|
Watertown Board of Education
Regular Meeting
Minutes
Meeting Date: July 23, 2007
Meeting Time: 7:30 p.m.
Meeting Place: Watertown High Technology Center
Members Present: Ms. Mary Dzioba, Board Chairperson
Mr. Todd Griffin, Board Secretary
Mr. Richard Mazzamaro, Board Vice-Chairperson
Ms. Gina Calabrese, Board Member
Ms. Mary Colangelo, Board Member
Mr. Kevin Killeen, Board Member
Mr. Chris Lafferty, Board Member
Mr. Thomas Lambert, Board Member
Ms. Joanne Pannone, Board Member
Dr. Joseph Erardi Jr., Superintendent of Schools
Ms. Amelia Grover, Dir. of Budget and Financial Planning
Ms. Mary Raola, Director of Special Services
Absent: Dr. Philip Pelosi, Assistant Superintendent of Schools, Mr. Todd LoFrese, Director of
Operations, Ms. Kace DuPlissie, PTO Representative
Press: Tom Burns and Jim Taylor, Town Times
Guests: Whitey Greenwood, Sandra Greenwood and Fran Palmer
A. Convene Regular Meeting - 7:30 PM
Ms. Dzioba convened the Regular Board of Education meeting at 7:30 p.m.
B. Salute to the Flag
Ms. Dzioba led the Salute to the Flag
C. Recognition
The Board of Education wishes to recognize Ty Meka, grade 5 student at Polk School for winning the ”What the American Dream Means to Me” essay contest sponsored by News Channel 8.
Ms. Dzioba: Good evening, our recognition tonight has been postponed until the next meeting. It will be at our next meeting that we recognize Ty Meka.
D. Public Participation
None
E. Budget Summary – (Information Only – No Action Required)
Ms. Dzioba: Budget summary is in the packet for all Board Members, if you have any questions you can direct them to the Munson House.
F. Committee Reports:
1. Advertising Committee, Todd Griffin, Chair
Mr. Griffin: There is no report this evening
2. Athletics Committee, Chris Lafferty, Chair
Mr. Lafferty: No Report this evening
3. Budget Committee, Todd Griffin, Chair
Mr. Griffin: There is no report this evening.
4. Curriculum & Instruction Committee, Gina Calabrese, Chair
Ms. Calabrese: There is no report this evening
5. Facilities Committee, Rich Mazzamaro, Chair
Mr. Mazzamaro: There is no report this evening
6. Policy and Labor Committee, Mary Colangelo, Chair
Ms. Colangelo: I guess I will give a report (laughter). The Policy committee met on July 9th and of the many things that we discussed amongst them was the dress code policy, which we present the committee, presents to the full Board for first reading this evening.
7. Cablevision, Kevin Killeen, Chair
Mr. Killeen: No report this evening
8. PBC Representative, Rich Mazzamaro
Mr. Mazzamaro: I do have a short report, I apologize for the timeliness but I was on vacation for the last meeting. I attended the Public Building Committee meeting on June 20th. Mr. Joe Vitro updated the committee as usual on the Swift Project and really the only thing that is ongoing there is the work and the kitchen continues and should be completed for the start of the school in September. He reported the project on the whole is on schedule and on budget. The committee also endorsed, if I dare mention, KBA’s recommendation to hire Pro-Grass out of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to do the turf installation at Swift pending planning and zoning approval. Which may have occurred, I haven’t heard if they came back on that or not. Pro-Grass’s quote was $326,646 and we also discussed asking the Town Council for a representative or a liaison to attend PBC meetings.
9. Education Connection Representative, Mary Dzioba
Ms. Dzioba: There is no report
10. Town Hall Joint Committee, Mary Dzioba, Thomas Lambert –
Mr. Lambert: Madame Chair due to vacations there has been no meetings.
G. Communications – Secretary
Mr. Griffin: There are no communications this evening
H. Minutes
1. Regular Board of Education Meeting – June 25, 2007
Motion Presented by Mr. Griffin seconded by Mr. Lafferty to accept the Regular Board of Education Meeting Minutes of June 25, 2007.
Motion Passed Unanimously
(8-In Favor, 0-Opposed, 1 Abstained)
In favor: Ms. Dzioba, Mr. Griffin, Ms. Calabrese, Ms. Colangelo, Mr. Killeen, Mr. Lafferty, Mr. Lambert and Ms. Pannone
Abstained: Mr. Mazzamaro
I. Superintendent's Recommendations and Report
Dr. Erardi: Thank you Mrs. Dzioba. I would like to start by officially welcoming Mary Raola to her first Board of Education meeting. That looks very impressive with your new tag in front of your seat (laughter). The first two items on the Superintendent’s Report are consistent items with Appointments and the second item being Transfers. I don’t know if there are questions that Board Members may have regarding the appointments that have been made and the transfer that was made.
