BERLIN BOARD OF EDUCATION
September 10, 2007
MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
Attendance: Gary Brochu
Julie Erickson
William Lutz
Diane Mancini
Kathleen O’Donnell-Moss
Christopher Puzio
Anthony Recck
John Richards
Rachel Rochette
Also in attendance: Superintendent of Schools Dr. Michael Cicchetti; Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Rena Klebart; Director of Business Operations Roman Czuchta; Director of Pupil Personnel Services Margaret Butler; Principal of Griswold School Laurie Gjerpen; Principal of McGee Middle School Brian Benigni; Principal of Willard School Robert J. Sullivan II; Principal of Berlin High School George Synnott; and Assistant Principal of Griswold School Eric Carbone.
I. CALL TO ORDER
Mr. Brochu called the meeting to order at 7:12 p.m. in the Board of Education (“the Board”) meeting room at 238 Kensington Road, Berlin, CT. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited and a moment of silence was observed.
II. BOARD AND ADMINISTRATIVE COMMUNICATIONS
Ms. O’Donnell-Moss reported on her attendance at Sport’s Night at the high school, where Jim Day went into great detail on the policy changes for participation in sports at the high school.
Mr. Puzio acknowledged the leadership of Timothy Prosinski, Director of Food Services, and his vigilance in responding to potential tainted food alerts, as they occur.
Mr. Richards reported on a recent transportation hearing, and the hearing process.
Ms. Butler reported on the institutes that were held for staff in Math, Science and Social Studies over the summer, wherein Berlin certified several staff members could become “highly qualified” under the No Child Left Behind Act as a result of their participation in these workshops. Ms. Butler reported Ms. Klebart and she have begun working with the elementary staff looking at AYP (adequate yearly progress) and how services are delivered, particularly in the Special Education Department. Over the course of the school year, Ms. Butler and Ms. Klebart will be studying the results of last year’s mastery tests and looking at the special education program’s design.
Mr. Czuchta reported he is working with the Town’s financial department in putting together an RFP for a new financial software package that will be used by both the Town and the Board of Education to be implemented July, 2008. Also, Mr. Czuchta reported he heard from the Town Manager’s office this date that the Town Manager will be recommending authorization be given to draft bonding language, to be put before the Town Council on September 18, 2007, which includes capital projects related to safety issues at the schools. Mr. Czuchta reported on transportation issues related to the opening of school.
Ms. Klebart reported on the six seminars new teachers will be participating in, beginning this Friday, as part of their ongoing orientation to the district. Ms. Klebart reported on the Fall Teacher Academy, which will highlight the expertise of Berlin’s teaching staff. Ms. Klebart reported the first of three sessions for professional development, combined with the high school and the middle school, will begin tomorrow, focusing on reading in the content area and what secondary staff can do to improve reading strategies.
Dr. Cicchetti also acknowledged the leadership of Timothy Prosinski, Director of Food Services, and his awareness of food scares and recalls. He credited Roman Czuchta for his leadership of the interviewing process that identified Mr. Prosinski as a candidate. Dr. Cicchetti reported on his meeting with the Rotary Club and a project they have been working on, together with Ms. Klebart, wherein every third grade student will receive a dictionary. Dr. Cicchetti reported on the successful opening day of school and credited all the work the administrators did leading up to the opening day.
Mr. Brochu reported on the convocation, the opening day of school, and the open house at Hubbard School. Mr. Brochu reported, for this upcoming election, the Board will be sending an invitation to all Town Council candidates and Board of Education candidates for a tour of the schools on October 4, 2007. Mr. Brochu announced the candidates for the Board of Education have been finalized. The candidates are Julie Erickson, Kathy O’Donnell-Moss and Michelle Hartel.
III. AUDIENCE OF CITIZENS
Nothing to report.
IV. PERSONNEL
A. Anticipated Appointment of Supervisor of Special Education
Moved by Ms. Mancini, seconded by Ms. O’Donnell-Moss, that the Board of Education appoint Linda Holian to the position of Supervisor of Special Education effective October 1, 2007.
FAVOR: ALL
MOTION CARRIED: 9:0; including President Brochu
Retirement
Dr. Cicchetti presented the notice of Mr. Thomas Collis’s intention to retire as instructional support teacher at Mary E. Griswold and Emma Hart Willard Schools, effective June 30, 2008.
