LITCHFIELD BOARD OF EDUCATION

REGULAR MEETING

November 9, 2004

A regular meeting of the Litchfield Board of education was held on Tuesday, November 9, 2004 at 7:00 p.m. in the Center School gym.

 

            Present were: Mrs. Knox, Chairperson; Mrs. Reardon; Messrs. Costa, Fairchild, Falcetti, Noone, Shuhi and Simone; Mrs. Perusse; Dr. Breslin; Dr. Stuhlman; Mrs. MacDonald; Mr. Zaremski; and members of the public.  Mr. Doyle was excused.

 

                        MOTION made by Mr. Simone and seconded by Mr. Fairchild: to approve the Minutes of the October 26, 2004 as submitted with the following correct on page 2336 the motion should read, “two travel team locker rooms as requested by the architects.”

 

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

 

Student Council Report

 

            Elizabeth Clarkin-Breslin reported on the student council activities at the high school.

 

Building Committee Update and Discussion

Review Technology Changes

 

            Mr. Costa reported that, with the help of Mr. Shuhi, and because of the constraints of the budget with fixed costs, modifications needed to be made to the technology Ed specs.  The technology needed to be reviewed to reflect our needs.  A meeting was held with the technology team, media team, and building principals to determine changes needed.    He reviewed the handout, “Litchfield Public School Technology Planning – Draft Ed. Spec Modifications,” including the mission/purpose; a list of philosophical technology design principles; a list of what we must invest in; a list of existing allocations that need redirection; and a list of investments in a more up-to-date and educationally sound planning configuration.  Two other key planning issues include investment in data monitors vs. data projectors and capacity, requirements and cost of the planned video distribution upgrades. 

 

            Board members discussed the following: neutral cost effect; best use of money; having well built and appropriate foundation and investment; ed specs have CAD lab included; Litchfield Education Foundation was going to invest in a CAD system; and their possible investment into other technology gifts for K-12.

 

Update of Plan Changes at LIS

 

            Fernando Pastor from the Herbert S. Newman Architects  presented drawings of updated changes in the building plan for Litchfield Intermediate School including: first floor with six classrooms and an increase in bathroom facilities; retrofitting of the entire mechanical system;

second floor will house the cafeteria and multi-purpose room; some stage support on back of cafeteria; addition to auditorium stage left; kitchen in corner; same number of classrooms; additional bathrooms; gym area untouched; showers stay; third floor main entrance; art room where library is now; library on top of new addition; much bigger room; administration moved to area in line with the entrance; more centralized; nurse’s office moved to classroom near office and guidance; fields bathrooms with possible lobby space; colored illustration and blow up of stage connection; cafeteria entrance; stairs to library; and possible outdoor space and outdoor lobby.

 

            Board members discussed the following: location of nurse and guidance near central office; possible use of current nurse’s space for central office storage; need to not touch the area so the square footage can go to new space; and all the options were reviewed and discussed with Dr. Tindall-Gibson, Dr. Stuhlman and Mrs. Perusse.

 

Vote on Modifications to Ed Specs

 

                        MOTION made by Mr. Costa and seconded by Mrs. Reardon: to support the Superintendent’s recommendation to accept the alteration of the ed specs as related to technology and endorse the special services alterations in LIS.

 

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

 

Committee/Liaison Reports

Facilities Committee

 

            Mr. Noone reported that an application for a new bus lot is being completed along with drawings being done by Ed Fabbri.  Mr. Wilson from Capital Improvement has also been involved.  Capital Improvement will hold its first meeting on December 1st.  The committee will meet before the next Board meeting. 

 

            Board members will discuss at the next Board meeting the bus drop off and pick up at the Litchfield Intermediate School.  Mr. Simone reported that the situation is getting better.  Spaces are tight with little room for backing up.  The real issue is handicapped and fire lane blocking and a meeting will be scheduled with the fire marshal so that changes can be made.  One other school has resorted to using their tennis courts for temporary parking.

 

Negotiations

 

            Mr. Falcetti reported that the committee met last week to discuss new proposals.  Another meeting will be held tomorrow afternoon.

