Columbia Board of Education

Regular Meeting

June 2, 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, Nelson Petrone-Chairman

 

Administration Present:    Richard Saddlemire, Francine Coss, Jean Trask  

 

Staff Present:                 Cheryl Parrott, Marian Lowry, Heather Montanile, Madeline Skinner, Lynn Mondazzi,            Laura Lawton, Dale Kukucka, Jim Shifrin, Shannon Piatek, Laurel Albair, Dolores Marcous     

 

Citizens Present:              Connie Medeiros, Wendy Pallas, Amy Raffa, Kerry Hoffman, Laurie Rogers, Jennifer Bright,       Kate Starkey, Ian Brown, Al Catullo, Maryann Potter, Selectman Carmen Vance      

 

Reporters Present:          Zach Janowski, Willimantic Chronicle

 

I.        Call to Order

      Chairman Nelson Petrone called the June 2, 2008 regular meeting to order at 7:29 p.m. 

        

II.      Approval of May 19, 2008 Regular Meeting Minutes - Take Action  

P. Belekewicz MOVED and L. Green SECONDED to approve the May 19, 2008 Regular Meeting Minutes as presented.

 

MOTION CARRIES: 6-0-1

P. Belekewicz, C. Coley, L. Green, L. Jurovaty, W. Mulcahy, N. Petrone VOTED FOR THE MOTION

M. Neckermann ABSTAINED

 

III.       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 criticized the Board for not considering Porter administration’s input when making the grades 5 and 6 class section reductions and elimination of one foreign language teacher.  On behalf of First Selectman Don Cianci, Selectman Carmen Vance reminded Board members of the timing of the decision to extend the Superintendent’s contract and should the Board go forward with a superintendent search next year, the money needed for the search would be taken out of the town contingency fund.  Al Catullo asked the Board to voice concern to Windham regarding the 2008/09 Windham budget cuts to the grade 9 extra-curricular sports programs and possible cuts to the freshman academy.  His grade 8 son will be attending WHS next year and he feels parents have been sold a bill of goods.  He would like an alternative.  Ian Brown asked the Board to consider looking at other areas to cut rather than reducing the number of sections in grades 5 and 6.  He prefers to cut extras not academics.  Maryann Potter has a heightened concern for the elementary to middle school program.  She would like to see the cuts happen elsewhere.    

 

IV.      Correspondence/Communications/Information

A.      Porter Grade 7 New England Math League Contest Ranked 4th Place in Region – Press Release

Mrs. Coley congratulated the grade 7 students. 

B.       The Saturday Special by Stephanie Tulis, Porter Grade 6 Student 

C.       Porter Proclamation

Mrs. Belekewicz praised the children and Mrs. Rowe for their hard work on the newsletter.

D.      Budget Meeting Will Adjourn to Referendum – 05/19/08 Willimantic Chronicle

E.       $15.8 Million Budget Goes to Referendum – 05/21/08 Willimantic Chronicle

F.       $50K Grant is Awarded – 05/22/08 Willimantic Chronicle

Dr. Saddlemire thanked Senator Edith Prague for her part in getting the funds for this playscape.

G.      School/Budget Showdown is Thursday - 05/28/08 Willimantic Chronicle

H.      No Surplus for Bailout - 05/28/08 Willimantic Chronicle

I.        Letter to the Editor - 05/28/08 Willimantic Chronicle Editorial

J.        May 22, 2008 Porter Principal Weekly Newsletter

K.       04/23/08 FIPAC Town Budget Hearing Minutes

L.       04/23/08 FIPAC Meeting Minutes

IV.      Correspondence/Communications/Information - continued

M.      05/13/08 Fiscal Policy Meeting Minutes

N.      2008/2009 Horace W. Porter School Calendar

O.      School Law Bulletin – Quinlan 5/25/08

P.       Town of Columbia Budget Referendum Notice

 

V.       Presentation

A.   Data Driven Decision Making End of the Year Report – Data Cadre Members

Mrs. Coss thanked Board members for the opportunity to update them and for all their support this year.   She presented data walls which were created by each Porter grade level team.  Each wall explains the goals that were set and obtained using external and internal data, the strategies used, and conclusions that were drawn.  Next year’s focus will be on informative assessments and effective teaching strategies.  Staff training will be implemented by the members of the Data Driven Decision Making cadre.  Ms. Piatek also thanked Board members for their support of the time needed by staff for 3DM training and data collecting.  The staff has become more confident and comfortable with the 3DM process.  The Data boards reflect teachers’ proudest moments.  Mrs. Coss thanked Mrs. Laura Lawton for her balance of teaching and effective management of 3DM leadership.  Mrs. Coss praised the Related Arts Team for enriching and reinforcing both dimensions of related art classes and core curriculum in all classrooms. 

