Board Of Education |
01/09/2006BERLIN BOARD OF EDUCATION January 9, 2006 MINUTES REGULAR MEETING
Attendance: Gary Brochu Julie Erickson Michelle Hartel Diane Mancini Kathleen O’Donnell-Moss Christopher Puzio Anthony Recck John Richards Rachel Rochette Absent
Also in attendance: Superintendent of Schools Michael Cicchetti; Director of Curriculum and Instruction Susan Ford; Director of Business Operations Roman Czuchta; Director of Pupil Personnel Services Margaret Butler; Principal of McGee Middle School Brian Benigni; Principal of Hubbard School Nancy Testori; Principal of Griswold School Laurie Gjerpen; Principal of Berlin High School George Synnott; Principal of Willard School Maureen Walsh; and Assistant Principal of Willard School Thomas Veronesi. I. CALL TO ORDER
Mr. Brochu called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m. in the Board of Education (“the Board”) meeting room at 238 Kensington Road, Berlin, CT.
A. Pledge of Allegiance – Moment of Silence
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by student Nick Gurrieri. A Moment of Silence was observed.
II. BOARD AND ADMINISTRATIVE COMMUNICATIONS
Mr. Recck reported that he attended the PJ Case executive panel last Thursday and listened to families speak there. He will forward the minutes.
Ms. Susan Ford reported that Mike Schmoker will return to the district this week, meeting January 10th with the elementary staff and principals and then on Wednesday January 11th with the secondary level and high school staff, and the administrative council in the afternoon. Ms. Ford has also arranged for Mike Schmoker to offer a session for other districts on Thursday morning. Berlin Board of Education Minutes January 9, 2006 Ms. Margaret Butler reported that the pre-school screenings will take place on January 20 and 21, 2006. We have close to 100 families signed up for the two, three, and four year old screenings.
Mr. Roman Czuchta reported that he has received three responses to our RFP for the demographic and facilities study and has distributed them out to the Boards Resources and Alignment Committee. Mr. Czuchta also informed the Board that the new pre-school booster seats were implemented this past Wednesday. Letters were sent to both parents of students who were being transported as well as those eligible to be transported. He reported that we received three responses from parents asking that their child not be placed in a booster seat, and one response from parents of two children who were not being transported asking for transportation.
Superintendent Cicchetti reported on a social studies class project he received from McGee Middle School teacher Cindy Botticello. Dr. Cicchetti recognized and shared the calendar project Kristine Jutras, kindergarten teacher at Griswold School, did with her class. Dr. Cicchetti commended the students and staff who worked to present the high school’s Madrigal Feaste this past Sunday. He reported that it was a wonderful afternoon featuring acting, and brass and choral music.
Mr. Brochu reported that during the December break Dr. Cicchetti, Mr. Czuchta, and he met with the mayor, town manager, and head of finance to discuss budget preparation, our challenges, as well as a joint direction in going forward and indicated this was productive. Also, the CABE Area Legislative breakfast will take place at the Legislative Office Building on Thursday, February 9, 2006. Mr. Brochu reported he will be in Washington, D.C. the first week in February for two conferences: a leadership conference with one of the seminars on the Iowa lighthouse study, which was included in the last Board packet, and the second on the Federal Relations Network.
III. STUDENT PRESENTATION – MCGEE MIDDLE SCHOOL
McGee Middle School Advisor Ted Mangi and student presenters Woody Shattuck, Chris Kolodziej, Emily Carroll, Justin Dubree, Adam Becker, Liz O’Donnell and Nick Gurrieri presented to the Board information regarding the McGee FIRST LEGO League. Mr. Mangi reported that the McGee FIRST LEGO league team works cooperatively to solve real-world problems through robot design and research. This process allows students to demonstrate their problem solving skills, creative thinking, teamwork, competitive play, sportsmanship, and a sense of community. Berlin Board of Education Minutes January 9, 2006
IV. AUDIENCE OF CITIZENS
John Brochu, 86 Cottage Street, Berlin, CT came before the Board regarding the McGee School baseball and softball programs. He requested that another assistant coach be hired for safety reasons. Currently, there is one full time coach for the boy’s baseball and girl’s softball programs as well one full time assistant coach, which is split between the two programs. Mr. Brochu felt it was virtually impossible for one coach, on days when they are alone, to adequately coach and still supervise all the players. Superintendent Cicchetti indicated that we are aware of these concerns of the parents and coach. Mr. Benigni indicated that he is working with Athletic Director Jim Day to do a breakdown of all sports, district wide, looking at where the priorities are in putting an assistant coach in place as well as some possible intramural monies available for this season.
