August 5, 2015 at 6:30 PM - Regular Board of Education Meeting

Rationale: 

Please note the personnel report as you will find several new hires reflected in it.  As you know from my many e-mails it has been and continues to be a very busy month in terms of administrative personnel.  I will update the Board on our progress in filling our open administrative positions.

While there is no enrollment report this month, the Board should be aware of our current kindergarten numbers which we have been tracking closely.  At this time, we have 27 students enrolled in Kindergarten at Lyme and 30 students enrolled at Mile Creek for a total of 57 students.  Our class size guidelines for Kindergarten remain at 15 students per section.  While this enrollment will not impact our sections for this year, it is important that we continue to monitor our enrollments to ensure that we are planning appropriately. 

Per Policy 4520, I am pleased to report that the OLRA has donated the following to the district:

• A 2010 Vespoli convertible double/pair, serial number VAUQE178G010.  Value $8,250.00.
• A 2010 Vespoli convertible double/pair, serial number VAUQE127E010. Value also $8,250.
• An Alumacraft 1436 LT, serial number ACBD9212K415 with a Mercury 8hp motor, serial number OR607407. Total value of the boat and the motor is $2,919.00.

While Ellen can speak in more detail to the success of the program, I wanted the Board to know how well the first Summer Transition Academy at the middle school went.  Attendance was better than expected and students were treated to some special STEM presentations from our community partners in the MCCD group.

We are holding our annual Convocation during the two professional development days on August 25th and 26th.  You are all invited to attend the convocation ceremony on the morning of the 26th.  In addition, we are running a new staff orientation the morning of August 24th. 

It has been a very busy summer as far as facilities projects and maintenance.  Later, we will hear an update from John Rhodes on the current status of all projects.  In the meantime, I want to thank all involved for their hard work maintaining and improving upon our school facilities.

Rationale:  Mrs. McCalla will provide a year to date budget status report as well as a contingency fund report. 

Rationale:  Traditionally this month's educational presentation has focused on CAPT and CMT results.  As we no longer have those, and do not have any SBAC results yet, we will review a proposal from the high school to adjust their daily schedule.  As the start and end times of each school are part of the school calendar, the Board must take action on this item during the new business section of the meeting.

Rationale:  See notes on educational presentation.

Rationale:  See attached letter from Melissa Rivera requesting that her daughter, Emily Rivera, attend Lyme-Old Lyme High School as a 10th grade tuition student in the fall of 2015.

Rationale: 

Attached is a letter from a family requesting permission to enroll their son as a tuition student in grade 9. Their intention is to relocate to Old Lyme as soon as they sell their home in Killingworth. Meanwhile, they want their son to be able to begin his school year here and pay tuition until they are residents of the district.

 

Rationale:  Section 10-215f of the Connecticut General Statutes requires that each local board of education or governing authority for all Connecticut public school districts participating in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) must take action annually to certify whether all food items sold to students will or will not meet the Connecticut Nutrition Standards. This includes all NSLP public schools, regional educational service centers, the Connecticut Technical High School System, charter schools, interdistrict magnet schools and endowed academies.

Rationale:  Although we are contracted for food services with Chartwells as a part of a five year contract, the CSDE requires that we renew this contract on a yearly basis.  The CSDE must also approve this contract to ensure its compliance with federal standards.  Therefore, the motion must include language that notes "pending CSDE approval."  This requires Board action.

Rationale:  As discussed at a number of previous meetings, we have been working to develop an understanding with the Town of Old Lyme regarding the bus barn and the payments associated with it.  Attached is a Memorandum of Understanding that outlines the agreed upon issues and provides direction to future school and town leaders regarding this agreement.  Approval of this agreement requires Board action.

Rationale:  We finally finished our negotiations with the AFT and they have since ratified the contract.  We must now approve it in order for it to become effective.  This requires Board action.

Rationale:  The policy committee is bringing the two attached policies forward for your consideration.  One is a replacement/update of our concussion policy based on new legislation while the other is a policy which provides guidelines for all members of the school community on civil behavior.  The policy committee recommends approval of these policies as presented.  This requires Board action.

Rationale:  I will review the current state of the legal issue we have discussed at previous meetings.  Board action may be required when we come out of executive session.