Board of Education Regular Meeting November 14, 2006, 7:00 PM Library/Media Center at Middletown High School, 370 Hunting Hill Avenue

Transcription

1 Board of Education Regular Meeting November 14, 2006, 7:00 PM Library/Media Center at Middletown High School, 370 Hunting Hill Avenue I. CALL TO ORDER Board Members Present: Sally Boske, Bill Boyd, Sheila Daniels, Corinne Gill, Jay Keiser, John Phillips, Ted Raczka, Judy Russo, and Barbara Weiss. Others Present: Superintendent of Schools Michael Frechette, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum/Instruction John Hennelly, Assistant Superintendent for Administration Barbara Senges, Director of Facilities Ken Jackson, Manager of Transportation Mike Milardo, Middletown High School Principal Robert Fontaine, WWMS Principal Gene Nocera, Keigwin Principal Tracey Koff, Board Extern Regina Salafia, Student Representative Anthony Pandolfe, Assistant to the Superintendent/Board Secretary Marcy Poppel, MFT Representative Ann Lohrand, Middletown Press Reporter Joseph Wenzel, and twenty five (25) visitors. Chair Boske called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM. II. SALUTE TO THE FLAG Chair Boske recognized Principal Loretta Rubin and the staff and teachers at Farm Hill School for receiving the Vanguard Award. MOTION: Approval for a short recess passed with a motion made by Ms. Weiss and seconded by Ms. Daniels unanimous vote. Chair Boske reconvened the meeting at 7:09 PM. Chair Boske stated that due to processing of the necessary paperwork, there is a delay in receiving the video equipment from the City. The Board meeting will not be taped this evening. In consideration of school staff, Chair Boske said the agenda was configured with the New Course Proposal action items after Communications. Chair Boske added that the majority of the Policy action items are first readings and moved to the Consent Agenda. A discussion was held regarding the Board voting on the Agenda. Chair Boske responded that the Policy Committee is looking into this for future Board meetings. Requests were made to move Agenda Item VIII.B. Policy # Health Examinations to the Consent Agenda and remove Agenda Item VI.C. Policy #4111 Recruitment and Selection from the Consent Agenda. III. PUBLIC SESSION Chair Boske explained the rules of Public Session. Mark Fong, Keigwin teacher, spoke regarding expanding the physical education program at Keigwin. Mark Barreuther, parent, spoke in support of expanding the physical education program at Keigwin. Susan Glass, parent, spoke regarding the foreign language program. Deb Petruzzello, WWMS teacher, spoke in support of the physical education program at Keigwin. IV. COMMUNICATIONS Chair Boske reported the Middletown Public Schools has received two Honorable Mention awards from the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education for our Board of Education Approved Budget and the Moody School Indoor Air Quality website.

2 Page: 2 V. ACTION ITEM: NEW COURSE PROPOSALS Their was a lengthy discussion on the new course proposals relative to class size impact, scheduling, course consolidation, space, anticipated enrollment, evaluation mechanism, prerequisites, student need, course overlap, and adding courses and increased costs during a tight budget period. MOTION: Approval to vote on all five new course proposals in one motion, passed with a motion by Mr. Boyd and a second by Mr. Phillips passed unanimous vote. A question was raised to clarify the impact of the motion. Mr. Fontaine said the Board is giving permission to offer these courses. MOTION: Approval of New Course Proposals: AP English Language & Composition (full-year), Senior Reading & Writing Seminar (one semester), Spanish for Heritage Learners (fullyear), Trigonometry, and Un Collage de Francais (full-year), passed with a motion by Mr. Boyd and a second by Mr. Phillips passed unanimous vote. V.A. AP English Language & Composition (full-year) V.B. Senior Reading & Writing Seminar (one semester) V.C. Spanish for Heritage Learners (full-year) V.D. Trigonometry V.E. Un Collage de Francais (full-year) VI. CONSENT AGENDA MOTION: Approval of the Consent Agenda with the removal of Agenda Item VI.C. Policy #4111 Recruitment and Selection and the addition of Agenda Item VIII.B. Policy # Health Examinations passed with a motion by Mr. Phillips and a second by Mr. Boyd unanimous vote. VI.A. Minutes of October 10, 2006 Regular Meeting VI.B. Personnel Action VI.D. Policy # Backup Copies of Copywrited Computer Software (revision) - Second Reading VI.E. Policy # Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) (readoption) - Second Reading VI.F. Policy #6165 Student Production of Services and Materials (revision) - Second Reading VI.G. Policy # Home Schooling/Equivalent Education Under Parent Direction (revision) - Second Reading VIII.B. Policy # Health Examinations (readoption) - Second Reading VII. COMMITTEES VII.A. Budget Committee VII.B. Policy Committee

