Board of Education Meeting Minutes

December 3, 2007

ATTENDANCE: Susan Hamilton, Chair, Rosa Murray, Vice Chair; Jody Bishop- Pullan, Glenn Iannaccone, Shirley Mosby, Jack Chiaramonte, Bruce Kimmel (7:50 p.m.), Migdalia Rivas (8:00 p.m.)

OTHERS: Bruce Mellion, NFT Union President, Dr. Karen Lang, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum; John Keough, Mathematics Department; Joan Glass, Social Studies Department; Ken Martinelli, Science Department; Randy Tate, Art Department; Anthony Daddona, Administration; Ralph Valenzisi, BOE IT Department.

I. CALL TO ORDER

Ms. Hamilton called the meeting to order at 7:45 p.m.

II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

Ms. Hamilton led those present in the Pledge of Allegiance.

III. SPOTLIGHT ON NORWALK PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Mr. Iannaccone presented the Spotlight on the Norwalk Public Schools report.

IV. SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT

Dr. Corda then announced that the Board would be starting to develop the budget. He said that this year the budget would not be driven by the same factors that occurred last year. The preliminary budget should be delivered to the Board members for their consideration by December 21st.

V. PUBLIC COMMENTS

Mr. Mellion came forward and gave a copy of a document from to the Board, which he stated was a preliminary document. Mr. Mellion asked why the issues that were listed on page 2 where the same issues that were the ones from years past. He said that on pages 1 and 3; old computers and technology were addressed. These have been ongoing issues. Mr. Mellion said that in the past, the teachers were allowed to procure materials and be reimbursed, but that policy has apparently been discontinued. He then reiterated that there would be a more comprehensive report, but said he did not believe it would be very different from the preliminary report.

Mr. Mellion said that the Board would be considering more courses later in the meeting and asked that the qualified teachers would be appointed to teach the new courses and that they be supplied with the appropriate materials. It would also be important to have the time to develop the course materials.

Ms. Murray then asked if there was anyone who wished to comment. No one wished to address the Board at this time. The Public Comment section closed at 7:50 p.m.

VI. ACTIONS

A. Consent 1. Approval of Personnel Actions

** MS. BISHOP-PULLAN MOVED TO APPROVE THE PERSONNEL ACTION. ** MS. MURRAY SECONDED. ** THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

B. Approval of minutes (November 20, 2007)

** MS. BISHOP-PULLAN MOVED THE MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 20, 2007. ** MR. IANNACCONE SECONDED.

The following change was noted:

Page 3, Consent, First Motion: Please change the following from:

** MR. KIMMEL MOVED TO HAVE THE ITEMS OFF CONSENT. ** MS. BISHOP PULLAN SECONDED. ** THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

Mr. Kimmel requested that the items be removed from consent for discussion.

** THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 20, 2007 AS CORRECTED PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

C. Approval of budget transfers

** MS. MURRAY MOVED TO APPROVE THE BUDGET TRANSFERS. ** MR. CHIARMONTE SECONDED. ** THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

D. APPROVAL OF FIELD TRIP

** MS. BISHOP-PULLAN MOVED TO APPROVE THE BRIEN MCMAHON FIELD TRIP TO ITALY .

** MS. MURRAY SECONDED.

Ms. Bishop Pullan asked why this was coming to the Board, particularly since the trip was scheduled for July. Dr. Corda replied that the trip was being done under the auspicious of the school. Ms. Murray asked if insurance played a part of it. Dr. Corda said that this was so, and reiterated that it was being sponsored through the foreign language department.

** THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

VII. INFORMATION AND REPORTS

A. Trip to China - CGS at Brien McMahon.

The staff member who was scheduled to present was not present. The item was moved to the next agenda.

B. New Course proposals for 2008-2009 (Instructional Specialists)

Dr. Lang came forward and reviewed the process for introducing new courses. She also said that some text book title

Ms. Rivas joined the meeting at 8:00 p.m.

John Keough, from the mathematics Department came forward and said that the parents had proposed the course. A student survey revealed that a logic course was used as a basis for the proposal. This would fill a gap for seniors who had fulfilled the basic mathematics course but were not interested in taking an advanced mathematics course. A discussion about the details of the course followed. Mr. Keough reviewed the details with the Board.

Ms. Joan Glass came forward and said that she had three new courses that she was proposing. Originally, these courses in Social Studies were proposed by the teachers, but a survey was done with the students.

Advanced Placement Psychology was one of the top requests. The course description came from the AP Psychology website. This will also require some training for one of the teachers at the high school. Mr. Chiaramonte has a question about the details, which Ms. Glass answered for him.

Comparative Religions will be a one-semester course. Ms. Glass said that she was choosing the materials with care and the teachers that would be teaching this course also teach world history.

Themes in African American History and Heritage would be a thematic course. Ms. Glass said that she believed she had located a textbook, which would be supplemented by additional materials. Ms. Murray asked if she could review a copy of the text that Ms. Glass was considering. Ms. Glass said that she had an extra copy which she would give to Ms. Murray.

