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Watertown Board of Education
Regular Meeting
Minutes
Meeting Date: April 23, 2007
Meeting Time: 7:30 p.m.
Meeting Place: Watertown High Technology Center
Members Present: Ms. Mary Dzioba, Board Chairperson
Mr. Todd Griffin, Board Secretary
Mr. Richard Mazzamaro, Board Vice-Chairperson
Ms. Gina Calabrese, Board Member
Ms. Mary Colangelo, Board Member
Mr. Kevin Killeen, Board Member
Mr. Thomas Lambert, Board Member
Ms. Joanne Pannone, Board Member
Dr. Joseph Erardi Jr., Superintendent of Schools
Dr. Philip Pelosi, Assistant Superintendent of Schools
Ms. Amelia Grover, Dir. of Budget and Financial Planning
Ms. Betsy Hackett, Director of Special Services
Mr. Todd LoFrese, Director of Operations
Mr. William Zeman, W.H.S. Student Representative
Absent: Mr. Chris Lafferty, Board Member
Ms. Kace DuPlissie, PTO Representative
Press: Jim Taylor, Tom Burns, Town Times
Guests: Thad Hasbrouck, Patricia Corvello, Marylu Lerz, Eric Bernstein, Mary Raola, Emily
Judd, Kathleen Scully, Lisa Rommel, Whitey Greenwood, Sandra Greenwood, Fran
Palmer, CJ Saraceno, Justin Chere, Jamie Kaiser, Jenny Sali
A. Convene Regular Meeting - 7:30 PM
Ms. Dzioba convened the Regular Board of Education meeting at 7:30 p.m.
B. Salute to the Flag
Ms. Dzioba led the Salute to the Flag
C. Recognition
Ms. Dzioba turned the meeting over to Dr. Erardi for student recognition.
The Watertown Board of Education wishes to recognize the following high school students who are members of the Future Business Leaders of America. These students placed in four categories at the 44th Connecticut State Conference held at the Connecticut Grand Hotel in Waterbury.
1st Place – Digital Video Production – Justin Chere, Grade 12
Jamie Kaiser, Grade 12
Christopher Saraceno, Grade 12
1st Place – Marketing - Jenny Sali, Grade 11
2nd Place – Impromptu Speaking - Julie Kelly, Grade 10
5th Place – Job Interview - William Zeman, Grade 12
Dr. Erardi: This evening I am very pleased to share with the Board of Education and the community the success of our Future Business Leaders of America. The FBLA Club at Watertown High School in a recent state competition the following students will be recognized this evening for outstanding contribution. The Digital Video Production Team, if the following three students could please come forward and receive their certificate from Mrs. Dzioba the Board Chair: Justin Chere, grade 12, Jaime Kaiser, grade 12, and Christopher Saraceno, grade 12, placing first in the State of Connecticut for Digital Video Production.
All three students came forward to receive their certificates.
Dr. Erardi: Also placing first in the State of Connecticut FBLA competition, in the marketing division congratulations to junior, Jenny Sali.
Ms. Sali came forward for her certificate.
Dr. Erardi: Our own home grown, placing fifth in the Job Interview category congratulations to Senior William Zeman.
Mr. Zeman came forward for his certificate.
Dr. Erardi: I don’t believe Julie Kelly is here, is that correct? I would like to recognize Julie’s accomplishment. Julie Kelly, sophomore at Watertown High School, placed second in the impromptu speaking competition. Congratulations to Justin, Jamie, Christopher, Jenny, Julie and William, thank you.
Applause
Dr. Erardi: I would suggest, unless our future business leaders would like to sit through the Board Meeting that Mrs. Dzioba gives them about a minute to enjoy cookies on the way out. Thank you very much
D. Public Participation
None
Report from Student Council Representative – Mr. William Zeman
Mr. Zeman: Thank you Mrs. Dzioba. Tonight I would like to highlight something that was just completed I believe last week, probably last weekend. Every other year Watertown High School sends about 20 students to France on a two-week trip to explore the sights, meet the people and expand their horizons. The France trip just got back, which consisted of four teachers and 23 students. They toured, just to name a few of the cities they went to, Paris, Tours, Nice, the country of Monaco, Sarlote, Carcasona and Rocamadour. They saw such sights as everything in Paris, including the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, the Arc de Triomphe, etc. They swam in the Mediterranean Sea, they saw the war memorial at Boradour. Most impressively they saw the cave paintings in the Lascaux Caves, which are 17,000 years old. In the words of Mrs. Chenkus, one of the teachers on the trip, “They educationally expanded their horizons both in a cultural manor and in a historical manor.” In the words of Terry Mirabelle, “They had one fabulous time”. All the teachers and students would like to recommend to the Board that they continue to support this student project/trip.