 

New Business

Annual Report on the Strategic School Profiles

            Mr. Zaremski distributed copies of the Strategic School Profile 2003-04 Litchfield School District and highlighted the following points: Student Performance district, ERG and state; District Revenues/Expenditures per pupil 2002-03 district, ERG and state; Special Education Incidence Trends; Special Education Incidence by Disability; TWNDP: All Students with Disabilities; Home School Attendance by Students with Disabilities; Staffing Ratios: Index of Staff Per 1,000 Student Population (K-12); and Percentage of Expenditures for Special Education 2002-03 (Unaudited).

 

Awarding of Bid for School Van

 

            Mrs. Perusse distributed a memo regarding new van bids.  Mrs. Perusse noted that $30,000 was allocated and the one chosen holds 8 with all-wheel drive and is a heavy vehicle.  Nineteen requests for proposals were sent with two proposals received.  Laidlaw is able to outfit the vans for state inspection.  The low bid came from West Chevrolet in Waterbury.

 

                        MOTION made by Mr. Costa and seconded by Mr. Noone: to support the Superintendent’s recommendation to award the van bid to West Chevrolet from Waterbury as presented.

 

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

 

School Goals 2004-05

 

            Dr. Breslin reported on the goals at LHS including: Board one goal for district; to improve reading comprehension in all students; skills, concepts and challenges; reading gateway to all things; first year teachers wrote goals having to do with reading; change mindset of high school teachers; not expected to teach reading; ways to engage kids to think about what they are doing; need for understanding after finishing reading; enrichment this year; way for teacher to start to learn; text Do I Really Have to Teach Reading?; chapters discussed at faculty meetings; CEU able; need for students to ask questions; goals in each department; data from student performance; comparing and contrasting; curriculum offerings; need to look at hard data; more objectivity; input from NEASC; develop into school improvement goal; need to constantly focus on student performance; faculty have embraced the ideas and will keep the same goal for a period of time.

 

            Dr. Stuhlman distributed copies of the Writing Timeline and Goals for Grades 4, 5 and 6 and reported on the goals at LIS including: language arts coordinator from Columbia; teachers doing a fine job; have consistency in language arts now; comprehension data driven goals; 4th grade inferences; 5th grade taking critical stance; 6th grade gaining meaning from non fiction; in- servicing of teachers; faculty reading I Read It but I Didn’t Get It; teachers very receptive to book; people going out of district to participate in workshops; some workshops at Ed Connection; continue to solidify teaching strategies; continue working with consultant; increase student reading; book club for boys started; continue individual conferencing; and need to work on curriculum fine tuning for the NEASC visit.

            Mrs. Shuhi and Mrs. Woolley distributed copies of the Language Arts content strand for Grades one and two and reported on the goals at Center School including: one goal being that students use a variety of media and resources preK-3; student use of computers; use skills in the internet and intranet; appropriate resources; Web Quests in all grades; students publish pieces and projects; all students have digital portfolio; add more to the intranet; have second lab available; software available to enhance student learning; Professional Development provided; use of digital cameras; teacher created projects; student work samples; computers in classrooms; second goal ties technology, reading and comprehension; read books, create book response, post it on the intranet; post why enjoyed book; make a connection; goal to increase comprehension and interpretation of written text and material; read and analyze information; interpret information and complete task; evaluate written text and material; exposure to variety of materials; develop assessment; provide materials and data sources; good reading begins with language development; acquisition of oral language; increase vocabulary; trace map for goals; encourage family to become actively involved with their readers; video used Raising a Reader; alignment with Connecticut and national standards for comprehension; blueprint for reading achievement; reading with meaning; and P.D. provided.

 

Payment of Bills

 

                        MOTION made by Mr. Shuhi and seconded by Mr. Simone: to pay bills in the amount of $194,898.34.

 

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

 

                        MOTION made by Mr. Simone and seconded by Mr. Fairchild: to adjourn the meeting at 8:30 p.m.

 

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

 

                                                                                    Respectfully submitted,

                                                                                    Donald Falcetti, Secretary

                                                     Joanne Bertrand, Recording Secretary