¬
MINUTES
WATERTOWN BOARD OF EDUCATION REGULAR MEETING
Watertown High School
Technology Center
Monday, March 9, 2009 – 7:30 PM
Members Present: Joseph Apicella
Gina Calabrese, Chairman
Mary Colangelo, Secretary
Kevin Killeen
Thomas Lambert
Janice Pond
Members Absent: Todd Griffin
Richard Mazzamaro
Others Present: Karen Baldwin, Superintendent of Schools
Thad Hasbrouck, Director of Curriculum & Prof. Services
Gary Miller – Interim Director of District Operations
Richard Mastroianni, Student Council Representative
Fran Palmer, Teacher Swift
Mary Dzioba, Former Board Member
Marylu Lerz, Principal Swift Middle School
Mary Jane Miller, Foreign Language Teacher W.H.S.
Joanne Chenkus, Foreign Language Teacher W.H.S.
Amy Henion, W.H.S. Student
Matthew Geary, Principal W.H.S.
Marc Balanda, Assistant Principal W.H.S.
Nancy Toomey, Assistant Principal W.H.S.
Kathy Scully, Principal J.T.P.S.
Lisa Rommel, Principal Judson School
Other interested guests
James Perucci, Reporter Town Times
A. Convene Regular Meeting - 7:30 PM
Ms. Calabrese convened meeting at 7:30 p.m. and then called for a recess.
Meeting reconvened 7:45 PM.
B. Salute to the Flag
Ms. Calabrese led the Pledge of Allegiance.
C. Recognition
The Board of Education wishes to recognize Mary Dzioba for her six years of dedicated, thoughtful, and courageous service to the children and families of Watertown. Mary has served as Board Chair for two years, and also served on various committees such as the Policy and Labor Committee, the Curriculum and Instruction Committee, the Advertising Committee, the Town Government Committee. She has served as representative to Cablevision and has also been part of the Board of Education’s negotiations team for nurses, cafeteria workers, secretaries and paraprofessionals contracts.
The Superintendent and the Board of Education’s Chair will make a presentation.
Ms. Baldwin: At this point in the agenda, we have recognition of a board member who recently resigned from service with the board so Mrs. Calabrese and I are going to head up to the microphone for a brief presentation. I would ask that Mary Dzioba please come up and joint us.
I’m very pleased this evening to recognize Mary Dzioba for her years of service on the Watertown Board of Education. I had the good fortune of meeting Mary Dzioba, I think it was June 7, 2008 during the interview process for the Superintendent of Schools’ position here. I can remember this woman sitting at the end of this table pretty close to my candidate seat and at the end of the interview, one of the last questions was a very pointed question about budget and about the budget process. She really went after me and she obviously read my paperwork and knew that I had a background in physical education and athletics, and she posed me with one of those questions about athletics and English literature courses and where would I put my money if I had to make a decision and how would I advise this board. I remember she was so focused on my response. I started thinking, I wonder who this person is. But from that moment on, I was able to get a deep insight into Mary’s good thinking on Mary’s commitment to children and excellence in Watertown. From that moment, I knew that I would be blessed as Superintendent of Schools working with a board member as thoughtful and attentive as Mary and actually the whole board presented throughout that interview process and so I am pleased to have this opportunity to work with you for this short amount of time. I do want to thank you on behalf of all the previous superintendents that you worked and served with and on behalf of the administrators and teachers and this community for your selfless, dedicated and insightful leadership, we have a series of really just tokens of our appreciation for your fine work. I would first like to present you, because no recognition ceremony is complete without flowers. I present you first from the board a wonderful bouquet of flowers and I will turn it over to Mrs. Calabrese.
Ms. Calabrese: The Board of Education wishes to recognize Mary for her 6 years of dedicated, thoughtful and courageous service to the children and families of Watertown. Mary has served as board chair for two years and also served on various committees such as the Policy and Labor Committee, the Curriculum and Instruction Committee, the Advertising Committee and the Town Government Committee. She has served as representative to Cablevision and has always been a part of the Board of Education’s negotiations team for nurses, cafeteria workers, secretaries and paraprofessional’s contracts. Mary has unquestionably been a very devoted hard working member of this board. Aside from the time she has spent as an elected member, she has also over the years, stepped up to fill in for members who were unable to finish their terms. When viewed from this perspective, her time on the board actually spans over ten years, is that correct? Over ten years. Throughout this time, she has stood for integrity and truthfulness in the political arena, a place where one if often hard pressed to find either of these qualities in abundance. She has unwaveringly remained committed to the Watertown Public Schools as well as to the mission of this board. Her intelligence, humor and kindness will be sorely missed. Mary, thank you for everything you’ve done to make our community a better place in which to educate our children. On that note, we have a plaque to present to you on behalf of the Board of Education for all your wonderful service. Thank you very much. You will be missed.
