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11/18/2009

Minutes
Meeting Type:
Board of Education Meeting
Location:
Terryville High School Cafeteria
Date:
11/18/2009 7:00:00 PM
United In Our Commitment to Excellence in Education

The Plymouth Public Schools’ mission is to ensure that all students learn to the best of their abilities. We support their growth into knowledgeable, skilled, and contributing citizens capable of succeeding in their work, personal, and family lives.

PLYMOUTH BOARD OF EDUCATION

REGULAR MEETING

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2009

TERRYVILLE HIGH SCHOOL CAFETERIA

MINUTES

Present: Board: Mr. Raymond Engle, Mr. Patrick Perugino, Mr. Anthony Orsini, Mr. Martin Wetzel, Mr. Gerard Bourbonniere, Mr. Daniel Santorso, Mr. Mark Berube, and Mrs. Roxanne Perugino

Absent: Mrs. Karen Kulesa

Administrators: Dr. Distasio, Superintendent; Mr. Lovely, Director of Curriculum & Instruction; Mr. Santogatta, Business Manager; and Mr. Meehan, Director of Pupil Personnel & Special Education

1. CALL TO ORDER AND PLEDGE TO THE FLAG

Dr. Distasio called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. The group joined in the Pledge to the Flag.

2. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA

MOTION: To adopt the agenda as presented. Motion Patrick Perugino, seconded
Gerard Bourbonniere, motion passed unanimously

3. ELECTION OF OFFICERS FOR THE PLYMOUTH BOARD OF EDUCATION

(a) Nominations for Temporary Chairperson
Nomination: Mr. Anthony Orsini as Temporary Chair
Nominated by Daniel Santorso, seconded by Roxanne Perugino
There being no further nominations. Mr. Orsini was unanimously appointed Temporary Chair

(b) Nominations and Election of Chair
Nomination: Mr. Patrick Perugino for Permanent Chair Nominated by Daniel Santorso, seconded by Martin Wetzel
There being no further nominations, paper ballot votes were taken, 8 votes were cast for Mr. Patrick Perugino. Mr. Perugino was unanimously elected Permanent Chair of the Plymouth Board of Education. At this time, Mr. Perugino took over the meeting as Chair.




Plymouth Board of Education Page 2 November 18, 2009 Minutes


The next order of business:

(c) Nominations and Election of Vice-Chair
Nomination: Mrs. Karen Kulesa for Vice-Chair Nominated by Roxanne Perugino, seconded by Gerard Bourbonniere There being no further nominations, paper ballot votes were taken, 8 votes were cast for Mrs. Karen Kulesa. Mrs. Kulesa was unanimously elected Vice Chair of the Plymouth Board of Education.

(d) Nominations and Election of Secretary
Nomination: Mr. Gerard Bourbonniere for Secretary Nominated by Raymond Engle, seconded Daniel Santorso There being no further nominations, paper ballot votes were taken, 8 votes were cast for Mr. Gerard Bourbonniere. Mr. Bourbonniere was unanimously elected as Secretary of the Plymouth Board of Education.


4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

MOTION: To approve the minutes of the regular meeting of October 14, 2009. Motion Martin Wetzel, seconded Roxanne Perugino motion passed unanimously.

MOTION: To approve the minutes of the special meeting of October 22, 2009.
Motion Raymond Engle, seconded Gerard Bourbonniere motion passed unanimously.

At this time, Mr. Engle through the Chair requested the following Motion:

MOTION: To amend the Agenda to include a second presentation. Motion Raymond Engle, seconded Roxanne Perugino. Motion passed unanimously.


5. PRESENTATIONS

First Presentation

One of the presentations for November was the introduction of the CAPSS Superintendent/Student Award Recipients by each of the school principals. These students were selected for their academic prowness, school citizenship, and community service. Each of these students is an excellent representative of their respective schools and great examples for their peers. The students and parents attending a dinner at the Cornucopia in Torrington on November 19, 2009 are as follows:




Plymouth Board of Education Page 3 November 18, 2009 Minutes


Congratulations to:

Harry S. Fisher Elementary School Plymouth Center School
Hailey Hills Jennifer Fisher
Joshua Mazur Frank Tirino

Eli Terry Jr. Middle School Terryville High School

Karen Littau Victoria Heidkamp
Jacob Johnson Ronald Bilodeau

Second Presentation

Mr. Engle presented the CABE Award to Dr. Distasio for his guidance in bringing the community together and helping to build trust in the Board of Education. He went on to say that Dr. Distasio does whatever is necessary to serve the children in the community. The Board of Education would like to take this time to honor Dr. Distasio for his tireless and effortless work on behalf of the Town and students of Plymouth.