Ms. Murray asked if there was any additional certification required for the courses. Ms. Glass said that other than the AP Psychology, there was no additional certification required.

Mr. Ken Martinelli from the Science Department came forward and said that he would like to propose a slightly different sequence for the science courses. Mr. Martinelli then reviewed the normal sequence of science courses, but explained that some of the students had difficulty fitting in elective courses. The only way that some of the students can take AP science course is to take them during the summer or juggle the courses around. Eighth grade students would have the math necessary to take the more advanced courses in the sciences. This requires that the students be independent learners, particularly in terms of taking the CAP test. Mr. Martinelli asked for approval for accelerated courses for the ninth grade students.

Mr. Kimmel said that some parents had recognized this problem a few years ago and was happy that this issue was being addressed. He said that he hoped the proposed plan would work.

Ms. Bishop-Pullan had some questions about the sequencing, the course content and the scheduling the CAP tests. Mr. Martinelli then reviewed this with her.

Mr. Randy Tate from the Art Department at Brien McMahon came forward. He explained that the department was eliminating the Art 3 designation and would be changing the Art 2 course to a half-year course. The colleges do not desire Art Survey classes; they want courses that are more media specific classes. AP Art History and general Art History would be offered. Several surveys were done at Brien McMahon were done, but due to other factors, surveys were not done at Norwalk High School. Mr. Tate then reviewed the details of the changes with the Board.

Mr. Kimmel had several questions about the art program, which Mr. Tate reviewed with him. Mr. Kimmel said that he would like to see Norwalk expand the arts program as it has expanded the music department. He also said that he would like to see drama courses expanded. Dr. Lang replied that there was a proposed drama course on the schedule.

Ms. Mosby asked about the Norwalk High School survey. Mr. Tate said that Norwalk High had conducted an informal survey. Mr. Daddona then came forward to address the issue. He explained that the intercourse selection involved the staff from both high schools had met to discuss the various new courses.

Mr. Kimmel reminded everyone that last year, he had commented on the number of study halls that various students had. He then said that he hoped that the additional electives would reduce the number of students in the study halls. He added that he would like to see some numbers about the number of students in the study halls this year versus last year. Dr. Corda said that he believed that the Central Office had sent out a set of numbers on this issue and that the number of study halls had been reduced. Ms. Mosby asked if the new Board members could get a copy of that report. Dr. Corda said that he would have copies of the report sent to the new Board members.

Dr. Corda reminded everyone that these courses would be on the agenda for the next Board meeting. He then asked the Board members to consider the courses and notify the staff as soon as possible in order to have the staff provide the needed information. Ms. Rivas asked how difficult it would be to add a music history course. Dr. Lang commented that the course addition process had started last May when the staff meets to create a preliminary list of possible courses. She said that at this point in time, it would not be possible to add a music history course, but that it could be added for the upcoming discussion in the spring.

C. Budget Calendar

Dr. Corda reviewed the following dates for budget hearings. He explained that the Board could convene one hour before the start of the normal meeting for public input on the Budget. This would be at 6:45 p.m. on December 18th. The Budget book would be presented to the Board members for their consideration on the 21st.

On January 2nd, which would be a special Board meeting, Dr. Corda requested that in lieu of his report that some of the budget proposals. A second session would be held on January 3rd and again on January 7th if necessary. These meetings would be held in the Community Room to accommodate the public. A vote would be taken on January 8th at the regularly scheduled meeting.

Ms. Murray asked when the deadline was for the Budget. Dr. Corda said that the budget vote must be taken on January 8th because the budget must be submitted to Mr. Hamilton on January 9th.

Dr. Corda then reviewed the information regarding the Finance Committee meetings. The Finance Committee will be meeting first on December 10th and on December 17th to hear the Capital budget proposal at 7:30 p.m.

D. Board Workshop

Dr. Corda said that having a Board workshop would be helpful for the new Board members and utilize a facilitator. Dr. Corda requested that the Board members check their calendars and report back to him by the end of the week in order to schedule the workshop. A 22nd Jan.

E. Board members’ announcements

Ms. Murray thanked everyone for their cooperation and said that all of the assignments have been made. She reminded everyone that it is the responsibility of the committee chairs to make sure that the times are posted and the minutes are submitted.

Ms. Murray said that she had seen a book called the “Key Role of Board Members Guidebook”. She thanked Ms. Bishop-Pullan for her hard work last year.

Ms. Murray asked if the Board meeting could be scheduled at the various locations following the conclusion of the budget submittal. Mr. Chiaramonte agreed with this.

Mr. Chiaramonte also said that he had spoken to several parents about the BOE meetings and many of them could not attend. He then suggested that the meetings be broadcasted on Channel 78 & 79. Mr. Valenzisi said that this had been discussed and he would bring it to the Informational Technology

VIII. ADJOURNMENT

** MS. BISHOP PULLAN MOVED TO ADJOURN. ** MS. RIVAS SECONDED. ** THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

The meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m.

Respectfully submitted, Sharon L. Soltes Telesco Secretarial Service

Category: Minutes