BERLIN BOARD OF EDUCATION
January 28, 2008
MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING

Attendance:      Gary Brochu          
        Julie Erickson         
        Michelle Hartel
        Gary Lukens
        William Lutz     
        Kathleen O’Donnell-Moss     
        Christopher Puzio
        Anthony Recck                Arrived at 7:47 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; and Supervisor of Special Education Linda Holian.

I.    CALL TO ORDER

Mr. Brochu called the meeting to order at 7:08 p.m. in the Board of Education (“the Board”) meeting room at 238 Kensington Road, Berlin, CT.  

II.    BOARD AND ADMINISTRATIVE COMMUNICATIONS

Ms. Hartel reported on the Leadership, Accountability and Measurement Committee meeting held this evening.

Mr. Richards reported on the Statement of Need that was submitted to the Town Manager and Town Council on January 24, 2008.  Mr. Richards thanked the administration for delivering the information the Board requested for the high school, Ms. Hartel for her presentation of the educational specifications and Mr. Brochu for the chronology.  

Ms. Klebart reported on her invitation to present at CREC’s Curriculum Council regarding current trends and teacher evaluations wherein Berlin’s new professional growth and evaluation instrument was presented to the Council.  

Mr. Czuchta reported on the competitive State grant Berlin received related to Homeland Security to make all of the school buildings keyless entry.   Mr. Czuchta noted that the Town has to up-front the money and then be reimbursed from the State.  Mr. Czuchta is waiting for official notification from the State along with some more definitive direction on how the money is spent and the timeframe.  

Ms. Butler reported on the preschool screening, which took place this past Friday and Saturday wherein 127 students were screened.

Mr. Costa reported on his preparation for spring recruitment and planned participation in three career upcoming fairs.

Dr. Cicchetti further reported on the recruitment process, the software program that Mr. Costa and Mr. Czuchta are looking at with a consultant and the discussion he had this date concerning the CEU software.

Mr. Brochu reported on his attendance at the preschool screening this Saturday.  Mr. Brochu encouraged the Board to attend Commissioner of Education, Dr. Mark K. McQuillan’s presentation on secondary school reform Thursday evening at CREC.  Mr. Brochu reminded Board members that March 12 is CABE’s A Day on the Hill.  Mr. Brochu thanked the administration and Board members for all the efforts put forth for last Thursday’s presentation to the Town Manager and Town Council concerning the Statement of Need for the new high school.

III.    AUDIENCE OF CITIZENS

Nothing to report.

IV.    CONSENT AGENDA
A.Approval of Minutes – Special Meeting of January 16, 2008  

B.Resignations

Linda Rushlow, teacher of kindergarten/pre-school at Emma Hart Willard School, has submitted her letter of resignation effective January 24, 2008.  

Kevin Carubia, teacher of music at Emma Hart Willard School and Mary E. Griswold School has submitted his letter of resignation to be effective June 30, 2008.

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

FAVOR:  ALL
MOTION CARRIED:  6:0

V.      INFORMATION AND REPORTS
    A.    Educational Specifications for New High School – Status Report

Director of Business Operations Roman Czuchta reported on the Statement of Need that was submitted to the Town Manager and Town Council on Thursday, January 24, 2008.  Mr. Czuchta reported the next Town Council meeting is February 5, 2008, and he is unaware if this will be on the Council’s agenda.  Mr. Czuchta reported time is critical in delivering the education specifications to the Building Commissioner.  Mr. Czuchta reported on the change in legislation regarding the hiring of an architect.  

    B.    Technology Bond – Status Report

Director of Business Operations Roman Czuchta reported the Town-Wide Technology Committee met last Wednesday with its consultant, Dr. Steven Arnoff.  The presentation was in two parts:  (1) the existing technology infrastructure; and (2) the IPT system for the Town and the Board of Education.  After a lengthy discussion, it was the consensus of the Committee to move forward with the infrastructure piece of the Technology Bond as that is what is needed now.  Mr. Czuchta provided a budget sheet to the Board concerning what is necessary for WAN connectivity.  Mr. Czuchta noted that the figures on his handout will be adjusted for additional wiring at Willard to be compatible with Hubbard and Griswold and also additional funds for anticipated electrical work and HVAC system work.  Dr. Arnoff is to provide an updated budget sheet for the Committee’s submission to the Town Council on February 5, 2008.

From 7:33 p.m. to 7:35 p.m. a short recess was held.  

