Board of Education Meeting Minutes

June 30, 2008

ATTENDANCE: Susan Hamilton, Chair; Rosa Murray, Vice Chair; Glenn Iannaccone, Secretary; Jody Bishop-Pullan, Migdalia Rivas, Shirley Mosby, Bruce Kimmel, Jack Chiaramonte, Greg Burnett (7:51 p.m.)

STAFF: Sheri McCready, Public Affairs Officer

CALL TO ORDER

Ms. Hamilton called the meeting to order at 7:50 p.m.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

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

PUBLIC COMMENT

Let it be noted that the following comments and remarks by all speakers have been summarized and are not necessarily verbatim.

Mr. James McDonald came forward and said he lives on River Court. He said that he was also speaking for his wife, Carrie O’Neill. He said that he has a number of children in the various Norwalk Schools.

Mr. Burnett joined the meeting at 7:51 p.m.

Mr. McDonald said that it was clear to the parents that the District was needed serious work and a team approach of all the stake holders. He said that it would be important to have visible Central Office presence and that Dr. Corda should be building a strong instructional team and setting a tone for the District. After seven years, Mr. McDonald said that he had yet to see this. While Mr. McDonald respects Mr. Daddona as the appointee for Director of Curriculum, he felt that Norwalk lost a golden opportunity to have an agent of change. By not taking the bold action, the City lost an opportunity to better serve the students of Norwalk.

Ms. Murray then asked if there was anyone else present who wished to address the Board. Hearing none, Ms. Murray closed the Public Comment portion of the meeting.

Ms. Hamilton then stated that on May 27, 2008 the Board met with Dr. Corda for the purpose of evaluation. The Board does have some concerns around communication and his visibility, along with collaboration between the superintendent, the school community and the community at large.

APPROVAL OF THE SUPERINTENDENT’S COMMENTS ** MR. KIMMEL MOVED TO APPROVE THE CONTRACT, AS IT CURRENTLY EXISTS WITH NO CONTRACT EXTENSION AND WHICH WILL EXPIRE IN 2010 AND CONTAINS NO SALARY INCREASE. ** MS. MURRAY SECONDED.

Ms. Bishop-Pullan asked if the contact was for 2007-2010 and verified that the contract that was being approved had no other additional changes. Mr. Kimmel asked to verify that there was no change in salary or an extension of the contract.

Ms. Mosby asked for a point of clarification on this. Mr. Burnett asked if there was a point to interject an amendment to the contract.

Mr. Chiaramonte stated that the current contract was involved in litigation. He asked that if there was a change in the contract dictated by the courts, if this would be reflected in the current contract. Mr. Kimmel said that if there were changes, the Board would be directed to change the contract as directed by the court.

Ms. Rivas asked for clarification. She said that she was asking to clarify that there was no extension, no pay raise. Ms. Hamilton confirmed this.

** MR. BURNETT MOVED TO AMEND THE CONTRACT TO REFLECT A RAISE OF 3% FOR COST OF LIVING. ** MR. KIMMEL SECONDED.

Mr. Kimmel said that he had seconded the motion simply to allow discussion to occur. Ms. Rivas said that she did not wish to agree with this due to the number of budget cuts. Mr. Chiaramonte agreed with Ms. Rivas. Mr. Burnett said that it was related to cost of living.

Mr. Iannaccone stated that the Board had decided not to extend the contract at this time and pointed out that Dr. Corda was the highest paid person in the City. Mr. Chiaramonte said that many people in the City would not be receiving any raises at all. Ms. Rivas pointed out that in the contract, Dr. Corda was reimbursed for many different items. Mr. Burnett said that he appreciated all the comments and said that it appeared that this decision not include a cost of living adjustment was being used against the employee. He said that the Board could vote it up or down. Mr. Kimmel said that some department heads had foregone cost of living increases when the first revaluation of this decade was done. Mr. Kimmel said that in this case the larger standard could be applied. Discussion then followed.

** THE MOTION TO AMEND THE SUPERINTENDENT’S CONTRACT TO REFLECT A RAISE OF 3% FOR COST OF LIVING FAILED WITH ONE IN FAVOR (BURNETT) AND EIGHT AGAINST (CHIARAMONTE, BISHOP PULLAN, KIMMEL, IANNACCONE, MURRAY, HAMILTON, RIVAS AND MOSBY).

Ms. Hamilton said having heard the wishes of the Board, that as Board Chair, she would execute an addendum to the Superintendent’s contract making the salary for 2008-2009 as it was in 2007-2008.

Ms. Murray said that she was referring to the time period of 2008-2009 and wished this to be clarified for the record. Discussion followed about the terms of the contract. Ms. Murray said that she was not comfortable in changing benefits contracts. Mr. Kimmel agreed with Ms. Murray.

** THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONTINUATION OF THE SUPERINTENDENT’S CONTRACT, AS IT EXISTS CURRENTLY WITH NO CONTRACT EXTENSION AND WHICH WILL EXPIRE IN 2010 AND CONTAINS NO SALARY INCREASE FOR THE PERIOD OF JULY 1, 2008 TO JUNE 30, 2009 PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

ADJOURNMENT

** MR. KIMMEL MOVED TO ADJOURN. ** MS. RIVAS SECONDED. ** THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

The meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Sharon L. Soltes Telesco Secretarial Services

Category: Minutes