In a completely different note, about a little over an hour ago, the musical theater group watched the lights turn on in the Watertown High School Auditorium, and thank you very, very much! That is all I have to say about that.
Report from PTA/PTO Liaison – Ms. Kace DuPlissie
No report due to absence
E. Budget Summary – (Information Only – No Action Required)
Ms. Dzioba: Budget summary is in the packet for all Board Members to review, if you have any questions you can call the Munson House.
F. Committee Reports:
1. Advertising Committee, Todd Griffin, Chair
Mr. Griffin: There is no report this evening
2. Athletics Committee, Chris Lafferty, Chair
No report due to Mr. Lafferty’s absence
3. Budget Committee, Todd Griffin, Chair
Mr. Griffin: The Budget committee did convene this evening, on our agenda this evening were line item transfers for the 06-07 Budget. We received an update of our volatile accounts for the 06-07 Budget and preliminary discussions for updates on our 07-08 fiscal year budget. We would like to recommend to the Board of Education that they approve of the line item transfers this evening.
4. Curriculum & Instruction Committee, Gina Calabrese, Chair
Ms. Calabrese: There is no report this evening
5. Facilities Committee, Rich Mazzamaro, Chair
Mr. Mazzamaro: The facilities committee met on Wednesday April 18th. At the start of the meeting Mr. Joe Vitro of O & G industries led our committee on a walk through of the new addition at Swift Middle School before the turn over to the Board of Education today. Our committee was able to view the completed classrooms and science labs ready for classes to begin this morning. Work continues on the new café as well as some concrete work on the stairwells. You can see the whole project certainly coming together at this point, it looks gorgeous. We also toured the new auditorium, which is completed at this point too.
After the walk through Mr. Todd LoFrese presented to the committee a contract with a company called EnerNOC. EnerNOC is a contractor for CL&P and offer a program where by CL&P will pay the Town to run their generators during peak demand times. Two schools with generators were John Trumbull and Swift Middle School. CL&P will pay the Town $24,000 annually, distributed quarterly. The proposal also includes no cost technology integration to provide metering, monitoring and communication required to participate, monthly registration and management of the Watertown Schools electrical capacity in the program, command response, events management including automated 30 minute notification in advance of grid emergencies. 24/7 support to ensure events go smoothly. Also includes power track software to allow the administration to measure and monitor real time power usage to identify additional energy savings. The contract also states that there will be community relations support to get the message out that Watertown School is providing a significant benefit to its community in helping keep the lights on in peak demand time.
Our committee unanimously endorsed bringing this program to the full board for consideration and possible action.
6. Policy and Labor Committee, Mary Colangelo, Chair
Ms. Colangelo: The Policy and Labor Committee will meet tomorrow evening at 7:00pm at the John Trumbull conference room. We have an extensive agenda with dress code policy and student allergies, just to name a few.
7. Cablevision, Kevin Killeen, Chair
Mr. Killeen: No report this evening
8. PBC Representative, Rich Mazzamaro
Mr. Mazzamaro: Just a short report, I attended the Public Building Committee meeting on April 18th. Joe Vitro of O & G Industries gave his monthly update on the Swift Middle School Project. As of 4/18 the renovation and addition work is 65% complete and the site work is just over 60% complete. New kitchen equipment should be arriving in about one to two weeks. As I reported in my facilities report the addition is now ready for classes, which began earlier this morning.
9. Education Connection Representative, Mary Dzioba
Ms. Dzioba: No report
G. Communications – Secretary
Mr. Griffin: There are no communications this evening
H. Minutes
1. Regular Board of Education Meeting – April 9, 2007
Motion Presented by Mr. Griffin seconded by Mr. Mazzamaro to accept the Regular Board of Education Meeting Minutes of April 9, 2007.
Motion Passed Unanimously
(8-In Favor, 0-Opposed, 0 Abstained)
I. Superintendent's Recommendations and Report
1. Appointments – (Information Only – No Action Required)
a. Ms. Mary Raiola to the position of Director of Special Services effective July 1, 2007 at an annual salary of $100,470.00. The Board of Education approved of this appointment at its meeting on April 9, 2007.
b. Ms. Jennifer Southard to the position of long-term substitute Grade 6 Teacher at Heminway Park School effective April 2, 2007 through the end of the 2006-2007 school year, being paid the substitute teacher’s rate of $65.00 per day for the first ten days, and on the eleventh day, placed on the first step of the Watertown Education Association’s contract at $35,350.00 prorated.
c. Ms. Cynthia Randall to the position of SSCLSC/Resource Program Paraprofessional (Category #2 – Sp Ed Program) at John Trumbull Primary School starting April 9, 2007 for 4.0 hours paid per day at an hourly rate of $14.86.
d. Ms. Michele Yerger to the position of One to One Sp Ed Program Paraprofessional (Category #1 – One on One Sp Ed Program) at Judson School starting April 4, 2007 for 6.0 hours paid per day at an hourly rate of $14.86.
