TOWN OF ROCKY HILL

BOARD OF EDUCATION

MEETING OF OCTOBER 21, 2004

 

 

 

Members Present:             Peter Arico

                                                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 Thursday, October 21, 2004, 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.

 

ELECTION OF OFFICERS

 

Moved by Charles McMonigle, seconded by Neil Geldof to nominate Nadine Bell for the position of Chair. 

FAVOR:  ALL

MOTION CARRIED

 

Moved by Neil Geldoff, seconded by Charles McMonigle, to nominate Anne Schmidt for the position of Vice Chair. 

FAVOR:  ALL

MOTION CARRIED

 

Moved by Catherine Vargas, seconded by Anne Schmidt, to nominate Neil Geldof for the position of Secretary. 

FAVOR:  ALL

MOTION CARRIED

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

 

Moved by Catherine Vargas, seconded by J. Kirk Bostwick, to accept the minutes of the August 19, 2004 Board of Education meeting.

FAVOR:  ALL

MOTION CARRIED

 

Minutes of September 16, 2004 Board of Education corrections:

 

Page 5, Item 4. Curriculum, Catherine Vargas reported that the next Curriculum Advisory Board meeting is on October 14, 2004 from 3:30-5:00 p.m;

Page 9, Item 16. Legislative Update, second paragraph, Anne Schmidt.

 

Moved by Catherine Vargas, seconded by J. Kirk Bostwick, to accept the minutes of the September 16, 2004 Board of Education meeting as corrected.

FAVOR:  ALL

MOTION CARRIED

 

Moved by Anne Schmidt, seconded by Charles McMonigle, to accept the minutes of the September 16, 2004 Finance Committee meeting.

FAVOR:  ALL

MOTION CARRIED

 

Moved by Catherine Vargas, seconded by J. Kirk Bostwick, to accept the minutes of the September 20, 2004 Board of Education meeting.

FAVOR:  ALL

MOTION CARRIED

 

Moved by Anne Schmidt, seconded by J. Kirk Bostwick, to accept the minutes of the September 23, 2004 Transportation/ Accommodations Committee meeting.

FAVOR:  ALL

MOTION CARRIED

 

Moved by Anne Schmidt, seconded by Charles McMonigle, to accept the minutes of the September 23, 2004 Facilities Committee meeting.

FAVOR:  ALL

MOTION CARRIED

 

Moved by Catherine Vargas, seconded by Anne Schmidt, to accept the minutes of the May 17, 2004 Curriculum Committee meeting.

FAVOR:  ALL

MOTION CARRIED

 

 

CORRESPONDENCE

 

Dr. Vautour read the letters from Marsha Malec and Anne Kraner, for flowers sent at time of illness and bereavement

 

He read the letter from Rocky Hill Public Schools to thank Kathy Hallett for donating a Washington Baby Grand piano to the district.

 

A letter was received from Cori-Ann Marino announcing that Patty Crawford, West Hill School, won the Sam’s Club Teacher of the Year Award. 

 

 

AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION

 

RHTA Liaison Committee

 

None. 

 

 

Student Representative

 

Emily Thompson and Anthony Gallon, Stevens School, reported to the Board.  The kindergarten class took a field trip to Hearst Farm.  First graders are studying Columbus.  Second grade is studying nouns, verbs and adjectives.  Third grade is running a mock election and the student polls will be printed in The Hartford Courant.  Fourth grade is learning expository writing and cursive.  Fifth grade is meeting with another class from a different town six times this year.  The students at the school are collecting items for soldiers.  They also reported that Moser School raised over $1,000 for a family who had a fire.

 

Bradley Adams and Sabrina Aliano, West Hill School, reported to the Board.  The Rocky Hill football players are reading to first graders.  Second graders are celebrating the book Miss Spider’s Tea Party.  Third graders are turning pumpkins into globes and writing spooky haunted house stories.  The Dare program will be kicking off next week.  There is also an assembly on bullying for fourth and fifth graders. 

 

Andrew Duarte and Maley Hunt grade, Griswold Middle School, reported to the Board.  The girls’ soccer team is undefeated.  The boys’ soccer team has lost only one game.  The Drama Club is performing the play “Middle Life Crisis” on January 29, 2005.  They reported that over 60 students signed up for Giveback Day performing work such as raking leaves or visiting nursing homes.  Eight students work each morning on the production of the morning news with two of them announcing the news. 

 

Steve D’Addeo, Rocky Hill High School, reported to the Board.  The school held dress up days.  Tonight there is a powder puff game and a bonfire.  There will be an assembly on October 28th with guest speaker Mike Pitcher.  The fall choir concert is on October 26th.  The marching band competition is this Sunday.  They have placed first in Rockville and Cheshire as a third class band.

 

 

Meeting Open to the Public

 

There were no audience members that addressed the Board.

