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Watertown Board of Education
Regular Meeting
Minutes
Meeting Date: September 24, 2007
Meeting Time: 7:30 p.m.
Meeting Place: Watertown High Technology Center
Members Present: Ms. Mary Dzioba, Board Chairperson
Mr. Richard Mazzamaro, Board Vice Chairperson
Mr. Todd Griffin, Board Secretary
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
Dr. Philip Pelosi, Assistant Superintendent of Schools
Ms. Amelia Grover, Dir. of Budget and Financial Planning
Mr. Todd LoFrese, Director of Operations
Ms. Mary Raiola, Director of Special Services
Mr. Chris Terzigni, W.H.S. Student Representative
Absent: Ms. Kace DuPlissie, PTO Representative
Press: Jim Taylor, Town Times
Tom Burns, Town Times
Guests: Thad Hasbrouck, Patricia Corvello, Fran Palmer, Sandra Greenwood, Whitey Greenwood, Dave King, Fred Khericha, Lisa Rommel, Kathy Scully, Laura Meka, and Attorney John Conway
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
Ms. Dzioba: I am going to take a detour from the agenda. What I would like to do is present Dr. Erardi, this is his last meeting with us and I would like to, one behalf of the Board, I would like to present him with a celebration of excellence for outstanding leadership in the Watertown School District.
Applause
Ms. Dzioba: For this celebration if there is anyone that would like to make some comments we’d like to take a short break after comments from the Board for cake.
Dr. Erardi: Thank you very much.
Ms. Dzioba: Dr. Erardi we do appreciate everything that you have done for Watertown, you have been a great asset to our town and you will be greatly missed. We sincerely wish you all the best in your new position. Would any other board members like to make a comment?
Mr. Lambert: I would like say a little bit about Dr. Erardi. I think he was the right guy at the right time in the right place. He motivated people, he got along, he worked hard, was in the office, by 7:00 am he was tending to business. Pulling in people who not only agreed with him but people who disagreed with him. That is what made the difference. He was able to pass a referendum, not by himself, but he was sure the leader and the cheerleader of all the referendum issues. And took on some big, huge projects like the three-school project. Very, very happy to have him, as short as he was here, we go a lot of bang for the buck, as simple as that. Very, very glad I was able to be on the Board when Dr. Erardi was on the Board. An old man like me at 63 years old could sure learn a lot from a young buck like Dr. Erardi. Very grateful, thank you very much.
Applause
Mr. Lafferty: Dr. Erardi, I just want to say for the past two years, thank you very much. Not everyday is there someone at 19 who runs for the Board and it has been a very challenging ride but we have had a great working relationship and a great personal relationship. You have been an extreme help for me and to this Town. I think just to hit on what Tom was saying, you didn’t pass the budgets yourself which people often give you credit for, you won’t take it. But what you did was you showed this Town that with a little work, a little sincerity and just passion for what you are doing, good things can happen. I think that is your legacy, you were a uniter. I thank you very much for all your help to me, sincerely, thank you.
Applause
Mr. Killeen: Usually my words are more extended than they will be tonight because Tom took my speech. That is not true. I would like to say these simple words, Thank you.
Ms. Colangelo: Dr. Erardi I will miss you terribly, you have been great for the town. We have gotten along very well and I just wish you all the best, and keep in touch.
Ms. Pannone: Dr. Erardi I also wish you the very, very best, you came, you certainly conquered all and I can’t wish you more success than I do.
Mr. Mazzamaro: I just want to say it has been an absolute pleasure working with you the last two years. When I first ran I wondered what I got myself into and sometimes I still don’t know. But if you need to be out three and four nights a week, it is an absolute pleasure to be out with people you like and actually look up to. I like your style and you will be missed.
Ms. Calabrese: Dr. Erardi I’d just like to thank you for your support of curriculum. I think that you truly were a supporter of innovative curriculum and you took the time to be very interested in that and you made your mark.
Mr. Griffin: Dr. Erardi I would just like to say thank you, it was a pleasure working with you, it was actually my pleasure working with you. You certainly will be missed.
Ms. Dzioba: What I would like to do now is take a short recess so everyone can get a piece of cake.
Meeting recessed at 7:36 PM
Meeting reconvened at 7:42 p.m.
C. Public Participation
None
Report from Student Council Representative – Mr. Chris Terzigni
Mr. Terzigni: Before I get started with my report I just want to add to the praise. On a personal note, Dr. Erardi what you have done for me and my peers is amazing. Getting the budget passed with the help of everybody else, something that hasn’t been done in a long time and you see the impact everyday. When we need this and we need that, it is there and years back that wasn’t the case. Just wanted to say thank you.