2. Resignations – (Information Only – No Action Required)
a. Ms. Joann Barthelmess from the position of Library Media Specialist at Swift Middle School effective June 19, 2007 for the purpose of retirement.
b. Ms. Lorraine B. Cavanaugh from the position of Social Studies Teacher at Swift Middle School effective at the end of the 2006-2007 school year for the purpose of retirement.
c. Mr. Charles Daniels from the position of Computer Paraprofessional at John Trumbull Primary School effective April 20, 2007 for personal reasons.
Dr. Erardi: Thank you Mrs. Dzioba. Item 1and Item 2, appointments and resignations, I just would like to share with the Board that under resignation 2 a. and 2 b., both Ms. Joann Barthelmess and Lorraine Cavenaugh will be invited to the Board for appropriate recognition as they retire after a long term service to the Watertown Schools and to our students at your June meeting. Are there questions on items 1 or 2?
The Board had no questions regarding Item #1 or #2
3. Update – Counseling
The Watertown High School administration will present an update on the counseling department at the high school.
Dr. Erardi: Item #3 this evening under the direction of Betsy Hackett and Thad Hasbrouck, the High School Administration and the Director of our Guidance Department, Sharon Veatch will be presenting to the Board an update on the counseling services that take place at Watertown High School. Mr. Hasbrouck and Mrs. Veatch are prepared for this report for the Board.
Mr. Hasbrouck: Good evening, thank you for the opportunity to talk with you this evening. In moment I am going to turn the program over to Mrs. Veatch because it is a department that she has been leading and she can take full credit for many of the fine programs that have been initiated this year.
Before we begin I would like to just back up to something that Will introduced in his presentation and offer my thanks to the Board of Ed for their support for the France trip. With the chaperones and the students, had a phenomenal time, on the last night of the trip, at their farewell to France dinner, each student was expected to talk about what the trip meant to them. The teachers said their comments were just phenomenal. Ranging from: “I was nervous and afraid about going to college but my gosh if we can go through France, I have got to be ready to go to college and handle what faces me there” to “I lived in this insular life and I have now seen a portion of the world and it makes me want to see more”. Each day they would come up to Mrs. Miller, “Madame, this was the best day!” and the next day, “Madame, this was the best day!” and everyday it just built from there. They had a wonderful and enriching time, so I thank you for your support with that endeavor.
Now I am going to turn over the microphone and the PowerPoint presentation to Sharon Veatch who came on board with us this year as our Department Chair and has done an outstanding job in leading the department forward.
Ms. Veatch: Good evening, I am Sharon Veatch, I have returned, I am actually a resident of Watertown and have returned to Watertown after completing my internship here in 2002-2003 School year, and may I say what a wonderful difference. Moral is wonderful in our school, it has been just a complete joy to return and try to put some new things in place to what was already there. And of course I have the delight of being Mr. William Zeman’s school counselor, so everyday is just a wonderful joy with Mr. Zeman. Laughter
I am the department coordinator but I am part of a team and our team includes, Robert Sorenson, who has been here for I think this is his eighth year. Carley Vesneski who is in her fourth year and Deacon Chapin who is also in his first year. They are just a wonderful group of people to work with and our very hard working secretaries as well, Sue Graziani and Karen Mrowka.
Ms. Veatch presented a PowerPoint presentation
I just wanted to let you know a little bit about what we do because it is not our, what we do know is not the same as when I was in high school. We work mainly according to the American School Counselor Association Guidelines, which are working with students in three areas; Academic, Career and Personal and Social. So mainly in academic we are doing the scheduling and course planning, coordinating academic support. What is on the screen here is just a sample of what we do, there are more tests that we have. Tracking graduation requirements. We work with college representatives to really build a relationship with them so that they will come to our school, they talk to our students in the fall. Also so that we have a rapport with them when we have to call and advocate for our students if they have been waitlisted or even if it is their first choice college and we really want to let the admission representatives know that. Because that does have an impact on admission, if a school know that it is their top choice and they didn’t necessarily do early decision, it does help the student. So that is a very big and important part of our job. Also we coordinate tutoring for outplaced students, which seems to be a growing job this year. Career, we help student determine through interest inventory, talking to them. I bring, actually Mr. Chapin and myself, I worked in Corporate for 14 years in management before coming into the world of education, so I bring a lot of quote, unquote real world experience. So sometimes my talk with them is a little different on career choices and what it means. You know, I want to be a hairdresser, go stand up for eight hours and see how that feels to you because that is part of the job. Sort of trying to get them to think through a little more about what they are doing. We assist the school to career club and we assist in resume, these are just again a few items that we do. Resume and interviewing skill development both for our colleges and for careers.
