Board Of Education |
05/08/2006BERLIN BOARD OF EDUCATION May 8, 2006 MINUTES REGULAR MEETING
Attendance: Gary Brochu Julie Erickson Michelle Hartel Diane Mancini Kathleen O’Donnell-Moss Christopher Puzio Anthony Recck Absent John Richards Rachel Rochette Arrived at 7:14 p.m.
Also in attendance: Director of Curriculum and Instruction Susan Ford; Director of Business Operations Roman Czuchta; Principal of Griswold School Laurie Gjerpen; Principal of Hubbard School Nancy Testori; Principal of McGee Middle School Brian Benigni; Assistant Principal of McGee Middle School Brenda Janik; Dean of Students James Sachs; and Director of Pupil Personnel Services Margaret Butler.
I. CALL TO ORDER
Mr. Brochu called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. in the Board of Education (“the Board”) meeting room at 238 Kensington Road, Berlin, CT. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by student, Cara Johnson. A Moment of Silence was observed. Mr. Brochu informed the Board that the Superintendent would not be in attendance at the meeting due to his daughter’s Confirmation ceremony that evening.
II. BOARD AND ADMINISTRATIVE COMMUNICATIONS
Ms. Ford reported that she has been meeting with the elementary science teachers to develop consensus maps for the science curriculum. The district’s efforts with Atlas Rubicon provided a baseline for these curriculum decisions. Teachers, next year, can work on their maps to make that curriculum their own. This gives us a guaranteed and viable curriculum for science in the elementary schools. Ms. Ford reported that as part of this, our libraries are going through the old science books and those that have good and accurate information will be placed in classroom libraries. Ms. Ford also reported that a milestone has been passed as we did our first technology survey via the intranet email, which is a first for Berlin.
Mr. Czuchta reported that the folding doors at Griswold School and Willard School have been approved by the Council and in the process of being ordered for installation. Mr. Czuchta reported that the boiler bid at the high school was awarded. Mr. Czuchta also reported that authority was granted from the State to move forward with the bid for the roof at the high school.
Ms. Erickson reported that on Monday, June 5, 2006, at 6 p.m. there will be a memorial tree planting in honor of Thomas Manchesi, a Berlin High School student who died last fall.
Mr. Puzio reported on his attendance at the CABE conference on April 27, 2006 concerning Wellness. Mr. Puzio also reported that on June 1, 2006 at 6:30 p.m. Hubbard School will be hosting an art exhibition.
Ms. Hartel reported that the Leadership, Accountability and Measurement Committee meeting for May 9, 2006 has been postponed. Ms. Hartel reported on the last meeting held indicating the committee began work on developing the review/evaluation processes for the Superintendent and for the Board. Ms. Hartel will be putting together more information regarding these two items. Berlin Board of Education Minutes May 8, 2006
Mr. Richards thanked Ms. Erickson for standing in for him for the Guidance Director search. Mr. Richards also reported on his travel to Dover, New Hampshire to meet with the principal candidate for Willard School. Lastly, Mr. Richards reported that the Resources and Capacity-building Committee met last week as did the Council, which will be reported further in the meeting.
Mr. Brochu reported that on May 24, 2006 from 2:00 – 6:00 P.M. CABE is presenting a seminar entitled Data Driven School Improvement Strategies at the Hawthorne Inn. Anyone interested in attending should contact the administration. Mr. Brochu also reported on May 17, 2006 at 4:00 p.m. there will be a tree planting ceremony at the CABE office in Wethersfield in recognition of its 100th anniversary of the organization. Mr. Brochu also reported that with the many position searches we are involved in it is extremely important that Board members check their schedules well in advance to make sure they can attend the meetings. If they are unable to attend, the should contact Dr. Cicchetti, another board member or Mr. Brochu to make sure there is Board representation. Mr. Brochu indicated it is important that the Board participate in this process.
III. STUDENT PRESENTATION – CATHERINE M. MCGEE MIDDLE SCHOOL
Principal of McGee Middle School Brian Benigni and Dean of Students James Sachs presented the Board with a handout entitled Student and Teacher Perspectives on Catherine M. McGee Middle School with a Focus Group of Berlin High School Freshmen 2005 – 2006 as well as shared a video of the focus group of current BHS ninth grade students. Mr. Benigni reported that a cross section of fifteen students were invited back to McGee and asked a series of questions regarding their experiences at McGee Middle School to determine where the school has shown success and areas in need of improvement in an effort to create an optimum learning environment. The session was videotaped, viewed and then discussed by school personnel and the PTO. Teachers and parents were also surveyed and asked to reflect upon similar areas as the focus group. These surveys were contained in the handout provided. These results were tabulated, graphed and compared among the three groups. Mr. Benigni and Mr. Sachs shared the survey results from the McGee parents, students, and teachers and shared parts of the videotape dealing with the student focus group discussion questions. The initiative for this focus group was a recommendation made at the Harvard Change Leadership Training attended by Mr. Benigni and Mr. Sachs last November.