Ms. Dzioba: I just wanted to thank everyone for your kindness and your patience and your support, especially over the last several months. I just want to let you know that I am very pleased that this is my last cold rainy Monday night. I will always look at this clock at 7:30 on a Monday night and think of you.
D. Report from Student Council Representative – Richard Mastroianni
Mr. Mastroiani: Good evening Madam Chair, Superintendent Baldwin, members of the Board of Education and everyone with us this evening. For the past few weeks, students of Watertown High School have been extremely hard working. As always, the product of this diligence can be felt all around Watertown and Oakville. Most recently, the Honor Society held it’s second blood drive of the year. The group in conjunction with the Red Cross collected 53 useful units of blood this year. That will save 156 lives. The number of units collected in fact, exceeded the goal of 50 that the Red Cross had originally set. The advisors of the Honor Society, Mr. Street and Mrs. Walluck said that this blood drive was extraordinarily rewarding because one of their own co-workers recently needed 2 units herself. They along with many student and staff donors are glad to have been able to help. The third drive is already being planned, however, they say it will be a challenge because of the construction. Nonetheless, despite the construction, the annual Battle of the Bands is in the making. Members met today after school to finalize plans. Together, they created this year’s logo and ticket design. Battle of the Bands is always a rewarding experience for those who attend as the musically oriented students here have a chance to express themselves and their entire band. As you are aware, music tastes differ tremendously. It’s important for students, staff and members of the public to at the very least immerse themselves in these various styles to encourage individuality and a sense of simply being a well rounded individual. Also, sign up sheets have been distributed to students to encourage them to participate in the St. Baldrick’s head shaving event this year. Mr. Geary, Mr. Sorensen and Mr. Balanda are all avid supporters of this organization. Donations will be collected by those students and staff who are willing to shave their heads in honor of St. Baldrick’s child cancer research. The actual shaving of the hair will be April 8th at Swift from 6-8 pm. The students of Watertown High School strive to do their best in order to reach their potential. They will continue to impress members of the staff, faculty and the general population of Watertown and Oakville. As a group and most importantly a team, there is no limit to what community projects can be accomplished.
E. Public Participation
Joanne Chenkus, 1080 Middlebury Rd.: I thought I’d take this opportunity because 2 weeks from now I will not be in this building, I will be at Swift. And that will be rehearsal for the production of “Once on this Island”. I would like to extend an invitation for all of you board members to come to Swift to see the high school production of this delightful show. Ricky is going to make his debut, maybe Broadway next, you just never know. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the administration, and the custodial staff and the teachers at Swift for being so accommodating to all of our students. We have great respect for the facility and we look forward to the day when Watertown High School will have our own auditorium to be just as proud of. Please join us the 26th, 27 and 28th. That’s Thursday, Friday and Saturday. “Once on this Island” is not a very well known show, but it was nominated for a Tony award in 1991, the same writers of “Suessical” and “Ragtime”. It’s similar to “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”. It’s sung from beginning to end. The students are working very very hard. The staff and the production team of teachers and volunteers and parents, it’s an enormous undertaking and I’m very proud to be a part of it this year.
Marylu Lerz, 36 Woodgate Circle: I’m here as president of our Watertown Administrator’s Association and I would just like to express our deep gratitude to Mary Dzioba for all her time, support and caring throughout these past years, as a loving parent to her four children, to all of the Watertown students and as a dedicated board member. Mary’s deep commitment has always been evident. For this, we thank her and we wish her the best. Thank you.
F. Committee Reports:
1. Advertising Committee – Mary Colangelo
No Report
2. Athletics Committee – Joseph Apicella
No Report
3. Budget Committee – Thomas Lambert
Mr. Lambert: I just want to put the word out to any of the board members that can make any of the dates and help support the superintendent on the budget explanation forums, it would be very very helpful if we had some support there. If anybody can make those dates, please do so. Thank you.
Ms. Calabrese: I would add that those dates, places and times are in your packets.
4. Curriculum & Instruction Committee – Kevin Killeen
Mr. Killeen: In our packets for Board action is the education technology plan template that district staff has been working very hard on over the past year and are here for our review as well as a presentation later on this evening.
5. Facilities Committee – Richard Mazzamaro
Mr. Mazzamaro is not here this evening, no report.