In personal/social what tends to be a lot of our time, we deal with emotional issues, providing brief counseling. If it is an issue beyond brief counseling we will usually bring that up to WIST, our Watertown Intervention Strategies Team. That team will decide on where to go, we also work with crisis management when there is a crisis, for instance a student comes to us and reports they were raped, and these are things that happened this year, parent hit them, they have a mark on them. Something along those lines where they have suicidal ideation, we convene a crisis team and that can take anywhere from 4-6 hours to coordinate a crisis intervention with a student and their family and sometimes outside services. Then we do coordination with outside agencies if a student is out-placed or meeting with a counselor and they have given signed releases, we will work with that counselor if they had a bad day and talk to us about it, we can call and let that counselor that is meeting with them outside know what the issues are. So that is just a brief overview of some of the services we provide but we strive to work in all three of those main areas with students.
What have we done new this year? I don’t know that I got them all on this sheet. But what came to mind, we just started our Junior college and career planning class. It is six sessions, every junior has been invited but not every junior will choose to attend. This is a class where we are working with them from nuts to bolts, from developing resumes, activity resumes for college, and career resumes for employment. Doing employment skills, doing college search, working on interviewing skills, etc. We are doing some small groups this year, you see the list of them there, Grief and Loss, Divorce and Relationships, one girls group and one boys group. So we are running four groups and we are doing those in conjunction with a faculty member. For instance the Divorce group is led by Mr. Chapin, and by Mr. Geary, both who have had parents that have been divorced. Myself and an English teacher Ms. Auclair are running the grief and loss group, both of us have had multiple losses in our families. Relationships with the boys and girls are being run by Ms. Vesneski and the school psychologist, Mrs. Clay and the boys group is Mr. Gaydos and Mr. Sorenson. This kind of gives students the opportunity to see some the teachers in the building in a different, caring role as well.
I handed out to you a copy of our Student Information Form (See attachment A). One of the things that I ran into this year was walking into an office where I didn’t have much information on my case load so we developed this form that will be in every students file folder. One as a way to make sure that we have met with every student in our case load yearly and two to get some preliminary information on the student and make sure that we are talking through everything, every year. Talking about career choices every year, and I always tell students and parents, it is in pencil, it can change, especially when they are trying to map out as a freshman their next three year. What we want them to do with this form, and on the back side you can see that it has a course planner, is especially freshman year to be thinking about what is my career goal and how am I using Watertown High School courses to get me to that next step. Instead of getting to their senior year and going, Oh, I should have taken that art class freshman year and I would have had more for my portfolio. It is to make them think through every year, why are you doing what your are doing in high school, to get them to the next step. That is also why you will see the little artwork underneath is a baton relay, we pick them up freshman year and we are passing them on senior year and we really take that, and I love my job, so I take that very seriously, it is a thrill to work with students.
We have worked, I know Mr. Hasbrouck has already spoken to you about the partnership with Naugatuck Valley Community College where we started meeting with them this summer. We opened, we have one of our peer counselors here tonight, we opened the peer-counseling center in our office, which is staffed by students who have been trained in preliminary counseling techniques. They have been given basically counseling 101 from the graduate perspective. They are there for students to be able to just come in, they record the time only. It is completely confidential unless there is a major concern of them hurting themselves or someone else. It is completely confidential, I only know that they came to the counseling center, I don’t know what they spoke about the peer. We have had quite a few students in and it has been wonderful because there are so many relationship issues and things that happen where they may think I am a little out of touch. I get older every year, they get younger every year. So speaking to someone that is a peer really affords them an opportunity to feel like that someone that really understands where they are at that moment in life. We have also this year taken over training the peers. This is the first year we have done this, Mr. Chapin and myself who are there co-facilitators for this group, took a full day in-house field trip and ended with a nice pizza party.
We created a new on-line tracking communication software, PrepHQ which is a company that allows for free for us to have a web based program. What this program does is we upload our student data into the password-protected database, each of the student’s register and they can access their information. We encourage, and this year with our juniors we will be requiring it, even if I have to call home to every junior parent, parent emails. Because what we do through this is for senior year when college reps are coming in or scholarships come in, we blast emails to the entire class. Once an application comes in, it is recorded and a student can go in and see my application was given in on this date, it was mailed out on this date. The parent can come and look at that information, which has cut down on some phone calls. Because there is a turn around time for college applications, they don’t just come in in the morning and go out in the afternoon, there is some reading involved and we write letters of recommendation. So our freshman recently registered with that so we can send out emails. It is also a great way of advertising which I think really helps drive up our numbers at financial aid night and sophomore parent night that we have been emailing to parents. So with that which is new and exciting and I tried to do it in a brief amount of time, are there any questions for me about what we do in our department?
The Board had no further questions on Item # 3
4. Update Three School Study Project
Administration will present to the Board an update on the three school study project.
