Regular Meeting
February 4, 2008
7:30 P.M.
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, Heather Montanile, Marian
Lowry, Laurel Albair, Laura Lawton, Cassandra Rowett, Katherine MacDonald, Dale
Kukucka, and Ann Clairmont
Citizens Present: Joseph
Marsalisi, Shane Vertefeuille, Johannah Gorgone, Gary Littlefield, Walt Okoney,
Kate Starkey, Sonya Fleming, Geoffrey Fleming, Nicole Golubeff, Mrs. Williams,
Mark and Kathi Gudmundson, Trish Harbec, Tracy Brooks-Szegda, Vinny Amore,
Caroline Nowyciuji, Amy Poverman, Stacy Parla, Marcy Littlefied, Terry
Tanarone, Marcia Morrison, Brian Golembiewski, Laine Kingo, Jennie Marshall,
Lisa Roy, Ann Shutler, Maryellen Fritz, Maria Gratton, Connie Medeiros, Kerry
Hoffman, Maria Kolva, Jeanette Morales, Kristian Kovia, Selectman Carmen Vance,
Tracy Brooks-Szegda, First Selectman Donald Cianci, E. Jay and Phyllis Starkel,
Jennifer Bright, William Petrone, Selectman Rebecca Stearns, Wendy Pallas, Ann
Kollegger, and Lucinda Marsalisi
Others Present: Zachary
Janowski-Willimantic Chronicle Reporter and Ron Theriault-Ovation Benefits
Agent
I.
Call to Order
Chairman
Nelson Petrone called the February 4, 2008 regular meeting to order at 7:30
p.m.
Change
to agenda:
W. Mulcahy MOVED and P. Belekewicz SECONDED
to amend the agenda to add an executive session for the purpose of
personnel discussion.
MOTION CARRIES 7-0
II.
Approval of January 22, 2008 Regular Meeting
Minutes - Take Action
P. Belekewicz MOVED and L. Green SECONDED
to approve the January 22, 2008 Regular Meeting Minutes
as presented.
MOTION CARRIES: 6-0-1
P. Belekewicz, L. Green, L. Jurovaty, W. Mulcahy, M.
Neckermann,
C. Coley ABSTAINED
III.
Approval of January 28, 2008 Special Meeting
Minutes - Take Action
P. Belekewicz MOVED and L. Green SECONDED
to approve the January 28, 2008 Special Meeting Minutes
as presented.
MOTION CARRIES: 6-0-1
P. Belekewicz, C. Coley, L. Green, W. Mulcahy, M.
Neckermann,
L. Jurovaty ABSTAINED
IV.
Comments from the Audience (Bylaws of the Board
#9300)
Time allotted for public participation–30 minutes, time allotted for an
individual speaker–3 minutes
Kate Starkey
submitted a letter to the Board and highlighted her points from the letter: Now
is not the time for change, the current superintendent has done many positive
things for the district and implemented Interest Based Bargaining which has
been a huge savings for the district as well as improving the morale of the staff,
CMT scores did not start going down upon the arrival of the current
superintendent, a strong administration team is in place that will implement
Data Driven Decision Making, faculty is supportive of administration and this
team working together successfully, and to look further than Porter and how
Columbia kids do in high school and beyond.
Kathi Gudmundson is in
support of renewing the superintendent’s contract. Dr. Saddlemire cares for the safety of each
student. He has guided her professionally
to return to school to become a teacher.
Ann Clairmont read a letter
written by the non-certified employee union officers in support of renewing Dr.
Saddlemire’s contract. The non-certified
union used the IBB process for re-negotiating the 2007-2011 contract. Interest Based Bargaining created a positive
relationship with the Board of Education.
The superintendent has created a committee of non-certified
representatives that meet with Porter administrators and teacher team leaders. These meetings keep union members informed of
school activities. Non-certified staff
members have been included in the Data Driven Decision Making professional
development. The union feels Dr.