IV. AUDIENCE OF CITIZENS
Donna Bovee, 85 Steepleview Drive, Berlin, Connecticut, chairperson of the Berlin PAC, addressed the Board concerning the Town budget and the Town Council’s meeting tomorrow night and what she expects from the Board of Education dealing with the cuts that are coming, which she feels will be severe. Ms. Bovee asked the Board of Education to consider putting back into the budget charges for certain outside organizations to be saved for education; however, Ms. Bovee does not believe that any town departments should be charged for use of schools, such as Parks and Recreation and nor should Parks and Recreation charge the schools. Ms. Bovee asked the Board to take a look at this year’s expenses, with two months to go, and determine if any spending controls can be put into place now that minimally affect current services that can offset some of the tax increase. Ms. Bovee asked that if there are options on the table for additional monies, i.e. grants, etc., that we need to be aggressive and open to everyone’s ideas. Ms. Bovee also asked that the Board look at non-budgeted items that may have been spent this year and to determine if they are in next year’s numbers can they be pulled out as part Berlin Board of Education Minutes May 8, 2006
of the reduction in costs. Ms. Bovee asked that the Board of Education and the Town Council work together after listening last Tuesday night to the citizens of the town. Mr. Bovee expressed her trust in the Board of Education, as well as in this Town Council.
V. CONSENT AGENDA A. Approval of Minutes 1. Regular Meeting of April 24, 2006
MOTION FOR CONSIDERATION: MOVE to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of April 24, 2006 as presented.
2. Special Meeting of April 11, 2006
MOTION FOR CONSIDERATION: MOVE to approve the minutes of the special meeting of April 11, 2006 as presented.
B. Payment of Bills – Period ending April 30, 2006
MOTION FOR CONSIDERATION: MOVE that the bills for the period ending April 30, 2006, including payroll totaling $2,485,090.82, of which Town is $2,422,345.85, Federal is $56,751.57, Building Use is $222.19, and Afternoon Adventures is $5,771.21, listed for payment or already paid for in accordance with standard fiscal procedure be approved for payment.
Moved by Mr. Richards, seconded by Ms. Rochette, to approve the consent agenda as presented.
FAVOR: ALL MOTION CARRIED: 7:0
VI. PERSONNEL A. Resignation
Ms. Susan Ford presented the notice of Mr. Kevin Jameson’s intention to resign as teacher of Integrated Language Arts at Catherine M. McGee Middle School, effective June 30, 2006.
Moved by Ms. O’Donnell-Moss, seconded by Ms. Mancini, to accept the resignation of Mr. Kevin Jameson, teacher of Integrated Language Arts at Catherine M. McGee Middle School, effective June 30, 2006. Also to thank him for the ten years of service he has provided to educating the youth of Berlin and to wish him well in his future endeavors.
FAVOR: ALL MOTION CARRIED: 7:0
B. Request for Childrearing Leave
Ms. Susan Ford presented the request of Mr. Richard Peronace, Jr., teacher of Social Studies at Berlin High School, to take a childrearing leave for the 2006 – 2007 school year.
Berlin Board of Education Minutes May 8, 2006
Moved by Ms. Mancini, seconded by Ms. Erickson, to approve the request of Mr. Richard Peronace, Jr., for a childrearing leave for the 2006-2007 school year.
FAVOR: ALL MOTION CARRIED: 7:0
VII. INFORMATION AND REPORTS A. Status of the Board of Education’s Adopted Budget for 2006-07
Mr. John Richards, Chairperson of the Resources and Capacity-building Committee, provided Board members with an update regarding the status of the Board’s Adopted Budget for 2006-07. Mr. Richards reported on the results of the discussion held last Tuesday, prior to the Town Council’s meeting on May 10. The Resources Committee met and considered items that were presented by the administration. Mr. Richards reminded Board members of the $150,000.00 reduction in the Operating Budget made prior to referendum. This reduction has been addressed through transfers in special education tuition as some students have been brought back to the district. Mr. Richards reported on other possible areas for reduction, including staffing based on lower than anticipated enrollments (kindergarten) and class sizes (second grade). Mr. Richards shared his thoughts on the impact of reductions based on the amount set by the Council, ranging from $300,000 to $900,000. Mr. Brochu indicated, in fairness, that there has been no indication regarding the size of the reduction and that cuts this large are highly unlikely. Mr. Richards indicated how damaging this could be to our existing programs, and what the Board and district would like to accomplish in the future will depend on the size of the cuts.
