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Watertown Board of Education
Regular Meeting
Minutes
Meeting Date: May 29, 2007
Meeting Time: 7:30 p.m.
Meeting Place: Swift Middle School Auditorium
Members Present: Ms. Mary Dzioba, Board Chairperson
Mr. Richard Mazzamaro, Board Vice Chairperson
Mr. Todd Griffin, Board Secretary
Ms. Gina Calabrese, Board Member
Ms. Mary Colangelo, Board Member
Mr. Kevin Killeen, Board Member
Mr. Chris Lafferty, Board Member
Mr. Thomas Lambert, Board Member
Dr. Joseph Erardi Jr., Superintendent of Schools
Ms. Betsy Hackett, Director of Special Services
Mr. Todd LoFrese, Director of Operations
Dr. Philip Pelosi, Assistant Superintendent of Schools
Ms. Kace DuPlissie, PTO Representative
Mr. William Zeman, W.H.S. Student Representative
Absent: Ms. Joanne Pannone, Board Member
Ms. Amelia Grover, Dir. of Budget and Financial Planning
Press: Tom Burns, Town Times
Jonathon Shugarts, Waterbury Republican
Guests: Thad Hasbrouck, Patricia Corvello, Marylu Lerz, Fran Palmer, Kathy Scully, Emily Judd, Mary Raola, Patricia Chipko, Filomena Rinaldi, Layne Allison, Mark Henion, Kelly French, Cheryl Gentile, Mary Jane Miller, Gabriel Pietrorazio, Greta Wagner, Sarah Martineau, Miranda Squillace, Brooke Pavao, Rebecca Karabus, Billy Stango and William Wilburn
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 Silence for Joe Cambell, the Board Courier who passed away.
C. Recognition
1.) The Board wishes to recognize Greta Wagner, and Sarah Martineau, grade 5 students at Judson School, for submitting winning posters, “What Spring Means to Me” in a contest sponsored by the Oakville Branch Library. Greta and Sarah received gift certificates to Good Ideas and the Book Nook.
2.) The Board wishes to recognize Miranda Squillace and Greta Wagner, grade 5 students at Judson School, for winning in the Connecticut Secretary of State, Susan Bysiewicz’s annual poster contest. Miranda placed second and Greta received first place.
3.) The Board wishes to recognize Brooke Pavao, grade 4 student at Judson School, for receiving the Jump Rope For Heart top fundraiser certificate for the second year in a row.
4.) The Board wishes to recognize Rebecca Karabus, grade 5 student at Polk School, for receiving recognition at the Legislative Building on May 15, 2007 for an essay she wrote on “Coping in an uncertain world: students’ thoughts on safety, conflicts and homeland security.” Rebecca was one of a hundred students selected out of 1,400 entries to be recognized.
5.) The Board wishes to recognize two third grade students at Polk School for being state winners at the Invention Convention. Each student received a $100.00 savings bond and Microsoft software:
Billy Stango – Bottle Buddy Invention
William Wilburn – Self-pasting Toothbrush Invention
Dr. Erardi called all students listed forward to introduce their parents and to receive certificates from the Board of Education.
6.) The Board wishes to recognize Gabriel Pietrorazio, grade 3 student at Judson School. For his 9th birthday, Gabriel had all children who attended his birthday bring a book(s) as a donation for the Judson School library totally an estimated value of $370.00.
Dr. Erardi called Gabriel Pietrorazio forward to introduce his parents and to receive certificates from the Board of Education.
Dr. Erardi: I would like to share with the Board of Education a very unique little guy who stands in front of you, truly believing that this was not expected. Gabriel, his Mom and his Dad decided rather than gifts for Gabe, lets have a book collection. When I spoke to Gabe and Mrs. Corvello this morning, I am passing around to the Board of Education, one of thirty books that have been donated from Gabe’s birthday party to the Judson School Library. All brand new, all terrific books and all with a memory coming from Gabe’s birthday party. Gabe forfeited his birthday gifts for the gift of ready. Gabe I know that I speak for the Board of Education, we thank you, we thank your folks, we thank your friends and you have made our Judson Library a much better place. Congratulations and thank you very much.
7.) The Board wishes to recognize William Zeman, grade 12 student at Watertown High School, for earning honors in the Connecticut Bar Foundation’s Cooper Fellowship Essay Contest.
Dr. Erardi: Our last honoree, our Board of Ed liaison Will Zeman is also President of the National Honor Society and that meeting is concurrently taking place with this one. We will hold on William's recognition until our meeting in June. That concludes the recognition component of tonight’s meeting. I would suggest that at this time that our honorees enjoy a cold glass of water and Mom and Dad a cup of coffee and that we will take a three or four minute break so we can all take care of refreshments. Thank you.
Meeting recessed at 7:41 pm
Meeting reconvened at 7:45 pm
D. Public Participation
Thad Hasbrouck, Principal Watertown High School
I am speaking on behalf of the proposed trip to Spain in April of 2008. This is the continuation of a sister school relationship with at Valladolid in Spain, one where the young people from Spain have visited Watertown High School on two occasions. We have been to their school once and this would be the second trip there, completing the cycle if you will of that trip. It is a tremendous experience for the students who have gone. It has produced what I believe will be life long memories for them. As one who had a tremendous opportunity right after high school to travel in Europe, if I pull the itinerary out of my shelf and I start looking at it I can tell you day by day what we did. It has that kind of impression on you. Secondly, these young men and women in our classes have been studying the culture of Spain and the history of Spain. So these places and people and things that they will see and do will bring to life the very things they have been studying through the course of their time in Spanish classes. I speak on behalf of Mr. Gaydos and Mr. Geary in strongly endorsing this program with hopes that you too will join the endorsement and our children will have an opportunity to see parts of the world that will just open their eyes to all the world has to offer. I want to introduce Ms. Mary Jane Miller, extraordinary World Language teacher at Watertown High School who will describe a little bit more about the program.