 

 

1.                  Consent Calendar

 

Moved by Anne Schmidt, seconded by Charles McMonigle, to accept the Consent Calendar.

FAVOR:  ALL

MOTION CARRIED

 

Moved by Anne Schmidt, seconded by Charles McMonigle, to move Old Business, Item 10. Follow-up on SAT Results and New Business, Items 11. Advanced Placement Test Results, and 12. Lend a Paw Day to this point in the agenda.   

FAVOR:  ALL

MOTION CARRIED

 

OLD BUSINESS

 

10.             Follow-up on SAT Results

 

Mr. Pitocco provided follow-up details on the SAT, specifically the percentage of students taking the test more than once and information on the correlation between participation rates on the SAT and the intent to attend college.

 

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

11.             Advanced Placement Test Results

 

Mr. Pitocco reported on the most recent results on the Advanced Placement Tests.

 

Charles McMonigle asked if there is financial assistance to students who can’t afford to pay the $80 class fee.  Mr. Pitocco said that it is available.

 

Anne Schmidt noted that most of the A/P courses get ¾ of students through the A/P exam except for chemistry.  Also, U.S. History has struggled although it is getting better in the past two years.  Dr. Vautour said that they are discussing those two classes to examine why this is happening.

 

 

12.             Lend a Paw Day

 

Ms. Hayward reported on the Lend a Paw Day activities.

 

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS

 

2.               Personnel and Negotiations

 

No report.

 

 

3.               Policy

 

No report.

 

 

4.               Finance

 

No report.

 

 

5.               Curriculum

 

Catherine Vargas reported that she attended PTO meetings at Moser, West Hill, and Stevens School.  

 

 

6.               Professional Development

 

Jennifer Viggiano-Grosse reported that at the meeting of October 14, 2004, they discussed the difficulty staff has to coordinate their time since there is so little time.  The next meeting is on November 9, 2004.    

 

 

7.               Facilities

 

J. Kirk Bostwick reported that they are developing an indoor air quality program for the schools. 

 

 

8.               Technology

 

No report.

 

 

9.               Transportation/Accommodations

 

No report.

 

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

13.             Website Review

 

Mrs. Boutilier and Mrs. Clark reported on the status of the district’s website.  Once the new website is hosted the address will be www.rockyhillps.us.  It may take two weeks. 

 

Anne Schmidt praised the website.  She noted the “lost in the backpack syndrome” and said it would be wonderful if there could be a list of notices (field trips, etc.) posted on the website.  Mrs. Boutilier said that most of the notices are electronic and that is something they could look into.

 

Chairman Nadine Bell suggested an information section for weather-related cancellations (i.e., weather related sports events, delayed opening or early closings) and directions to other schools for sporting events or concerts.  Mrs. Clark said the there is a link on the website to get directions.  The immediacy of notice changes are more difficult due to the position only being part-time. 

 

Charles McMonigle asked if parents would be able to contact teachers via the website.  Mrs. Boutilier said that there is a school notes page where the teachers communicate to parents.  We do not provide e-mail to the teachers, so we don’t require them to include an e-mail address.

 

 

14.             Professional Development

 

Mrs. Boutilier discussed the tri-town consortium professional development activities planned for November 2, 2004, which offers over 80 workshops.  The Board is welcome to attend any of the workshops.  Registration is on-line. 

 

 

15.             Class Enrollment Analysis

 

Dr. Vautour reviewed the fall class sizes for the district.  He discussed the analysis of class sizes across grades and disciplines.  At this time he is making no recommendations for staffing changes. 

 

Anne Schmidt asked about the first grade moving to second grade for Moser and Stevens School.  Dr.Vautour said that they are discussing that and they may move teachers.

 

Chairman Nadine Bell said that there appears to be a significant imbalance in 7th grade music.  Ms. Cori-Ann Marino said that during some periods there are two teachers teaching so class size drops.

 

 

16.           Executive Session

 

Moved by Anne Schmidt, seconded by J. Kirk Bostwick to enter into Executive Session for the purpose of student discipline at 8:12 p.m.

FAVOR:  ALL

MOTION CARRIED

 

            Moved by J. Kirk Bostwick, seconded by Charles McMonigle to come

            out of Executive Session at 8:26 p.m.

FAVOR:  ALL

MOTION CARRIED

 

            Moved by Charles McMonigle, seconded by Neil Geldof to accept the

            stipulated agreement recommended by Dr. Vautour for the student

            discussed in the Executive Session. 

FAVOR:  ALL

MOTION CARRIED

 

Moved by Catherine Vargas, seconded by Anne Schmidt to adjourn the meeting at 8:29 p.m.

FAVOR:  ALL

MOTION CARRIED

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

Kristin Countryman

Recording Secretary

 

Accepted by:  _______________              Date:  _______________________