Board of Education Finance Committee Meeting

May 7, 2009

ATTENDANCE: Jody Bishop-Pullan, Chair; Glenn Iannaccone, Jack Chiaramonte

STAFF: Dr. Salvatore Corda, Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Dan Cook, Director of Operations; Mark Gorian

OTHERS: Rosa Murray, BOE Chair

CALL TO ORDER

Ms. Bishop-Pullan called the meeting to order at

[Start Tape 1, Side A] PUBLIC COMMENT

Ms. Bishop-Pullan said that the Committee would move the Public Comments up on the Agenda. She then said that she would call the speaker’s name out from the list and each person had three minutes for his or her comments. She stated that all the regular rules apply.

Dr. Lynn Moore, of 813 Fox Run Drive in Norwalk came forward and stated that she was principal of West Rocks Middle School. She stated that on Wednesday afternoon she received an email from Dr. Corda requesting her to come to a meeting on May 7th at 3:20 p.m. regarding budget cuts. She stated that it was obvious that the cuts had already been determined. She was not called prior to the pen going to the paper. West Rocks is slated for three cuts, which means that Dr. Corda decided to use West Rocks as the place to make major reductions in the amount of $180,320.00. Dr. Corda has provided no data other than simplistic impact phrases. She stated that Dr. Corda has not visited West Rocks nor spoken to anyone regarding the electives. It was through the efforts of NFT that additional [inaudible] teacher was provided to West Rocks as a means to reduce the number of sections which related arts teachers are responsible to teach. Without the [inaudible] program, approximately 150 students will be placed into other electives which are already full. As examples, Dr. Moore informed the committee that Girls’ P.E.; Boys’ P.E.; art teacher, computer teacher, health teacher, advanced Spanish teacher; family consumer science, tech ed.; dance teacher all teach six classes each day.

Secondly, Dr. Moore said that the Board restored the clerical position on two occasions. It was restored in June 2008 for 2008-09. It was restored for 2009 for 2009-10 in December of 2008. Dr. Moore said that she had reminded Dr. Corda on May 7th, that the position had already been restored twice. His response was that there would be two people in the West Rocks office like everyone else.

Dr. Moore said that point three was that she and Mrs. Sumner will be addressing the assistant principal reduction as proposed by Dr. Corda. Dr. Moore said that she was certain as Board members that they were aware that Ponus had a population that was 66% minority. West Rocks has a 62% minority population. Roton has a 60% minority population and Nathan Hale has a 46% minority population. This is a State data report that was part of a recent Friday report. Dr. Moore said that it was interesting that the two middle schools with the highest percentage of minority students have been cut the most. She then said it should be noted that the impact statements say nothing about real kid data. Both West Rocks and Ponus are safe harbor schools. Dr. Moore said that the message seems to be work hard and get penalized.

In addition, Dr. Moore is concerned about the library budgets and the allocation cuts at every level. Every school needs those allocations since they are not able to fund raise in large amounts as in the past. She then asked that her comments please be considered.

Ms. Chloe Capa came forward and said that 16 Oxfield Lane. She then said that the feeling that a dancer gets when they step out onto a dance floor or onto a stage is irreplaceable. When the music starts, the dancer feels their bodies move in time to the music and excitement. Stepping into the spotlight, the dancer is at the top of the world. She then listed a number of different dance terms that she learned in the dance department during the last two years at West Rocks Middle School. Dance class was her favorite class because it was a way to get out anger or frustration or joy or happiness. It was and still is a place for any student. Everyone has a bit of rhythm in them and just needs a bit of a push. That is what the dance program does. Ms. Capa said that she now attends the Regional Center for the Arts and would not have discovered this amazing school if it was not for the dance department. Because of the dance department, Ms. Capa is now choreographing and enjoying this. Taking away this wonderful program, the Board will be denying many students culture.

