Columbia Board of Education

Regular Meeting

October 15, 2007

7:30 P.M.

Horace W. Porter School Library Media Center

 

Board Members Present:   Jennifer Bright, Carol Coley, Linda Green, Michael Neckermann, Nelson Petrone-Vice Chairperson, and Kate Starkey-Chairperson

 

Board Members Absent:   William Mulcahy

 

Administration Present:    Dr. Richard Saddlemire  

 

Staff Present:                 Cheryl Parrott, Heather Montanile, Marian Lowry

 

Citizens Present:              Connie Medeiros, Wendy Pallas, Maryann Potter, Nicole Vacila, Sandra Mohammed,

                                    Kenneth Erickson, Ann Shutler, Lisa Jurovaty, Terry Hoffman

 

I.        Call to Order

      Chairperson Kate Starkey called the October 15, 2007 regular meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. 

     

      Additions to agenda:

      J. Bright MOVED and L. Green SECONDED to amend the 10/15/07 agenda to add VII.D. Facility Use and VIII.E. Change to December Meeting Calendar. 

 

      MOTION CARRIES 6-0

 

II.      Moment of Silence in Honor of Mr. Mark Zoback, Director of Student Services

 

III.    Approval of October 1, 2007 Regular Meeting Minutes

C. Coley MOVED and J. Bright SECONDED to approve the October 1, 2007 regular meeting minutes

as presented.

 

MOTION CARRIES 6-0

 

IV.   Audience of Citizens (Bylaws of the Board #9300)

Time allotted for public participation-30 minutes, time allotted for an individual speaker-3 minutes

 

 

Mr. Erickson of 75 Erdoni Road asked the Board to consider conditions on Erdoni Road and requested the bus stop at his home so his grandchildren can be picked up and dropped off there.

 

Mrs. Starkey explained Mr. Erickson’s request would be looked into because Board policy states that the bus will stop at the home of the youngest student, not because of walking distance.

 

V.     Correspondence/Communications/Information

A.   BEST Program to Mrs. Laurel Albair – Thanks for Her Summer Participation of Math Portfolio Scoring

 

      Mr. Neckermann shared his “pet peeve” of poor quality writing by educational leaders.

 

B.   Seeds Sown for Bailey’s Garden – 9/28/07 Willimantic Chronicle

C.   Face of the Tiger – Anna Nassiff/Face Painting at North Windham School’s Family Fun Day – 10/2/07

      Willimantic Chronicle

D.   D11 School Needs Administrators – 10/1/07 Willimantic Chronicle

E.   Columbia Board Mulls Bus Stop – 10/1/07 Willimantic Chronicle

F.    Lebanon Schools Take Look at Test Scores – 10/1/07 Willimantic Chronicle

G.   Columbia Bus Routes are Revised – 10/2/07 Willimantic Chronicle

H.   New Leaders Brought into D11 – Willimantic Chronicle

 

 

V.       Correspondence/Communications/Information

I.    E.O. Smith Teacher Survey a Mixed Bag – Willimantic Chronicle

J.    Ed Commissioner: Windham “is not a failure” 10/5/07 Willimantic Chronicle

K.   WHS Teacher Finds Freedom Through Poetry – 10/6/07 Chronicle Album

L.    The Nutmeg Board Needs to Take a Refresher Course on the FOIA – CABE The Journal

M.   October 1, 2007 Horace W. Porter School Enrollment

N.   Mrs. Tina D’Auteuil to Dr. Saddlemire – Bus Stop Safety Consideration

O.   October 4, 2007 H.W.P. Principal Weekly Newsletter

P.   October 11, 2007 H.W.P. Principal Weekly Newsletter

Q.   High-Stakes Flimflam – 10/9/07 New York Times

R.   Study Examines Public, Private Schools – 10/10/07 Associated Press

S.   Dr. Saddlemire to Senator Edith Prague – Grades 6, 7, 8 CMT Information

T.   9/18/07 Columbia Board of Selectmen Meeting Minutes

U.   10/2/07 Columbia Board of Selectmen Meeting Minutes

V.   10/4/07 Columbia Board of Selectmen Meeting Minutes

W.  Dr. Saddlemire to Edith Prague – 10/11/07

X.   Delle Donne’s Blind Sister Is the Family MVP – 10/12/07 Hartford Courant

 

VI.      Financial Review

A.  Payment of Bills           

Ms. Parrott provided answers to Board members’ questions. 

