TOWN
OF ROCKY HILL
BOARD
OF EDUCATION
MEETING
OF
Members
Present: Nadine Bell (Chairman)
Peter Arico
Kirk Bostwick
Neil Geldof
Francis Palazzolo
Anne Schmidt
Catherine Vargas
Charles McMonigle
Jennifer Viggiano-Grosse
A meeting of the Board of Education was
held on Thursday, October 20, 2005, in the Council Chambers of the Rocky Hill
Town Hall. Chairman Bell called the
meeting to order at
The pledge of allegiance was recited.
Mrs. Bell commented that Mr. Palazzolo
will not be seeking reelection to the Board of Education. She expressed Board members’ respect for Fran
and the work he’s done. He’s put in a
tremendous amount of time and effort and his humor, wisdom, and integrity have
been appreciated, and he would be missed.
APPROVAL
OF MINUTES
Moved by Peter Arico, seconded by Anne Schmidt, to accept
the minutes of the following: September
15, 2005, Board of Education meeting; September 15, 2005, Facilities Committee
meeting; September 15, 2005, Transportation/Accommodations Committee meeting;
September 7, 2005, Board of Education meeting; October 5, 2005, Finance
Committee meeting; and the November 18, 2004, Board of Education meeting.
FAVOR: ALL
MOTION CARRIED
CORRESPONDENCE
Dr. Vautour reported on the following items of correspondence:
(1)
AP Scholar Recognitions program recognizing seven Rocky Hill students.
(2) Cuz We Care organization note of
appreciation thanking RHHS students who participated in a sew-a-thon and made
1,000 pillows for Hurricane Katrina victims.
(3)
CIAC Hurricane Relief fund note of thanks to RHHS for their donation to
the State Athletic Association. The funds will be utilized to defray costs of
reestablishing athletic programs in schools in hurricane affected states.
(4) President’s Challenge Physical
Fitness Activity Program once again designated West Hill School as a physical
fitness champion. 86 state champion
award emblems will be distributed to students later this year.
(5)
Approval has been granted for the installation of additional trailers at
RHHS to address the issue of storage.
AUDIENCE
PARTICIPATION
RHTA
Liaison Committee – No Report.
Student
Representatives
Siddhant Thukral and Samantha
D’Agostino from West Hill School reported about various activities of all
grades and that respect and responsibility are themes emphasized in all
classrooms throughout the year, and the Student Council and 5th
grade Mustang Service Club raised and donated over $4,000 to the American Red Cross
for victims of Hurricane Katrina.
Evan Choquette and Lillian McKenzie
from Stevens Elementary School reported about Fire Prevention Week
presentations, Student Council’s beautification of the courtyard project, and
Stevens and Moser schools together donated over $200 to help in Hurricane
Katrina relief efforts.
Kayla Evilese and Emily Peters from
Griswold Middle School reported about a giving-back-to-the-community program,
called GMS Cares, has been extended to a one-month program this year; the first
week they sold Mardi Gras beads and
raised $874 for Hurricane Katrina relief efforts; this week they are
collecting food for our local food pantry.
Steven D’Addeo reported Rocky Hill High
School has a very successful Lend-A-Paw program consisting of 250 students, and
that at the Lyman Hall competition, the marching band came in second place in
Class 3 and won the award for best percussion.
He said they will be competing again this weekend in Southington.
Meeting
Open to the Public
There was no one from the public
wishing to address the Board on any item not on the agenda.
1. Consent Calendar
Moved by Anne Schmidt, seconded by Kirk Bostwick, to remove
from the Consent Calendar the “Facilities Use Rates.”
FAVOR: ALL
MOTION
CARRIED
Moved by Anne Schmidt, seconded by Catherine Vargas, to
approve the Consent Calendar, as amended, for October 20, 2005.
FAVOR: ALL
MOTION CARRIED
Mrs. Bell requested a motion to add to
the Agenda, Item #17, the 8th grade, Boston Field Trip.
Moved by Peter Arico, seconded by Kirk Bostwick, to add to
the Agenda, Item #17, the Boston Field Trip.
