A regular
meeting of the Litchfield Board of Education was held on
Tuesday, August 23, 2005, at 7:00 p.m. in the Center School
library.
Board Members
Present were: Mrs. Knox, Chairperson; Mrs. Reardon; Messrs.
Costa, Fairchild, Noone, Shuhi and Simone; Mr. Doyle and Mr.
Falcetti were excused. Also present: Dr. Vita; Mrs.
Perusse; Dr. Breslin; Dr. Stuhlman; Mrs. Longobucco; Mrs.
MacDonald; Mr. Zaremski the public and the press.
MOTION made by Mr. Fairchild and seconded by Mr. Shuhi:
to approve the minutes of July 26 special meeting as
submitted.
MOTION carried.
All votes were in the affirmative. Mrs. Knox abstained.
MOTION made by Mr. Costa and seconded by Mr. Shuhi: to
add to the agenda under New Business a discussion of a
change in the meeting date for September.
MOTION carried.
All votes were in the affirmative. There were no
abstentions.
Public Comment
Betsey Fabbri
noted that the STPC’s mission is fundraising to enhance
student programs. Yankee Candle, a possible concession
stand at the basketball games and a book fair will be
included this year. The programs provided include an
instant messaging information discussion and after school
activities for grades 7 – 9. Mrs. Shuhi is the V.P. for
this year. The STPC will possibly report to the Board
throughout the year on a regular basis.
Mr. Costa
welcomed Dr. Vita to the Board.
Mike Murray
congratulated Dr. Vita and noted that over the past several
months the request to inform the community of the
Superintendent’s salary and compensation is being withdrawn
from him. Hopefully over the next year the Board will give
more information to the public. The Litchfield school
system does provide a very good education to the students.
Building Committee Update
and Discussion
Mr. Waugh
reported on the following: schedule in place; August 10th
the Wetlands Committee approved the application with 48
conditions; August 14th the P & Z approved the
application with 4 conditions; a meeting with the State
Traffic Commission is scheduled for September 22nd;
a state meeting scheduled for September 29th;
bids the first week of October; 5 week process; bids awarded
early November; start date after Thanksgiving or early
December; thanks to Jack for leadership; and price issues
affecting the cost of the project.
Committee/Liaison Reports
Curriculum/Technology
Committee
Mr. Costa
reported that the committee met last week with Mrs.
Longobucco and Dr. Vita to review the plan for covering the
technology support person at the high school. Dr. Vita will
report on that to the Board some time in the future. Also,
the technology vision plan and direction will be discussed
before the budget process begins.
Facilities Committee
Mr. Noone
reported that the committee will meet in September to
discuss the roof project at Center School and a permanent
parking lot location for the busses.
Information Updates –
Principals
Dr. Vita noted
that things happen at the schools and the Central office and
the Board will be updated on a regular basis at the
meetings. Goals will be established by November as to where
the district is going and where we want to be.
Communication will include media releases, newsletters to
share what is happening in the schools.
New Business
LHS Summer School Program
Mrs. MacDonald
reported on the following: 5 seventh graders in danger of
repeating seventh grade; all reviewed math and English
curriculum and were introduced to the 8th grade
curriculum; parents embraced the program; students had to
attend and take work seriously; good communication
established; students worked hard and took the program
seriously; weaknesses and strengths were identified; some
students moved from level 3 to level 2; teachers are
pleased; parents are happy with the communication; teachers
will monitor students and share info with the teams; work
was focused and demanding; parents thankful and
appreciative; and all 5 students were promoted to 8th
grade.
NEASC Update
Mrs. Longobucco
presented 2 copies of the self-study document, which is the
culmination of 2 years work. It was great professional
development and the school is proud and happy with the
result. The visit will take place Oct. 2-5 with Sunday put
aside for Board members to meet with the committee. The
exit date will be Wednesday after a faculty meeting is
held.
Dr. Stuhlman
reported that the 4th grade teachers have moved
to Center School and the 5th and 6th
are moved and ready for the new school year. The asbestos
abatement has been completed. This year will be the tough
year with the building project but everyone is positive. On
September 1st from 6 to 7 p.m. parents will be
able to meet the teachers that night.
Dr. Breslin
reported that 7th grade orientation will be held
on September 1st where the students get their
schedules, lockers and locks with combinations. Other
students will show them around and help them figure out
their locks. There will be a question and answer period and
ice cream social included in the schedule. A smaller
orientation will be held for the new students on August 31st.
