BERLIN BOARD OF EDUCATION
May 29, 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; and Principal of Berlin High School George Synnott.

I. CALL TO ORDER

Mr. Brochu called the meeting to order at 7:13 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

Mr. Puzio reported on his participation in the Memorial Day Parade.

Mr. Lutz reported on his attendance Thursday evening at Hubbard School’s celebration of the arts.. Mr. Lutz remarked he was most impressed with the amount of cross curriculum writing, a very good indication of the quality of instruction students are receiving from the teachers.

Ms. Mancini reported on the clerical negotiations with another meeting scheduled June 9, 2007.

Mr. Richards reported on his attendance at the UpBeat training weekend at Camp Woodstock. Mr. Richards reported that the Resources and Capacity-building Committee met this evening and covered four items: (1) revisions to a board policy dealing with substitute pay; (2) transfers; (3) excess cost grant; and (4) salaries for the non-bargaining unit employees. Mr. Richards indicated that the first and fourth items would be brought to the Board at a later meeting. Further, he stated that for the excess costs, Mr. Czuchta will follow-up with that item at an upcoming Town Council meeting, where it is expected that these funds will be transferred to the Board, as is budgeted annually in regards to special education tuition and transportation costs.

Ms. Erickson reported on the custodial negotiations with another meeting scheduled June 7, 2007.

Ms. Rochette congratulated both the Berlin High School and McGee Middle School marching bands for their participation in the Memorial Day Parade, commenting they represented the Town well. Ms. Rochette reported on the cafeteria staff negotiations with another meeting scheduled in June.

Ms. O’Donnell-Moss reported on her attendance at the Berlin High School Senior Class play as well as the art show. Ms. O’Donnell-Moss reported on the community service performed by approximately thirty UpBeat students for one of Berlin’s citizens. Ms. O’Donnell-Moss reported on the Berlin Education Council meeting held May 17, 2007.

Mr. Czuchta reported interviews for the Data Specialist position will be conducted this Friday and next Monday.

Ms. Butler reported that the preschool program received reaccredidation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children. Ms. Butler reported on a new six-week grant program, which Hubbard School is implementing in collaboration with The COVE Center for Grieving Children.

Ms. Klebart reported that she, along with Ms. Gjerpen and Mr. Benigni, had an opportunity to attend a three-day conference regarding making standards work and the state curriculum standards. Ms. Klebart also reported that on Thursday she, along with Marilyn Scanlan-White, Berlin High School Reading Consultant, Marilyn Mordarski, McGee Middle School Reading Consultant and Jen Derick, Assistant Principal at Willard School, attended the State of Connecticut Department of Education seminar Beyond the Blueprint: Literacy Frameworks for Grades K through 12.

Dr. Cicchetti reported on his attendance at the Berlin High School Senior Class play as well as the Hubbard School art show. Dr. Cicchetti reported on the construction in the lobby of the Berlin Board of Education building to create a handicapped accessible lavatory.

Mr. Brochu reported upcoming CABE workshops are posted on its website. Mr. Brochu reported Shipman & Goodwin will be holding a negotiation seminar on June 27, 2007. Mr. Brochu reported on his attendance at the student work presentation at Hubbard.

II. STUDENT PRESENTATION – MCGEE MIDDLE SCHOOL

Mrs. McCabe, 8th grade McGee School ILA teacher, and Mrs. Plona, writing coordinator, discussed the guidelines for the 8th grade portfolios and presented copies for the Board to read as well as answered questions from the Board concerning the guidelines and assessments. Several 8th grade students also read a favorite piece from their portfolio which will travel with them to the high school next year. Student presenters were: Kevin Kozikowski, Mallory Brochu, Lauren Erickson, Mason Powers, Alex Joslyn, Shaun Sullivan, Natalie VonAchen, Mariana Campos, Dylan Grasso and Kaitlyn Synnott.

IV. AUDIENCE OF CITIZENS

Nothing to report.

At this time, Mr. Brochu asked if there were any objections to moving item VIII A, up in the agenda. Hearing none, the item was addressed.

VIII. RECOMMENDED ACTION
A. Anticipated Appointment – K-12 Literacy Coordinator

Moved by Ms. Mancini, seconded by Mr. Puzio, that the Board of Education appoint Debra Thibault to the position of K-12 Literacy Coordinator, effective July 1, 2007.

FAVOR: ALL
ABSTENTIONS: Mr. Recck
MOTION CARRIED: 8:0:1; including President Gary Brochu

A short recess was taken from 7:50 p.m. to 8:02 p.m., to congratulate and greet Ms. Thibault.

V. PERSONNEL
A. Announcement – Teacher of the Year

Dr. Cicchetti introduced Berlin’s 2008 Teacher of the Year, Linda Germain, who is a physical education teacher and director of athletics at McGee Middle School. Mrs. Germain thanked the district for selecting her as the 2008 Teacher of the Year.

VI. CONSENT AGENDA
A. Approval of Minutes
1. Regular Meeting of May 14, 2007

2. Special Meeting of May 15, 2007

B. Resignations

Melissa Mirabello, teacher of English at Berlin High School, has submitted her letter of resignation to be effective June 30, 2007. Mrs. Mirabello has accepted a position in another district.

Richard Peronace, Jr., teacher of social studies at Berlin High School, has submitted his letter of resignation to be effective June 30, 2007. Mr. Peronace has been on childrearing leave this school year.

C. Overnight Field Trip Request – McGee Middle School

McGee Middle School Principal Brian Benigni is requesting permission for twelve McGee Middle School students to participate in The McGee Adventurer’s Program on June 14-16, 2007. The group will camp at People’s Forest in Barkhamsted for the two nights. They will participate in team building, and climbing and ropes course activities. The trip will culminate with an adventure into Indian Oven Cave in Millerton, NY. The trip is being organized by Doug Truitt, Berlin Youth Services Coordinator.