FAVOR: ALL
MOTION CARRIED
COMMITTEE
REPORTS
2. Personnel and Negotiations
Mr. McMonigle requested a motion to
ratify the agreement reached with cafeteria workers. He said it has been six years since this
bargaining unit has had a contract and this is a four-year contract retroactive
to July 1, 2004,running through June, 2008, and contains salary increases of 3%
per year. He said at the end of the contract
the Board will have the right to subcontract the work currently being performed
by members of this bargaining unit. At
that time, these persons will cease to be employees of the Board of Education
and will seek employment with the company currently managing cafeteria
operations.
Mr. McMonigle said he feels 3% pay
increases for four years is a modest amount and moved that the agreement be
ratified.
Moved by Charles McMonigle, seconded by Francis Palazzolo,
to ratify the agreement reached with the cafeteria workers; a four-year
contract covering the period July 1, 2004 through June 30, 2008.
FAVOR: ALL
MOTION CARRIED
3.
Policy
No report.
4. Finance
Mrs. Schmidt reported the Finance
Committee received a brief update on the Board’s financial situation in light
of a recommendation for subject matter that came forward from Double A
Transportation. She deferred the
discussion to Agenda Item 15.
5. Curriculum
No report.
6. Professional Development
No report.
7. Facilities
No report.
8. Technology
No report.
9. Transportation/Accommodations
No report.
OLD
BUSINESS: None.
NEW
BUSINESS
10. History is Central
Mrs. Boutilier spoke concerning a
project between Central Conn. State Univ. and local schools. She explained that Rocky Hill along with five
other towns has received close to a $1 million grant that will provide an
intensive professional development program for our social studies teachers
grades 7 through 12.
Dr. Vautour said this is an exciting
and rare opportunity because staff will interact with some of the country’s
leading historians.
Mrs. Bell thanked everyone for their
efforts in securing grants because of the educational enhancement the funds
provide without an impact upon the budget.
11. AP Report
Mr. Pitocco presented his report
concerning Advanced Placement exams. He
explained they are currently offering ten AP courses, and will probably offer
AP French next year, and the number of students taking the exam has risen to
56, with a cost of $80 per exam. He
explained that a score of 3 or better ensures students receive college credit.
He said test scores should not be
viewed as an indicator of how well a teacher is teaching the subject because
students have various reasons for taking the courses and exams.
Mrs. Schmidt asked if AP exam scores
equate to how students performed in the course.
Mr. Pitocco said that is the expectation but it varies; some students
are not strong test takers, but are working in the course.
Mrs. Schmidt asked if the exam is a
standardized test and whether during the course students are being given the
kinds of tests they will see when taking the AP. Mr. Pitocco said the exam includes
standardized and open-ended questions and that course exams are presented in
that fashion.
Mrs. Schmidt asked if the $80 exam fee
was prohibiting students from taking the exam and whether the Board should
again consider reimbursing students for the fee. Dr. Vautour said that never became a major
issue. Mr. Pitocco said a survey was
taken and there were only one or two students who said cost was prohibitive,
however, as a general rule, if there is a student with a true financial
hardship, a way is found to make sure that they can take the test.
Mrs. Schmidt said 45 students scored a
3 or better which is terrific and encouraged the AP courses.
Mrs. Bell informed persons waiting to
learn about Band Backers that the field trip to Pennsylvania was approved.
12. Graduate Surveys
Mr. Pitocco explained two surveys; a Senior
Exit Survey, which is given to students in June of their senior year, and a
Two-Year Initial Graduation Survey. The
surveys provide feedback from students and tells where we are and provides some
direction on where we want to go. The
current results show all kinds of disconnects and many positives and they want
to see the conclusions become more consistent because some of the results don’t
add up. There is a disconnect in
elective area questions which Mr. Pitocco believes if the persons who took the
electives answered the questions, the information would be more helpful. In addition, he said they now have the
opportunity to distribute a five-year out survey rather than the two and that
may prove to be more useful since students would have had a chance to finish
college and start in the working world and probably have a more mature
outlook. He said they are also looking
at more consistency with how the questions are answered (currently students can
rate some questions yes or no and others good, excellent or average).