This year we will have a Fulbright scholar from Paris who
will assist the teachers in French class. We are the first
school to get this and it is all paid for.
Requests for Tuition
Students
Dr. Vita
distributed a copy of a memo re: tuition rates for the
2005-06 school year. Principals were involved in
determining whether tuition students would be a burden or
not. A new procedure will be established where half the
tuition will be paid by September 1st and the
second half will be paid by January 1st. As soon
as there is a CO, the town will refund the tuition paid from
the date they established legal residency.
MOTION made by Mr. Costa and seconded by Mrs. Reardon:
to support the Superintendent’s recommendation to accept the
request as stated in the letter for Aidan Dyer as a tuition
student in 6th grade.
MOTION carried.
All votes were in the affirmative. There were no
abstentions.
MOTION made by Mr. Costa and seconded by Mr. Fairchild:
to support the Superintendent’s recommendation to accept the
request from Cindy Noad to allow Victoria Noad as a tuition
student at LHS when her parents move out of town.
MOTION amended by Mr. Simone and seconded by Mr. Costa:
to add for the 2005-06 school.
AMMENDMENT carried.
All votes were in the affirmative. Mr. Shuhi abstained.
MOTION carried.
All votes were in the affirmative. Mr. Shuhi abstained.
MOTION made by Mr. Costa and seconded by Mr. Simone: to
support the Superintendent’s recommendation to grant a 6
week waiver to Cathy Tan for her daughter to attend Center
School. (The Tan’s will be moving to Litchfield in
September.)
MOTION carried.
All votes were in the affirmative. There were no
abstentions.
Dr. Vita noted
that a verbal request was received re: a student attending
LHS. The older sibling graduated last year and the student
is a junior this year. The main concern is not to adversely
impact the student’s education and to allow the student to
attend as a tuition student.
The tuition was waived last
year but will be charged this year. The official request
has not been received yet, but consideration has to be made
for the student.
MOTION made by Mr. Costa and seconded by Mr. Shuhi: to
support the Superintendent’s recommendation to authorize the
Superintendent to act on our behalf if conditions are to his
satisfaction for a tuition student for the 2005-06 school
year.
MOTION carried.
All votes were in the affirmative. There were no
abstentions.
Change in Meeting Date
MOTION made by Mr. Costa and seconded by Mr. Fairchild:
to support the Superintendent’s recommendation to approve
changing the September 13th meeting date to
September 14th.
MOTION carried.
All votes were in the affirmative. There were no
abstentions.
MOTION made by Mr. Simone and seconded by Mr. Costa: to
add to the agenda a discussion of tuition rates for 05 – 06.
MOTION carried.
All votes were in the affirmative. There were no
abstentions.
Tuition Rates for 2005-06
Board members reviewed the handout of the
recommended tuitions rates for 2005-06:
Kindergarten, $4,000; Grades
1-6, $8,000; and Grades 7-12, $9,300
MOTION made by Mr. Costa and seconded by Mr. Shuhi: to
support the Superintendent’s recommendation to approve the
Tuition Rates for 2005-06 as presented.
MOTION carried.
All votes were in the affirmative. There were no
abstentions.
Payment of Bills
MOTION made by Mr. Simone and seconded by Mr. Fairchild:
to approve the disbursements in the amount of $60,207.85.
MOTION carried.
All votes were in the affirmative. There were no
abstentions.
Personnel
New Hires
Dr. Vita
reported that Kim Jones will teach 6th grade at
the Intermediate School and Michelle Curtis will teach
Spanish at the High School.
Resignations
Dennis Hefferon resigned
from his position as Latin teacher and World Language
Department Chair as of August 1, 2005.
Board members
discussed the following: need to fill the void; research
being done; update at Sept. 14th meeting; need to
be flexible; whole series of options; issues for students
taking Latin I; counselors getting involved; no response
back for Latin position; advantages of block schedule; long
term implications are significant; 80 students enrolled in
Latin levels; and possibility of getting a different
language.
MOTION made by Mr. Simone and seconded by Mr. Fairchild:
to adjourn the meeting at 8:00 p.m.
MOTION carried.
All votes were in the affirmative. There were no
abstentions.
Respectfully submitted,
Joanne Bertrand, Recording Secretary