Town of Rocky Hill
Board of Education
Page 1
TOWN OF ROCKY HILL
BOARD OF EDUCATION
MEETING OF
Members Present: Nadine Bell (Chairman)
Kirk Bostwick
Neil Geldof
Charles McMonigle
Francis Palazzolo
Anne Schmidt
Catherine Vargas
Jennifer Viggiano-Grosse
Members Absent: Peter Arico
A meeting of the Board of Education was held on
The pledge of allegiance was recited.
Moved by Mrs. Schmidt, seconded by Mr.
McMonigle, to accept the minutes of the January 15, 2004, Board of Education meeting,
the January 22, 2004, Budget Workshop, and the January 14, 2004, Curriculum
Committee meeting.
On Page 3, first line, after “Courtney” add
“Gutteridge”. On Page 5 of the
Moved by Mrs. Vargas, seconded by Ann Schmidt, to table the approval of
the
FAVOR: ALL
MOTION CARRIED
Town of Rocky Hill
Board of Education
Page 2
For the
“five” to “four”. In the third line, add “Engineering and” after “Civil”. On Page 6, after the fifth paragraph, add a list of the items the Board unanimously approved at that point in time and moved beyond for the items the Board stated as an exception. Those were: health insurance, ($121,000), one section of high school Spanish IV ($10,520), high school digital electronics ($19,225), elementary math textbooks and supplies ($21,058), third technology lease ($50,000), field trips (50% restoration) ($10,477), assistant principal at West Hill ($91,600), special education placeholder ($30,000), high school math textbooks and curriculum development ($6,990), library books and periodicals ($3,757), high school music technology II ($9,039), high school PE equipment, treadmill ($3,000), high school co-curricular rental ($1,000), high school athletics equipment, sound system ($2,400), summer school ($21,800), high school music equipment, rehearsal chairs (50% reduction) $4,347), magnet school tuition (GHAMAS) ($18,000), increase student technology support - $7,400.
Moved by Mrs. Schmidt, seconded by Mr.
Geldof, to table the approval of
the
FAVOR: ALL
MOTION
CARRIED
Moved by Mrs. Schmidt, seconded by Mrs.
Vargas, to accept the minutes of the
FAVOR: ALL
MOTION
CARRIED
A thank you note was received from Susan Ostroski for
flowers. A letter of appreciation was
sent to
AUDIENCE
PARTICIPATION
RHTA Liaison
Committee
Town of Rocky Hill
Board of Education
Page 3
There was no report.
West Hill reporters, Jennifer Mouland and Emily Janusko, stated that report cards for the second marking period just went out last week. Crazy Hair Day was held. The student senate has designated one day a month as a Spirit Day for the entire school. Students are also donating neckties for an upcoming event. To celebrate the first 100 days of school, Kindergarten students are bringing in canned goods. Their goal is to reach 100 cans before February 11, day 100. The canned goods will be donated to the Rocky Hill Food Pantry.
Second graders celebrated Chinese New Year. The children have been learning about
From
Fourth and fifth grade students are gearing up for the school-wide spelling bee to be held on Friday, February 27. On Friday, Star Lab, a portable planetarium, will be visiting the fifth grade students. Every year the Connecticut Association of Schools recognizes students in the areas of art and music. Two students are being recognized for their artistic talents.
Allison Langley and Erica Cahill, representing
Town of Rocky Hill
Board of Education
Page 4
On Tuesday, the eighth grade went to the high school to
watch the band and chorus perform. The
students were also told about the various bands and chorus activities that they
could join.
GMS has the team winners to compete in the school spelling
bee on Thursday, February 26, at
Meeting Open to
the Public
There was no one from the public wishing to address the Board on any item not on the agenda.
1. Consent Calendar
The consent calendar included the resignation of Leslie
Poland, Special Education Teacher at
Moved by Mrs. Vargas, seconded by
Mr. Palazzolo to accept the consent calendar of February 5, 2004.
FAVOR: ALL
MOTION
CARRIED
2. Personnel and Negotiations
Town of Rocky Hill
Board of Education
Page 5
No report.
3. Policy
Dr. Vautour reported that at the previous Board meeting, he
had presented Policy 7132, Bylaws, indicating language changes dealing with the
Town/Board Liaison Committee, and deletion of a section.
