March 6, 2013 at 6:30 PM - Regular Board of Education Meeting

Rationale: 

1. Please note the personnel report as you will find updated employee information reflected in it.
2. Please take note of the March enrollment report. We have a total of 1449 students enrolled. The enrollment committee has continued to meet to review projected enrollments and boundary maps.  Information can be found in the minutes and will be reviewed during committee reports this evening.
3. While I am not recommending any changes to the calendar at this point, I will review our current standing post blizzard and inform the Board of our thought process going forward.  I have attached the updated calendar for discussion purposes only.  At our April meeting, we will have an official vote to set a date for graduation as prescribed in statute.
4. On March 15th LOLHS will host a high school orchestra from Afula, Israel to spend the day with our students and then do a joint concert that evening.  Mr. Wygonik will be available to answer any questions in regard to this unique cultural opportunity. 
5. At our last meeting, Mr. Cinami had requested data on the number of visitors who interact with our main office staff.  We are currently collecting this information and hope to have some valid data to review at a future meeting.
6. The CSDE has adapted their rollout of the new Educator Evaluation Plan.  I have attached two items that will be useful for you to review as I explain these changes and how they will impact our district.  The first is a letter from the Commissioner and the second is a chart that has been produced by the CSDE to help explain the commissioner’s adaptations to the plan.
7. A question was raised at the last meeting regarding the ADM (Average Daily Membership) of the towns and whether or not that changes drastically in the first few months of the calendar year.  Included as an attachment is the breakdown of students by town over the course of four years.
8. The Month of March is Connecticut Board of Education Member Appreciation Month.  I will take a moment to recognize all of our Board members for their dedicated service to our communities.

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

Rationale:  Ms. Hendryx and Mr. Eydman, our two teachers assigned to the Young Scholars Program, will provide a status report on this program.

Rationale:  Ms. Hendryx and Mr. Eydman, our two teachers assigned to the Young Scholars program, will provide a status report on this program.

Rationale:  As previously discussed, Mr. Wygonik and his staff have developed a schedule of major field trips for LOLHS.  Our intention in doing this is to provide multiple cultural experiences for our students while offering opportunities for families that are fiscally prudent.  Approval of this schedule does not preclude any group from proposing an additional trip as many opportunities may exist of which we are currently not aware. This is an informational item only and does not require Board action.  In April, we will present the details of individual trips for Board consideration and vote.

Rationale: 

The policy committee is recommending an update to Policy #5420 Professional Development for Certified Staff.  This comes in response to P.A. 12-116 which eliminated the requirement of CEU’s as a condition of a teacher’s certificate renewal.  CSDE interpretations of this new law are also included as a part of this required policy change. This requires Board action.

Public Act 12-55 “An Act Concerning the Palliative Use of Marijuana” became effective in October 2012.  While the impact of this law is very limited in the school setting, it is important that we be prepared to respond should the issue of “medical marijuana” use arise.  The policy committee is recommending two changes as a result of this new law.  The first is an addition to our current student Policy #2350 Drug Free Schools, while the second is an entirely new policy relating to staff, personnel Policy 5165 Medical Marijuana Standards.  Both policy recommendations require Board action.

Rationale:  Chartwells has provided us with a proposal for services for next year.  Ms. Warren will review the details of this proposal as well as provide information for food services in other districts.  The Board can accept this proposal or, if the proposal is not accepted, we will go out to bid for food services for next year.  This requires Board action. 

Rationale:  As a part of our annual facilities equipment purchase program, we are recommending the purchase of a replacement truck for the facilities department.  The current truck was purchased in 2003.  While we intend to continue to utilize the older truck, we are expecting that is it nearing the latter part of its service life.  The replacement truck is a Ford F450 equipped with a snow plow, sander and removable lift gate.  Mr. Rhodes will explain the proposal from Saybrook Ford for a Lease/Purchase agreement requiring three annual payments of $19,939.40.  This requires Board action.

Rationale:  The facilities committee is recommending that the Mile Creek roof project be closed out.  Mr. Rhodes will review the details of this requirement.  This requires Board action.

Rationale:  The building committee is recommending approval of change order 00334 for the installation of roof walk pads.  Mr. Rhodes will explain the details of this change order.  As this change order amount exceeds the threshold for building committee approval, this requires Board action.

Rationale:  The facilities committee is recommending the approval of a proposal from Jacunski Humes for development of conceptual designs for the conversion of Center School to a Pre-K, Central Office, and other additional use facility.   Mr. Rhodes will provide details of this proposal.  This requires Board action. 

Rationale:  As is annual practice to ensure compliance with state statute, and in accordance with Conn. Gen. Stat. § 10-151(b), which gives authority to the Superintendent to determine whether a non-tenured teacher should be offered a contract for the subsequent school year, I am recommending the non-renewal of all non–tenured teachers.  Those teachers (list below) have been notified of this proposal and understand that this is not based on performance but instead is a precautionary measure that must take place prior to the budget referendum.  This requires Board action. 

Recommended motion:
Move that pursuant to Connecticut General Statues Section 10-151, the Region 18 Board of Education non-renew the teacher contract of Mercedes Alger, Courtney Carbone, Nicole Chappell, Michelle Dean, Michael Dombrowski, Deborah Duffy, Jill Fayan, Laura Gladd, Mary Beth Hibson, Robert Hibson, Barbara Leen, Colette Lemarie, Tracy Lenz, Philip Milnarik, Paul Murphy, Donna Patterson, Courtney Payzant, Adam Raiti, Janice Ricketts, Angela Rinaldi, Gregory  Robinson, Tiffany Sestrom, Jennifer Skelly, Tara Sullivan, Michele Tackett, Andrea Tyler, Kimberly Velikaneye and Adrienne Viscio at the end of the 2012-2013 school year as recommended by the Superintendent. Further move that the Superintendent of Schools be directed to communicate this action of the Board in writing to named staff members.
 

Rationale:  Please share written minutes and/or oral report as necessary.