6. Policy and Labor Committee – Mary Colangelo
No Report
7. Cablevision – No Report
8. PBC Representative – Richard Mazzamaro
No Report
9. Education Connection Representative – Janice Pond
Ms. Pond: We did meet on Thursday, and I have some updated information to give to the Superintendent on the stimulus package and how it will affect Connecticut and us. I did have it at the last meeting and left it in my car, but I will get it to you.
G. Communications - Secretary
None
H. Minutes
1. Regular Board of Education Meeting – February 23, 2009.
MOTION made by Ms. Colangelo, sec. by Mr. Lambert
To approve the minutes of the regular BOE meeting of February 23, 2009
MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
I. Superintendent's Recommendations and Report
Ms. Baldwin: Number 1 under this report deals with transfers. All of them are in the custodian bargaining group and are related to moving from the high school to Swift as part of supporting the renovated Swift Middle School.
1. Transfers – (Information Only – No Action Required)
a. Ms. Rebecca Fetting from Custodian at Heminway Park School to Area C – Administration/Media Center Custodian 3rd shift at Swift Middle School, effective December 1, 2008, for 8.0 hours paid per day, at an hourly rate of $18.63.
b. Mr. David Kennedy from Floater Custodian at Watertown High School to Custodian 2nd shift at Watertown High School, effective January 19, 2009, for 8.0 hours paid per day, at an hourly rate of $19.18.
c. Mr. Naser Selimovski from Custodian 3rd shift auditorium at Watertown High School to Area B – Music/Auditorium Custodian 3rd shift at Swift Middle School, effective December 1, 2008, for 8.0 hours paid per day, at an hourly rate of $19.27.
2. Three School Project Update – (Information Only – No Action Required)
Administration will present an update on the three school project.
Ms. Baldwin: As the board is aware, we do have a walk through scheduled at Judson this Saturday morning at 9:00. In terms of the progress to date, a lot of site work is starting this week in terms of electric, telecommunication and cable installations on the site. In the Area A, when we go in this Saturday, I think you’ll be able to see that door frames are now being installed in Area A and exterior wall studs are in place there so we are making good progress. Area B, we continue with the mechanical electrical and plumbing roughings. This is obviously ongoing work. Interior masonry work is taking place this week, so we’re beginning that work in the classrooms. Also exterior masonry is projected to start at the end of this week at Judson so that project does have quite a bit of positive momentum and I am looking forward to the walk through on Saturday.
At the high school, we have received drawings and a sketch for the traffic light installation here. Chuck Berger and the engineers as well as representatives from O&G have met and have come up with specifications for that traffic light. We hope to go out to bid with that this week. In terms of the site work here at the high school, we continue with sanitary installation on the southwest slope of the building here. We also have begun constructing an access road along the Mills complex area. In Area A we are working on the brick and stone veneer inside. We have completed interior masonry wall on the first floor of area a. Flashing and tie ins to the existing roof are also complete in Area A. I am hopeful with the Public Building Committee that we may be able to get a walk through of the high school scheduled soon because I think that people are getting excited about what we can see from the outside. In terms of Area B, we’ve begun framing exterior walls, installing dry wall and we continue with the work on the sprinkler system being installed in Area B.
The Polk project, we have received approval from DEP for our 500 year flood plan. That is now with the State Department of Education. We are waiting approval from the State Department of Education on that plan. Once we receive that we anticipate going out to bid. We have received verbal approval from the State Department, but we don’t have it in writing which is what we need. Once we get it in writing, we will go out to bid for this project. We anticipate that very soon, in the next week or two. We need to generate some excitement and interest around that project now as well.
3. Out-of-Country Field Trip Presentation
Ms. Mary Jane Miller and Ms. Joanne Chenkus, Foreign Language Teachers at Watertown High School are here tonight to give a presentation on an international field trip for Watertown High School students to Spain and Portugal in April 2010.
Ms. Baldwin: Ms. Joanne Chenkus and Mary Jane Miller are here to make a
presentation. I also believe we have a student here. Board members, you did
receive information in your packet over the weekend relative to this and Ms.
Miller will highlight the information and answer any questions that board
members may have.