Ms. Nina Wells came forward and said that she lives at 30 St. Mary’s Lane in Norwalk. She then said that to dance was to be out of oneself and larger, more beautiful and more powerful. She then said that every since the dance department had been created in 2006, she had been involved with it. Two to three times a week, Ms. Wells took classes and learned technique, terminology, and much more. She then said that she was now a very serious dance student. She said that this helped her discover her true passion for dance and became a very serious dancer and is considering pursuing a dance career. There are many students who love the dance program and would be heart broken if the program was eliminated. When the dance program needed funding for the cost of the end of the year show, many students came together and raised over $600 at a bake sale. After hours spent baking, making poster, the reward was a great show that put happiness in everyone’s hearts and the feeling that the motivation was well worth it. The members of the dance department really became like family. Ms. Gray is an amazing teacher and really cares about all her students. Ms. Wells said that she and her friends would often seek Ms. Gray out for guidance and counseling. Now that Ms. Wells attends Norwalk High School, she frequently visits Ms. Gray. Currently, Ms. Wells and Ms. Capo are working on choreographing the dances for the play “You’re Good Man, Charlie Brown”. This amazing opportunity happened because of the dance department. Working with the students in the play is wonderful and this is one of the great things about the dance department. There are so many levels ranging from beginner to advanced. However, all the dancers have one thing in common, a love of expressing themselves through dance. Ms. Wells said that she loves to dance because she can express herself in ways that can’t be communicated through words. This includes joy, sadness and frustration. Ms. Wells said that she knows she is not the only one and asked the Committee to retain the dance program at West Rocks Middle School. For many students, this is the only opportunity to dance. The dance program was a highlight of Ms. Wells’ time at West Rocks and she learned a great deal from Ms. Gray.

Ms. Marcia Capa came forward and said that she lives at 16 Oxfield Lane in Norwalk. Ms. Capa then said that two years ago, her daughter, Chloe became one of the first students in the new dance program at West Rocks. She said that Chloe now attends Norwalk High and RCA, the Regional Center for Arts. During Chloe’s three years in the dance program, she went from being “just for the moment” dancer to being a truly passionate dancer with a clear sense of self-expression. This is mainly due to the vision of Dr. Moore in allowing the dance program into her school with an already award winning music program. Dr. Moore sees the necessity for balance of development in academic and culture. The dance program has grown by leaps and bounds. In fact, since it started three years ago, it has increased from 75 students to over 200. That is an increase of 138%. Thanks to the tenacity and nurturing and guidance of Ms. Pat Gray, students whose parents would never be able to afford the incredible high cost of dance studios are being offered the opportunity to express and accept themselves in a very difficult years of middle school. The program is an accepting environment where diversity and gender come together as one for the dance. Instead of eliminating this wonderful program, you should feel very proud to have one of the only schools to offer such a program. It is important to highlight the best that the Norwalk Schools can offer and not the negative, such as bullying, drugs, guns, etc. She then encouraged the Board to allow this vision to remain.

Ms. Patricia Gray came forward and said that she lived at 109 Broad Street in New Canaan. She first thanked Dr. Moore, her students and the parents for attending the meeting and providing such incredible support through the years. Ms. Gray then said that she would like to remind everyone that the program was just finishing its third year and had increased enrollment, along with 200 students in the Thursday after school program. She said that two students were currently at RCA and she was anticipating more students going there in the next coming years. The students have an opportunity to perform about seven times a year, including holiday concerts, Martin Luther King Day, and the Spring Concert. The students have the opportunity to perform in concerts that Ms. Gray choreographs as well as having the chance to create for themselves. She said that the students haves started to prepare choreography, prepare costumes, present written material and audition other students to choose the best prepared students for the Spring Concert. During that process, all the students had to learn how to work with each other. It is important to work as a unit.

There is an additional group of students that have been trained but do not perform as dancers, but they are vitally important because they are the tech crew. They are learning about lighting, sound, program design and how to mix things on the computer. One student that graduated last year is now pursuing topics in the aspect of the program. There are additional benefits in the class because there is reading, writing and history of the dance, along with learning the steps. Math is learned through symmetry, asymmetry patterning, and other functions. Social skills help working across gender and cultural differences.

Ms. Jane Gentile came forward and said that she lives at 4 Wildwood Lane. She wanted to say that her son has been in the dance class since sixth grade. He is now in seventh grade. Previously, he was in soccer and softball, and he was not happy with the sports. As soon as he started dance, he became a different kid. He joined Crystal Theater and was selected as one of the leads for Charlie Brown play.

Mr. Bruce Mellion, the NFT president came forward and said that he did not have a copy of Dr. Corda’s reconciliation recommendations and therefore could not speak to them.

However, on behalf of the NFT, he wished to give the Committee some input. In terms of the reconciliation, he said that he would like to point out that there is revenue. When he recently received a copy of the rental rates, he noticed that they had not been adjusted since September 2005, four years ago. That needs to be evaluated and to insure that all the rental fees are correct. He then suggested hiring an oversight facility manager to insure that all rental income is corrected for all buildings, facilities and fields. Thirdly, he said that it would be important to collect all the pool rental fees, including Zeus. Fourth, student obligations should be paid in the same year as which they are incurred. High school students are not obligated to pay their fees until four years later, before graduation. He said that this was the same with the school lunch deficit. While there should be a consideration for sports event admissions, all revenue sources and grant potentials should be considered. He then said that the Naramake Resource Center should pay a rental fee for the use of the classrooms. In addition, there needs to be closer monitoring in terms of health insurance in terms of who belongs on the rolls and who does not. He said that there had been cases where payment shares had not been adjusted. When eligibility expires or someone retires, these should have automatic flags so that the District does not pay money that is wasteful in terms of having people on the rolls that shouldn’t be.