 

Dr. Saddlemire is very impressed by the incredible amount of work and pride in each team’s data wall.  Mr. Petrone thanked the data cadre for the update and staff for their hard work this year.       

 

VI.      Financial Review

A.      Payment of Bills - Ms. Parrott provided answers for Board member’s questions.

 

VII.     Reports/Discussion

A.   Board of Education Chairperson

1.   Board of Education Meeting Dates Sign Up

2.   6 Steps to Building Strong Colleague Relationships, The Board Report Volume 32 – No. 3  

 

B.   Board of Education Subcommittees

1.   June 9, 2008 – Budget Meeting @ 7:00 p.m. with Program Development Subcommittee Meeting immediately following - Porter LMC

 

C.   Superintendent’s Report

1.   Porter Panthers Basketball Camp Update – Dr. Saddlemire reported that 15 students have registered to date.  Mr. vanGleder and Mr. Piro would like 6 to 10 more students to sign up.

2.   Porter’s Grade 8 Class of 2007/08 High School Choices - Dr. Saddlemire reported all students who would like to attend Bolton next year have been accepted.  20 children will be allowed to attend BHS next year.     

3.      Health Benefits – Dr. Saddlemire reported he should receive the non-certified health benefit agreement for MEHIP early next week.  He will be discussing this issue with the certified union next week.

4.      Lebanon Board of Education/Columbia Board of Education Meeting – This meeting will take place on Wednesday, June 4th at 6:30 p.m. in Lebanon.

 

VIII.   Action Items/Discussion

 

A.   Destruction of Records Approval   

 

C. Coley MOVED and L. Green SECONDED to approve the destruction of records documents as presented.

 

MOTION CARRIES: 7-0

 

B.   Superintendent Contract Continuation Approval  

 

Coley MOVED and W. Mulcahy SECONDED to extend the Superintendent’s contract for one year.

 

 

 

VIII.   Action Items/Discussion - continued

 

DISCSUSSION:

 

·          Paula Belekewicz is not in favor of extending the superintendent’s contract.  Dr. Saddlemire has not

represented her as a Board of Education member.  She sees a clear problem and feels Dr. Saddlemire has

not led the Board through the budget process.  She is extremely happy the Board of Selectmen will fund the search for a new superintendent.  She feels the district will not lose momentum while searching for a new superintendent who will give better guidance and manage the budget.

 

·          Carol Coley is in favor of extending Dr. Saddlemire’s contract for one year.  It is in the best interest of the school. With the implementation and focus on 3DM, this is not the time to make a change in administration.  The Board of Selectmen’s offer to pay for a superintendent search is a blatantly political move to further personal agendas. 

 

·          Linda Green supports a change in administration.  The superintendent still has a full year left of the current contract.  The leadership for 3DM has come from the principal and staff.  The Superintendent has poisoned the relationship with the town and a new course needs to be taken.

 

·          William Mulcahy is in support of Dr. Saddlemire.  We will never find a superintendent who has kids more on his mind.  Parents and teachers support him.  A person going through an interview may not be the right person to take over.  Dr. Saddlemire has the expertise needed and the district is best served keeping him in place.

 

·          Michael Neckermann – No comment

 

·          Lisa Jurovaty has never been concerned for Dr. Saddlemire’s love for children but is worried about leadership and often feels uninformed.  More guidance and information needs to be given.  She is upset about the town and the superintendent’s relationship.  As a leader, the superintendent should move past the budget cuts.  Teachers have done a wonderful job and are working very hard.  She is proud of the principal and assistant principal.

 

·          Nelson Petrone supports Dr. Saddlemire.  It is important to know that the superintendent has the support of the certified and non-certified unions and to understand how much it took for them to support him.  Since the referendum, parents support the superintendent.  He has the best interest of kids at heart, he should stay on.              

 

MOTION FAILS: 3-4

C. Coley, W. Mulcahy, N. Petrone VOTED FOR THE MOTION

P. Belekewicz, L. Green, L. Jurovaty, M. Neckermann VOTED AGAINST THE MOTION

 

C.   2008/2009 Board of Education Budget Approval

Board members agreed to meet on June 12th at 7:00 p.m. to consider and discuss the administration’s input to budget cuts.

 

MOTION TABLED

 

IX.      Future Agenda Items

·          Next Board of Education meeting June 23, 2008.

 

X.        Board of Education Member Comments

Mr. Petrone asked Dr. Saddlemire to send a letter to the Windham Board of Education expressing concern for Windham’s budget cuts and the impact these cuts will have on Columbia students attending WHS.

 

XI.      Adjournment

C. Coley MOVED and L. Green SECONDED to adjourn the meeting at 8:47 p.m.

 

MOTION CARRIES: 7-0

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

Carol S. Coley, Vice Chairperson