North Branford Board of Education Meeting June 15, 2017 I. A brief reception was held to acknowledge the retirement of Ms. Patty Darragh. Principal Kris Lindsay spoke on behalf of Ms. Darragh s accomplishments. Superintendent Schoonmaker expressed his gratitude for her service and along with Chairman Dahlmeyer presented Ms. Darragh with a proclamation and flowers. II. The North Branford Board of Education met on Thursday June 15, 2017 and was called to order at 7:10 p.m. in the Board Meeting Room at Stanley T. Williams School. III. Roll Call CHAIRMAN DAHLMEYER: VICE-CHAIR O ROURKE: SECRETARY VUMBACK: MARCEY ONOFRIO: DEBORAH PRUNIER: SARA QUERFELD: ELIZABETH SIENA: Superintendent of Schools: Director of Business/Personnel ABSENT Scott Schoonmaker Donald Winnicki IV. Salute to the Flag V. Visitors Director of Curriculum and Instruction: Director of Special Services: Director of Technology: Principals: Tracy Wootton Suzanne Wright Bruce Williams Todd Stoeffler, NBHS Kris Lindsay, TVES Carter Welch, JHS Keith O Rourke Greg Gwudz Patty Darragh Bob Darragh Charlene Ramsey Dan Darragh Justina Macinskaite Janice DeAngelo Cinti Tirello Rose Angeloni Joe Amendino Sheila McCarthy Nicole Yancey VI. Student Representatives Student Representatives are not present during summer months.
VII. Approval of Previous Minutes a. May 18, 2017 Board of Education Meeting The Superintendent submitted the minutes of the May 18, 2017 Board of Education Meeting. Moved by Marcey Onofrio, seconded by Sara Querfeld to approve the minutes of the May 18, 2017 Board of Education Meeting as submitted. MOTION PASSES 5-0, with one abstention from Deborah Prunier. a. June 1, 2017 Board of Education Special Meeting Budget Workshop The Superintendent submitted the minutes of the June 1, 2017 Board of Education Special Meeting- Budget Workshop. Moved by Sara Querfeld, seconded by Marcey Onofrio to approve the minutes of the June 1, 2017 Board of Education Meeting as submitted. Sara Querfeld questioned the type of meeting that was held, whether it was a Board of Education Meeting or a Budget Workshop. Sara Querfeld withdrew her motion, Marcey Onofrio withdrew her second. Moved by Marcey Onofrio, seconded by Sara Querfeld to approve the minutes of the June 1, 2017 Budget Workshop as submitted. MOTION PASSES 4-0, with two abstentions from Secretary Vumback and Elizabeth Siena. Moved by Deborah Prunier, seconded by Marcey Onofrio to amend the agenda of the June 15, 2017 Board of Education meeting. Moved by Deborah Prunier, second by Sara Querfeld to add the discussion and action regarding agenda Item IX. B. Donations. June 15, 2017 Page 2
VIII. Personnel a. Resignations None at this time. b. Appointments Discussion and possible action regarding the appointment of a certified staff member. Donald Winnicki, Director of Business and Personnel informed members that they could adjourn to Executive Session if they wished and gave information on the position. Moved by Deborah Prunier, seconded by Sara Querfeld to approve the appointment of Marisa Levine to the position of K-5 Language Arts Instructional Coach, to be placed on Step 4, 6 th year, in accordance with the contract between the North Branford Board of Education and the North Branford Federation of Teachers. as submitted. Sara Querfeld requested background on the appointee and the hiring process. Tracy Wootton, Director of Curriculum and Instruction gave information on the appointee as well as the hiring process. Secretary Vumback questioned the amount of time the position stays open. Mr. Winnicki, Director of Business and Personnel and gave background on candidates and closing the position. c. Leaves Discussion and possible action regarding a leave request from the certified staff member. Moved by Chairman Dahlmeyer, second by Deborah Prunier that item 8c, under leaves be held in Executive Session after this meeting IX. Superintendent s Report a. Recognition Superintendent Schoonmaker acknowledged the reception held this evening for Ms. Darragh and thanked Mr. Michael Augur for assembling the refreshments. b. Donations June 15, 2017 Page 3