Saddlemire is a positive influence on the school system and has made the staff
a cohesive unit. Selectman Carmen Vance clarified that in their letter the selectmen
in no way suggested that the superintendent’s contract should not be
renewed. Because the contract runs until
June 2009, the selectmen suggest waiting until June 2008 before renewing. Waiting would give incentive to the
superintendent to resolve the school and town finance department issues. Connie
Medeiros asked the Board to consider its budget policy and automatically
put in the funds needed to conduct a superintendent search. A
parent in the audience asked if the audience of citizens could be suspended
to allow Mrs. Coss and Mrs. Lawton time to present the full day kindergarten
presentation. Mr. Gudmundson asked if the BOE is aware of the issues between the
superintendent and finance office. Mr. Petrone explained the Fiscal Policy
Board meets once a month and these meetings are the mechanism for
communication. Mrs. Coley said it would be a good thing for the Board of Education
and Board of Selectmen to sit down together to discuss this matter. Marcia
Morrison said the superintendent was hired to educate kids. Her kids come first and even though she loves
the Porter staff, she is concerned about the voices of Porter parents and
wonders if there is a mechanism that would allow parents to anonymously speak
their minds with no retaliation to their kids.
As a FIPAC member she is concerned why we don’t have a finance
department director and feels this should be looked at. The BOS will do what needs to be done to fund
a superintendent search if necessary.
C. Coley MOVED and L. Green SECONDED
to amend the agenda to add 15 minutes of audience of citizens after the
full-day kindergarten presentation.
MOTION CARRIES 7-0
V.
Correspondence/Communications/Information
A.
Willimantic
Chronicle Album Saturday Special – Abby Rockefeller, Grade 3 H.W. Porter
Student
B.
Learning’s
a Drag in Dale Kukucka’s Class – 01/19/08 Chronicle Album
C.
Hot
Shots Take a Bow
(Alyssa Lambert, Jaime Grzych,
Joseph Marsalisi, Shane Vertefeuille, Doris Jenkins) – Willimantic Chronicle
Mrs. Coss introduced hot shots Shane
Vertefeuille and Joseph Marsalisi. Board
members and the audience
applauded these young men for
participating in the Willimantic Elk’s Lodge No. 1311 annual Hoop Shoot Contest
and for being awarded first place
honors in their age groups.
D.
January
24, 2008 Porter Principal’s Weekly Newsletter
E.
School
Chief’s Contract Sparks Parents’ Concerns – 01/23/08 Willimantic Chronicle
F.
School
Security Funding Awarded – 01/24/08 Willimantic Chronicle
G.
Dr.
Saddlemire to Senator Edith Prague – Columbia NCLB District and School Reports
H.
Columbia
Board of Selectmen to
I.
Susan
Catullo to
J.
Columbia
Teachers’ Assoc. to Board of Education – Enthusiastic Endorsement of
Superintendent’s Contract Renewal
K.
Mrs.
Julie Goldstein, H.WP. Social Worker, to Columbia BOE – Personal Support for
Dr. Saddlemire’s Contract Renewal
L.
Columbia
Non-Certified Union to Board of Education – Support of the Superintendent’s
Contract Renewal
M.
Dr.
Saddlemire to Attorney Kelly B. Moyher, CT Association of Boards of Education –
Letter of Thanks
N.
News
Update: Research at Odds with Accepted Math and Science Performance–01/2008
District Admin. Magazine
O.
Registrar
of Voters to Dr. Saddlemire – State Election, Tuesday, November 4, 2008
P.
Dr.
Saddlemire to BOE Members – Superintendent’s Use of Legal Counsel for Oct., Nov.,
and Dec. 2007
Q.
Dr.
Saddlemire to Certified Faculty Members – Early Retirement Notification
VI. Presentations
A.
Full Day Kindergarten – Mrs. Francine Coss and Mrs. Laura
Lawton
Mrs. Coss explained full-day
kindergarten will not be a mini first grade.
Porter’s current curriculum is strong enough handle the full day program
but will allow for more depth and hands-on time for students. There will be 3 classes of 20 students. Construction and staffing is not an
issue. One of the elementary wing
classrooms will become the third kindergarten classroom and a current staff
member will be reassigned to teach kindergarten. In early May, there will be a strong
understanding of what the full day program will look like for next year. An open house will be held before school
begins in the fall. Mrs. Lawton handed
out a schedule comparison of the proposed full day kindergarten to current
half-day schedule. The half day
kindergarten meets for 175 minutes per day.
The proposed full day kindergarten will meet for 400 minutes per day. Full day kindergarten will allow for more
time in content area and related art subjects, reading to students, and in
depth learning.
