Watertown Board of Education

Regular Meeting

Minutes

Meeting Date: September 11, 2006

Meeting Time: 7:30 p.m.

Meeting Place: Watertown High Technology Center

Members Present: Ms. Mary Dzioba, Board Chairperson

Mr. Richard Mazzamaro, Vice Chair

Mr. Todd Griffin, Board Secretary

Ms. Gina Calabrese, Board Member

Ms. Mary Colangelo, Board Member

Mr. Chris Lafferty, Board member

Mr. Thomas Lambert, Board Member

Mr. James Marks, Board Member

Ms. Joanne Pannone, Board Member

Dr. Joseph Erardi Jr., Superintendent of Schools

Ms. Amelia Grover, Dir. of Budget and Financial Planning

Ms. Betsy Hackett, Director of Special Services

Mr. Todd LoFrese, Director of Operations

Dr. Philip Pelosi, Assistant Superintendent of Schools

Ms. Kace DuPlissie, PTA/PTO Representative

Mr. William Zeman, W.H.S. Student Representative

Press: Jim Taylor, Town Times

Tommy Valuckas, Waterbury Republican American

Guests: Thad Hasbrouck, Kathy Scully, Emily Judd, Pat Corvello, Marylu Lerz, Lisa Rommel, Mike Gaydos, Fran Palmer, Bob Guerrera, Steve Martino, Jim Krayeske, Warren Ford, Sandra Greenwood, Sean Butterly, Eric Bernstein, Keith Breiner, Paul Bourassa, Martha Henebury, Matt Baker, Barbara Nieves, Linnea Delia, Scott Griffith, Corrado Perugini

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 and a moment of reflection for the victims of 9/11.

C. Public Participation

Ms. Dzioba: It is time for public participation, I know there are a lot of people that would like to speak tonight so I am going to ask for your cooperation by limiting the time frame for participation for three minutes and I am going to ask that you only come to the podium once. If there is something you really need to say in response, there is another public participation at the end of the meeting in which you would be allowed to another three minutes. At this time I would like to ask if there anyone that would like to address the Board?

Sean Butterly, 59 Litchfield Road, Watertown

This will be the first speech of my career in less than three minutes. But I respect that Madame Chair, we used to get five in the legislature and I agree with the rule.

I just want to quickly make a couple comments about the field turf which is Item #6 on the agenda. We have our graduation every year out on the field down at Hamden High and I attend every graduation even when rain hits and there is threats of rain. Again, if there is rain we can keep things going. Gym classes are held all the day on that field during the day, it’s not just at night that you can use it or in the afternoons. Even the gym classes get so tremendous use for so many different sports. Today is 9/11; it is a day to unify our Town, our State, our Country. I am so proud of Watertown, I love living in Watertown and I always want to make it a better town and I think this turf on the field, I think we will have a more unified town. Better for the kids during school, better for the kids after school, better for the people on the weekends, there are just so many positive sides. I just hope that as you get to this, I know there is so much you have to do, I hope you will reconsider that this is the best thing to do right now for that complex. Thank you for your time tonight.

Bob Guerrera, 117 Adams Road, Watertown

I think you know why I am here, I have been at a lot of meetings with the Board lately, it is about the turf. I am not going to bore you with the numbers again, because you all know the numbers. The other thing we want to consider, right now you have advertisement up on that fence, correct?

Ms. Dzioba: Correct

Mr. Guerrera: How much do you get for that advertisement for a year, per banner, eight or twelve?

Ms. Dzioba: We will get that and will send you a written response.

Mr. Guerrera: What we’re saying is that you’ve got five advertisers there, five or six right now. If we go with the turf, there was concern about the replacement cost in ten or twelve years. If you are getting $800 or $1,200, I don’t what it is for those signs per year, not even counting the gate revenue, it pays for itself. Your advertisement is going to quadruple when they see it will be a multi use facility instead of just a five games facility. That is number one, that should eliminate the concerns about the ten or twelve year replacement cost. That is not even counting the gate or any other stuff, just that alone and I think my figures come out to, if you have 50 signs, it is like $60,000 a year with 50 signs, that is if it is I think $1,200 a sign. But I have heard it was $800 to $1,200. So that is just one figure.

There was an article in ESPN magazine about turf; I am just going to read a quick thing of it.

Mr. Guerrera distributed a copy of a letter from Joseph Aresimonwicz, St. Representative 30th District. (See Attachment A)

You are soaking in a moment, open the door to field turf at Nebraska and the D1 Schools.

The latest generation of field turf features UV protected paintable blades that stick up through an infill of rubber bits and layered over sand. Each square foot of this turf contains ten pounds of infill. The layering means that you can wiggle your toes deep into the field; it also provides better protection for noggins. A 2004 study by West Texas A& M Professor and Panhandle Sports Medicine Association compared High School Football injuries on field turf to those on grass. Turf isn’t perfect; you do get high rates of skin, as we call them rug burns. Even the best plastic is abrasive and gets hot but players suffer far fewer brain, skull and neck injuries on turf than on grass, that may be why you don’t see athletes crumbling to the ground after a contact injury as often as they did at one time. Today field turf is in more than 1900 arenas, schools and parks, including 21 NFL stadiums and practice facilities in eight sanctioned soccer fields. Giants Stadium installed field turf this summer meanwhile Astroturf, which some people thought we were dealing with Astroturf, went bankrupt in 2004. The moral of this story is, once arenas had a choice field turf was the choice.

So all we are asking is that we bring our facility into the future and we will never have to worry about maintenance, as far as what we pay now, compared to field turf.

Ms. Dzioba: Thank you, we will get that information about the signs to you.

Keith Breiner, 7 Woodside Court, Watertown

First I would like to thank Dr. Erardi for taking the time to work through our busing issues. My daughter Kate is a fifth grader at St. Mary Magdalen’s in Oakville; I am currently the Chairman of the School Board there. I feel that there are three issues that need to be addressed; first need, our bus #23, the route is 21 miles long based on the information I received from the bus company. I took the time to drive this route this morning it took me approximately one hour to do so. That was obviously without stopping and picking up or dropping off with children, let alone crossing of streets, having children sit down, etc. I have been told that these children will be home in 45-50 minutes. It takes 50 minutes and 40 seconds to drive 21 miles at 25 miles an hour without stopping, that is mathematically. The route realistically, I feel will take close to an hour to an hour and a half to complete, taking into account all traffic and children issues that come up every day, which I feel is totally unacceptable.

I will just through this in, Todd informed me a little while ago that the route today took 68 minutes. I know several of the families here have already pulled their children from the bus because this is much too long. Our children can’t be on the bus this long. Also we are in the process of doing a building expansion and when we start that expansion we are pretty much going to demand all our parents to have the children bus because we simply cannot accommodate the parking issues in our parking lot with construction under way.

Also several of our children have been taken off this route to ride John Trumbull busses. This was the Board’s temporary solution to our problem. One of these children is now in fifth grade riding the bus with first and second graders. Next year he will be in sixth grade, the year after seventh and then eighth grade, riding with a bunch of first and second graders. When I addressed this, they felt this was acceptable, I do not. I ask you, how would you feel if this was your child?

Next, safety. If bus 23 is taking approximately and hour to an hour and half to get home, some of them will be getting home after dark during the winter months. Also this 21 mile bus ride takes a minimum in perfect weather; now throw in the mix a New England winter. How do you handle a 21 mile ride through the snow on the back roads of Watertown? Very carefully. Some of John Trumbull busses do not pull on to our property because it makes John Trumbull children late for school. Because our sidewalks do not go out into the main road, some of our small children have inadvertently walked into the paths of cars in our drop off area. I feel that the Board of Education is willing to put our children in jeopardy to avoid the John Trumbull children being late for school. These are issues that we need to resolve before a child is hurt.

Lastly there is a funding issue. We supported your proposed budget and showed our support by approval at the polls which passed the first time around. We have 150 children from Watertown and Oakville attending St. Mary Magdalena’s this saves the Town of Watertown approximately $1.5 million dollars a year. That is using your formula of approximately $9,000 per student. Lastly I know this will be a sore subject, I feel that if there was enough money for salary increases for administrators, there should be enough money for a much needed bus. Thank you for your time, I look forward to a permanent resolution to this matter.

