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Tuesday, March 16, 2010
REGION 9 BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING
JOEL BARLOW HIGH SCHOOL – ROOM B109
MARCH 16, 2010 – 7:00 P.M.
(Times listed below are approximate)
AGENDA
7:00 – 7:25 P.M.
1. Call to Order
2. Approval of Minutes
3. Student Comment
4. Public Comment
5. Board Member Comment
7:25 – 7:30 P.M. – New Business - Discussion and Possible Action:
6. Recommendations of the Superintendent of Schools Concerning the Institution of
Teacher Nonrenewals Pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes Section 10-151
7:30 – 8:45 P.M. – Old Business – Discussion and Possible Action:
7. 2010-2011 Proposed Operating Budget
8:45 – 8:55 P.M.
8. Administrative Reports
8:55 – 9:10 P.M.
9. Committee Reports – Discussion and Possible Action:
a. Facilities and Fields
b. Communications
c. Financial Oversight
d. Others
9:10 – 9:15 P.M.
10. Public Comment
9:15 – 9:30 P.M. – Executive Session - Discussion and Possible Action:
11. Special Education Tuitions
12. Performance of Municipal Employee: Cindy Daly-Boas
9:30 – 9:35 P.M.
13. Return to Regular Session for Possible Action on Item(s) Discussed in Executive Session
9:35 P.M.
14. Adjournment
Public Comment at the meeting provides an opportunity for Redding and Easton residents to make comments to the board about items listed on the agenda or about an unrelated issue or concern. Residents are asked to give their name and address at the beginning of their comments and to limit their comments to three minutes. The board chair, with the assistance of the secretary, will record all comments and questions posed by the public and direct them to the appropriate committee chair or administrator to address during his/her report. The goal of Public Comment is to encourage public communication with the board and to provide accurate, timely information to the public pertaining to Region 9 matters.
Filed subject to approval
REGION 9 BOARD OF EDUCATION
March 16, 2010
Meeting Minutes
Attendance: Baker, Gombos, Hocker, Karvelis, Lewis, Logie, Macchio, Neidenbach
Administration: Cicchetti, Mas, Sullivan, McMorran, Kipp, Pin and other members of the staff
Student Representative: Murphy
Others: eight in the audience and a representative of the Redding Pilot/Easton Courier
Mr. Lewis called the meeting to order at 7:15 pm in Room B109.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Motion: move to approve the minutes of the January 19, 2010 meeting as submitted. Gombos, Karvelis. Approved. Unanimous.
Motion: move to approve the minutes of the Joint Meeting of the boards on January 26, 2010 as submitted. Gombos, Neidenbach. Approved. (7-0-1) 6.89-0-1.11. Mr. Macchio abstained.
Motion: move to approve the minutes of the March 8, 2010 meeting as submitted. Gombos, Karvelis. Approved. Unanimous.
STUDENT REPORT
Student Representative, Hailey Murphy, recapped student activities. Regarding the proposed budget, she stated that she and many students are supportive of the Jewelry course, specifically as an opportunity to be creative. She added that students are aware that class sizes have increased and they also take note of the condition of the textbooks. Student Council has proposed a panel discussion; open to the public, with a student discussion of education and life at Joel Barlow High School. Mr. Lewis suggested this type of forum could be coordinated with the PTSA, adding that it would be good to get members of the community who have not been in the school to attend something like that.
RECOGNITION
Dr. Cicchetti stated that March is “board member appreciation” month. As a treat, each board member was given a candy bar. Two students, Hailey Murphy and Max Schwear, read letters written by themselves and six other students recognizing each board member for their service on the board of education.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Mike D’Agostino, Redding: asked that meeting handouts be provided to the members of the public at the beginning of the meeting so they could be more informed; commented he hopes the budget number is not driven solely by the increase in Easton enrollment; he advocated for retaining the literacy position; and he asked that the board be transparent in what or how they plan to use the $83,000 in savings from the debt refinancing.
Deidre Price, Easton: asked that the board make no further reductions and maintain the quality of education.
Karen Breda, Easton: asked the board to decide on a budget that is the best for the students.
RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS CONCERNING THE INSTITUTION OF TEACHER NONRENEWALS PURSUANT TO CONNECTICUT GENERAL STATUTES SECTION 10-151
Motion: Move that, pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes Section 10-151, the Region 9 Board of Education nonrenew the teacher contract of Torri Park – long-term substitute for Ashley Erickson (English) and Kathryn West – long-term substitute for Carolyn Huminski (English) at the end of the 2009-2010 school year as recommended by the Superintendent. I further move that the Superintendent be directed to communicate this action of the Board in writing to Torri Park – long-term substitute for Ashley Erickson (English) and Kathryn West – long-term substitute for Carolyn Huminski (English) and that the Superintendent of Schools be authorized to respond on behalf of the Board to any requests for a hearing, if required by law, or for other data which may be forthcoming from the teacher and/or his/her representative pursuant to applicable provisions of Connecticut General Statutes § 10-151; and that the Superintendent be directed that any response to a request for a hearing, if a hearing is required by law, indicate that such hearing is to be before the Board of Education. Gombos, Baker. Approved. Unanimous.