He said one aspect that was worked on
was guidance. Here, the results don’t
seem to be that impressive, yet when guidance surveyed the seniors in 2005, 87%
of them said they felt quite supported by the counseling in respect to their post-secondary
pursuits.
Mr. Geldof said this is a very valuable
document and thinks there is no better criteria for evaluating the educational
experience than looking at what the student says three or four years after
leaving the school system. He said regarding
Question #5 in the Two-Year Out survey the results are extraordinary in the
number of students who felt their employer did not have to retrain them for
basic skills when entering the employment sector. It endorses the fine education students are getting
in our system.
Mr. Geldof asked why the question
concerning languages is not common to both tests and whether students realize
the importance of taking a language and how that makes them more competitive in
the employment sector. Mr. Pitocco said
that is something they will attend to in terms of consistency with the
questionnaires.
Mrs. Schmidt suggested putting a space
for comments right under the yes or no answer so students can comment
immediately if they choose.
Mr. Pitocco said they feel good about
the survey but thinks it can be made better and with the survey company now in
place they have more options for tailoring the questions.
13. AIM Program
Mrs. Boutilier explained that the
federal government has provided Rocky Hill with a grant the goal of which is to
improve basic skills in math, reading and writing. At the high school this has taken a format of
a program that has developed over the last three years and is now called the
Academic Improvement & Motivation program.
Mr. Pitocco said they’re very happy to
have this program. Students are
identified through recommendations from Griswold Middle School, guidance
counselors, teachers, and parents who are informed about the program at open
house focusing on 9th and 10th grade students with the
greatest need. Currently there are 30
students being instructed by Mrs. Aunce-Oberndorfer who has an excellent
background in reading, math, study skills, time management, organization, and
homework skills, etc.
Mrs. Boutilier said that from a
district-wide prospective one of the benefits of this program is that it is a
great transition program for 8th to 9th grade
students. Time is not lost identifying
students who are struggling. We learn
from the middle school the students we need to work with.
14. Grant Approval
Mrs. Boutilier explained her report
containing the figures from the last four years regarding the ESEA Consolidated
Grant. She said the funds have decreased
substantially since 2002; however, the $68,350 funds we received for 2005-2007
are being stretched as far as possible (as detailed in her report). She explained that a new initiative started
this year to address the time needed by teachers for curriculum mapping and
collaborative work, is that four of our retirees will be back and substitute
teach two Wednesdays per month. Teachers
can sign up for their services and be freed-up to work on curriculum mapping,
collaboration, etc.
Other grants we’ve received are
Enhancing Education through Technology from the state as explained in her
report.
Mrs. Boutilier spoke about three grants
that are being applied for. One is for
the middle school – the Science Leadership grant would provide $270,000 worth
of training and some equipment. Rocky
Hill would be working with teachers from Berlin and CREC magnet schools
developing a trainer-of-trainers model dealing with science so that teachers
involved can be in-district resources to work with elementary and middle school
teachers. The second is a high school
math grant which New Britain has asked us to partner in applying for
$261,000. The third, is a technology
infrastructure grant, application due on Nov. 4th in which we are
looking at how to bring Moser School online in terms of inter- and intranet
access so they can communicate with the rest of the system.
15. Bus Contract
Mr. Turansky spoke about the current
prices of gasoline and explained this is having an effect on the current
contract with Double A Transportation.
The contract calls for Double A to provide the fuel for the
vehicles. Last year, the average price
of fuel was about $1.75 per gallon and based upon those rates and the
consumption from last year Double A absorbed almost $17,000 in costs that they
had not budgeted for. So far this year
prices have averaged over $2.80 per gallon and it’s creating a financial
hardship for Double A and is threatening their long term viability. Double A came to us and asked for assistance
to meet those costs. What they asked for
was that they would accept full responsibility for prices up to $1.50 per
gallon and suggested the Board pick-up any excess over $1.50 per gallon. The consensus of the Board is that it is in
our best interest to continue our long term relationship with Double A. If we had to replace Double A we would experience
significant interruption in transportation and probably would end up spending
significantly more than we are now.
