REGULAR MEETING MONDAY, GRISWOLD BOARD OF EDUCATION November 13, 2017 DRAFT A regular meeting of the Griswold Board of Education took place on Monday, November 13, 2017, in the Library Media Center, located on the 2 nd floor of the Griswold Middle School. The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by BOE Chairman, Stuart Norman, Jr. PRESENT ALSO PRESENT ABSENT Stuart Norman, Jr., BOE Chairman; Frank Everett, BOE Vice Chairman; Laurie Sorder, BOE Secretary; Yvonne Palasky; Mary Beth Malin; Dr. Theresa Madonna; and Jennifer Norman, BOE Members. Sean McKenna, Superintendent of Schools; Susan Rourke, GPS Director of Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment; Christopher Champlin, GPS Director of Special Education & Pupil Services; Michele Demicco, GPS Business Manager; Erin Palonen, GHS Principal; Marceline Macrino, GHS Associate Principal; Glenn LaBossiere, GMS Principal; Chris Vamvakides, GMS Assistant Principal; Joseph Bordeau, GES Principal; and Jacqueline Love, GES Assistant Principal. Stephen Cravinho, GPS Campus Wide Activities & Athletic Director. The Board and the audience performed the Pledge of Allegiance. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Seconded by Mary Beth Malin To add under New Business, Item C, Review and Action to Authorize the Superintendent to Approve the Submission of Paperwork for the Title IV Grant. By Yvonne Palasky Seconded by Laurie Sorder To approve the regular meeting minutes of October 23, 2017, as presented. By Yvonne Palasky Seconded by Frank Everett To approve the special meeting minutes of October 30, 2017, with correction to note that the student and the parent understood their rights and had no questions. 1
Ayes S. Norman, Jr., F. Everett, Y. Palasky, M. Malin and J. Norman. Nays Abstain L. Sorder and T. Madonna. Motion carried. Seconded by Jen Norman To approve the special meeting minutes of November 1, 2017, as presented. Ayes F. Everett, L. Sorder, M. Malin, J. Norman, T. Madonna. Nays Abstain S. Norman, Jr. and Y. Palasky. Motion carried. COMMUNICATIONS A. GPS Monthly Newsletter for November 2017 The Board received a copy of the GPS Newsletter for November 2017. B. GHS Parent Advisory Council Newsletter for November 2017 The Board received a copy of the GHS Parent Advisory Newsletter for November 2017. C. GHS Drama Presents The Miracle - The Board received an invitation to attend the GHS Drama The Miracle, which took place on Friday and Saturday, November 10 and 11 at 7 PM in the GHS auditorium. D. Communication Response to Mr. Jim Barnie The Board received a copy of a letter from the Superintendent of Schools addressed to Mr. Jim Barnie, which outlines a response to Mr. Barnie s suggestions on attracting more sending school students. E. Communication from Jewett City Electric Light Plant The Board received a copy of a letter from the Jewett City Electric Light Plant outlining how the schools could save money by providing a recent rate comparison conducted by JCDPU Electric Division. STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE REPORT NEW BUSINESS A. Review and Possible Action on Jewett City Electric Light Plant Proposal for GMS Interior Lighting Fixtures, LED Retrofit, and Related Equipment Installation, Financing and Lease Agreement The Superintendent reviewed a financing and lease proposal from Jewett City Electric Light Plant for GMS interior lighting fixtures, LED retrofit, and related equipment 2
installation. The Board tabled the discussion on the proposal until the next scheduled meeting. The Board would like to invite Mr. Sullivan from the JCDPU to review the proposal in further detail and to answer questions from the Board. By Frank Everett Seconded by Yvonne Palasky To table the Jewett City Electric Light Plant proposal until the next BOE meeting and invite Ken Sullivan to give a presentation and answer questions. B. Review and Action on Development of a Joint Town Meeting and BOE Committee to Oversee Eversource Gas Conversion Project for the Griswold Public Schools BOE Chairman, Stuart Norman, Jr., appointed Frank Everett as the Chairman of our Facilities Subcommittee, to be the Board of Education representative for the joint committees of the Board of Selectmen, Board of Finance, and Board of Education, for the purpose of overseeing the Eversource Gas Conversion Project. C. Review and Action to Authorize the Superintendent to Approve the Submission of Paperwork for the Title IV Grant The Board voted to authorize the Superintendent to sign off on the Title IV grant. By Dr. Theresa Madonna Seconded by Laurie Sorder To authorize the Superintendent to sign off on the Title IV grant. UNFINISHED BUSINESS ADMINISTRATORS REPORTS A. Financial Update, 2017/18 Business Manager, Michele Demicco, provided an update to the Board on the current status of the 2017/18 budget. SUPERINTENDENT S REPORT A. Vacancies/Appointments/Resignations The Board approved the appointments of the following individuals: Joseph Cyr, GPS Instructional Assistant, part-time, Michael Jamieson, GPS Basketball head coach; Jarod Fromme, GPS Basketball boys assistant coach; and Jamie Buchas, GPS Fencing head coach. 3
Seconded by Yvonne Palasky To approve the appointments of the following individuals: Joseph Cyr, GPS Instructional Assistant, part-time; Michael Jamieson, GPS Basketball head coach; Jarod Fromme, GPS Basketball boys assistant coach; and Jamie Buchas, GPS Fencing head coach. B. Budget Development, 2018/19 The Superintendent provided an outline to the Board on the budget development process for 2018/19. C. Update on Oil Tank at GHS The Superintendent provided an update to the Board on the recent repairs related to the oil tank at GHS and noted that the boilers seem to be working at this time. He will provide an update to the Board when he receives the costs for the repairs. D. Discussion on Selection of BOE Representatives for NEASC Steering Committee The Superintendent reported that from the development of the BOE agenda to now, he was informed that a representative from the Griswold Board of Education will not be required to participate on the NEASC Steering Committee so no action was taken. COMMITTEE/BOARD REPORTS OTHER BUSINESS THAT MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE BOARD Board of Education Chair, Stuart Norman, Jr., asked fellow BOE members to review the current membership on subcommittees of the Board and to be prepared to confirm whether they wish to continue on the same subcommittees or to change their current membership. He would like to vote to appoint members to subcommittees at the next Board of Education meeting on November 27, 2017. Mr. McKenna added that many Boards now have a Public Relations subcommittee and asked the Board if they wish to consider adding one. Mary Beth Malin reported that she, Yvonne, and Frank, attended the Veteran s Day celebration at Griswold Middle School and commended them for a very nice event. Dr. Theresa Madonna requested an update from Mr. Richard Campbell on his work as a liaison between Killingly Regional Agricultural Education Center Consulting Committee and Griswold Board of Education. The Superintendent will contact Mr. Campbell to provide an update and report back to the Board. Mary Beth Malin reported that she was the BOE representative for the recent DPAC meeting that took place and complemented Yvonne Palasky and Glenn LaBossiere for a job well done. 4
Dr. Theresa Madonna reported that Jen Granger from UCFS was a recent speaker at the Businessmen s meeting. She would like to see Griswold Public Schools consider contracting for services with UCFS like other Boards currently do. PUBLIC COMMENT By Dr. Theresa Madonna Seconded by Jennifer Norman To adjourn the meeting at 6:44 PM. Minutes prepared by: Robin Drobiak 5