B. PowerPoint Presentation on Griswold School’s Partnership with New Britain High School
Students and teachers from Griswold Elementary School and New Britain High School presented information as well as a PowerPoint presentation related to their partnered learning activities this year. They were awarded a Pupil Partners Mini-Grant by the Capital Region Education Council, funded by the State Department of Education, for the purpose of promoting diversity between urban and suburban schools while promoting educational excellence. The teacher planners of this grant were Anita M. Skutnik, Ceramic Arts instructor at NBHS and Griswold School first grade teacher, Amy Kulak. Also participating were Griswold first grade teachers Ms. Nicole Boutot, Mrs. Jamie Beckman, Mrs. Helen Hastings; Mr. Richard Hudson, third grade teacher; Ms. Nicole Artemisia, art teacher; and Mrs. Christina Reilly-Fazzina, music teacher.
Students presenting from Griswold School were: Nathan Graves, Andrew Luczak, Quintin Meyer, Hannah Lavoie, Cassandra Pagliaruli, Brooke Strobino, Kyra Daigle, Cara Johnson and Bridget Fox. Students presenting from New Britain High School were: Marta Dabrowski, Mary Dubrosky, Alysia Feducia and Krilies Melendez. Berlin Board of Education Minutes May 8, 2006
C. English Language Learners (ELL) Report
Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Susan Ford, reviewed the status of the 2005-2006 English as a Second Language program with an emphasis on the high school program. Ms. Ford introduced Abigail Hunting, ELL teacher at the high school, who spoke of her experience teaching the ELL students. A focus group video was shown interviewing students from Brown University to illustrate what it is like to be an ELL student in a high school.
Ms. Ford gave a PowerPoint presentation outlining BICS (Basic Interpersonal Communication Skills) and CALP (Cognitive Academic Language Proficiency); the four stages students go through to achieve second language acquisition; and the factors that influence second language acquisition. Ms. Ford discussed the goals of ELLs, basic conditions of language development and the number of students in the individual schools speaking a language other than English.
Ms. Ford explained that it is very difficult to separate student needs with respect to Special Education, language, and language acquisition. Ms. Ford reported that the district is making wonderful progress and that she is very proud of what the Ms. Hunting and the tutors are doing. Both Ms. Ford and Ms. Hunting answered questions from Board members.
VIII. RECOMMENDED ACTION A. Beginning Educator Support Team (BEST) Candidates
Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Susan Ford, presented the following candidates for certification in the BEST program: Jim Arnold, Nicole Artemisia, Laurie Averill, Cindy Botticello, Bob Burke, Diane Cleary, Claire Cloukey, Amanda Gagnon, Sandrine Grave, Helen Hastings, John Line, Steve Matyczyk, Lisa Michetti, Lisa Orabi, Chris Reilly-Fazzina, Chris Strickland, and Barbara Ventura. Once trained, these teachers will be eligible to serve as cooperating teachers for student teachers and mentors for our new hires. A memo from Ms. Ford, listing the teachers with their school and assignment, was provided.
Moved by Ms. O’Donnell-Moss, seconded by Ms. Mancini, to approve the Beginning Educator Support Team (BEST) candidates as presented.
FAVOR: ALL MOTION CARRIED: 7:0 Berlin Board of Education Minutes May 8, 2006
IX. EXECUTIVE SESSION
At 9:04 p.m., a motion was made by Ms. Rochette, seconded by Mr. Richards, to go into Executive Session to discuss documents relating to negotiations with aides and to discuss a board member’s performance of board responsibilities.
FAVOR: ALL MOTION CARRIED: 7:0
Discussion topics were:
A. Negotiations with Aides: In addition to the Board, Director of Business Operations Roman Czuchta was present until 9:17 P.M. for this discussion.
B. Discussion Regarding a Board Member’s Performance of Board Responsibilities
At 9:49 p.m., a motion was made by Mr. Richards, seconded by Ms. Hartel, to leave Executive Session.
FAVOR: ALL MOTION CARRIED: 7:0
X. ADJOURNMENT
Moved by Mr. Richards, seconded by Mr. Puzio, to adjourn the meeting at 9:50p.m.
FAVOR: ALL MOTION CARRIED: 7:0
Respectfully submitted,
Michelle Hartel, Secretary
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