REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 16 Board of Education Meeting March 12, 2014 BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Weighted Vote Per Member Beacon Falls Priscilla Cretella (arrived 7:09 p.m.).7 Sheryl Feducia.7 Wendy Oliveira.7 Prospect Donna Cullen (arrived 7:07 p.m.) 1.3 Robert Hiscox 1.3 Nazih Noujaim 1.3 Roxann Vaillancourt 1.3 STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT: Tim James, Superintendent Pamela Mangini, Dir. of Finance and Business Operations Barbara Peck, Curriculum Director Lynn Cox, Director of Pupil Personnel Kurt Ogren, Principal Woodland Regional High School Jayne Lanphear, Principal Long River Middle School Steve Jerram, LRMS Teacher/ President of Teachers Union Loren Luddy, WRHS Foreign Lang. Teacher/Dept. Chair I. CALL TO ORDER The budget workshop portion of the meeting was called to order by Sheryl Feducia at 7:03 p.m. in the Media Center at Woodland Regional High School, Beacon Falls, CT. II. III. IV. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG MISSION STATEMENT RECORD OF MEMBERS PRESENT Roll call was taken by the Board clerk, and a quorum was present. BUDGET DISCUSSION Ms. Pam Mangini addressed a previous question on the Regional Control Budget re the mandatory survey for NEASC. She commented on over-expenditure at Long River regarding asbestos monitoring, kitchen floor repair and door lock repairs. Donna Cullen arrived at 7:07 p.m. Dr. Cox presented a document entitled 14/15 Tuition Estimates. She explained that two students will be graduating this year and detailed other placements and recommendations along with the cost figures corresponding to each.
Priscilla Cretella arrived at 7:09 p.m. Mr. Hiscox said he was concerned about the budgeting of transportation for the special education students and sees two busses take the same route; one being for special education students. Ms. Mangini and Dr. Cox assured Mr. Hiscox that they are continuously reviewing special education transportation costs and looking for ways to minimize those costs. Dr. Cox and Ms. Mangini then reviewed the Special Education budget. It was noted that the primary increases in the overall Special Education budget are in the areas of transportation and professional services. The contractual bus increase results in the higher transportation costs, and the need for additional services has increased the professional service line item. In addition, it was noted that there is a new appropriation for Professional Services under the Health function, which is an adjustment in the accounting code. Ms. Mangini clarified that this is not a new cost, but rather a change in where the cost is being expensed. Ms. Mangini reviewed insurance costs for the 2014-2015 budget. She shared the CIRMA letter reflecting the three-year agreement and the corresponding increase for the new budget year. She also shared some information concerning the recent Request for Proposal that was done for health insurance. She indicated that, as a result of the health insurance bid/personnel adjustments, the 2014-2015 budget could be reduced by $335,000. She distributed the updated scorecard which, if the proposed adjustments are accepted by the Board, will reflect an increase of 3.37%. Mr. Noujaim asked if they could look into an audit for health insurance dependent coverage. Ms. Mangini also noted the debt schedule for 2014-2015, highlighting that there will be two new interest payments due as a result of the recent $8,000,000 bond. Ms. Mangini stated that was the end of the budget discussion for tonight. Chair Donna Cullen said they would break for a recess at 7:41 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. The regular business of tonight s Board of Education meeting was called to order by Chair Cullen at 8:02 p.m. V. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Minutes of February 26, 2014, Board of Education Meeting (Ex. 1) approve the minutes of February 26, 2014, Board of Education Meeting (Ex. I). ALL IN FAVOR (weighted vote totals 6.0), except Mr. Noujaim who abstained. 14-070 Minutes of February 27, 2014, Special Board of Education Meeting (Ex. II) approve the minutes of February 27, 2014, Special Board of Education Meeting (Ex. II). ALL IN FAVOR (weighted vote totals 6.0), except Mr. Noujaim who abstained. 14-071
VI. VII. TOWN OFFICIAL COMMENT PUBLIC COMMENT Ed Groth of Beacon Falls asked if the budget is going to referendum. Superintendent James responded that it hasn t been decided yet. He asked if there are draft copies of the budget available on the website; Ms. Mangini said she would make sure it was up tomorrow. Mr. Groth also asked if he could use the Board s email list when corresponding with parents as a concerned parent. Superintendent James said, No, it falls under student safety. Mr. Groth said it was biased that the Board can correspond to the parents and a non-board member cannot. Superintendent James suggested writing an editorial to the newspaper. Joe Pavlik of Beacon Falls said he is pro-education, teachers, low student-teacher ratio, and values education. He is issuing