Mary Jane Miller, World Language Teacher, Watertown High School
Good evening, thank you Thad. I am Mary Jane Miller and I am a French and Spanish teacher of 24 years. I have just gotten back from my third trip from France with Watertown High Students and it went incredibly well, as the two other trips have gone. Travel to me is probably one of the best things I can do with students. Going into the fifth year exchange program, you have got an itinerary of what the trip looks like. It is sort of a combination experience of a trip to see the Southern part of Spain and then going to do a home stay with the students that have been here. It is a very symbiotic relationship because they get the best of both worlds. They will spend 6 days traveling, 7 days in Valladolid. What travel does, the company that I use to travel with is ACIS, and their byline is “travel changes lives”. I can’t tell you how true that is. In fact the very last day of this last trip I always have the students say what this trip meant to them and what does the phrase “Travel Changes Lives” mean. Yes there were some kids who say “Oh I liked the culture and the shopping and stuff” and yet there were such deep thought out answers from some of these students that this changed their life. It has broadened their world more than I could ever do in a classroom. I can hang all the posters in the world and show them movies and stuff like this but to walk into a Moorish palace and see the remnants of the paint that was there from 2000 years ago. To walk into the (inaudible) and see some of the things, the history that is 2000 years old, I can’t duplicate. It is an experience that I want to give to these children with your permission to do that. It is a trip that does capitalize on the history and yet the students get to see the architecture, taste the food, smell every sense is involved when they travel. To follow that up by going in and living with a family in Spain and going to the school and sharing the daily life, is an experience they will never have the chance to do again. I hope sincerely that we can continue this program. I brought two people with me just to give you a personal note. I brought Kelly French who did travel to Spain last time and stayed with a family. Then I would like to have Mr. Henion speak. His daughter Julie went with me to France two years ago and his daughter Amy just came back a couple weeks ago. They can give you a little bit of a different slant on it. Thank you for your time and your consideration.
Kelly French, 32 McFingle Road, Watertown
Thank you. I just wanted to say a few words about my trip. I went to Spain in 2006 with Mrs. O’Toole and stayed with a family. This was second time doing the exchange program and my first time actually going to visit one of the students who had come to live with me. For me it was an amazing experience because when the students came, instead of just hearing them speak about their school and talk about what they did with their daily life, I was able to go to school with them. To compare and contrast my school to their school. I was able to go see a 500 year old Cathedral, things we don’t have in America and I was able to gain the same amount of experience seeing the local pharmacy, the local market. To see how my Spanish Mother and Father lived, what they ate, where they worked and for me it was just so amazing to see that even though they led their lives in a similar way to us, they were so different. I gain so much culture from that; it was a life changing experience. Thank you.
Mark Henion, Dunlabin Lane, Watertown
Dr. Erardi, members of the Board, Student Representative Zeman, Mr. Hasbrouck, teachers, friends and especially Bishop Henry T. Dobson, my name is Mark Henion of 76 Dunlabin. Madame Miller asked me if I would come up and share some thoughts on the ACIS trips to France and Spain. My wife and I have two daughters who have both gone to France. Julie, my oldest went in 2005, Will Zeman was also on that trip. Amy my younger daughter just went this past April. Julie took French for one year in Swift Middle School in 8th grade and when we were looking at High Schools, she was excepted into Westover but she really liked the programs, like ACIS and Robotics that Watertown High School offered. She is a senior now with five years of French. Amy is a Sophomore with three years of French. They both have been achieving honors or high honors for every semester while they have been at the High School. My wife and I feel that programs like ACIS are a great way to reward all their hard work. We also believe in the arts, theaters, museums, places of historic interests, live musical shows. There is a real connection when you see a Claude Monet painting at the Hillsted Museum in Farmington or at the Metropolitan Museum in Manhattan and then get to go visit Monet’s studios and gardens in (inaudible) France. What a marvelous experience and a memory to last a life time. Not to mention the lessons and disciplines associated with international travel, saving money with a long-term goal, the money exchange and the subversion into the culture. My wife and I feel that the planning and organization of ACIS is well thought out. I never felt ill at ease trusting our children with Madame Miller and the other chaperones. Today’s society is global, Watertown High School is doing its part to prevent isolationism and broaden the horizons of tomorrow’s citizens. In closing that I would like to say that if a picture is worth a thousand words, my daughter Amy just took 900 photographs. Thank you very much.
Kace DuPlissie, 250 Morrow Street, Oakville
My son also just came back from France; he went with Madame Miller. I can honestly say it is a life altering experience. He is only 14 but he went and he came back a more mature, more worldly person. From the time he has gotten home, every day he talks about something that happened over in France. It is also the people he has met there and the people that he went with. He has life long friendships and he it is just such a wonderful experience, I can’t tell you how it really does change people. It really has changed him for the much better rather than the other way. I would definitely recommend Spain sounds absolutely wonderful, I get to go to Naugatuck, my son gets to go to France. (Laughter).
Report from Student Council Representative – Mr. William Zeman
Mr. Zeman: Thank you Mrs. Dzioba and apologies for my tardiness. But just about 15 minutes ago, the Watertown High School National Honor Society inducted its new members from the Class of 2008. I think that is worth ruminating on for a couple of seconds. It is sort of the passing of the torch. This organization, along with the Foreign Language Honor Society and numerous other clubs are basically seeing their seniors, the members of the Class of 2007 leave. The Class of 08 is assuming more and more responsibility. In a way that is good because I have met the members of the Class of 2008, we actually have a member, Kelly French who was just inducted into the honor society with us here tonight. They are certainly capable and that is great to see that not just one class but every class is capable of being the leaders of Watertown High School and the Class of 2008 I can assure you will do an amazing job.