Paul Bourassa, 43 Mallory Road, Watertown

It occurred to me this weekend watching the Red Sox game that my drive from Watertown to Boston is exactly the same amount of time that my daughter was on the school bus the first day, for two hours. I consider this border line neglect, the reason why I say that is because this Board knew about it. It was told when we drove that route that it was going to take an hour to hour and ten minutes without stopping. I was told up front and nothing was done about it. Two hours on a bus for a small kid, if they have to go to the bathroom, what do they do? They can’t say “Dad I have to go to the bathroom, pull over at the next rest area”, what do they do for two hours? And everybody knew about it, nothing was done. The solution was, let’s see what happens the first week. I was told the kindergartener parents of Watertown, they like to do this as a photo op, put their kids on the bus, a week later they are not going to take the bus any more, then we will fit your kids in. That is not acceptable, that is not acceptable. The second day she took the bus, one hour and forty minutes, I could go from Watertown to Mystic, park the car and have lunch, then go to Mystic Seaport. It is not acceptable. We want what the law gives us, same as everybody else, all we are asking for is another bus, we are not asking for much. I don’t know what a bus costs but I don’t think it is a large issue. So we are asking you to please hear our concerns, we are all parents and please take it into consideration, thank you.

Warren Ford, 23 Tom Street, Oakville

Just want to read a quick thing about the Wolcott field that was just done, this is for the field turf.

Mr. Ford read and article from the Waterbury Republican-American (See attachment B)

So Wolcott got theirs done very quickly, and they are very happy about it.

Martha Henebury, 55 Walnut Street, Watertown

My son attends St. Mary Magdalen, last year in kindergarten I went down to the bus, it was getting there late so they changed the route and said we are going to pick him up at 7:10, I put him on the bus at 7:10, he got to school five minutes late, school starts at 8:50, came home 4:17. Longer than my husband and my workday. So the solution was given to me ask nicely, put your son on the John Trumbull bus in the morning, I did so. I understand the budget issues, I did so. He rode on the St. Mary Magdalen bus, to school on the John Trumbull bus. Again we have too many kids on the bus coming home; I am told by Mr. LoFrese that my son has to ride the John Trumbull bus home. I would like to know when will it be resolved? When will there be (inaudible) if not first grade, second grade, third grade, when? When will there be enough money for him to ride with his other students? That is what I would like this Board to tell me. This year is a band-aid, next year is a bigger band-aid, I would like to know when it will be put into the budget so that I can get out and vote, so my son can ride on the bus with his classmates. Thank you very much.

Matt Baker, 112 Orchard Lane, Watertown

I have been a resident in town since 1984; I have a business in town since 1982. I would just like to talk about two things. The first one is the bussing issue because I believe it is very important and influences a lot of people. I am a St. Mary Magdalen parent, have been one since 1998, my wife who is a public school teacher in Winsted, and I felt it was important to make an educational commitment to our son by sending him to St. Mary Magdalen School. I believe that all of the parents here, who are Watertown residents and Watertown tax payers, have made the same commitment. We are people who very strongly support education. We have shown that by the fact that we are willing to pay more money for our child to go to school and at the same time we are helping the town by taking a financial load off them, if our kids were to be educated in the public school system.

My son rode the Trumbull bus last year, friends that know my son know that he is sort of a piece of work, if you want to talk about it, he is a unique individual. But he decided he wanted to ride the bus, he always rode the afternoon bus but he wanted to ride the morning bus. The morning bus lasted about two weeks until my son being a seventh grader said a little second grader tried to put the moves on him and he decided that was it so he was going to go back to Dad driving him to school. Obviously it is a little humorous but I think the important point is that there are some kids that it isn’t really fair for them to ride on the bus for two hours. I don’t think any of the members of the Board that have children would be acceptable of that situation for their kids. I would really appreciate it, because we are I think in Watertown, we are making great strides with passage of the budget, with the Swift improvement facilities, becoming a middle school and the work that is going around on the High School that we consider the situation and we remedy it. Because I really don’t think it is fair to the parents who are tax payers, and I don’t think it is fair to the kids in the school.

The second issue is the field turf, once again, like a I said I have been a business man in town since 1982, I have been around since the field has gone through various turf mutations and combinations which I am sure Sean remembers. I was here at the glory days when we won the State Football Championship when Rico Brogna was a student at Watertown High and also when we won the State Baseball Championship again with Rico Brogna and Jerry Valentino. We brought a great bit of pride to the community, I remember traveling up to Munsey field in Bristol to watch the Football game and also I think to Middletown when we went to watch the team win the Baseball Championship for the state. I think the correct way to fix the field, even though it is beautiful right now is to put the field turf in. What it will do, it will solve the problem for once and for all. I believe it is the most intelligent use of the $600,000 we can. Because we know the turf can be installed for $600,000. It will be a state of the art playing field for our kids, it will enable the school to offer more sports, I know there is an awful lot of discussion going around about Lacrosse and can we fund it, is it privately funded and everything else. But I think that Lacrosse is a spring sport, it will also give us a facility where we can offer that. So I just wish the Board would consider that and make a recommendation for installation of the field turf. Thank you very much for your time.

Barbara Nieves, 68 Partridge Court, Watertown

I have been a resident of Watertown all of my life, my children attend St. Mary Magdalen School, one in third grade, one in fifth grade and they are riding bus 23. For the past six years there has never been an issue, my children have arrived in a timely manner. I live in the Mt. Fair Farm Development and they have always..school dismisses at 3:05 and they usually arrive between 3:25 and 3:30. The first day they arrived at 5:00 o’clock, Friday they arrived at 4:30, today it was 4:05 and it is an extremely long time for them to be on the bus, there is not a break for snack or just resting before they begin their homework. I am just asking that you strongly consider adding another bus to our school so our children can home in a timely manner. Thank you.

Linea Delea, 17 Partridge Court, Watertown

My two children also attend school at St. Mary Magdalen, they are as Barbara said, first day they got off the bus at 5:00, second day 4:30, today it was 4:05, but still considering they get off at five after four, it is an hour bus ride. I realize that we are only five minutes up the street and somebody has to be last but when you consider that they get off the bus at five after four, they have been in school all day long, they eat lunch at their desk. I believe in the school, I send them to the school because I believe in it. It is a long day, then they ride the bus for an hour, they get home, they have to have a little bit of wind down time, they have a snack, they get all their stuff out, it is 4:30. Between and hour and three hours of homework and we are talking about 7-7:30. That is not counting dinner, counting shower, and an occasional activity or two during the week. So I am really asking you to consider adding a third bus, I just think it is way too long for the children to be on the bus. I don’t think it is fair and I think they deserve better. Thank you.

Scott Griffith, 53 Pleasant Ridge Drive, Watertown

Both of my sons are students at St. Mary Magdalen School, we also live in Mount Fair, over an hour on the bus isn’t acceptable. As the numbers have been said if all the children left St. Mary Magdalen and went into the public schools now then we would have a real issue. I think asking for one more bus isn’t a real problem and I really hope that you consider this.

The second item would be my oldest son Christopher has played youth football in Watertown for four years. Bob Guerrera has given you the numbers, I fully back him, I really hope you consider this, to put in the field turf. Thank you.

Ms. Dzioba: Is there anyone else?

No response

Ms. Dzioba: I will now close public participation; I thank everyone for their comments. For those of you that asked questions, we will be responding to you within the next ten days.

Report from Student Council Representative – Mr. William Zeman

Mr. Zeman: Thank you Madame Chair, this is now the point where I am proud to announce that I am starting a new series for my remarks. Just like Matt did last year with his monthly themes. I don’t know if it will be monthly or how frequently it will be, it will probably be whenever I come up with another one. As Matt looked at academics, I would like to take a look at the clubs at Watertown High School. I would just like to start by saying how important clubs really are to the school system. Now nobody sends their kids just to go to a club, they go to classes too and their after school activity is the club. But I think they are really important for a couple of reasons. The first reason is that they bring students together. Clubs bring together students with different ideals, different backgrounds, but they usually share a common passion, whether it be drama club or book club or model UN. These students can actually work together and run the club, most of the clubs have student officers and are pretty much student run with a teacher advisor to make sure nothing (inaudible) goes along.