Ms. Miller: The Foreign Language department is planning a trip for next year which will be my 6th trip in the Watertown system, however, I’ve done about 8 or so before that. Basically we go through ACIS, American Council of International Studies. The teachers who will go with me are all language teachers for the school and it’s at a ratio of 6:1. We’re
accompanied 24/7 with a courier, an employee of ACIS. Every year, you can go on a
different route. This route was picked to highlight some of the main things that the
kids have studied over the years about Spain and a little bit of Portugal. The study
of Spain is based in and embedded with the work the world language learning
from the century and we call them the 5 C’s. Communication, culture, connection,
comparisons and community. The 5 C’s are woven into our curriculum and lessons
at all times. However, when we travel abroad, it enhances everything that done in
the classroom. They communicate via verbally and visually everything in Spanish
from the shopkeepers to the restaurants to the signs. It’s a total immergence into
the language. They share in the culture and the history of the country as we go
through the small villages and the large cities and they get to see the Moorish
palaces and the towers and the museums. You just can’t do that from a book or
something like that. The thing that I think is the most important for me and why I do
it every couple of years is because I so strongly believe that travel changes lives.
Not one student will come home from one of these trips and be the same. They
have grown and the local community, it’s a global community. That’s what we
try and infuse in our students and they become citizens of the world. There are a lot of companies that do this, this is by far the best. It’s the only one I’ve ever used. About 4 trips ago we wanted to push a trip from April to July because of the impending war and absolutely, they were just wonderful. They just accommodated you in every single thing. They stayed in touch.
Mrs. Chenkus: This is the third trip that I will take to Europe with Mrs. Miller. I rely
on her experience and expertise. We are a very good team. The students are in
capable hands. They will have the time of their lives, but they are closely supervised. The students themselves can tell you the experience has changed them in a way that they could never have imagined. I think that in terms of standing for what we do each day in promoting the use of the language to study, knowing what’s happening in the world, there’s no more rewarding experience than to take the students on this trip. Our student that will probably speak very well today would be Amy.
Ms. Miller: Amy went with us two years ago. Her sister went with me two years prior to that.
Amy Henion, 76 Dunrobin Lane: As Ms. Miller said, I went on the France trip two years ago. I can say that it has changed my life for the better without a doubt for so many reasons. It will certainly change the lives of all the students that participate. It’s so incredible to just be in a place where no one speaks the language, yet you can still find a way to communicate with the people around you just because communication isn’t based on language, it’s based on what connects us all as a common people. Whether or not you know that language in a particular country, it makes everything an adventure from ordering lunch to buying something for your family to bring home. I remember two of the chaperones who went on the trip, they couldn’t speak a word of French. They decided to buy all of us flowers and they managed to buy them just with a lot of smiling and pointing. It just shows you that we’re all connected as people. It was also amazing to be in a place where the culture has had centuries of time to grow and change, which is very different from America, obviously. You see these places in books and you learn about them. You see that they are magnificent places, but once you go there, once you take the elevator up to the Eiffel Tower and you feel the wind from Paris in your face, you realize that the world is a lot bigger than just Watertown High School and I think that’s something that every student will treasure for the rest of their lives. These trips not only show people the rest of the world, it shows how it affects them and how they view their own peers differently. I remember that we went on the bus and we were all friends, but by the time we got on that plane, we were all family. Our friends were now stronger friends and people we had never spoken to before in the hallways were now a part of this family. It was something that we could all just share together to be in this beautiful country and we shared this experience together and it was incredible for me. I know that every parent and every teacher, one of the most important things that they can give to their child or their student is the opportunity to see a different culture and a different point of view because that’s what makes the world a better place and that’s why these trips are so important. That’s why it has changed my life and why it will change every student’s life who goes on these trips. Thank you very much for your time.
Ms. Baldwin: Later in the evening, the board will have an opportunity to take action possibly based upon the information. I don’t know if board members have questions relative to the presentation that was just provided on the international field trip.
Ms. Colangelo: This is during April vacation?
Ms. Baldwin: It is. We have the calendar for 2009-2010. It takes place during a big chunk of April vacation. It does also have children and staff leaving two days prior to the start of April vacation and they would return during the Thursday of the vacation. So two days, they’re losing classes.
Mr. Killeen: The cost to the district is..
Ms. Baldwin: The cost to the district would simply be covering substitutes. We project that we would have four teachers going with approximately 24 children to maintain that 6:1 ratio. So those four teachers would be out of the building, that’s a paid absence for those four teachers because they’re performing duties in an alternate setting and we would just need to provide substitute teacher coverage for two days for four teachers.
Mr. Killeen: Thank you.
4. Follett Server and Software Purchase for Swift Presentation
Mr. Gary Miller, Interim Director of District Operations, will give a presentation of the Follett Server and Software purchase for Swift Middle School. Mr. Miller will update the Board of Education on his work with the Public Buildings Committee as they close out the Swift Middle School construction project and highlight the benefits of new technology with the installation of the Follett Server.