On a completely different and personal note, I was part of the France trip as well and I went back in 2005. I had an amazing time, I still remember it all the time and I think I can speak for most of the student body that it is incredible and it should be continued.
Report from PTA/PTO Liaison – Ms. Kace DuPlissie
Ms. DuPlissie: I have information from two schools. One is the Judson School and they are very busy with the end of year events. They sponsored refreshments following their DARE graduation and a luncheon to express the appreciation for the staff on staff appreciation day. A clothing sale was conducted so that current students and incoming third graders can also show school spirit. Flowers were sold for Mother’s Day and breakfast coupons to local restaurants were sold for Father’s Day. A thank you breakfast will be held in the morning of June 5th to allow parent to enjoy a breakfast treat and start their day off with their children. A Memorial Day float with Special Guest Livingston Crow? Am I pronouncing that correctly? First Principal at Judson helped to celebrate Judson’s 50th Anniversary with flags and students signing Happy Birthday Judson. A spring concert will be help on June 5th. Fifth grade activity night will be on June 8th and is sure to be a fun and exciting evening for parents and students as they say goodbye to Judson.
For John Trumbull, June 5th will be their field day. This year it will be an all day affair and have many new stations including cross-disciplinary stations. It will end with a mini concert from the Spaghetti Cake. Saturday, June 9th will be the second annual Family Fun-Fest it is open to families of John Trumbull students and staff. It will be from noon until 6 PM, the cost of this is $7 per person and includes all rides and games, a beverage, an ice cream, a hot dog and or fried dough. There will also be other activities including CHIP Identakid Program and of course the ever popular dunk tank. We all know who is going to be doing that, thank you to Dr. Erardi for agreeing to make the first splash of the tank again. If anyone is interested in any details please contact Kim Pietrorazio at 274-3400. At this point I would like to introduce the president of the Polk PTO, Cheryl Gentile, she will give a summary of what has been going on at Polk.
Cheryl Gentile, Polk PTO President
Hello everybody. The Polk PTO had a very busy year this year; our main goal for the year was to increase parent involvement in our activities. Because we were successful in doing that we were able to offer more to the students this past year. The activities and events we support every year are educational programs, which were facilitated by Dorothy Rinaldi this year a fourth grade teacher and a Polk parent. She did a great job and the programs were enjoyed by all. We had a magician do a bullying program, a storyteller, Shakesperience performed the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and the CT Children’s Museum did a science show. We also continued contribute per student towards field trips. We provide educational publications for the students such as Weekly Reader, Scholastic News and National Geographic. We have a school store that is open weekly throughout the school year. We have a fall and spring book fair, which always does very well. Our Halloween Party was big hit, especially with our Haunted House; we do that every year. We collected over 60 pairs of mittens and over 180 gifts were purchased for our giving tree last year. We had a Polk school-clothing sale for the kids. Our ice cream social was done in conjunction with our Family Night Book Fair in the fall. We held a bingo night in January for the Polk families. January was “Pay it forward” Month where the children got recognized for their good deeds. A Year Book Club takes place the second half of the year and is really enjoyed by the students who participate. We contribute $500 to the 5th grade celebration each year. This year we ended our year in May with our family fun night> Which unfortunately it was rained out this year but we did have it indoors and we were able to have our DJ and the obstacle course we rented actually fit in the gym so everybody had a blast. We serve pizza on the last day of school to all the students and staff. We hold a holiday, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day sale for the kids. We also have a welcome back breakfast for the teachers and the staff appreciation celebration, which was a luncheon this year. We offer two $500 scholarships for graduating seniors at Watertown High School.
This year the new activities that we were offered to our students were; the bulletin board club, where kids and parents decorate our bulletin board each month in the lobby with a new theme. A garden club was established and they did a great job cleaning up the school grounds and planting new flowers. We were fortunate have many parent volunteers for this club and they accomplished a lot. We had a puzzle club where students met after school to build puzzles in groups. In November we had an after school program for kids to create holiday ornaments, the kids had a great time. We had a carnation sale on Valentine’s day and sold over 1,000 flowers. We had a sale of the kids artwork and raised money for the art room which totaled over $700 in profit. We also made several purchases for the school this year. We bought two replacement flags for our flagpole; a new bike rack, a gas grill for the PTO and staff use, and we donated $400 worth of books to the Library. Overall the year went well, we had a lot of support from parents and staff, which we are very grateful, for, we hope it continues next year. Thank you.
E. Budget Summary – (Information Only – No Action Required)
Ms. Dzioba: Budget summary is in the packet for all Board Members, if you have any questions you can contact the Munson House.
F. Committee Reports:
1. Advertising Committee, Todd Griffin, Chair
Mr. Griffin: There is no report this evening
2. Athletics Committee, Chris Lafferty, Chair
Mr. Lafferty: There is no report this evening
3. Budget Committee, Todd Griffin, Chair
Mr. Griffin: I sit here with great pride being able to serve in our community at this point in time. I would Mr. Hasbrouck, Ms. Corvello and Ms. Judd, can you please just stand for one second please. I know this is a little impromptu but I just want you to take a look at what your three schools are going to look like very shortly. This is a direct result of a community that has come together and has taken pride in their school system and put the investment into our children. I am going to ask for something else a little bit out of the book. Would the young gentleman that is doing the video tape, can you just pan around the auditorium so that the members of our community can just take a look and see what extraordinary work has been done to this auditorium. It is just absolutely amazing, I am seeing this done for the first time and I just can’t believe the entire school. Ms. Lerz you will be very, very proud to have this school done and complete. I would also like to know if we could possibly put together a video presentation of this school’s progress being done that we could air on Community Channel 22. We could show the progress of the school so that every community member can take the opportunity that can’t get here for the public tours, who wants to be involved and see what their spending can be. If we can just have that taken care of.
June 5th is going to be a very, very important day in the making of our town. I would just like to remind everybody to please come out and vote and show your support, whatever it is, just please come out and vote. Thank you.