Moved by Ms. Rochette, seconded by Mr. Puzio, to accept the retirement of Mr. Thomas Collis, instructional support teacher at Mary E. Griswold and Emma Hart Willard Schools, effective June 30, 2008. Also to thank him for the thirty-five years of service he has provided to educating the youth of Berlin and to wish him a long, happy, and healthy retirement.
FAVOR: ALL
MOTION CARRIED: 8:0
V. CONSENT AGENDA
Approval of Minutes - Regular Meeting of August 20, 2007
Payment of Bills – Period ending August 31, 2007
Moved by Ms. O’Donnell-Moss, seconded by Mr. Recck, to approve the consent agenda as presented.
FAVOR: ALL
MOTION CARRIED: 8:0
At this time, items VI. B., C., and D. were moved up in the agenda. Hearing no objection, these items were addressed.
VI. INFORMATION AND REPORTS
B. Activity Fund Reports
1. Berlin High School Enterprise Fund – Period ending July 31, 200
2. Berlin Public Schools Activity Fund – Period ending July 31, 2007
These were noted with interest.
C. Educational Specifications for New High School – Status Report
Resources and Capacity-building Committee Chairperson John Richards and Director of Business Operations Roman Czuchta indicated there was nothing new to report.
D. Technology Bond – Status Report
Director of Business Operations Roman Czuchta reported on a meeting that took place on August 30, 2007 with Dr. Steven Arnoff, educational consultant, John Pajor, and David Evon wherein more information concerning potentially using the network/computer system for phone service as well as internet connection was gathered. Dr. Arnoff will be providing a report within the week and once received, the group will reconvene. Mr. Czuchta updated the Board on the rewiring project at Hubbard and Griswold Schools.
At this time item VII was moved up in the agenda. Hearing no objection, the item was addressed.
VII. RECOMMENDED ACTION
New Policy JFCL - Code of Conduct for Athletics Participation – Second
Reading and Adoption
A first reading of this policy was conducted at the August 20, 2007, Board of Education meeting. Accompanying the agenda was a revised copy of the policy reflecting the revisions that Board members and administrators identified at the August 20 meeting. Also enclosed was a copy of page 5 that details the changes that were made.
Moved by Ms. Erickson, seconded by Ms. Mancini, to adopt new policy JFCL – Code of Conduct for Athletics Participation as presented.
FAVOR: ALL
MOTION CARRIED: 9:0; including President Brochu
VI. INFORMATION AND REPORTS
A. Harvard Institute Training: Redefining Data Teams
Superintendent Michael Cicchetti and Assistant Superintendent Rena Klebart participated in a Harvard Institute for School Leadership: Leadership for Large-Scale Improvement on July 8-15, 2007. The institute was designed for school leaders and district teams to develop the skills and strategies necessary to build capacity and guide large-scale school improvement. The program description stated:
“The institute provides a flexible framework for leading school improvement efforts in the dual contexts of external pressure and internal commitments to progress. While interacting with Harvard faculty and practitioners from across the country, participants explore the challenges faced by educators working to achieve instruction improvement and cultural shifts in their schools and districts. Four overarching goals provide the foundation for the institute.
improving instructional practice
building internal capacity
using assessments more effectively
enhancing student outcomes”
These goals are very consistent with the priorities that have been identified by the Board and administration through their collaborative continuous improvement work. Dr. Cicchetti and Ms. Klebart highlighted certain aspects of their training, shared a PowerPoint presentation of their final project, Redefining Data Teams, and answered questions from the Board. A copy of the presentation was provided to the Board. Also included was one of the readings from the institute, Getting Beyond Benchmark: Richmond Faces the School Improvement Plateau. It presents a case study of the Richmond, Virginia Public Schools, conducted through the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and their continuous improvement efforts over the past five years. While Richmond and Berlin are fairly dissimilar communities, there is much in common with respect to the process used to ensure greater student achievement and success. The Board engaged in discussion of the information presented.
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
Moved by Ms. Mancini, seconded by Ms. Rochette, to adjourn the meeting at 9:32 p.m.
FAVOR: ALL
MOTION CARRIED: 8:0
Respectfully submitted,
John M. Richards
Secretary, Berlin Board of Education