VI.    2008-2009 PROPOSED BUDGET PRESENTATION
    A.    Special Education Budget
Ms. Butler’s presentation was organized around the budget priorities, with all of the proposals connected to student learning and to support the efforts on behalf of continuance improvement.  She presented the Board with an overview of her department discussing the services offered and the students receiving special education through her department.  At the end of her presentation, she provided a handout, which provided the Board with the number of students participating in special services programs/school year 2007-2008; students by exceptionality; out-of-district tuition:  historical perspective; and excess cost.  She discussed the enrollment ratios of students to teachers, the number of students served in each capacity participating in special services programs and related services for the current school year compared to last year.  
Staffing:  One of Ms. Butler’s requests is a .5 Special Education Teacher at Griswold Elementary School.  Currently, there are 3.5 special education teachers at Griswold, assigned to teach sixty-three students, six of which are diagnosed with autism, a seventh is arriving next year as well a student with significant cognitive language and health concerns.   Griswold is anticipating an increase in the number of students as well as the complexity of the disabilities.
Ms. Butler discussed the Distribution of Students by Exceptionality Code.  The most prevalent disability in the District is Speech and Language with 134 students.  Ms. Butler noted that the District continues to see students with a complexity of disorders and attempts to keep students in their general environment as much as possible.  
Student Support:  Ms. Butler is requesting a 1.0 Social Worker.  Currently there is no elementary level social worker who can provide therapeutic intervention to the elementary school students.  Ms. Butler remarked this is the third year requesting this position.    
Special Education tuition is a major category of student support and comprises a big part of the budget.  Ms. Butler discussed the out-of-district tuition as outlined in her handout for the school years 1988-89 through the present.  In 1988–89, 12% of the special education population was placed in out-of-district facilities compared with 3.5% for the current school year, with twelve students placed by Berlin and three placed by parent and the State.  Ms. Butler discussed the out-of-district tuition for two students placed in magnet schools.  She noted that the District has been able to expand its local resources in order to take care of these students.  She reported on the range of tuitions being paid now, the least expensive being approximately $2,650 for a placement at Bristol Tech, and the most expensive being $182,233 for a placement at Perkins School for the Blind in Massachusetts.  Tuition is based on the complexity of the disability and the needs of the students.  The budget Ms. Butler is presenting is based on an anticipated 17 students to be out-of-district.  

Ms. Butler noted that another big expense in the area of student support is the outside specialist account, which covers neurological, medical, neuropsychological, psychiatric, substance and reading evaluations as well as consultants that come into the District.   

Teaching and Learning:  Ms. Butler noted that Professional Development is essential for the pupil services department.  The staff cooperates with the Professional Development that happens throughout the District, but the staff needs support to enhance learning experiences in terms of learning specific techniques and strategies for students with disabilities.  Ms. Butler noted she is working to tie Special Education Professional Development to the experiences that all teachers are having across the school District; therefore, what is occurring is a general education/special education offering for our staff.  Ms. Butler also spoke of the Curriculum Development that occurs during the summer and its usefulness.

Technology:  Ms. Butler noted that the Assistive Technology in the District has become very sophisticated.  Her team is trained by the State as well as having participated in national level training and use very advanced software programs.  Some students require very specialized technology as part of their IEPs.  The assistive technology team trains other staff within the District to be able to use these devises and programs in their classrooms.  The team consists of an occupational therapist and a fifth grade classroom teacher.  Ms. Butler indicated equipment is becoming outdated.  Computers need to be replaced earlier than anticipated.  

Facilities:  Ms. Butler discussed the space challenges for special education, preschool/kindergarten learning centers, and occupational and physical therapy.     

Ms. Butler discussed the department’s capital equipment needs, which she noted are essential to the operation of the program.  Ms. Butler indicated that there are no longer any monies available in the Federal grant to cover equipment and is now relying on the Capital Equipment Budget to purchase  required materials.
   
    B.    Curriculum and Instruction Budget

Ms. Klebart presented to the Board the Curriculum and Instruction Budget.
 
Student Support:  In support of the Board’s request for additional information regarding the student support requests for the Math Instruction Support Teacher, Remedial Reading/Writing Teacher and Reading Instruction Support Teacher, Ms. Klebart provided the Board with a chart, which she discussed, showing the current level of service for reading and math and the projected level of service with these additional positions for each school.  

Math Instructional Support Teacher:  The Math Instruction Support Teacher would provide full-time math instructional support at McGee, with an increase at each of the elementary schools.   

Remedial Reading/Writing Teacher:  At present, the high school and middle school each have 1.5 reading teachers to support their at-risk readers.  This 1.0 Remedial Reading/Writing Teacher would allow for two full-time teachers at the high school and middle school to support their at-risk readers.