4. Curriculum & Instruction Committee, Gina Calabrese, Chair
Ms. Calabrese: The Curriculum and Instruction Committee met on Monday, May 21st at 6:00pm in the John Trumbull library. On the agenda was a discussion of the new position, the Director of Testing, Research, Data Evaluation and Associated Grant Acquisitions. The committee endorsed that new position and in favor of creating the new position earlier than January of 08, it will need to be considered and discussed by the Budget Committee, with respect to the availability of funding. Members of the Watertown District Data team were also present at the meeting and endorsed the position. The next meeting is scheduled for tomorrow afternoon Wednesday, May 30th at 3:30 in the High School Library to review proposed textbooks, new and revised textbooks for the 07-08 school year.
Ms. Colangelo: Madam Chair, I would like to make a comment on the minutes for the Curriculum and Instruction Committee meeting. Paragraph 3 says that the Policy and Labor committee endorsed the position and proposes it should go to the Budget Committee, I believe we referred it back to the Board of Education to approve the full position and then ultimately to the Budget Committee for funding.
Ms. Dzioba: So, the full position goes back not to the Budget Committee.
Ms. Colangelo: The full Board would have to approve of it going from a half year position to a full year position.
Ms. Calabrese: We are just saying that we are endorsing it, we don’t have the power to approve of it.
Ms. Colangelo: Right and that is the statement I made and that wasn’t reflected in the minutes. Then the budget committee would have to decide on the funding of it.
Ms. Dzioba: Ok, so we will have minutes corrected as you instructed.
5. Facilities Committee, Rich Mazzamaro, Chair
Mr. Mazzamaro: There is not report tonight.
6. Policy and Labor Committee, Mary Colangelo, Chair
Ms. Colangelo: No report
7. Cablevision, Kevin Killeen, Chair
Mr. Killeen: No report this evening
8. PBC Representative, Rich Mazzamaro
Mr. Mazzamaro: I do have a report. I attended a Public Building Committee meeting on May 15, 2007. The committee approved a change order for Supreme, the contractor for the field at Swift. The change order will allow for preparation and completion of the field here and prepare for the installation of the artificial turf. Extra netting and fencing is also required for the protection of parked cars near the outfield. The same meeting Mr. Joe Vitro also updated the committee on the renovation work at Swift through April. Many of us were able to tour it tonight but for those of us who weren’t there as of May 15th the upper two floors were turned over to the Board of Education. The kitchen floor installation is complete and the ceilings on the first floor are all complete. Lighting is ongoing and the kitchen equipment is now being installed as well. The auxiliary gym exterior is complete and all the HVAC is about 95% complete. Gym equipment installation is complete and painting ceilings and walls is also complete. The renovation in the existing building has begun with asbestos abatement complete and most of the demolition is started. I also attended a special meeting of the Public Buildings Committee on May 23rd. The committee voted favorably to approve the authorization of the Town Council to authorize the Town Manager to enter into a contract with Kaestle Boos and Associates for the renovation to new project at Watertown High School, Judson and Polk contingent on the successful referendum on June 5th.
9. Education Connection Representative, Mary Dzioba
Ms. Dzioba: No report
G. Communications – Secretary
Mr. Griffin: There is one communication this evening, it is a response to Mr. Ericson and Mr. Fortier. On May 14th these gentlemen spoke at the Board of Education meeting, sharing their thoughts about the recently opened gate on Tower Road. Just to summarize that action of the Board with administration. It continues to be a priority of the administration and the Board to work with the community members. Working with the parents of all the children at the High School that drive and working with the Police Department to do their best work together to increase the presence in the back of the school throughout the school day. If anybody wants to see the entire letter it is available. See attachment A
H. Minutes
1. Regular Board of Education Meeting – May 14, 2007
Motion Presented by Mr. Mazzamaro seconded by Mr. Griffin to accept the Regular Board of Education Meeting Minutes of May 14, 2007.
Motion Passed Unanimously
(8-In Favor, 0-Opposed)
I. Superintendent's Recommendations and Report
1. Appointments – (Information Only – No Action Required)
a. Mr. Paul Catuccio to the position of Social Studies teacher at Swift Middle School effective August 29, 2007 being hired at Step 8, Sixth Year Degree, 9 years of experience, at a contractual annual salary of $55,945.00.
b. Mr. John T. Hart to the position of Band teacher, Grades 8-12, effective August 29, 2007 being hired at Step 3, Bachelors Degree, 2 years of Experience, at a contractual annual salary of $40,134.00.
c. Mr. Keith Michael Holtman to the position of Tech Ed teacher at Watertown High School effective August 29, 2007 being hired at Step 2, Bachelors Degree, 1 year of experience, at a contractual annual salary of $37,685.00.
d. Ms. Jody R. Kokoszka to the position of .4 English as a Second Language teacher at John Trumbull Primary School effective August 29, 2007 being hired at Step 8, Masters Degree, 9 years of experience, at a contractual annual salary of $21,162.00.
e. Ms. Kirstin Rosemary Ondrush to the position of Family and Consumer Science teacher at Swift Middle School effective August 29, 2007, being hired at Step 4, with a Masters Degree, and with 3 years of experience at an annual contractual salary of $44,392.00.
f. Mr. Greg Valente to the position of Robotics’ Advisor at Watertown High School for the 2006-2007 school year at a contractual stipend of $1,607.00.
2. Resignations – (Information Only – No Action Required)
a. Ms. Cecile Campbell from the position of Café Manager at John Trumbull Primary School effective at the close of the 2006-2007 school year for the purpose of retirement.
b. Ms. Carley Vesneski from the position of Guidance Counselor at Watertown High School effective at the close of the 2006-2007 school year for personal reasons.