This week we had club day and a huge success. The Student Council had our meeting later that day, lots and lots of new members, which is good to see, hopefully we will keep up the attendance rate. The officers also volunteered at the Fall Festival doing whatever was needed. It was a lot of fun from what I hear, I wasn’t able to attend but everyone else said they had a good time. We had our new Teachers Reception and had 100% participation of the new teachers and a lot of returning faculty as well. Upcoming events we have planned are Powder Puff, Spirit Week, School wide raffles and our umbrella meeting, with our umbrella group which we started last week which is off to a good start. A lot of good participation from all the clubs and sports.
No PTO/PTA report
D. Budget Summary – (Information Only – No Action Required)
Ms. Dzioba: Budget summary is in the packet for all Board Members for information.
E. Committee Reports:
1. Advertising Committee, Todd Griffin, Chair
Mr. Griffin: We did hold an Advertising committee meeting. We reviewed several items, the fund balance, we (inaudible) how we would like to participate going forward. We also voted to bring to the Board at Large the endorsement of the Robotics advisor again for the Watertown High School. I believe that is a good thing.
2. Athletics Committee, Chris Lafferty, Chair
Mr. Lafferty: Committee members will be getting a call within, probably tomorrow or the day after to set up a meeting to discuss coaching issues. That should be set up in about two days and we should have a meeting by next week hopefully.
3. Budget Committee, Todd Griffin, Chair
Mr. Griffin: The budget committee met this evening, we had a review of volatile accounts, 2007-2008 budget timeline and that is it.
4. Curriculum & Instruction Committee, Gina Calabrese, Chair
Ms. Calabrese: There is no report this evening
5. Facilities Committee, Rich Mazzamaro, Chair
Mr. Mazzamaro: The facilities committee met on September 12th with Administrators from Watertown High School, Polk and Judson and staff from KBA to review again the design schematics for the three projects and answer any possible remaining questions. All the questions were answered and the consensus of the committee was to endorse the schematics and send it to the full Board for approval later this meeting. During our discussion the question of Air Conditioning at the schools came up. There was a brief discussion with KBA, the administrators and committee members about which areas in the schools would be air-conditioned. We also talked about the possibility, didn’t go too far, of fully air-conditioning the High School. But installation and operation of the system looks cost prohibitive at this time. There are areas in all the schools that do have ac designed in and those majors areas are the Auditorium at Watertown High School, the gym at Judson because that can be used as an auditorium, the café at Polk for the same reason, all IT areas, nurses’ suites, conference rooms, guidance areas, are all included with air-conditioning. There was also a discuss about increasing seating in the renovated auditorium at Watertown High School and KBA will present three options tonight. One thing I want to stress is that the Board’s vote tonight on the schematic designs and discussion about the auditorium seating are two separate issues. The schematics that we will take action on later in the meeting cover the footprint only of the additions and renovations and answer the question of whether the educational needs and program needs are met by the schematics. The question of the AC and other design features will be discussed at a later date.
Ms. Dzioba: Policy and Labor Committee, Mary it was brought to my attention last time that I overlooked your committee report and I apologize.
Ms. Colangelo: I didn’t have a report anyway, that is why I let it slide.
Laughter
6. Policy and Labor Committee, Mary Colangelo, Chair
Ms. Colangelo: We have a policy and labor committee set for Wednesday the 26th, that is this coming Wednesday at 6:30 at the High School Guidance Conference Room. We have a very extensive agenda to address.
7. Cablevision, Kevin Killeen, Chair
Mr. Killeen: No report this evening
8. PBC Representative, Rich Mazzamaro
Mr. Mazzamaro: I attended the Public Building Committee on September 19th and the committee of all things reviewed and endorsed the schematic designs for the three schools pending Board approval tonight. O & G also introduced the project team for all three schools for the projects. Joe Vitro from O & G gave his monthly update on the Swift Project. Everything is on time, on budget, there is was also a report that there is roughly $375,000 still remaining in the contingency as well.
9. Education Connection Representative, Mary Dzioba
Ms. Dzioba: There is no report
10. Town Hall Joint Committee, Mary Dzioba, Thomas Lambert –
Mr. Lambert: There is no report.
F. Communications – Secretary
Mr. Griffin: There are no communications this evening
G. Minutes
1. Regular Board of Education Meeting – September 10, 2007
Motion Presented by Mr. Griffin seconded by Ms. Pannone to accept the Regular Board of Education Meeting Minutes of September 10, 2007.
Motion Passed Unanimously
(9-In Favor, 0-Opposed, 0 Abstained)
H. Superintendent's Recommendations and Report
Dr. Erardi: Before I start my report I would like to thank the Board for their kind remarks, I would also like to thank the Administrative team and the faculty and staff of the Watertown Schools for being just extraordinary for children. I would also like to thank the Munson House staff, in particular my cabinet of Dr. Pelosi, Mrs. Grover, Mrs. Raiola and Mr. LoFrese for being outstanding friends and folks that I trust with the wellbeing of our 3,500 students. I am very confident that Dr. Pelosi will do extraordinary work for the 07-08 school year.
