TOWN OF ROCKY HILL
BOARD OF EDUCATION
Nadine
Bell (Chairman)
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
The pledge of
allegiance was recited.
Moved by
Peter Arico, seconded by Jennifer Viggiano-Grosse, to accept the minutes of the
May 10, 2004, Board of Education meeting, May 12, 2004 Personnel &
Negotiations Committee meeting, May 19, 2004, Joint Finance and Personnel &
Negotiations Committees meeting, May 28, 2004 Board of Education meeting, June
17, 2004 Facilities Committee meeting, August 19, 2004 Curriculum Committee
meeting, August 19, Facilities Committee meeting, August 19, 2004, and the
August 19, 2004 Policy Committee meeting as submitted. Corrections:
Mrs. Bell asked that the
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Dr. Vautour read a letter
from Norma Kenneson, who recently retired after 35 years of service.
Notice – Teresa Wilson –
Dr. Vautour read the
notice regarding Teresa Wilson being nominated a Connecticut Finalist for the
Presidential Award for Excellence in Elementary Science Teaching.
Dr. Vautour read a
letter from returning first year teacher Anna Norland to the assistant
superintendent.
There was no audience
participation at this point in the meeting.
Rich Bruneau thanked
the Board for putting them on the agenda each month. He also introduced Patty Crawford, Raisa
Bublick, Laura Richie, and Sue Symington.
Shannon McNamara and
Alden Hellsmith, grade 5,
Gabby Franza and
Kevin Curtin,
Steve D’Addeo and
Chris Flowers,
Mr. Michael Ward,
Moved by Charlie McMonigle, seconded
by Anne Schmidt, to move New Business, Item 9, Wal-Mart Teacher of the Year
Recognition Ceremony in front of Committee reports.
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9. Wal-Mart
Teacher of the Year Recognition Ceremony
Principal Cori-Ann
Marino introduced Sandy Phair as the recipient of Wal-Mart Teacher of the
Year. Lorraine Dickson, from Phi Delta
Kappa along with Sherrie Robinson and Phyllis Garrity from Wal-Mart presented
the award to Sandy Phair for outstanding service at
Moved by Anne Schmidt, seconded
by Peter Arico to take a recess at
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Moved by Anne Schmidt, seconded
by Peter Arico to come out of recess at
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1.
Personnel and Negotiations
No report.
2.
Policy
Dr. Vautour requested
adoption of policy 5142, Automated External Defibrillator, which read as
follows:
Automated External Defibrillators (AED)
Cardiovascular Disease is a national concern. The
Moved by Catherine Vargas, seconded by Francis Palazzo for adoption of
the Policy 5142, Automated External Defibrillators (AED).
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3.
Finance
Mrs. Schmidt reported
on the meeting held this morning at which they discussed the budget.
Moved by Anne Schmidt, seconded by Neil Geldoff to approve the Budget
Charge for fiscal year 2005-06.
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Moved by Anne Schmidt, seconded
by Neil Geldoff to accept budget calendar as amended.
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They also discussed
the update of insurance program and have given the charge to insurance
representative Mr. Lindberg to begin the RFP/RFQ process.
The Ricoh copier
proposal was also discussed.
Moved by Anne Schmidt, seconded
by Neil Geldof, to waive any bidding requirements and authorize the
establishment of a new five-year lease agreement with Ricoh Business Systems
and Ricoh will buy-out the remaining two years on the existing leases for 16 of
our current 23 copiers/duplicators, that those machines be replaced by 18 new
machines (including a copier/fax for the Clinical Day/Alternate Programs) and
that our excess cost per copy rate be reduced from the current $.0135 to $.01,
with no increased cost to the Board of Education’s budget.
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4.
Curriculum
Catherine Vargas
reported that the next meeting would be on
5.
Professional Development
The next meeting is
on
6.
Facilities
No report.
7.
Technology
No report.
8.
Transportation/Accommodations
No report.
None.
10.
Opening of School Report
Mr. Pitocco,
Rick Watson,
Mr. Pare,
Cori-Ann Marino, West
Hill, thanked the committee that helped in the hiring process. She introduced their new staff members: Erin Carignan, Mary Iacobucci, Julie Manuck,
Lynn Marinelli, and Kelly Yurechko.
Dr. Vautour noted
that the opening of school welcomed 2,505 students, an increase of 42 students. Kindergarten enrollments are higher than
originally expected. Buildings were in
good condition thanks to the custodial staff.
Summer maintenance included glazing the windows at the front of the high
school, installing voicemail at the high school, upgrading McVicar field,
painting the gym at Steven’s school, and a two-year project at West Hill school
replacing carpeting was started. Dr.
Vautour thanked Mr. Cooke for overseeing these projects.
Chairman Bell
requested that Dr. Vautour send a letter to Mr. Cooke and the custodians
thanking them for their efforts.
Neil Geldof asked if
we can get the population projections speeded up for the West End of Rocky Hill
from Mr. Prowda. Dr. Vautour responded
that we could request to be put at the top of the list, but October 1st
is the date. He added that Mr. Prowda
uses the birth records and persistence factor.