Finally, Mr. Mellion referred to a paragraph in a memo by Dr. Corda, Dr. Corda said that he would share whatever the suggested reconciliations were with the entire staff. Mr. Mellion requested that this not happen. This is a Committee. At some point, it will be presented to the Board and this will be the first chance for public input. However, sharing it with the staff when it is just a recommendation before the discussion seems inappropriate and Mr. Mellion said that this could cause anger and confusion, which could be avoidable.

Ms. Bishop-Pullan asked if there was anyone else present who wished to address the Committee.

Ms. Nancy Powers came forward and said that she lives on St. Mary’s Lane. She said that she was present as a parent of Nina Wells, one of the dance program students. She said that she was present because of the difference that the program made to her and the growth that Ms. Powers has witnessed. The program started with a small number of children and has substantially increased over three years. There has been a difference in the students through the performances. Ms. Powers said that she has a Masters in Education and can see the benefits that extend beyond dance. The most important things in life are really felt in the heart and Ms. Powers said that she believed that this was so for dance. Often the passions that begin in middle school can last through out life. The passions can blossom because of the experience that the students have. Ms. Powers said that she would hate to see the something that is continuing to grow and flourish be terminated at this point in time. It must be difficult to decide what stays and what goes because there are so many things that people value. This transcend dance, it provides a form of self-expression, a sense of belonging and connection with others, and building self esteem in the students at a time when they need it the most. Students have the opportunity to learn and perform in dance when many students don’t have that opportunity. Ms. Powers’ daughter benefited greatly from the program and from Ms. Gray’s help. Every Friday, Ms. Powers’ daughter goes back to help out in middle school. That’s a testimony to her passion. She then respectfully requested that the Committee reconsider the pending decision to terminate this program, which Ms. Powers believes enriches the lives of the students.

Ms. Bishop-Pullan asked if there was anyone else present who wished to address the Committee

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF APRIL 23, 2009

** MR. IANNACCONE MOVED THE MINUTES OF APRIL 23, 2009. ** MR. CHIARAMONTE SECONDED.

The following changes were noted:

Page 3, please change the following from “Mr. Patrini, the president of the Norwalk High Marching Band,” to “Mr. Petrini, the president of the Norwalk High Marching Band”

Ms. Jimenez said that she had reviewed the minutes and that there was some content that she would like noted particular relative to the lunch program and discussions that were had around [inaudible] at the secondary level, and she thought these items should be because there was no mention of anything at the secondary level or considerations about that. She said that the minutes did not accurately reflect the discussion around the Naramake portable in that this was not a matter that had been approved by the Board of Education for a vote. This was not reflected in the minutes although it was stated by Ms. Bishop-Pullan directly. Ms. Jimenez suggested that the minutes be tabled so that the discussion on the lunch program could be included, along with discussion on the portable.

Ms. Bishop-Pullan said that she had suggested that a report be sent to the full Board on May 1st and asked when it would come to the full Board. She said that she believed that the answer was that they go to the full Board quarterly. She said the report that she had inquired about was not going to the full Board and asked for confirmation. Dr. Cook stated that the Committee receives monthly report and that the full Board receives it quarterly. Dr. Cooke added that he believed that the fourth quarter would end on June 30th and it would be best if the report was not issued for another month because it would have all the information. Ms. Bishop-Pullan said that this also needed to be included in the minutes.

Ms. Bishop-Pullan said that she agreed with Ms. Jimenez regarding her comments about Naramake.

** MS. JIMENEZ MOVED TO TABLE THE MINUTES OF APRIL 23, 2009 UNTIL THE NEXT MEETING. ** MR. IANNACCONE SECONDED. ** THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

Dr. Corda pointed out that comment followed that a figure on page 5 listed the figure as $600,000, but that the figure was $6,000. Dr. Corda then asked if the Committee’s comments could be submitted so that the changes could be made. Ms. Bishop-Pullan said that she wanted the tape to be reviewed again so that the minutes would be accurate.

