A regular meeting of the Litchfield Board of Education was held on Tuesday, October 26, 2004 at 7:00 p.m. in the Center School gym.

 

            Present were: Mrs. Knox, Chairperson; Messrs. Costa, Doyle, Fairchild, Falcetti, Noone, and Shuhi; Mr. Simone arrived at 7:55 p.m. Dr. Tindall-Gibson; Dr. Breslin; Dr. Stuhlman; Mrs. MacDonald; Mr. Zaremski; and members of the public.  Mrs. Reardon was excused.

 

                        MOTION made by Mr. Fairchild and seconded by Mr. Falcetti: to approve the minutes of the October 12, 2004 meeting as submitted with the following addition, “Mrs. Reardon arrived at 7:30 p.m.”

 

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

 

Building Committee Update and Discussion

 

            Mr. Waugh distributed a copy of the Litchfield High School & Intermediate School Pre-Construction Schedule revised 10/21/04; Summary of Approvals and Direction for Architect/Construction Manager; Additions & Alteration to LHS; LHS Schematic Design Estimate; Additions & Alterations to LIS; and LIS Schematic Design Estimate for Board perusal.  These are firm documents to share and the final schematic design phase is moving into the design development phase. The “Enquirer” has given the committee a full page for a detailed narrative to present much of the information the committee is finalizing.  The significant changes that have been made to the concept design from April to the schematic design of present will be covered, also.

 

            Mr. Waugh reviewed the following highlights from the high school diagram update including: maintaining circulation; more compact than previous; renovated gym; significant lobby space; guidance space; tech ed space; offices; bus circle; high school wing; science wing; 7^th and 8^th grade classrooms; expansion space for future endeavors like an auditorium; more space and light; cafeteria opened up; classrooms renovated with lighting, flooring and windows; new furniture; new technology; highly functional building; worked closely with the administration to meet their needs to meet student needs; controversy over gym; renovated will be slightly larger than present; more runoff space; move court to center of building; steeper bleachers; handicapped space; refinished floor; lighting; glass sides on the east and west walls; roof removed and changed to metal roof; very attractive look; gym lobby area increased; locker spaces renovated; training room; additional locker space; nurses space in gym area; fitness center and storage space.

 

            Board members discussed the following: issues of reimbursement when moving the guidance area; trees in courtyard area; need to not cut technology and furniture for a new gym; need for a more attractive gym for first impressions of the school when driving up to the facility; comparable gym at Pomperaug is very attractive; site line will be different than it is now; gym

will be less obvious; use of metal panels to break up the cement surface; and present lecture room will be lost with the gym space.

 

            Mr. Waugh reviewed the highlights from the Intermediate School diagram update including the following: expanded auditorium has been down scaled; creating a cafeteria under the present gym has been eliminated; new construction on north side of building adjacent to auditorium; cafeteria near parking lot; seat 150 in cafeteria; kitchen adjacent to the area; increase size of stage by four feet; areas to move from left to right of stage; increase in storage; opening to cafeteria could use for receptions, etc.; provides needs not met currently; too expensive to knock down wall and expand; need for sprinkler system; poor water pressure to cover auditorium; there is site for future auditorium at the high school; space is a compromise; other areas substantially newer; existing kitchen will become locker rooms; administration offices moved to art space; art space moved to existing media space; present nurses office will be storage space for the central office; guidance will remain where it is; still evolving; new roof; new mechanicals; new windows; drainage addressed; fire issues; modified sprinklers are in budget; will have fire stops; issues of site work included in the budget; and numbers are solid.

 

            Mr. Waugh noted that the committee has two guiding principles including need for education specs to give students a facility that meets their needs including a clean, safe and state of the art facility with a 20-year secure maintenance; and to keep the project on budget.  The cost of steel has escalated 10-15% and cuts are unpopular but the project does meet the needs as proposed.

 

            Board members discussed the following: add/deduct items are still in the budget; possible adjust committee agenda so the public can have their questions answered before it gets too late in the evening; good job sticking to the ed specs; need to eliminate two traveling team locker rooms to make space for nurse’s office and need to provide an officials changing room.