D. Transfers

Roman Czuchta, Director of Business Operations, provided a sheet of transfers that represented year end adjustments to accounts.

Moved by Ms. O’Donnell-Moss, seconded by Ms. Rochette, to approve the consent agenda as presented.

FAVOR: ALL
MOTION CARRIED: 8:0

VII. INFORMATION AND REPORTS
A. Professional Growth & Evaluation Committee Update

Members of the Professional Growth and Evaluation Committee have worked closely with both the Berlin Education Association and the Administrative Council to develop a professional growth and evaluation plan that will meet the needs of all teachers. The revised plan is consistent with the Continuous Improvement process and allows for differentiated professional development and action plans which reflect the teacher’s level of experience and area of expertise. Each of the phases, within the plan, support teacher growth and professional development and encourage collaboration of grade level teams and departments. Assistant Superintendent Rena Klebart and members of the Committee presented the Professional Growth and Evaluation Plan to the Board, providing an overview of the components of the revised Professional Growth and Evaluation Plan. Ms. Klebart acknowledged the Committee members; reviewed the Goal Statement; Berlin’s Guiding Beliefs for all students, teachers, and community members; and the various phases of the new plan, i.e. Induction I, Induction II, Continuous Professional Growth, Extended Professional Growth, Supported Professional Growth, and Intensive Assistance. A handout of the presentation was provided to Board members. Ms. Klebart and Ms. Weber responded to questions from the Board.

B. Status of Educational Specifications for the New High School

Donald G. Kennedy, Ed.D. and John H. Kennedy, M.A., representatives from NESDEC, presented a PowerPoint presentation regarding preliminary Educational Specifications for a new high school facility and provided Board members with a copy of NESDEC’s report entitled New High School: Vision, Program, Outline Ed Specs Berlin, Connecticut. Dr. Kennedy and Mr. Kennedy reviewed background information provided in NESDEC’s Long Range School Facilities Plan completed in July of 2006; Berlin High School’s Needs/Deficiencies; Project Design; Process; Points of Consensus (based on input from focus groups, administration and Board of Education members); Other Input From Focus Groups; Important Choice Points; Swimming Pool (input from focus groups); and Useful Data concerning reimbursement square footage and construction costs. Dr. Kennedy provided a “virtual tour” presentation of recently-constructed high schools in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, Falmouth, Maine and Suffield, Connecticut. These school reflect many of Berlin’s points of consensus, as determined by the series of recent focus groups.

Mr. Kennedy updated the Board with regard to tentative conclusions made as well as decisions that are outstanding, commenting that tremendous progress has been made in the last couple of weeks. Mr. Kennedy indicated the next steps will be the analysis of additional input received hereafter, ongoing consultation with the administration, finalization of the list of spaces and compute square footage and then completing and submitting the final report. Both Dr. Kennedy and Mr. Kennedy answered questions from the Board regarding the presentation.

The consultants will share a copy of their preliminary report at the June 11 Board meeting, with anticipated action on a final education specifications by the Board at their June 25 Board meeting. In response to concerns raised by Board members regarding opportunity for additional discussion prior to approving the education specifications, Dr. Cicchetti proposed the following sequence of events:

 NESDEC consultants will follow up with George Synnott and Roman Czuchta to address outstanding items and items identified by Board members.

 Board Committee chairs, along with Dr. Cicchetti, Mr. Czuchta, and Mr. Synnott, will meet with NESDEC consultants during the week of June 4 to review components and square footage of recommended specifications.

 Board members will review and discuss the proposed educational specifications at the June 11 Board meeting when the report is presented by NESDEC.

 A special Board meeting, if needed, will be scheduled to provide an opportunity for further review and discussion prior to the June 25 meeting.

 Board members will approve the final educational specifications at the June 25 meeting.

VIII. RECOMMENDED ACTION
A. (Appointment moved up in the agenda; see it after IV. Audience of Citizens)
B. High Deductible/HSA Insurance Plan

As agreed to in a Memorandum of Agreement dated November 7, 2006, the Board of Education has worked cooperatively with the Berlin Education Association (BEA) to develop a High Deductible/HSA plan as an additional insurance option that will be included in the new teachers’ contract and become effective with the 2007-2008 contract year. Mr. Czuchta reviewed the Proposed Design for High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) with a Health Savings Account (HSA) Feature and responded to questions from the Board. A copy of proposal was provided to the Board.

Moved by Mr. Richards, seconded by Ms. O’Donnell-Moss, that the Board approve the High Deductible/HSA plan as presented.

FAVOR: ALL
MOTION CARRIED: 8:0

IX. EXECUTIVE SESSION

At 10:28 p.m., a motion was made by Mr. Recck, seconded by Ms. Rochette, to go into Executive Session to discuss the New Britain Transportation Contract, materials relative to negotiations, and evaluation of the Superintendent of Schools.

FAVOR: ALL
MOTION CARRIED: 8:0

In attendance for Executive Session were Board members Brochu, Erickson, Mancini, Lutz, O’Donnell-Moss, Puzio, Recck, Richards, and Rochette. In addition, Dr. Cicchetti and Mr. Czuchta were present.

At 10:43 p.m., Mr. Czuchta departed.

At 11:00 p.m., a motion was made by Mr. Recck , seconded by Mr. Lutz, to return to regular session and to adjourn the meeting.

FAVOR: ALL
MOTION CARRIED: 8:0

Respectfully submitted, John M. Richards, Secretary
Berlin Board of Education

(JMR:bjd orig. 6/1/07; Supt review 6/7/07; JMR final review 6/8/07)