Dr. Erardi: Mrs. Veatch and Mr. Hasbrouck thank you for that presentation. Item #4 in the Superintendent’s report, there are two handouts for Board Members. This first is the May monthly planner (See Attachment B) that represents the number of informational evenings that will be help throughout the next four weeks to hopefully explain the Board of Education’s three school project. I would also like to share with the Board that the explanatory text that Mr. LoFrese worked on last week along with KBA should be in a final draft form by Friday and hopefully we will share it with the Board of Education in their weekly news update. The second informational document going around (See Attachment C) are the number of community tours that are scheduled for weekday evenings and Saturday mornings. In both documents there will be updates, especially on the monthly planner and Board Members are certainly welcome to attend any and all meetings if you would like to attend. I would hope that they liaison that you may be in charge of in regards to the PTA meeting that you would be available if possible to join me on that evening. I think your presence means an awful lot to our parents. Questions at all at this time to information in regards to how we will be sharing it with the community over the next five weeks/
The Board had no further questions on Item # 4
5. Student Dismissal at Watertown High School
The Superintendent will present to the Board a timeline and update regarding student dismissal at
Watertown High School
Dr. Erardi: Item #5, the dismissal at Watertown High School this afternoon. I was able to attend, Mr. LoFrese was in attendance, Mr. Zeman was in attendance, Mr. Hasbrouck was in attendance, and Mr. Lambert was in attendance, all watching the unfolding and unlocking of the back gate. Through my view point there were approximately 20-25 cars, signage was in place, students were appropriate, it was uneventful and I don’t think the first day could have gone any better. I don’t know if Mr. LoFrese or Mr. Lambert or Mr. Zeman if you have any additional comments.
Mr. Lambert: I think that you are right, it was uneventful. The students were very cooperative and I think it went fairly well.
Mr. Zeman: Just that the traffic back up was considerably less through this whole thing. So again the student body thanks you very much.
Dr. Erardi: Mr. Hasbrouck comments at all?
Mr. Hasbrouck: Before vacation I met with all the drivers and they actually signed an addendum to their parking agreement which itemized step by step what they needed to do to leave via the back gate. We impressed upon them how this body went out on a limb and decided to do that in the face of some fairly significant opposition from neighbors. And it was incumbent on students to rise to the occasion and do what they needed to do and if day one was an indicator they did just that. They were very respectful in leaving school and I agree with Dr. Erardi that I don’t know that it could have gone any better. Thank you.
Dr. Erardi: Further questions or comments regarding the back gate? We will bring back to the Board in two weeks just for an update as we shared with the community that we would.
The Board had no questions regard item #5
6. Update 2007-2008 Budget
The Superintendent will present to the Board an update on the 2007-2008 budget.
Dr. Erardi: Item #6 an update on the 07-08 Budget. During the budget meeting that was held prior to our regular meeting, administration recommended to the Budget committee the following in response to the $186,000 cut from the Town Council. $186,000 less $70,000 which is our insurance reduction as per Webster Bank and Mr. Frank Nardelli. In addition to the $70,000 reduction the administration supports, pending Board action, the $24,000 that Mr. Mazzamaro spoke about in regards to the EnerNOC energy program. That leaves a remaining cut of $92,000. We will be sharing with Labor and Policy tomorrow evening in their other category, a recommendation to hold the hiring of the replacement for the retiring librarian at Swift Middle School until mid year. That will offer the Board a significant savings. In addition to that, due to retirements and also due to the aggressive hiring plan that we have put into place, we are recommending to the Board at this particular time not to make a further reduction in any line item and allow administration to come back. If not at your May 15th meeting, at your May 28th meeting with further information in regards to the $92,000 that remains to be cut.
Questions, concerns or comments in regards to the 07-08 budget?
The Board had no questions regard item #6
Dr. Erardi: Amelia anything to add to that?
Ms. Grover shook her head no.
7. 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.
Dr. Erardi: Item #7 as per Board Policy there are a number of transfers of $2,000 or less that is presented within the Superintendent’s report.
The Board had no questions regard item #7
8. School Emergency Preparedness
Administration will update the Board of Education on the district’s safety and emergency preparedness and procedures.