ELEMENTARY CLASS SIZE PROJECTED NUMBER OF CLASSES 2009-2010

Ms. Bishop-Pullan asked Dr. Corda to present. Dr. Corda said that the information contained update to date numbers which explained the rationale behind the need for the portable at Naramake and additionally, to give the Committee a sense of the process involved in placing kindergarten children, particularly as it relates to students from South Norwalk because a determination needs to be made as to where these children will be placed. Dr. Corda said that he would review with the Committee the best way that the Central Office tries to determine that because the parents need to know where their children will be attending school next year.

Ms. Jimenez asked if the information was available. Dr. Corda said that he had sent the Finance Committee the report on May 1st, which was a lengthy document. Ms. Jimenez said that she did not remember. Dr. Corda added that it included the rationale for the portables, an explanation of the placement of the children from South Norwalk, information about the Family Resource Center, the financial analysis. Mr. Iannaccone asked if it was the Friday report. Dr. Corda said that it was dated May 1st and was mailed either the 1st or the 2nd. The report was seven pages in length. Dr. Corda was asked if it was the Space Utilization Information For Deliberation memo. Dr. Corda said that the document was addressed to the Finance Committee and the first heading was Space Utilization. Ms. Jimenez said that she did not have it. Dr. Corda then gave Ms. Jimenez a copy.

Dr. Corda then proceeded to review the document with the Committee. Ms. Jimenez requested a copy of the enrollment projections because there is now a staff member that provides that service. Dr. Cook said that he would electronically send it to the Committee. She then asked when it was last done and what the process was. Dr. Cook said that the final check on it was done on December 15th. Ms. Jimenez asked how often it is updated. Dr. Cook said that was the final because the document is then used to build the budget. Once the October 1st figures are produced, the work starts. This year, Dr. Cook said that he believed the process started about October 3rd. For the first month, he works very closely with Mr. Vertaber. Mr. Vertaber had it in pretty good shape by the end of October, middle of November, because that is when the budget construction started in order to get the budget to the full Board before the holiday break in December. Ms. Jimenez asked if it was an annual process. Dr. Corda said that it was done annual so that when the budget was developed, the latest projects are available. Ms. Jimenez asked if it included birth rate, and the number of people moving into town. She said that she remembered this from years ago when Dr. Merrill used to do it in front of the Board and say “30% of the changes in place in any one year” and the birth rate, yadah, yadah, yadah. Dr, Corda then explained that the birth rates are used to calculate kindergarten. The methodology is called the Cohort Survival Method, which basically looks at the change in enrollment from one grade to the next over the year, calculates the ratio, whether there were fewer children or more children and then a three year ratio and five year ratio are calculated. It is the three-year ratio that is used to project the enrollment for the following year.

Ms. Jimenez asked if it was known who has the outstanding packets for kindergarten. She said that it was known that there were a number of families that had picked up packets but not returned them. She then asked if it was known who those people are. Dr. Corda said that he did know who had packets. Ms. Jimenez asked if there was a way to contact them and if so, if they had been contacted. Dr. Corda said that the names were known, there was a way to contact them and contact has been made with those families. He said that Office knows who picked up the packets and the families that had not yet returned the packets, not in all of the school, but in the schools were the enrollment was on the bubble, the schools were called and requested to contact the parents to inquire as to when the schools might expect a return from them. He said that he had not heard anything in the last week about any additional returns that had come in. The message was transmitted to the four schools in which concerns were expressed about kindergarten and first grade, including Fox Run, Jefferson and Naramake.

Dr. Corda said that the information included the number of children that the District has to place from South Norwalk and the process used to assign those children. The first course of action is to assign children based on where their siblings attend. Then because there are two magnet schools, if a family is interested in a magnet school, they are first assigned to a home school. This allows the District to calculate the impact on enrollment if that student is selected in the lottery. After that process was concluded there were thirty one children who were without assignment. The District then began to evaluate where they could be assigned. Looking at where capacity exists, the suggestion was made as to possibly moving a pre-K class to a school where a pre-existing class already is located. This would create a room in the building and secondly, from a programmatic point of view, it would enable the District to cluster the pre-K classes.

The initial school that was considered was Tracey, which has room and one pre-K class. Fox Run has one pre-K class. By moving one pre-K class from Fox Run to Tracey, it created a room at Fox Run that could be used for kindergarten. If a fifth kindergarten was added, it would accommodate the concern about number of Fox Run area students, but also create a capacity to accept ten to twelve additional youngsters from South Norwalk.