In that vain of celebrations I am extremely pleased to share with the Board of Education, there is no better way to start the school year than to find out that one of your elementary schools is one of two finalists for the Connecticut Association of Schools, School of Excellence, School of the Year. I would like to share with the Board how that process works. CASS, the Connecticut Association of Schools, offers an annual program for every elementary school to participate for school excellence. This particular year was the richest number of applicants in the history of the elementary school process. A team of faculty staff and administration throughout the summer at John Trumbull worked to complete the application. The application was submitted and we were pleased and thrilled to find out that John Trumbull Primary School will have a site visit on October 3rd, which will determine either the finalist or the runner up for the State of Connecticut. Board Members know and I believe this community knows that does not happen by accident. It happens because there is an administrative team who cares greatly about their faculty. There is a faculty there who cares greatly about their children and together with parents that is the reason why they will recognized as either the, or the runner-up, in the State of Connecticut and that is just extraordinary. I would like to ask Kathy Scully and Laura Meka to stand and introduce the faculty members that are here from John Trumbull this evening.
Ms. Scully: These are committee members that helped work over the summer, there was a total group of 16 members that were willing to give up some summer sun. From the right, Donna Iacoviello, kindergarten teacher, Maryellen Lafferty, Grade 2, Judy White, Grade 1 and Caroline DiProspero grade 1 also.
Dr. Erardi: Kathy and Laura and staff, best of luck on October 3rd and congratulations to you.
Applause
Dr. Erardi: I am quite certain that the press will be in touch for an extensive article in the immediate future. In the Superintendent’s report item H 1, you will see a number of appointments that annually take place each fall that involve coaching and club advisors, item 2, Transfers with one transfer, and item 3 with one resignation. I don’t know if there are questions from Board Members on the Superintendent’s Report for items 1, 2, or 3.
The Board had no questions regarding Item #1, #2 or #3
1. Appointments – (Information Only – No Action Required)
a. Mr. Roger Ouellette to the position of Varsity Football Coach at Watertown High School for the 2007-2008 school year at a contractual stipend of $4,984.00 payable at the end of the season.
b. Dr. Philip A. Pelosi to the position of Interim Superintendent of Schools effective September 28, 2007, for approximately six months, at the per diem rate of $543.38.
c. Ms. Gretchen Uryase to the position of .8 Art teacher at Watertown High School effective August 29, 2007, being hired at Step 3, with a Bachelors Degree, with 2 years of experience, at a contractual salary of $32,107.20.
d. Mr. Keith Borkowski to the position of Assistant Football Coach at Watertown High School for the 2007-2008 school year at a contractual stipend of $3,068.00 payable at the end of the season.
e. Mr. Paul Catuccio to the position of Girl’s Soccer Coach at Swift Middle School for the 2007-2008 school year at a contractual stipend of $1,657.00 payable at the end of the season.
f. Ms. Laura DiNapoli to the position of Girl’s Field Hockey Coach at Swift Middle School for the 2007-2008 school year at a contractual stipend of $2,045.00 payable at the end of the season.
g. Mr. Charles Fenn to the position of Boy’s Soccer Coach at Swift Middle School for the 2007-2008 school year at a contractual stipend of $1,788.00 payable at the end of the season.
h. Mr. William Hosking to the position of Assistant Boy’s Soccer Coach at Watertown High School for the 2007-2008 school year at a contractual stipend of $1,788.00 payable at the end of the season.
i. Mr. Kris Kuegler to the position of Cross Country Coach at Watertown High School for the 2007-2008 school year at a contractual stipend of $2,556.00 payable at the end of the season.
j. Mr. William Leifert to the position of Cross Country Coach at Swift Middle School for the 2007-2008 school year at a contractual stipend of $2,173.00 payable at the end of the season.
k. Ms. Andrea Marino to the position of Varsity Volleyball Coach at Watertown High School for the 2007-2008 school year at a contractual stipend of $2,941.00 payable at the end of the season.
l. Mr. Scott McQueeney to the position of Assistant Football Coach at Watertown High School for the 2007-2008 school year at a contractual stipend of $2,684.00 payable at the end of the season.
m. Mr. Tony Mucciaro to the position of Girl’s Soccer Varsity Coach at Watertown High School for the 2007-2008 school year at a contractual stipend of $2,813.00 payable at the end of the season.
n. Mr. George Palomba to the position of Assistant Football Coach at Watertown High School for the 2007-2008 school year at a contractual stipend of $3,068.00 payable at the end of the season.
o. Ms. Carrie Prausauckas to the position of Assistant Field Hockey Coach at Watertown High School for the 2007-2008 school year at a contractual stipend of $2,173.00 payable at the end of the season.
p. Mr. Garry Smith to the position of Assistant Boys’ Swim Coach at Watertown High School for the 2007-2008 school year at a contractual stipend of $2,300.00 payable at the end of the season.
q. Mr. Dane Street to the position of Boy’s Varsity Soccer Coach at Watertown High School for the 2007-2008 school year at a contractual stipend of $3,068.00 payable at the end of the season.
r. Mr. Gregory Valente to the position of Assistant Girl’s Swim Coach at Watertown High School for the 2007-2008 school year at a contractual stipend of $1,788.00 payable at the end of the season.
