Columbia Board of Education

Regular Meeting

January 7, 2008

7:30 P.M.

Horace W. Porter School Library Media Center

 

Board Members Present:   Paula Belekewicz, Carol Coley-Vice Chairperson, Linda Green, Lisa Jurovaty,              William Mulcahy, Michael Neckermann, and Nelson Petrone-Chairman

 

Administration Present:    Richard Saddlemire, Francine Coss, and Jean Trask  

 

Staff Present:                 Cheryl Parrott, Shannon Piatek, Kim Persons, Heather Montanile, Marian Lowry, and

                                    Craig Huntington

 

Citizens Present:              Wendy Pallas, Ann Shutler, Amy Poverman, Maria Gratton, James Blair, Mark Haigh, Connie Medeiros, Chris Lent, Kerry Hoffman, Brian Golembiewski, and Maryann Potter

 

Others Present:              Zachary Janowski, Willimantic Chronicle Reporter

 

I.        Call to Order

      Chairman Nelson Petrone called the January 7, 2008 regular meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. 

        

II.      Approval of December 17, 2007 Regular Meeting Minutes - Take Action

C. Coley MOVED and L. Green SECONDED to approve the December 17, 2007 Regular Meeting Minutes as presented.

 

 

MOTION CARRIES: 7-0

 

III.    Audience of Citizens (Bylaws of the Board #9300)

Time allotted for public participation–30 minutes, time allotted for an individual speaker–3 minutes

 

James Blaire asked the Board for clearer communication to parents regarding the grade eight trip and payment requirements.  He will take his concern to the Porter administration.

 

IV.   Public 2008/09 Budget Input

 

Maria Gratton asked the Board to consider including the cost of a pre-kindergarten playground in the 2008/09 budget.  Dr. Saddlemire explained that his first budget draft will include a pre-K playground and if the Board of Education approves, it will remain in the budget.  

 

Maria Gratton is petitioning citizens to advocate support for a full day kindergarten program.  She feels 500 additional instructional hours will be a huge gain for Columbia kindergarten students.

 

Wendy Pallas supports a full day kindergarten for Porter students. 

 

Brian Golembiewski submitted a letter to Board members expressing his whole-hearted support to initiate a full-day kindergarten class at Horace W. Porter School.   He feels students will do better academically and it will be a cost savings for parents who would have to pay for a half day of daycare.

 

Amy Poverman also supports a full day kindergarten class.

 

Dr. Saddlemire informed parents that he would like to offer full-day kindergarten for Columbia students.  He feels that the full day class can be implemented next year without impact to the budget.  Mr. Petrone said this topic will be thoroughly discussed at the January 14, 2008 Budget Subcommittee meeting.

 

V.     Correspondence/Communications/Information

A.    Willimantic Chronicle Album Saturday Special – Andrew Schroder, Grade 3 H. W. Porter Student   

B.     December 20, 2007 Porter Principal’s Weekly Newsletter

C.    January 3, 2008 Porter Principal’s Weekly Newsletter

D.    January 1, 2008 Horace W. Porter School Enrollment

E.     Lebanon Board of Education 2008 Meeting Dates

F.     Texas’ Decision to Reject Math Textbook Reflects Debate Over Teaching Methods – 12/19/07 Education Week

G.    School Boards Need Policies on Managing Cell Phones – 01/2008 School Board News

VI.      Presentation

A.     2006/07 Horace W. Porter Strategic School Profile                                                                                    Mrs. Francine Coss – Principal & Ms. Jean Trask – Assistant Principal

 

In May 1991, the CT General Assembly passed section 10-220(c), an act concerning the reporting of school and district strategic profile reports which contain information on measures of student needs, school resources, and student and school performance.  Each local and regional board of education must submit to the Commissioner of Education a Strategic School Profile Report for each school under its jurisdiction and for the school district as a whole.  The Strategic School Profile report serves as an accountability system which informs the public about what is happening in Connecticut schools and to stimulate school improvement through shared information.  Mrs. Coss reviewed Porter’s elementary and middle school hours of instruction and explained that in most districts grade 5 is considered a self-contained elementary grade.  At Porter, grade 5 is part of the middle school which is departmentalized with 42 minute periods.  Mrs. Coss highlighted Porter’s higher than state average instructional hours, number of computers, and Porter’s certified staff level of specialty and education.  She and Ms. Trask reviewed factors which may place a student at risk educationally that each district can and cannot control, school resources which have been purchased or are available for use in school, school performance including school programs and activities which translate resources into outcomes, and student performance which is the result of the instructional process.    

 

Board members thanked Mrs. Coss and Ms. Trask for their presentation.         

 

VII.     Financial Review

A.  Payment of Bills - Ms. Parrott provided answers to Board members’ questions.

B.      Expenditure Report Fiscal Year 2006-07/2007-08

 

VIII.   Reports/Discussion

A.   Board of Education Chairperson

1.   2008 Columbia Board of Education Committee Membership – There is a vacancy for the                      Fiscal Policy Board Alternate.

2.   Columbia Board of Education Member Listing

3.   January Through April 2008 Meeting Dates

B.   Board of Education Subcommittees

1.   January 14, 2008 – Facilities/Transportation Subcommittee Meeting @ 7:00 p.m. LMC

2    January 28, 2008 – Budget Subcommittee Meeting @ 7:00 p.m. LMC

C.   Superintendent’s Report

1.   Budget Subcommittee Meeting Date Changes

2.   Monitor Back Door Duty Update

3.   National Junior Honor Society Requirements

4.   Audit for the Year Ended June 30, 2007

5.   Elementary Homebound Tutor

6.   Commissioner High School Reform Listening Forums

 

IX.      Action Items/Discussion  - None

 

X.        Future Agenda Items

·          Freedom of Information – January 22, 2008

·          Budget Projections will be prepared for the January 22, 2008 (Tuesday) meeting

·          Data Driven Decision Making – February 4, 2008

·          Strategic Plan – February 25, 2008

·          Every Day Math Update – March 10, 2008

 

XI.      Board of Education Member Comments

Mr. Mulcahy offered specific wording considerations for the 2007/08 superintendent’s goals document such as: achieve budget, improve student achievement in grades 2/3 in reading, writing, math and CMT testing, meet state average to improve CMT scores, and a cap on the increase of the 2008/09 budget.  Mrs. Belekewicz asked for “Principal Fund” clarification.  Mrs. Coley said EASTCONN Executive Meetings are scheduled monthly on the 4th Tuesday at 5:00 p.m. in Hampton if any Board member might be interested in attending these meetings.  

XII.  Executive Session for the Purpose of Personnel Discussion

C. Coley MOVED and L. Green SECONDED to enter into executive session at 9:08 p.m.

 

 

MOTION CARRIES 7-0

 

C. Coley MOVED and L. Green SECONDED to adjourn executive session at 10:00 p.m.

 

 

MOTION CARRIES 7-0

 

XIII.    Adjournment

W. Mulcahy MOVED and M. Neckermann SECONDED to adjourn the meeting at 10:01 p.m.

 

MOTION CARRIES 7-0

 

 

 

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

Carol S. Coley, Vice Chairperson