3. Transfers – (Information Only – No Action Required)
a. Ms. Jennifer Wernery from the position of Grade 5 Teacher at Polk School to Grade 3 Teacher at Polk School effective with the 2007-2008 school year.
Dr. Erardi: Item 1, Appointments, Item 2 resignations and Item 3 Transfers, I don’t know if there are any questions regarding Items 1,2,or 3?
The Board had no questions regarding Item #1, #2 or #3
4. Update – Graduation & Promotion
The Superintendent will give an update on the grade 8 promotion and the Class of 2007 graduation.
Dr. Erardi: I will move on to item 4, after we pause for just a moment while Board Members receive a copy of the commencement information. See Attachment B. Board Members this is a time sensitive document, as you know the season is upon us. Watertown High School, June 15th and our last official day of school at Swift Middle School June 18th. Both activities taking place at Watertown high, rain or shine, both activities starting at 6:30pm. I can certainly assure the Board of Education that Administration, Central Office and the Police Department along with Operations and Maintenance, we have met, we feel that we have an operational plan that will be equally effective with good or with inclement weather. Ideally, no later than Friday, I will need this information back for the programs, for Mrs. Lerz and Mr. Hasbrouck. In a perfect world, hopefully you will find a moment before you leave this evening if you have your calendar with you. We do need to know if you would be willing to assist with diplomas or with certificates. If you are willing to assist we will certainly assure with all Board Members, although parking will be tight, reserved parking and certainly a place for our dignitaries will be reserved for you. If you are unable to attend just let us know. And lastly how your name should appear in the program so to make sure that we have it correct for you and for the entire Board. Are their questions at all on June 15th or on June 18th at this particular time?
The Board had no questions regarding Item #4
5. Update – Early Childhood
Administration will present to the Board of Education an update on the Watertown Schools’
partnership with the Community on early childhood education.
Dr. Erardi: The next agenda item I am very pleased with and actually I think is a celebration for the Board of Education and it happened only through hard work and much of that hard work if not all of that hard work taking place through the community and through the administrative team and through our staff with went above and beyond efforts. I would like to start the presentation by sharing with the Board of Education the three goals that you endorsed in December of 06. See Attachment C.
The concentration being on the State Board of Education goal which you endorsed as Goal #2 for the Board of Education. That centers on the framework of our preschool education. Before I continue, if I could, I would like to call three folks to the front of the auditorium, Sharon Demers, Filomena Rinaldi and Layne Allison, if you could come forward and just have a seat near the microphone that would be terrific.
This initiative is actually a two year initiative and it started with a staff member Kathy Deschenes and a community member Kelly Maguire who represented a number of people that encouraged the administration to better connect to the preschool community. Through their efforts in January of 2006 we held our first meeting and that was the first time that preschool Directors had the opportunity to meet and greet each other and the first time that they had the opportunity to get to know the John Trumbull staff, Laura Meka and Kathy Scully, our preschool staff and our special service staff, Betsy Hackett and Mary Raola. That was the first time I think ever a number of very, very important pieces were in the same room enjoying each other’s company. I think what is most exciting for me with this initiative is that we have had a baseline charge of how far can we go and what can be done with no cost to the local Board of Education. It is amazing what hard work has resulted in. Layne Allison took the charge of both Kelly and Kathy and last spring was very successful in writing a Connecticut Community Foundation Grant, Board members may remember this as you applauded and approved this grant. The grant allowed the Watertown community, on a Saturday afternoon to gather in October and begin to talk about where we were and what we felt needed to take place for us to move forward. I am sharing with Board Members the Executive summary of October 14th and the second page of being next steps. See Attachment D
I’d also like to be very clear to the Board that by this time, the charge was no longer coming from the Superintendent’s office, it truly was being driven by community and by staff. From the October 14, 2006 meeting a number of just outstanding things persists. The connection between out Preschool Directors and our Early Childhood Educators, our grade K instructors, our John Trumbull administrators, our Pupil Service Directors, all began to move for the best of the children and for the best of the young parents. We’ve held professional development concurrently with our Preschool Directors and our staff. Since October of 06 we’ve had a follow up meeting and we have reconvened with the group to get a sense of where everyone wants to be in the future. What is exciting about where we are tonight is that through the work of Filomena and Sharon and Layne and their committee, tomorrow night will be another night that if Board Members are available I would encourage you to come on down. We will have over 30 staff members, Preschool Directors, teachers, administrators, sitting down and having a community conversation. Every time we convene we ask the question, Preschool Directors what do you need? What are you looking for? and what do we have to do to prepare our students for grade K. And that is the conversation tomorrow. We are fortunate to have a State Department of Education Consultant speak to the group in regards to the preschool framework. Layne, Filomena and Sharon, they have continued this effort now for nearly an entire year. They have found a way to fund every thing that has taken place at no cost to the Board of Education. Their present initiative is to write a multi-thousand dollar grant that will offer a number of opportunities to the children of Watertown and to their parents. If successful, and we are hoping to come back with a successful award in regards to this grant. If successful we will be starting a parent/child playgroup, a literacy group, parent workshops, special programs, and a monthly or re-occurring newsletter. Again our preschool initiative as folks look at Watertown, people believe that the grass root effort that has taken place over the past two years is one that should be duplicated in all other towns. It is a celebration I believe for the Board of Education, it is a fulfillment of one of your goals. It has only taken place because of hard working administrators, hard working teachers, hard working community members and in particular at this time, three folks who sit in front of you, who may or may not have additional comments, who have been absolutely relentless for the goodness of our preschool students and our preschool parents. I don’t know if there are questions at this time, that Board Members may have or additional comments to the packet that you may have in regards to the preschool initiative that has been driven for the past two years.
Ms. Hackett: (Inaudible) There is a great deal of ongoing support from the community for this effort, Joe is completely right.