2. Transfers – (Information Only – No Action Required)
a. Mr. Thomas Romano from General Maintenance Worker at Watertown High School to General Maintenance Worker in the Maintenance Department for 8.0 hours paid per day at an hourly rate of $19.55 effective July 27, 2007.
3. Resignations – (Information Only – No Action Required)
a. Ms. Michelle Velardi from the position of Paraprofessional at Judson School effective September 28, 2007 for personal reasons.
Dr. Erardi: This is a very brief report this evening as Mr. Griffin stated the advertising committee will once again endorse to the Board at large the support of the Robotics Advisor Stipend position. We had felt that it went quite well last year. I know it has the enthusiastic endorsement of Mr. Hasbrouck and the robotics club is off running and raising funds once again for another campaign. This comes to the Board as a first read for action at their October meeting. Anecdotally the fund balance in the activity account is just under $7,000 and that is something that I believe that the activity committee and advertising committee should be very, very proud of. That concludes the Superintendent’s report.
The Board had no questions regarding Item #4
4. Robotics’ Advisor Stipend – First Reading
a. Presented for the first reading tonight is the stipend for the Robotics’ Advisor for the
2007-2008 school year for $1,639.00 as per an agreement with the Watertown Education
Association on November 14, 2006. Payment of this stipend will come from the
Advertising Line Item.
I. Report from the Chairman
Ms. Dzioba: I don’t have a report tonight so we will move right on to action items.
J. Action Items – Adoption of Items to be Approved by Consent
a. Consideration of the Approval of the Acceptance of Gifts
1. The Watertown Foundation, Inc. would like to donate a grant in the amount of $2,000.00 to the Watertown Family Resource Center at John Trumbull Primary School to be used as a start up grant for supplies.
2. The Thomaston Savings Bank Foundation, Inc. would like to donate a grant in the amount of $2,300.00 to the Watertown School Band Program for upper elementary and middle school students to be used to purchase a tuba with a rolling case.
3. Mr. Rick Burmeister wishes to donate books to Watertown High School with an approximate value of $447.00 to be used in the Williams Memorial Library and also as classroom references.
It is recommended that the Board approve of the acceptance of these generous gifts and letters of appreciation to be sent to the donors.
Motion presented by Mr. Griffin, seconded by Mr. Mazzamaro to approve of the acceptance of these generous gifts and letters of appreciation to be sent to the donors.
Discussion: None
Motion Passed Unanimously
(9-In Favor, 0-Opposed, 0-Abstained)
b. Consideration of the Approval to Accept the Two-Year NEASC Report From Watertown High School
It is recommended that the Board approve to accept the Two-Year NEWSC Report from the Watertown High School Administration regarding NEASC Accreditation as presented.
Motion presented by Mr. Mazzamaro, seconded by Mr. Griffin to approve to accept the Two-Year NEWSC Report from the Watertown High School Administration regarding NEASC Accreditation as presented.
Discussion:
Dr. Erardi: Can I just comment that the body of work that the Board has had a chance to review, and we do have copies for the press. It is just hard work that has taken place through the administrative team at the High School, the department chairs at the High School, and the faculty at large. I am not a betting person but this is a very, very solid report that will be sent to the New England Association of School and Colleges that addresses the warning status of Watertown High School. Congratulations to this Board of Education, with the funding stream that you provided, that when you have a chance to review this report you will see nearly item that was targeted two years ago has been completed. Congratulations to the Board, Mr. Hasbrouck accommodations to you for exceptional work.
Ms. Colangelo: I would like to extend my congratulations also to the administration and staff for an excellent report. I did read through the majority of it.
Motion Passed Unanimously
(9-In Favor, 0-Opposed, 0-Abstained)
c. Consideration of the Approval to Accept the Schematic Design Submission for Polk Elementary School
It is recommended that the Board approve to accept the Schematic Design Submission for Polk Elementary School as presented.
Motion presented by Mr. Mazzamaro, seconded by Mr. Lambert to approve to accept the Schematic Design Submission for Polk Elementary School as presented.