MOTION by Mrs. Vargas, seconded by Mr. McMonigle to adopt the revisions
to Policy 7132, Bylaws.
FAVOR: ALL
MOTION
CARRIED
Policy 7400, Naming of School Facilities, was ready for the second reading and adoption,
after some wording changes made by the Policy Committee.
MOTION by Mrs. Vargas, seconded by Mr. McMonigle, to create a new
policy, Policy 7400, Naming of School Facilities, as submitted.
FAVOR: ALL
MOTION
CARRIED
Policy 6142 – Technology and Instruction, was ready for its first reading tonight. The words “intranet and email” have been included. The definition of users now includes students and staff. No action is required this evening.
Policy 5141.31, Health Examinations for Middle School/High School Athletic Participation is a new policy. Currently, athletic physicals are addressed in the athletic handbook. Sports physicals are now to be done by the student’s physician, and will no longer by performed by the school physician.
Mrs. Schmidt deferred the Finance Committee’s report to Item 10 this evening.
5. Curriculum
Town of Rocky Hill
Board of Education
Page 6
No report.
6. Professional Development
No report.
7. Facilities
No report.
8. Technology
No report.
9. Transportation/Accommodations
No report.
NEW BUSINESS
10. Budget 2004-05
Dr. Vautour and Mrs. Schmidt narrated a power point slide presentation on the Superintendent’s proposed budget.
Dr. Vautour stated that the budget was developed with the guidance of a specific Board charge. It responded to enrollment trends, would maintain existing programs, compensated for shortfalls in remedial programming, adequately funded professional development and curriculum development, funded educational innovations, and acquired technology equipment and related materials.
The 2004-05 budget request was $22,640,975, with a dollar increase of $1,819,828, or 8.74%. The Board, acting as the Finance Committee, conducted a line-by line review of the budget, requested and analyzed extensive data about various programs and services,
Town of Rocky Hill
Board of Education
Page 7
debated the merits of the proposed budget, and recommended adjustments to the Superintendent’s budget for consideration and action by the Board.
Proposed reductions to the Superintendent’s recommended budget included the areas of health insurance ($121,000), elimination of the third technology lease ($50,000), but increasing student technology support by $7,400, reducing the magnet school tuition by $18,000, eliminating one section of high school Spanish IV ($10,520), a special education general reduction of $40,000, and eliminating the special education placeholder of $30,000, and reducing the Bright Beginnings program by $70,660, which equals 1.6 FTE.
Reductions were also recommended in the summer school area of $21,800, the high school music equipment rehearsal chairs (with a 50% reduction) of $4,347, and a 50% reduction in the area of field trips for a savings of $10,477. Elementary math textbooks and supplies were reduced by $21,058. The area of high school digital electronics courses was reduced by $19,225, and the high school math textbooks and curriculum development was reduced by $6,990. The high school health education equipment area was reduced by $325.
Other proposed reductions were: the high school PE equipment, treadmill ($3,000), high school co-curricular rental ($1,000), high school athletics equipment, sound system ($2,400), library books and periodicals ($3,757), discretionary reduction to schools’ supply accounts ($18,550), and a discretionary reduction to district-wide repair accounts ($9,039). The total proposed reduction is $564,348.
After the reductions, the Board of Education’s budget request was for $22,094,627, or an increase of $1,273,480, or 6.12%.
Dr. Vautour and Mrs. Schmidt reviewed the impacts of the proposed budget. The budget responds to enrollment changes, compensates for the loss of federal funds under Title 1, provides for upgrades of texts on a current year basis, maintains a commitment to technology, and moves the level of commitment to professional development beyond the 2003-04 level and closer to that provided in 2002-03.
The proposed budget reinstates the commitment to curriculum writing, increases the level of funding for field trips beyond the 2003-04 level, and responds to special education needs. It allows for improvements in programs and course in: Forensic Science, Personal Finance & Investment Strategies, Music Technology Level II, and Civil Engineering & Architecture.
Town of Rocky Hill
Board of Education
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The proposed budget responds to the NEAC recommendations concerning counselor/support services, maintains magnet school involvement as a partial response to the Sheff v. O’Neill court case, maintains summer school services, and reinstates full funding for athletic programs.