11.
Summer School Reports
Mrs. Boutilier, Bill
Duffy, Jim Gaudreau, Wendy Ware, Steve Strange, and Kathy Hallett provided a
report on recently completed summer school activities. This year 329 students took advantage of
summer school programs. They reviewed
the Summertime Explore & SOAR 2004, Celebration of Learning 2004, Summer
Learning Program 2004, and the ESL Summer Fun 2004 programs.
Anne Schmidt asked if
the first two 2-week sessions are repetitive.
Bill Duffy replied that they are.
She also asked about the 50% of students who participate in the program
each year. Bill Duffy responded that
there is a core group who returns.
Charles McMonigle
asked if there are kids who need services and are not getting serviced. Bill Duffy said these kids have trouble
bridging the gap from June to September.
The more we can give them in the summer the fresher they are when they
return in September. We may offer one
three-week program next year. Mrs.
Boutilier added that we do not turn students away. The question is how much can we really do in
10 days, which is why we are looking to offer a three-week program next
summer.
Anne Schmidt asked
how long the sessions are. Mrs.
Boutilier replied that they run from
12.
CAPT Results
Mr. Pitocco discussed
the results of the most recent Connecticut Academic Performance Test
(CAPT). The test assesses knowledge and
skills from four areas, Mathematics, Science, Reading Across the Disciplines,
and Writing Across the Disciplines. He
also reviewed their recommendations.
Catherine Vargas
asked when parents would be notified of the scores. Mr. Pitocco said they would be mailed
tomorrow. She also asked if this is the
class that needs to pass all four sections for graduation. Mr. Pitocco said that it is part of
graduation requirements, but if they do not pass there are other ways to meet
those requirements.
Anne Schmidt asked
about the participation rate discrepancies.
Ms. Hayward said it’s a matter of who is present on which of the five
days of test administration so there is a slight discrepancy in each test. Anne Schmidt commented on her concern that
the girls don’t score as well as boys in math and science. She asked if it is known where the students
fall specifically in each of the strands.
Mr. Pitocco said that they do know with a scale score.
13.
SAT Results
Ms. Hayward reviewed
the SAT results for the graduating Class of 2004. This year’s results are extremely
favorable. On both math and verbal Rocky
Hill has outperformed students in
Kirk Bostwick asked
if there was any knowledge of how many students take the SAT more than
once. Mr. Pitocco replied that we do
track that figure and will report back to the Board.
Anne Schmidt
requested a comparison in the dip and percentage of students taking the tests
matched with number of students pursuing college. Dr. Vautour noted that students who choose to
go to a two-year college are finding out that they don’t have to take the
SAT’s.
14.
Budget Charge/Budget Calendar
15.
ESEA Consolidated Grant
Mrs. Boutilier
requested approval to submit the ESEA Consolidated Grant application. The funds will be used to support literacy
and numeracy initiatives in our district.
Also the salary of a teacher is included in the request in an attempt to
keep class sizes within BOE guidelines.
Funds are also used to conduct the ESOL summer school experience. Rocky Hill is tentatively slated to receive
$71,178.
Charles McMonigle
asked about the requirement for the Board to approve the grant submittal. Ms. Boutilier said that the State requires
the Board to approve the use of funds.
Anne Schmidt asked if
we budgeted for these funds. Greg said
that they are separate and distinct from the general fund. Mrs. Boutilier added that the salary of a
teacher was anticipated in the budget.
Moved by Catherine Vargas,
seconded by Jennifer Viggiano-Grosse, to approve submission of the ESEA
Consolidated Grant Application.
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16.
Legislative Update
Dr. Vautour provided
a summary of recent legislative activities affecting education. Public Act 0415 deals with mandatory
preschool education into the high priority districts and encouraging districts
across the state to implement preschool education at age 3. Public Act 0475 is signaling the colleges and
universities to get on board with the insertion of literacy training for all of
their students. Public Act 04137 deals
with teacher evaluations and allows for negotiations to take place during the
evaluation program. Public Act 04171
clarifies that voicemails are not subject to the Freedom of Information Act
requirements. Public Act 04181 clarifies
issues relative to medications issued in schools. School nurses and nurse practitioners will
henceforth be required to submit to background checks. Public Act 04224 is an attempt to ensure that
young children have recess, lunches are not less than 20 minutes with low fat foods
and drinks being offered, and K-5 have physical exercise (recess) each
day. Public Act 04243 concerns
terminations of athletic coaches. They
must be evaluated annually and be given copies of evaluations. A district terminating a coach serving three
or more years must provide a 90-day notice.
Coaches would have an opportunity to appeal a termination with the
Board.
Schmidt asked if we would be in compliance with low fat foods with Sodexho. Dr. Vautour said we already offer low fat foods and drinks.
Upcoming dates were
noted. Open house at
Moved by Catherine Vargas,
seconded by Anne Schmidt to adjourn the meeting at
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Respectfully
submitted,
Kristin Countryman
Recording Secretary
Accepted by: _______________
Date:
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