a challenge to the Board that the budget be handled similar to a big company as if it were a CEO or CFO with the dollars going into your own pocket. He is concerned that the non-certified personnel could be outsourced based on lower enrollment. He suggested software programs taking over for some personnel. VIII. CORRESPONDENCE Superintendent James said there is one piece of correspondence in the Board packet. IX. TREASURER S REPORT Ms. Feducia reported as follows: Balance in General Fund as of 3/12/14: $4,812,426.17 Tonight s invoices total: $1,522,308.80 General Fund: 520,998.19 Federal and State Grants: 6,319.99 Adult Ed, Other Grants, Athletic Fund: 3,856.56 School Construction Payments: 991,134.06 Balance of PK-5 Elementary School Project: $10,818,085.24 X. STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE S REPORT (Mary Buckley, Donovan White) Ms. Buckley distributed the Student Council report and read it to the Board. The Quizbowl team placed well this past weekend in the State Quizbowl Tournament. Senior Jeffrey Lauck ran the tournament. On Saturday, Woodland Worldwide is hosting Escape Alive - a self- defense seminar for students and their mothers. Student Government is hosting Class Olympics for: volleyball, ultimate Frisbee, trench, and academic decathlon. They are also holding a Build-a-Birdhouse event where birdhouses will be auctioned off and proceeds donated to charity. XI. XII. EXEMPLARY PEOPLE AND PROGRAMS REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT A. Superintendent s Update 1. Rachel s Challenge (Trish Spofford). Superintendent James introduced Trish Spofford from 2COM (Two Communities,
One Mission) to present a summary of an initiative called Rachel s Challenge. She said Rachel s Challenge was borne from the 1999 tragedy at Columbine High School and the writings of Rachel Scott, the first student killed at Columbine. She explained the core component is a spellbinding school assembly that tells the story of Rachel Scott and inspires a desire for change among students to combat bullying and allay feelings of isolation by creating a changing culture of kindness and compassion. The program includes a challenge assembly at each school, student training sessions, support materials, and planned community events. The cost is approximately $4800 for the high school; $4800 for the middle school; and $2900 each for the three elementary schools. With a discount, the total cost for the Region would be $16,000, and Ms. Spofford is targeting a start date for the program of fall 2014, if approved. Superintendent James asked how long the programs are, and Ms. Spofford responded a full day. Loren Luddy said the Antidefamation League has done assemblies at the school with similar programs, but there was no follow-up or support. There were questions on the funding and additional costs in future years. 2. Budget Survey results. Superintendent James said the budget survey is in the packets and suggests that the Board take time to read the data and discuss it at the March 19 budget workshop. 3. Juvenile Review Board update. Superintendent James said both he and Mr. Ogren have met with state police officers from the Bethany barracks who are interested in starting a Juvenile Review Board to service the communities of Region 16. The Juvenile Review Board is designed to provide an alternative and early means of identifying and assisting youth whose behaviors put them at risk to try and keep them from committing offenses which may result in a criminal record. Participation in the program would give a first time offender a second chance by not having to go through the juvenile court system. Instead, the Review Board would impose consequences such as community service or other intervention programs for their unlawful behaviors. A Juvenile Review Board can recommend a case be referred to court, if necessary. In other towns, this preventative program has had an 80-90% success rate. B. Action Items 1. Discuss facility use fees and group users. Superintendent James stated a scouting group has used the pool in the past for a nominal fee, but the new fee schedule makes the pool use cost prohibitive for them. He said requirements for pool use have also changed because of mandates on supervision. He asked if the Board wanted to change the group structure for facility use. He said the costs are for pool chemicals, mandated supervision, and custodian fees for a non-school day. It was suggested the groups could hire their own certified life guard. Mr. Hiscox asked if there was a process to request a waiver of the fees. Superintendent James said there was not. A discussion ensued on the fee structure, and the Board agreed to bring this to the Policy Committee for a review. 2. Discuss 2014-2015 school calendar. There was discussion about adding additional snow days to next year s school calendar. Mr. Noujaim asked what the response has been from staff on taking days away from April vacation. Superintendent James and other Board members said