It is really important because what happens is that they go much more in depth into issues than anyone can in an 80 minute class. Just for example the school musical, I would say from about January to April they are usually at the high school for at least three or four hours every night. Considering a drama class would be 80 minutes every other day, that is an incredible amount of commitment and I think an incredible amount of learning. So now that I have explained that clubs are good I would like to turn to the first club in my little series, Model UN.

The advisor is Mr. Marco and the club focuses on a variety of issues, there are four main areas. International Peace and Security, the Health of the World, Environment and Economy. I think the good thing about this, is that people from all over the state, there is a state wide conference, that is completely student run. The president is a student, the vice president is a student, all the committee chairmen, all the moderators, and they are all students. And all the students from all over the state come together and they all debate and they all discuss and they all compromise and they all come to different agreements. It is really a way to allow a state wide forum to be created. It is held at the University of Hartford and it is truly a unique experience, I have been there, it is really remarkable and I just wanted to highlight Model UN.

Also my other point I am proud to announce that a new season of the Watertown High School student news show, the Indian Inquisitor, I see how excited Dr. Erardi is getting right now, will be airing this Thursday at 7:30, Channel 5. My friend Drew and I host it, it is the greatest show in the world and the first episode is Judgment Day and comes on right after Dr. Erardi’s show so let the competition begin. Thank you very much.

Dr. Erardi: I need to just editorialize on William’s last comment. Sadly his first show will be starting with an interview with the Superintendent, which they broke into my office unannounced to create their first scene. That is why I was smiling during his last message.

Ms. Dzioba: May we have the report from the PTO/PTA Liaison, welcome back.

Ms. DuPlissie: I have a few things, one is from Polk School, the first day of school went very well. The Polk PTA would like to thank everyone from the Town as well as the parents and students who helped in getting the front of the school spruced up for the opening day. The big hit for the opening of the school was the supply packages that were offered prior to the school closing. The response for this service was great; approximately 30% of the student body purchased these packages and are very pleased with them. They are expecting more for the next school year, parents were surveyed by email and the results were all very positive with the main suggestion being that they be offered to all the schools in Watertown. If anyone is interested for next year, please contact Cheryl Gentil, who is the President of the Polk PTO this year. Polk open house will be held on Tuesday, September 12 from 6-8pm. The PTO meetings will be held on the second Wednesday of every month at 7pm in the school library.

For Watertown High, the first day went well, the LINK Crew Freshman Orientation was a big thrill, the Watertown High School open house will be September 21st and the PTO will be meeting on the second Wednesday of the month, the first on being on September 13th.

Judson School had a great opening day, 410 were greeted with balloons and welcoming signs courtesy of the PTA. Each student received a Judson folder and school agenda designed by Judson staff and provided by the PTA. PTA members assisted with greeting and directing students to their new teachers. A membership drive has begun along with distribution of our main fund raisers. Volunteers are coming forward and committees are being established to help with events and programs. Tuesday, September 12th is their first general PPTA meeting. On Thursday September 14th, the PTA will host Judson’s open house with an ice cream social. Students will also enjoy a Judson enrichment team otherwise known as a JET assembly, on September 19th entitled Moses Mosai Warrior. Moses will bring Africa to the children through storytelling and dance. Students will have the opportunity to dance to authentic Masai music and learn their rhythm and vocal accolades. The PTA looks forward to a successful full year of learning and will strive to provide opportunities to enhance our children’s education.

Heminway opening went well. The regular PTO meeting is the second Thursday of each month and the first meeting will be September 21st at 7:00pm. The Heminway open house will be Wednesday September 13.

Swift opening went well also according to their PTO. Their first meeting is Wednesday September 13th. For some reason we have a lot of PTO meetings on the 13th this month. Our open house is Wednesday, September 20th and their regularly scheduled meetings are for the third Wednesday of every month.

D. Budget Summary – (Information Only – No Action Required)

Ms. Dzioba: Budget summary is in the packet for all Board Members.

E. Committee Reports:

1. Advertising Committee, Todd Griffin, Chair

Mr. Griffin: There is no report this evening

2. Athletics Committee, Chris Lafferty, Chair

Mr. Lafferty: The night after our last Board Meeting I held an Athletic Subcommittee meeting and whom I invited were all fall sports coaches for Swift and the High School, as well as the Athletic Directors from both schools. We spoke on a number of topics and I really just wanted to give them a forum to discuss and concerns, opportunities they would like to see and really just get their input and not leave them in the dark or just hear what they wanted to say as far as some issues coming up for the next school year. I think they really appreciated it. I would just like to say that I look forward to working with the coaches in the future and hopefully some of their input will help us move along with some of our decisions.

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 however we are having a meeting this coming Wednesday, September 13th at 3:30 at the Watertown High School Library and we will be discussing the Early Childhood Curriculum and the Early Childhood Program at John Trumbull Primary School and also will receive and overview of the August 2006 professional development days.

5. Facilities Committee, Rich Mazzamaro, Chair

Mr. Mazzamaro: The facilities committee met earlier tonight, we had a full agenda. The first item we address was the facility study being done. David King from Kaestle Boos & Associates updated our committee on their study of three facilities, Watertown High School, Polk and Judson. They are focusing on three areas being the physical building, the site and the curriculum. To date the group has gone through three schools, talked to the Principals and met with local officials. There should be a report to the Board with their findings sometime in November.

Second area we discussed was the Judson Boilers. There is an Action Item on the Agenda tonight for the Board to take action on for entering into contract. We received one quote for the (inaudible).

The third item was the lively discussion on the field turf, in the Superintendents report there will some more discussion I am sure.

6. Policy and Labor Committee, Mary Colangelo, Chair

Ms. Colangelo: The Policy and Labor committee met last Thursday we had two transportation hearings at that time and we also reviewed the job description for the Supervisor of Buildings and Grounds, that will be brought to the full Board for approval at a future Board Meeting.

7. Cablevision, James Marks

Mr. Marks: No report this evening but there is an advisory board meeting Thursday night which I will be attending if anybody from the board or the public for that matter, has issues they would like me to raise at that meeting please let me know.

8. PBC Representative, Rich Mazzamaro

Mr. Mazzamaro: There is no report this evening

9. Education Connection Representative, Mary Dzioba

Ms. Dzioba: There is no report.

F. Communications – Secretary

Mr. Griffin: There are no communications this evening

G. Minutes

1. Regular Board of Education Meeting – August 28, 2006

Motion Presented by Mr. Griffin seconded by Mr. Marks to accept the Regular Board of Education Meeting Minutes of August 28, 2006.

Motion Passed

(8-In Favor, 0-Opposed, 1 Abstained)

In Favor: Ms. Dzioba, Mr. Griffin, Ms. Calabrese, Mr. Lafferty, Mr. Lambert, Mr. Marks, Mr. Mazzamaro, and Ms. Pannone

Abstained: Ms. Colangelo

H. Superintendent's Recommendations and Report

Dr. Erardi: Thank you Ms. Dzioba. I’d like to start by just thanking Bonnie who may have set a record of 43 pages of minutes without errors so congratulations and thank you.

The superintendent’s report is relatively brief this evening with Item #1 Appointments, Item #2 Transfers and Item #3 Resignations. I would like to introduce Mike Gaydos to the Board of Education who will be formally appointed, the paperwork just coming through, at our next meeting, but just so you can put names with faces, and Mike let us get you on TV for the first time. Mike Gaydos is in the first row, we are real pleased to have Michael here from Region 10 who will be our new Assistant Principal at Watertown High School.