Dr. Erardi: Item #8, I thought this was appropriate to share with the Board and with the community in light of the tragedy at Virginia Tech last week. The first two weeks in April, after a very, very lengthy planning time by the administrative team, and particularly Mr. LoFrese as our Director of Operations, there was a lock down held in every one of our buildings. The lock down created a consistency with Fire and Police and actually in nearly every lock down simulation, Fire and Police were present with Administration and with Central Office as an observing eye. There is work to be done but there is an inordinate amount of work that has been done. The process will be reviewed tomorrow morning at 10:00 with all Administrators in our administrative team. We are never too safe but I can assure you that the prior work that has been put into place allows us to be at a point that offers us an opportunity to reflect on what we have done, to be better at what we are going to do. The next progression to where we are, it actually came through conversation that I have had not only with Board Members but with community members and with Fire and Police. Is that we will look to expand upon the one lock down at a time and if this community was ever in crisis how would be lock all of our buildings and how would we communicate. It is very complex, it needs to be reviewed, it needs to be discussed and I can certainly assure the community and the Board that this remains a high priority, not because of what took place last week but because it is the appropriate thing to do as a school leader. Questions at all in regards to school safety, our simulated lock downs and our plan going forward.
Mr. Killeen: One of the things I would like to offer if I could is the renewed importance of entrance to the school and how important security is. I think it was obviously the student at Virginia Tech had a right to be on the school grounds but that isn’t always the case. To my it was a very disturbing thing by way of what we face as human beings today. I know that everyone recognized how sick this person had to be in order to carry out this deed. I would just hope that we who are in leadership roles in education would take the time to be a positive influence and reach out to people in a more caring, loving way. I am not really certain but I think that if we do that the kids get it and they pass it on. I am certainly not a stranger to the influence of teacher on students but if we could do that I think that would be a wonderful thing. I digressed a little bit, in emphasizing my initial point is to make sure that our schools from the front door and every door are secure places. Which again reemphasizes some of the importance of our improvement at Polk, which one of them was entrance to the school. I hate to hear everything that I have heard about this event but again we are not in a position to ignore it.
Mr. Lambert: Sometimes we get swept up in new technology but sometimes old technology like an audible alarm would have maybe worked at Virginia Tech. When you have a lock down for communication purposes, this is something you may want to consider eventually as an audible alarm to lock the school down. That requires very little communication.
Ms. Dzioba: I think one of the lessons learned hopefully through Virginia Tech is that as our emergency response team should take nothing for granted and not make any conclusions until everything is cleared and all questions answered. That is why I am glad to hear that the plan is a procedure that if one school goes into an emergency situation that all schools be locked down until we know what is going on, especially in domestic disputes where we have family members throughout the school system. I am glad we are reviewing it and taking another look at it. Of course it is always a priority of this Board, is the safety of our students. Thank you.
Dr. Erardi: Just a final comment in regards to the school emergency preparedness, you heard I thought a dynamic report from Sharon Veatch and I believe as the Superintendent I represent the administrations belief that we are as safe as our most dangerous student or staff member. When we talk about one student at a time there is a reason for that. So Sharon thank you for the work that you are doing here at the High School.
9. Swift Middle School Project
Administration will update the Board of Education on the Swift Middle School project. This will
include an update on the opening and occupancy of the new addition this morning.
Dr. Erardi: Item #9 should be a tremendous celebration for this Board of Education. The work you have done to support the grand opening on April 23rd, this morning if you were able to attend you would have had a wide smile as if it was the holiday season. That is the way the teachers and administrators looked this morning at 7:15. Allow me to personally congratulate and thank the Board, a personal congratulations and thank you to Todd LoFrese, certainly to the administrative team, the custodians and maintainers, and the staff and students and parents who waited patiently for today. And today did not happen by accident. Mr. LoFrese is here this evening with an update of how we got to today. Ms. Lerz and Mr. Bernstein are also present this evening for comments for the Board. Mr. LoFrese.
Mr. LoFrese: Good evening. On April 13th staff and students left for their April spring break and nearly immediately custodians and maintainers began the process of moving teacher supplies and equipment and also the tedious process of cleaning the building. We had help not only from the custodians at Swift but throughout the entire district, it truly was a district and team effort. Custodians and maintainers throughout the district as well as network coordinators came to Swift Middle School, moved teacher boxes, moved necessary equipment for the opening and did a thorough cleaning, recleaning and recleaning of the building only to watch it walked on by construction worker working on last minute repairs. So hats off to everyone involved, special thanks to Charlie Beliveau and Mike Simmons for helping lead those two respective departments. Also thanks to Swift administration and a particular thanks to Mrs. Lerz, principal Swift Middle School who probably worked her entire vacation to make sure the building was a welcoming place for students and staff when they returned today. With that I will turn it over to Mrs. Lerz for some comments.
Mrs. Lerz: Thank you Todd. I too want to thank everyone for their support, especially the Board and the community for allowing our students to have this opportunity. It was really wonderful, if you were all here today to see the opening it was fabulous. I would like thank all of our teachers, they worked endlessly to be ready for the 13th. To pack up everything in their room and get it ready for the move. Then many staff members worked over the vacation to come in and get it ready to make our school inviting. I think they have worked very hard and I just want you to know they were dedicated, hard working. There was very little moaning and groaning for all that they had to do, so I was happy. I was also happy to see our students and the teachers walk through the building. They are walking through cement and gray and dark and as someone said it was just like our weather on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, to all of a sudden this beautiful open bright area, it was magnificent and once again I just want to thank everyone, especially our community. I would love to give the opportunity to all the schools, that our students have experienced now, its great. Thank you very much.