Ultimately, we counter-proposed that Double A take the first $1.50 per
gallon, the Board take the next 25 cents per gallon, and anything over $1.75
per gallon would be split equally between the Board and Double A. Double A has agreed to those terms.
Mr. Turansky said he is looking for an
endorsement to change the contract with Double A in accordance with the payment
terms as outlined.
Motion
made by Ann Schmidt, seconded by Kirk Bostwick, to accept the proposal for
payment to bus company.
FAVOR: ALL
MOTION
CARRIED
Mr. Turansky explained that these terms
would be in place until the price hits $3.00 per gallon, then we would return
to the bargaining table to discuss what happens.
Mrs. Schmidt clarified that this is for
this budget year only. Mr. Turansky
confirmed. However, we have been pleased
with our relationship with Double A and would like it to continue, so
discussions with Double A continue regarding the two years remaining on the
current contract. Gas prices are not
expected to drop significantly in that time, so a continuation of the
assistance relationship will most likely have to continue. Any proposals will be brought back to the
Finance Committee and the Board for approval.
Mrs. Viggiano-Grosse asked if the bus
company were to stop service, do we have a back-up plan. Dr. Vautour explained that they would go into emergency mode and approach other companies
to see how they would service us on an interim basis until we could get a bid
in place. He explained that if we went
out to bid at this point we wouldn’t get any better deal than we’ve negotiated
with Double A. Mr. Turansky said Double
A is not facing that sort of disaster.
Mr. Arico asked if this agreement is to
be retroactive to the beginning of the school year. Mr. Turansky said it is.
Mrs. Schmidt stated an amendment is
needed to clarify the motion.
Moved by Ann Schmidt, seconded by Catherine Vargas, to amend the motion that the Board of
Education would approve that Double A Transportation will be responsible for
the first $1.50 per gallon of fuel, the Board of Education will assume
responsibility for the next 25 cents per gallon (between $1.50 and $1.75 per
gallon), and any excess over $1.75 up to $3.00 will be split 50/50 between
Double A Transportation and the Board of Education, and that this agreement is
retroactive to the beginning of this school year (July 1, 2005) and will remain
in place until June 30, 2006.
FAVOR: ALL
MOTION
CARRIED
16. Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Program
Dr. Vautour said the Facilities
Committee met and discussed the Indoor Air Quality Program as recommended by
Mr. Cooke and outlined in his 12/14/04 memorandum. Dr. Vautour requested approval stating that
state regulations require that Boards of Education approve the program.
Moved by Kirk Bostwick, seconded by Catherine Vargas, that
the Board approve and accept the Indoor Air Quality program as proposed by Mr.
Rich Cooke, Director of the Town Facilities Department.
FAVOR: ALL
MOTION
CARRIED
17. Eighth Grade, Boston Field Trip
Dr. Vautour requested approval of the
science trip that the 8th grade takes annually to Boston which is
scheduled for November 21st.
Moved by Ann Schmidt, seconded by Kirk Bostwick, to approve
the 8th Grade, science field trip, to Boston.
FAVOR: ALL
MOTION
CARRIED
Mrs.
Bell thanked the Hartford Symphony for the tickets they received.
Mrs. Boutilier stated that she left Board
members information on a Three-Town Consortium, Professional Development on
November 8, 2005, and invited everyone to stop in at any of the workshops on
that date and offered to provide further details if needed.
Mrs. Bell reminded parents that there
is a professional day, election day, and a holiday in November, so please pay
special attention to the school calendars.
Moved by Catherine Vargas, seconded by Kirk Bostwick, to
adjourn (8:02 p.m.).
FAVOR: ALL
MOTION
CARRIED
Respectfully
submitted,
Juanda
Simons
Recording
Secretary
Accepted
by: __________________________
Date: ________________________________