Discussion:
Dr. Erardi: There will be at this time, KBA, the architectural team, prepared for the Board, I think in order for flow for the next three items, they are prepared to show you the High School, Judson and Polk and then you can take action.
Mr. LoFrese: Dr. Erardi if I may, I would like to thank Mr. David King, Mr. Fred Khericha and Mr. Lon Grabinski from CES for being here tonight. Also special thanks to Par Corvello, Emily Judd and Thad Hasbrouck and the staff of the schools for countless hours and days of getting us to this point over the summer vacation. So special thanks to them, with that Mr. David King.
Mr. King: Good evening, we are here to briefly describe to you what the schematic design phase consists of and what you are being asked to approve on the three schools tonight. First of all the meeting phase took place over the summer. It was a series of meetings with all the school staff as Todd mentioned, to discuss every aspect of each of the three schools. What was going on and going to be happening in all the departments and specialized areas and also the schools mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire protection systems. We took those notes back and developed schematic designs and then compared them to what was recommended in the educational specifications that were adopted by the Board. In some cases the spaces decreased a little bit, in some cases they increased a little bit. There may be a couple of rooms that came up that should be included that weren’t in the Ed spec and there may be a couple of rooms that were regarded as not necessary in certain instances. So that is what is in the packet that you received a few weeks ago and the study indicated here.
Mr. King presented a PowerPoint presentation to the Board.
Lets talk about the High School. Very briefly this is the site layout, which is not different than what we had before. Appreciatively we have a new drive coming through, new bus loop, new parking over in here and a new parent drop off. This brown part shows where the additions are to the school, further developing of parking down in back and all the way down here to where the tennis courts are here. Another seventy or so spaces down in this area, these ball fields get developed and they get a connection out to the cul de sac which we indicated down there. Just so you know, presently you have about 308 parking spaces at the High School site, this plan shows about 422. Now admittedly about 70 of those are down below here so you are still at about the 350 range for all the upper level parking.
Things that we talked about before, the existing school is here, the areas that are being demolished are shown in green. Then this is the area where we will have new additions. The center administrative space, support music program, (inaudible) shop, guidance is over here, new connection off of the cafeteria. On the second level, of course additional science departments up in here and that (inaudible). Then you can see that we are further developing the elevations, the exterior look of the building. All of these drawings lead toward the development of a set of construction documents that will be used for bidding. There will be some three hundred sheets or so for the High School alone.
With regard to the auditorium we have come up, working with our theater consultant, we prepared three schemes of how the theater might lay out. Mind you, one of the things we are doing as part of the renovate to new program is to provide accessibility to the auditorium and to the stage which requires a series of ramps that you see kind of over in here and over in here. Also some accessible seating positions which are over in here across the middle. This particular scheme shows about 527 seats; right now you have over 700 I believe. But because of the layout of the theater many of the seats are way back over here so the sight lines are not that wonderful. So what we did hear was we developed a scheme where we had the number of seats that falls in the range for reimbursement. We have re-sloped the floor so that these lower seats are on a gradual rise and then after this cross aisle these seats in back here. Which goes up to the back, are very steeply sloped and so you end up at the control rooms, which is right where the mechanical mezzanine is now. That was one layout that we developed. Now this has some costs associated with it because of this structural work in the floor that would go on in this back area.
If we took another look at a scheme where we once again had compliance for handicapped requirements but will maximize the number of seats in the theater. This is a scheme that shows 674 seats and to get the additional seating we actually build a mezzanine or a balcony if you will, with some additional seating in it in order to get those seats together. However the costs associated with these two schemes are I believe very high and would not be good for our budget which we have to be mindful of. So we have developed yet a third scheme which doesn’t have quite as many seats, only about 558 but doesn’t have as much of the major structural change to the floor. It has some minor change to the floor; there we have ramping on this side and this side. Still the cross aisle, still the handicapped seating positions and also some areas where we can provide some technical galleries for lighting positions and so forth for a nice production.
Judson School
Lets move on to Judson. Once again the site, these are the areas where we have new construction proposed. If you recall we have a new bus loop involving a new parent drop-off area in here. Developing further the parking and play areas and a little bit of work involved for drainage. Judson has about 53 spaces now, maybe 23 or so are at the ball fields, and we will be able to develop about 98 all together. Again this is the area where we do have some demolition and here is what would become new. This is where we draft the administrative area in and around the front. The media center in this area; some classroom and music program space is here. We need to do some work on the two ramp connectors between the two because they don’t meet the current code. Again the exterior of the building we are developing over here is kind of the media center on the front. This is the front of the building; administrative space is here (inaudible) that we talked about as a result of our study.
