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MINUTES
REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT #10
BOARD OF EDUCATION
November 13, 2006
Members Present: Joseph Arcuri, Catherine Bergstrom, Beth
Duffy, Barbara Gilbert, Paul Omichinski, Elaine Schiavone, Ray Sikora,
Jayne Stocker, Karen Sullivan-Shepard, Peter Turner
Also Present: Paula Schwartz - Superintendent
David Lenihan - Business Manager
I. Call to Order - The regularly scheduled Board of
Education meeting was held at Harwinton Consolidated School, and was
called to order at 7:35 pm by Chairperson Beth Duffy.
II. Pledge of Allegiance - The Pledge was recited.
Introduction of new teachers and newly tenured instructors were made by each school principal.
A motion to add another action item (VII., G.
Discuss Ratification of Teaching Assistants’ Contract) was made by P.
Turner and seconded by P. Omichinski. All in favor none opposed.
Motion carries.
III. Communications, Resignations –
Superintendent read resignation letter from Kent Hurlburt, Assistant Principal at Har-Bur.
Superintendent received letter of thanks from Jean
Chiron for senior reception. Also received letter from Jeff McDonald
concerning why drivers of the 3 school-owned buses were allowed to take
the vehicles home. P. Schwartz indicated that the school district had
researched the matter and concluded that based on security (two vehicles
did not lock), scheduling flexibility (drivers able to maximize student
pickups), convenience (drivers clean and routinely maintain vehicles,
heat the vehicles with their own electricity, etc), there was no need to
change the arrangement. There was no negative impact on insurance
rates with this arrangement either. P. Schwartz indicated we also had
looked into the possibility of housing the vehicles at Burlington Town
Hall, but that would mean parking them outdoors in an unsecured area,
the town would charge for electrical use and this would require
additional overtime by drivers to prepare and clean busses at offsite
lot. The Board was satisfied with the current arrangement.
IV. Consent Agenda - A motion to accept the meeting
minutes of October 16, special BOE meeting of October 23, Public
Relations Committee Meeting of October 30, and Financial Report of
October 31, 2006 was made by P. Omichinski and seconded by P. Turner.
All in favor none opposed, with abstention by J. Arcuri and B. Gilbert.
No corrections or additions.
V. Public Participation – Chairperson stated it was the
Board’s desire to begin this portion of each meeting with public
recognition of outstanding achievement by students and/or staff. First
and second place winners of the Connecticut Bus Safety poster contest
were introduced – Kelsey Perkins and Nicole Stark, both 6th
graders. Their entries will be available for viewing on the District’s
website shortly. Also receiving recognition was Rachel Cutler, LSM
student, for participating in a juried competition last year at the
Museum of Modern Art. Entry earned an Honorable Mention.
Chairperson reiterated that complaints or concerns should also
include suggestions for solutions. Stated that rather than have the
Board try to resolve a problem brought forth during a meeting, it would
be turned over to an administrator for further research and information
gathering, and who would report back their findings and possible
resolution at a future meeting. Chairperson will keep public up-to-date
on status of items being worked on. As always, public can ask
questions or offer comments during any portion of Board meetings.
Ed Gasser of Burlington brought up two issues. One concerned
whether the District had addressed or had any procedure to address
teachers or administrators leaving for other positions prior to the end
of their contract or the end of the school year. P. Schwartz to look
into this item. The second concerned whether there was a forum for
parents to discuss curriculum issues. M. Landry to look into this item.
VI. Business -
A. Student representatives to the BOE
were introduced. They are Jacqueline Evans, a junior, and seniors
Everett Doninger and Alex Murphy (received tied votes). Main reason for
seeking the position was to provide information back to the student
body.
B. Pam Lazaroski presented a report on
the Class of 2006. Highlights include a rebound in math scores this
year over last, but a drop in AP English exam which may have been due to
proctor not informing students of the halfway mark. More college-bound
students are choosing to attend colleges and universities closer to
home.
C. Strategic School Profiles. P.
Schwartz stated this report has been generated by the State for
approximately 15 years. It shows statistical data comparisons between
the District’s schools, other comparable schools, and the State as a
whole. District highlights include many juniors and seniors work more
than 16 hours a week, there is an increase in non-English speaking
families, 85% of teachers have Master’s Degrees and above, physical
fitness is above State average, but always room for improvement, and
cost per student is still less than what the State and comparable
communities spend.
Superintendent distributed Special Ed.
Report to Board members, which will be presented and discussed at the
next meeting.
D. The Board of Selectmen and Finance from Harwinton and
Burlington were invited to speak on issues and projects in their
respective towns. Frank Chairamonti of Harwinton discussed the town’s
desire to obtain more open space, $2M earmarked for adding more playing
fields, and $700K to build an ambulance garage. Although final audit
has not been completed, he anticipates a $2M surplus. F. Chairamonti
also expressed concern with teacher and
administration negotiations particularly with regard to medical
costs and premiums. Stated, he would be comfortable with a 3 to 3.5%
education budget increase over last year.