3 Page: 3 VII.C. Communications Committee Ms. Gill noted that the newspaper incorrectly published the channel for the Comcast Spotlight on Education Show on Wednesday, November 15, It will be on Channel 15. The next Communications Committee meeting will be Thursday, November 16, 2006 at 10:30 AM. VII.D. Recognition/Relationships Committee Chair Boske thanked the Committee for coordinating the reception honoring Farm Hill this evening. Ms. Daniels reported that the committee met that morning. She noted that Ann Lohrand was invited to provide input on recognition. VIII. ACTION ITEMS VIII.A. Policy #3560 Capital Outlay (new) - First Reading There was a discussion regarding the need and intent of this policy which came out of the Budget Committee. Mr. Phillips said this policy could save money for future Boards of Education on facilities and maintenance. MOTION: Approval of the first reading of Policy #3560 Capital Outlay passed with a motion by Mr. Phillips and a second by Mr. Boyd unanimous vote. VIII.C. Policy #6115 Ceremonies and Observances (revised) - First Reading There was a discussion on this policy. MOTION: Approval to send Policy #6115 Ceremonies and Observances back to Policy Committee passed with a motion by Ms. Gill and a second by Mr. Raczka with six (6) in favor Ms. Daniels, Ms. Gill, Mr. Phillips, Mr. Raczka, Ms. Russo, and Ms. Weiss and two (2) opposed Mr. Boyd and Mr. Keiser. VIII.D. Policy # Live Animals in the Classroom (revised) - First Reading There was a brief discussion regarding this policy. MOTION: Approval of the first reading of Policy # Live Animals in the Classroom passed with a motion by Ms. Weiss and a second by Mr. Boyd unanimous vote. VIII.E. Policy # Pilot Programs (revised) - First Reading In response to a question regarding pilot programs, Ms. Weiss stated that Board members do receive reports on pilot programs. MOTION: Approval of the first reading of Policy # Pilot Programs passed with a motion by Ms. Weiss and a second by Mr. Phillips unanimous vote. VIII.F. Bylaw #9323 Construction of the Agenda - First Reading There was a lengthy discussion on Bylaw #9323 regarding agenda adoption, agenda amendment, and the criteria for agenda items. MOTION: Approval for call of the question passed with a motion by Mr. Boyd and a second by Ms. Weiss passed with seven (7) in favor Mr. Boyd, Ms. Daniels, Ms. Gill, Mr. Phillips, Mr. Raczka, Ms. Russo, and Ms. Weiss and one (1) opposed Mr. Keiser. MOTION: Approval of the first reading of Bylaw #9323 Construction of the Agenda, passed with a motion by Mr. Boyd and a second by Ms. Weiss with five (5) in favor Ms. Boske, Mr. Boyd, Mr. Keiser, Mr. Raczka, and Ms. Russo and four (4) opposed Ms. Daniels, Ms. Gill, Mr. Phillips, and Ms. Weiss.

4 Page: 4 VIII.G. Line Item Transfer Mr. Jackson explained this is the line item transfer for accounting purposes for the Nxegen lighting retrofit project at Middletown High School. MOTION: Approval for a line item transfer from the Electricity Line Item ( ) to the newly established Nxegen Energy Conservation Program Line Item ( ) in the amount of $34,342.00, passed with a motion by Ms. Russo and a second by Ms. Gill unanimous vote. VI.C. Policy #4111 Recruitment and Selection (revised) - Second Reading There was a discussion regarding this policy and the specificity of the language. MOTION: Approval of the second reading (final adoption) of Policy #4111 Recruitment and Selection passed with a motion by Ms. Gill and a second by Mr. Boyd unanimous vote. IX. REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT IX.A. Financial Statement IX.B. Enrollment Projection Report Dr. Frechette summarized the analysis of the data and indicated it is very similar to last year s report. The numbers are generated by State Department of Education. Dr. Frechette added that the entire Enrollment Projection Report will be included in the new Budget book. IX.C. Building Instruction Team (BIT) Summary Dr. Frechette provided an update and said he is visiting the schools sharing his vision with the staff and faculty. All schools are moving forward and we are developing a clear and concise plan for consistency and shared accountability. Dr. Frechette will be providing another update early next year. IX.D. Board Extern Chair Boske thanked Ms. Salafia for serving as Board Extern. The name of Mrs. Franca Biales was drawn as the next Board Extern. IX.E. Strategic School Profiles There was a discussion regarding Strategic School Profiles. IX.F. Building Project: Middletown High School At a Building Committee meeting there was a discussion with regard to the new MHS being used as an emergency area of assembly. Should that decision come about, any costs incurred would be to the City of Middletown, not the Board of Education. Chair Boske asked if this would delay the construction process and Mr. Phillips responded that the Building Committee is moving forward and will not be affected by the decision. IX.G. Building Project: Moody School Roof Mr. Jackson said the actual roof replacement is completed. The Building Committee will have one or two additional meetings before the project is closed out.

5 Page: 5 IX.H. Transportation Report Mr. Milardo responded to Board member questions. A question was asked with regard to privatizing transportation outside of Dattco. Mr. Milardo will bring this back to the Board. X. DISCUSSION ITEMS A lengthy ensured around the Park and Recreation Department s Boat House used by the Middletown Crew Team. Mr. Keiser recommended that Dr. Frechette speak at the meeting tomorrow evening at the Park and Recreation Commission and individuals who attend speak on their own behalf. XI. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Vote to adjourn at 10:00 PM passed with a motion by Mr. Raczka and a second by Mr. Boyd unanimous vote. Respectfully Submitted, BMW/mkp Barbara M. Weiss Secretary