2010-2011 PROPOSED OPERATING BUDGET
Mr. McMorran presented a revised list of reductions taking the budget from the previously discussed 4.01% increase down to 2.749%. He stated that these are not recommendations, but they show a way to get to the budget increase number requested by board members. Discussion of the reductions and the options followed. Mr. McMorran stated that the reading/literacy position could be eliminated for one-year, bringing it back next year, and the services of a reading/literacy consultant could be used. Withholding the transfer of $20,000 to the capital account was discussed. Foregoing the publication of the JBHS Program of Studies next year would save an additional $7,200. Mr. McMorran pointed out that this publication has won many awards and Paula Panos explained that the 2010-2011 JBHS Program of Studies would be made available online. Printed copies would be available for review in the Guidance office and Career Center. Discussion regarding Special Education ECS centered on budgeting for a 60% vs. 65% reimbursement rate, and the risks involved. A 5% increase in the Special Education ECS (Education Cost Sharing) state reimbursement rate would translate into a $30,000 savings in the budget. The use of the $83,000 in savings from the debt refinancing was also discussed, but no action was taken at this time. Following discussion each board member expressed their views on the proposed budget. There seemed to be consensus on a budget increase of 2.76%. This represents an increase of 4.63% for the Town of Easton and an increase of 1.12% for the Town of Redding over the current fiscal budget.
AGENDA ADDITION
Motion: move to add an item to the agenda, Public Comment. Macchio, Gombos. Approved. Unanimous.
PUBLIC COMMENT
None
Following the Public Comment, the operating budget for 2010-2011 was put to a vote.
Motion: move that the Region 9 Board of Education accept a budget as discussed for fiscal 2010-2011 of $21,212,212, representing an increase of 2.76% over the current fiscal year budget. Lewis. Hocker. Approved. Unanimous.
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS
Director Of Finance & Operations: Mrs. Sullivan reported and distributed the Health Insurance Claim Report. The claims for February were below the average for the year.
Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction: Mrs. Mas reported the Tri-State Consortium Visitation report will be presented at the April board meeting. A consortium of DRG-A school district representatives has met to plan professional development for the new CSDE Teacher Education and Mentoring Program (Team), replacing the BEST program. The district’s TEAM Coordinator Committee (TCC) for Barlow is Gina Pin. The ER9 Wellness Advisory Committee met in February for a presentation of the Developmental Assets Program given by Gina Pin. The Towns of Easton and Redding, through the Easton-Redding Community Coalition would like to administer the survey to high school and possibly middle school students in the fall of 2010. Before the survey is given it will be made available to parents, the survey responses would be anonymous and the results would be shared with the communities. The annual ER9 Recruitment Fair held in March was attended by 101 candidates. Mrs. Mas added that a meeting was held via conference call with Dr. Judith Bender, Roger Howe and Madge Goldman to discuss the Singapore Mathematical Curriculum. Dr. Goldman shared the executive summary report titled The Effect of Singapore Mathematics on Student Proficiency in a Massachusetts School District: a Longitudinal Statistical Examination.
Principal: Mr. McMorran thanked the leadership team for their work on the budget. He presented a short video prepared by the AV Lab and Joel Barlow Players in response to a challenge from Mr. McMorran to produce a video that would help 8th graders prepare for their entrance into Joel Barlow High School. Mrs. Kipp provided a report on the preparation for and participation in the CAPT Testing. She stated that this year’s schedule worked extremely well for everyone. Student attitude toward the CAPT was very positive. 102 out of 120 juniors eligible to retake the CAPT did so.
Mr. Lewis asked the administration to inform the board of the number of seniors at risk for not graduating this spring in a timely fashion.
Superintendent: Dr. Cicchetti distributed a copy of an article that appeared in the NY Times entitled “Building a Better Teacher.” Dr. Cicchetti met with the PTA Council (representatives of the PTA groups in the five schools) and he commented on the high level of commitment of the parent groups to the schools. In addition, he recognized the Easton Learning Foundation and the Redding Education Foundation for their efforts to assist the schools. Dr. Cicchetti recognized John Crowley for his work representing CES on the Connecticut State Department of Technology Committee.
COMMUNICATION COMMITTEE
Mr. Karvelis reported he and Dr. Baker met with Dr. Cicchetti to discuss the committee charge and will have a report for the April meeting.
FINANCIAL OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE
Mr. Hocker reported the committee’s discussion centered on the budget preparation. The Committee is reviewing the long-term tasks for the committee and plan to review the debt plan.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Jeannie Wendschuh, Redding: Mrs. Wendschuh thanked the board members, administrators and leadership team for their efforts in crafting a responsible budget for the students and taxpayers.
AGENDA ADDITION
Motion: move to add to the agenda a discussion of pending litigation, Special Education, in executive session. Karvelis, Neidenbach. Approved. Unanimous.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Motion: move to recess to executive session for a discussion of 1) Special Education Tuitions, 2) Pending Litigation, Special Education, 3) Performance of Municipal Employee, Cindy Daly-Boas. Gombos, Baker. Approved. Unanimous.
Dr. Cicchetti, Mrs. Mas, Mrs. Sullivan, Ms. Roszko, Mrs. Pin and Mr. McMorran were invited to be present.
The meeting recessed at 9:52 pm
Patti Roszko leaves Executive Session at 10:16 pm.
RECONVENE
The Chair reconvened the meeting in public session at 10:27 pm
ACTION
Motion: move to authorize the administration to settle the pending Special Education litigation as discussed in Executive Session. Lewis. Macchio. Approved. Unanimous.
Motion: move to accept the request by the union representing municipal employee Cindy Daly-Boas to accept 45 days of other union employees unused sick leave days to cover Cindy Daly-Boas for an additional 45 days of sick leave through the end of this school year (2009-2010). Gombos. Karvelis. Approved. Unanimous.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion: move to adjourn the meeting. Gombos, Hocker. Approved. Unanimous.
The meeting adjourned at 10:30 PM
Respectfully submitted,
William A. Baker, Region 9 Board of Education Secretary
Recorded by Mary Maday
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