The Board had no questioned regarding Item #1, #2 or #3

1. Appointments – (Information Only – No Action Required)

a. Ms. Stephanie Colella to the position of long-term substitute .5 kindergarten teacher at John Trumbull Primary School effective August 29, 2006 being paid the substitute teacher’s salary of .5 of $65.00 per diem for the first ten days, and on the eleventh day, placed on the first step of the teacher’s contract at a salary of $95.03 per day.

b. Ms. Amy Gauthier to the position of long-term substitute grade 6 teacher at Heminway Park School effective August 30, 2006 through September 29, 2006 being paid the substitute teacher’s salary of $65.00 per diem for the first ten days, and on the eleventh day, placed on the first step of the teacher’s contract at a salary of $35,350.00 prorated.

c. Ms. June Legge to the position of Athletic Director for the

2006-2007 school year for a contractual stipend of $5,140.00, plus an additional $5,500.00 for compensation, approved by the Personnel/Policy Committee at its meeting of May 2, 2001, for a total salary of $10,640.00.

d. Ms. Dana Packer to the position of long-term substitute English teacher at Watertown High School effective August 28, 2006 through December 31, 2006, being paid the substitute teacher’s salary of $65.00 per diem for the first ten days, and on the eleventh day, placed on the first step of the teacher’s contract at a salary of $35,350.00 prorated.

e. Ms. Catherine Dombrowski to the position of SSCLSC/Resource Program Paraprofessional, Category #2, Special Education at Swift Middle School starting August 31, 2006 for 22.5 hours paid per week at an hourly rate of $14.39.

2. Transfers – (Information Only – No Action Required)

a. Ms. Diana DeBiase temporarily transferred from grade 6 teacher at Heminway Park School to Special Education teacher at Judson School effective August 28, 2006.

b. Ms. Jenifer Keller transferred from .5 Kindergarten teacher at John Trumbull Primary School effective August 29, 2006 to grade one teacher (full time) at John Trumbull Primary School.

3. Resignations – (Information Only – No Action Required)

a. Ms. Marcia Christopher from the position of Payroll Officer, after nineteen years, for the purpose of retirement.

b. Ms. Balwinder Grewal from the position of paraprofessional at John Trumbull Primary School effective August 28, 2006 due to relocation out of state.

c. Ms. Nicolle Lynch Hawley from the position of Assistant Clinical Instructor at Watertown High School, effective for the 2006-2007 school year, for personal reasons.

d. Ms. Denise Mitchell from the position of paraprofessional at John Trumbull Primary School, effective August 14, 2006, for personal reasons.

Dr. Erardi: I think Item #4 will be a refreshing item, we are actually going to talk about curriculum, instruction, students, learning, goals and objectives and the excitement that I think you will feel as our Administrators share with the Board of Education a two to three minute update of their school opening, their initiatives for 06-07 and their projections.

The administrative team came forward and took seats at the table facing the Board.

We will end the administrative presentations with comments from Mr. LoFrese and I will also have additional comments in regards to transportation. Where it may be worthwhile in regards to time and efficiency if you have questions, if you will hold your questions until Mr. Hasbrouck finishes his two or three minutes because he may answer your questions (inaudible).

Ms. Scully: Good evening everyone, on August 31st John Trumbull Primary School opening its doors for its seventh year to 833 students. Currently there are 747 kindergarten, first and second grade students, and 86 preschoolers attending school. Pretty much things went off without a hitch. All arrived happy, happy to see us, some criers, that were mainly parents and some staff. We had a great opening day.

All kindergarten through grade two students are presented with an exceptional program. Each receives instruction in language arts through a balanced literacy approach. During this block of instruction students are presented with lessons that develop their reading and writing abilities. This is accomplished through small or whole group instruction, paired, shared reading, read alouds and guided reading. During guided reading students are taught with reading material that is at their own instructional level. Leveled classroom libraries also allow for differentiation during independent reading time.

Primary students have various manipulatives available to them in order to develop their math skills. A hands on approach to science encourages the development of wonder about the natural world and the ability to observe, describe and apply basic process skills. In the Spring, grade one and grade two students will gather in a multi ages study to study a unit of science.

A focus of the Social Studies program is to develop and form socially competent citizens who are equipped with the knowledge and appreciation of our world. Library, art, music, computers and physical education are also very important parts of the primary students program. I can’t forget lunch and recess, it is also the favorite part of the day.

This year significant attention will be given to the implementation of a co-teaching model in order to provide opportunities for special education teachers to spend the majority of their day with general educators as the district moves towards and enhanced inclusionary model for all identified students.

I hope that I was able to provide a brief summary of what we do each and every day at John Trumbul. I look forward to working with the Board of Education and hopeful that you will join us at some point at John Trumbul as we partner together for the benefit of all children. I would be happy to address any questions that you may have at the close of the presentation.

Ms. Judd: Good evening everyone. Polk school had a wonderful opening and the Polk school staff is turning on the power this year to increase all our energies, creative and cooperative to meet the needs of all our students. Polk school currently serves 370 students across 16 classrooms. Our class sized range from 22-24 this year and we are really pleased about that. The teachers already notice the difference in having that amount of students. We have additional support staff that serve our students with a wide range of academic and social needs.

This year we have two new staff, we have one teacher Dorothy Rinaldi, replacing a retirement in grade four and we have a speech and language person, Susan Danaher replacing our previous person.

Our students participate in a comprehensive language arts block which include reading, written expression and language. A math block that includes computation and authentic problem solving. Daily science and social studies engage our students in critical thinking, cooperative learning and discovery teaching methods which provide a great opportunity to explore and to create their own meaning in those areas.

This year Polk School is focusing on several initiatives. Instruction in Polk School is striving to increase differentiated practices in all areas to meet the various needs of our students. For example we will be promoting guided reading just as John Trumbul does in grade three, which really focuses on a balanced reading approach and also in grade four we will be working on implementing some writers workshop techniques to help our students in that area.

In addition our special education and our regular education staff are going to partner together to do some co-teaching to create learning situations to meet the needs of all students in the inclusionary settings. We are also highlighting character attributes this year involving the student body in regular town meetings with an additional focus as our school learns, grows and celebrates our spirit, student leadership and achievements together.

Discussions about healthy eating has really happened this year as being spurred on by our wellness policy so our students having lots of discussions about good eating habits and snacks. Our parent community is also involved as a letter has gone home sharing the information hoping for their support.

We also have recess before lunch this year; it has proven to be very helpful. We are noticing that the students are coming in with better appetites, drinking more of healthy beverages and eating their lunches. We are finding actually that a little improved behavior in the lunch room as well, we are excited about that change.

Parent and community involvement will continue at Polk School, we will be including some different ideas this year. One highlight is including a reading event for our students in the evening with a story teller. We are also looking into including some family volunteer during our library time to disseminate materials.

With our students entering our building this year they are ready to learn. They are optimistic about a new year and I could say that Polk staff has really turned on the power of learning. I am really excited about a really successful 2006-2007 school year. Thank you.

Ms. Corvello: Judson School as you all know is the tag team with Mrs. Judd’s School. I could just say what she said, that would work. Judson School opened with approximately, depending on the day, 400 students. Everyone was very happy to be there, students and 18 full time grade level teachers. We have six sections of grades 3, 4 and 5. Three full time special education teachers as well as a full time speech pathologist and school psychologist.

Basic skills in physical education, art and music remain at the levels of a couple of years ago with all but the remedial reading teacher being maintained at some part time level. While band is no longer being offered at Judson, the strings program has been expanded to include grade three students and they are very excited about that.

We also have welcomed several new and transferred staff members. Our school nurse, Mrs. Blaze retired after a long successful tenure in Watertown as did Mrs. Boston, and we have several teachers out on extended leaves of absence. Mrs. Jodi Field had her baby girl yesterday, Veronica Lynn.

The master schedule has been adjusted this year assuring that every child has at the very least 1 and ½ hours of uninterrupted language arts time and a full hour of mathematics every day. Grade three will have at least ½ hour more of language arts per day. Every grade level will be teaching language arts and math at the same time of the day making our co-teaching and flexible grouping easier for special education and remedial staff. Special education and remedial staff are all grades are beginning to firm up their schedules, which will afford children with special or remedial needs to be in both an inclusion model for most of the day with pull out instruction to reinforce some basic language arts and mathematic skills. All special education teachers will spend the majority of their day in the main stream classrooms.

Grade three students will have guided reading grouping with all of the children in their classroom based on reading ability. The teachers are reviewing records and getting to know their students with the hope of beginning small group instruction by the end of September. Grades 4 and 5 will incorporate literature circles into their language arts program with most 4th grenades incorporating at least one guided reading group into their program.

Technology is moving along nicely at Judson school with a fully operational PC lab we are thrilled with. Teachers are updating their websites weekly if not daily with pertinent class information to be shared with parents more easily.

The curriculum is also reinforced with appropriate field trips and assembly programs, this year we also look forward to the celebration, along with Polk School of the 50th anniversary of the openings of both Judson and Polk School. Thank You.

