Regular Meeting
April 7, 2008
7:30 P.M.
Board Members Present: Paula Belekewicz, Carol Coley-Vice
Chairperson, Linda Green, Lisa Jurovaty, William Mulcahy, Nelson Petrone-Chairman
Board Members Absent: Michael Neckermann
Administration Present: Richard
Saddlemire, Francine Coss
Staff Present: Cheryl Parrott, Kim Persons, Shannon Piatek,
Jessica Fiedler, Kim Dingler, Kristen Maltese, Judy Zemantic, Laurel
Albair
Citizens Present: Connie Medeiros, Wendy Pallas, Selectman
Rebecca Stearns, Mary Ellen Fritz, Amy Raffa, Kerry Hoffman, Amy Poverman,
Jeanette Morales, Diane Schatz, Stacy Parla, Marc Toedt
I.
Call to Order
Chairman
Nelson Petrone called the April 7, 2008 regular meeting to order at 7:30
p.m.
II.
Approval of March 24, 2008 Regular Meeting Minutes
- Take Action
L. Green MOVED and P. Belekewicz SECONDED
to approve the March 24, 2008 Regular Meeting Minutes
as presented.
MOTION CARRIES: 6-0
III.
Approval of March 31, 2008 Special Meeting Minutes
- Take Action
MOTION CARRIES: 6-0
IV.
Correspondence/Communications/Information
A. Willimantic
Chronicle Album Saturday Special – Regan Vezina, Grade 3 H.W. Porter Student
B. March
20, 2008 Porter Principal’s Weekly Newsletter
C. March
27, 2008 Porter Principal’s Weekly Newsletter
Mrs. Coley congratulated Claudia Everett for
receiving Unified Sport’s “The Spirit of Life Award” and her
partners Joey Marsalisi
and Aiden Pacheo
D. March
4, 2008
E. March
5, 2008
F. March
11, 2008
G. Tax
Hike Likely with
H. School
Budget Gets a Rough Treatment – 3/27/08 Willimantic Chronicle
I. Mrs.
Coss to Dr. Saddlemire – Enrollment in H.W. Porter French Class
J. Mrs.
Hartigan to Dr. Saddlemire – Recent $800 Expenditure for Evaluation Services
Mrs. Coley asked for a clearer explanation between OT/PT treatment and
testing done by outside consultants.
Dr. Saddlemire will invite Mrs. Hartigan to clarify this topic for BOE
members at the next Board meeting.
K. Dr. Saddlemire to FIPAC Member
Gregory Roy – Reply to Questions
L. Horace Porter Parking Lot Expansion has
Hiccup – 3/29/08 Willimantic Chronicle
M. Fla. Proposal on Class Size Blocked, But
Could be Revived This Week – Education Weekly
N. Lebanon Public Schools
2008/2009 Calendar
O. Windham Public Schools 2008/2009 Calendar
IV. Correspondence/Communications/Information
- continued
P. Bolton Public Schools 2008/2009
Calendar
Q. Comic From the March 2008 School
Administrator
R. School Board Defies FIPAC’s
CUT Mandate – 4/1/08 Willimantic Chronicle
S.
T. Town of
U. FIPAC: $400,000 Must Be Cut –
04/03/08 Willimantic Chronicle
V. Presentation –
Mrs. Albair reviewed her role as
Porter’s Math Instructional Specialist. The
Math Instructional Specialist’s assessment responsibilities include: assisting
teachers and the principal in devising and using procedures to continuously assess
student progress, setting short-term and long-term instructional goals, and administering
diagnostic assessments for regular education students. The Math Instructional Specialist’s program
responsibilities include: overseeing and assisting the implementation of the
math intervention/support programs for grades K-8, including math
intervention/support, providing professional development to staff for program
implementation and mathematics instruction modeling, assisting in coordinating
the instruction among regular classrooms, ESL, special education and any other
special programs offered at Porter, keeping abreast of research related to
mathematics instruction and communicating it to staff, providing reports of
activities and progress to the administration and communicating it to staff,
providing reports of activities and progress to the administration as
requested. The Math Instructional
Specialist’s curriculum responsibilities include: assisting in the development,
evaluation, and implementation of the mathematics curriculum, reviewing
textbooks and materials, using a variety of procedures to support effective
teaching, assisting in the building of a library of professional materials and
sample curriculum materials. In addition
she works with teachers, students, parents, and the community. She is a member of Porter’s 3DM Data Cadre,
Professional Growth Committee, and Student Assistance Team. She is a BEST Portfolio Scorer and Math
Consultant for the SDOE.
Porter began full implementation of Everyday Mathematics in the fall of
1997. It is a standards-based program
for grades K-6 covering numeration and order, operations, functions and
sequences, data and chance, algebra, geometry and spatial sense, measures and
measurement, and patterns. It provides
students with multiple opportunities to learn concepts and practice
skills. 51 CT districts use the Everyday
Math program. Mrs. Albair reviewed the
CT State Department of Education Mathematics Curriculum Standards Evolution and
Porter’s Mathematics Assessment data and CMT scores. The Connected
Math Program was implemented in grade 7 in 2006/07, in grade 8 in 2007/08,
and is pending consideration for grade 6 implementation. It is a problem-centered mathematics
curriculum designed for all students in grades 6-8. Each grade level of the program is a
full-year program and covers numbers, algebra, geometry/measurement,
probability, and statistics. The program
is designed to make connections within mathematics, between mathematics and
other subject areas, and the real world.