Polk School
Site areas in here, we are reworking parking spaces a little bit. We have a new bus drop off; we are getting off of the street. So we have a new area in here, a loop in here and then a parent drop off area in here also. Unfortunately the site is very tight so the net increase in parking spaces is not significant, it might be only a couple but we are going to continue to work on that. Again additions are shown in brown, and that is what you see here. We add onto the cafeteria in the back, we are going to create a platform in the front of the cafeteria. New kitchen and servary here and some mechanical spaces in here. Then it will expand the media center there. Then of course in these classroom areas they will be redone as we talked about going way back to our study. That is kind of the look here, we have to be mindful of in this particular case, Polk has a lot of pitched roofs and we have to integrate all of (inaudible) with those so we don’t create snow build up and stuff like that. That is all for the presentation.
Discussion:
Mr. Lafferty: The option for the, I believe it is option B for the theater is the mezzanine option, if I remember from the meeting that we had, the mezzanine would not be covered under the State reimbursement, correct?
Mr. King: Yes
Ms. Dzioba: Are there any questions?
Ms. Colangelo: I just want clarification that we are just approving the footprint tonight.
Ms. Dzioba: Thank you, ok.
Motion Passed Unanimously
(9-In Favor, 0-Opposed, 0-Abstained)
d. Consideration of the Approval to Accept the Schematic Design Submission for Judson Elementary School
It is recommended that the Board approve to accept the Schematic Design Submission for Judson
Elementary School as presented.
Motion presented by Mr. Mazzamaro, seconded by Mr. Griffin to approve to accept the Schematic Design Submission for Judson Elementary School as presented.
Discussion: None
Motion Passed Unanimously
(9-In Favor, 0-Opposed, 0-Abstained)
e. Consideration of the Approval to Accept the Schematic Design Submission for Watertown High School
It is recommended that the Board approve to accept the Schematic Design Submission for Watertown High School as presented.
Motion presented by Mr. Mazzamaro, seconded by Mr. Griffin to approve to accept the Schematic Design Submission for Watertown High School as presented.
Discussion: None
Motion Passed Unanimously
(9-In Favor, 0-Opposed, 0-Abstained)
f. Consideration of the Approval of the Transfer of Funds
It is recommended that the Board approve of the transfer of funds as presented.
Motion presented by Mr. Griffin, seconded by Mr. Mazzamaro to approve of the attached transfer of funds.
Discussion: None
Motion Passed Unanimously
(9-In Favor, 0-Opposed, 0-Abstained)
g. Consideration of the Approval of Grant Applications
Grants for the 2007-2008 school year have been written by Dr. Pelosi and Mary Raiola with the assistance of Amelia Grover. With Board approval, grant applications will be submitted for the following programs:
a. Title II, Part A – Teacher and Principal Training and Recruiting - $103,528 (written by Dr. Pelosi)
b. Title III, Part A – Subpart 1 – English Language Acquisition and Language Enhancement - $9,385 (Applying through consortium with EDUCATION CONNECTION) (Coordinated by Mary Raiola)
c. Title IV, Part A – Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities - $7,182 (written by Mary Raiola)
d. Title V, Part A – Innovative Programs - $5,109 (written by Dr. Pelosi)
It is recommended that the Board of Education approve of the grants as written.
Motion presented by Ms. Calabrese, seconded by Ms. Colangelo to approve of the grants as written.
Discussion:
Mr. Killeen: This is just outstanding, what I see here, the work of our staff members to go out and get this kind of money for out district, I think they deserve a lot of credit.
Motion Passed Unanimously
(9-In Favor, 0-Opposed, 0-Abstained)
h. Consideration of the Approval of Family Medical Leave of Absence
Ms. Lauren O’Toole, Grade 2 Teacher at John Trumbull Primary School, requests a childbearing leave of absence under the Family Medical Leave Act starting approximately November 26, 2007 through the end of the 2007-2008 school year with use of accumulated sick time and then leave without pay.
It is recommended that the Board approve of a childbearing leave of absence under the Family Medical Leave Act for Ms. Lauren O’Toole, Grade 2 Teacher at John Trumbull Primary School, starting approximately November 26, 2007 through the end of the 2007-2008 school year with use of accumulated sick time and then leave without pay and a medical doctor’s note to return.
