TOWN OF ROCKY HILL

BOARD OF EDUCATION

MEETING OF June 16, 2005

 

 

Members Present:     Nadine Bell (Chairman)

                                    Peter Arico

Kirk Bostwick 

Neil Geldof

Charles McMonigle

Francis Palazzolo

                                    Anne Schmidt

                                    Catherine Vargas

                                    Jennifer Viggiano-Grosse

 

Members Absent:      None

 

 

A meeting of the Board of Education was held on Thursday, June 16, 2005, in the Council Room of the Rocky Hill Town Hall.  Chairman Bell called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

 

The pledge of allegiance was recited.

 

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

 

Moved by Mrs. Schmidt, seconded by Mr. Arico, to accept the minutes of the May 11, 2005, Policy Committee meeting, as corrected.

 

FAVOR:  ALL

MOTION CARRIED

 

Mrs. Vargas was in attendance at meeting, and line to change 19 to 11.

 

Moved by Mrs. Bell, seconded by Mrs. Schmidt, to accept the minutes of the May 19, 2005, Finance Committee meeting.

 

FAVOR:  ALL

MOTION CARRIED

 

Moved by Mrs. Bell, seconded by Mrs. Schmidt, to accept the minutes of the May 19, 2005, Facilities Committee meeting.

 

FAVOR:  ALL

MOTION CARRIED

 

Moved by Mrs. Schmidt, seconded by Peter Arico, to accept the minutes of the May 19, 2005, Board of Education Meeting as corrected.

 

FAVOR:  ALL

MOTION CARRIED

 

On Page 4, first line, remove word Advisory.

 

FAVOR:  ALL

MOTION CARRIED

 

Moved by Mrs. Schmidt, seconded by Mrs. Vargas, to accept the minutes of the June 8, 2005, Curriculum Committee as presented.

FAVOR: ALL

MOTION CARRIED

 

CORRESPONDENCE

Correspondence from Mr. Pitocco concerning student, Heath Horn acceptance in the High School Residence at Fallingwater Architecture program.  Letter from Junior Women’s Club treasurer notifying Mr. Pitocco that an award of $120 has been given to help defray cost transportation for students’ community service Lend-A-Paw Day.  Thank you notes from Jayne Durnal, Julie Manuck, and from St. Vincent DePaul for donation.

 

Dr. Vautour stated there is a letter of resignation from Jack Chamis, technology education at Griswold Middle School.

 

Moved by Mrs. Schmidt, seconded by Mr. Arico, to accept the resignation of John Chamis.

FAVOR: ALL

MOTION CARRIED

 

AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION

 

Student Representatives

No report.

 

RHTA Liaison Committee

No report.

 

 

1.         Consent Calendar

The consent calendar included the continuation of the Board’s contract with Sodexho and two field trips.  The first field trip being with National Honor Society students attending a National Conference in Washington D.C., and the second trip is a proposal for an excursion to England.

 

Moved by Mrs. Schmidt, seconded Mrs. Viggiano-Grosse to accept the consent calendar for June 16, 2005.

FAVOR:  ALL

MOTION CARRIED

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS

 

2.         Personnel and Negotiations

Mr. McMonigle reported that at its last meeting the Committee approved a new contract with paraprofessionals for four years with wage increases of 3% in the first year, 3.25% in years two, three and four, and higher contributions for health insurance premiums.  When you net higher premiums paid vs. salary increases, the cost to the Board over the first year is 2.4%, second year 2.42%, and assuming the health premiums increase, the net increases are 1.81% and 1.61% in the last two years.

 

3.         Policy

Mrs. Vargas reported the Committee met to review revisions to the administrative regulations associated with the Board’s technology policy.  A lengthy discussion was held concerning the desirability of having the students’ first name and picture appear on the website.  Board members requested the advice of Frank Dannahey, Rocky Hill Youth Officer, and Attorney Campane.  Both individuals concurred that the Board of Education was acting responsibly with the present regulations as parents are given the opportunity to opt not have their child’s first name or picture appear on the website.  The Committee requested that the practice of having parents return only the negative responses to this option be changed.  Beginning in September, this information will be included on the white emergency cards that are distributed at the beginning of the school year.  On the back of the card, parents will be asked to give permission for their child’s picture and first name to be included on the website.  This information will be collected and a database will be developed in each building.

 

4.         Finance

Mrs. Schmidt reported the Committee met this morning to review the Board’s financial status on the current budget which closes on June 30th.  All is on track for what is expected.  One thing discussed was new flooring at West Hill School.  In conjunction with the Board of Education, the Town Council passed a resolution at its last meeting that would allow the Board of Education to take any surplus funds from the Board’s budget, place it in a fund on the Town’s side of the budget, and the funds would then be used for the West Hill flooring project.

 

Moved by Mrs. Schmidt, seconded by Mr. Bostwick, that the Board of Education has identified $90,000 in funds to be used for the West Hill School flooring project and instruct Mr. Turansky to notify the Town Finance Director of the availability of said funds so they may be transferred from the General Fund to the Reserve for Capital and Non-recurring Expenditure Fund in a designated project line called West Hill School Flooring Project.

FAVOR:  ALL

MOTION CARRIED

 

Mrs. Schmidt thanked the Town for its cooperation with this project.  Mr. Bostwick thanked the superintendent and director of finance & operations for their work.  Dr. Vautour reminded the Board that the carpeting involving the library is not part of the $90,000, only the classroom carpeting removal and replacement with marmoleum is involved.  Mrs. Bell thanked the superintendent, director of finance & operations, and all on the Board with their work on this project.

 

5.         Curriculum

Mrs. Vargas reported the Committee met on June 8th with subject area supervisors who shared their specific choice of new textbooks for next year and their rationale for each choice.

