BERLIN BOARD OF EDUCATION
July 21, 2008
MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING

Attendance:      Gary Brochu                      
        Julie Erickson                                  
        Michelle Hartel           
        Gary Lukens                                        
        Kathleen O’Donnell-Moss            
        Christopher Puzio            Arrived at 7:40 p.m.               
        Anthony Recck            Arrived at 8:05 p.m.        
        John Richards                    

Also in attendance:  Superintendent of Schools Dr. Michael Cicchetti and Athletic Director James Day.

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.  A Moment of Silence was observed.

II.    BOARD AND ADMINISTRATIVE COMMUNICATIONS

Ms. Erickson reported cafeteria negotiations continue with another meeting scheduled for Wednesday evening. 

Ms. O’Donnell-Moss requested any Board member interested in participating as a school liaison to email her with their school preference.  Ms. O’Donnell-Moss reported on the principal search for Willard School and the committee interviews that were conducted this past Friday.  Ms. O’Donnell-Moss reminded the Board that the Community Theater is performing Oklahoma at the high school this weekend with all proceeds going to the UpBeat Program.

Ms. Hartel reported that, as a parent, she has received the district’s paperwork for children entering kindergarten and thanked the Central Office for the organization and ease in completing same.  Dr. Cicchetti said he would convey her sentiments to the staff.

Mr. Richards reported on his attendance at the Public Building Commission’s meeting on Wednesday, July 16, 2008, which will be addressed later in the agenda.  Mr. Richards reported that a preliminary meeting was held this evening with the Town Council concerning the upcoming administrators’ contract negotiations.

Dr. Cicchetti reported on his attendance last week at a school law institute at Columbia University and thanked the Board for the opportunity to participate in the program.  Dr. Cicchetti provided a preliminary overview of the district’s spring CAPT and CMT testing results.  Dr. Cicchetti indicated a comprehensive report will be provided to the Board in the early fall concerning these results. 

Mr. Brochu reported on the principal search for Willard School, noting the committee did an excellent job during the interviews on Friday.  Parents, teachers and the administration were involved and insightful.  Mr. Brochu reported CABE’s fifth annual Leadership Institute will be held this fall, noting this is a worthwhile experience for Board members.
 
III.    AUDIENCE OF CITIZENS

Mike Baczewski, 61 Robbins Road, Berlin, Connecticut addressed the Board concerning his Lead America experience, commenting it was one of the best experiences of his life.  Mr. Baczewski participated in a ten-day youth leadership conference at Catholic University in Washington, D.C., participating in a mock world stage conference on Intelligence and National Security.  Mr. Baczewski shared highlights of his experience:  meeting Senator John Larsen; a private tour of the Capital; watching fireworks from the Jefferson Memorial; and visiting the Pentagon and the September 11 memorial.  Dr. Cicchetti commended Mike on his determination and hard work in raising funds to support his trip to Washington.   

IV.    CONSENT AGENDA
A.    Approval of Minutes 
1.    Regular Meeting of June 23, 2008

2.    Special Meeting of June 9, 2008

3.    Special Meeting of July 7, 2008

B.    Resignations

Stephanie Junker, teacher of World Language at Berlin High School, has submitted her letter of resignation that became effective June 30, 2008.

Michele Juers-Durkee, teacher of grade four at Emma Hart Willard Elementary School, has submitted her letter of resignation that became effective July 1, 2008.

Moved by Ms. Erickson, seconded by Mr. Lukens, to accept the consent agenda as presented.

FAVOR:  ALL
MOTION CARRIED:  5:0

V.      INFORMATION AND REPORTS
A.    Berlin High School Athletics League Affiliation

In April of 2008, Berlin High School made application to join the Central Connecticut Conference (CCC) along with seven other schools from the Northwest Conference:  Plainville, Northwest Catholic, East Catholic, RHAM, Middletown, St. Paul and Sports Medicine and Science Academy.  Participation in the CCC will provide Berlin High School student athletes with greater diversity among competing schools and expand their opportunities to gain All-State honors.   It would also allow the CCC to create more competitive balance in the league.  Berlin High School Athletics Director James Day and the East Catholic Athletics Director were selected to represent the Northwest Conference at meetings this summer during which the merger will be discussed.  Mr. Day provided a status report for the Board regarding the application process and timeline and answered questions from the Board.  Mr. Day will be meeting next Wednesday with representatives of CCC to begin to put together a format that would benefit all the schools.  Mr. Day reported for this process to be beneficial to Berlin and the CCC, the timeline for this to begin would be the fall of 2009.