V. CONSENT AGENDA
A. Approval of Minutes 1. Regular Meeting of December 12, 2005
MOTION FOR CONSIDERATION: MOVE to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of December 12, 2005 as presented.
B. Payment of Bills – Period ending November 30, 2005
MOTION FOR CONSIDERATION: MOVE that the bills for the period ending November 30, 2005, including payroll totaling $2,883,607.88, of which Town is $2,813,496.09, Federal is $69,087.94, Building Use is $333.88, Olive Selden is $524.80, and Afternoon Adventures is $165.17, listed for payment or already paid for in accordance with standard fiscal procedure be approved for payment.
C. Out-of-State Field Trip Requests – Willard School
MOTION FOR CONSIDERATION: MOVE to approve the request of Principal Maureen Walsh, to allow grade 5 students to travel to Nature’s Classroom in Charlton, MA on January 23-27, 2006 and grade 4 students to travel to the Boston Science Museum in Boston, MA on May 26, 2006.
Moved by Mr. Recck, seconded by Ms. Mancini, to approve the consent agenda as presented.
FAVOR: ALL MOTION CARRIED: 7:0
Berlin Board of Education Minutes January 9, 2006
VI. PERSONNEL
A. Appointments
1. Speech Pathologist .4 – Hubbard School
Moved by Mrs. O’Donnell-Moss, seconded by Ms. Erickson to accept the appointment of Ms. Joan Schmidt as .4 speech pathologist at Hubbard School.
FAVOR: ALL MOTION CARRIED: 7:0
2. School Psychologist .5 – Berlin High School
Moved by Ms. Erickson, seconded by Mr. Puzio, to accept the appointment of Mr. Joshua Shifrin as .5 school psychologist at Berlin High School.
FAVOR: ALL MOTION CARRIED: 7:0
B. Retirements
Moved by Mr. Richards, seconded by Mr. Recck, to accept the retirement of Ms. Maureen Walsh, Principal at Willard School, effective January 31, 2006, and her “rehiring” as the acting principal of the school through the end of the 2005-06 school year, subject to the approval of the State Department of Education. Also to thank her for the thirty-seven (37) years of service she has provided to educating the youth of Berlin and to wish her a long and healthy retirement.
FAVOR: ALL MOTION CARRIED: 7:0
Moved by Mr. Richards, seconded by Mr. Recck, to accept the retirement of Mr. Thomas Veronesi, Assistant Principal at Willard School, effective January 31, 2006, and his “rehiring” as the acting assistant principal of the school until no later than January 31, 2007, subject to the approval of the State Department of Education.
Ms. Walsh and Mr. Veronesi extended their appreciation for the opportunities they have received over the past 37 years and 39 years of service respectively. Ms. Walsh indicated she was thankful for the great time she has had during this time period and Mr. Veronesi indicated that the Board of Education is one of the major functions of the Town and he will continue to support it. Berlin Board of Education Minutes January 9, 2006
VII. INFORMATION AND REPORTS
A. Activity Fund Reports 1. Berlin High School Enterprise Fund – Period ending November 30, 2005 2. Berlin Public Schools Activity Fund – Period ending November 30, 2005 3. Cafeteria Fund – Period ending November 30, 2005
No motion is necessary for these reports. Please note with interest.
