A regular meeting of the Litchfield Board of Education was held on Tuesday, June 28, 2005, at the Center School library.

 

            Present were: Mrs. Knox, Chairperson; Mrs. Reardon; Messrs. Doyle, Fairchild, Falcetti, Noone, Shuhi and Simone; Superintendent Chittum; Mrs. Perusse; Dr. Stuhlman; Mr. Zaremski; the public and the press.

 

                        MOTION made by Mr. Fairchild and seconded by Mr. Falcetti: to approve the minutes of the June 14, 2005 meeting as submitted.

 

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

 

                        MOTION made by Mr. Shuhi and seconded by Mr. Falcetti: to add to the agenda as IX b a discussion on Technology.

 

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

 

Public Comment

 

            Mr. Murray commented on the following: graduating class; thanks to the interim Superintendent; good school system; open forum; open communication; superintendent contract; whole Board responsible; good budget process; real compensation for new superintendent; need to make info available to public; need to clarify the salary amounts; CABE ethics code; need to fully inform the public; First Selectman makes $60,000; new superintendent will make 2 1/2 more than that; and request that Board explain the salary in a press release.

 

            Mrs. Knox noted that the superintendent’s contract has always been an open and public record.

 

Building Committee Update and Discussion

 

            Mr. Waugh reported on the following: thanked the Board for their support; encouraged people to vote; informed the electorate as best they could; asbestos contract schedule; P & Z elongated process; hoping for a resolution from the Wetlands Commission; probable ground breaking in August; and looking forward to having the construction completed.

 

Communications

 

            Superintendent Chittum summarized the CT State Department of Education Report, May 4, 2005 regarding Cost of Implementing the Federal No Child Left Behind Act in Connecticut.  Two studies done by the state department included the state level costs for implementation and

the local level costs under certain conditions.  The following issues were summarized: concern about under funding the federal mandate; short fall of 41 million dollars; state feels money can be used more productively; findings from studies done in New Haven, Hamden and Killingly; objectives are worthwhile; issues of excessive testing and money needed for that; cost of AYP; state interest in formal lawsuit against the federal mandate; possible Board interest in joining this pursuit; and if interested, further information will be needed.

 

 

            Board members discussed the following: mandate is good for kids; possible effect on funding from the federal government if we choose not to participate; state asking for relief of added testing which doesn’t give any more info than what we have been getting in the past; concern about financing unnecessary actions; CT already does standardized testing; concerns about redundancy in testing; nothing more learned; possibly opt out of program; if non compliance in NCLB then all federal funding will be removed; Litchfield does meet standards; grades 3, 5 and 7 will be added with testing; notification issues, staffing issues; need for highly qualified teachers; targets get higher every year until ultimately everyone fails; reasons for federal government wanting that to happen; and more information will be collected to determine of the Board wants to join the action.

 

Committee/Liaison Reports

Facilities Committee

 

            Mr. Noone reported that the committee has been working on the bus lot options, the Center School roof, LIS spotlights, the 4^th grade move by August 1^st to Center School, and the LHS busing issues for the next school year. 

 

            Superintendent Chittum outlined the possible bus turn around at the high school and the parent drop off and pick up procedure.

 

            Mr. Simone noted that the Plumb Hill fields have had 2 fields laid with sod and should be ready for the fall soccer season.

 

New Business

Consideration of a Tuition Student at LHS

 

                        MOTION made by Mr. Shuhi and seconded by Mr. Simone: to move to Executive Session at 7:50 p.m. to discuss a confidential student issue.

 

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

 

Mr. Costa arrived at 7:50 p.m.

 

Executive Session

Present were all the above Board members, Superintendent Chittum and the parent of the student to be discussed.

 

The Board returned to public session at 8:05 p.m.

 

                        MOTION made by Mr. Costa and seconded by Mr. Simone:  to approve the request that Sarah Fisher be enrolled as a tuition student at LHS for the 2005-2006 school year, contingent upon the district’s not being held responsible for a pre-existing medical condition. 

 

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

 

Review of Authorization of Superintendent

 

                        MOTION made by Mr. Costa and seconded by Mr. Doyle:  to approve authorizing the Superintendent to hire personnel, accept resignations and award contracts for the period following the June 28 Board meeting until the July 26 Board meeting, and following the July 26 Board meeting until the August 23 Board meeting.

 

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

 

Purchasing Electricity

 

                        MOTION made by Mr. Costa and seconded by Mr. Shuhi: to approve that the Superintendent of Schools, or his designee, is authorized to enter into a contractual agreement with the successful bidder for the purpose of consortium purchasing of electricity. 

 

            Board members discussed the following: same thing done last year; looking at a broker; lawyer working closely with us; bid opening was today; document needs to be signed and returned by July 8^th; 91 schools participate; 300,000,000 kw hrs to bargain with; 31 more towns will be included; line charges paid to CL&P; will avoid huge rate hikes; cost of oil; status of school and oil use; not locked in yet; possible generate own electricity; other schools that may possibly do that; and need for a bigger public works department in town to even think of attempting producing own electricity.

 

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

 

Ted Alex Award

 

            Superintendent Chittum noted that Litchfield High School won the Ted Alex Award, which is a very special award.  It is based on a serious, elaborate mathematical procedure with all Berkshire League teams included in the process.  A plaque was given and will be displayed in the school.