Regular Meeting
January 22, 2008
7:30 P.M.
Board Members Present: Paula Belekewicz, Lisa Jurovaty, William
Mulcahy, Michael Neckermann, and Nelson Petrone-Chairman
Board Members Absent: Carol Coley-Vice Chairperson and Linda Green
Administration Present: Richard
Saddlemire, Francine Coss, and Jean Trask
Staff
Present: Cheryl Parrott, Kim Persons, Heather
Montanile, Marian Lowry, Sharon Leahy, Laurel Albair, Madeline Skinner, Kathy
Mattessich, Carla Croteau, Robin Shainess, Kathy Francis, Jessica Fiedler,
Kristen Maltese, Laura Lawton, Karen Dibala, Anne Rowe, Tammy Nye, Sandra Rijs,
Diane Giggey, Becky Muldoon, Dale Kukucka, and Kristin Cavallo
Citizens
Present: Amy
Poverman, Maria Gratton, Connie Medeiros, Kerry
Hoffman, Maryann Potter, Maria Kolva, Jeanette Morales, Kristian Kovia,
Selectman Carmen Vance, Carol Wiggins, Selectman Dick Szegda, Marcy
Littlefield, Amy Poverman, Selectman Lisa Roy, Michelle Colvin, Robin Natale,
Tracy Brooks-Szegda, First Selectman Donald Cianci, Phyllis Starkel, Joan
Schroder, Jennifer Bright, William Petrone, Michelle Landry, John Schroder,
Jennie Marshall, Megan Duffy, Sue Catullo, Selectman Rebecca Stearns, Wendy
Pallas, Ann Kollegger, Eva Bulley, and Lucinda Marsalisi
Others Present: Zachary
Janowski-Willimantic Chronicle Reporter and CABE Attorney Kelly Moyher
I.
Call to Order
Chairman
Nelson Petrone called the January 22, 2008 regular meeting to order at 7:30
p.m.
Change
to agenda:
M. Neckermann MOVED and L. Jurovaty SECONDED
to amend the agenda and move VIII.D. Extension of Superintendent’s Contract
Approval to item III.
MOTION CARRIES 5-0
II.
Approval of January 7, 2008 Regular Meeting
Minutes - Take Action
W. Mulcahy MOVED and M. Neckermann SECONDED
to approve the January 7, 2008 Regular Meeting Minutes as presented.
MOTION CARRIES: 5-0
First Selectman Donald Cianci read a letter signed by all Columbia Selectmen urging the
Board of Education to consider postponing the vote on the extension of
Superintendent Saddlemire’s contract for the lack of academic improvement and
finance department personnel issues. He
also asked the Board to move agenda item VIII.D. Extension of Superintendent’s
Contract Approval to the top of the agenda for discussion.
Mr. Petrone
stated he is in favor of postponing the extension of the superintendent’s
contract until the full Board is present not because the Selectmen have requested
it.
III.
Extension of Superintendent’s Contract Approval
Susan Catullo
shared a letter with Board members that stated her disappointment in the
Superintendent’s speech at the Superintendent’s Award ceremony held at
III. Extension of Superintendent’s Contract
Approval - continued
Joan Schroder
asked why Porter teachers wanted the superintendent’s contract extended.
Marian Lowry,
Porter Technology Coordinator and Columbia Teacher Association Co-President,
read a letter submitted by the Columbia Teachers’ Association stating the
union’s enthusiastic endorsement of Dr. Saddlemire’s contract extension. “Dr. Saddlemire is an active and involved leader
who works to ensure that the children of
Eva Bulley
started coming to Board meetings because of district CMT scores. As a parent, she does not support the
contract continuation because of the ambivalence of the superintendent and his
lack of passion for improvement. She
loves this school and staff but feels the scores speak for themselves. She does not want to accept mediocrity. There is no reason why
Connie Medeiros supports the superintendent and thanks him for the additional choice
of
Maryann Potter has not been overly impressed with the Superintendent and feels another
3-year term would not be good for the Town.