Dr. Erardi: Questions Board Members may have in regards to Swift, the completion of phase one and the movement of students and staff into the building today.
Mr. Mazzamaro: Having just been on the board, been elected, when the project started, I saw it from the first time that the shovels went in the ground. Sitting through the public building committee meetings and listening to the updates, all I can say is this project and the organization should be used as a model for any other project, especially the three school project that is going to happen in the next year and half or so. But the organization, the professionalism was astounding.
Mr. Lambert: One other thing, I echo your words but I think the contractor is an excellent, excellent contractor. If we ever do something like this again I hope we get the same contractor, and by the way we got to ride on the elevator.
Laughter
Dr. Erardi: And I found myself standing in the men’s room for about three minutes this morning just gazing at what bathroom stalls really should look like, so we are in the same boat. That concludes the Superintendent’s report, thank you.
J. Report from the Chairman
Mrs. Dzioba: My report tonight consists of Board Members are going to be very busy for the month of May with the Superintendent’s list of the hard work we have to do to get not only our budget passed but our three school initiative now as it is three questions. That I hope that Board Members can make an effort as well as community members and volunteers and join us on all of these events for the three schools.
On a positive note I would like to congratulate everybody involved, the contractors, everybody on what has happened. The positive movement that we have made in the last couple of years with Swift, the students moving into the new part of the building and I look forward to the summer project. When the front of the building is going to be done I think a lot of people are just going to be amazed with how beautiful a project this is and how wonderful it is going to be for our students and our town.
To comment on Will’s report, the fact that this is going to be the first year in many years that the High School play is going to be presented with theater lights and there is not going to be any reports about how the stage lights were condemned. That we have brand new lights and we are not going to have those portable ones in the middle of the audience. Right?
Mr. Zeman: I don’t think so
Ms. Dzioba: I look forward to the play and just the fact that the community came together for us. The Foundation that gave a major contribution, the High School students that put on the Mr. Watertown presentation and all the donators of the funds to get this project off the ground. I think it is a wonderful sense of community. I would also like to thank the students who participated in the Tower Road opening today for their making it a great start and I hope that they continue. That is my report we will move on to action items.
K. Action Items – Adoption of Items to be Approved by Consent
a. Consideration of the Approval of Acceptance of Gifts
1.) The following businesses have made donations to the Heminway Park School “Canstruction Club”. At a state competition in May, competing teams, led by architects and engineers, will showcase their talents by designing giant sculptures made entirely out of canned foods. At the close of the exhibitions, all of the food used in the structures is donated to local food banks for distribution to pantries, shelters, soup kitchens, elderly and day care centers.
a.) Bozzuto’s, Inc. would like to donate 2,500 cans of food with an approximate value of $835.00.
b.) U-Haul would like to donate $100.00 in certificates to be used toward renting a vehicle to transport the cans to the competition in Hartford.
2.) The Watertown Public School Education Foundation would like to donate a new sound system to John Trumbull Primary School valued at $2,500.00.
It is recommended that the Board accept these generous gifts and letters of appreciation to be sent to the donors.
Motion presented by Mr. Griffin, seconded by Mr. Mazzamaro to accept these generous gifts and letters of appreciation to be sent to the donors.
Discussion:
None
Motion Passed Unanimously
(8-In Favor, 0-Opposed, 0-Abstained)
b. Consideration of the Approval to Allow St. John The Evangelist Church Permission To Use Schools in 2007-2008 To Conduct Religious Education Classes
Ms. Theresa N. Morgado, Director of Religious Education, is requesting permission for St. John The Evangelist Church to conduct religious education classes, during the 2007-2008 catechetical year at John Trumbull Primary School and Fletcher Judson Elementary School. This has been permitted for the past thirty-four years.
It is recommended that the Board approve of granting permission to St. John The Evangelist Church to conduct religious education classes, during the 2007-2008 catechetical year, at John Trumbull Primary School and Fletcher Judson Elementary School.
Motion presented by Mr. Mazzamaro, seconded by Ms. Colangelo to approve of granting permission to St. John The Evangelist Church to conduct religious education classes, during the 2007-2008 catechetical year, at John Trumbull Primary School and Fletcher Judson Elementary School.
Discussion: None
Motion Passed
(6-In Favor, 2-Opposed, 0-Abstained)
In Favor: Ms. Calabrese, Ms. Colangelo, Mr. Griffin, Mr. Killeen, Mr. Lambert and Mr. Mazzamaro
Opposed: Ms. Dzioba and Ms. Pannone
c. Consideration of the Approval of Transfer of Funds
Following a Budget Sub-committee meeting, held prior to the Board meeting tonight, it is recommended that the Board approve of the attached transfer of funds for the 2006-2007 school year.