Ms. Baldwin: As board members are aware, we are in the process of closing out the Swift Middle School project. We have examined carefully opportunities to enhance our instructional program and academic program across the district and Mr. Miller is here to talk about Follett server and software that we can purchase for Swift Middle School that will help to leverage our technology across the school system.
Mr. Miller: I’ve given you two items. One is a memo that I wrote for the Town Council as a bid waiver on the two purchases. Maybe you got that in a previous packet. The top sheet, I summarized about a 10-page document from Follett of all the great and wonderful things that they say that their product does. I’m familiar with their product. I’ve been for a long time. I sifted it down to one page of the salient points. The important piece of this is you can have all these wonderful new libraries and this building, Judson, Polk and Swift and you have old software to manage your circulation. This is an opportunity as we go through the building process as we have done with furniture and other technologies is to take advantage of the fact that the state’s paying for over half the cost of things, is to bring some of these much needed items in. The Follett Destiny system actually has three pieces, the library circulation piece, most of you are probably most familiar with similar kinds of systems. Their system also includes asset management, which means all the items in inventory, technology items, cameras, LCD projectors, all those kind of things that are either movable or (inaudible) we’ll now be able to track through this system in addition to our library books and media and also it comes with textbook manager. It allows us to take control of all the textbooks, all the supplemental readers throughout the school district to know what we have, where it is, how old it is. It goes by the ISBN numbers. You know exactly what version, how old, when it was bought, what we paid for it, what it would cost to replace it, who has it. Particularly the textbook manager you can actually develop that system so you can check books out from the department level out to a teacher who would then check them out to each individual student based on their student ID. The week before graduation comes up and you are trying to collect all your assets you know who may not get a report card on time. There are school systems that use this system to enforce that. This is an excellent price we’re getting. Follett is the only source for this software. I’ve provided in the letter that went to the Town Council a sole source document. I knew they had some previous competition, but when I started looking down the list of software that they now own, they own all their competition. If we were to go out to bid, they would be the only respondent, there is nobody else that has this kind of software for schools at this time. As part of this package, because it is being bought through this building project and I was worried Marylou Cogliser and Pam Hodowski were concerned for future budget impact and so this particular purchase has three years of licensing and maintenance and training all built into this price. There is no budget impact for three years. The only impact would be as you add on additional schools. This initial purchase has the capacity to handle not only Swift, but will house the server and do the initial software installation, but it will have the capacity to add in the high school as the high school library becomes available. At that point then, we will add in Judson hopefully when Judson becomes available. Their piece would be paid for through the technology portion of their project. The same thing for Polk. At some time we have to pick up Trumbull. At that point, from anywhere within the district if you open up the portal to outside the district, if a parent wants to look and see if there is a particular book that a child is interested in a particular school library, they’ll log in from home and know where books are. When you come to textbook replacement time in the budget, we’ll be able to print you all sorts of interesting reports that will give you by volume, by edition, the age of the books, what their cost was, what the new cost would be. It’s all that information once you get into the system that will be readily available through the publishing system. All these systems tie into. It’s a really top notch technological solution that does more than just library, it also gives you control of all your fixed assets in the district and textbook management which is always a loose end in the districts I worked with. It’s a two-piece. It’s a server, a fairly small expense which we’d get off a state bid and the Follett Destiny system. Just so you know what’s going on because I know you read the minutes from the Town Council and read things in the paper, so I just wanted to make sure your fully informed of what we’ve been working on through the committee. I’d be happy to entertain any questions.
Ms. Colangelo: I think this system is long overdue. I understand the need for this, but as with any system, who gets to, as I like to say, feed the monster – to do the data entry, putting all the information in there?
Mr. Miller: A lot of it is done because most come now, Follett has sold all of their books with the mark 6 ISBN record on. They download all of that automatically. You gain the entire library of Congress, basically as your database and so you only need to do the downloading and put the labels on those books which you already own which aren’t coded and then any that you add in the future that aren’t coded. You end up through the system treating digital cameras, all your assets that you might come to the library for media, you check it out just like a book.
Ms. Colangelo: Somebody has to enter all that into the system.
Mr. Miller: There’s an initial fee. With the asset management piece, I believe Todd has done it once in the past, there are a number of companies, inventory appraisal companies that will come in for a very modest fee and they’ll barcode everything. They would barcode it to the mark 6 specification so that we could do that. The other thing is that with Infinite Campus implemented, we’ll be using the same barcoding system. Whatever is on the student id, will not only get them a book, it will get them a textbook, it will get them lunch, if they need to check out a camera to do a student project, they’ll be able to do that. We’ll have a very complete picture of all your assets. That’s the payback of our 48% is fairly quick.
