THOMPSON BOARD OF EDUCATION
Monday, February 12, 2007
7:00 p.m.
Chairperson Donna Lynch called the meeting to order at 7:07 p.m.
Members Present: Members Absent:
Laurence Consiglio Ellen Corrado
Jayne Robbins Patricia Donnelly
William Witkowski
Jacklyn Bonneau
James Kenney
Donald Morin
Donna Lynch
Gabrielle Rosetti, Student Liaison
Also present was Michael Jolin, Beverly Caparco, Barbara Lesniewksi, Ronald Springer, Penny Hebert, Bill Birch, Michelle Dixon, Marna Hasz, Steven Mitchell, Kerry Tetreault
II. Citizens Comments
Doreen Bentley stated she has had a very busy January putting together a Discovery Grant proposal for 2007 which will include money for children birth through age eight. She thanked Dr. Jolin for his help in getting the proposal together.
Gorilla, name and address unknown, made an appearance and distributed Valentine candy to Board members.
III. Committee Reports
A. Finance Review
William Witkowski reported on the Finance Review Committee meeting which was held at 6:30 p.m. All accounts are in a deficit; however the anticipated Excess Cost money should cover this amount. Currently there is a deficit in bus fuel and electricity but in positive balance in heating oil. The cafeteria is doing well at this point. Laurence Consiglio asked when the request for the Excess Cost money will be made to the Board of Finance. Dr. Jolin stated this request should be made within the next month or two.
B. Policy Committee
Jayne Robbins reported the Policy Committee met earlier in the evening to review and finalize the Use of School Facilities policy. The policy includes an Application for Use of Facilities and language has been added to the Application to include the Wellness Policy requirements regarding foods and beverages sold during events. In addition, the utility costs have been increased to $30.00 per hour. The Policy Committee recommends approval of this policy.
The Policy Committee also discussed a possible Mission and Policy statement from the Board of Education regarding funding of budgets. This will be discussed during the budget process.
In addition, NEASC recommends building-based curriculum leaders and this will also be discussed during the upcoming budget process.
C. Building
Laurence Consiglio reported the project is moving ahead and the steel is going up. He also noted blasting has been completed.
IV. Educational Up-Date
A. Superintendentıs Report
TMHS Program of Studies
Mr. Mitchell reviewed the draft 2007/2008 Program of Studies. Mr. Mitchell thanked the faculty for their efforts in rewriting all course descriptions to standards based language. School wide expectations have been added to each description and include applied learning strands for each course including problem solving, communicating effectively, applying technology, demonstrating an understanding of aesthetic concepts of at least one of the fine arts, demonstrating importance of healthy life choices and demonstrating personal and social responsibilities. Mr. Mitchell noted the change to standards based and performance based graduation requirements have begun. Donna Lynch asked about the CAPT literacy classes. Mr. Mitchell noted this class is being offered for the first time this year. Jacklyn Bonneau asked if new classes that are being contemplated are in the course of studies. Mr. Mitchell responded they are not in the course of studies right now. Laurence Consiglio noted he had not seen the college credit through tech prep credits. Mr. Mitchell notes this has been available to students for several years.
Enrollment
Dr. Jolin presented information concerning the current enrollment numbers. Enrollment has been increasing through the year. NESDC has projected enrollment this year at 1507 but it is currently at 1533. The enrollment numbers will continue to be monitored and Dr. Jolin stated he may ask NESDC to review projections if the numbers continue to increase.
Administration, Transportation, Operations and Maintenance
Administration, Operations and Maintenance and Transportation reports were provided in the Boardıs packet for their review. Dr. Jolin thanked Bill Birch for his work with the Building Committee. The Building Committee will begin meeting tomorrow to discuss the plans for furniture and new equipment for the project.
Online Access to Student Grades
Dr. Jolin reported he is continuing to look into online access to student grades for parents and may need to discuss this issue with teachersı Unions. Complications are being discussed since different teachers use different assessment tools throughout the year and the inconsistencies may cause problems. Communication with parents regarding how grades are arrived at will need to be addressed. There is also a significant security issue which needs to be reviewed and addressed and the cost to provide this service to parents would also need to be reviewed.
Special Education Parent Survey
Dr. Jolin reviewed the Executive Summary of the results
of the recent Special Education Parent Survey. A better job needs to be done
to educate parents on their rights with regard to the Special Education
process.
Three parents provided very detailed comments and those comments are not
included due to confidentiality reasons. Laurence Consiglio expressed concern
that a 25% response rate does not give us a clear indication on how we are
doing and combining answers give a misleading result. Mr. Consiglio feels there
are more issues than what this survey is indicating. Mr. Consiglio noted more
ways to reach out to parents must be explored. Dr. Jolin noted the response
rate was the same response rate the State received when they did a similar
survey. Dr. Jolin suggested more focus groups. William Witkowski asked if
there are plans to conduct this survey on a yearly basis. Dr. Jolin noted
conducting the survey on a yearly basis is a good idea. Distributing the
survey during the PPT process was also discussed.
Doreen Bentley stated a number of parents have spoken to her about survey and felt it did not give them an opportunity to address issues. Mrs. Bentley encouraged focus groups and reported ARCHES offers monthly workshops on these issues. Next Thursday the group will meet regarding ADHD. This program has been advertised through the school and emails were also sent.
2007-2008 Education Budget
Dr. Jolin distributed the first copy of the proposed 2007-2008 Budget. A budget review will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday at in the High School library.
Special Education Strategic School Profile
Marna Hasz reviewed Special Education data from the past five years. She reviewed the disabilities that fall under Special education and the referral process was reviewed. Initiatives that have already started and some recommendations to continue to address needs have been implemented. The early childhood summer school program was reviewed. During the summer staff worked with individual students on their IEP and provided speech and OT as needed for each student. Pre- and post testing was not conducted as this program was designed to help students maintain their skills over the summer.