 

Moved by Mrs. Vargas, seconded by Mrs. Schmidt, to approve the following textbooks:  Art Talk, Law for Business & Personal Use, On the Road, The Confident Consumer, Concepts & Skills, Biology 7th Education, Connecticut Wildlife, Physics 2nd Edition, American Government, World History, Traditions and New Directions, Liberty, Equality, Power 4th Edition, Health Promotion Wave, Math Trailblazers.

FAVOR:  ALL

MOTION CARRIED

 

Mrs. Bell thanked staff for their work in making and evaluating their choices.

 

6.         Professional Development

No report.

 

7.         Facilities

Mr. Bostwick reported the Committee met earlier this evening and were brought up to date on the status of the feasibility study being done by Schoenhardt Architects.  The Committee understands that they have interviewed each of the school administrators and walked all the schools, and is looking for the report on what are the recommendations.

 

8.         Technology

No report.

 

9.         Transportation/Accommodations

No report.

 

OLD BUSINESS

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

10.       Retirement Recognition

Dr. Vautour thanked Dolores Callegher, Guidance Counselor at Griswold Middle School, and Virginia Currie, Records Secretary at Rocky Hill High School, for their many years of service to the community of Rocky Hill.  Mr. Pitocco introduced and thanked Mrs. Currie for her 22 years of service.  Mr. Watson introduced and thanked Ms. Callegher for her 20 years of service.

 

The Board recessed for refreshment.

 

11.       Time Study Committee

Mrs. Boutilier stated the Committee studied the issue of time, looking at work that had been done four or five years ago when the same issue had been raised, contacting other districts to see if they had any luck in solving the issue, and came up with some proposals.  What was found that at each level, elementary, middle, and high, there are different needs and also had different opportunities to meet these needs.  The proposals are different to each level.  Mr. Watson stated at the middle school level each team would have a common planning time.  Mr. Pitocco stated at the high school level it is difficult to find the find the time needed.  They are considering that coverage at assemblies will be provided by fewer teachers or paraprofessionals along with the principal and assistant principal in order to give teachers time to work in their department.  Ms. Hayward is still trying to “tweak” the schedule for common time to collaborate with other teachers.  Mrs. Boutilier stated it is also difficult to find common time at the elementary level.  Because of the impact of the final schedule it was decided to put off the time schedule for another year.

 

12.       Teaching American History Grant

Mrs. Boutilier reported three years ago Rocky Hill was invited to participate in a grant with colleagues from Cromwell, Wethersfield, and Berlin about the teaching of the Middle East.  Rocky Hill has been asked to participate again because it has expanded involving all technical schools, Ansonia, and Newington focusing on teaching of American History.  This is a federal three-year grant with approximately $180,000 provided per year.  It will have significant impact because it is providing serious professional development funding.  It would be for secondary level.

 

13.       Administrative Professional Development & Evaluation Plan

Dr. Vautour reported the State Department of Education requires districts to periodically update their evaluation systems.  For the past two years administrators have been meeting with him to discuss revisions to Rocky Hill’s existing practices. Incorporated into the Board packet is the proposed revised document.  The purpose of the evaluation plan is to promote improvement of school programs and enhance student learning; to foster professional growth and development; to provide administrators assistance in pursuing this development; and to ensure that only effective administrators continue in their roles in Rocky Hill.  The components involve a school or district improvement plan and a professional improvement plan based on standards for Rocky Hill administrators.  This plan has been developed and is predicated on the Professional Code of Responsibilities for Administrators, Common Core of Teaching and Learning for Connecticut, and the Connecticut Standards for School Leaders.  The plan is divided in three phases, the induction phase, which addresses new administrators, the accomplished administrator phase, and the intensive assistance phase.

 

Moved by Mr. Bostwick, seconded by Mrs. Schmidt, to approve the Administrative Professional Development & Evaluation Plan dated 2005.

FAVOR:  ALL

MOTION CARRIED

 

14.       Report on Implementation Costs for NCLB

Dr. Vautour provided a two-part report commissioned by the State Department of Education in an attempt to cost out the implementation expenses related to NCLB.  The State has determined that for its own unit costs incurred would be approximately 41.6 million dollars and those costs are not being borne by the federal government.  In part two of the study, for three towns the costs would be in excess of 22 million dollars.  The State has projected that full implementation of NCLB through 2008 it would cost local districts 160 to 200 million dollars.  The State of Connecticut has issued a lawsuit through the Attorney General’s office, which is supported by the Commissioner of Education.  CAPSS is urging local boards of education to pass motions in support of the State’s lawsuit, because they are attempting to inform the federal government it is not solely a concern of the State Department of Education, but also a concern of local districts. That the money necessary to fully implement NCLB has to come from somewhere and if the federal government doesn’t meet its obligations that money will either come from the State or its local districts.

 

Moved by Mrs. Schmidt, seconded by Mrs. Viggiano-Grosse, to vote in support of the State of Connecticut’s lawsuit concerning the federal legislation entitled No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB).

FAVOR:  ALL

MOTION CARRIED

 

15.       Executive Session

Moved by Mrs. Schmidt, seconded by Mr. Arico, to go into executive session to discuss the evaluation of the superintendent of schools; to discuss contract renewals for non-bargaining unit personnel and inviting the superintendent to attend. (7:54 p.m.)

FAVOR:  ALL

MOTION CARRIED

 

Moved by Mrs. Bell, seconded by Mrs. Schmidt, to come out of executive session. (9:56 p.m.)

FAVOR:  ALL

MOTION CARRIED

 

Moved by Mrs. Vargas, seconded by Mr. Palazzolo, to adjourn the meeting.  (9:58 p.m.)

FAVOR:  ALL

MOTION CARRIED

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

J. A. Camille Vautour

Recording Secretary

 

Accepted by: _________________