Ted Scheidel spoke of Burlington’s
continuing and future projects. These include bringing the water line
to the center of town, finishing the last phase of the Lake Garda sewer
project, negotiating new recycling and garbage pickup contracts, road
repair and reconstruction. There were 33 new housing starts last year
as compared to 20 this year. Seventy-five lots are
about to be approved. There is a need for a new fire truck and
re-evaluation of property at a cost of approximately $100 - $125K.
Some of the town goals are to provide tax relief to elderly and some
type of exemption (perhaps $10K) for veterans which would be applied
toward assessment.
E. Fifth Grade Transition Report – Ken
Platz, Har-Bur Principal, discussed the transition plans for the current
4th grade class moving to the new, self-contained 5th grade wing of the Har-Bur complex in the Fall of ’07. K. Platz discussed curriculum changes, such as all 5th
graders taking math at the same time of day, increasing Physical
Education time and World Language, and program additions and
enhancements such as access to music, art, and technology that are not
available at the elementary level.
F. Report on Adequate Yearly Progress on
No Child Left Behind. P. Schwartz presented the District’s progress in
following the NCLB mandate. By 2013, 100% of students in all schools
in the U.S. must meet the Federal Guideline of proficiency in all
courses. Currently, grades 3 through 8 and 10th are tested
to see if they are meeting the Federal standards. Board members
discussed some of the implications of not meeting these goals in the
future, such as schools opting out, which would curtail or end federal
funding, and being placed on a list of inadequate schools, etc.
VII Action -
A. A motion to accept the 2nd
Reading of Organizations/Associations/Clubs Policy #6145.5, et al, was
made by P. Omichinski and seconded by R. Sikora. All in favor none
opposed. An important area governed by the new policy is in regard to
Booster Clubs. Before, there was no control or oversight of their
activities. Now, they are the province of the Athletic Director.
B. A motion to accept the 2nd
reading of the Naming of Buildings, Fields, or Specific Facilities
Policy #1600 was made by K. Sullivan-Shepard and seconded by P. Turner.
After some discussion, it was decided to remove the following sentence.
“No facility shall be named after an individual who has been alive
during the immediate past five years.” A motion to approve the
policy, as amended, was made by K. Sullivan-Shepard and seconded by P.
Turner. All in favor; E. Schiavone opposed. Motion carries.
C. A motion to accept the 1st
Reading of Revised Administrative Policy for Reporting of Suspected
Child Abuse/Neglect Policy #4118.25A was made by P. Turner and seconded
by P. Omichinski. All in favor none opposed.
E. Schiavone felt the policy needed to
state that police would be notified or a report submitted to them. P.
Turner suggested that the District’s counsel be consulted on this item.
It was also suggested that the Superintendent be included in the list
of “mandatory reporters,” such as
school nurses, teachers, other
administrators, etc., who can report suspected abuse/neglect to the
Department of Children and Families.
D. Review of Code of Ethics #9271. It
was decided the code was appropriate, and no action needed to be taken.
E. Discussion and Possible Action on Business Manager’s Contract.
F. Discussion and Possible Action on Superintendent’s Contract.
G. Discussion of Ratification of Teaching Assistants’ Contract.
The above Action Items are to follow the Board Committee Reports.
VIII. Board Committee Reports
A. Facilities and Grounds Committee – Meeting on November 28, 2006.
B. CREC Committee – Relayed information obtained from CREC
meetings such as the Federal Government decrease in education funding.
C. Curriculum Committee – Meeting scheduled for November 29, 2006.
D. Negotiations Committee – Will adjourn to Executive Session.
E. Technology Committee - J. Arcuri discussed changes
to the website including consistency in appearance, making it easier for
staff to update, more interactive, etc. CREC will be performing a tech
audit, and the results will be presented at the December Board Meeting.
G. Building Committee – Met last week. Project is
about six weeks behind schedule. P. Schwartz working with KBA and O
& G to get critical areas completed.
H. PR Committee – Meeting scheduled for
the last Monday of each month. Next meeting is scheduled for November
27, at 7:15 pm. Members will be mailing out survey early part of next
year. Survey will also be included with the January newsletter. Will
be generating press releases to local newspapers and including
information in the school newsletters. Have generated a list of
clubs/groups in Burlington and Harwinton and would like Board members to
volunteer to visit and speak to those groups. Requested Board Members
make a commitment next month.
A motion to go into Executive Session to discuss Action
Items E., F., and G, was made by K. Sullivan-Shepard and seconded by E.
Schiavone. Regular meeting ended at 10:25 pm.
A motion was made to approve the Agreement Between
Regional School District No. 10 and CSEA. Local 760, SEIU, AFL-CIO for
the Period July 1, 2006 through June 30, 2009 was made by P. Turner,
seconded by J. Stocker. All were in favor.
A motion was made by K. Sullivan-Shepard, seconded by E.
Schiavone, to give the Superintendent a new three-year contract
effective September 1, 2006.
The next regularly scheduled Board of Education meeting will be
held on December 11, 2006 at 7:30 pm at the Learning Center of Har-Bur
Middle School.
A motion was made by R. Sikora, seconded by B. Gilbert, to adjourn at 10:25 pm. All were in favor.
Karen Sullivan-Shepard, Secretary
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