REGULAR MEETING MINUTES - February 25, 2008

BERLIN BOARD OF EDUCATION
February 25, 2008
MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING

Attendance: Gary Brochu
Julie Erickson
Michelle Hartel
Gary Lukens
William Lutz Arrived at 7:10 p.m.
Kathleen O’Donnell-Moss
Christopher Puzio
Anthony Recck Arrived at 7:13 p.m.
John Richards

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; Director of Human Resources Joseph Costa; Principal of McGee Middle School Brian Benigni; Assistant Principal of McGee Middle School Brenda Janik; and Dean of Students James Sachs.

I. CALL TO ORDER

Mr. Brochu called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. in the Board of Education (“the Board”) meeting room at 238 Kensington Road, Berlin, CT. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Berlin Veteran Brad Parsons. A Moment of Silence was observed.

II. BOARD AND ADMINISTRATIVE COMMUNICATIONS

Ms. Erickson reported on her attendance last Wednesday at the Northwest Conference championship game for the girls’ high school basketball team wherein Berlin won. Ms. Erickson indicated the first-round State tournament game is tomorrow night at Woodland Regional High School in Beacon Falls.

Mr. Lukens reported on the tour of the five schools this past Thursday, thanking Mr. Czuchta and Mr. Pajor for their time. He said the tour was very informative.

Ms. O’Donnell-Moss reported on the tour of the five schools this past Thursday, also thanking Mr. Czuchta and Mr. Pajor for their time. Ms. O’Donnell-Moss reported on the State open tournament for wrestling held this weekend wherein Berlin competed.

Mr. Richards provided the Board with a copy of the State Department of Education presentation on high school reform offered at CREC. Mr. Richards reported the Public Building Commission will be meeting on Thursday as it relates to the educational specifications for the new high school. Mr. Richards reported the Technology Bond is on the Town Council’s agenda for the public hearing on February 26, 2008. Mr. Richards commented on the reports in the press regarding the expulsion hearing.

Mrs. Butler reported Berlin still is without a pre-school teacher. Dr. Cicchetti reported on Mrs. Butler’s efforts to fill this position.

Mr. Costa reported on the press release and postings for anticipated certified teacher openings for 2008-09 resulting from retirements and resignations. Mr. Costa acknowledged, with great sadness, the passing of Andrew Romegialli who was a staff representative for AFSCME, representing three of the bargaining units at the Berlin Public Schools.

Mr. Czuchta reported on his meeting last week with Town officials and Athletic Director Jim Day regarding the resurfacing of the track at the high school. Mr. Czuchta reported on his meeting with representatives from the police department and representatives from Mutual Link. Mr. Czuchta reported on the letter received indicating Berlin Board of Education employees are eligible to join the Town’s 457 Plan.

Ms. Klebart reported Larry Ainsworth, Executive Director of Professional Development at the Leadership and Learning Center in Colorado will be working with the Math and Science vertical teams, looking at State standards, on March 5 and 6. Mr. Ainsworth will also be presenting an evening workshop to the Berlin Education Council, Board of Education, parent groups and leadership teams. Ms. Klebart reported that CMT and CAPT testing will begin next week.

Dr. Cicchetti reminded Board members to let him know by next Monday if they wish to participate in classroom visits that Mrs. Klebart will coordinate. Dr. Cicchetti reported on Director of Food Services Timothy Prosinski’s follow-up inventory of cafeteria supplies related to the beef recall. Dr. Cicchetti congratulated the high school girls’ basketball team for their Northwest Conference championship win.

Mr. Brochu requested Board members availability for a special Board meeting on March 3, 2008, during which the high school NEASC accreditation report would be given. Mr. Brochu reminded the Board of Larry Ainsworth’s session on March 5, 2008 at 7:00 p.m.; the Realtor’s breakfast on March 7, 2008; and Connecticut Association of Boards of Education’s A Day on the Hill on March 12, 2008.

III. STUDENT PRESENTATION – McGEE MIDDLE SCHOOL

Eight McGee Middle School staff members presented various activities utilizing the Interactive Board, Easitech software, LCD projector and CPS system. The intent of the presentation was to inform Board members of how instruction has changed based on the availability and appropriate usage of technology. Several pre-recorded students’ comments were also presented. Students involved included Julia Lombardo, Samantha DeFrancesco, Vishnu Patel, Karol Kolc, Erin McKinnon, Robert Morrin, Garrett Daigle and Mason Paul. The teachers presenting were Barbara Ventura, Rachel Gworek, Kevin Cormack, Janice Carpenter, Steve Marcello, Ted Mangi, and Chris Schayer

IV. AUDIENCE OF CITIZENS

Mr. David Evans, 1233 Worthington Ridge, Berlin, Connecticut, requested of the Board details on the Site and Building budget and Capital Equipment budget. Mr. Czuchta will provide Mr. Evans with this information.

V. CONSENT AGENDA
A.Approval of Minutes
1.Regular Meeting of February 11, 2008

2.Special Meeting of February 12, 2008

B.Overnight Field Trip Request – FIRST Robotics Team – Atlanta, GA – April 16-21, 2008

McGee School Principal Brian Benigni is requesting permission for the FIRST Robotics Team and chaperones to travel to Atlanta, Georgia to participate in the FIRST Championship.

