LITCHFIELD BOARD OF EDUCATIONREGULAR MEETING June 14, 2005 |
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A regular meeting of the Litchfield Board of Education was held on Tuesday, June 14, 2005, at Center School library.
Present were: Mrs. Knox, Chairperson; Messrs. Costa, Doyle, Fairchild, Falcetti, Noone, Shuhi and Simone; Superintendent Chittum; Mrs. Perusse; Dr. Breslin; Dr. Stuhlman; Mrs. MacDonald; Mr. Zaremski; the public and the press. Mrs. Reardon was absent.
MOTION made by Mr. Fairchild and seconded by Mr. Falcetti: to approve the minutes of the May 24, 2005 minutes as submitted with the following correction on page 2405 in the last paragraph the word “Claims” should be changed to “Funds.”
MOTION carried. All votes were in the affirmative. There were no abstentions.
Public Comment
Mr. Falcetti commented on an interesting, student presentation in Mrs. Johnson’s 3rd grade class outlining the curriculum they learned during the year.
Mr. Murray commented on several items including the following: successful budget process; recommend moving to town because of the schools; support of the very reasonable school building project; complimenting the interim superintendent; Dr. Vita’s contract distributed; review of several pages and specific portions; need to put this document on the internet website; need to hold down spending; need to correct misrepresentation to the public; and if not put on the website, he will distribute the document.
Building Committee Update and Discussion
Mr. Waugh reported on the following: minutes from June 2, 2005 meeting; meeting with Wetlands Commission lasting until 11:00 p.m.; no intrusion or significant impact in wetlands; no impact in wildlife; P & Z meeting June 20th; need to go according to law and procedure; awarding of contracts; if vote goes well, work begins June 27th to remove hazardous material; info on gym roof; neutral document to appear in newspaper to update community on facts planned for the facilities; need to rally; not a patch job; significant renovations in both facilities; O & G estimates for new facilities @ $55,264,000; with reimbursement cost to town $33,000,000; and need for public to understand.
Board members discussed the following: press needs to publicize cost estimates for new facilities; need to be aware of three million dollars already spent; David Wedge’s estimate of reimbursement for new building is 37% which is 4% less than published; need to be informative for tomorrow’s meeting so that vote is based on accurate information; need for support statement from the Board of Ed; support statement made from the Board of Finance already; no other plan in place after referendum; will have to go back to zero; need to keep student needs first; 5 to 6 years to get a new project into place; need to attract talented teachers with attractive facilities; time for questions and answers tomorrow night; need to attend to short term issues if project stopped; and need to reaffirm our position to support the building project and urge everyone to vote.
MOTION made by Mr. Costa and seconded by Mr. Noone: to add to the agenda as V b. Endorsement of the Building Process.
MOTION carried. All votes were in the affirmative. There were no abstentions.
MOTION made by Mr. Costa and seconded by Mr. Shuhi: to approve reaffirming our support of the Building Committee and the completion of this project design.
RESOLUTION
The Litchfield Board of Education unequivocally reconfirms its confidence in the Litchfield Building Committee and its work on the current design for renovations and additions to our intermediate and high school facilities. We believe that the Committee has faithfully and professionally designed a thoughtful response to the community’s expressed wishes to expand and improve the town’s existing school buildings.
Even with dramatic rises in the costs of construction, which would have affected any building committee with similar pressures and subsequent difficult choices, our Committee has been both creative and responsible by holding the line on the project’s ultimate costs and ensuring that the promised levels of reimbursement are secured, all the while providing a plan that will meet the educational specifications offered in the approving referendum. We believe that this vote, which passed by an almost three to one margin, clearly demonstrated the community will and that will remains unchanged.
We do not believe, under any circumstances, that further delay or concept exploration is called for. Prices continue to rise and we are convinced that any delay will only decrease our eventual return on investment, waste untold human and financial resources, and ultimately increase taxes even more than our current commitment while diminishing value. We are dedicated and unanimous in our support of this project and this Building Committee.
We urge every parent and taxpayer in Litchfield to participate in the referendum and cast their vote on June 23rd.
Board members discussed need to publish this and present to the town meeting tomorrow evening; kids will be hurt the most; effort made by 9 people over the past 2 years is being second guessed without fact; and the community interest is at the focus by this committee.
MOTION carried. All votes were in the affirmative. There were no abstentions. Communications
Board members received the following:
Community/Liaison ReportsPersonnel Committee
Mrs. Knox reported that the committee will meet prior to the next Board meeting.
Facilities Committee
Mr. Noone reported that the committee has been working on the bus lot, roof at Center School., P & Z meeting and asbestos abatement process.