Ms. Rommel: Good evening, Heminway Park School began the school year with 312 smiling 10 and 11 year old faces, and already we are up to 315 smiling faces, so we continue to grow and we continue to wonder who is coming to knock on our door next. I would like to thank all of you again for allowing us to have two additional staff members. The class sizes have gone down from 34 to the average is about 25 or 26. The teachers are delighted, not only because they can really make connections with the students but they can actually move around the classrooms, which were wall to wall last year. As the typical child goes through their week at Heminway Park School, they will have English, Math, Science, Social Studies and Reading classes everyday. In addition to these full time academics they have spelling three times per week, P.E. twice per week, and one class each of art, music, library and computers. New to the sixth grade students is the ability to choose and elective. The elective choice in sixth grade is chorus which Mrs. Jet explains to all the students during their first music class in the initial weeks.

It is a busy week of constant motion for these students. They are traveling up and down stairs, clanging lockers, bouncing to lunch and recess, it is a constant rhythm. In the classroom, the teachers’ creativity shines as they cover the different curricular areas. I have already observed in the first few days of school, whole class instruction, small group instruction, class scavenger hunts for self discovery and paired learning in various classes. The biggest change from fifth to sixth grade is that students are asked to develop from reasoning and understanding of the materials presented to interpretation and demonstration of the critical stance. The students will be able to hypothesize, make predications and apply a particular principle when creating their answers. For example, in English the students will develop skills that will allow them to create and expository essay to a persuasive essay. In addition there is a new English Literature textbook and support materials being introduced this year and the training and workshop is tomorrow afternoon.

Two classes on each team are piloting co-teaching with one regular education teacher and one special education teacher. Combining their talents to included students with a wider spectrum of needs. The teachers have weekly planning time to work on units of instruction together. The district wide assessments in all of the academic areas were fine tuned during the summer and the teachers are eager to see the children utilized their newly acquired knowledge bases to solve these higher order problems. I ask you to join me on Wednesday night and I welcome all of you as this is our open house on the 13th. I want to take a minute to publically thank the neighbors that live right next door to Heminway Park School, Barbara and Non came out and planted new mums around our sign and spruced it up and they really did a beautiful job so I just wanted to take a moment and thank them as well.

Ms. Lerz distributed a handout for the Board Members (See attachment C)

Ms. Lerz: Swift is a great place to be right now, for those of you who drive by I am sure. Let me tell you a little bit about our school. Right now our current enrollment is 615 students, since June we have had 26 new enrollees. We are delighted that we have new staff members, many thanks to you. We have a new School Psychologist, four new teachers; we have special education, art, a cooking teacher and remedial reading. A paraprofessional joined our staff this year who is lovely, we have a new custodian, who is fabulous, and two interns, a classroom intern and a school counselor and they are wonderful and I truly mean that when I say that.

So what is a typical day at Swift? Hard-hats, pay-loaders, lots of big trucks but you know when you walk through the halls and you see the students, everybody was so worried that they would hit the lights and we have no ceilings in the hallways, the kids are great and the school looks great. We have, thanks to Todd and Dr. Erardi all the maintenance staff came over and our school looks fabulous.

All students at Swift go to their academic classes on team where they receive instruction in English, Reading, Math, Science and Social students for 40/47 minutes per day. Instruction is provided in a variety of ways, such as cooperative learning, differentiated lessons, center activities, use of manipulatives, technology and the arts. Many classes are co-taught and interdisciplinary connections are made. Our unified arts program is being restored, thanks to you and students attend daily classes in a beautiful new cooking class and a wonderful lab, this was the first year a technology lab that our staff was able to meet together and do web page design and grade quick, thanks to Eric our Assistant, so that is very exciting. We also have library research, developmental guidance and art. Physical education classes are provided twice a week for every students and music opportunities in band, chorus, and strings are available. Students can also take advantage of a variety of after school clubs and sports programs offered throughout the year.

At Swift Middle School, we embrace the middle school concept and work hard to create a caring and nurturing atmosphere. Our support staff, including two school counselors and a school psychologist always make themselves available to our students to help make the middle school years the best ever.

Our goals and initiatives at Swift: As principal at Swift, with oversight at Heminway Park as well, I oversee the following Goals and Initiatives for the 2006-2007 school year:

• The Swift Expansion/Renovation Building Project

• Curriculum Expectations to Promote Systemic Change- including;

o The Implementation of Revised Curricula

o Administration of Mandated Assessments and Uniform Rubrics and

o Data Collection

• Analysis of Data through the use of Protocols

• Best Teaching Practices: Differentiated Instruction – Grades 7-12 with Matt Geary

• Implementation of School wide Technology – Web Page/Grade Quick thanks to Eric and Fran Palmer

• Co-Teaching – Inclusionary Opportunities

• Character Education/ School Climate Programs (ongoing throughout the year)

• Transition Program Heminway Park School to Swift Middle School (staff and students)

• Transition Program Swift Middle School to WHS – Link Crew Orientation

Today we had a wonderful September 11th remembrance ceremony. Thank you for allowing us to share in this time and I look forward to working with you.

Mr. Hasbrouck: Good evening and thank you. I want to start the presentation about Watertown High School with the fact that we have 19 new staff faces through out the building. Certainly more than I anticipated as we were talking about the anticipation of the 06-07 school year, but it begins with the gentleman that was introduced to you earlier, the new Assistant Principal at the High School, Mike Gaydos. As well we have nine new teachers, six replacing faculty who resigned their positions for a variety of reasons and then we have three new staff members thanks to the Board of Educations support of the class sizes at the High School and trying to reduce them and offer and expanded elective program. We have two new counselors, teachers in business, math, science, social studies and special education. We have a transfer from Middle School to the High School of a Special Education teacher. WE have two long term subs, one in counseling, another in English and we were are also looking at a not quite so long term additional counselor long term sub, as of the last Board Meeting a counselor is out on surgery and recovery from that. We also have six additional paraprofessionals on staff to meet the needs of our special education students.

When we opened the doors we welcomed 985 students to Watertown High School, an increase over the number that left us in the spring. Included in that number are 263 grade nine students. On the 29th of August the Link Crew Orientation welcomed those students in an extremely upbeat activity program. I think they went home tired, worn out, but it was a wonderful way to welcome them. Sixty-four upper classmen participated in that, each with a group of ninth graders under their wing, through a whole assortment of activities through the course of that day. They were lead by three teachers Pauline Auclair, Joanne Chenkus and Liz Loughlin, who did an outstanding job and as well ten other teachers joined in that morning to help make that whole day run smoothly. At the end of the morning I hosted a parent orientation and then we all joined together in the Cafeteria for a picnic. We were forced to by the weather, the courtyard would have been much nicer but if you could have seen the faculty members under the canopy cooking the burgers, trying to keep them dry and themselves, it was an interesting feat. Everybody I believe had a wonderful experience that day.

Our curriculum development programs centered around curriculum development, we worked for ½ of one of the days on essential questions, an integral part of our curriculum, and that is an ongoing project. We also spent ½ a day on differentiated instruction, were staff members actually developed some tiered task activities that they could directly apply to their classrooms. The second day we had mini-workshops on the webpage, or advisor/advisee program and our classroom management instruction that was well received by staff and felt that they had tools that they could walk right into the classroom with to help them with the opening of school.

As you are aware our instructional calendar consists of eight teaching blocks, 82 minutes a piece, meeting over a period of two days. The minimum course loads for our students in grades nine and ten, we expect that they will be caring seven credits worth of courses. Grade eleven 6.75, grade twelve six. The minimum needed to graduate is 23 credits and they are in a whole host of curriculum areas and I am not going to bore you with the details of how many credits, in which areas but it covers not only core subject areas but a range of electives as well. New this year we have a math assistance lab which is staffed by a math teacher each block of the day but one that we couldn’t staff. Our teachers and across the board but particularly in Math, are encouraging students that are having any kind of difficulty, that lab is at their access to receive additional help in math. Our hope is that we can begin to bump our progress in math forward by doing so.