The Board had no questions regarding Item #1 or #2
1. Appointments – (Information Only – No Action Required)
a. Mr. Rick Casini to the position of Science teacher at Watertown High School, effective August 29, 2007, being hired at Step 8, with 7 years of experience, with a Masters Degree, at an annual contractual salary of $52,905.00.
b. Ms. Holly Krayeske to the position of School to Careers Coordinator at Watertown High School for the 2006-2007 school year at a contractual stipend of $4,000.00.
c. Mr. Joseph Kuziak to the position of Technology Ed (Wood) teacher at Swift Middle School, effective August 29, 2007, being hired at Step 5, with 4 years of experience, Bachelors Degree, at an annual contractual salary of $42,567.00.
d. Ms. Mary Jean Mangione to the position of Detention Monitor at Swift Middle School, effective for the 2007-2008 school year at a contractual stipend of $3,512.00.
e. Ms. Sharon St. Martin to the position of paraprofessional in the 2007 Summer Reading and Language Arts Program at John Trumbull Primary School for a 45-hour program with an hourly rate as per contract.
f. Mr. Naser Selimovski to the position of Custodian, 2nd shift at Watertown High School, effective July 2, 2007, for 8.0 hours paid per day, at an hourly rate of $17.45.
g. Mr. Jason Wither to the position of General Maintenance Assistant with the primary assignment at Swift Middle School, for 40 total weekly hours, at an hourly rate of $9.00.
h. The following staff have been appointed to positions in the August Extended Summer Program II scheduled to run for ten days, the first two weeks of August 2007, Monday through Friday, July 30, 2007 through August 10, 2007:
Christopher DeLauretis, Intern, $450 – 30 hour program
Laura Morgan, Intern, $450 – 30 hour program
Sarah Pannone, Special Ed Teacher, $1,500 - 30 hour program
Annette Pietro, Special Ed Teacher, $1,500 – 30 hour program
Patricia Mennis, Paraprofessional, salary per contract
Kathy Pilecki, Paraprofessional, salary per contract
Susan Mucciacciaro, School Nurse, $1,050 – 30 hour program
2. Transfers – (Information Only – No Action Required)
a. Mr. Jeffrey Hughes from the Maintenance Department to the position of Courier for 8.0
hours paid per day, at an hourly rate of $18.93 effective June 25, 2007.
Dr. Erardi: I have prepared a document this evening as a draft for the Board of Education in regards to a proposed timeline. (See Attachment A) Allowing the Board, certainly enough time to reach consensus and make a recommendation to the community at large that will deal with the High School, Judson School and Polk School and swing space, if swing space is needed at either WHS, Judson or Polk. My recommendation would be to allow administration to sit with the architects so we can bring back to the Facilities Committee and the Curriculum and Instruction Committee, I think it impacts both committees, with instruction and with facility. The need for 08-09 and the tentative need for 09-10. I would suggest then that we spend the months of September and October in subcommittee work, bringing back to the Board of Education a consensus recommendation in November. Allowing the Board to have that discussion and reach a final recommendation on or about January 14th, which represents the Board’s first meeting in 2008. Again this is a proposed timeline, I believe that it will work for the architects and for the construction management and I think it is also fair to our staff and to our parents and to our students with plenty of time for the plan for 08-09. I don’t know if there are questions at this time in regards to the proposal timeline that will deal with swing space for the High School, Judson and Polk. Questions at all or comments?
Mr. Mazzamaro: I am just looking at the August 15th timeline, would the facility subcommittee want to be involved or included in some of these discussions as well?
Dr. Erardi: We could certainly do that. The design behind the thought was allowing the Administrative team, Todd LoFrese, Charlie Beliveau, who is here this evening outside in the hall right now, with my office, to sit with KBA and have an open discussion. I think they have a real good sense of their projected timeline and we will we be more than willing to do is I will send out the day, date and time of those meetings for Board Members if they wish to sit in on them. Again I think this is a twofold issue, with curriculum being just as involved as facility with committees. So Rich I will forward all that information out when we set dates. Mr. LoFrese is on vacation for this week and we will most likely put dates together the first or second week in August. Other questions, comments or thoughts?
Ms. Pannone: Excuse me I have a question, I want to back track to h., the new extended summer school program. Is this the one that is run at John Trumbull?
Dr. Erardi: That is correct.
Ms. Pannone: And it is an extension with the same students or a whole new group of people?
Dr. Erardi: Mrs. Raola can address that.
Mrs. Raola: (Inaudible)
Ms. Pannone: Just five, thank you.
The Board had no further questions regarding Item #3
3. Space Needs: 2007-2008 School Year
Administration will present to the Board of Education a timeline regarding decisions that need to be made for student swing space at Judson School and Watertown High School.
