REVISED
East Hampton
Board of Education
East Hampton, CT 06424
MINUTES: March 10, 2008
1. The meeting was called to order by the Chairperson, Mr. Vasquenza, at 7:00 p.m. in the East Hampton High School Library/Media Center.
Members present: Mr. Vasquenza, Ms. Robinson, Mr. Hurst, Mr. Coolican, Ms. Barmasse, Ms. Pessoni, Mr. Gemma and Mr. Laraia
Members absent: Ms. Wall
Administration Dr. Golden, Superintendent of Schools
present: Mr. Reich, Assistant Superintendent of Schools
Dr. Fitzsimmons, Principal of Memorial Elementary School
Ms. Turchi, Principal of Center Elementary School
Mr. Barber, Principal of East Hampton Middle School
Mr. Fidler, Assistant Principal of East Hampton Middle School
Dr. Berry, Principal of East Hampton High School
East Hampton High School Student Council Representative: Johnathan Tuttle
Also present: Karen Hitchcock Asetta, Business Services Coordinator
2. Pledge of Allegiance
3. Inter-Board Liaisons - None
4. Audience of Citizens - None
5. Consent Agenda
5.1 Motion by Ms. Robinson, seconded by Mr. Hurst, to approve the following items:
- The minutes of the February 25, 2008 Board meeting.
- The minutes of the March 3, 2008 Board meeting.
- To grant Melissa Reynolds’ request for a disability leave commencing on approximately April 8, 2008 through approximately six weeks after the delivery of the baby, and an extended child rearing leave commencing on approximately May 21, 2008 through the end of the 2007-2008 school year.
Voted unanimously.
6. Student/Staff Recognition
6.1 Dr. Golden noted that it is with great pleasure that we bring before you the 2007-2008 East Hampton High School Girls Basketball Team to be recognized for their significant accomplishments this year. In addition to their perfect 23-0 season, the team has won its second consecutive Shoreline Conference Championship. They have also won their second consecutive Shoreline Conference Sportsmanship Award. Also on January 29th, the team was selected as the Connecticut Sun High School Girl’s Basketball Team of the Week. The team was featured on Channel 3’s Friday Night Frenzy High School Sports television program on Friday, February 22nd. Dr. Golden, Mr. Vasquenza, Dr.
Berry and Coach Russell presented the girls basketball players with a certificate of appreciation.
7. Committee Reports
7.1 Student Council
7.1.1 Johnathan Tuttle, Student Council Representative for East Hampton High School reported the following:
The EHHS Girls Basketball Team eventually fell victim to a loss against Berlin 39-33 in overtime on February 28. The girls had a bye into the second round due to their outstanding undefeated season and their accomplishment of getting the conference championship is still admired.
· The Boys Basketball Team suffered a loss to Cromwell on March 3rd. The Boy’s finished their season with a record of 9-11. The team will only be losing one Senior, Justin Barall.
· This past weekend on March 7th and 8th, the EHHS drama students performed an excellent rendition of The Madwoman of Chaillot. Main characters included seniors Kianna Jensen and Janice Nosal.
· On Thursday, March 13th, the National Honor Society will be hosting a walleyball tournament. This game is famous at the High School and is similar to volleyball, however, the ball is allowed to hit the walls and the floor. Students must pay $3 each and all proceeds will go to the Local Humane Society. Student Council will be sponsoring Tab Wars from March 10th-14th.
· The Benefit Basketball Games will be featured at the High School on Friday, March 14th from 2:30 to 10:00. All funds raised will go to Scholarship Memorial Funds. Teams such as students versus teachers and seniors versus juniors will be the main events of the night.
· The famous Dan LaRosa will be coming to the High School on Tuesday, March 18th at 7:00 p.m. Tickets for students are $5 and adults are $8.
· On March 20th the Winter Sports Banquet will take place. The following day, March 21st, students have no school due to Good Friday.
7.2 Personnel Committee
7.2.1 Mr. Hurst noted that the Personnel Committee is engaged in contract negotiations with the Nurses, Secretaries and Paraprofessionals.
7.3 Policy Committee
7.3.1 Ms. Robinson noted that the there is a policy on tonight’s agenda for Board approval.
7.4 Curriculum Committee
7.4.1 Ms. Barmasse noted that the Curriculum Committee met this morning and reviewed the 2008-2009 school district calendar and met with Ms. Margie Wilson for a presentation on how to teach religion in the schools.
7.5 Transportation, Buildings and Grounds Committee
7.5.1 Mr. Gemma noted that the Transportation, Buildings & Grounds Committee met on March 6th for a tour of the high school with Friar Associates and also reviewed the Transportation Contract.
7.6 East Hampton Education Association – None
7.7 Liaison Reports
7.7.1 Mr. Vasquenza noted that the Capital Improvement Committee had a very productive meeting.
7.8 Financial Reports
7.8.1 Ms. Pessoni noted that the Finance Committee met prior to tonight’s meeting. The Interim Town Manager reduced the budget by $80,000 or to 5.93%. The committee will develop a recommendation to reduce the budget when the budget process is complete.
8. Communications
8.1 Dr. Golden reviewed the student enrollment figures as of March 3, 2008.
8.2 Dr. Golden reviewed the following communications for the Board:
- A Board of Education Directory (3-7-08).
- An article from the Hartford Courant, Accreditation Visits ‘Helpful’ (3-5-08).
- Meet Your New School Library Media Specialist, Scholastic Administrator, February 2008.
- The New Bellringer, February/March 2008.