At this time, Mr. Perugino called for the following motion:

MOTION: To adjourn the meeting at 7:25 p.m. for a brief reception for our award winners. Motion Raymond Engle, seconded Gerard Bourbonniere, motion passed unanimously.

MOTION: To return to regular session at 7:40 p.m. Motion Martin Wetzel, seconded Roxanne Perugino, motion passed unanimously.


6. PUBLIC COMMENTS REGARDING AGENDA ITEMS

None


7. COMMUNICATIONS

Mr. Engle shares the title of some articles from the November 2009 issue of the CABE Journal.


8. OLD BUSINESS

None
Plymouth Board of Education Page 4 November 18, 2009 Minutes



9. NEW BUSINESS

A. Out-of-State Field Trip

MOTION: To approve the out-of-state field trip to the New England Aquarium in Boston, Massachusetts for grade 6 students at Eli Terry Jr. Middle School for May 27, 2010. Motion Martin Wetzel, seconded Gerard Bourbonniere motion passed unanimously.

B. Appointments

MOTION: To appoint Peggy Ann Dragon-Blumenthal to the position of Special Education Teacher at Eli Terry Jr. Middle School effective November 18, 2009. Motion Roxanne Perugino, seconded Anthony Orsini motion passed unanimously.

MOTION: To reappoint Karen Zagurski to the Agricultural Advisory Board for WAMOGO for the next two years. Motion Roxanne Perugino, seconded a Daniel Santorso motion passed unanimously.


C. Resignation

Dr. Distasio accepted the resignation of Sharon Croteau, Paraprofessional at Terryville High School effective December 16, 2009. Mrs. Croteau has been employed in Plymouth since 2000.


D. Strategic School Profile

Dr. Distasio informed Board Members that the State has released the Strategic School Profiles for the 2008 – 2009 school years. They are available in all of the schools for parents or the community. The Strategic School Profiles discuss a variety of issues from community data, student enrollment and racial composition, district resources, student achievement, and district revenues and expenditures. The Strategic School Profiles will be reviewed at the next Curriculum Subcommittee Meeting in December. The reports can also be found on line.


10. BOARD MEMBER/COMMITTEE REPORTS

A. Curriculum

No Report

B. Facilities

No Report
Plymouth Board of Education Page 5 November 18, 2009 Minutes



C. Finance

The October accounts by facilities report will be forwarded to the Town of Plymouth Board of Finance.
 

D. Negotiations

No Report


E. Personnel

All Personnel Matters were handled under new business.



F. Policy

No Report


G. Safety & Transportation

No Report


H. Education Connection -

No Report



I. Student Representatives

Alexis Cordone – (a) congratulations to Mr. Perugino; (b) Student Council Blood Drive took place on November 17th; (c) Terryville High School Band participated in Northern Regionals and the Veteran’s Day Parade in Hartford; (d) Seniors are beginning the application process for college (thank you to those teachers who wrote letters of recommendation and to the guidance department for all of their help); and (e) congratulations to the CAPSS award recipients and to Dr. Distasio.





Plymouth Board of Education Page 6 November 18, 2009
Minutes


Lindsey Bordeau – (a) project truck a success raising approximately $1,000;
(b) comedy show, Friday, November 20 @ 7 p.m.; (c)next PTSA Meeting is on December 17th @ 7 p.m.; (d) Leo Installation Night will b held on December 7th at 6:30 p.m.; and (e) the Leo Club would like to thank Mr. Bourbonniere for all of his support.

Karrick Lee – (a) welcome to the new Board Members; (b) congratulations to
Mr. Perugino; (c) the girls’ volleyball team lost to Trinity in the state tournament;
(d) boys’ soccer team did not make the state tournament; (e)girls’ soccer team was rated 4th and lost in the 2nd round; (f) there was a great turnout for the flag football; and (g) the following students were named to the First Team Berkshire League All-Stars: Girls’ Soccer: Shannon Skidmore; Victorya Pilbin; Boys’ Soccer: Ronald Bilodeau; Volleyball: Taryn Vigeant and Anna Schmidt.


11. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS/REQUESTS/INFORMATION

Mr. Trudeau, Director of Technology

Thank you to Connor Raymond for tonight’s live broadcast of the Board of Education Meeting. Terryville has been awarded a Professional Development Grant for Technology through Education Connection. This grant will be put towards 4 days of professional development for teachers in technology related areas. Also, going forward in turn with the district goal of technology integration, the major implementation of Destiny, our library automation system, has been completed through 3 of our schools, Plymouth Center School, Eli Terry Jr. Middle School and Terryville High School. Although Harry S. Fisher Elementary School has never had an automated system, they are well on their way. Thank you to Ms. Block, Library Media Specialist for seeing this project through and also to Doris Mozelak, Carol, Karen and Judy as well for all of their hard work. Data Analysis continues to go forward.