Dr. Erardi: I would like to share two additional documents with Board Members. See Attachment E & F. The document coming around to you is the invitation for tomorrow evening, you have seen that once before and what is driving this initiative is a needs assessment survey that has been distributed to all of our preschool and to many if not most, if not all, of our preschool parents. Layne, Filomena or Sharon, additional comments for the Board of Education?
Ms. Allison: I would just like to thank Kathy Scully, Dr. Erardi and everyone for supporting us and Mary Raola and the Board, it has been really exciting. It started from a little tiny article in the newspaper that we, that actually one of my co-workers found and we wrote the grant. It was awarded and from that, like right now we have these two great things happening, the Preschool Collaboration town-wide and our goal is to have a family resource center up and running in September. It is looking great, it is exciting. Thank you.
Mr. Killeen: I would like to just applaud their efforts, early intervention is so extremely important and again it is their insight that will help make this a better district. Their efforts reach out and I think it is exceptional and it is what moves us forward.
Ms. Dzioba: I would just like to say that this is such and incredible program and to thank the three ladies in the front row for all their efforts and their time. I hope that we can continue to work together and again thank you so much for your efforts, it is a wonderful program and Watertown is lucky that we have this program started and I know that it will continue into the future. Again, thank you.
Mr. Lafferty: I would like to just echo those comments as well. Thank you very much for taking the initiative to take on and start off a program like this. Your work, it just shows that if you are committed to anything that your work will pay off and take great strides. I think this is the work that you put in, you are seeing great results from it. Thank you very much for your help and I look forward to helping continue it as well.
6. Update – Swift Middle School Project
Administration will present an update on the Swift Middle School Project.
Dr. Erardi: The last time on the Superintendent’s report is a follow-up from Mr. Griffin’s remarks during the Budget subcommittee report. Mr. LoFrese is here this evening to share with the Board of Education and update on the Swift Middle School project and what still needs to be done within the next twelve months.
Mr. LoFrese: Good evening, prior to the meeting, Board Members were given a tour of the facility. We started in the newly renovated gymnasium, we moved onto the newly renovated locker rooms, across the hall to the new graphics lab and then we entered into the new addition where we toured a new science lab, fully equipped with modern science equipment and new furniture. We concluded our tour here in the auditorium complete with new seats, new lighting, new audiovisual. I see people fanning themselves out in the audience, this is a work in progress and over the course of the summer air conditioning will be installed in this space. Extensive work will continue this summer; it will include renovations to the remaining classrooms in the school as well as the beginning of renovations to the library. When students and staff return this fall, they will be returning to new classrooms, additional new classrooms and the new cafeteria will also be online to greet students and staff. All of this work is very similar to what is being proposed at Watertown High School, and Judson and Polk Elementary Schools. Complete building renovations; renovate to new with additions. I just want to take this opportunity to remind the community that there is a vote on June 5th and please get out and vote. Thank you.
Dr. Erardi: Questions for Mr. LoFrese?
The Board had no questions regarding Item #1
Dr. Erardi: That concludes the Superintendent’s report.
J. Report from the Chairman
Ms. Dzioba: For my report tonight I would like to thank the Superintendent and the administration at the High School. Last meeting we had some concerns from the neighbors on Tower Road that were presented to us. I just wanted to tell the community that we did take these concerns seriously and that the Superintendent along with the High School administration spent everyday last week at the beginning and the end of the school day to see the problems on Tower Road, talk to neighbors. We are currently working with the neighbors to make sure that Watertown High School continues to be a good neighbor and we ask for the patience and the cooperation of the Tower road residents that they be our good neighbors also.
I would just like to say that this is what renovate to new gives us. The building is incredibly beautiful, the new part of it. Hopefully someday we can have a meeting in here, maybe this time next year with air conditioning and we can show everybody that this will be a wonderful space for the community as well as for the students. As for what this project has brought to us, and when you think back that this project was actually two referendums that we needed to get this off the ground and to continue working on this. It showed that Watertown is starting to take a new direction. That we are concerned about our buildings, that we care about our students. Next Tuesday we have three questions that also represent which direction this town wants to go. It is vitally important that the work be done at these three schools. People have heard over and over again what not doing the work at the High School means to the accreditation. The concerns that Judson school has in that it is celebrating its 50th birthday and there are grave concerns about the windows and just the updating of the building. People always say to me but Polk is a brand new school. Well no, Polk is almost 20 years old and Polk is our proactive project to help us renovate and to do the maintenance and the updating that is needed so we don’t wait for it to be 50 years old like Judson and like the High School. I just hope that people come out, I can’t tell you how to vote, I just ask that it be a good turn out. That people again consider what direction we want to take for our school system. When you look at the new part of this building and it is light, bright and it is up to date, the science lab is beautiful, the computer lab is beautiful. The pride that the school’s students must have in the new part of the building, and I hope that carries over for the other three schools that we are voting on on Tuesday. Also our School Budget, so remember that people have to vote 5 times, hopefully it will all be the same answer, 5 times. That we just encourage people to come out and vote. We thank the people in advance who will come. I will move onto Action items.
K. Action Items – Adoption of Items to be Approved by Consent
a. Consideration of the Approval of Childbearing/Childrearing Leave of Absence
Ms. Valerie Tasker, Grade 3 Teacher at Polk School, requests a childbearing/childrearing Leave of Absence, under the Family Medical Leave Act, commencing August 29, 2007 until January 2, 2008, with use of accumulated sick time and then leave without pay.
It is recommended that the Board approve of a childbearing/childrearing Leave of Absence, for Ms. Valerie Tasker, Grade 3 Teacher at Polk School, under the Family Medical Leave Act, commencing August 29, 2007 until January 2, 2008, with use of accumulated sick time and then leave without pay and a medical doctor’s note to return.