21 CT districts use the Connected Math program.
Mrs. Albair reviewed the following
chart:
|
|
Year-End Summative Score (% by Range) - 2007 |
2007 CMT Scores (from last year) |
||||||
|
Present Grade |
Emerging |
Developing |
Secure |
Below basic L1 |
Basic L2 |
Prof. L3 |
Goal L4 |
Adv. Goal L5 |
|
2 |
8% |
40% |
52% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
3 |
17% |
51% |
32% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
4 |
22% |
59% |
19% |
13% |
11% |
21% |
39% |
16% |
|
5 |
37% |
45% |
18% |
13% |
5% |
16% |
35% |
31% |
|
6 |
52% |
46% |
2% |
6% |
4% |
12% |
50% |
27% |
|
7 |
13% |
63% |
24% |
3% |
3% |
11% |
44% |
39% |
|
8 |
54% |
46% |
0% |
4% |
9% |
26% |
37% |
24% |
In conclusion, Mrs. Albair explained
the Stage II data study for curriculum-based school-wide assessments in relation
to the CMT’s will be complete in 2008. Revisions
will be made to school-wide assessments.
Model curriculums will be implemented and a math task force to review
curriculum impacts with program data for Everyday Math and Connected Math will
be created. Recommendations will be made
for any needed program changes and/or new resource materials.
VI.
Comments from the Audience (Bylaws of the Board
#9300) - None
Time allotted for public participation–30 minutes, time allotted for an
individual speaker–3 minutes
Members of the audience asked:
· What is the difference between
curriculum and program?
· With only 1/3 of CT school districts
using Everyday Math, will the administration be asking the other 2/3 of CT districts
what program they are using?
· What are other top rated math
programs?
· Everyday Math minimizes repetition
and maximizes technology. Isn’t
repetition a big part in improving math skills?
· Some districts have had success with
Everyday Math but isn’t it with a lot of supplemental resources?
VII.
Financial Review
A.
Payment of Bills - Ms. Parrott provided answers for
Board member’s questions.
B.
Budget Projections – Ms. Parrott reviewed the 2007/08
end of year projections that forecasts the balance of $58,435.38. The district has just lost an unemployment
claim that will cost an additional $14,000.
Oil tanks will be filled at the locked in price of $2.21 per gallon
before the start of the next fiscal year.
VIII. Reports/Discussion
A. Board of Education
Chairperson
1. When No Must Be The Answer,
The Board Report Volume 31 – Number 23
B. Board of Education
Subcommittees
1. April 8, 2008 – Budget Subcommittee
Meeting 7:00 p.m. @ H.W.P. Conference Room (This meeting has been
cancelled)
2. April 14, 2008 – Budget
Subcommittee Meeting 7:00 p.m. @ H.W.P. Media Center
3. April 23, 2008 – Public
Budget Hearing @ 7:30 p.m. – Yeoman’s Hall (This meeting will allow for citizen input but no
vote will be taken.)
C.
Assistant Principal’s Report/Grade 4
Field Trip – Dr.
Saddlemire explained that Ms. Trask was ill this evening but she wanted Board members
to know that a bus driver, who drove Porter grade 4 students for a fieldtrip,
thought the students were all so well behaved he wrote a note to Mrs. Coss
praising the children.
D. Superintendent’s Report
1. Changes in Projected Special
Education Costs for 2008/09 - The changes in projected services for 2 special education
students will help with the Board’s approach to FIPAC’s cuts.
2. Board Organization, Authority
and Responsibilities - Dr. Saddlemire reviewed the attorney reference material.
3.
Budget Update – There will be a budget
subcommittee meeting for April 14th to discuss the FIPAC-mandated
$400,000 budget cuts. Dr. Saddlemire
handed out a copy of correspondence he received from FIPC Chairman Earnest
Sharpe this afternoon.
4.
Porter 2008/2009 Calendar – This will be a topic of discussion
at the 4/14/08 subcommittee meeting. The
Certified Union has requested 2 staff development days prior to the start of
school rather than 4. The 2 additional
days of staff development will be scheduled on Nov. 4 and Dec. 5.
IX. Action Items/Discussion
A. Mrs. Diane Giggey, Foreign
Language Teacher Resignation for the Purpose of Retirement Approval
C. Coley MOVED and P. Belekewicz SECONDED
to approve the resignation for the purpose of retirement of Mrs. Diane Giggey,
Foreign Language Teacher, effective June 30, 2008 with very deep regret.
MOTION CARRIES: 6-0
B. Mrs. Joan Culpin, Grade 2 Teacher
Resignation Approval
P. Belekewicz MOVED and C. Coley SECONDED
to approve the resignation of Mrs. Joan Culpin, Grade 2 Teacher, effective June
30, 2008 with deep regret.
MOTION CARRIES: 6-0
IX. Action Items/Discussion -
continued
C. 2008/09
C. Coley MOVED and L. Green SECONDED
to approve the listing of 17 grade 8 Porter students who wish
to attend
MOTION CARRIES: 6-0
X. Future Agenda Items
·
Language
Arts Update
XI. Board of Education Member
Comments
Mr. Petrone
commended the Porter Players and Mrs. Stice on the wonderful dinner theater
production of “Dear Edwina”.
He thanked Mrs. Stice for giving BOE members tickets to the show and
thinks
XII. Executive Session for the
Purpose of Personnel Discussion
The Board did not require an
executive session.
XIII. Adjournment
P. Belekewicz MOVED and L. Green SECONDED to
adjourn the meeting at 9:07 p.m.
MOTION CARRIES: 6-0
Respectfully submitted,
Carol S. Coley, Vice Chairperson