Mr. Meehan, Director of Pupil Personnel

State Department of Education on the Focus Monitoring Group – since August our special education staff has gone through 15 hours of intensive training.

Mr. Lovely – Director of Curriculum and Instruction & District Administrator in Charge

(a) Applications for WAMS will be available beginning November 24th, 2009 and are due on January 14th, 2010; (b) Maloney & Rotella Magnet School applications for pre-school will be done separately this year. They will be available on December 1, 2009. Grades K – 5 applications will be available on February 22, 2010. All applications are due on March 12, 2010; and (c) Open House for Maloney Magnet School is scheduled for December 9, 2009 at 9:30 a.m.

Plymouth Board of Education Page 7 November 18, 2009 Minutes


Mr. Santogatta, Business Manager

(a) Utility accounts are holding; (b) due to the mild weather, there have been no oil deliveries; (c) special education out-of-district tuition is getting a little stressed;
(d) VOAG – more freshman than normal are attending WAMOGO, therefore, the account in a little over budget; (e) budget development for 2011 – 2012 has begun, (f) building & grounds – repair account the high school is exhausted due to i.e. elevator repairs, air exchange units, hot water circulation pumps and gym lights; and (g) the Building Committee is aware of the problems.


Dr. Distasio, Superintendent

As a reminder to parents, since the winter weather is upon us,
Dr. Distasio asked parents to stay tuned to the major television channels, radio stations, and Channel 16 for school closings, early dismissals, and late openings. Also he reminded parents they will receive a personal telephone call via the AlertNow System announcing any dismissals, late openings or school closings.

Dr. Distasio reported that the Inhalant Workshop on November 5th was well received. He also indicated that illnesses are being tracked. The student absent rate is running between 5% - 6%. He reminded the public to log on to the school or district website for information on the H1N1 Flu.


12. Public Comments Regarding Agenda or Non-Agenda Items

None


13. Board Liaisons to Schools

Harry S. Fisher Elementary School Mr. & Mrs. Perugino
Plymouth Center School Mr. Engle
Eli Terry Jr. Middle School Mr. Orsini
Terryville High School Mr. Bourbonniere
SEPTA Mr. Berube
PTA Council Dr. Distasio
Education Connection Mrs. Kulesa


(a) Members were provided a copy of the budget; (b) discussion took place about adding a line item to the student assisting program; (c) programs were cancelled or postponed last month due to the H1N1; (d) schedule of the next meeting was submitted for any members that would like to attend; and (e) bingo will be held on January 8, 2010.

Plymouth Board of Education Page 8 November 18, 2009 Minutes


PTA COUNCIL – Dr. Distasio

Meeting took place on Tuesday, November 17th. The PTA Council is beginning the planning of the Reflection’s Program. All of the PTA’s, including the PTA Council, are rewriting their By-Laws. Dr. Distasio thanked PTA Council President, Mrs. Pat Daigle for all she does for the community and the council. We are very fortunate to have her in our district.


14. Final Board Comments

Mrs. Perugino – Welcome new and re-elected Board Members. Congratulations for the Superintendent Award Recipients.

Mr. Santorso – Congratulations to the award recipients. Very happy to be on the Board.

Mr. Bourbonniere – Congratulations to everyone, recognition of the Jr. Olympics Cross Country Meet in Litchfield and the following students qualified for the regionals: Connor Levins, Tanner Greenlaw, Tyler Raymond and Cody Benson; congratulations again to Katie Gudeczauskas, Leo of the Year, and invitation to all to come to the Leo Installation on December 7th.

Mr. Berube – thank you for such a warm reception, will try and do my best.

Mr. Engle – seven out of nine Board Members will be attending the CABE/CAPSS Convention. Congratulations to our new Board Members – sit back, listen and learn.

Mr. Orsini – this is a new experience and I am excited about this new endeavor. I would like to develop the best possible education for the students of Terryville. Congratulations to our award recipients and to Dr. Distasio.

Mr. Perugino – thank you to the new Board Members for volunteering your time to better the district. We’ll miss Mr. Gentile. I spent many years with him on the Board and no matter what party we were associated with, we were here for the children, not the party. To new members attending the Convention, it will be a great experience. Thank you to Ray for the many hours he put in as Chair and thanks to all of you for putting your trust in me.

15. Next Regular Board Meeting

Mr. Perugino stated that the next regular Board of Education Meeting will be held on December 9, 2009 at 7 p.m. at Terryville High School.





Plymouth Board of Education Page 9 November 18, 2009 Minutes



16. Adjournment

MOTION: To adjourn the meeting at 8:15 p.m. Motion Raymond Engle, seconded Raymond Engle motion passed unanimously.


Respectfully submitted,


____________________
Gerard Bourbonniere
Secretary

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