Plymouth Board of Education
Regular Meeting
Wednesday, August 10, 2005
Terryville High School Cafeteria
MINUTES
Present:
Board: Roxanne Perugino, Velma McConnell, Ray Engle, Patrick Perugino, Karen Kulesa, Lisa Moriarty, Dan Gentile, and Patricia Budnick
Excused Absence: Lisbeth Leonhardt
Administrators: Dr. Distasio, Gerry Perusse, Keith Rafaniello, Carol Doiron and Peter Lovely
1. CALL TO ORDER AND PLEDGE TO THE FLAG
Mr. Perugino called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m. The group joined in the Pledge to the Flag.
2. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA
MOTION: To adopt the agenda as presented. Motion Roxanne Perugino, seconded Karen Kulesa, motion passed unanimously.
3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
MOTION: To approve the minutes of June 8, 2005. Motion Roxanne Perugino, seconded Dan Gentile, motion passed unanimously.
4. PUBLIC COMMENTS REGARDING AGENDA ITEMS
None
5. COMMUNICATIONS
None
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6. OLD BUSINESS
None
7. NEW BUSINESS
A. Notification of Resignations
Dr. Distasio accepted the resignations of Joshua Galusha, music teacher at Terryville High School effective June 30, 2005 and Robert Gross, social worker intern for the district effective June 30, 2005.
B. Appointments
MOTION: To approve the appointment of Silvia Cancellieri, Music Teacher at Terryville High School and Pamela Thomas, Spanish Teacher at Terryville High School for the 2005 – 2006 school year. Motion Velma McConnell, seconded Roxanne Perugino motion passed unanimously.
MOTION: To approve the appointment of the Shannon Surreira, Math Teacher, at Harry S. Fisher Middle School for the 2005 -2006 school year. Motion Roxanne Perugino, seconded Dan Gentile motion passed unanimously.
MOTION: To approve the appointment of Melissa Morelli, Grade 2 Teacher, at Plymouth Center School for the 2005 – 2006 school year. Motion Roxanne Perugino, seconded Velma McConnell motion passed unanimously.
MOTION: To approve the appointment of the Nicole Gerard, Grade 4 Teacher, at Main Street School and Robin Gudeczausas, Secretary at Main Street School for the 2005 -2006 school year. Motion Velma McConnell, seconded Dan Gentile motion passed unanimously.
MOTION: To approve the appointment of Ana LeGassey, Title 1 Tutor, at Prospect Street School and Janice Ouellette, Secretary at Prospect Street School for the 2005 – 2006 school year. Motion Roxanne Perugino, seconded Dan Gentile motion passed unanimously.
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MOTION: To approve the appointment of Patricia Atkinson, System Wide Special Education Coordinator and Lois McCoy, System Wide Speech Pathologist for the 2005 – 2006 school year. Motion Roxanne Perugino, seconded Dan Gentile motion passed unanimously.
C. CHILDBEARING/CHILDREARING LEAVES
MOTION: To approve the request for Childbearing Leave for Mrs. Rebecca Holleran, System Wide Literacy Consultant beginning on or about August 24, 2005 to October 31, 2005. Motion: Roxanne Perugino, seconded Ray Engle motion passed unanimously.
MOTION: To approve the request for Childbearing Leave for Mrs. Elaine Root, Paraprofessional at Plymouth Center School beginning on or about September 18, 2005 and a subsequent Childrearing Leave though October 26, 2006. Motion: Velma McConnell, seconded Roxanne Perugino motion passed unanimously.
D. Approval of Organizational Chart
MOTION: To approve the Organizational Chart to include the following new position, District Administrator in Charge. Motion Roxanne Perugino, seconded Dan Gentile motion passed unanimously.
E. Approval of Out-of-State Field Trip
MOTION: To approve the out-of-state field trip for grade 11 & 12 students in the Technology Education Department to Beech Ridge Speedway in Scarborough, Maine in September of 2005. This trip is part of the Electrathon Program at Terryville High School. Motion Roxanne Perugino seconded Dan Gentile motion passed unanimously.
F. Approval to Support the State of Connecticut’s “No Child Left Behind” lawsuit against the United States Department of Education
Dr. Distasio explained the basis of the lawsuit is simply there is a lack of funds to address the mandates of the law. An estimated cost to the State of Connecticut and local school districts of “No Child Left Behind” is between $200 - $240 million dollars to comply. After a brief discussion the following motion was made:
MOTION: The Plymouth Board of Education supports the State of Connecticut’s “No Child Left Behind” pending lawsuit against the United States Department of Education. Motion Dan Gentile, seconded Karen Kulesa. At this time, the Chair polled the Board of Education Members. Mrs. Perugino, Mr. Engle, Mrs. Kulesa, Mrs. Moriarty, Mrs. Budnick, Mr. Gentile and Mr. Perugino, Board of Education Chair voted “yes”. Mrs. McConnell voted “no”. Motion passed 7 to 1.
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8. BOARD MEMBER/COMMITTEE REPORTS
A. Curriculum – Karen Kulesa, Chair
No Report
B. Facilities – Ray Engle, Chair
Mr. Engle reported that tasks have been completed in accordance with Phase I; Phase II goes before the OSF in September and goes out to bid hopefully sometime in November and the ground breaking is scheduled for December.
C. Finance – Patricia Budnick, Chair
The Finance Subcommittee met prior to the Board of Education Meeting, reviewed the July accounts by facilities report and moved that it be forwarded to the Town of Plymouth Board of Finance.
