Town of Rocky Hill
Board of Education
October 17, 2002
Page 1
TOWN OF ROCKY HILL
BOARD OF
EDUCATION
MEETING OF
OCTOBER 17, 2002
Members Present: Nadine Bell
Raffaella
Coler
Tina
Lionetti
Charles
McMonigle
Anne Schmidt
Frank Szeps (Chairman)
Marinella Tirillo
Catherine
Vargas
Jennifer
Viggiano-Grosse
Members Absent: None
A
meeting of the Board of Education was held on Thursday, October 17, 2002, in
the Library/Media Center at Griswold Middle School. Chairman Szeps called the meeting to order at
7:00 p.m.
The pledge of allegiance was recited.
Moved by Mrs. Lionetti, seconded by Mrs. Bell, to approve the minutes
of October 3, 2002, as corrected, and the minutes of October 9, 2002, as
presented.
FAVOR: All
MOTION CARRIED
On
Page 5 of the October 3 minutes, last line, change “appeals” to “hearings”.
Town of Rocky
Hill
Board of Education
October 17, 2002
Page 2
A thank you note was received from Mr. Pitocco for the flowers sent to him after his hospitalization. A letter of resignation was received from Antonia DelGrazio, Spanish teacher at the high school.
Moved by Mrs. Schmidt, seconded by Mrs. Bell, to accept the resignation
of Antonia DelGrazio, Spanish teacher at the high school.
FAVOR: All
MOTION CARRIED
AUDIENCE
PARTICIPATION
RHTA Liaison Committee
There was no report.
Meeting Open to
the Public
There was no one from the public wishing to address the Board on any item not on this evening’s agenda.
1. Personnel and Negotiations
2. Policy
No
report.
Town of Rocky
Hill
Board of Education
October 17, 2002
Page 3
Mrs. Schmidt reported that the Finance Committee held its first monthly meeting, and they reviewed the Board’s expenditure report. The Committee had only a few minor questions, and those were answered. The Committee members made a request for additional information that would be provided to them in the future.
4. Curriculum
No report.
5. Professional Development
No
report.
6. Facilities
No
report.
7. Technology
No report.
8. Transportation/Accommodations
No
report.
The Liaison Committee met this week and held a lengthy discussion on the Transportation Policy of the Board. They reviewed the practices and the rational behind the transportation process. They discussed steps necessary for parents to take if they want a bus stop changed. The Committee also discussed the custodial insurance program and unanticipated costs, which resulted in $28,000 being required to fund the program.
Town of Rocky
Hill
Board of Education
October 17, 2002
Page 4
OLD BUSINESS
NEW BUSINESS
10. Lend a Paw Day
Mr. Pitocco thanked Mrs. Hayward, the teachers and parents involved with the Lend a Paw Day. Mrs. Hayward reported that the program started three years ago to teach the students citizenship, volunteerism and giving back to the community. Through their participation, students have become familiar with the citizens in the Town. The first year 100 students participated; the second year there were 130 students, and this year 200 students were involved. Students volunteered at fifteen different sites in Town. Students participated in activities for Habitat for Humanity, the Food Bank, West Hill School, Haven Health Care, Human Services, the YMCA in Middletown, Elm Hill Nursing Home, Maple View Manor, the Veterans Home and the Parks and Recreation Department. Students cleaned the river bank, sorted cucumbers, cleared trails and were involved in Town beautification.
The day gave the community a forum in which to meet and work alongside the Town’s teenagers. All of the students came back to the cafeteria, and each group reported on what they did. The school gave them ice cream. Mrs. Hayward shared two letters she had received from the Connecticut Audubon Society in Glastonbury and the Middlesex Habitat for Humanity. Sites have already asked for the students for next year.
11. Professional
Improvement Plans
Administrators
discussed their professional improvement plans for the year. They would be working to tie their activities
in with Board goals.
Mr.
Pitocco discussed the high school plan, which was aligned with the Board
goals. One of the goals was to improve
student learning in all academic areas.
NEASC visited the school and provided several recommendations. The recommendations addressed in the NEASC
report are the basis for the first goal.
Mr. Pitocco described the proposed action plan.
Another
Board goal was to improve student understanding of educational and career
opportunities. At the high school,
Project Lead the Way has been implemented.