- The Middle Ground, March 2008.
- The Center School Chronicle, February 29, 2008.
- Memorial’s Bulletin Board, February 29, 2008.
- There will be an expulsion hearing on Tuesday, March 18th at 6:30 p.m. Please contact Ms. Smith if you are available to attend this meeting.
- Dr. Golden noted that she will be out of the office for an ASCD conference on March 14th and March 15th and will update the Board at the next meeting.
- Mr. Vasquenza noted that there will be a Tri-Board meeting on Monday, March 24th from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. at the High School and then the Board of Education meeting will be held at 7:00 p.m.
9. Program Presentation - None
10. Unfinished Business
10.1 Recommendation to Approve Board of Education Policy 6146.2(a), Statewide Proficiency/Mastery Examinations (Second Reading)
10.1.1 Ms. Robinson noted that Policy Committee recommends the approval of revised Board of Education Policy 6146.2(a) based on the recommendation of the Board of Education Policy Committee and the administration. Mr. Coolican stated that the criteria must match with the Policy and the handbook. It was the consensus of the Board to send this policy back to the Policy Committee.
10.2 Approval of the Student Transportation Bus Contract Between the East Hampton Board of Education and Nichols Bus Service, Inc. (July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2012)
10.2.1 Mr. Vasquenza noted that after several meetings the Transportation, Buildings and Grounds Committee negotiated a contract with Nichols Bus Service, Inc. He reviewed the timeline for the Board. Mr. Gemma reviewed the comparisons for the Board.
10.2.2 Motion by Mr. Hurst, seconded by Ms. Robinson, to approve the negotiated contract for student bus transportation recommended by the Transportation, Buildings & Grounds Committee with Nichols Bus Service, Inc. from July 1, 2007 to June 30, 2012. A discussion followed.
Mr. Coolican noted that Nichols Bus Company is a great operation but this is a cost that the Board can control. We did nothing to try and get a better deal. We haven’t tried as hard as we could have. Dr. Golden noted that the comparisons show that no better deal has been obtained by any other town.
Vote Yes – Mr. Vasquenza, Mr. Hurst, Mr. Laraia, Ms. Robinson, Ms. Barmasse, Ms. Pessoni and Mr. Gemma
Vote No – Mr. Coolican
Motion carried.
REVISION
Mr. Coolican also stated that according to the most recent Strategic School Profile, the District expends $155.00 more per child in transportation fees than the average for the District Reference Group (DRG) and he requested that the Administration research how more expensive it is for the district to purchase fuel to fill the small fuel tanks.
Dr. Golden responded that the figures Mr. Coolican was basing his comments on were from previous years when there were a significant numbers of out placed students for whom transportation was very costly. She further stated that the number of out placed students had decreased by half and that further costs per pupil would reflect that reduction.
10.3 Middle School Assistant Coaches
10.3.1 Dr. Golden noted that there are 24 students enrolled in both the girls softball and boys baseball teams at the Middle School with one coach each. The level of skill development work and supervision needed is not adequate with one coach without an assistant.
10.3.2 Motion by Mr. Coolican, seconded by Ms. Robinson, to approve adding assistant coaches to the Middle School softball and baseball teams and to appoint Sherrie Muncy and Drew Debowsky respectively to those positions. Voted unanimously.
10.4 Board of Education Goals Facilitator
10.4.1 Mr. Vasquenza noted that Board members need to choose a facilitator for goal setting. Dr. Golden noted that we need to align with the goals of the district. We are looking for four hours to set goals so that the Board can review where we are, where we’ve been and where we want to be so that we can move forward. A discussion followed. It was the consensus of the Board to have CREC be the facilitator for goal setting. Robert Rader of CABE will work with the Board of Education for their self-evaluation. Ms. Barmasse, Mr. Laraia and Ms. Robinson will serve on a subcommittee.
Mr. Vasquenza and the Board agreed that in the future more items such as donations be placed under the consent agenda. If a Board member wants to remove an item from the consent agenda for discussion they can make that motion.
11. New Business
11.1 Approval of a Donation to Memorial Elementary School
11.1.1 Motion by Mr. Hurst, seconded by Mr. Coolican, to approve the donation of a Yamaha P-120 keyboard with stand valued at $1112.38 from the East Hampton Village Lions Club. Voted unanimously.
11.2 Approval of a Donation to the East Hampton High School Music Department
11.2.1 Motion by Mr. Hurst, seconded by Mr. Coolican, to accept the donation of a 12 string guitar valued at $275.00 and a Musser Vibraphone valued at $1,175.00 for the High School Music Department from Mr. Bob Tourville residing at 22 Tartia Road, East Hampton, Connecticut in memory of his wife, Gloria. Voted unanimously.
11.3 Approval of a Donation to the East Hampton High School Library
11.3.1 Motion by Mr. Hurst, seconded by Mr. Coolican, to approve the acceptance of books or reference materials valued at $500.00 for the High School Library from Ms. Elizabeth W. Gates, Director of Merwin Memorial Free Clinic for Animals, Inc. Voted unanimously.
12. Future Business - None
13. Personnel Actions - None
14. Goal Report - None
15. Audience of Citizens
15.1 It was noted that there were several students present at tonight’s Board meeting from Mr. Hutwelker’s APS class.
16. Adjournment
16.1 Motion by Ms. Pessoni, seconded by Mr. Coolican, to adjourn the meeting at 8:07 p.m. Voted unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Joanne Barmasse
Secretary
JB/JAG/rs
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