Dr. Jolin thanked Mr. Springer for following up on middle school summer school to develop a partnership with area colleges to assist us with middle school students.
Dr. Jolin thanked Dr. Hebert and Ms. Dixon who worked with PTO to institute an emergency call system to provide a personalized message to be sent to all elementary school families in the event of delays or emergencies. Dr. Hebert noted there will be a test of this system conducted tomorrow.
Sick Leave Bank
Dr. Jolin reported an employee who is in a serious health situation and dire financial situation as a result was the recipient of sick time donated through the Unionıs sick bank. A draft policy regarding the sick bank and it usage was distributed and discussed. The draft will be forwarded to the Boardıs attorney for review. Dr Jolin thanked Beverly Caparco who conducted a survey of area schools to compile information on which districts participate in this kind of bank.
Kerry Tetreault thanked Dr. Jolin and all involved for allowing this type of donation since it recently helped a bus driver who was in need.
V. Action Items
Motion by Jacklyn Bonneau, seconded by Jayne Robbins to approve the minutes of the January 9, 2007 Board of Education Meeting. Donna Lynch and Donald Morin abstained. PassedUnanimous.
Motion by Jayne Robbins, seconded by William Witkowski to accept the policy on Use of Facilities as presented. Jayne Robbins noted there will be a future policy draft for use of the new auditorium. PassedUnanimous.
Dr. Jolin provided draft of the school calendar for next year which calls for a start of school after Labor Day. This is being considered to allow the building project to have as much time as possible at the end of summer before students return. School would end on June 20, 2008. Donna Lynch asked if this is a trend among other schools. Dr. Jolin noted there are very strong opinions regarding when to schedule the first day of school. This proposed calendar needs to be shared with the Unions and he will need consensus from the Board as well. An informal poll was conducted and the consensus of the Board was the proposed calendar is acceptable as long as February and April vacations are in line with other schools in the area.
Dr. Jolin discussed the change of health insurance administrator to MEHIP. This issue was discussed at the Finance Committee Meeting and Mike Martin was in attendance and answered questions for Committee members. It is the Finance Committeeıs recommendation that the Board to approve the change of administrator to MEHIP. This recommendation is contingent on the stipulation that there be no change in benefits of any sort provided to the employees and that the Board will be able to withdraw from MEHIP at any time if the Unions or the Board is not satisfied with the change.
Motion by Laurence Consiglio, seconded by Jayne Robbins to change of health insurance administrator to MEHIP with the stipulations that there will be no change in benefits of any sort provide to the employees and that the school will be able to withdraw from MEHIP at any time if the Board is not satisfied with the change. Discussion was held. It was noted the Unions are not totally in agreement with this change. It was noted the employees would not be dealing with MEHIP directly in any way. Dick Keefe noted there are major concerns with people who live out of state and how those doctors will deal with MEHIP. He noted other concerns since the Union negotiated for a non-standard policy which included an increase in co-pay. The motion was amended to include that the change will become effective starting April 1, 2007. It was further discussed that the Town would have to withdraw from MEHIP if the Board decided to withdraw. PassedUnanimous.
VI. CITIZENS COMMENTS
Laura Gasonick, president of TEA invited Board members to Bed Time Stories in the Elementary School which will be held on February 28, 2007. The snow date is March 1.
VII. Board of Education Comments
Laurence Consiglio asked about the status of the yearbook since there was a comment in a recent newsletter about the increased cost of parent ads due to the inability of students to solicit ads, which is not true. Mrs. Coderre stated no businesses have been solicited for yearbook ads at this point. It was noted the Board understood letters were going to be sent out to area businesses to solicit ads. The status of this will be checked with Mr. Mitchell. Laurence Consiglio asked how many students sold ads last year and he also wants to know the current financial status of this yearıs yearbook.
Donna Lynch stated she has a brochure from National School Association regarding an upcoming conference in San Francisco. Mrs. Lynch also noted she has information from Shipman & Goodwin regarding a Labor and Employment Dept. Seminar workshop. Mrs. Lynch also read a note from the Town Clerk regarding November elections.
Robert Bentley reminded the Board that last September or October the Board determined off campus privileges should not be tied to solicited yearbook ads. He noted the Board also stated if the yearbook committee came up short the Board would find a way to fund the yearbook and it would not be sacrificed due to financial constraints. Robert Bentley noted there may be some shortfall since the parameters of how ads are obtained was changed. Jayne Robbins stated the Board was under the assumption that ads would be solicited through letters sent to area businesses from the Principalıs office. Jacklyn Bonneau also noted the offer of financial assistance was not a blank check from the Board because the Board assumed there would be incentives developed to encourage students to sell ads.
Gabrielle Rosetti stated she went to sell ads for the yearbook and was not successful. She noted the band was selling ads at the same time. Jacklyn Bonneau responded she was under the impression and the Board was under the impression that ads were available just for asking. Laurence Consiglio noted if the letters were sent out in September maybe those businesses would have purchased an ad and it would not be an issue today.
Next monthıs agenda:
· Names can hurt us program follow up
· Yearbook
· School Calendar
· Budget
· New courses in the High School(?)
· Summer school
VIII. Executive SessionCollective Bargaining/Personnel/Contract
None needed.
IX. Action as a Result of Executive Session
X. Adjournment.
Motion by Jacklyn Bonneau, seconded by Donald Morin to adjourn the meeting. PassedUnanimous.
There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 8:40 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Roberta Baublitz
Recording Secretary
:rjb