    B.    Educational Specifications for the New High School – Status Report

Resources and Capacity-building Committee Chairperson John Richards reported on the Public Building Commission’s meeting held last Wednesday, July 16, 2008, wherein three highly qualified architectural firms Fletcher Thompson, JCJ Architecture and Kaestle Boos Associates, Inc. were invited to attend, present and be interviewed by the Public Building Commission.   Mr. Richards reported the Board is in a positive position since three qualified architectural firms have come forward.  The Building Commission will select a firm at its July 24 meeting.  Following that, the Town Council will consider cost estimates for the architect the Commission has chosen to consider the funding for essentially the first phase of the design to move forward to referendum.  At this point, Mr. Richards noted the timeline is on track for submission to the State by June 30, 2009. 

C.    Technology Bond – Status Report

There was no information to report at this time.

D.      Status of Board of Education Vacancy

Mr. Brochu noted that the Board of Education currently has a vacancy resulting from Mr. Lutz’s recent move to Southington.  While the Board has the option to interview candidates and fill the vacancy, the Charter does not require the Board to fill the vacancy.  A discussion took place as to whether or not the Board wishes to fill this vacancy, which will be on the November ballot.  After a discussion concerning same, it was the unanimous decision of the Board to not fill the position until the November election.  The Board felt it would be doing a disservice since any new candidate would only serve for one or two meetings given the timeline for completing a search and interview process. 

VI.    RECOMMENDED ACTION – PART 1

Accompanying the agenda were proposed revised documents for Policy ECBA – Pesticide Application on School Property; Policy JHCD – Administration of Student Medications in the Schools; Policy JFCK – Bullying Behavior in the Schools; Policy JHCE – Life Threatening Food Allergies; Policy JB – Non-Discrimination (Students); and Policy JO – Confidentiality and Access to Student Records for the Board’s consideration and action.  Also accompanying the agenda for consideration and action was proposed new Policy IIAE – Parental Access to Instructional Material.  Dr. Cicchetti requested that the Board approve the policies that evening since student/parent handbooks needed to be printed for the coming school year.  With the exception of the new policy, the other six policies reflected technical revisions as suggested by the Board’s counsel, Shipman & Goodwin.  The approval would allow the district to communicate the most current policy information to parents.  Mr. Brochu advised the Board that Policy BFC allows the Board to temporarily approve a policy, which will go into effect upon approval and then re-ratify the policy at its next meeting.  Board Policy BFF allows the Board to suspend any of its policies with a unanimous vote of the Board.  It was the unanimous decision of the Board to temporarily adopt the policies, which will be re-ratified at the Board’s next meeting on August 18, 2008.
 
    A.    Board of Education Policies
1.    New – Policy IIAE – Parental Access to Instructional Material
2.    Revisions
a.  Policy ECBA – Pesticide Application on School Property
b.    Policy JHCD – Administration of Student Medications in the Schools
c.    Policy JFCK – Bullying Behavior in the Schools
d.    Policy JHCE – Life Threatening Food Allergies
e.    Policy JB – Non-Discrimination (Students)
f.    Policy JO – Confidentiality and Access to Student Records

Moved by Ms. O’Donnell-Moss, seconded by Mr. Lukens, to adopt the new Policy IIAE and the revisions to Policies ECBA, JHCD, JFCK, JHCE, JB and JO as presented.       

FAVOR:        ALL
MOTION CARRIED:  7:0

VII.    EXECUTIVE SESSION

At 8:22 p.m., a motion was made by Ms. Erickson, seconded by Mr. Recck, to go into Executive Session to discuss materials relative to (1) negotiations for cafeteria employees and administrators and (2) the evaluation of the Superintendent of Schools. 

FAVOR:        ALL
MOTION CARRIED:  7:0

In attendance for Executive Session were Board members Brochu, Erickson, Hartel, Lukens, O’Donnell-Moss, Puzio, Recck and Richards.  In addition, Dr. Cicchetti was present for the discussions.
 
At 9:39 p.m., a motion was made by Mr. Lukens, seconded by Mr. Recck, to return to regular session with recommended action.

FAVOR:    ALL
MOTION CARRIED:  7:0

VIII.     RECOMMENDED ACTION – PART 2
    B.     Anticipated Election of Superintendent to New Three-Year Term

As stipulated in the Superintendent’s contract, the Board of Education shall decide, in accordance with the provisions of 10-157 of the General Statutes, whether to elect the Superintendent to a new three-year term.

Moved by Mr. Recck, seconded by Ms. O’Donnell-Moss, that the Board of Education elect Michael T. Cicchetti to a new three-year term as Superintendent of Schools for the period July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2011, subject to the finalization of the terms of his contract.

FAVOR:    ALL
MOTION CARRIED:  8:0

IX.    ADJOURNMENT

Moved by Mr. Recck, seconded by Ms. Erickson, to adjourn the meeting at 9:41 p.m.
 
FAVOR:         ALL  
MOTION CARRIED:  7:0

Respectfully submitted,

Michelle Hartel, Secretary, Berlin Board of Education

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