Superintendent Schoonmaker announced a donation of a Baby Grand piano with an estimated value of $1,200.00 from Charles and Linda Apfel of North Branford. The piano will be housed at Totoket Valley Elementary School. Moved by Deborah Prunier, seconded by Secretary Vumback to approve the donation from Charles and Linda Apfel of North Branford of a Baby Grand Piano and the cost of the move with an estimated value of $1,500 with gracious appreciation. c. Field Trips - None at this time. d. Communications Superintendent Schoonmaker directed members to the attached briefs from all schools and commented on this year s graduation ceremony. e. Post High School Plans Superintendent Schoonmaker directed members to the attached information in the Board packet, he pointed out that 9 of the top 19 students are attending UCONN and overviewed the new standards for acceptance into UCONN. Mr. Schoonmaker gave additional information on other college acceptances. f. North Branford Public Schools Healthy Food Certification Superintendent Schoonmaker reminded members of the discussion at the last meeting. Donald Winnicki, Director of Business and Personnel gave members background of the motion and the requirements due to Federal funding involved. Moved by Deborah Prunier, seconded by Secretary Vumback to approve, pursuant to the Section 10-215f of the Connecticut General Statutes that North Branford Board of Education certifies that all food items offered for sale to students in the North Branford Public Schools and not exempted from the Connecticut Nutrition Standards published by the Connecticut State Department of Education will meet said standards during the period of July 1, 2017 and June 30, 2018. g. Certified Evaluations June 15, 2017 Page 4
Superintendent Schoonmaker overviewed the requirements of certification criteria, stating that all administrators work diligently. He also spoke about the rigor required to accomplish the evaluations. h. Authority to Hire Superintendent Schoonmaker gave an overview of potential authority to hire during summer months. In response to a question from Sara Querfeld about protocol for hiring administrators, Superintendent Schoonmaker gave an overview. Moved by Marcey Onofrio, seconded by Deborah Prunier to approve that authority be granted to the Superintendent to hire, certified personnel effective immediately until the September 21, 2017 Board of Education Meeting. Secretary Vumback asked about specifying the certified personnel. Members discussed different staffing positions that authority would be needed and what the protocol would entail. Marcey Onofrio retracted her motion. Moved by Secretary Vumback, seconded by Marcey Onofrio to approve that authority be granted to the Superintendent to hire, certified teaching personnel effective immediately until the September 21, 2017 Board of Education Meeting. All VOTED AYE i. 2017/2018 Budget Mr. Winnicki gave an explanation to the Board on the necessary line item deductions. Moved by Sara Querfeld, seconded by Marcey Onofrio to make line item reductions to the 2017/2018 Board of Education budget request as specifically outlined below: Eliminate one new K-5 Science coach, one new 6-12 ELA coach and one new 6-12 Math coach; Eliminate one new special education paraprofessional; Transfer one Grade 2 teacher to the grant-funded pre-k program; Eliminate one NBIS classroom teacher; Reduce health insurance costs resulting from additional teacher buyouts; Fund three instructional paraprofessionals from Title 1; Reduce outside tuition for Yale and on-line learning supports; June 15, 2017 Page 5
Eliminate freshman or frosh-more sports; and including 1 football coach, 1 field hockey coach, 1 basketball coach and 1 baseball coach. Use Open Choice and pre-k grant funds to fund instructional supplies, resulting in the following line item changes: $314,208 reduction from certified salaries; $ 64,277 reduction from non-certified salaries; $ 10,175 reduction from FICA/Medicare; $150,840 reduction from health benefits; $ 2,886 reduction from professional services; $ 5,114 reduction from transportation; $ 11,549 reduction from outside tuition; $ 13, 238 reduction from instructional supplies; and $ 13,962 reduction in unemployment compensation. Superintendent Schoonmaker clarified that Frosh-more does not mean that Freshman would be eliminated from participating in sports. X. Committee Reports a. Negotiations Donald Winnicki, Director of Business and Personnel reported they are negotiating with four AFSCME bargaining units and requested it be moved to executive session for a brief discussion. Moved by Chairman Dahlmeyer, seconded by Marcey Onofrio that negotiations for AFSCME Bargaining units be held in executive session. b. Budget & Operations Donald Winnicki, Director of Business and Personnel reported they met and a meeting schedule was presented as previously discussed. The only proposed date missing is the June Budget Meeting, which is usually due to the retiree reception that occurs in June. Members discussed best possible dates and decided on June 14 th at 5:30 p.m. Moved by Marcey Onofrio, seconded by Deborah Prunier to accept the proposed meeting dates for the Budget & Operations Subcommittee as well as the Curriculum, Instruction and Strategic Planning Subcommittee as submitted June 15, 2017 Page 6