New BusinessSchool Starting and Ending Times
Superintendent Chittum noted that since we will go from 12 buses to 11 buses next year, the school day will need to be adjusted by five minutes. The arrival and departure at both Center School and the Intermediate School will be five minutes later.
Board members discussed the need for also extending the times for early dismissal to accommodate bus route times.
Request for Tuition Student
MOTION made by Mr. Simone and seconded by Mr. Fairchild: to deny the request from Torrington Schools that a Torrington student attend Litchfield High School as a tuition student due to a lack of space at Litchfield High School during the planned expansion and renovation project.
MOTION carried. All votes were in the affirmative. There were no abstentions.
Addition to List of Extra Curricular Activities
MOTION made by Mr. Costa and seconded by Mr. Fairchild: As per Policy 5137.1 Student Fees; Participation in Extra Curricular Activities, the Board approve the addition of High School Theatre production to the annual list of extracurricular activities for which a fee shall be assessed and that the Superintendent shall inform the high school staff, students and parents of the additions.
Board members discussed the following: additional information and clarification given to extra curricular activities; activities that fall under that definition; difficulty in implementing the policy for theatre production; parent confusion; and volunteer participants who contribute to the success of the production are not charged.
MOTION carried. All votes were in the affirmative except for Mrs. Knox and Mr. Falcetti who voted in the negative. There were no abstentions.
Wamogo Tuitions
Superintendent Chittum alerted the Board that 7 students were accepted at Wamogo with 3 on the waiting list. Now the 3 on the waiting list were accepted which means $22,000 will be needed at the end of the summer. This will be addressed at that time. Summer School Remediation Program
Superintendent Chittum noted that in his previous school district similar remediation has been very successful. Litchfield 7th grade students need an opportunity for remediation so that they can be promoted. A 10-day program for 3 hours per day is being proposed for at risk students. Some funds from underutilized activities will be used to pay for the program. Students will be charged tuition of $150.00. By keeping the students in the system, more focused remediation can be achieved. The program will be reviewed in the fall to report on its success.
Board members discussed the following: past practices; difficulty in getting at risk students to attend summer school; control needed in their remediation experience; on-going school year remediation; need for attitudinal changes also; done by faculty; start in the beginning of the summer; retention does not help students; parents will shoulder the expense; and issues with the stipends that appear for other activities.
Payment of Bills
MOTION made by Mr. Fairchild and seconded by Mr. Simone: to pay bills in the amount of $98,748.06.
MOTION carried. All votes were in the affirmative. There were no abstentions.
MOTION made by Mr. Simone and seconded by Mr. Noone: to move to Executive Session at 8:20 p.m. to discuss Personnel, Negotiations and Legal and Contractual Issues.
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 9:05 p.m.
MOTION made by J. Costa and seconded by J. Noone: to approve the Superintendent’s recommendation to hire Wendy Mercurio as Social Studies teacher, grades 7-12 at LHS for the 2005-06 school year (MA, Step 10).
MOTION carried. Mrs. Knox, Messrs. Simone, Costa, Noone, Falcetti, Doyle and Fairchild voted aye. Mr. Shuhi voted nay. Motion carried. There were no abstentions.
MOTION made by J. Costa and seconded by W. Shuhi: that the annual salary of Business Manager Margaret Perusse be approved for the period July 1, 2005 through June 30, 2006, at a rate of $78,929 which includes a base salary of $76,629 (3% increase over 04-05), plus a 3% longevity payment of $2,300.
MOTION carried. All votes were in the affirmative. There were no abstentions.
MOTION made by J. Costa and seconded by F. Simone: that the contract of employment of Deirdre Cusati be terminated, effective the last day of the 2004-05 school year, for reduction in force (the elimination of the position), and that the Superintendent of Schools is directed to advise such person in writing of this action.
MOTION carried. All votes were in the affirmative. There were no abstentions.
MOTION made by J. Costa and seconded by J. Noone: to accept the resignation for the purpose of retirement of Patricia Vincenti, Guidance Counselor at Litchfield Middle/High School after 13 years of service to the district.
MOTION carried. All votes were in the affirmative. There were no abstentions.
MOTION made by J. Costa and seconded by D. Falcetti: that the Board approve the lease between Dale Barton, the Town of Litchfield, CT and the Litchfield Board of Education in substantially the form presented to the meeting, with such changes as determined by the Superintendent, for use as a bus/vehicle parking lot.
MOTION carried. All votes were in the affirmative. Mr. Simone and Mr. Shuhi abstained.
MOTION made by F. Simone and seconded by D. Falcetti: to adjourn the meeting at 9:10 p.m.
MOTION carried. All votes were in the affirmative. There were no abstentions.
Respectfully submitted, Donald Falcetti, Secretary Joanne Bertrand, Recording Secretary |