Mr. Killeen: On backing on Mary’s concerns, most books now have the ISBN numbers already on them. Does the system have a reader that would allow us to just scan and put them on the shelf?
Mr. Miller: Part of this purchase is the portable system that would either sit on the desk or they’re handheld, so you can go around and do inventory. Particularly, you do not only a label on the spine, but you do one inside the cover, so that if the one of the spine comes off, you can replace it.
Mr. Killeen: Is it my understanding that each of those books and textbooks could be individually identified per student and each student has their own number as well?
Mr. Miller: From my own personal experience, my wife’s managed the Follett Destiny system for Southington Board of Ed for six years. It’s in nine schools. It’s all up with one server. Follett checks in with the server. All the updates are all done automatically. They started last year with the textbook manager for the English department at the high school. I think they have 2500 students, something like that at the high school. They have an entire room. That’s just nothing but English books, all the Catchers in the Rye and all the novels that the students get handed (inaudible) for the year. Basically they come in, they have somebody that manages that space. It’s a paraprofessional that kind of clerks that space. Each teacher comes in, get their cart. They also bought each teacher a handheld scanner that they can plug into their classroom computer, so they can get 25 Catchers in the Rye checked out to them. They go to their class and as the students come into the class, they scan the book, scan the student’s nametag. Everybody has their book, teachers are no longer responsible. At the end when that book is due back, they get handed in, kids that are absent, you know who didn’t turn the book in. At the semester or at the end of the year, you know where all your assets are.
Mr. Lambert: I think that this is just long overdue. It should have happened awhile ago and it’s perfect timing, right now while we’re rebuilding.
Mr. Miller: We are doing this well within the approved budget for the Swift Middle School.
Ms. Baldwin: Right, that’s something important to emphasize that it is well within the approved budget of the Swift Middle School project. As board members may be aware, the bid waiver request, the memorandum dated February 25 from Mr. Miller the Town Council last Monday did not take action. They tabled that and so that would be on their agenda for March 16th, next Monday night. Apparently, they thought they had contacted my office to give a presentation for Monday night, but there was a miscommunication. Mr. Miller nor I knew we were to be in attendance last Monday night so they tabled it. We will work with them next Monday so they can move forward with this. I believe, am I correct Mr. Miller that the PBC has approved the monies for this?
Mr. Miller: Absolutely.
Ms. Baldwin: At this juncture, it’s just raising awareness and building the capacity for us to move forward with this request. The next item on the superintendent’s report is the technology plan for 2009-2012 and as Mr. Killeen indicated earlier in the meeting on the curriculum & instruction, Mr. Hasbrouck has led a district wide group of teachers and faculty in taking a look at our current education technology plan and revising it and updating it to meet standards as well as to address some of the things that Mr. Miller mentioned. I’ll turn it over to Mr. Hasbrouck to walk you through the plan.
5. Technology Plan 2009-2012
Mr. Thad Hasbrouck, Director of Curriculum and Professional Services, will give a presentation on the Watertown Technology Plan 2009-2012.
Mr. Hasbrouck: In your board packet, I believe it is appendix B, every 3 years, the State Department of Education requires that each school district within the state update their technology plan that reflects all the future plans and creates a blueprint for technology for the district. You have before you 2009 through the end of school year 2012. The work that’s embodied in the plan represents the work of the committee that on page 8 of the document identifies folks. You also have at the start Dr. Pelosi and Mr. Todd LoFrese and of course they have since went into retirement or other employment and so while their names aren’t here, we want to give credit to their work on the committee. It is comprised of a number of teachers spanning all the different grade levels, a library media specialist and as well administrators. One highlight to the plan is involving staff training which will be an ongoing process. First assessing the level of proficiency in use of technology across a spectrum of programs from the Office set to grade books to web usage, etc. Embedded in this is really a plan to go from proficiency to a mastery level in those areas as they are utilized in the classroom, and to continue to improve the application of computer technology to curriculum design and implementation. Within curriculum revision area will be imbedding technology tasks within the curriculum documents, specific tasks that all students would have an opportunity to partake in. This would provide then, assured experiences for all students within the district for all grade levels. In addition, as the State Department of Ed has produced a series of documents that outline a sequence of computer skills that basically takes students from being able to turn the computer on and wiggle the mouse around on the pad to really being more then proficient in a wide range of computer programs we would like to see that sequence. We’re working on that sequence from kindergarten through grade 12 to bring our students through that level of mastery that they’re going to need, not only for employment but for post high school education plans. In terms of the ongoing work of the committee, some of that’s already been described defining skills and at what grade levels where students would be engaging in those skills when and how we’re going to embed those into the curriculum. Thirdly for the technology tasks, providing some assessments and providing some rubrics to measure those.