Moved by Ms. Erickson, seconded by Mr. Recck, to approve the consent agenda as presented.

FAVOR: ALL
MOTION CARRIED: 8:0

At this time, items VII. A. and B. were moved up in the agenda. Hearing no objection, these items were addressed.

VII. RECOMMENDED ACTION
A. Revised School Calendar 2008-2009

On March 12, 2007, the Board approved a school calendar for 2008-09. The Board was presented with, for its consideration, a revised 2008-09 calendar. Also provided was a copy of the originally-adopted 2008-09 calendar from March 2007. Some of the revisions are technical in nature, while others result from conversations with staff, parents, and students regarding the lateness of the last day of school. These changes were reviewed and discussed by the Board’s Leadership, Accountability, and Measurement Committee at two meetings, most recently February 11th. The proposed calendar was also brought to BEA President Suzanne Weber and to the Administrative Council for review and discussion. Human Resources Director Joseph Costa is working with the presidents of the various unions to discuss the impact of having school in session on Columbus Day and Veterans’ Day, which in most instances will require designating floating holidays in lieu of one or both of these days.

A summary of changes is as follows:

Berlin Fair Day – October 3 - was incorrectly listed on the previously-adopted calendar (technical correction).

School will be in session on October 13th, Columbus Day. Having two back-to-back three-day weekends (Berlin Fair and Columbus Day) so early in the school year is not instructionally sound.

School will be in session on November 11th, Veterans’ Day. Discussion with the Berlin veterans’ groups was initiated a year ago concerning (1) holding school on Veterans’ Day, and (2) undertaking an oral history project that would document student-conducted interviews with local veterans. The Chair of the Berlin Veterans’ Commission Tom Chesery and Veterans’ Commission members Charlie Colaresi, Fred Jortner, and Brad Parsons were in attendance and shared their sentiments about the oral history project and about having students in school on Veterans’ Day.

December 23rd will be an early dismissal day; there is no school on December 24th (technical correction).

School will not be in session on January 2nd. This is more respectful to families and staff who will be traveling during the December break and also more conservative with respect to utilities costs related to opening school for one day.

The spring full-day professional development day has been moved from March 30 to April 20 to avoid the state testing window and better coincide with the continuous improvement planning that teachers would be doing at that time of year.

The last day (184th) for students will become a teacher professional development day, as was done this past June. This will reduce the student year from 184 to 183 days and maintain the teacher work year at 188 days. The feedback from teachers and administrators this past June was extremely positive in terms of what was accomplished related to the new professional growth and evaluation plan. Typically, this day would be used for continuous improvement planning, content-specific professional development, and/or curriculum review.

Moved by Mr. Lukens, seconded by Mr. Lutz, to approve the revised Berlin Public Schools adopted calendar for 2008-2009 as proposed.

FAVOR: ALL
MOTION CARRIED: 9:0, including President Gary Brochu

Assistant Superintendent Rena Klebart shared with the Board a 2008-09 calendar that reflected parent conferences and late arrival/early release days for professional development. The Board reached consensus in support of the calendar as presented.

B. Proposed School Calendar for 2009-2010

The Board was provided with the proposed school calendar for 2009-10. The calendar follows the guidelines that were used in developing the revised 2008-09 school calendar, presented in the previous agenda item. The proposed calendar was reviewed and discussed by the Board’s Leadership, Accountability, and Measurement Committee and members of the Administrative Council, and with BEA President Suzanne Weber. As with the 2008-09 school calendar, Human Resources Director Joseph Costa will work with the presidents of the various unions to discuss the impact of having school in session on Columbus Day and Veterans’ Day, which in most instances will require designating floating holidays in lieu of one or both of these days.

Moved by Mr. Lukens, seconded by Mr. Recck, to adopt the 2009-2010 Berlin Public Schools calendar as proposed.

FAVOR: ALL
MOTION CARRIED: 9:0, including President Gary Brochu

VI. INFORMATION AND REPORTS
A.Framework for Curriculum Development and the Role of Vertical Teams

At the January 22nd meeting of the Leadership, Accountability and Measurement Committee, the framework for curriculum development and coordination and professional growth and evaluation was reviewed. Ms. Klebart provided the Board with a copy of the framework and explained the role that each of the committees and vertical teams play in the review and revision of curriculum and the development of related professional development opportunities. Ms. Klebart anticipated that this presentation will assist the Board when they have their conversation with Larry Ainsworth on March 5.

B.Educational Specifications for New High School – Status Report

Director of Business Operations Roman Czuchta reported the Public Building Commission will meet Thursday, February 28, 2008, for a first look at the educational specifications. John Richards will serve as the Board’s liaison to this Commission.

C.Technology Bond – Status Report

Director of Business Operations Roman Czuchta reported the Technology Bond is on Town Council’s agenda as an ordinance to be passed at the public hearing on February 26, 2008.

VIII. ADJOURNMENT

Moved by Ms. Erickson, seconded by Mr. Recck, to adjourn the meeting at 9:28 p.m.

FAVOR: ALL
MOTION CARRIED: 8:0

Respectfully submitted,



Michelle Hartel, Secretary, Berlin Board of Education