 

                        MOTION made by Mr. Costa and seconded by Mr. Doyle: to support the Superintendent’s recommendation to approve the ed specs to be adjusted to reflect the elimination of the two travel team locker rooms as requested by the architects.

 

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

 

AYP Status Based on 2002-03 CMT Scores

 

            Dr. Tindall-Gibson reviewed the documents for grades 4, 6 and 8 reflecting the achievement that has occurred.  Litchfield is in excellent standing.  The confidence interval is like a numerical adjustment to raise the reliability of the scores especially if the sub group size is lower than 40.  AYP is a federal requirement of NCLB.

 

*Mr. Simone arrived at 7:55 p.m.

 

Committee/Liaison Reports

Policy Committee

 

            Mr. Fairchild noted that the policies included in the Board’s packets are final copies and should be placed in their policy handbook.

 

Curriculum Committee

 

            Mr. Costa reported that it would be a good idea for the Board to take a look at the Ed specs for developing technology.  The committee will discuss how best to spend the technology budget and come up with a recommendation for the Board in the near future.  This will give us an opportunity to look at where we are going.

 

Personnel Committee

 

            Mrs. Knox reported that the committee will meet on November 9^th at 6:00 p.m.

 

Facilities Committee

 

            Mr. Noone reported that the bus parking lot issue has gone to the application phase.

 

Dr. Tindall-Gibson noted that it will go to P and Z with possible Wetlands issues.  Realistically the target is to have the lot in place for the next school year.  The new application will be for a bus lot 100 yards north of the present lot.  Presently the Intermediate School parking lot is being used to park the buses and the staff is parking around the island.

 

            Board members discussed the following: parent pick up, cars parked all the way down to Constitution Way; difficult for buses to enter and pick up students in the afternoon; worse on rainy days; 60-70 students dropped off; only school district that lets the walkers and drivers pick up first; possibly let busses leave before students can be picked up; issue will get even worse when construction takes place; and need for extra measure of flexibility.

 

Negotiations

 

            Mr. Falcetti reported that the committee met today and discussed the last proposals.

 

Old Business

School Calendar 2005-06

 

            Dr. Tindall-Gibson distributed a draft of the 2005-06 calendar to Board members.

 

                        MOTION made by Mr. Costa and seconded by Mr. Simone: to support the Superintendent’s recommendation to approve the 2005-06 school calendar as presented with one change, to shift the opening day from August 31^st to Sept 6^th.

            Board members discussed the following: give construction company the longest possible summer for construction to be done; go past Labor Day for one year; easier to move teachers around than kids around; following year get in sync with Region 6; good to let parents know in advance for planning purposes; possible March vacation; coincides with sports schedule; possible trimester; coordinate with Wamogo; April vacation easier on students and staff to go to the end of the year than March is; shifting Professional Development days as needed; and extending the project construction days is appropriate.

 

                                    MOTION carried.  All votes were in the affirmative except for Mr. Shuhi who voted in the negative.  There were no abstentions.

 

BOE Meeting Schedule for 2005

 

            Board members reviewed the meeting schedule as presented.

 

                        MOTION made by Mr. Simone and seconded by Mr. Doyle: to support the Superintendent’s recommendation to approve the 2005 meeting dates as presented.

 

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

 

Request for Tuition

 

            Dr. Tindall-Gibson distributed copies of the letter from Kenneth and Julia Hrica requesting a tuition waiver for their two sons while their house is under construction and they are renting in Torrington.  Board policy # 5118 states that this may be approved with the administration and Superintendent’s recommendation.

 

            Board members discussed the following: clear intent to reside in Litchfield; use as a basis for decision; not necessarily for every family; did investigate policy and this is clearly acceptable; what is best for the students; and timing for tuition.

 

                        MOTION made by Mr. Costa and seconded by Mr. Falcetti: to support the Superintendent’s recommendation to approve the request for a tuition waiver, for both students for the 2004-05 school year. 

 

            Dr. Breslin noted that CIAC guidelines might come into play for the athletic participation of the students.  More information is forthcoming and the parents will be notified regarding the findings.

 

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