Motion presented by Mr. Griffin, seconded by Mr. Mazzamaro to approve of a childbearing leave of absence under the Family Medical Leave Act for Ms. Lauren O’Toole, Grade 2 Teacher at John Trumbull Primary School, starting approximately November 26, 2007 through the end of the 2007-2008 school year with use of accumulated sick time and then leave without pay and a medical doctor’s note to return
Discussion: None
Motion Passed Unanimously
(9-In Favor, 0-Opposed, 0-Abstained)
K. Future Agenda Items and Board Members’ Comments
Mr. Lambert: I would like to bring up a safety issue that has quite frankly been bothering me and I know it would bother all you people also, it has to do with a couple of different items. One, illegal parking of cars and trucks on sidewalks, especially on Riverside Street. I know because I walk there probably every morning in my morning walk, I have seen it. I have called our police department on numerous occasions for cars and trucks parking on the sidewalks with students having to walk around the cars and into the street traffic. This is especially a dangerous condition because the times that I have called the Police Department was when I observed Riverside Street in the morning and the sun is directly in your eyes as you are traveling towards Main Street. Making it near zero visibility at times when the sun is especially bright. This is a very dangerous situation and something has to be done about this. Also hazardous sight line issues, one of them that I walk by every morning is the corner of Hillside and Ballfarm Roads, this is a bus stop for our children. At that location there is a cross walk and adjacent to this cross walk there is a stop sign and a four to five foot high hedge next to the sidewalk. This hedge hides any children or pedestrians walking on the sidewalk into the crosswalk next tot he stop sign. I have been almost hit by cars myself going in the crosswalk so I know what I am talking about; I have seen it in person. The cars as they exit Ballfarm road are trying to get by this hedge and their cars are into the crosswalk before they can have a sight line. This sight line issue was called into the Police Department and they told me to call public works, this was a three-week process and it is still not resolved through the Public Works Department. But the Public Works Department has contacted me and said that the homeowner would let them cut down the hedges. But it is still not done.
There are many of the above hazards in our town and I think that we as a group need to address some fundamental issues, especially relating to students walking to school. This is a responsibility that we must take control of, we must know how the process works and who is responsible to report violations and who is supposed to fix them. Is our Police Department responsible to report violations during their patrol on their shifts? Is Public Works Department responsible to seek out these issues? Do both departments wait the public to report the issues? We must clarify the areas of responsibilities so that these incidents do not occur. We need to have a fact finding meeting with representatives from the departments affected and solve this important student safety issue which can also become a liability lawsuit for our town. Madame Chairman I submit this to you and hopefully we can get a small committee together and hopefully address the issues with the affected departments. Thank you.
Ms. Colangelo: I have some comments. Madame Chair, I was very distressed to read your letter in the Town Times and the statements that you made about this Board and insinuating the Superintendent overspent last year’s budget by $80,000. I would like you to clarify your statement please.
Ms. Dzioba: Ok, we had to go to the Town for the additional funds to cover emergency repairs for the Judson boiler which was at the beginning of the year which we tried to make up and we couldn’t. It went to all of your statements of requesting, and I would like to clarify while we are on the subject, clarify that at no time did I say I have to approve, that anyone would approve purchase orders. The request as I said in my letter was that they would be reviewed by committees and brought important information and discussion brought to the full Board for recognition. Now the reason we did that, I did that was because we had the emergency cleanup of the asbestos. So fourteen days into our new budget, we were already $30,000 in the red because of the emergency cleanup. That was after there was already a freeze put on 10%?
Mr. Griffin: 20%
Ms. Dzioba: 20% of how many line items?
Mr. Griffin: Seven line items.
Ms. Dzioba: Seven line items so that we could cover other short falls that we had already said that we were going to have. So that is why.
Ms. Colangelo: I may like to clarify even further your statement, the budget was not overspent because that was not a budgeted item in the budget. It was an emergency repair done on a boiler that needed to be repaired and we were expecting to be reimbursed for that. Also, we covered part of those repairs and there was another additional expense that was unexpected, which was for worker’s compensation.
Ms. Dzioba: Right, but see I was concerned because…
Ms. Colangelo: But I think your statement here is misleading.
Ms. Dzioba: Well, I would like to clarify that I was responding to other Board Members response that I was micromanaging by having to approve all purchase orders which was never the case. And I thought that it was a way for the Board to be proactive in that we were already in trouble for two weeks into the budget. That it would show responsibility that we would look into and track our spending. One of the things that I was having a discussion earlier tonight, that one of the benefits of reviewing all the purchase orders is that it has been very informative and I wish that all Board Members would take a look at the purchase orders because it really gives you a sense of where our money is being spent.
Ms. Colangelo: And you also stated that you were going to share this with the entire Board and I haven’t seen any of it. Also, we did have a discussion on my disapproval of your doing that.
Ms. Dzioba: But again…
Ms. Colangelo: I did that in an email to you and it was stated that no one objected to it, which I did.
Ms. Dzioba: I don’t remember..
Ms. Colangelo: I just wanted to get the facts clear, thank you.
Ms. Dzioba: Any other Board members comments?
Mr. Griffin: I believe Mary though, you are on the budget committee, so you are aware of where the over expenditures occurred.
Ms. Colangelo: I haven’t seen any purchase orders but I did miss the last budget meeting because I was away.
Ms. Griffin: Then we can put something together for you so you have that information.