The
Town of Rocky
Hill
Board of Education
October 17, 2002
Page 5
high
school administration will also continue to implement the CHOICES program for
grade 9 and 10 students.
The
third goal was to improve students’ understanding of and appreciation for other
people, cultures and values. The high
school is involved with Common Ground, Bridges, GHAMAS and Performing Arts
programs. It is involved with the
Learning Corridor. A multi-media
presentation is planned for December, with emphasis on diversity.
Board
of Education Goal Number 4 is to expand students’ aptitude and interest in a
variety of academic areas. New courses
are being offered, such as Authors I and II, AP Statistics, Civics, Fashion
Design, International Business, Spanish II A and B, French II A and Project
Lead the Way.
Mrs.
Bell asked if any significant projects were proposed to be implemented for the
coming year; Mr. Pitocco said there were not.
The new courses were being phased in.
Dr. Vautour added that administration was looking for grant money that
may defray the cost of other offerings, such as “Names Can Hurt”.
Ms.
Marino addressed the Board. The middle
school’s Goal Number 1 was to improve student learning by improving
articulation of the curriculum across the grade levels through the initiation
of a Curriculum Advisory Council.
Griswold decided to focus on the curriculum, such as “Understanding by
Design”. The school was focusing on
increasing student’s knowledge of reading and math strands.
Goal
Number 2 was that students would benefit from a coordinated effort concerning
technology acquisitions and use. The focus
on technology was to increase student knowledge in that area, making sure that
students increase their use of computers, and that teachers increase the use of
technology in their classrooms.
Students
will be developing habits conducive to health, personal responsibility and good
citizenship essential for living cooperatively and productively in an
increasingly complex world. Staff was
developing a program each month, where students would hear different speakers. In September, a student teacher with a
hearing impairment gave a presentation.
Students will participate in Griswold Give Back Day on October 26. Mr. Colonghi will be working on ways to
decrease student suspensions.
The
fourth Board goal to be addressed was that all Rocky Hill students would
explore and develop their aptitudes and interests through an expanding array of
opportunities in academic, athletics, arts, extra curricular areas and
community service options. The
Town of Rocky
Hill
Board of Education
October 17, 2002
Page 6
school
will be continuing with extra-curricular activities and after school
programs. It will work to increase
participation in the GMS mentoring program.
Chairman
Szeps asked about the strategies to be used in the math strands. Ms. Marino responded that in order to help
the numbers increase in that area, a math applications workshop is scheduled to
help assess what the district is doing and not doing. Griswold has great
scores, but is looking to improve in those areas. She noted the “Understanding by Design"
Program.
Mr.
Watson explained that the first goal for Stevens/Moser was to improve student
performance in the CORE academic areas.
Last year, an analysis of the CMT scores was done, and of how the school
prepares students to take it.
Administration did an in-school analysis and found there were certain
areas they needed to improve on. They
identified students who scored under a certain grade in different strands. They also identified students that mastered
the skills.
Stevens
developed an activity plan for writing, reading and math. Mr. Watson discussed the Writer’s Workshop
that administrators have designed. The
workshop takes place at the same time each day.
The scores are improving.
Administration increased the implementation of the “Guided Reading
Model”. They wanted to make sure things
were unified in the elementary schools.
Mr. Pear and he have been working together on this.
The
second goal was to improve student academic performance through an integrated
approach (HOTS). The HOTS program was
put into place to improve student academic performance. Staff would be getting more involved in the
program. Teachers are going to trainings
on how to implement the HOTS initiative.
Representatives from the Commission on the Arts will be coming to the
school to assess how the school is doing and to give suggestions.
The
next goal deals with improvement of student performance through the use of
technology. There is a new computer lab
at Moser. Administration wants to see
student performance improve and to help students learn from the use of
technology.
Another
Board goal was to improve academic performance through inclusionary
practices. Students with all types of
needs are being educated. There is a lot
of support and team teaching. A reading
consultant and regular education teacher work together in the same classroom,
helping the students who are not in the regular education classes.
Town of Rocky
Hill
Board of Education
October 17, 2002
Page 7
Administration
also wanted to increase student awareness of character education concepts. The strategies being used are being
coordinated with the social workers and school psychologists. The school is implementing the “Don’t Laugh
at Me” program, which will be expanded throughout the school district. There will be a character education program,
with training for teachers.