Motion presented by Mr. Lafferty, seconded by Mr. Griffin to approve of a childbearing/childrearing Leave of Absence, for Ms. Valerie Tasker, Grade 3 Teacher at Polk School, under the Family Medical Leave Act, commencing August 29, 2007 until January 2, 2008, with use of accumulated sick time and then leave without pay and a medical doctor’s note to return.
Discussion: None
Motion Passed Unanimously
(8-In Favor, 0-Opposed, 0-Abstained)
b. Consideration of the Approval of Out of Country Field Trip to Spain
Ms. Mary Jane Miller, Foreign Language Teacher at Watertown High School, requests approval for an out of country field trip to Delicias High School in Valladolid, Spain, for approximately 18-24 Watertown High School students, for the spring of 2008, April 4 to 19, 2008, to continue the ongoing exchange relationship with Delicias High School in Valladolid, Spain, and to visit and learn about the southern half of Spain with its Moorish influence, art, and architecture.
It is recommended that the Board approve of an out of country field trip to Delicias High School in Valladolid, Spain, for approximately 18-24 Watertown High School students, for the spring of 2008, April 4 to 19, 2008, to continue the ongoing exchange relationship with Delicias High School in Valladolid, Spain, and to visit and learn about the southern half of Spain with its Moorish influence, art, and architecture.
This approval is recommended with the following stipulations:
1. The Board of Education has the right to revoke approval on or before departure at no cost to the Board.
2. If the Board of Education revokes permission, all Board of Education employees are expected to be at their job sites and performing their assigned duties.
Motion presented by Mr. Lafferty, seconded by Mr. Griffin to approve of an out of country field trip to
Delicias High School in Valladolid, Spain, for approximately 18-24 Watertown High School students, for the
spring of 2008, April 4 to 19, 2008, to continue the ongoing exchange relationship with Delicias High School in
Valladolid, Spain, and to visit and learn about the southern half of Spain with its Moorish influence, art, and
architecture.
This approval is recommended with the following stipulations:
1. The Board of Education has the right to revoke approval on or before departure at no cost to the Board.
2. If the Board of Education revokes permission, all Board of Education employees are
expected to be at their job sites and performing their assigned duties.
Discussion:
Ms. Calabrese: I have no doubt that there is educational merit to this field trip however I will not support it as I have not supported other out of country field trips in recent years. That is because I am very uncomfortable sanctioning any out of country field trips for students considering present world issues. I am not against travel, I am not against going to other countries, I am uncomfortable with the Board of Education approving of these trips and assuming responsibility. That is just my position in this.
Ms. Colangelo: How many days will the students be missing classes? I know part of it is the vacation.
Dr. Erardi: The trip is wrapped around the April vacation, (inaudible) I believe there is 8, Mr., Hasbrouck how many days will the students be missing?
Mr. Hasbrouck: 5 school days.
Ms. Colangelo: They will be missing 5 school days?
Mr. Lafferty: May I ask, Ms. Colangelo are you all set?
Ms. Colangelo: Again the liability to the Board, I know there is an insurance policy that is usually issued but what about the liability to the Board in approving this?
Dr. Erardi: I can speak to that and that is the reason why I recommended the trip to the Board with the two stipulations that were read in the motion. I know that the students will take out trip insurance, which allows the Board of Education as stated on or before the date of departure, to revoke approval. The second stipulation clearly states that we expect that as a Board of Education if for whatever reason we feel (inaudible) that the chaperones that work for the Board of Education relinquish their chaperone and are at their worksite, Watertown High School or Swift Middle School when they should be. In regards to liability the liability as I worked through our legal counsel with extended fieldtrips. The Board is no greater or no lesser in regards to liability with an extended field trip as they would with a field trip to Washington DC, to Boston or to New York. Of course the difference being the transatlantic departure from I believe Kennedy to Spain. I spent an awful lot of time with Mr. Hasbrouck and Don in regards to this issue, I feel confident that the trip itinerary is deep with instruction and deep with influence in regards to experience for the student. I also feel strongly that due to the reoccurrence of the trip that our students will be insured in that with the (inaudible) of the two stipulations that the Board of Education could feel uncomfortable in regards to the extended trip. The trip insurance is key, I was absolutely assured by administration and by the advisor that all students will have the appropriate insurance through ACIS in regards to the trip departure. The second thing that I think was important to me with regards to my endorsement, is that this is the back end of an exchange. This is the reciprocity of Watertown going to Spain, Watertown students were the host families this past fall and this would be the second leg of such and adventure. If there continues to be concern on the Board, I would suggest that we bring this back through Labor and Policy at some point to have a richer discussion in regards to extended field trips in general. At this particular time because of the insurance, because of the instructional component and because of the experience of the advisor and certainly because of the endorsement of the High School Administration and in subsequent conversation with Dr. Pelosi as our Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction, the trip does have my endorsement. I believe that our liability is no different than any other extended trip that our students would go on if they stateside.
Mr. Lafferty: If this was already answered while I was not in the room because of my tardiness. I would just like to ask that, how were these 18-24 students selected or what is the criteria for selecting those students?
Mrs. Miller: The students who hosted someone last year will have first dibs this year so that they would get their chance to go first. Then when all of those are satisfied and signed up to go then we would allow other students to go, hopefully who would be willing to take students the following year. Since I am up here I would like to comment on the total full agreement from ACIS on the back, I should have brought that to you. Again Dr. Erardi, there is a complete disclaimer for any teacher, Board of Education Member, anything, that we are not responsible. They do not hold us responsible at all so the liability is negligible.
Mr. Lafferty: Ms. Miller, just a follow-up question. The selection of who would be host families when the Spanish students came to Watertown, was there an academic responsibility or was academics considered in their standing, in deciding who would be a host family?
Ms. Miller: You mean did they go to classes here?
Mr. Lafferty: No, no, I am sorry. When Watertown students hosted students from Delicias High School, were the host students selected by any way?