Marcia Morrison has financial concerns and asked the Board to defer the contract
extension. She asked for clarification
of the Superintendent’s involvement in the Finance Department’s personnel
problems. She asked why the Board is looking
at the contract extension in January. (Mr. Petrone explained the cost of a
superintendent search would need to be included in the 2008/09 budget if the
extension was not approved by the Board.)
John Schroder
asked about the formal superintendent evaluation process and if the contract
extension could be for 1, 2, or 3 years.
He urged the Board to be careful and not to extend the contract blindly. He asked how long scores have been an issue.
(Dr. Saddlemire responded. He explained
when the CMT’s were given in the fall, the scores were improving and the last
two years with the spring tests, scores have declined.)
Phyllis Starkel thought these meetings were for residents only. (Mr. Petrone explained staff can have input
and it is important for parents to know how the faculty, principal and
certified union members feel.)
Tammy Nye
is a staff member and resident of
Jeanette Morales is taken aback. Parents say the
superintendent is not supportive of Porter students. She graduated from Porter.
P. Beleckewicz MOVED and
MOTION CARRIES 5-0
P. Beleckewicz MOVED and L. Jurovaty SECONDED
to allow the continuation of Audience of Citizens for another 15 minutes.
MOTION CARRIES 5-0
III. Extension of Superintendent’s Contract
Approval - continued
Amy Poverman
likes the Superintendent and supports him.
Mr. Cianci asked if this matter will be discussed in Executive
Session. (No, there is not an Executive
Session listed
on the agenda.)
Carmen Vance
said it is hard to believe with the size of the Board’s budget that $20,000 to
$30,000 could not be found for a Superintendent’s search. If the decision to search for a new
superintendent was made at a later time and the money was not there, the Board
could come forward to the Town and request the money needed for the
search. This action item was posted on
the Board’s agenda and all members should be present for the vote.
Francine Coss
said she is very proud to be Porter’s Principal. She said Dr. Saddlemire has two faults: the
first being his fierce loyalty to his employees, and the second fault may
confuse parents. After many years of
monitoring the front and back doors in the morning when
IV.
Audience of Citizens (Bylaws of the Board #9300)
Time allotted for public participation–30 minutes, time allotted for an
individual speaker–3 minutes
Connie Medeiros does not support a full day kindergarten for
Maria Gratton
supports a full day kindergarten program and stated that
An unidentified mother does not support full day kindergarten. Her son is in third grade and doing
fine. Some parents support the full day kindergarten
sessions so they will save on day care costs.
Jennie Marshall is a kindergarten teacher in
Megan Duffy
is a grade 4 mom and social worker. She feels
an all day kindergarten is a long day for children and asked if the Board could
target children who might benefit from a full day kindergarten and offer it only
to those children.
Maryann Potter
said kindergarten is supposed to be fun and introduce children to school. Full day kindergarten might be a way to be
fun and fit in all the necessary subject matter and activities.
Mr. Petrone
thanked citizens for their input.
V.
Correspondence/Communications/Information
A. Willimantic Chronicle Album Saturday Special – Grade 3 H.W. Porter
Students:
Peter Fenteany,
Michael Nalewajk, Nora O’Brien, Cassie Parsell,
Adrian Salustri,
Emily Sternat, Julianna Tigeleiro, Savanna Toce, Jake Verboven
B. January 10, 2008 Porter Principal’s Weekly Newsletter
C. January 17, 2008 Porter Principal’s Weekly Newsletter
D. School Officials in
E. January 8, 2008 Fiscal Policy Board Meeting Minutes
F.
V. Correspondence/Communications/Information
- continued
G. Mr. Brian Golembiewski to Members of the
H. Crew Find 8 Baby Mice Aboard Airplane – Associated Press
I.