Additionally, while last year we ran on a full fledged basis the advisor/advisee program through some work this summer, some staff members came in and developed an extremely activity based program to run this year. That was initiated this past Friday, meeting each Friday for about twenty five minutes. Each faculty member has a group of ten to twelve students with them and it is a chance to bond and grow and provide service to the school in a wide range of ways. We are in our fourth year of the inclusion model, as you are aware Watertown Education District has been in the spot light in the State Department of Education. At the High School we have had an inclusion model for four years, this year we expanded it to incorporate 15 classes that are co-taught by mainstream and special education teachers.

Our fall sports schedule is underway and I brought with me the schedule, I am going to ask Dr. Erardi if he will distribute it. (See Attachment D)

Also if anyone is interested I have season passes for NVL, compliments of our Athletic Director Mrs. Legge and if you will see me after the meeting if you are interested in one, I have one for your use, it is good not only at Watertown athletic events but at any NVL event. So if you happen to have an NVL alma mater from another community and want to see their teams at play, feel free.

The NEASC progress is continuing, the July 1 letter went in as you know from the June meeting. The Public Secondary School Commission meets in early October to review the letter and we will receive some feedback from them following that meting, expected mid-late October. When we receive that we will certainly keep you apprised of that. As was described at an earlier time in the meeting, the Building study is under way. The Kaestle Boos architects are scurrying about our building two or three days a week, going in and out of every nook and cranny. I thought I knew the building well but they have discovered some new ones for me and they continue in their research.

Our school goals this year include an ongoing multiple year curriculum review. We are reviewing our quarterly assessments, because of the NEASC self assessment, accreditation program, we were in effect a year behind in the quarterly assessment program the was initiated by the district. So this year is our year to fine tune those assessments and have them fully functioning.

Our motto this year is; Success is the only option. We are emphasizing that students utilize all of the resources that they have available. If they are struggling in any way, if there are things that they need, success is their only option and we keep emphasizing that for them. The math lab being one area as an example and as well differentiated instruction being implemented throughout our program. We continue to emphasize the implementation of technology in our programs. Thanks again to the support of the Board, through the budget we have a number of new computer labs that students and teachers are just getting wowed and dazzled with. I thank Todd LoFrese for his research and work in getting that up and running with our technical crew.

We are following the inclusion mandates and being compliant with that, we will continue to expand that as we do our scheduling for 07-08, we already begin thinking along those lines. As well we are reviewing a number of programs including counseling, school to career. A Naugatuck Valley, Watertown High School partnership, athletic program, Link Crew and continue to take a look at alternative education programs for students for whom that is a need.

I would also like to announce that our open house is on Thursday the 21st at 6:45, we begin in the auditorium and then parents have an opportunity to meet with each of their children’s teachers through the course of the evening. And our first PTO meeting is this Wednesday evening at 7:00 in the library, thank you.

Dr. Erardi: Thad thank you, I would just like to share with our Board Members that came on board in November, that all of our vision is guided by our five year plan. You have a copy of that and if any of our veteran Board Members need a new copy of that we can certainly get that to you. My last comment before we open to questions is that I think the most essential job of the School Superintendent is to insure that the local Board of Education that in every one of their buildings there is appropriate leadership. Leadership that is on the cutting edge of learning, leadership that is committed to children, and leadership that is willing to work long and hard for all of the above and I can sit here and assure you that our six administrators responsible for our 3500 students have all of those qualities. We will open the part at this point to questions Board

Members may have for any one of our six administrators.

Mr. Marks: I don’t have any questions but I just want to set the record straight, several of the Principals were kind enough to credit us with giving them additional staff and I would just like to point out that the credit really belongs to all the people that got out to support the budget referendum.

Dr. Erardi: If there are no further questions we would like to address school transportation at this time.

Mr. LoFrese: I guess I will start this with, as it is every year, for the first two weeks of the school year, the phone rings off the hook and I would like to offer thanks to the Munson House Staff for bearing with that process and a special thanks to them for assisting parents with whatever their need is, to assure that both students arrive safe to school and safe at home. I would also like to extend special thanks to all the employees of First Student for being dedicated in that exact same mission.

Regarding long bus runs, my office continues to work with all the available resources that we have to correct these issues. We do acknowledge that there have been some long bus runs at both John Trumbul School as well as St. Mary’s and we will continue to work on these with the resources we have.

Dr. Erardi: I would like to just add a couple of additional comments. Board members I would like to know that this afternoon we did meet with the Administration at St. Mary Magdalen and I thought it was a very productive meeting. We meet for approximately an hour and we witnessed the loading of the busses and the very impressive order in which their building moved to close out their school day. As Mr. LoFrese stated we have been aware of the issue since day one and even before day one. I would also like to thank Keith Breiner who has done outstanding work representing St. Mary Magdalena’s Board and Administration and students and is the very respectful way that he has worked with School Administration. The opening day, and I think it is also important to know that the opening day for bus students at St. Mary’s was not our opening day; it was Tuesday after Labor day. We have transported St. Mary Magdalen students now for five days and the opening day did have concern and the concern as stated, it is a day that is annually slower than any other day, much of it has to do with issues that take place on the first day of school. IN this particular case there was one child that was assigned to the wrong bus which changed the navigation of probably 15-20 minutes which made a lengthy situation even longer. With that said it has been the focus point of Mr. LoFrese’s office, First Students Bus Management’s office, and as of today with the continuing movement that is being made that bus run that we discussed I think in some detail this evening, is presently running approximately 65-68 minutes and there is still work to be done on that bus.

I would like to continue to have a very respectful working partnership with St. Mary’s and I would like them to continue to work with us. There will be a budget committee meeting that is scheduled two weeks from this evening and I would like report back to the budget committee of where we are and then I will speak to the Board where we are with transportation for St. Mary’s. I don’t think that we should loose sight of the fact that three years ago in 2003, the Board of Education under some very difficult times, chose to reduce the fleet of buses by I believe two buses, Mr. LoFrese? Not because of choice, it was because of necessity; they just couldn’t pass the budget forward. So with the fleet reduction of two buses, with transportation of more students then three years ago, you can see the crunch that we are under. We are very appreciative of St. Mary’s parents, were they actually sign off if they chose not to use our public school transportation so it gives us a better sense of where we are. I don’t want to make excuses for the long run, as I told Mr. Breiner I take full ownership for the issue. We continue to work together and I am hoping that the frustration that is in the room this evening with our Catholic School parents, that it is not the end of our conversation but a continued conversation and I will assure the Board that we will report back information as we continue to make adjustments to the run. I do need to end with one comment, that I think it is the expectation of the administration that we assure that all students are home safe and sound before the earliest dark day in December, that’s approximately 4:40pm. St. Mary’s loads their buses at about 3:10 and today they were done by about 4:20. We will continue to hold onto that 4:40pm, we are respectful to today was a perfect day for driving conditions and we will continue to bring this back to the Board of Education with additional information. Thank you.

The Board had no questions regarding Item #4

4. 2006-2007 School Opening

A school by school brief presentation will be given to the Board by building principals to share additional information on the school opening for 2006-2007.

Dr. Erardi: Item #5 is an item that requires no action it is presented to the Board of Education as Information. Amelia Grover is here this evening if there are questions in regards to transfer of funds.

The Board had no questions regarding Item #5

5. Transfer of Funds – (Information Only – No Action Required)

At its meeting on November 22, 2004, the Board took action to reaffirm that the Director of Budget and Financial Planning may continue to make transfers of $2,000 or less between objects without prior Board approval. Attached, for information only, are a number of those transfers. (See Attachment A.)

Dr. Erardi: The last item on the Superintendent’s report, as stated in the Board of Education’s agenda for this evening, at the Town Council meeting that was held on September 5th, last Tuesday, the Council mailed me a formal request of the Board of Education to place turf on the Board’s agenda and to have a discussion on their feelings on turfing the John Mills Complex. I bring that to the Board at this time for your discussion.

Mr. Lafferty: As I noted at our last meeting, or at the last Athletics Committee meeting, we had a few issues that we brought up about coaches at our meeting and one of them, which held the brunt of the meeting was the fields and what their opinions were on what they would like to see happen with this grant money on how we should spend it on fields. I think it is safe to say it was, amongst all the coaches, it was a unanimous decision that, we didn’t make any official decisions but it was a pretty good consensus that definitely the majority of them were in favor of turfing the John Mills Field. And I stand by them as I am the representative, I feel. And also I feel it is my own personal decision that we should go forward with this project for many reasons which I can talk all day about.