As the examination continued, the question was raised as to whether this could be done in another building, irrespective of enrollment, because of the advantage of clustering pre-K classes. Looking at Marvin, it was discovered that this capacity exists because the room is there and available. When the Pupil Personnel Department reviewed this, the nature of the disabilities of the children at Fox Run, the realization was that it made more sense to move those children to Marvin rather than Tracey because there is a similar cadre of students at Marvin who had the same kind of disabilities. This allowed the District to cluster students not only based on the nature of the program, but also on the nature of the disabilities. Although the document states that the students will be moved to Tracey, they will be mostly like be moving them to Marvin. That still creates capacity at Tracey and the District is looking at another building where there is one pre-K class and considering moving that class to Tracey. This will allow the District to accommodate the students from South Norwalk and additionally have some space in the event that additional students come forward and need to be placed. Dr. Corda said that it was important that the Committee understand this because the families need to be notified as to location of their children’s instruction.

Ms. Jimenez asked if there was any hurry regarding this because the students are entering the system and do need to know sometime before school opens. Dr. Corda said that it was in response to the families, who would like to know where their children are assigned. Students that do not live in South Norwalk already have received their assignments. Ms. Jimenez said that the discussion was about 99 students, and that South Norwalk was much larger than this. Ms. Jimenez said that while it would be nice to know, there is nothing urgent regarding to making this decision. Dr. Corda said that he was not aware of anything that precludes making the decision and was trying to identify what might be gained by delaying the decision.

Ms. Jimenez said that she could see a few reasons for delaying the decision. One reason is that a concerted effort needs to be made to contact via written letters and outreach to the families that have not responded. She said that she had asked this question earlier. Dr. Corda asked what Ms. Jimenez wanted to have done. Ms. Jimenez said that she wanted them to encourage the families to make a decision, saying that the District needs some information back from the families in order to better make decisions about what is coming in the fall. She said that she did not want a surprise of forty students coming in to the system in September that no one knew about. That was her point. She wants as much hard information about people who have made the decision to enroll their kindergarten students in Norwalk Public Schools. There are some people who are on the fence, which this document discusses.

Dr. Corda said that he needed clarification in terms of placing the incoming students from South Norwalk. There are some schools that do not have any more room and cannot accommodate any more students. There are others where the Central Office is reluctant to add children because it furthers the imbalance that exists, which is what the District is trying to mitigate. Ms. Jimenez said that she did not know how much mitigating was being done with one building that dramatically different from the others and to which only one student is currently assigned. Ms. Jimenez said that her point was that the Committee was trying to grapple with some very difficult decisions, some of which revolve around kindergarten, the number of classrooms needed in certain buildings and Ms. Jimenez said that she did not feel that there was a firm number yet with the number of outstanding students. If the number of outstanding students were totaled, it would equal 40 plus that had not responded. She then asked that the efforts be redoubled by putting an ad in the paper to say that the District was looking to finalize the number and needed the parents who have not enrolled yet to contact the District with their commitments.

Ms. Bishop-Pullan said that Naramake indicated there are 81 students but that the projection was only 69. She said that the project was wrong. Regarding the retention, she asked how firm those numbers were and how that would affect the first grade. Dr. Corda replied that the retentions were very firm because when the Office receives the number of potential number of retentions, Marilyn and Karen met to review every single cases and to review the documentation for each case to determine if these students needed to be retained. Interestingly enough, what that does at Naramake, is that the retentions in kindergarten created a different projection for first grade. [End of Side One]

Dr. Corda said that if the schools that had the potential of having students from South Norwalk, he believed that what emerged a small group of schools that can accommodate them. Looking at Cranbury with 85 students projected for kindergarten, no students would be added there because 88 students would require a new section being created and there may be new students that arrive during the summer. Each school is reviewed in this manner. Kendall does have the potential to accommodate students, but since the students from South Norwalk, who are almost exclusively African American and Kendall has the highest minority population like Jefferson, the District is reluctant to increase the number of minority children. Therefore after reviewing where the schools were that could possibly accept students, the allocations were made. He then asked what would be gained by waiting. He stated that the District could wait and tell the parents to be patient, but was not sure what could be gained by doing this even if the outstanding families replied tomorrow. However, if that is the direction of the Committee, that is what the District will do.

Ms. Jimenez said that she was not in favor of making any hard decisions now because they had not walked through Dr. Corda’s recommendations for reconciling the budget nor has this committee had any opportunity to discuss their own thoughts before anything goes out. The Committee will be meeting again in a week. She said that she did not see a sense of urgency about that decision. She said that she understood that parents want to know where their children will be attending, but in the s Category: Committee Minutes