Ms. Colangelo: But if it is going to be shared with the whole Board, I wish it would be shared with the whole board.
Mr. Killeen: Madame Chair, if I could. Kind of on topic, the forum in which you chose to air some of your feeling about the Board didn’t give all of the Board Members a chance to respond in the same forum. As a member who is running for reelection, I wasn’t allowed to submit a letter.
Ms. Dzioba: That is not my policy.
Mr. Killeen: But I would like to continue, the letter that I desired to present was to recognize the efforts and the ethics of Mr. Mazzamaro who was treated rather poorly.
Ms. Dzioba: Not by me, I didn’t mention Mr. Mazzamaro at all.
Mr. Killeen: Ok, let me…
Ms. Dzioba: Ok, but I just am saying that…
Mr. Killeen: The mention of my name as far as running for reelection in the manner in which it occurred. As a matter of record, my statement from the minutes of the meeting that proceeded your comments where extremely positive to the Superintendent who I greatly respect. And the other thing was, if you do read those minutes in no way was it disparaging to a single member of our Board and I felt hurt by that, I personally felt hurt by that.
Ms. Dzioba: Well some comments were directly disparaging to me in particular. But as we are all aware, there is a word limit to get all of the information into the letter. I do, you know, this is a Board that has worked extremely well for two years. We have had our differences but that is being a Board, I have always said that if you are not disagreeing then somebody at some point, somebody is always compromising. But through the newspapers, through comments from Board members I have been blamed for Dr. Erardi leaving basically and I just wanted (inaudible) with Dr. Erardi. I was also criticized for not asking him to have a meeting with the board and I want to repeat as I did that night. Dr. Erardi, the night, the day that you resigned I did ask you if you would meet with the Board and you thanked me but said no, is that correct?
Dr. Erardi: The conversation this evening is extremely for me and that is the reason why we have chosen to have an exit interview on Wednesday at 7:30. I will continue with my public comment that for professional and personal reasons is the reason why I chose to leave. Mrs. Dzioba did ask me if there was reconsideration on my part which she is referring to and my response was no, not at that time.
Ms. Dzioba: Very good and can I also ask you to confirm to me that I also asked you if it was anything to do with me and you assured me at that point that no it was not.
Dr. Erardi: I am going to, as I stated, I am respectful to the exit interview, I would like to refrain any further comments that I have in regards to questions at this time as this is bordering personnel in which I am uncomfortable with. Thank you.
Ms. Dzioba: But for the record I did ask. And well as I said this Board has worked very well for the past two years and I am sorry to see that with it ending up this way.
Ms. Pannone: I think it is time that we stopped being negative and I think we have to push forward with the positive. We have a lot of great things going on for all of us and this negativism is being wasted energy. I think it is time that we stop this public display.
Ms. Dzioba: Any one else? Any other future agenda items, or?
Mr. Lambert: Yes Ms. Dzioba, I would like to kind of respond to the negativeness comment. This is a big deal, this is not a little deal as to why this Board came to some conclusions, some of us and ended up like it has ended up. This is not a little deal, this is a big deal and hopefully the exit interview will shed some light on what really happened. This is an emotional issue for me; this is an emotional issue for some of the Board members here and probably all of the Board Members here. This is not a little deal and this just didn’t happen for a reason that wasn’t in my mind morally the right road to take. I don’t want anyone to think this is a little deal because this is a very big deal with me personally, this is a big deal with a lot of the people on this Board, I don’t want to treat it lightly.
Ms. Pannone: Tom, I don’t want to minimize that either but I do think our purpose as a Board are the children in this school system and I think that is where our concentration has to be.
Ms. Colangelo: And I think we all agree with you on that Joanne but when I am named personally in a letter to the Editor and I have no way to respond I need to get the fact out straight. I am not trying to be negative and I am willing to work with everybody.
Ms. Dzioba: My response was obviously in response to the public participation comments made by Board Members. But… are there any other comments?
No response
L. Public Participation
None
M. Executive Session
Litigation
Personnel Issues
Motion presented by Mr. Killeen, seconded by Mr. Mazzamaro to enter into Executive Session with Dr. Erardi, Dr. Pelosi, Mr. Hasbrouck, Attorney John Conway, and all Board Members listed as present.
Motion Passed Unanimously
(9-In Favor, 0-Opposed, 0-Abstained)
Executive Session convened at 8:35 p.m.
Executive Session ended at 10:10 p.m.
N. Adjournment
Motion presented by Mr. Griffin, seconded by Mr. Marks to adjourn the Regular Board of Education Meeting of September 24, 2007.
Motion Passed Unanimously
(9-In Favor, 0-Opposed, 0-Abstained)
Meeting adjourned at 10:12 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted by
Todd Griffin, Board Secretary
Bonnie Goulet, Board Clerk
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