Marcy Onofrio stated they held a budget meeting and discussed the following: finalized numbers for current year upcoming bid- asbestos abatement at high school current bid for fuel hoods for high school chemistry lab summer job list transportation contract Moved by Marcey Onofrio, seconded by Sara Querfeld to authorize the Superintendent to enter into a five-year extension of the transportation contract between the North Branford Board of Education and Dattco, at a base cost increase not to exceed 3.9% per year. Deborah Prunier stated the subcommittee did research and asked Mr. Winnicki to speak to some of the work involved. Mr. Winnicki Director of Business and Personnel gave a background and overview of the contract information as well as the relationship the district has had with the present company. Superintendent Schoonmaker spoke to the quality and positive relationship the district has with Dattco and thanked the Board for supporting the motion. c. Curriculum, Instruction and Strategic Planning Meeting schedule was approved above. d. Pension did not meet. e. Policy did not meet. f. ACES Sara Querfeld distributed a handout and gave an overview of the brochure entitled The Next Generation of Aces. Ms. Querfeld pointed out specific information with brief explanations on pertinent information. There was discussion on financial constraints that are impacting ACES. Additionally, Ms. Querfeld stated the committee evaluated the Director, extended his contract and nominated a new Executive Board with Ms. Querfeld taking the position of Vice-Chair. g. Building Committee Did not meet. h. Communications - Did not meet. Marcey Onofrio asked the Chairman to move back to budget and opened discussion on the recent discussion and motion with ECA. Ms. Onofrio suggested they begin to look at the number of June 15, 2017 Page 7
students they are funding considering other ongoing cutbacks. Members discussed financial issues as they pertain to the number of students being funded. Members explained and discussed the role of the Board. It was suggested this item be added to the agenda for the September meeting. XII. Good of the Board Tracy Wootton announced that Meg Peterson, the K-5 mathematics coach applied to be part of a National team to review Smarter Balance, she has moved through the State process and National process and will represent Connecticut in July in St Louis. Sara Querfeld remarked on the success of appointing a Chair for Budget Subcommittee and requested the Board consider appointing Chairs for each subcommittee. XIII. Visitors and Press - none XIV. The next regular Board of Education meeting is scheduled for Thursday, July 20, 2017. XI. New Business a. Discussion regarding a pending claim for damages. Moved by Chairman Dahlmeyer, seconded by Marcey Onofrio to adjourn to executive session as per Section 1-225 of the Connecticut General Statutes as permitted by Section 1-200 (6)(a) (b) and (e) of the Connecticut General Statutes to discuss agenda item VIII c. Leave request of a certified staff member, item X a. AFSCME union negotiations, and item XI. A. Pending claim for damages. Board members returned from Executive Session and Chairman Dahlmeyer reconvened the Regular Meeting. Moved by Deborah Prunier, second by Secretary Vumback to approve the return of certified staff member, Mary Osterling, on January 2, 2018 from Parenthood Leave in accordance with Article 22 item 6 of the contract between the North Branford Board of Education and the North Branford Federation of Teachers. XV. Adjournment Moved by Sara Querfeld seconded by Secretary Vumback to adjourn this North Branford Board of Education meeting at 8:23 p.m. June 15, 2017 Page 8
Respectfully Submitted Mary Caruso BOE Clerk June 15, 2017 Page 9