I spoke to the Town Council that I am in favor of it because I feel it is our best chance to move forward. I know there are plenty of concerns with how exactly we should go about moving forward and I certainly think those concerns should be brought up for further discussion because I think everyone has very valid points about how we should handle this matter and certainly not take it lightly.

Ms. Dzioba: Chris I would like to just have a point of clarification in that this isn’t an action item tonight, it is just for discussion. The Town Council has asked us to consider this and just to clarify there are a lot of unanswered questions and stipulations that we would need to clarify and we are not trying to prolong or put off deciding on this, it is just that we would like to have all the concerns and questions of all Board Members and other people in the community answered before we put this on the agenda as an action item.

Mr. Mazzamaro: As I mentioned in my report, facilities subcommittee met tonight and we were with members of the public building committee as well. There were some concerns expressed just some general questions. Some of which I think have been addressed by Mr. Guerrera and other people, about the turf but I wanted to hand out to the full Board some of the concerns.

Mr. Mazzamaro distributed a list of concerns to the Board (See attachment E)

Our plan going forward is to consult with the Town Council and see if we can’t get some of these concerns answered.

Mr. Lafferty: I would just like to point our that these are concerns that have been brought up that haven’t been addressed in the past for a number of reasons. And lastly, obviously I really am very enthusiastic about using this opportunity up there and I think that we have done a good job, we have explored pretty much all the other options that can happen on Board property and with this, this is a very credible opportunity, I’ll say. And I think that everyone here certainly has a few questions, and I would just like to say if you guys need the time to get these questions answered I have full faith this will turn out to be the best project that we can do, and if it takes you guys getting these questions answered to be on board with me then I welcome that.

Ms. Calabrese: I just would like to make sure that everyone realizes, I think many more people realize now at this point in time that at the last Board meeting we were not asked to vote on whether or not we would recommend turf. This was not the action item that was on the Board agenda. I am very glad to see that this evening now on our agenda it states that the Town Council has formally asked us for that. I think some members of the public may have been under the mistaken impression that this is what we were being asked to vote on, we were not. We were only being asked whether or not to relinquish the fields. That land that is on the High school, we were being asked whether or not we chose to release that to the Town because that is what they asked from us, they did not ask us whether or not we recommended turf.

That being said, I haven’t said very much and I am not an expert on any of this, I am not an expert on turf, I know a little bit about curriculum but I don’t know about turf but I will tell you this. I can see that this is a very emotional issue and I understand why, I understand why people are enthusiastic about it. And I have nothing against turf personally, but I really feel that until these very serious questions are asked and answered, I can’t in good conscious recommend doing something like this that could, it might be something wonderful but it might be something very detrimental. The two issues that really bother me, I am very glad to see that public buildings has finally been asked to have some input, is the warranty on the rubberized track, that is a huge issue. We couldn’t possibly, I couldn’t, I don’t want to speak for anyone else, but I couldn’t possibly recommend doing anything like this unless I have been assured that this will not in any way disrupt that warranty.

And something else, the neighborhood, the lighting at night, many people are speaking about how we many be able to hold many more games in the evening but then I am also hearing that there are ordinances. I would have liked it, I would have preferred it, if the Town Council had done some of their homework and had presented us with a little more information previous to this point because we really have not been in a good position to make a recommendation. So it looks now like things are moving ahead in the proper manner and that we will have an opportunity to ask these questions and resolve some of these issues so that I and maybe some other people here will feel a little better about recommending or not recommending.

Ms. Dzioba: Another point of clarification is that when we voted last meeting, it was to give ownership of the field to the Town for the possible development of fields and once we gave them the property our involvement with the project was over because if that is what they choose to do, it is now their property. The difference with this is that the Mills Complex would remain in our domain and would still be our field. So that is why it is important for us to have much more information and more planning and such before we make a decision.

Mr. Lambert: My concern again is toward the engineering side of this track. Getting to hear for public buildings really raised a lot great issues to look at, mainly landscape architect/engineering. Get the drawings and cross sections of the drain, the existing drainage underneath field now, how it reflects the drainage underneath the track. There is some rock underneath that field and that has to be addressed also. There are some hard and fast questions to be answered by engineers, not by track proponent or field turf proponents, not a dollar figure that is touted by a proponent for the turf; we need real numbers, maybe two or three outside bids. Everyone wants to know what is going upfront, this is going to be a referendum issue anyways so townspeople are going to get a chance to have their say.

Mr. Marks: I just want to say that while I have come to think that probably putting in turf is the best available option, I want to be, like other Board Members, reassured that we can get it for the money that’s been proposed. And that we can get it without loosing the warranty on the track as well as these other issues are taken care of. I also want to point out that even if we were to say 100% tonight yes, lets go ahead with the turf field, there is no way that we could start work before the spring in any case because we need the field for fall sports and you have to go through all the bidding and referendum anyway. So in no way are we putting any action off by asking these questions of various entities.

Mr. Lafferty: Just one last point, I just want to let everyone know that it seems like this is coming to an end. It really seems like hope is being offered for this turf and I will tell you what right now, once again I am a proponent of it. I think that this is just some of the last steps that we have to take before we push through and I hope that at the end of the day that all these questions are answered to the benefit of turf and that we can by next year have a turf field. That is my hope and I will certainly keep on top of this and I will make sure that no time is lost in seeing that questions are answered. Can’t put it to bed just yet but it certainly not a dead issue.

Ms. Dzioba; No, if anything we are continuing the discussion. The Board’s intention is to do what is best for the Town, the students, the grant that we were given, in hopes that they continue to give us grants.

Ms. Calabrese: I just wanted to make it clear, certainly from my point of view, it is not a dead issue at all. That is not it at all. I think that there is a lot of sentiment to make a quick decision and I understand why. It is an emotional issue, people are excited about it, but the reality is, we have to know what we are doing. We have to know the answers to these questions. We are then responsible, if we make a recommendation not based on facts, we might be responsible for actually doing harm, destroying the track. We might be getting in well over our heads over the amount of money that is allotted through the grant. The reality is, we have to know the answers to these questions. We do want to know them quickly but we want accurate truthful answers.

Ms. Pannone: I just wanted to say, I think the issue is very much alive. I don’t think if I go anywhere, whether it’s church or shopping or whatever, where someone doesn’t pull me over and say, “Listen I want to talk about this”. I think that the questions have to be answered, this is like buying a car, you just don’t go in and say I like the color of this one and I’ll take it. You have to do your homework and I think that is exactly what we are doing and I think that once we do get all these answers we will feel very comfortable whether to accept or not accept this whole issue.

Before we get off the Superintendent’s report, I just wanted to say that I really would like to complement the six administrators who presented tonight and I think you are to be complimented on your leadership and your professionalism and I am very glad that our students have you as leaders.

Ms. Dzioba: To clarify, it is the Board’s consensus to have this conversation with the Town Manager and Council Chair so we can move forward with this and we will bring more information back to the Board on how this is proceeding.

Ms. Colangelo: May I make a suggestion or an observation, can all our concerns be put in writing so there is no misunderstanding?

Ms. Dzioba: Yes, that is what we will be doing, we have that list and will be putting it into proposal form.

Ms. Colangelo: All the things that are not on the list that we discussed in the facilities committee meeting.

Ms. Dzioba: You can email us with what you feel is not listed on the presentation. Any concerns that Board Members have please get to me or the Superintendent and we will certainly this is together.

Mr. Mazzamaro: There is a list from the Public Building Committee that has some extras listed.

Ms. Dzioba: We have a very long list that we will get answered.

Mr. Mazzamaro: I just wanted to thank Bob Guerrera and his group; they have worked tirelessly and brought a lot of information to us. I just want to piggyback on what Chris said; I spoke publically at the last Town Council meeting as well. I had favored building a field first and again with more and more information, like the information we are asking for here, I’m leaning more towards the turf. They have done an outstanding job of providing information and just to clarify, I think that members are looking for an engineer, somebody to answer some of these questions who is qualified to answer them. Thank you.

Dr. Erardi: The Superintendent’s report is finished.

6. Mills Complex - $600,000 Grant

The Town Council has made a formal request to the Board of Education to consider placing turf on the Mills Complex all-purpose varsity game field.