VIII. RECOMMENDED ACTION
A. Policy Revisions 1. Policy BCE – Permanent Committees – 1st Reading 2. Policy BCEA – Leadership, Accountability and Measurement Committee – 1st Reading 3. Policy BCEB – Communications and Alignment Committee – 1st Reading 4. Policy BCEC – Resources and Capacity Building Committee – 1st Reading
At the December 12, 2005 Board of Education meeting, a new committee structure was proposed and discussed. The policy revisions listed above reflect those changes. The first reading and discussion of these revisions took place. The second reading will take place at the next Board meeting on January 23, 2006 at which time a recommendation will be made to adopt the new policies.
IX. 2006-2007 PROPOSED BUDGET PRESENTATION
A. Superintendent’s Budget Presentation
Superintendent Cicchetti presented his proposed 2006-07 budget to the Board, which was distributed to all present. Dr. Cicchetti note that his letter in the budget document provided pertinent information for understanding the budget request. The presentation was guided by the budget priorities that were identified this fall by the Board and Administrative Council. This was the first overview of the budget and Dr.. Cicchetti indicated he was pleased to present bring it to the Board. He recognized and thanked the administration team and staff in each of the schools, as well as the central office team for their efforts in building the budget and providing extensive backup material. Dr.
Berlin Board of Education Minutes January 9, 2006
Cicchetti specifically recognized Roman Czuchta for his work, his accuracy, and the tremendous amount of support in creating a slightly different budget document this year.
Dr. Cicchetti reported that the proposed budget has an overall increase of $2,216,843 or 7.18% from last year, which represents a 6.87% increase to maintain the current level of services and a 0.309% increase for new staff/programs. The proposed budget reflects what he feels are priority needs for improving student achievement and success, which is the Board’s overall goal focus area. Dr. Cicchetti outlined the components of the increase in the Operational Budget to maintain the current level of services. Dr. Cicchetti reported that the reduction in the amount of supplies, textbooks, and materials reflects the reallocation of athletic supplies, and not classroom supplies and textbooks. He reported that the contractual obligations for certified and non-certified staff, benefit costs associates with collective bargaining agreements and utilities were the major budget drivers. Utilities were a major factor since previous years’ increases averaged less than 0.2%, compared with the almost 1.4% increase for next year. At a joint meeting of Town and Board of Education leadership, the way utilities increases would be determined was discussed.
Dr. Cicchetti reviewed the New Staff/Programs Requests which represented a 0.309% increase to the budget as well as the New Staff/Programs Request Considered but Not Included. Dr. Cicchetti cited national school improvement leader Michael Fullan’s belief that districts need to focus on literacy, numeracy and emotional intelligence.
Dr. Cicchetti noted that the gap between Berlin’s per pupil spending and the State average per pupil spending is $1,500.00. In order for Berlin to meet the State “average” for per pupil spending, an additional $4.8 million would need to be added to the budget. This would equate to an additional 15.6% increase above and beyond the 7.18% he is requesting.
As the Board moves forward in their budget development process, they will have individual presentations from the elementary, middle school and high school administrations as well as Margaret Butler on special education and Roman Czuchta on some of the district programs. These presentations will allow more in-depth discussion and questions. Dr. Cicchetti, on behalf of the entire administrative team, conveyed his support of the Board in providing information that would help them finalize their 2006-07 Budget for submission to the Town.
Berlin Board of Education Minutes January 9, 2006
Mr. Richards directed several questions regarding the Proposed Budget asking that the administration provide responses, either through Board communications or in the upcoming presentations. He appreciated the work that went into developing the budget.
Ms. Hartel, Mrs. Mancini, Mrs. Erickson, and Mr. Brochu conveyed their appreciation to the entire administrative team and Dr. Cicchetti for the work they did in preparing the budget. They conveyed favorable comments regarding the streamlined budget document and use of budget priorities this year.
Moved by Mrs. O’Donnell-Moss, seconded by Mr. Recck, to adjourn the meeting at 8:55 p.m.
FAVOR: ALL MOTION CARRIED: 7:0
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