Motion presented by Mr. Griffin, seconded by Mr. Mazzamaro to approve of the attached transfer of funds for the 2006-2007 school year as presented.
.
Discussion: None
Motion Passed Unanimously
(8-In Favor, 0-Opposed, 0-Abstained)
d. Consideration of the Approval of the Participation in the EnerNOC, Inc. Program
1.) At the Facilities Committee meeting on April 18, 2007, the committee recommended that the district participate in the no cost ISO-NE demand response program by entering into a contract with EnerNOC, Inc.
It is recommended that the Board of Education authorize the Superintendent or designee to enter into a contract with EnerNOC, Inc. to allow the district to participate in the ISO-NE demand response program provided the contract language is approved by the Board’s attorney.
Motion presented by Mr. Mazzamaro, seconded by Mr. Griffin to approve of Board authorizing the
Superintendent or designee to enter into a contract with EnerNOC, Inc. to allow the district to participate in the
ISO-NE demand response program provided the contract language is approved by the Board’s attorney.
Discussion:
Ms. Colangelo: Excuse me Madame Chair, shouldn’t this be two motions, two separate motions.
Ms Dzioba: Okay, we will take the motion from just item one and then we will make a separate motion.
Mr. Mazzamaro: Do you want me to reread it?
Ms. Dzioba: I don’t think we need to reread it. Any questions or comments? I know that we had discussed this before the meeting, this EnerNOC is an agent of Northeast Utilities and it was approved by our attorney.
Mr. LoFrese: Yes it was.
Motion Passed Unanimously
(8-In Favor, 0-Opposed, 0-Abstained)
2.) In order to receive payments from participating in the ISO-NE demand response program, it is recommended that the Board of Education request a resolution of the Town Council that all funding received through the program be re-appropriated to the Board of Education’s budget.
It is recommended that the Board request the Town Council to pass a resolution to reappropriate all funding received through the ISO-NE demand response program to the Board of Education’s budget.
Motion presented by Mr. Mazzamaro, seconded by Mr. Griffin to approve of Board requesting the Town
Council to pass a resolution to reappropriate all funding received through the ISO-NE demand response
program to the Board of Education’s budget.
Discussion
Motion Passed Unanimously
(8-In Favor, 0-Opposed, 0-Abstained)
L. Future Agenda Items and Board Members’ Comments
Mr. Mazzamaro: I don’t know if there has been any movement based on the Swift opening and the walk through we did last week at our facilities meeting. I thought it would be a good idea to maybe have a meeting there and do a public tour to give the public an idea of what the other schools could look like. Could we hold a meeting in the auditorium, the gorgeous new auditorium and either before hand or afterwards to do a walk through.
Ms. Dzioba: Something we can look into.
Mr. Mazzamaro: Maybe before the May referendum
Ms. Dzioba: We can look into that, our meetings are posted.
Mr. Killeen: On another note, comments from the Board. There was not a unanimous decision on the approval
to let St. John the Evangelist Church to use the facilities and what came to my mind is a separation of church
and state issue I think that it is important that our facilities, our community reflect an image that we are open to
all groups and that we embrace a multicultural society. Certainly our children are as much as one part of one
religion as perhaps some of them are of another and we would welcome all religious, not necessarily all
religious… I mean… I think my point is made. It’s all good until people start killing each other over it.
Laughter
M. Public Participation
Fran Palmer, 220 Middlebury Road, Watertown
Some of you are old enough that can remember the Secret Garden, the movie, black and white and then you open it up and there is a beautiful garden. Or the beginning of the Wizard of Oz, it is black and white and then you are in Oz. That is what it was like this morning, you walk through the old part of Swift, you walk into the new part, you can’t help but smile and be happy. So I would like to thank you, as a teacher at Swift for the support that you got the community behind and what have you and what you gave us is just awesome. Thank you.
N. Executive Session
Personnel – Superintendent’s Contract
Motion presented by Mr. Lafferty, seconded by Ms. Pannone to enter into Executive Session with Dr. Erardi, and all Board Members listed as present.
Motion Passed Unanimously
(8-In Favor, 0-Opposed, 0-Abstained)
Executive Session convened at 8:21 p.m.
Executive Session ended at 9:40 p.m.
O. Adjournment
Motion presented by Mr. Killeen, seconded by Ms. Dzioba to adjourn the Regular Board of Education Meeting of April 23, 2007.
Motion Passed Unanimously
(8-In Favor, 0-Opposed, 0-Abstained)
Meeting adjourned at 9:40 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted by
Todd Griffin, Board Secretary
Bonnie Goulet, Board Clerk
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