Dr. Erardi: The update at Swift Middle School, there are two parts to the update. The first is that the building
is closed to parents and students. We will be holding new registration at Heminway Park, we have advertised that, we are prepared to do that and that has been ongoing all summer. That will stay in place for the remainder of the summer. The second is that we are certainly confident with no reason to have any doubt that Swift Middle School will be ready and we will be opened for the first day of school and the return to teachers, especially with our extended summer vacation. As students come back for the first time in a very long time, after the Labor Day Break. The project continues to be on time, continues to be under cost and continues to run in a way that I think this Board will be very pleased with. Questions or comments at all on Swift and the project update? If you have not been by it you should take a tour, it looks very different than it did two or three months ago.
Mr. Lambert: Any decision made on the big pile of loam that is in the front?
Dr. Erardi: As of this point there has no been a final decision made on that.
Mr. Lambert: Other than that it is really being (inaudible).
Dr. Erardi: I will share that information with the Board when that decision is made.
The Board had no further questions regarding Item #4
4. Update – Swift Middle School
Administration will present an update on the Swift Middle School project.
Dr. Erardi: Item #5 is included in the Superintendent’s Report as Mrs. Colangelo mentioned in her report, the
dress code revised policy is in front of you this evening for a first read. The Policy comes to you with a consensus vote from the policy committee and a consensus recommendation from the Administrative team. It is our belief that it represents today’s youth and it represents an enforceable dress code policy that will be enforced for 07-08. Questions or additional comments from the Policy and Labor Committee or from the Board?
5. Dress Code Policy – First Reading
At its meeting on July 9, 2007, the Policy and Labor Committee reviewed the Dress Code Policy and presents the policy to the full Board for the first reading tonight.
The Board had no further questions regarding Item #5
Dr. Erardi: Committee members just a point of information, the recommendation that we agreed to, that is what is being presented this evening with a couple of word-smithing items that we looked at and took care of. That concludes the Superintendent’s Report, thank you.
J. Report from the Chairman
Ms. Dzioba: Earlier this evening the Board of Education and the Town Council had a joint meeting which we discussed the outline and the procedure for negotiations with our Administrator’s Union. It was a good meeting and I thank all Board Members and all Town Council Members who attended it for coming out for this evening.
K. Action Items – Adoption of Items to be Approved by Consent
a. Consideration of the Approval of Medical Leave of Absence
Dr. Philip A. Pelosi, Assistant Superintendent of Schools, requests a medical leave of absence effective July 5, 2007 for approximately six weeks.
It is recommended that the Board approve of a medical leave of absence for Dr. Philip A. Pelosi, Assistant Superintendent of Schools, effective July 5, 2007 for approximately six weeks with a medical doctor’s note to return.
Motion presented by Mr. Mazzamaro, seconded by Ms. Pannone that the Board of Education approve of a
medical leave of absence for Dr. Philip A. Pelosi, Assistant Superintendent of Schools, effective July 5, 2007
for approximately six weeks with a medical doctor’s note to return.
Discussion: None
Motion Passed Unanimously
(9-In Favor, 0-Opposed, 0-Abstained)
b. Consideration of the Approval of 2006-2007 Year-End Transfers
Ms. Amelia Grover, Director of Budget and Financial Planning, requests Board approval for the attached transfer of funds for the 2006-2007 fiscal year.
It is recommended that the Board approve of the attached transfer of funds for the 2006-2007 fiscal year.
Motion presented by Mr. Griffin, seconded by Mr. Mazzamaro that the Board of Education approve of the transfer of funds as presented for the 2006-2007 fiscal year.
Discussion:
Ms. Dzioba: These were all made before the end of the year?
Ms. Grover: None of these transfers have been made yet. They will be made once you approve them.
Ms. Dzioba: Isn’t there a deadline to make them?
Ms. Grover: No. They have to be made with your approval and they have to be made after the close of the fiscal, and then you approve it in July.
Ms. Dzioba: OK, very good, thank you. Any other questions or discussion?
Motion Passed Unanimously
(9-In Favor, 0-Opposed, 0-Abstained)
L. Future Agenda Items and Board Members’ Comments
None
M. Public Participation
None
N. Executive Session
Personnel Matter - Safety Issues
Personnel Matter – Unaffiliates’ Salaries
Negotiations – Secretaries
Litigation
Motion presented by Mr. Mazzamaro, seconded by Mr. Griffin to enter into Executive Session with Dr. Erardi, all Board Members listed as present and Attorney Pilicy.
Motion Passed Unanimously
(9-In Favor, 0-Opposed, 0-Abstained)
Executive Session convened at 7:45 p.m.
Executive Session ended at 9:07 p.m.
O. Adjournment
Motion presented by Mr. Lafferty, seconded by Ms. Calabrese to adjourn the Regular Board of Education Meeting of July 23, 2007
Motion Passed Unanimously
(9-In Favor, 0-Opposed, 0-Abstained)
Meeting adjourned at 9:11 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted by
Todd Griffin, Board Secretary
Bonnie Goulet, Board Clerk
|