B.  Report by Object          

C.  Budget Projections       

 

VII.     Reports/Discussion

A.   Board of Education Chairperson

1.   Mrs. Starkey reminded Board members to register for the upcoming CABE/CAPSS Convention.

B.   Board of Education Subcommittees

1.   Policy/Facilities – 10/22/07 (Cancelled)

2.   Program/Personnel – 11/13/07 (Tuesday) @ 7:30 p.m. (rather than 7:00 p.m.)

3.   10/9/07 Program & Personnel Subcommittee Meeting Minutes

 

·          November 26, 2007 Policy/Facilities Subcommittee Meeting is cancelled.

 

C.   Superintendent’s Report

1.   2006 & 2007 Grades 6, 7, 8 CMT School Report

2.   Mastery Tests: Comparing Similar Cities and Towns

3.   Superintendent’s Certification Document

4.   2007 CABE/CAPSS Convention Registration - Early Registration

5.   Leading for Literacy 2007 Administrators Institute – December 3, 2007

6.   November 26, 2007 Superintendent’s Awards Ceremony (Conflict with Policy/Facilities Meetings)

 

Dr. Saddlemire complimented Porter staff for their flexibility of coverage so those staff members who wished to attend funeral services for Mr. Mark Zoback could do so.  Staff worked together and there were no interruptions to students’ school day schedule.                                                    

 

D.   Facility Use

Mrs. Bright asked why the Town is not being allowed to use the school gym on early dismissal days and asked Dr. Saddlemire to look into this matter for clarification.

 

VIII.   Action Items/Discussion

A.   New Alliance Bank Business Deposit Account Resolution Adoption

 

L. Green MOVED and C. Coley SECONDED to adopt New Alliance Bank’s checks, drafts, notes and all orders for payment of money, drawn to the order of any person, firm or corporation whatsoever, except as this right may be limited below, from said/account or drawn on another account to be deposited in said account, shall be signed or endorsed by the following persons in the manner prescribed for the Town of Columbia Board of Education: Diana Sadlon-Town Treasurer, Richard Saddlemire-Superintendent, Kate Starkey-Board of Education Chairperson, and Daryl Brown-Fiscal Manager.

 

MOTION CARRIES 6-0

 

B.   Science Curriculum – First Reading

 

C.   Resignation Approval of Mr. Martin Paul Czepiel, Tech Ed Teacher

 

N. Petrone MOVED and C. Coley SECONDED to accept, with deep regret, the resignation of Mr. Martin Paul Czepiel, Tech Ed Teacher.

 

            MOTION CARRIES 6-0

 

D.   Policy 3541.357 Walking Distance Approval

 

J. Bright MOVED and C. Coley SECONDED to accept policy 3541.357 with the following changes:

·          500 feet 1/10 mile

·          1,000 feet 2/10 mile for the purpose of making measuring easier.

 

            MOTION CARRIES 6-0

 

Mrs. Bright asked how families will be notified and when the changes to the bus stops would be complete.  Mrs. Starkey asked that families receive a phone call and follow up with a letter with the changes being finalized by the December break.

 

MOTION AMENDED:

 

K. Starkey MOVED and N. Petrone SECONDED to accept policy 3541.357 with the following changes:

·          500 feet 1/10 mile

·          1,000 feet 2/10 mile

·          The stop will be consolidated to the driveway of the youngest student.

 

            MOTION CARRIES 6-0

 

E.   Change to December Meeting Calendar

 

C. Coley MOVED and N. Petrone SECONDED to change the December 3rd Board of Education meeting to December 10, 2007.

 

            MOTION CARRIES 6-0

 

IX.      Future Agenda Items

 

X.        Board of Education Member Comments

 

XI.      Adjournment

N. Petrone MOVED and J. Bright SECONDED to adjourn the meeting at 8:10 p.m.

 

 

MOTION CARRIES 6-0

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

Nelson Petrone, Vice Chairperson