A regular meeting of the Litchfield Board of Education was held on Tuesday, July 8, 2003, at 9:00 p.m. in the Center School Library. 

 

            Present were: Mrs. Knox, Chairperson; Messrs. Costa, Doyle, Fairchild, Falcetti, Noone, and Waugh; Dr. Tindall-Gibson; Mrs. Perusse; Dr. Breslin; Mrs. Longobucco; Dr. Stuhlman; the public and the press.  Mr. Johnson and Dr. Kavle were absent.

 

Welcome to New Board Member

 

            Board members welcomed John Noone as the new Board member.

 

                        MOTION made by Mr. Fairchild and seconded by Mr. Costa: to approve the minutes of the June 24, 2003, meeting as submitted.

 

MOTION carried. All votes were in the affirmative.  Mrs. Knox abstained.

 

Correspondence

 

            Board members received the following:

 

§       Two letters from CSCA recognizing the guidance programs and the counselors at the Intermediate School (Ms. Begley) and Center School (Ms. Basti).

 

Building Project Update and Discussion

 

            Dr. Tindall-Gibson noted that because the referendum passed, a letter will be sent to the State Commissioner letting him know the outcome of the referendum and requesting an extension for the funding available.  The next step is to select a Building Committee and the Board of Selectmen will do that. 

 

            Mrs. Knox noted that the Board of Selectmen want one person from the Selectmen’s Board of Selectmen, and one from the Board of Education, and one from the Board of Finance to be appointed to this committee therefore, anyone interested in serving should let her know. 

 

2003-04 Budget Update and Discussion

 

            Dr. Tindall-Gibson noted that because the budget passed this evening, things will start getting done.  The capital items will begin right away, budget cuts will be sorted, and certain nontenured staff will be brought back. 

 

Dr. Kavle arrived at 9:10 p.m. 

 

            Board members discussed the following: possibly having a Finance Committee meeting to figure what is saved, gone or what we are doing; the administration has a good idea of where we are going; some adjustment can be made to smaller items; share rationale with community; pay for play implications; administrative challenges; status of athletic director; possibly putting the pay for play policy in the handbook; possible amounts; possible range in costs; teachers union input; programs in place all have standard fees (Pomperaug and New Milford); any activity not just sports; and consensus to look and share policy and materials from schools that have them in place.

 

New Business

Renewal of Nontenured Staff

 

            Dr. Tindall-Gibson noted that based on the outcome of the budget vote, we can bring back as many of the nontenured staff as we can.  The teaching staff has been reduced by seven positions and nine staff are leaving, but not all seven fit into the nine (certification issues).  All but three of the nontenured staff will be brought back. 

 

                        MOTION made by Mr. Waugh and seconded by Mr. Falcetti: to support the Superintendent’s recommendation to renew the contracts of the following nontenured staff for the 2003-04 school year:

 

Kimberly Bradish	Tara Kraut
Richard Brunelli	Jennifer Johnson
Stephen Brookes	Kathleen Jones
Christopher Clark	Lianne Maeder
Matthew Coon	Melissa Mikaitis
Kevin Dake	Brian Mongeau
Robert Gollow	Erin O’Connor
Mary Greene	Suzanne Olsen
Dennis Hefferon	Jennifer Poll
Allison Hennessey	Beth Raccuia
Lisa Heuschkel	Robert Rose
Anthony Hibbert	Stephanie Sorak
Shelly Hill	Carmela Westcott
Victoria Kasidas	Cynthia Zeller
Vanessa Kass

 

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

 

Retirement

 

            Board members reviewed a letter from Claudette Shattuck stating that she would like to take advantage of the retirement proposal the board put forward.

 

                        MOTION made by Mr. Costa and seconded by Mr. Waugh: to support the Superintendent’s recommendation to approve the retirement proposal made by Mrs. Shattuck.

 

            Board members noted what a wonderful teacher she has been and she will be missed.

 

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

 

Resignation

 

            Board members reviewed a letter of resignation from Nicola Joeckel.

 

                        MOTION made by Mr. Costa and seconded by Mr. Doyle: to support the superintendent’s recommendation to accept the resignation of Nicola Joeclel.

 

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

 

                        MOTION made by Mr. Waugh and seconded by Mr. Falcetti: to support the Superintendent’s recommendation to add to the agenda item XIII Business Manager’s Salary and item XIV Pending Special Education Litigation.

 

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

 

Payment of Bills

 

                        MOTION made by Mr. Fairchild and seconded by Mr. Falcetti: to pay bills in the amount of $17,370.21. 

 

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

 

Superintendent’s Evaluation/Contract

 

                        MOTION made by Mr. Waugh and seconded by Dr. Kavle: to move to Executive Session to discuss item XII Superintendent’s Evaluation/Contract, item XIII Business Manager’s Salary and item XIV Pending Special Education Litigation.