LITCHFIELD BOARD OF EDUCATIONREGULAR MEETING October 12, 2004 |
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A regular meeting of the Litchfield Board of Education was held on Tuesday, October 12, 2004, at 7:00 p.m. in the Center School gym.
Present were: Mrs. Knox, Chairperson; Messrs. Costa, Doyle, Fairchild, Falcetti, Noone, Shuhi and Simone. Mrs. Reardon arrived at 7:30 p.m. Also present: Dr. Tindall-Gibson; Mrs. Perusse; Dr. Breslin; Mrs. Longobucco; Dr. Stuhlman; Mr. Zaremski, the public and the press.
MOTION made by Mr. Falcetti and seconded by Mr. Simone: to approve the minutes of the September 28, 2004 meeting as submitted.
MOTION carried. All votes were in the affirmative. There were no abstentions.
MOTION made by Mr. Simone and seconded by Mr. Noone: to move agenda item X c to VI b.
MOTION carried. All votes were in the affirmative. There were no abstentions.
Certificates of Recognition
Dr. Tindall-Gibson read a proclamation issued and signed by First Selectman Leo Paul regarding Safe Schools Week. Board members recognized with a certificate the following for their contributions in keeping the schools, students and staff safe: Crossing guards, Ms. Anna Bobko, Ms. Barbara Crusius, Mr. Octavio Fabbri, Mrs. Kimberly Fischer; also, Resident Trooper Lynn Lewis and Cpl Roger Doyle.
Public Comment
Lisa Cosgrove commented on the pay for participation program and noted that the athletes seem to be the only ones paying the fees to help eliminate the budget deficit. When a discussion was held earlier in the program it was noted that the fees would be charged for all activities.
She also expressed concerns over the music program at the Intermediate School and the inconsistent practices that take place.
Communications
Board members received the following:
Board members discussed the tuition request including the following: timing for a rental; a rental only available in Torrington; consistency for the students; Litchfield home sold; Litchfield property will have new construction in one year; taxes are paid on the land; need to apply in writing for tuition waiver; submit to Board; and discussion to be held next meeting.
MOTION made by Mr. Costa and seconded by Mr. Noone: to move agenda item VII to item X c.
MOTION carried. All votes were in the affirmative. There were no abstentions.
CAPT, SAT, and AP Review
Dr. Breslin reported on the CAPT and SAT scores and the effect on college applications. The high school does encourage students to improve their SAT scores.
Mr. O’Connell reported on a power point presentation regarding testing including the following slides: Litchfield High School Percent Certified (at goal); 10th Grade Results – Litchfield % at Goal in Math, Science, Reading, Writing; 10th Grade Results % at Goal LHS, ERG, & State in Mathematics, Science, Reading, Writing; 10th Grade Results – 2004 % Proficient or Higher including NCLB; Participation Rates April 2004; Graduating Class of 2005 for Grades 4, 6, 8, 10, 11 in Math, Reading, Writing, and Science; Class of 2005 Summary; Class of 2005 Summary; Class of 2006 – Juniors Number Not Meeting Graduation Skills Requirement after CAPT; SAT I Average Scores Verbal, Math in LHS, CT and Nation; SAT I Participation; SAT II Scores in Writing, Math I, Math II, Literature, French, Spanish, Chemistry, Ecology, Physics, Biology; Summary of ALL SAT II Scores; and Summary of ALL SAT II Scores 2003-04.
Board members discussed the following: options for students not meeting graduation skills requirements; other assessments; one on one instruction; reasons for taking SAT II tests; and opportunities for prepping students for taking the SATs.
Committee/Liaison ReportsCurriculum Committee
Mr. Costa noted that the committee has a list of items to be covered that was shared at the last Board meeting and the next step is to schedule these meetings.
Finance Committee
Mr. Doyle reported that the committee is starting the new budget process.
