East Hampton
Board of Education
East Hampton, CT 06424
MINUTES: June 23, 2008
1. The meeting was called to order by the Chairperson, Mr. Vasquenza, at 6:00 p.m. in the East Hampton High School Library/Media Center.
2. Motion by Mr. Hurst, seconded by Mr. Coolican, to enter Executive Session in the High School Library/Media Center at 6:01 p.m. to discuss personnel matters.
Members present: Mr. Vasquenza, Ms. Robinson, Mr. Hurst, Mr. Laraia, Mr. Coolican, Ms. Barmasse and Ms. Wall
Members absent: Ms. Pessoni and Mr. Gemma
2.3 Motion by Ms. Barmasse, seconded by Mr. Hurst, to leave Executive Session at 6:35 p.m. Voted unanimously.
2.2 The regular meeting of the Board of Education was called to order by the Chairperson, Mr. Vasquenza, at 6:55 p.m. in the High School Library/Media Center.
Members present: Mr. Vasquenza, Ms. Robinson, Mr. Hurst, Mr. Laraia, Mr. Coolican, Ms. Barmasse and Ms. Wall
Members absent: Ms. Pessoni and Mr. Gemma
Administration Dr. Golden, Superintendent of Schools
Present: Mr. Reich, Assistant Superintendent of Schools
present: Mr. Reas, Director of Support Services
Dr. Berry, Principal of East Hampton High School
Mr. Fidler, Assistant Principal of East Hampton Middle School
Ms. Turchi, Principal of Center Elementary School
Dr. Fitzsimmons, Principal of Memorial Elementary School
Ms. Ryan, Assistant Principal of Memorial Elementary School
East Hampton High School Student Council Representative: Johnathan Tuttle
3. Pledge of Allegiance
4. Inter-Board Liaisons
4.1 Mr. Tuttle, Town Council Liaison to the Board of Education, noted that a new Town Manager has been hired and that he will be a great asset to the town. He also noted that there will be a considerable amount of digging around Center School to upgrade the water system.
5. Audience of Citizens - None
6. Consent Agenda
5.1 Ms. Wall requested that item 6.4, Non-Union Salary Increases, be removed from the consent agenda. She requested that a 3% increase be given for the non-union increases with the exception of the Lead Technology Specialist and the Technology Specialist.
Motion by Ms. Robinson, seconded by Mr. Coolican, to approve the following items:
- The minutes of the June 9, 2008.
- The resignation of Mr. Barber, Principal of East Hampton Middle School effective July 16, 2008.
- To elect Judith A. Golden to the position of Superintendent of Schools for a three year term effective July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2011.
Voted unanimously.
Motion by Mr. Hurst, seconded by Ms. Barmasse, to approve the following items:
- To approve a 4% salary increase for the Superintendent of Schools for the period of July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009, plus a $5,000 contribution to the Teachers Retirement Voluntary Account and 25 vacation days.
- To approve a 4% salary increase for the Assistant Superintendent of Schools for the period of July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009.
- To approve a 4% salary increase for the Superintendent’s Secretary for the period of July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009.
- To approve a 4.25% increase for the Cafeteria Director for the period of July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009.
- To approve a 7.5% increase for the Business Services Coordinator for the period of July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009. The intent is to conduct a six month review to further increase her salary if warranted based on merit.
- To approve a 4% increase for the Security Monitor for the period of July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009.
- To approve a 7.7% increase for the Lead Technology Specialist for the period of July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009. The intent is to conduct a six month review to further increase his salary if warranted based on merit.
- To approve a 6% increase for the Technology Specialist for the period of July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009. The intent is to conduct a six month review to further increase his salary if warranted based on merit.
Vote Yes – Mr. Vasquenza Ms. Robinson, Mr. Hurst, Mr. Laraia, Mr. Coolican and Ms. Barmasse
Vote No – Ms. Wall
Motion carried.
7. Student/Staff Recognition
7.1 Dr. Golden stated that it’s been a pleasure working with Johnathan Tuttle, Student Council Representative to the Board of Education. Mr. Vasquenza noted that Johnathan did an outstanding job. His reports to the Board were well prepared and informational. He did a wonderful job keeping the Board up to date. Mr. Vasquenza presented Johnathan Tuttle with a token of appreciation.
Johnathan Tuttle stated that it’s been an honor to attend the Board meetings and that he learned a lot from the Board.
8. Committee Reports
8.1 Student Council - None
8.2 Personnel Committee
8.2.1 Mr. Hurst noted that the Personnel Committee has been very busy with negotiations. The Board also met in executive session tonight to discuss personnel matters.
8.3 Policy Committee
8.3.1 Ms. Robinson noted that the Policy Committee hasn’t met.
8.4 Curriculum Committee
8.4.1 Ms. Barmasse noted that the Curriculum Committee has not met.
8.5 Transportation, Buildings and Grounds Committee
8.5.1 Mr. Gemma noted that the Transportation, Buildings & Grounds Committee met on Thursday, June 12th and reviewed the security system project update, the disposal of chemicals, summer building projects and the special education transportation bid.