The info structure, we need to continue to make long range plans. We’ve been able to, thankfully through grants, because you know the condition of the budget hasn’t been kind to technology, but through some careful use of grant monies for the past couple of years, we’ve been able to install some robust service and not face some of the dilemmas that some districts face and that is that the use and demand of the servers outfaces their capabilities. Our servers are very robust and they’re able to handle that. We have connected to the Connecticut Education Network, we have the fiber optics among the district schools. However, technology changes in nano seconds and we need to continue to stay current of that. In terms of purchasing and staying on top of keeping our computers equipment and supplies up to date, we’re looking at a lease purchase option, which I think Mr. Miller has described at previous board meetings and that is included in this document. And as well disaster recovery, so as we do have a plan, it needs to be continually updated because our network continues to grow based on the increased number of uses that we have. We are in the process of installing an Exchange Server to improve communications and as well as improve the telecommunications by investigating Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) communication which is a telephone with a voice over feature. Those are the kinds of things that are embedded in here. I don’t know if you have any particular questions.
Mr. Killeen: Page 28 is reference to resources and costs issues. Those are in the middle, capital expenses. Reimbursements are e-rate. So our net on it is what, less $64,000?
Mr. Hasbrouck: I’ll look to Mr. Miller for a nod on this.
Mr. Killeen: And the budget amount would roughly be therefore half of that. This goes out 2012, right?
Mr. Miller: Some of the dollars in the capital line up with this particularly on the upgrade of the telephone systems. The capital dollars are basically town dollars matching up to state grant dollars that’s part of school construction. That’s not all in Board of Ed budget.
Mr. Killeen: The Sprint numbers, Sprint/Nextel, that’s an annual amount?
Mr. Miller: Yes.
Mr. Killeen: I did have one other comment and that was concern of technology planning committee. I think it’s the heading of the state’s intent to include parents, students and community members and clearly at this point in time there are no parents, students or community members listed except for the fact that some of those teachers might be parents as well as community members. I think it would be advantageous for us to engage some parents, students and community members to be on this committee.
Ms. Baldwin: So noted.
J. Report from the Chairman
Ms. Calabrese: The Board of Education’s budget presentation to the Town Council is scheduled to take place on Thursday, March 19th at 7:00 pm. On that evening, the board will presumably be informed of budget targets and reductions. At this time we assume the location of the meeting will be here at the Watertown High School Tech center.
Ms. Baldwin: Yes, and it’s my understanding that we will get confirmation of location tomorrow. I have actually suggested that it be moved to Swift. It think that accommodates both bodies better, the Town Council and the Board. We’ll wait to here from the Finance Sub-committee of the town.
Ms. Calabrese: In the meantime, the Superintendent has been providing an ongoing series of budget presentations in various places in the community. These are scheduled to continue through Wednesday, April 8th. Local education officials have had many questions about how money provided through the American Recovery and Investment act may be used in local education budgets and how much flexibility will be granted by the US Department of Education to allow school districts to use stimulus funding to stabilize their budgets and stacking levels. The Connecticut Commissioner of Education, Mark McQuillan, recently attended a meeting with US Education Secretary, Arnie Duncan to receive some clarification and guidance on several issues surrounding the stimulus bill. The commissioner reports that official guidance was not yet available, however, he will share any news he has learned since then to Superintendents and school business officials at a meeting to be held on Tuesday, March 17th.
K. Action Items – Adoption of Items to be Approved by Consent
1. Consideration of the Approval of Out-of-Country Field Trip to Spain and Portugal 2010
MOTION made by Mr. Killeen, sec. by Mr. Lambert
Ms. Mary Jane Miller and Ms. Joanne Chenkus, Foreign Language Teachers at Watertown High School requests an Out-of-Country Field Trip for approximately 29 students to Spain and Portugal in April 2010. This field trip would enhance the curriculum objectives of promoting literacy in the target language, understanding different cultures, promoting tolerance of differences and accepting the cultural similarities that bond us all. (See Attachment A.)
It is recommended that the Board approve of an Out-of-Country Field Trip for approximately 29 Watertown High School students to Spain and Portugal in April 2010.
DISCUSSION: Ms. Calabrese: It’s not that I think this trip doesn’t have merit. I am just a little uncomfortable with any overseas trips with the world climate that we have right now. I’m a fan of traveling, but I’m just not sure that this is a time in history when Boards of Education should be sanctioning trips like this. I have taken this stance before and I’m the minority.
