LITCHFIELD BOARD OF EDUCATION

REGULAR MEETING

October 25, 2005

A regular meeting of the Litchfield Board of Education was held on Tuesday, October 25, 2005 at 7:00 p.m. in the Center School library.

 

Present were: Mrs. Knox, Chairperson; Mrs. Reardon; Messrs. Costa, Doyle, Fairchild, Falcetti, Noone, Shuhi, and Simone; Dr. Vita; Mrs. Perusse; Dr. Breslin; Mrs. Longobucco; Mrs. MacDonald; Mr. Zaremski; the public and the press.

 

            MOTION made by Mr. Shuhi and seconded by Mr. Fairchild: to approve the minutes of the October 11, 2005 meeting as submitted.

 

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

 

                        MOTION made by Mr. Costa and seconded by Mr. Noone: to add to the agenda as V e. a discussion about adding Kathryn Kelly to 1.0 FTE with assignment teaching Latin at LHS commencing November 1, 2005.

 

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

 

Public Comment

 

            Betsey Fabbri reported on the STPC activities at the high school including the technology night and the new fundraiser that is just starting.

 

Special Presentation

School Building Committee

 

            Mr. Waugh and Mr. Healy reported on the following: presently in holding pattern; need to pay bills; bids gone out; back on Nov. 8th; meeting scheduled for the 10th; if delay, meeting changed to the 17th; neighboring project issues; Harwinton, Burlington, Watertown; similar inflationary process; good interest in bids; good volume of participants; and need to start the high school process soon. 

 

New Business

 

            Dean Birdsall, science teacher at the high school, presented a request to submit a capital grant project to the Litchfield Education Foundation for the installation of photovoltaic cells on the roof of the high school. A copy of the application was distributed.  The Litchfield Education Foundation said they were interested in reading the application and the next step is for Board approval.  There are implications regarding the timing for the construction process.  Mr. Birdsall reviewed the following: timely idea; opportunity with impending renovation; State of


Connecticut Clean Air Fund grant to pay ½ of the system; cost of energy issues; pay entirely with money generated through grants; nicely situated school; sloped roof appropriate for performance; educational opportunity to use school as a laboratory; solar intake; photovoltaic discussions; model good citizenship; alternative energy systems available; no up front costs; benefit to town; generate electricity to cut down on costs; educational and environmental reasons; bigger vision for LHS; serve to be a magnet for alternative energy; and grants to extend alternative fuels.

 

            Board members discussed the following: impressed with idea; lifespan is 30 years; little repair needed; no moving parts; interconnected with existing grid; liability involved; CL&P involvement; maintenance; snow removal; slanted and dark color; concern with new roof warrantee; and discussions with architects already.

 

                        MOTION made by Mrs. Reardon and seconded by Mr. Fairchild: to support the Superintendent’s recommendation to approve endorsing Dean Birdsall’s submission of a capital grant for the Litchfield Education Foundation.

 

                                    MOTION carried.  All votes were in the affirmative except for Mr. Shuhi who voted in the negative.  There were no abstentions.

 

                        MOTION made by Mr. Simone and seconded by Mr. Noone: to approve the payment of invoices in the amount of $92,237.68 and adjustments to line item expenditures as requested.

 

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

 

            Board members reviewed a request of a teacher, considering retirement this June after 36 years teaching in Litchfield, to extend the post retirement contractually stipulated health insurance coverage by 27 months at which time eligibility for Medicare will be attained.  Board members discussed the following: have addressed several times before; have adhered to the language consistent to the contract that governs the LEA and Board of Ed; suggest Board not do this; have contract have to adhere to; enforce contract as written; language already approved by the Board; 36 years is a long time, should consider; extends benefits 27 months sets a dangerous precedent; have denied this before; can’t afford something like this; costs have escalated; possible; current retirement severance package was negotiated.

 

            Dr. Vita reviewed the proposed cooperative (Litchfield and Region #6) school calendar for 2006-07 and 2007-08.  This would be useful for inter-district programs, professional development, transportation and other issues and is more sensible to do for two years.

