Regular Meeting
September 17, 2007
7:30 P.M.
Board Members Present: Jennifer Bright, Carol Coley, Linda Green, William
Mulcahy, Michael Neckermann, Nelson Petrone-Vice Chairperson, and Kate
Starkey-Chairperson
Administration Present: Dr. Richard Saddlemire, Mrs. Francine Coss, Ms.
Jean Trask
Staff Present: Cheryl
Parrott, Laurel Albair, Kim Persons, Shannon Piatek, Jessica Fiedler, Madeline
Skinner
Citizens Present: Caitlin Eaton-Robb, Pat Eaton-Robb,
Mary Ellen Fritz, Mike Collins, Connie Medeiros, Wendy Pallas, Sabena Escott,
Amy Rafa, Ann Shutler, Ginnie Chamberlain, Al & Sue Catullo, Lucinda
Marsalisi, Beth Cheney, Karin Coughlin, Linda Rainwater, Cindy Moseley, Sandy
Mohammed, John Hansen, Kerry Hoffman, Maryann Potter, Diane Schatz, and other
citizens
I.
Call to Order
Chairperson
Kate Starkey called the September 17, 2007 regular meeting to order at 7:30
p.m.
II.
Approval of August 27, 2007 Regular Meeting
Minutes
L. Green MOVED and J. Bright SECONDED to approve the August
27, 2007 regular meeting minutes as presented.
MOTION CARRIES 7-0
Approval of September
4, 2007 Regular Meeting Minutes
J. Bright MOVED and C. Coley SECONDED to approve the
September 4, 2007 regular meeting minutes with
the following change to item X. Board Member Comments – add
to Mrs. Coley’s comment: not as bleak a
picture as the paper would have us believe.
MOTION CARRIES 7-0
III.
Audience of Citizens for Transportation and
Other Comments
Time allotted for
public participation-30 minutes, time allotted for an individual speaker-3
minutes
·
Mr.
Collins asked the Board to consider changing the location of his son’s bus stop
on Timber Trail.
·
Mrs.
Catullo demonstrated what her son carries to and from school each day. She feels that walking 3/10 of a mile with a
backpack, sports bag, and musical instrument is too far with all that he must
carry.
·
Mr.
Catullo asked why the bus stop locations were changed. Mrs.
Starkey explained
·
Mrs.
Mohammed said her bus driver adjusted her children’s stop and it is working out
fine.
Mrs.
Starkey explained that the first reading for the student walking distance
approval is this evening. Once
the Board
adopts an official policy on bus stop distance, parents may find their
transportation concerns are changed by the adoption of this new policy. (The second reading will be October 1, 2007)
IV.
Correspondence/Communications/Information
A. Stuffed
Bears with Real Heart – 08/31/07 Courant Sports – Ms. Caitlin Eaton-Robb, H.W.
Porter Grade 7 Student
The Board congratulated
Caitlin for taking on this project and the audience gave Ms. Eaton-Robb a round
of applause.
B. August
22, 2007
C. September
10, 2007 Facilities & Policy Subcommittee Meeting Minutes
D.
10/4/07
E. Dr.
Saddlemire to Senator Edith Prague – Budget Clarification
F. Dr.
Saddlemire to Senator Edith Prague – Courant Information Clarification
V. Presentation
A. Data Driven Decision Making Fall 2007 Report
– Mrs. Francine Coss, H.W.P. Principal
Mrs. Coss began her presentation by quoting Dr. Perry
Gluckman: “Until you have data as a backup,
you’re just another person with an
opinion”. DDDM is a proven process for
understanding specific strengths and areas of urgent need related to student
achievement. The purpose of Data Driven
Decision Making is to create a data-driven school-wide program that will offer
a framework upon which to base instruction in order to consistently attain a
high level of student achievement. Mrs.
Coss reviewed the Data Cadre which will go on to Level 2 training, the Cadre’s
role in providing future district training, and the Data Team will collect and
chart data, analyze strengths and obstacles, and establish (SMART) Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Timely goals. Mrs. Coss
reviewed the 2007/08 3DM action plan and future goals.
Mrs. Starkey thanked Mrs. Coss for
her presentation.
VI.
Audience of Citizens for DDM
Questions (Bylaws of the Board #9300)
Time allotted for
public participation-30 minutes, time allotted for an individual speaker-3
minutes
Audience topics of concern included curriculum adjustment,
Porter’s spelling program, parent involvement, assessment and testing, success
of D3M goals, and teacher turnover.
VII.
Financial Review
A. Payment of Bills
Ms. Parrott provided answers to Board members’ questions.
VIII. Reports/Discussion
A. Board of
Education Chairperson
1. Finalized September Through December Board of
Education Meeting Dates
2. When You Break the Chain of Command – The
Board Report Volume 31- Number 10
Mrs. Starkey explained
the need for using the proper chain of command when dealing with a school
concern.
B. Board of
Education Subcommittees
1. September 24, 2007 @ 7:30 p.m. – Board
Retreat at Mrs. Kate Starkey’s home, 91A
C. Superintendent’s
Report
1. 2007/2008 Staff List
2.
Courant Retraction – The Superintendent informed members of
Senator Prague’s help in getting a retraction from the Courant for the
misleading Our Towns, Our Schools information.
3.
Lakeview Terrace Bus Stop – Dr. Saddlemire thanked board
members for taking part in the bus stop fieldtrip.
IX. Action
Items/Discussion
A. Hot Lunch
Employee Compensation Approvals
C. Coley MOVED and L.
Green SECONDED to approve the 2007/08 hot lunch employee compensation
rates as presented.
MOTION AMENDED:
C. Coley MOVED and L.
Green SECONDED to amend the motion to approve the 2007/08 employee compensation
rates as recommended by the superintendent.
|
Employee |
% Increase |
Hourly Wage |
|
Ofelia Chang |
3% |
$11.28 |
|
Nancy Easton |
3.5% |
$10.98 |
|
Sue LaBrecque |
3% |
$10.75 |
|
Kelly Moorcroft |
3.5% |
$11.31 |
|
Chris Urban |
3.5% |
$49,434.08 (salary) |
MOTION CARRIES 7-0
B. Shared
Kindergarten Team Leader Approval
MOTION CARRIES 7-0
C. Regulation
6142.101-School Wellness – Second Reading
L. Green MOVED and W. Mulcahy
SECONDED to approve the second reading of Regulation 6142.101-
School Wellness as
presented.
MOTION
CARRIES 7-0
D. Student Walking
Distance Approval – First Reading
This topic was discussed
at the 9/10/07 subcommittee meeting. At
that meeting, it was recommended
that the minimum
distance between K-8 bus stops not be less than 150 feet and not more than 3/10
of a mile. The distance for high school
stops will be 3/10 of a mile to ½ of a mile.
Board member discussion
followed. The Superintendent asked the
Board for a clear distance parameter.
X. Future
Agenda Items
·
Strategic Plan
XI. Board of
Education Member Comments
Mrs. Starkey thanked parents for attending the meeting.
XII. Executive
Session for the Purpose of Personnel Discussion
C. Coley MOVED and J. Bright
SECONDED to enter into Executive Session at 9:20 p.m.
XIII. Adjournment
M. Neckermann MOVED and L.
Green SECONDED to adjourn the meeting at 9:46 p.m.
MOTION CARRIES 7-0
Respectfully submitted,
Nelson Petrone, Vice
Chairperson