BERLIN BOARD OF EDUCATION

January 17, 2006

MINUTES

SPECIAL MEETING

Attendance:      Gary Brochu

                        Julie Erickson  

                        Michelle Hartel                                     Absent

                        Diane Mancini                                       

                        Kathleen O’Donnell-Moss

                        Christopher Puzio                                             Absent

                        Anthony Recck

                        John Richards                                                  

                        Rachel Rochette                      

Also in attendance:  Superintendent of Schools Dr. Michael Cicchetti; Director of Curriculum and Instruction Susan Ford; Director of Business Operations Roman Czuchta; Director of Pupil Personnel Services Margaret Butler; Principal of Hubbard School Nancy Testori; Principal of Griswold School Laurie Gjerpen; and Principal of Willard School Maureen Walsh.

I.                                                        

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.        BUDGET PRESENTATIONS

A.                 Elementary Principals’

The three Elementary School Principals presented the Board with their Budget requests for the 2006/2007 school year.  They are requesting a full-time Developmental Guidance Counselor that the elementary schools would share.  The Counselor would give support to an increasing number of students entering school with special needs. 

They are also requesting a 1.0 Reading/Language Arts Coordinator – District Wide, which will have a heavy involvement at the elementary level, who would work particularly close with Hubbard School because this position is funded in half by a reallocation of a remedial resource position at Hubbard.  A Reading/Language Arts Coordinator would guarantee a curriculum, district-wide, for all children, all of our schools would share the same vision of successful literacy for all students, and there would be support for teachers, administration and staff. 

They are also requesting a 1.0 Math Coordinator that the elementary schools would share.  The Math Coordinator would spend time in classrooms, demonstrating lessons to build

Berlin Board of Education

Special Board Meeting

January 17, 2006

teachers’ strategies in teaching the new math.  This Math Coordinator would work with the principals and analyze student performance data, working with teams of teachers and provide professional development.   

All three spoke of the student enrollment at their schools and concern over the space available.    

Mrs. Walsh, Principal, Willard School reviewed the Operational cost requests and enrollment projections.  In addition to the shared Guidance Counselor, 1.0 Reading/Language Arts Coordinator – District Wide and 1.0 Math Coordinator - Elementary also requested is a 1.0 Grade 2 Teacher. 

Ms. Gjerpen, Principal, Griswold School reviewed the Operational cost requests and enrollment projections.  She reported having a net change of no new teachers at this point.  She reported that they have the room for a full time third grade classroom or a half time kindergarten class.  In addition to the shared Guidance Counselor, 1.0 Reading/Language Arts Coordinator – District Wide and 1.0 Math Coordinator - Elementary also requested is a .5 Special Education Teacher to support four students who are returning to their home school that have autism or are behavioral challenged.  This half-time teacher will support direct instruction, discrete trial instruction and inclusion activities for these student who require a very individualized approach in order to benefit from instruction.

Mrs. Testori, Principal, Hubbard School reviewed the Operational cost requests and enrollment projections.  She also reported having a net change of no teachers at this point.  Ms. Testori discussed the request for the need of trained Kindergarten Aides district wide to support both teachers and students.

Ms. Ford and Ms. Gjerpen discussed the request for continued Professional Development Funding as to the administration and as to teachers to continue the commitment to professional growth opportunities for teaching staff, administrators and Board of Education members. 

Dr. Cicchetti discussed the request of a Data Specialist indicating the continuous improvement work depends on teachers’ ongoing assessment of students and common assessments.  We need benchmarks throughout the year, and we need someone to help us organize data, make sure it is assessable to teachers, assist principals and coordinators in looking at results and translate how instruction should change in the classroom.  It is such an essential component to continuous improvement work that we need a Data Specialist to support us in this. 

Berlin Board of Education

Special Board Meeting

January 17, 2006

Ms. Gjerpen discussed the request for the critical need for technology that supports both student learning and management/operations.

Mrs. Testori noted the continued support that is received from their respective PTO Groups.  She praised the efforts of the PTO and expressed how vital the PTO, both with manpower and monetarily, and thanked them for all they contribute, in the contributions to field trips, running the publishing center, funding the library with books, and as parent volunteers helping in the classrooms.  

III.       ADJOURNMENT

Moved by Mr. Recck, seconded by Mrs. O’Donnell-Moss, to adjourn the meeting at 9:48 p.m. 

FAVOR:         ALL

MOTION CARRIED:  6:0