LITCHFIELD BOARD OF EDUCATION

REGULAR MEETING

APRIL 26, 2005

Building Committee Update and Discussion

            Mr. Waugh reported on the following: State Board of Education approved phase I of the Middle/High School project; last week they approved the I.S. project; full State approval is expected; final approval for end of May for LIS and the end of June for the Litchfield Middle/High School; engineers’ letter finds superstructure acceptable for continued long term use; foundation swelling easily fixed; funding for additional staff demands; percentage of cost to go toward hiring additional building inspector; hired on Monday; 2 hearings coming up; P&Z Monday, May 16, from 7-9 p.m. in town hall; Wetlands Commission, Wednesday, May 11, 7-9 p.m. in P&Z office; good report re: technology considerations; need money for superstructure; timeline for bid package I.S. late May; stays out 5 weeks; H.S. late June; stays out for 5 weeks. 

Communications

            Board members received the following:

• Notice of two CABE seminars on May 5^th and 10^th.
• Notice from Connecticut Council of Municipalities seminar re: managing employee health care cost.
• Thank you note from students who like the new school van.
• A letter from Meredith Blake re: changing the graduation date.
• A copy of a letter sent to David Wedge and a response to Dr. Coelho.
• A notice that Mrs. Glassman has become an intervener in the bus parking lot process.
• An invitation to the retirement dinner on May 20^th.

Board members discussed the graduation day issue including the following: 180 day state

Requirement; leave up to high school parents, administration and students; concerns about family and friends needing to travel to attend; need to have weekend date; previous Friday is race weekend; need to set schedule for everyone; and could be hardship for people to change now.

            Superintendent Chittum agreed to write a response to Meredith re: the date.

Committee/Liaison Reports

Curriculum Committee

            Mr. Costa reported that the committee will meet on May 31^st to discuss technology.

Finance Committee

            Mr. Doyle reported that the committee met last night to discuss the budget which will be covered later in the agenda.

Facilities Committee

            Mr. Noone reported that the committee met and discussed updates on the beams at the high school; the bus lot; and the building project.

            Mrs. Perusse reported on the state of the kitchen at the high school.  The final inspection from the Torrington Area Health Commission was completed and approved on Monday.  The kitchen is now back to normal operations.

            Superintendent Chittum reported that the bus parking lot application was going to go to P & Z but after getting advice from our attorney it has been put on hold until the application from the Building Committee is presented.  After that, the bus lot application will be resubmitted.

            Superintendent Chittum also noted that the building project will go before the inlands wetlands committee to be addressed on May 11, P&Z on May 16, final plan completion test for the I.S. on May 27 and final plan completion test for the H.S. on June 24. All these events need a positive result in order to go on with the process.  O&G will share with the Facilities Committee regarding the building process. 

            Mr. Shuhi questioned the process for filling the tech ed position that has been available since the resignation of the teacher in March. 

            Superintendent Chittum noted that the position has been advertised two times and is still being worked on.  In the meantime there a substitute is in place.

Old Business

Second Reading of Policy #4120/4220 Athletic Coaches

                        MOTION made by Mr. Simone and seconded by Mr. Falcetti: to accept Policy #4120/4220 Athletic Coaches for a second reading.

            Board members discussed the following: clarifying the 90 days; specify “in calendar year;” conflict if coaching 2 seasons in a row; coach employed by position; 2 actions needed; could non renew at any time; bumping issues; teacher contract issues; coaching positions are on a yearly basis; contractual issues; posting policy for coaches; and ambiguity when 3 or more full consecutive scenarios.

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

Second Reading – Revisions to Policy #5137.1, Participation Fees for Extracurricular Activities

                        MOTION made by Mr. Simone and seconded by Mr. Shuhi: to accept Policy #5137.1 Participation Fees for Extracurricular Activities for a second reading.

            Board members discussed the following: additional information to definition of extra activities; list of possibilities in addendum; list of position schedule; list of step amount; 31 total listed; of the 31, jazz band and theater program might qualify; $3,000 would have been generated if this was figured in this year; and listed in contracts.

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

New Business

Teacher Appreciation Week

                        MOTION made by Mr. Simone and seconded by Mr. Costa: to approve that the Board Chairperson read a proclamation regarding Teacher Appreciation Week.

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

            Mrs. Knox read the proclamation proclaiming Tuesday, May 3, 2005 as Teacher Celebration Day and will distribute this to the school community.

                        MOTION made by Mr. Simone and seconded by Mr. Shuhi: to amend the agenda to consider a personnel matter.

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

                        MOTION made by Mr. Simone and seconded by Mr. Shuhi: to approve Laura Duncan’s request to decrease her position to a .5 music teacher beginning with the 2005-2006 school year.

            Board members discussed the following: request by Mrs. Duncan; additional flex to accommodate instrumental instruction in grades 5-12; .5 will be posted; specify needs of school in instructional music; expertise will impact grades 5-12; and apprehensions felt by some Board members.

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

2005-2006 Budget

                        MOTION made by Mr. Doyle and seconded by Mr. Noone: to approve the adjustments for 2005-06 operating budget in the amount of $83,219.00 as specified in the Superintendent’s recommendation.

            Board members discussed the following: review of handout; comments made last night are still valid; approve amount but not the items; possibly make part time K-6 reading coordinator; position value is extreme; suggested cuts from Superintendent and administrators who know best; poor judgment not to accept their recommendations; adjustments can be made during the year; have knowledge to make decisions; possible crippling technology at the high school; tech skills are better; foundation for self-sufficiency; real problem is having children who can’t read; one building based individual is important; weigh pros and cons; more sensitive to needs of children with reading difficulty; and do have backup with technology.

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

                        MOTION made by Mr. Falcetti and seconded by Mr. Fairchild: to pay bills in the amount of $98,446.66.

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

                        MOTION made by Mr. Simone and seconded by Mr. Costa: to move to Executive Session (8:45 p.m.) to discuss Negotiations.

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

Executive Session

Present: all the above Board members and Superintendent Chittum.

Open session resumed at 9:08 p.m.  No action taken.

MOTION made by Mr. Simone and seconded by Mr. Costa: to adjourn the meeting at 9:13 p.m. 

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

                                                                        Respectfully submitted,

                                                                        Donald Falcetti, Secretary

                                                                        Joanne Bertrand, Recording Secretary