2007/2008 Certification Verification
Survey Compliance – Dr.
Saddlemire reported all Porter teachers are
properly state certified.
J. Ms. Patricia Miele,
K.
VI. Presentation
A.
Freedom of Information Update – Ms. Kelly Moyher, CT Association
of Boards of Education (CABE)
Attorney Moyher reviewed the
highlights of the Freedom of Information Act.
The topics included public agencies, public meetings, executive
sessions, public records, and the Freedom of Information Commission. She presented the Board with a packet of
information which contained a condensed summary of the Act, as well as the full
Act, record retention schedules, and answers to frequently asked
questions. She encouraged the Board to
contact CABE with any questions they might have.
Mr. Petrone thanked Ms. Moyher for her
presentation.
VII.
Financial Review
A. Payment
of Bills - Ms.
Parrott clarified that the district does not own copiers, it rents them.
B.
Expenditure Report Fiscal Year 2006-07/2007-08
- Dr. Saddlemire
explained under-budgeted line items include Special Education OT/PT, Transportation,
and Special Education Tuition. Because
of this, a district spending freeze will be implemented.
VIII. Reports/Discussion
A. Board of Education
Chairperson
1. Shipman & Goodwin
Disciplinary Checklist
2. 2008
3.
4. If Your Vote is in the
Minority, The Board Report Volume 31 – Number 17
5. When a Key Member Leaves the
Board, The Board Report Volume 31 – Number 18 Mr. Petrone said this
report should say when key “members”
leave the Board, referring to
past
members Mrs. Bright and Mrs. Starkey.
B. Board of Education
Subcommittees
1. January 28, 2008 – Budget
Subcommittee Meeting @ 7:00 p.m. LMC
C. Superintendent’s Report
1. Mileage Reimbursement
2. CT Department of Education
District and School Reports
3. No Child Left Behind District
and School Reports - Dr.
Saddlemire reviewed achievement scores for the same group of students for the
last 2 years.
4. Improvement Index - This will be discussed at a future
time.
5. 2008/09 Version 2 & 3
Budget Documents - Budget
documents will be discussed at the January 28, 2008 Budget Subcommittee
Meeting.
IX. Action Items/Discussion
A. Policy 6145.51 National Junior Honor Society – First Reading
The second reading will take place on February 4, 2008.
B. New Alliance Bank Business Deposit Account Resolution
W. Mulcahy MOVED and M. Neckermann SECONDED
to approve the New Alliance Bank Business Deposit Account Resolutions as
presented.
MOTION CARRIES 5-0
IX. Action Items/Discussion -
continued
C. Full-Day Kindergarten Approval
Discussion included:
·
family
decisions
·
strengthening
lower grade curriculum
·
future
state mandate
·
class
size
·
higher
expectations
·
accommodating
additional children into lunch waves
·
managing
specials
·
a
full-day kindergarten plan
Dr. Saddlemire
reminded Board members that on June 4, 2007, the Board approved the
kindergarten bus routes change which divides the kindergarten bus routes east
and west of Route 87 for the 2008/09 school year on a one-year trial basis.
Mrs. Belekewicz requested a presentation of the full-day kindergarten proposal for the
February 4, 2008 Board meeting.
L. Jurovaty MOVED and M. Neckemann SECONDED
to table the full-day kindergarten vote until February 4, 2008 when the full
Board will be present.
MOTION CARRIES 5-0
X. Future Agenda Items
·
Full
Day Kindergarten Presentation – February 4, 2008
·
Data
Driven Decision Making – February 25, 2008
·
Strategic
Plan – March 10, 2008
·
Every
Day Math Update – March 24, 2008
XI. Board of Education Member
Comments
XII. Adjournment
P. Belekewicz MOVED and M. Neckermann SECONDED
to adjourn the meeting at 9:30 p.m.
MOTION CARRIES 5-0
Respectfully submitted,
Nelson Petrone, Chairman