Reading Instructional Support Teacher:  Currently, the two largest elementary schools are each assigned one principal and one assistant principal.  The present schedule allocates .5 of the assistant principals’ time to reading instructional support and .5 of their time to administration responsibilities.  Given the current enrollments and the responsibilities of the administrative team in terms of staff supervision and evaluation, ongoing support to continuous improvement work, and student supervision, it is imperative that the assistant principal be allowed to fully devote their administrative work in these areas.  This additional reading instructional support teacher would be split between Griswold and Willard and would be directly responsible for remedial instruction for Berlin’s most at-risk students.  

In response to Mr. Brochu’s question concerning where the funding for a .5 Reading Instruction Support Teacher at Willard is coming from as noted on the chart Ms. Klebart provided, Dr. Cicchetti responded it is an reallocation of paraprofessional money.  

Kindergarten Paraprofessionals:  As the literacy curriculum is implemented and differentiated instruction is provided to kindergartners, it is essential that kindergarten teachers be able to provide small group literacy instruction to students who come to school with a wide range of experiences.  

Teaching and Learning:  Ms. Klebart indicated Professional Development Funding is significant to the accomplishments of the District.  She provided the Board with an overview of Professional Development activities that have been offered since the beginning of the school year.  The continuous improvement work that is ongoing in the District requires a commitment to professional growth opportunities for teaching staff, administrators and Board of Education members.  

Curriculum Development Funding will support the work of the vertical teams as they review existing curriculum and best practices and subsequently make recommendations for curriculum revisions and writing.  

Duty Professionals will assume non-teaching supervisory responsibilities, allowing administrators to schedule additional grade-level and department common planning time.  Teachers will gain time for professional collaboration and communication, reducing teacher isolation and increasing opportunities for teams to analyze student work and develop model lessons based on shared experiences and best practices.

    C.    District-wide Non-instructional Programs

Mr. Czuchta reported that the salary accounts represent approximately 71% of the total Operational Budget; fringe benefits account for another 13%; and contractually negotiated general wage increases include 2.9% for teachers, 3.0% for paraprofessionals, 3.5% for clerical and custodian staff and 3.5% for administrators.  The ESOL Tutor account has been increased substantially ($53,000) to more accurately reflect services required to address the needs of Berlin’s ESOL population. The Substitute Teacher salary accounts have increased by approximately $20,000 to reflect a proposed daily rate increase for the next year ($5 per day).  Medical insurance is the largest driver in the Fringe Benefits Budget.  Preliminary information given to the District and the Town, from Anthem Blue Cross, projects a rate increase of 8.6%.  The actual budget impact is lessened to 2.3% ($85,756) because of increased Premium Cost Sharing percentages as well as lower than anticipated rate increases for this year tied directly to negotiated plan changes.  This fiscal year, premium cost sharing payments by employees are projected to be $538,900 or 13.5% of total premiums.   

With regard to the Utilities Budget, the electric budget reflects no overall increase over the current year’s amount.  Effective January 1, 2007, the generation rate paid will be locked in for five years through the Region 15 Consortium Bid; however distribution and Federal charges are subject to change.  The natural gas budget is based on average usage levels and a $1.64/ccf cost.  The current cost is approximately $1.46.  In 2007–2008, the budgeted amount was $1.56 per ccf.  The telephone rates are not expected to increase.  Water rates will increase approximately 53% July 1, 2008.  

The increase in the transportation budget for 2008-2009 reflects anticipated daily bus rate increases and higher fuel costs.  Mr. Czuchta indicated negotiations are continuing with New Britain Transportation.  In 2005-2006 Berlin’s per pupil expenditure for transportation was $486, which continues to be low as compared to $517 for the DRG and $558 for the State.   

Mr. Czuchta provided the Board with the budget highlights, Berlin Public Schools 2008 – 2009 budget totals, District Computers Years in Operation and Berlin Board of Education Capital Equipment Requests Historical Data.  With regard to the Board’s Capital Equipment handout, at Mr. Brochu’s request, Mr. Czuchta will confirm figures for certain years.  

    D.    Board of Education Overall Review

The next meeting will take place on February 11, 2008 for the adoption of the budget.  Mr. Brochu noted that the Resources and Capacity Building Committee would meet on Wednesday, January 30, 2008 to continue review of the budget.  Mr. Brochu requested that if anyone needs additional information, materials or has questions, to please let Dr. Cicchetti know and he will coordinate getting information back from the Administrative Team.

VII.    ADJOURNMENT

Moved by Mr. Recck, seconded by Ms. Erickson, to adjourn the meeting at 10:27 p.m.
 
FAVOR:         ALL  
MOTION CARRIED:   8:0

Respectfully submitted,

Michelle Hartel, Secretary, Berlin Board of Education