The
fourth goal was to increase student participation in the after-school
program. Mr. Watson noted the Mad
Scientist program. There were about 80
to 90 students between the two schools signed up for the eight week program at
Stevens and West Hill. Stevens staff wanted to continue with the PRESS program,
an enrichment program for students at Stevens School for reading and writing. Staff members were asked if they would be
willing to volunteer for the after-school programs. The teachers were preparing their own
personal goals this year based on these objectives.
Mrs.
Schmidt asked if Mr. Watson was talking about changing the whole
curriculum. Mr. Watson said he was
looking into revising certain sections of the curriculum to help students
prepare for testing. The majority of the
students meet the score. Each child has
a folder, which is given to his teachers, who can see if the student needs
extra assistance in a certain area.
Mrs.
Viggiano-Grosse asked if the teachers are trained to handle the special
education needs; Mrs. Young explained that the teachers work with the special
education teachers. The students are not
all in one teacher’s class, so that one teacher does not get all of the
challenging children. Dr. Vautour added
that the district has been doing a lot of professional development in that
area. The best professional development
occurs on a day to day basis.
Mr.
Pear reported that he has worked on all of the goals that Mr. Watson has,
except for the inclusional goal. The
only difference is that at West Hill, the program is called SAIL, and Stevens
has PRESS. Both programs have similar
activities, by which the schools are able to give students a wider array of
after-school activity.
Reading,
writing and math remedial services and enrichment programs are offered, using
the CMT scores as a base. The school has
a variety of remedial services.
Consultants are currently reviewing the programs, which have been in
existence for about seven years.
Administration has taken information from the programs to see where
students need to improve. Ninety percent
of the students have moved forward and are proficient or at goal by the third
grade. Other administrators have heard
about the district’s programs. There is
a professional development workshop in Rocky Hill, which showcases the Rocky
Hill plan.
Town of Rocky
Hill
Board of Education
October 17, 2002
Page 8
The
second Board goal deals with the HOTS initiative. The data collection piece will record
information on how many students are celebrating their written words and their
voices.
Goal
Three focuses on the areas of responsibility, citizenship and character. There is professional development in those
areas that teachers will be attending.
Students receive random acts of kindness certificates. Mr. Pear discussed the Mustang Group, which
does a variety of community service activities.
Another
goal deals with the after-school program, SAIL (Student Achievement in
Learning). The program offers
different opportunities to children.
There is the Mad Scientist program, with almost 100 students
participating in eight classes for eight weeks.
The parents pay $88 for the class.
Dr.
Vautour explained that Mr. Watson and Mr. Pear have coordinated their
activities to insure that the central themes were being addressed. He was pleased with the level of
participation.
Mrs.
Young stated that many of the goals she was responsible for were mentioned at
the building level, such as the data collection. Her first goal was that all Rocky Hill
students would demonstrate knowledge, understanding and master of communication
skills (reading, writing, speaking and listening), mathematics, physical/life
sciences and social studies. She
discussed the IDEA regulations and the CMT/CAPT Scores which are inclusive of
all students. Administration was using
the data it was collecting to increase student’s scores, and make assessments
through the use of the general curriculum.
They were looking at early intervention services that support student
growth in reading, writing and math.
Early intervention plans are in place across all the schools. They are extremely effective in identifying
needs.
Mrs.
Young said the professional development activities were in place for parent and
teacher collaboration. Reading in Unison
has been in effect in the district for two years. It was presented to the Board in a concept
form two years ago, and was implemented.
Mrs.
Young discussed the state project in place between Berlin and Rocky Hill. The data collected has been positive. The plan is to expand career opportunities,
and to transition something that is required under IDEA and make all students
productive citizens. The district was
also looking to increase the number of work site visits that students can go
to. She described the job shadowing
program. Students are offered classes in
which they can obtain life skills and get ideas as far as careers. In addition, technology has been an important
source of learning for students with special needs.
Town of Rocky
Hill
Board of Education
October 17, 2002
Page 9
The
next goal discussed by Mrs. Young was that school psychologists, social
workers, counselors and educators work collaboratively with students to
increase awareness of diversity and social skills. She mentioned the Circle of Friends Program,
offered at the elementary level, and Reading in Unison. She discussed the speech and language
pathologists, and the para-professionals who are
being taught to apply skills they are learning.