Comments from the
Audience (Bylaws of the Board #9300)
Board members and the audience discussed
no additional costs to the district for full day kindergarten, alignment of
current staff, using an existing classroom, declining town population, parent
notification, how kindergarten students will handle all day classes, more time
for curriculum, this being an election year and the possibility that NCLB will
be repealed, if there is enough room for all students on buses, and
transportation cost savings.
B.
Ovation Benefits Insurance Update – Mr. Ron Theriault, Ovation
Benefits
As
VII.
Financial Review
A. Payment
of Bills - Ms.
Parrott provided answers to Board members questions.
VIII. Reports/Discussion
A. Board of Education
Chairperson
1. Why Every Board Needs a
Behavior Code, The Board Report Volume 31 – Number 19
B. Board of Education
Subcommittees
1. 2/11/08 – Public
Hearing/Special Meeting/BOE Deliberations @ 7:00 p.m. Cafeteria
C. Superintendent’s Report
1. The Nutmeg Board Deals with a
Shortfall in its Budget and Subsequent Actions – CABE Journal
2. 2008/09 Version 4 Budget
Document
IX. Action Items/Discussion
A. Retirement Resignation
Approval – Mr. Gary Horton, Grade 5 Social Studies
C. Coley MOVED and L. Green SECONDED
to accept with deep regret the retirement resignation of Mr. Gary Horton, grade
5 Social Studies Teacher effective June 30, 2008.
MOTION CARRIES 6-0
(P. Belekewicz left the meeting.)
Board members said they will miss
this outstanding teacher.
(P. Belekewicz returned to the
meeting.)
B. Policy 6145.51 National
Junior Honor Society – Second Reading
C. Coley MOVED and L. Green SECONDED
to accept the second reading of Policy 6145.51 National Junior Honor Society as
presented.
MOTION CARRIES 7-0
IX. Action Items/Discussion -
continued
C. Policy 9324 Meeting Conduct – First Reading
Chairman Petrone said it is important to allow all those in the audience a chance to
address the Board of Education.
D. Full-Day Kindergarten
Approval
C. Coley MOVED and
MOTION CARRIES 7-0
Board members comments:
Mr. Neckermann
thinks a full day kindergarten program will work in
L. Jurovaty MOVED and P. Belekewicz SECONDED
to amend the original full day kindergarten program motion to include offering half day
kindergarten if parents would like the option to pick up their children
before/after lunch each day.
MOTION FAILS 2-5
P. Belekewicz, L. Jurovaty VOTED FOR
THE MOTION
C. Coley, L. Green, W. Mulcahy, M.
Neckermann, N. Petrone VOTED AGAINST THE MOTION
E. Extension of Superintendent’s
Contract Approval
C. Coley MOVED to extend the extension of the superintendent’s contract vote
until the end of budget season.
MOTION AMENDED:
W. Mulcahy MOVED and P. Belekewicz SECONDED
to table the superintendent’s contract vote until the Board of Education
meeting scheduled for April 7, 2008.
MOTION CARRIES 7-0
F. 2008/2009
This topic will be discussed at
subcommittee meeting.
G. Out-of-State Field Trip
Approval
P. Belekewicz MOVED and C. Coley SECONDED
to approve the out-of-state field trip.
MOTION CARRIES 7-0
H. Superintendent’s
Authorization for Fixed or Capped Fuel Oil Price Approval
C. Coley MOVED and L. Green SECONDED
to approve authorization to the superintendent to approved fixed or capped fuel
oil prices.
MOTION CARRIES 7-0
X. Future Agenda Items
·
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
Mrs. Coley
asked if the superintendent had contacted
XII. Executive Session for the
Purpose of Personnel Discussion
P. Belekewicz MOVED and L. Green SECONDED to
enter into executive session for the purpose of personnel discussion at 9:55
p.m.
MOTION CARRIES 7-0
M. Neckermann MOVED and L. Jurovaty SECONDED
to adjourn executive session at 10:15 p.m.
MOTION CARRIES 7-0
XIII. Adjournment
W. Mulcahy MOVED and M. Neckermann SECONDED
to adjourn the meeting at 10:16 p.m.
MOTION CARRIES 7-0
Respectfully submitted,
Carol S. Coley, Vice Chairperson