 

            Board members discussed the following: building project possibly impacting opening of school; issues have been discussed but will not seem to impact; 10 new classrooms will be built first; two districts working closely; cooperative project; refine credit issue for graduates; courses, sections, potential schedules for different types of programs; need to know by January; community anxious this happens; possible discussion re: March vacation; CAPT scheduling; prefer nothing in March for educational preference; and better if vacation in April.

 

 

 

Appointment of K. Kelly – Latin Teacher LHS

 

                        MOTION made by Mr. Costa and seconded by Mrs. Reardon: to support the Superintendent’s recommendation to approve the appointment of Kathryn Kelly to a 1.0 FTE position in Latin at the high school commencing November 1, 2005.

 

            Board members discussed the following: very nice surprise; very worried about finding someone; glad certification has been attained; everything in order; input from Personnel Committee; changing in staffing allocations; recommendation and interview handled by administration; documents won’t be reviewed; working closely with Negotiations Committee.

 

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

 

Superintendent’s Report

 

            Dr. Vita reported on the following:

  • November 2nd a two-hour Leadership Team meeting will be held at Education Connection to discuss and work on the district’s long-term plan. There are 33-34 people involved.  A 5 year plan for the district will be developed and presented to a committee comprised of BOE members, staff, faculty, parents, and PTO/STPC representatives.
  • The State Department of Education is considering elimination of ERG’s. They are conducting focus groups throughout the state.  Not really sure where this will go. 

 

Administrative Reports

 

            Dr. Breslin reported on the following: opening of LHS play “Grease”; 3rd championship for the girls cross-country team coached by Bret Hawkins; and debaters journeyed to Hartford today for the state championship with B team winning 2 out of 3 rounds and A team advancing to the semifinals at the state.

 

            Mrs. Longobucco reported on the following: fire prevention day moved to this Friday; all four volunteer fire departments will participate; special community event; PTO book fair Nov. 3rd from 5 to 7 p.m. for families combined with the ice cream social; Rochelle Clementson (Center School) presented at the state art conference and was well received; technology is working on getting the infrastructure grant finished which is due tomorrow and to the state by November 4th.

 

            Mr. Zaremski reported on the following: distributed, “Ensuring That Students with Disabilities Are Educated in the Least Restrictive Environment” document to Board members; the goals and outcomes included were reviewed; and review of the PJ class action suit against the State Department of Education. 

           
Mrs. Perusse reported on the following: phasing schedules for both buildings will be mailed to Board members; addressed the concrete skim coat put down to eliminate dust flying around; floors were sealed today in the halls; addressing leaks in various roofs, windows, etc.; and Public Works input.

 

            Board members discussed the maintenance agreement including: how problems occur and reoccur; Public Works’ initiative solved the problem with water under the stage; people who started this agreement are no longer part of the government; boarded up windows at the high school; asbestos calking removal; and demolition work going where windows were.

 

Committee Reports

Curriculum and Technology Committee

 

            Mr. Costa and Mr. Shuhi reported that the technology plan will be discussed after the grant deadline and further discussions will be held re: items needed for budget.

 

Facilities Committee

 

            Mr. Noone reported that the committee is waiting for bids for the cafeteria portion of the Center School roof and the bus parking lot.

 

            Board members discussed the status of the roof choices including standard asphalt tiles and simulated slate tiles. Also, the bids need to be looked into since it has been over four weeks that a quote has been anticipated.

 

Correspondence

 

            Board members received the following:

  • A letter from Lisa Waugh re: fees charged for the play.
  • A letter from Tammy Knox re: fees charged for the play.
  • A thank you note from the 7th grade team for the reception held on October 14th.

 

Mrs. Knox presented Mr. Doyle a gift and a thank you for the many years of service on the Board. 

 

                        MOTION made by Mr. Simone and seconded by Mr. Fairchild: to adjourn the meeting at 8:15 p.m.

 

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

 

                                                                        Respectfully submitted,

                                                                        Donald Falcetti, Secretary

                                                                        Joanne Bertrand, Recording Secretary