent search committee.

 

            Ms. Carr noted that the Policy Committee needs to schedule meetings regularly to review various policies.

 

                        MOTION made by Mr. Simone and seconded by Mr. Gorman: to move to Executive Session at 8:55 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 and Dr. Vita.

 

Open session resumed at 9:40 p.m.

 

Discussed canceling regular meeting on July 16th and scheduling a special meeting on July 23rd.  Discussed holding a board retreat on July 16th

 

 

Discussion regarding appointment of interim superintendent.

 

                        MOTION made by Mrs. Reardon and seconded by Mr. Noone: to appoint Dominick C. Vita as Interim Superintendent from July 1, 2008 until a new superintendent is appointed.

 

                                                VOTING ON MOTION:  Mr. Noon, Ms. Carr, Mrs. Reardon, Mr. Katzin and Mr. Gorman voting aye.  Mr. Shuhi, Mr. Simone, Mr. Falcetti and Mrs. Fabbri voting nay.  MOTION carried.

 

                        MOTION made by Mr. Falcetti and seconded by Mr. Simone: to adjourn the meeting at 10:22 p.m.

 

                                                                        Respectfully submitted,

                                                                        Tina Reardon, Secretary

                                                                        Joanne Bertrand, Recording Secretary