there have been no negative responses. Superintendent James reminded the Board that the intent was to have the longest possible summers for construction. A MOTION was made by Priscilla Cretella and SECONDED by Wendy Oliveira to add nine snow days (instead of seven) to the 2014-2015 calendar. IN FAVOR: Priscilla Cretella, Wendy Oliveira, Bob Hiscox, Nazih Noujaim, and Roxy Vaillancourt (weighted vote in favor totals 5.3), OPPOSED: Sheryl Feducia and Donna Cullen (weighted vote opposed totals 2.0). MOTION CARRIES 14-072 3. Discuss World Language. Ms. Loren Luddy, Ms. Lanphear and Ms. Peck gave a presentation on World Language and distributed a proposal for 2014-2015. Ms. Luddy said that college bound students are taking more world languages. She said the best option is Option A: Adding a.2 position with temporary shifting of staff for three extra sections of World Language for Grade 7, with a budget impact of approximately $13,072. There was discussion on finding a certified teacher and the different options. accept Option A of the 2014-2015 World Language Proposal, as presented. ALL IN FAVOR, except Mr. Noujaim, who abstained. (weighted vote totals 6.0) 14-073 4. Act on request from WRHS PTO for donation to 2014 post prom. donate $2,000 to the WRHS PTO for 2014 post prom. ALL IN FAVOR (weighted vote totals 7.3) 14-074 5. Act on proposed flexibilities to Guidelines for Educator Evaluations. The Governor and Commissioner of Education have proposed the teacher evaluation plan be modified. The State Board of Education voted to approve new flexibilities in the plan for the balance of the 2013-2014 school year. The Region 16 Board needs to act on the flexibilities to the plan by March 30 and send the motion to the State. Ms. Peck and Ms. Lanphear distributed a proposal for Board of Education approval regarding flexibility options for teacher evaluation, dated March 12, 2014, that were approved by the team of teachers and administrators who developed the original teacher evaluation plan. Mr. Steven Jerram, President of the Teachers Union, offered comments and support for the revised plan. A MOTION was made by Priscilla Cretella and SECONDED by Sheryl Feducia to accept the proposal submitted. ALL IN FAVOR (weighted vote totals 7.3) 14-075 C. Director of Finance and Business Operations Report Ms. Mangini said she suspended the temporary spending freeze. She stated the follow up to the natural gas issue is still being worked on. She reported that the heating oil fixed price appropriation has been exhausted for the current fiscal year, but they were able to transfer oil from one tank to another. She updated the ADT- Tyco credit which has come in at $15,000.
Ms. Mangini gave an update on the Wellness Committee meeting and discovered a $10,000 wellness fund through the insurance carrier that has never been used. She said the turnout was good, and they are considering a health fair next year. D. Old Business 1. Easement update. Tabled to March 26. 2. New District Office. Superintendent James said he prepared a motion to be approved by the Board which he read out loud. Mr. Hiscox said there is some room to move with the low bids coming in on the new school project. He would like a decision to be made with regard to the District Office to assist the Building Committee and to obtain possible low bids at this time instead of possible higher bids in the future and to go forward with what the voters approved at the referendum. Mr. Noujaim concurred. There was much discussion. Superintendent James recommending giving the Building Committee direction to go ahead with the Algonquin site. A MOTION by Sheryl Feducia and SECONDED by Priscilla Cretella to continue the Board of Education meeting go past 10:00 p.m. ALL IN FAVOR (weighted vote totals 7.3) 14-076 Chair Cullen said there doesn t need to be a motion or a vote, just to let the Building Committee know they can proceed with the development of a design for a District Office at the Algonquin site. Superintendent James will report to the Building Committee. E. New Business Ms. Feducia said her work number has been changed and should be noted on her contact information. Ms. Feducia reported that she and Priscilla Cretella were judges at the US Academic Decathlalon. F. Information Items (discussion with possible action) XIII. REPORT OF COMMITTEES 1. Personnel and Negotiations Committee Mr. James stated they will be meeting April 14 at LRMS at 5:30 p.m. with UPSEU. 2. Facilities and Transportation Committee 3. Curriculum Committee 4. Policy Committee 5. Public Communications 6. Technology Committee 7. Recognition Committee Mr. Noujaim said the Honor Society at Long River was great last night. 8. Liaisons a. Schools
Ms. Feducia said there is a band concert on March 25. b. Wellness Committee See previous comments under Ms. Mangini s report. c. Professional Development Committee d. 2COM Rachel s Challenge presentation was given under Superintendent s Report. e. Curriculum Council XIV. ADJOURNMENT adjourn the March 12, 2014, Board of Education Meeting at 10:11 p.m. ALL IN FAVOR (weighted vote totals 7.3) 14-077 Wendy Oliveira, Board Secretary These minutes are subject to Board Approval, Susan Vaill, Board Clerk