In working with the identified students, there is a lower number of
students referred to the PPT process if the school district is effective in its
approach.
Mr.
Turansky gave an overview of the Finance and Operations goals. The first goal was to identify possible
causes of a chronic shortage of substitute teachers and recommend changes for
controllable variables. There is a state-wide shortage. The plan is to gather data to identify a
number of things, and to find out whether there is a specific problem in the
district, and how large the problem is. Mr. Turansky would poll other towns and
analyze the data.
Another
goal is to facilitate the automation of building use scheduling. Currently the district is using a totally
manual system for using the building for after school activities. Parks and Recreation has purchased software
that they are using for scheduling their functions. Mr. Turansky has looked at the software, and
plans to have the necessary training and equipment available to facilitate the
implementation of the software.
The
third goal is to assist in the development of the district’s web site for
business-related activities. That could
be insurance information being available to staff. There is a need to identify the information
that should be available for staff and the public. Mr. Turansky will be meeting with staff,
principals and superintendent to develop a profile of the type of information
that the district is in need of.
Dr.
Vautour added that there is a need for consistency. He gave the example of there currently being
several different variations of field trip request forms. He was completing a review of the conference
reimbursement process, and planned to have streamlined forms. Teachers will be able to access the forms,
fill them out, and electronically file them.
Mrs.
Boutilier described the professional development activities scheduled for November
5, and she distributed the booklet containing the professional development
opportunities scheduled for that day.
More than ninety workshops are being offered, with 800 teachers
participating. Eleven Rocky Hill staff
members will be presenters. Rocky Hill
will be working with Berlin, Cromwell and Wethersfield.
Town of Rocky
Hill
Board of Education
October 17, 2002
Page 10
There
are three different time slots scheduled from which staff members can
choose. Two workshops on each discipline
will be offered. Each of the towns was
responsible for a variety of workshops.
Staff
members and Board members were invited to attend a presentation by Dr. Henry
Lee, scheduled for the morning of November 5 at Trinity College, which will be
followed by a high level math and science workshop.
Rocky
Hill is hosting the middle school workshops.
There is sufficient parking area, and all workshops are in a section of
the middle school, away from the voting areas.
Mrs. Boutilier pointed out that the day was a collaborative model among
the districts. No single district could
offer these programs. There is mandatory
attendance for the day, and CEUs will be offered. Everyone signs in and out.
13. Explore and Soar
Mrs. Hallett reported on the results of the first round of the Explore and Soar mini-grants. The Town received 39 awards, totaling $13,000. All schools participated. The disciplines included the arts, language, French, Spanish and special education. Fifty-five staff members participated. More than 200 students were served. Mrs. Hallett tried to achieve equity among the schools, and equity with the disciplines and the frequency of the grant requests. The requests for grants were creative. The teachers had to provide evidence that if the grant was given, it would support the curriculum. There were a number of students impacted and benefiting from the program. Each building had representatives.
The high school is planning to bring Jose Bechard to host a community concert, and hoped to bring in people from throughout the greater Hartford area. Also at the high school, the Rocky Store will be run by the life skills students, who will have the responsibility for serving the high school population. They will be trained to run the cash register and order supplies.
At the middle school, the focus was on foreign languages. Mrs. Tower presented a virtual classroom, which was open to sixth graders as well as seventh and eighth graders.
The new staff members at Stevens School and the school psychologist have started an in-house mentoring program, identifying at-risk students.
Town of Rocky
Hill
Board of Education
October 17, 2002
Page 11
Moser continues to seek funding to hold school activities. All students will experience the First Thanksgiving, and there will be two speakers coming in. West Hill Sketch Club students in the fifth grade have received a grant to study the “Voyage of the Ant”. A speaker was scheduled to tell students what life was like in the early days.
.
14. CABE Election of Officers
Chairman Szeps said he would attend the next session of CABE.
The next Board of Education meetings were scheduled for November 7, 21 and December 5. On behalf of the Board of Education, Chairman Szeps thanked Dr. Vautour and the administrators for the tremendous amount of work that has taken place with the documents presented this evening. The Board appreciated their efforts.
Moved by Mrs. Bell, seconded by Mrs. Schmidt, to adjourn the meeting at
8:30 p.m.
FAVOR: ALL
MOTION CARRIED
Respectfully
submitted,
Rosalie
W. O’Neill
Recording
Secretary