MINUTES
REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT #10
BOARD OF EDUCATION
March 13, 2006
Members Present: Joseph Arcuri, Catherine Bergstrom, Beth Duffy,
Paul Omichinski, Elaine Schiavone, Ray Sikora, Jayne Stocker, Karen
Sullivan-Shepard, Peter Turner
Members Absent: Barbara Gilbert
Also Present: Paula Schwartz - Superintendent
Jeffrey Linton - Director of Curriculum and Instruction
David Lenihan - Business Manager
I. Call to Order - The regularly scheduled Board of Education
meeting was held at Lake Garda's library, and was called to order at
7:30 pm by Chairperson Beth Duffy.
II. Pledge of Allegiance - The Pledge was recited.
III. Communications, Resignations -
Jeffrey Linton, Director of Curriculum and Instruction has
taken a position as Barkhamsted's Superintendent. His last day will be
June 30, 2006. Lois Charlow, 7th grade Language Arts teacher submitted
retirement request. Jeanne Dowd, LSM English teacher, submitted letter
of resignation.
Superintended received letter from Richard Pacholski of
the Harwinton Historical Society concerning renaming upper portion of
HCS in honor of Mrs. Florence Smith. This item will be put on a future
meeting agenda. Received letter from District #5 Superintendent seeking
support to address the needs and long-term goals of district schools.
Superintendent spoke of an upcoming newsletter being put
together and wanted to know if Board members e-mail addresses should be
included.
Superintendent was informed that nine students taking the
CAPT test, and one who took the SAT were affected by errors made by the
respective testing companies.
The United Way of Northwestern Connecticut recognized
Har-Bur students' participation in a recent food drive. One hundred
sixty items were donated.
Taylor Publishing recognized last year's yearbook design.
Dillon Ladd, a senior at LSM, received award for that school's website.
IV. Consent Agenda - A motion to accept the meeting
minutes of February 6, and 13, Special meeting of March 7, 2006, and
financial report of February 28, 2006 was made by P. Turner and
second by R. Sikora. All in favor none opposed, abstention by J.
Arcuri. Correction to February 6th minutes include a .4 World Language
Instructor, not .2 (Page 2). Correction to February 13 Curriculum
Committee report include Leigh Pont made the presentation. Also, during
tour of the 5th grade classes, students provided feedback on their
technology needs.
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V. Public Participation - Janet Burritt of Harwinton raised
concern regarding two female students attending a conference in Detroit
with a male counselor. Cited a policy from 1985 regarding chaperones.
Superintendent stated trip may not occur due to other factors.
Laurie Natalye of Harwinton expressed thanks to the Board
for its support of the Football program in conjunction with St. Paul and
E.C. Goodwin. Several members of the football team were on hand to
extend their thanks and speak of the impact the football experience had
on them.
VI. Business -
A. Demonstration of Emergency Event Notification
System (Mutare Software). Rich Quattrocchi provided a PowerPoint
presentation, and later a demo, of the Emergency Event Notification
System. The system would allow Region 10 to issue emergency and
non-emergency broadcast messages. Examples would be sending
notification to parents in the event of early dismissal. The message
can be transmitted to everyone in a database program or to a select
group, such as reminding Board members of an upcoming meeting. The
program allows each individual in the database to be accessed by up to
five different ways, e.g., cell phone, e-mail, PDA, landline phone,
pager. When the message is received, the system sends notification of
it back to the school. Cost would be approximately $6,700 per year to
subscribe, and a one time $1,500 set up fee. This would allow unlimited
access and tech support. Another plan is available at a reduced fee.
There is no need or cost for any additional equipment. The database
would be stored at the company's facility in Chicago. The
Superintendent, or someone designed, would act as administrator of the
system, determining who would have access, and how much.
B. Review of Special Services and Curriculum
& Instruction Portion of '06-'07 Budget; Superintendent's Summary
and Recommendations. J. Linton gave a PowerPoint presentation on
Curriculum. Highlights include the need to replace 1999 and earlier
computers, the summer reading program for at risk kindergarten and 1st
grade students, the use of grants to offset costs.
L. Carabis gave a PowerPoint presentation
on the Special Education Budget. Each school has a coordinator. The
number of students serviced are: 57 disabled and 8 gifted at Lake
Garda, 57 disabled and 10 gifted at HCS, and 81 and 64 disabled at
Har-Bur and LSM respectively. Eighteen students are out-of-District
placements. There are 23.5 special ed. teachers. The '05-'06 Special
Services Budget was $2,968,454.