MOTION by Mrs. Schmidt, seconded by Mr. Bostwick, to hold a five minute
recess at
FAVOR: ALL
MOTION
CARRIED
MOTION by Mrs. Schmidt, seconded by Mr. Geldof, to come out of recess
at
FAVOR: ALL
MOTION
CARRIED
It was noted at this time that the proposed reduction was $546,348, and not $564,348.
MOTION by Mrs. Schmidt, seconded by Mr. Geldof, to approve the
reduction to the Superintendent’s recommended budget by the Finance Committee
as reflected in the document dated January 30, 2004, and direct administration
to make all necessary revisions to the budget document and submit a budget of
$22,094,627, which is an increase of 6.12% over the current budget, to the Town
Manager no later than February 15, 2004.
FAVOR: ALL
MOTION
CARRIED
Mrs. Schmidt thanked everyone for their hard work, including Laura Boutilier and Greg
Turansky and the Superintendent of Schools. She thanked the Board for its participation
and deliberations. She commended the new Board members for the amount of time they
invested. She thanked the Finance Committee members Neil Geldof and Charles
McMonigle.
Mrs. Bell echoed Mrs. Schmidt’s comments. She appreciated everyone’s efforts,
especially Mrs. Schmidt, Mr. Geldof and Mr. McMonigle.
Town of Rocky Hill
Board of Education
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11. Class Size Report
Dr. Vautour noted that that Board had been given information concerning the class sizes from Kindergarten to twelfth grade. There were a number of instances where the district exceeds class size guidelines. He was not recommending any staffing adjustments at this time.
13. CMT Status Report
Ms. Levy reported that she had
received communication from the State reporting that the 2003 CMT scores would
be greatly delayed. The State has
changed vendors. In the process of that
change, the vendor has encountered difficulties in scoring writing, math and
reading. The open ended questions need
to be re-scored. The district cannot
expect to receive the scores until spring.
Rocky Hill uses those results for instructional decision making and
curriculum decisions. This year, the
district will have to wait for the results.
She would brief the Board and keep them informed.
Mrs. Bell’s understanding was that the CMT scores were used for placement. She asked how that would fit into the timeframes of the class selection and placement. Ms. Levy responded that the middle school teachers have been informed of the delay, and they will be meeting to use other mechanisms of grading.
14. Audit Report
Mr. Turansky discussed the favorable audit of the Board of Education. He reviewed the comprehensive report and the management letter. There were no instances of non-compliance. Some recommendations were made in the letter, but they were not critical in nature. None of the recommendations were directly directed to the Board. They were general comments to the Town.
Mr. Turansky discussed the area of capital assets which was noted in the report. The Town has another year to comply and assign everything with a value basis. Anything over $5,000 has to be reported. He also noted the report which referred to federal and state grants.
Mrs. Bell reported on the upcoming events in the district.
Town of Rocky Hill
Board of Education
Page 10
MOTION by Mrs. Schmidt, seconded by Mr.
Bostwick, to hold a recess at
FAVOR: ALL
MOTION
CARRIED
MOTION by Mrs. Vargas, seconded by Mrs. Schmidt, to come out of recess
at
FAVOR: ALL
MOTION
CARRIED
14. Executive Session
MOTION by Mrs. Schmidt, seconded by Mrs. Vargas, that the Board of
Education enter into Executive Session at 8:05 p.m. for the purpose of
conducting a hearing on a parent complaint during which matters of personal
privacy of the student involved are likely to be discussed. Further, the following persons are to be
invited into executive session to assist in either giving testimony of evidence
or representation of the various parties to the proceedings: Dr. Camille Vautour, Superintendent of
Schools; Principal, Robert Pitocco; Assistant Principal, Donna Hayward; the
parents who filed the complaint; and Attorney Robert Murphy, Procedural
Advisor.
FAVOR: ALL
MOTION
CARRIED
At
Moved by Mr. Bostwick, seconded by Mr.
Palazzolo, to adjourn the executive session. (
FAVOR: ALL
MOTION
CARRIED
Moved by Mrs. Vargas, seconded by Mr.
Bostwick, to adjourn the meeting. (
Town of Rocky Hill
Board of Education
Page 11
FAVOR: ALL
MOTION
CARRIED
Respectfully submitted,
Rosalie W. O’Neill
Recording Secretary
Accepted by: _________________