Ms. Miller: They volunteered, within all the whole language department, they volunteered. And there were in fact some other ones who weren’t in the language department that just wanted that were very positive about opening their home to a student.
Mr. Lafferty: Just to add a comment being somebody who has had the privilege and earned the privilege to go on an academic exchange trip just like this throughout my college. One I would just summarize by noting the character changes, maturity, growth, understanding what it is like to be an ambassador to another country and also gaining an academic understanding of what your are studying, which you cannot get from being outside of that area. I think that it is important and I support it because I believe that I am honored to give students the privilege of being able to expand their boundaries, for some people it seems maybe they never have the chance to get out of Watertown at this point. To give them such an opportunity or make them earn such an opportunity at a young point of their life is one that I am very proud of. I would just to also say that in writing about my experience of doing an academic exchange program, I found it difficult so long after a trip or taking a trip to write down my memories and everything that I learned from that trip. At first I thought I would be difficult however because these trips are just once in a life time and like Ms. DuPlissie said, they are life altering, that the memories will never fade. And that this is one that the students will be proud of for the rest of their lives and I will proud to support it. Thank you.
Ms. Dzioba: Before we vote I would like to throw in my support for this, I think these programs…Gina I understand your concerns, I completely see the logic in your concerns but I also see that we have to offer the incentive, the programs. These students work hard in order to qualify for this trip, it is a wonderful opportunity and I would just think that because the Board is not held liable and it is basically up to the parents and to the students. I think it is an opportunity that we should allow our students to have.
Motion Passed
(7-In Favor, 1-Opposed, 0-Abstained)
In Favor: Ms. Dzioba, Ms. Colangelo, Mr. Griffin, Mr. Lafferty, Mr. Killeen, Mr. Mazzamaro and Mr. Lambert
Opposed: Ms. Calabrese
Ms. Dzioba: At this time because we need further information we are going to table this motion until we get
more information and clarification.
c. Consideration of the Approval of Resolution for Swift Middle School Artificial Turf Field -TABLED
WHEREAS, The Board of Education of Watertown has reviewed the proposed recreational development of the area locally known as the Swift Middle School Artificial Turf Field.
NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved by the Board:
1. That approval is given for the construction and development of said recreational facilities on Board of Education property;
2. That said recreational facilities will be open to the general public for the times generally described on the enclosed schedule of use.
It is recommended that the Board approve of the Resolution for Swift Middle School Artificial Turf Field.
Motion presented by Ms. Colangelo, seconded by Ms. Calabrese to table the Resolution for Swift Middle
School Artificial Turf Field until further information is provided.
Discussion: None
Motion Passed Unanimously
(8-In Favor, 0-Opposed, 0-Abstained
L. Future Agenda Items and Board Members’ Comments
Mr. Lafferty: I have a few, thank you very much Madame Chairman. Number 1, Mr. Griffin started by
acknowledging the wonderful work done at Swift. As he was saying that and even before that when I came in, I
was surprised. I hadn’t been in this part of the school in a long time and to see the work that has been done, it
definitely caught my attention and it is remarkable. Compared to what just this auditorium used to be, and unfortunately, I wasn’t able to see the rest of the building but even from the exterior you know that they are just jaw dropping changes. Not just cosmetics but structurally efficient changes as well and to move forward with this building I am very proud and very positive about what we can do with these facilities. Number 2 on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of last week I was able to visit Tower Road along side Dr. Erardi and just to summarize what I felt is that were are better off than a lot of some people expected to be. Certainly it is not perfect and I don’t think that we should rest on what we have, it is a work in progress in my eyes. I think that we are in good shape. I think the majority of the students are understanding of their responsibility that they have to being respectful drivers along that road, which is not one which is as adequate of accommodating traffic such as French Street. I think that students are taking that into account however not all of them are and those ones are being, having their privileges revoked. I also would just like to say that I have read an article and I have heard this comment many times before and I think that this is appropriate before the June 5th referendum. I have heard that the school buildings are in such bad shape because of the students in them. I would just like to comment publicly on that by offering my opinion on that as saying it is not our children who are responsible for the code violations, traffic flow problems, energy deficiencies, etc. however to point blame is not the issue at hand, if it is applicable. And I believe that these projects are important and please come out and support them, support your reasons whether it be yes or no. And just keep in mind that we are not trying to add cosmetics for this expensive project, we really are taking everything seriously as far as making sure we offer good buildings who can run themselves cost efficiently. We are trying to do a quality and proactive job for this town and I would just hope that there are no misconceptions in what we are trying to do in moving forward with this project. Thank you.
Mr. Mazzamaro: Just one request, I was wondering if it would be possible, I have had several questions about the situation with the Town Hall. I know that doesn’t fall directly on the Board of Education, but we do have a couple of members on the Town Hall Committee and I was wondering if it would be possible at our bi-weekly meetings to have one of the people on that committee maybe report progress or what is happening on that committee.
Ms. Dzioba: We can add that to the committee reports for the next meeting.
Mr. Mazzamaro: One other thing, a couple of us were approached on Monday about the possibility of a Junior ROTC program at the High School. I don’t know if that is something we can bring and put on as a discussion item for a future meeting.
Ms. Dzioba: We can discuss that. At this point I would like to open the meeting to public participation, is there anyone who would like to address the Board at this time?
M. Public Participation
None
N. Executive Session
Pending Litigation
Motion presented by Mr. Mazzamaro, seconded by Mr. Griffin 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 8:50 p.m.
Executive Session ended at 9:35 p.m.
O. Adjournment
Motion presented by Ms. Colangelo, seconded by Mr. Lambert to adjourn the Regular Board of Education Meeting of May 29, 2007.
Motion Passed Unanimously
(8-In Favor, 0-Opposed, 0-Abstained)
Meeting adjourned at 9:35 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted by
Todd Griffin, Board Secretary
Bonnie Goulet, Board Clerk
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