D. Negotiations – Lisa Moriarty, Chair
No Report
E. Personnel – Roxanne Perugino, Chair
Mrs. Perugino reported that the personnel sub-committee met with the Superintendent prior to the Board meeting and approved of all of his appointments and leaves.
F. Policy – Velma McConnell, Chair
A tentative meeting has been scheduled for the Policy Subcommittee on Wednesday, September 7, 2005 at 7 p.m. in order to update a few of the policies.
G. Safety & Transportation- Ray Engle, Chair
No Report
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H. Education Connection - Patricia Budnick
No Report
I. Student Representatives
Jen Dutkiewicz – No Report
Sean Link – Excused Absence
Kaitlin Palance – No Report
9. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS/REQUESTS/INFORMATION
Mrs. Doiron, Director of Pupil Personnel/District Administrator in Charge
The special education and elementary summer school programs at Plymouth Center School ended last week and were very successful. Mrs. Doiron thanked Mrs. Morley, Ms. Greaney, Mrs. Worhunsky and the summer school staff for doing a wonderful job.
Mr. Lovely – Director of Curriculum and Instruction
Mr. Lovely was very pleased with the outcome of the summer school program. He thanked Amy Radke for all of her hard work. He reported the summer school program for the middle school (grades 6, 7, & 8) and high school (grades 8 & 9) emitted a positive experience. Student participation was tremendous. The middle school had 20- 22 openings of which 15-17 were filled. The high school had 90 openings of which 78 were filled. A full report will be presented to the Board at the September meeting which will show the impact the summer school program had at the high school.
A lot of curriculum work was done over the summer. The following curriculum work has been completed: Language Arts (grades k-8); Math (grades k-8); Social Studies; and Sociology and Psychology courses at the high school. A presentation will be made in September at the Curriculum Subcommittee Meeting to go over the new curriculums and how they will work out in our schools.
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In regards to NCLB, we received our preliminary report for this year and we made AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress) in all 3 schools (Plymouth Center, Main Street and Harry S. Fisher Middle Schools). This means we made goal set up by the NCLB Act. Since the high school CAPT Test was taken at the end of the year, those results have not been returned.
NEASC follow-up report for the past year: 89.5% of the students passed English;
87% passed Social Studies; 89.1% passed Science and 86.1% passed Math.
Mr. Lovely invited Board Members to the new staff orientation on Tuesday, August 23, 2005 beginning at 8:30 a.m. and ending around 9 a.m. at the Board of Education Offices. A light breakfast will be provided by the PEA.
Mr. Rafaniello, Director of Technology
No Report
Mr. Perusse, Business Manager
Mr. Perusse reported the auditors are at the Board Offices; the state expense report is being prepared, schools are being cleaned for opening day; bus routes are being prepared and the fields are being maintained.
Dr. Distasio, Superintendent
Dr. Distasio reported that Opening Day for all staff will be held at Plymouth Center School on August 24, 2005 from 8 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. After the opening day meeting, staff members will report to their respective schools for meetings and classroom organization.
Summer was very busy this year with resignations and new appointments.
A new administrator orientation program took place over the summer. New administrators were assigned a mentor administrator. Mentors were also assigned to teachers.
Meetings were held throughout the summer with the architects and the building committee concerning the new high school and renovations to our current high and middle schools. We are on schedule for an opening in 2007.
Monday, August 29, 2005 will be the first day of school for students.
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10. Public Comments Regarding Agenda or Non-Agenda Items
Mrs. Cindy Scoville, liaison to the Board of Education was unable to attend tonight’s meeting. Mr. Ralph Zovick member of the Plymouth Town Council attended in her absence. Mr. Zovich commented on the pending “No Child Left Behind Lawsuit”.
He requested confirmation of the following: have all combustible materials been removed from the attic at Prospect Street School – Dr. Distasio confirmed all combustible materials have been removed in compliance with the fire marshall.
Mr. Zovich indicated the Building Committee is moving along. A presentation of the final design will be forthcoming to the full Board after which a public meeting with the Town Council will take place with a full presentation.
11. Business of the Board
Mrs. Perugino – Wishing everyone a Happy New School Year
Mrs. McConnell – Appreciated Mr. Zovich’s comments on the pending NCLB law suit. Her “no vote” did not mean she was not in support of the law suit, just that she did not have enough information to vote in favor of it. Mrs. McConnell had a comment with respect to Sean Link’s, one of our student council representatives, editorial. She indicated it was great to see young people understand our constitution, embrace it and help educate others about it.
Mrs. Budnick – Welcome to our 2 new student council representatives; and Mrs. Radke is to be applauded, hopefully, all teachers will have a positive impact on our students.
Mrs. Kulesa – Welcome to our 2 new student council representatives; looking forward to a new school year.
Mrs. Moriarty – Welcome back everyone.
Mr. Engle – Welcome to our 2 new student council representatives. Everyone welcome back to a new school year.
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Mr. Gentile – Welcome back to everyone; thank you to Mr. Zovich for asking for clarification and confirmation regarding the removal of the combustible materials at Prospect Street School – rumors start with misinformation; and hoping everyone has a good school year.
Mr. Perugino – Welcome to our new student council representatives; recently a small fire caused some smoke damage at Plymouth Center School, however, everything is under control, the school is being cleaned up and will be ready for opening day. Thank you to Joe Dennis and all of the custodians.
12. Next Regular Board Meeting
Mr. Perugino stated that the next Regular Board of Education Meeting will be held on September 14, 2005 at 7 p.m. Terryville High School cafeteria.
13. Adjournment
MOTION: To adjourn the meeting at 7:35 p.m. Motion Roxanne Perugino, seconded Ray Engle motion passed unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
____________________
Velma McConnell
Secretary