Ms. Baldwin: I can just respond to the board to let you know that we follow the State Department’s update and we pay close attention to any information coming out of the State Department relative to unsafe travel and should that occur, should the warning level rise above where they are today, we would take every step today to cancel this trip. Certainly the safety of all of our children and staff is paramount in any decision to endorse any overseas travel.
Mr. Lambert: One comment. My daughter went on a trip to France and England 24 years ago. That’s all she talks about. Every time we talk about overseas, she talks about her trip. She may never get to go again. It was also during trying times and she felt very safe. The staff kept us informed on where they were. She did call. It was very very meaningful for my daughter who, in fact, writes about it. To her it was a homerun as it probably will be for every student that goes and I’m very glad she made the decision to go and we supported her. Thanks.
Ms. Pond: I support the trip 100%, having been the first person in Watertown in 1973 to come to the board as a teacher asking that we take 24 students to Spain. To this day, I still hear from those 24 students and how it changed their lives. We cannot put a dollar sign on it. I commend the teachers for still wanting to go. It’s a lot of work. You get paid for going, but believe me it’s not enough, because I was going 24 hours a day with the kids and I know how conscientious these particular teachers are. There is just no measure to what these kids are going to learn entrenched in this language every day. Getting up, speaking the language and I just think it’s a great opportunity and, of course, if it is dangerous, Ms. Baldwin will hear from the state department because safety is first.
Mr. Killeen: Does ACIS respect the state department’s recommendation not to travel and thus reimburse the student’s travel? If the trip was postponed it would be one thing, if it was scrubbed altogether, I would hate to see the kids lose out a great deal of money because ACIS decided that they weren’t going to reimburse.
Ms. Baldwin: Travel insurance is offered through this program and certainly we would work cooperatively with ACIS, but ultimately, that would be a board decision and an administrative decision on whether or not to go should there be a safety or international concern and ACIS would refund families depending upon the level of insurance that they purchased. We would, obviously, would encourage and will hold meeting for all families once this is approved. We will begin the process of educating families about the next steps.
OPPOSED: Ms. Calabrese
MOTION Carries (5-0-1)
2. Consideration of the Approval of Medical Leave of Absence
MOTION made by Ms. Colangelo, sec. by Mr. Lambert
Ms. Michelle Bunnell, Art Teacher at Swift Middle School, requests a Childbearing and Childrearing Leave of Absence, beginning approximately the last week of May 2009 until the end of the 2008-2009 school year, with use of accumulated sick time and then leave without pay and a medical doctor’s note to return.
It is recommended that the Board approve of a Childbearing and Childrearing Leave of Absence, beginning approximately the last week of May 2009, until the end of the 2008-2009 school year, with use of accumulated sick time and then leave without pay and a medical doctor’s note to return.
MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
3. Consideration of the Approval of Technology Plan for July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2012.
MOTION made by Mr. Killeen, sec. by Ms. Pond
It is recommended that the Board approve of the attached Technology Plan for July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2012. (See Attachment B.)
MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
4. Consideration of the Approval of the Acceptance of Gifts
MOTION made by Mr. Lambert, sec. by Ms. Colangelo
Attorney Charles Stauffacher, on behalf of the Watertown Rotary Club, would like to sponsor the Family Literacy Fund Night on March 20, 2009 at John Trumbull Primary School by providing one $3.00 coupon per family to be used towards purchasing a book at the PTO/Scholastic Book Fair, an estimated value of 268 families at $3.00 per coupon for a gift of $804.00; also the donation of Webster’s Dictionary for all third grade students at Polk and Judson Schools with an estimated value of $475.00 for 270 dictionaries.
MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
It is recommended that the Board accept these generous gifts and a letter of thanks and appreciation to be sent to the donor.
L. Future Agenda Items and Board Members’ Comments
Ms. Pond: If Mary was here, but she just left, I would have said to her that there are no words to appreciate what she did for our students and our teachers, for our administrators and all those who worked in our system, and although I did not know the Irish blessing by heart, I will give her a Spanish blessing and so I will do it even though she’s not here. To Mary: Salud, amor, dinero y el tiempo para gastario. That’s health, love and money and the time to spend all three and many years to enjoy.
M. Public Participation
None
N. Adjournment
MOTION made by Mr. Lambert, sec. by Mr. Killeen
To adjourn the meeting at 8:45 pm.
MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
Meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Colangelo, Secretary
Board of Education
Patricia A. Barber, Minutes Secretary
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