Board members received the 2005-06 Budget Preparation timeline draft and discussed the following concerns: change in process and timing; need for detail in order to cut or save; need for zero base; what is needed and what is wanted; need to develop a budget; budget meeting was established via town meeting in 1944; town would have to change; insurance rates are not available until Feb. or March; April is used for flushing out items; need to offer best for the students; firm up process with the Board of Finance; fringe benefits not solidified until mid March; problems with the second year percentages without specifics; bus contract is long term; town did look into two year budget; and need for line items.
Negotiations
Mr. Falcetti reported that the next meeting will be held on Thursday at 4:00 p.m. in the central office.
Old BusinessBoard Meeting Format 2005
Board members discussed the Board meeting format possibilities including: one meeting a month a business meeting the other a committee meeting; return to two regular meetings a month; need to consolidate committee meetings with regular meetings; need to keep the number of total meetings to a reasonable number in order for people to consider to serve on the Board; difficult to cover all committee business in one meeting; and need to combine committee meetings with each other that overlap.
MOTION made by Mr. Costa and seconded by Mr. Doyle: to return to having two regularly scheduled business meetings a month with provisions that the committee meetings will be scheduled by the chairs to coincide with overlapping committees when possible.
MOTION carried. All votes were in the affirmative. There were no abstentions.
Athletic Coordinator – Memorandum of Agreement
Dr. Tindall-Gibson distributed copies of the agreement to Board members and noted that the stipend is part of the bargaining agreement and the LEA is not willing to give it up. This agreement is all they are willing to negotiate.
Board members discussed the following: posting the position; no one wanted to apply on staff; discussed with the President of the LEA; not an issue at that time; concerns were discussed later on; agreement for one year only; same process will be followed next year; possibly changing definition of job; LEA controls the position and the compensation; position can be changed but they have the right to bargain compensation; current arrangement is working well for students; difficult for teachers to take on; parents have communicated with the Board their positive remarks for the present arrangement; difficult to keep someone at $17,000; need to investigate area salaries; need to refer to Personnel Committee; need to present before the Board earlier; process not appropriate; need to advertise in February for next year; issues of using teachers in the position; present arrangement is a bargain; is always budgeted; and for dollar value this is a good deal.
MOTION made by Mr. Costa and seconded by Mr. Falcetti: to support the Superintendent’s recommendation to approve the Memorandum of Agreement as drafted.
MOTION carried.
Mrs. Reardon, Mr. Costa, Mr. Fairchild, Mr.
New Business NEASC Visit – Update
Dr. Breslin reported that the High School was very pleased with the visit. The level of preparation and the depth of material organized by Mrs. Moore with assistance from Mrs. MacDonald were incredible. Participation from parents, classes, foods class enhanced the visit. The committee chair highlighted the following recommendation: tying the mission statement to the expectations; clearer way of assessing kids performance; and way we approach kids at highest area levels more varied than the way we approach them at lower levels. The committee chair highlighted the following commendations: nicest, engaged kids; good faculty; supportive parent groups; impressive Board; concise curriculum; supported the reading issue; undersell yourself all over the place; and 16 –0 would send their children to this school.
Building Committee Update and Discussion
Dr. Tindall-Gibson distributed copies of the building committee’s minutes from September 16, 2004 and October 7, 2004 and the high school and intermediate school site plans. The gym was talked about a lot and it will not be a new gym but a renovated one. The locker rooms will have some new areas.
Board members discussed the following: extent of renovation for the gym; esthetics when driving up to the school; outside issues; roof issues; different site lines; what town expects; need to stay the course; issues of timing and construction; need to support the building committee; gym renovation leaves some flexibility; 1.3 million to 700,000 could be saved with renovation rather than new; work numbers to be under budget; money for site work; possibly need money for blacktop; contingency fund; smart, hardworking, dedicated group; some new gyms deteriorate faster, and mission is teaching and learning not sports.
Discussion of Preliminary School Calendar 2005-06
Dr. Tindall-Gibson distributed copies of the 2005-2006 school calendar draft and the present calendar. The administrative council will discuss ideas tomorrow and come back with recommendations to the Board at the next meeting. Board consensus was to review the documents and come back with their input also.
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