8.6 Financial Reports
8.6.1 Mr. Vasquenza noted that the Finance Committee has been busy and there are several items on tonight’s agenda for the Board’s consideration.
8.7 East Hampton Education Association – None
8.8 Liaison Reports
8.8.1 Mr. Vasquenza noted that the Board of Education held a goal setting workshop at Memorial Elementary School on Thursday, June 12th at 6:00 p.m.
9. Communications
9.1 Dr. Golden reviewed the following communications for the Board:
- News & Notes, June 13, 2008.
- The New Bellringer, June, 2008.
- The Center School Press, June, 2008.
- The Center School Chronicle, June 18, 2008, June 13, 2008 and June 6, 2008.
- Memorial’s Bulletin Board, June 16, 2008.
10. Program Presentation - None
Mr. Hurst made a motion, seconded by Ms. Robinson, to add agenda item 14.1 to tonight’s Board agenda. Voted unanimously.
11. Unfinished Business
11.1 Approval of a New Position
11.1.1 Dr. Golden noted that during the search throughout the year for an appropriate Student Management System, several site visits by the committee took place. During those visits, every district told the committee that it was impossible to make the transition and implement these systems to their fullest without a person to manage them. There is also a need for someone to manage the various websites and keep them up to date, to assist in managing the inventory and to conduct data analysis on the enormous amount of student data to which we will have access.
11.1.2 Motion by Mr. Hurst, seconded by Ms. Robinson, to approve the addition of the position of a Data and Technology Administrator as recommended by the Finance and Personnel Committee and the administration. Voted unanimously.
11.2 Adoption of the 2008-2009 Board of Education Budget
11.2.1 Dr. Golden noted that the reductions approved by the Board of Education have been removed from the budget adopted by the Board of Education on January 28, 2008. In addition, there have been transfers of funds within the budget to more adequately reflect the current needs of the school district.
11.2.2 Motion by Mr. Laraia, seconded by Ms. Barmasse, to adopt the 2008-2009 Board of Education Budget of $24,740,110 as recommended by the Finance Committee and the administration. A discussion followed.
Mr. Coolican noted that the Board has never had a discussion with Mr. Jylkka, Finance Director, regarding this budget. He is supposed to represent the Town and the Board of Education so where is he? We are not presented with projected spending figures for 2007-2008. How does this impact the 2008-09 spending? None of the new positions in this budget were ever discussed in the Personnel Committee. People often accuse us of padding our original budget (the one that goes to the Board of Finance). They are right. We had $280,000 in
budget cuts from our original budget and we ended up cutting – nothing. We are a student person organization. We shouldn’t be continuing to add staff with a declining student population.
Dr. Golden stated that fuel costs were projected by Mr. Jylkka and he came up with those figures by working with other districts. Mr. Jylkka still feels that those figures are correct. The Board can discuss new positions in a Personnel Committee next year if you’d like but they were discussed with the whole Board this year. Enrollment is not declining but it isn’t growing. We are addressing some of the needs of children, i.e. bring back special education students.
Ms. Barmasse noted that the Board can discuss the whole budget process during their self-evaluation and come up with items that the Board may choose to change.
Vote Yes – Mr. Vasquenza, Ms. Robinson, Mr. Hurst, Mr. Laraia, Ms. Barmasse and
Ms. Wall
Vote No - Mr. Coolican
Motion carried.
11.3 End of Year Financial Transfers (For Summer)
11.3.1 Motion by Mr. Coolican, seconded by Mr. Hurst, to authorize the Superintendent of Schools and the Board of Education Finance Committee to make any necessary end of year financial transfers. Voted unanimously.
12. New Business
12.1 Connecticut Nutrition Standards for Food in Schools
12.1.1 Motion by Mr. Hurst, seconded by Ms. Robinson, to not participate in Section 10-215f of the Connecticut General Statutes (Healthy Food Certification) based on a review completed by the Board’s Finance Committee. Voted unanimously.
12.2 Approval of the Special Education Transportation Bid
12.2.1 Mr. Reich noted that the Board of Education went out to bid on transportation services for special education students attending Gengras Center and Memorial Elementary School for 2008-2009 fiscal year that require the presence of an emergency medical technician. Two companies responded but one company did not follow the bid.
12.2.2 Motion by Mr. Hurst, seconded by Mr. Laraia, to award the Special Education Transportation bid to transport students to Gengras Center and Memorial Elementary School to Hunter’s Ambulance Services for the 2008-2009 fiscal year. Voted unanimously.
13. Future Business - None
14. Personnel Actions
14.1 Motion by Mr. Hurst, seconded by Ms. Robinson, to waive the process of searching for a new Middle School Principal and appoint John Fidler as the new Middle School Principal effective July 1, 2008. It was also noted that the Administrator’s Union agreed to waive the posting process for this position. Voted unanimously.
15. Goal Report - None
16. Audience of Citizens
16.1 Mr. Fidler thanked the Board for the opportunity to take on the responsibility as the Middle School Principal.
17. Adjournment
17.1 Motion by Ms. Barmasse, seconded by Mr. Hurst, to adjourn the meeting at 7:43 p.m. Voted unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Joanne Barmasse
Secretary
JB/JAG/rs
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