The proposed '06-'07 budget is $3,094,078, a 4.23% increase. Major cost items were reduced as follows:
'05-'06 '06-'06
Professional Svcs. $ 144,000 $ 105,000 -27.08%
Transportation 261,387 246,400 - 5.75%
Tuition 535,420 432,722 -19.18%
Other Accts 109,337 107,197 - 1.9%
$4,018,598 $3,985,397 -33.201
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P. Schwartz distributed a list of items
some of which will be actual line item reductions to the budget. Other
items are potential cost savers if eliminated. These include:
Potential Adjustments
Eliminate late bus - 11,800
Reduce technology - 10,000
Reduce supplies - 5,000
Reduce athletic transportation and insurance - 5,000
Eliminated gifted and talented program - 23,000
-$54,800
T. Scheidel suggested increasing the
kindergarten size to reduce the number of teachers. Also, reiterated
his suggestion from prior years of using a professional negotiator at
the next salary negotiations for certified personnel. Janet Burritt
expressed support for this as well.
Jayne Stocker did not want to see
kindergarten class sizes increased nor elimination of any of the above
listed items except for supplies.
P. Turner suggested using monies still
available from the Anthem demutualization to offset health care benefits
and the transfer of two teachers from Lake Garda to HCS to add
additional 3rd and 4th grades. P. Omichinski suggested trying to get
the budget from a 7.61% increase down to around 5.5%. Members were
asked to think about additional ways to reduce the budget and to share
those ideas at the meeting next week.
VII Action -
A. Second reading of the fingerprinting,
criminal history records and employment reference checks policy #4111.2
& #42111.2. This policy concerns the timeframe a new hire has to be
fingerprinted and undergo Federal and State background investigation. A
motion to accept the second reading was made by P. Omichinski and second by E. Schiavone. All in favor none opposed. Motion carries.
B. First reading of Assistant
Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction (to replace Director of
Curriculum). This outlines the duties and qualifications needed to
perform this job. A motion to accept the reading was made by P. Turner and second by P. Omichinski. All in favor none opposed. Motion carries.
C. First reading of Affirmation Action -
Non-Discrimination Policy #4111.1 & 4211.1. The policy affirms
Region 10's nondiscrimination in hiring, promotion, etc. A motion to accept the reading was made by P. Omichinski and second by R. Sikora. All in favor none opposed. Motion carries.
D. Authorization signature change form for ED-099 agreement for child nutrition programs. A motion
to change signer from a former Board member to K. Sullivan-Shepard was
made by E. Schiavone and second by J. Stocker. All in favor none
opposed. Motion carries.
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E. Request for teacher leave of absence. A motion
to grant a family leave of absence for Xinia Novia, 2nd grade teacher
at HCS was made by P. Omichinski and second by R. Sikora. All in favor
none opposed. Motion carries.
VIII. Board Committee Reports
A. Facilities and Grounds Committee - Meeting tomorrow at HCS.
B. CREC Committee - Will be attending the NSBA Conference.
Provided members with a list of workshops and asked that they indicate
which ones they would like her to attend and report back on.
C. Curriculum Committee - Nothing to report.
D. Transportation Committee - Nothing to report.
E. Negotiations Committee - Nothing to report.
F. Technology Committee - Will need to prepare a 3-year plan on technology required by the State.
G. Building Committee - Meeting next week. Was asked by
Board members as to when a tour could be arranged. Will wait for better
weather. Anyone interested in touring the site before then, can see
Dave Fortin.
H. Communications Committee - Nothing to report.
A motion to go into Executive Session at 11:05 was made by R. Sikora and seconded by P. Turner.
A motion to come out of Executive Session was made by P. Turner, seconded by J. Stocker. All in favor.
.
Final review of the budget will held on Monday, March 20, 2006 at
the learning center of Har-Bur Middle School. The District Budget
Hearing will be held Monday, April 3, 2006 at 7:30pm at LSM cafeteria.
The next regularly scheduled Board of Education meeting will be held on April 10, 2006 at Harwinton Consolidated.
A motion to adjourn at 11:20 p.m. was made by R Sikora, seconded by P Turner. All in favor. Meeting adjourned.
______________________________________________
Karen Sullivan-Shepard, Secretary