This request was made at the Town Council’s September 5, 2006 meeting.

Administration will respond back to the Town Manager on or after September 12th with an update from the Board of Education.

I. Report from the Chairman

Ms. Dzioba: I too would like to thank the administrators for their presentations tonight, it looks like it is going to be a wonderful year, things have gotten off to a very good start, hopefully it will continue. We all look forward to working with all of you to help you accomplish your goals and make Watertown School System an excellent educational system that it is and continues to be. You will be hearing from us during budget time, certainly for documents or presentations on what your wish list is and how we continue to work this so that we have an idea of how to put our budget together in the future. Hopefully it is going to be a good year, I look forward, this will be the Board’s first full school year working together. We all have our ambitions and goals of our own and I think with everybody cooperating and with the communities cooperation we can hopefully do well by everybody. That is my report we will move on to action items.

J. Action Items – Adoption of Items to be Approved by Consent

a. Superintendent’s Goals for the 2006-2007 School Year – Second Reading

The Superintendent’s Goals for the 2006-2007 school year were presented to the Board for the first reading on August 28, 2006. The goals are presented for the second reading tonight and for full Board approval. (See Attachment F)

It is recommended that the Board approve of the Superintendent’s Goals for the 2006-2007 school year.

Motion presented by Ms. Colangelo, seconded by Ms. Pannone to approve of the Superintendent’s Goals for the 2006-2007 school year as presented.

Discussion: None

Motion Passed Unanimously

(9-In Favor, 0-Opposed, 0-Abstained

Dr. Erardi: Ms. Dzioba just for the point of clarification when this is presented, it should read Student Lunch Program Public Act 06-63, just for the record.

b. Consideration of the Approval of the Watertown Student Lunch Program

Pursuant to Section 3 of Public Act 06-63, the Watertown Board of Education hereby certifies that all food items offered for sale to students in the school(s) under our jurisdiction, and not exempted from the nutrition standards published by the Connecticut State Department of Education on August 1, 2006, will meet said standards. Such certification shall include food not exempted from said nutrition standards and offered for sale to students at all times and from all sources, including but not limited to, school stores, vending machines, school cafeterias, and any fundraising activities on school premises, whether or not school sponsored. Excluded from this certification is food that is sold at events after the end of the regular school day or on weekends and not sold from a vending machine or school store.

Pursuant to public Act 06-63, An Act Concerning Healthy Food and Beverages in Schools, the Agreement for Child Nutrition Programs (ED-099) agreement with the Watertown Student Lunch Program is hereby amended to include the above certification statement of compliance with nutrition standards and application for funding related to those standards. This addendum covers the period from August 1, 2006 to June 30, 2007.

It is recommended that the Board take action to approve of the Watertown Student Lunch Program Public Act 06-63.

Motion presented by Mr. Lafferty, seconded by Mr. Mazzamaro to approve of the Watertown Student Lunch Program Public Act 06-63.

Discussion

Mr. Marks: I assume this doesn’t affect our contract with Coke?

Dr. Erardi: It does not

Motion Passed Unanimously

(9-In Favor, 0-Opposed, 0-Abstained

c. Consideration of the Approval of Acceptance of Gift

The Litchfield Schools wish to donate 90 student desks to the Watertown Public Schools with an approximate value of $2,000.00. These desks will be used at Heminway Park School to meet the needs of increased enrollment.

It is recommended that the Board approve of the donation of 90 student desks to the Watertown Public Schools with an approximate value of $2,000.00 from the Litchfield Schools to be used at Heminway Park School and a letter of thanks and appreciation to be sent to the donor.

Motion presented by Mr. Griffin, seconded by Ms. Pannone to approve of the donation of 90 student desks to the Watertown Public Schools with an approximate value of $2,000.00 from the Litchfield Schools to be used at Heminway Park School and a letter of thanks and appreciation to be sent to the donor.

Discussion: None

Motion Passed Unanimously

(9-In Favor, 0-Opposed, 0-Abstained

d. Consideration of the Approval to Authorize the Superintendent or Designee to Enter Into a Contract for the Judson School Boilers

The Judson School boiler repairs went out to bid on August 20, 2006. The bid closed on September 8, 2006.

It is recommended that the Board of Education authorize the Superintendent or Designee to enter into a contract with the successful bidder for the repairs to the Judson School boiler room.

Motion presented by Mr. Mazzamaro, seconded by Mr. Griffin to authorize the Superintendent or Designee to enter into a contract with the successful bidder for the repairs to the Judson School boiler room.

Discussion

Mr. Marks: Just so make clear for the public record that we are doing this without numbers attached in advance so that the administration can go ahead and get the boilers operating before the cold weather hits, it is a time issue.

Mr. LoFrese: The bid came back, the base bid was $54,700, the alternate bid was $61,300, both of those are being evaluated by our engineering firm that we hired to oversee this project and we are going to rely on the recommendation of the engineer on whether we go on the base bid or on the alternate bid that the contractor proposed.

Motion Passed Unanimously

(9-In Favor, 0-Opposed, 0-Abstained

K. Future Agenda Items and Board Members’ Comments

None

L. Public Participation

Bob Guerrera, 117 Adams Road, Watertown

I just want to thank you number one for listening all these months, basically you did listen, you kept and open mind. Number 2, like we suggested to the Town Council, have it go out for proposal, don’t put it out for bid, I’ve been in construction and I’ve been a project manager for ten years, you put it out for proposal, you get all the information you will need. You can deal with the contractors individually, who do this work all the time. I know some of you have contacted Seamus Petrocelli because he called me and let me know about questions that were answered about if they damage the track how much of it might have to be replaced. Questions about the replacement of the turf, questions about the drainage. But I appreciate you keeping the open mind. I don’t know if your planning on getting an engineer is that going to cost us money to get an engineer to look at it? Or are you just going to contact other turf people to get your turf people to get your questions answered and have them come out and look?

Ms. Dzioba: That would be the decision of the Town.

Mr. Guerrera: I just want to thank you again; it shows that you have listened all these months, thank you.

Corrado Perugini, 29 Old Farms Road, Watertown

I am a parent of three kids that go to St. Mary Magdalen, tonight went from my house to St. Mary Magdalen in 4 ½ minutes, my kids come home every night at 4:10, 4:15, which I am not complaining about because some of my kids find things to do on the bus like doing their homework or reading. But it is too much. I don’t think we need a bus, a full bus but I think some of the kids that really live out in the boondocks or where ever they live, maybe you can get a special bus or you know, you people can figure that out. I am sure the bus company has ways of doing that and I am sure the Board of Education could push that issue.

Another thing, I have been a life long resident of Watertown and as far as I can remember that field has always been a problem. I also coach soccer in town and our kids, when we go to New Fairfield or some other Towns that spent money, not just one field, they probably have three or four or five fields, and their towns that aren’t even half that size of Watertown but they have turf fields. Our kids go there and they love it, they think it is the most exciting thing to do. The Board of Education maybe or the Town Council should approach a Town and find out. That is where you get your information, ask them what it costs, ask them is there are issues with it. I don’t think it is that big of a deal. And I think, like you said if you do have issues with the track then the whole town is going to have a problem, if you start ruining warrantees and the money that we spent on that track. Obviously a lot of people that use it, you see it every night, not just students, not just soccer or football; it is a whole community thing. And everybody knows what happened after that, the vote was given away and the budget gets turned down and other issues.

M. Executive Session –

Personnel Issue

Motion presented by Mr. Lafferty, seconded by Mr. Mazzamaro to enter into Executive Session with Non-affiliated employees and all Board Members listed as present.

Motion Passed Unanimously

(9-In Favor, 0-Opposed, 0-Abstained)

Executive Session convened at 9:13 p.m.

Executive Session ended at 10:10 p.m.

N. Adjournment

Motion presented by Mr. Mazzamaro, seconded by Ms. Colangelo to adjourn the Regular Board of Education Meeting of September 11, 2006.

Motion Passed Unanimously

(9-In Favor, 0-Opposed, 0-Abstained)

Meeting adjourned at 10:10 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted by

Todd Griffin, Board Secretary

Bonnie Goulet, Board Clerk

9/2/2008: First Day of School

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