Board of Education Meeting Minutes

April 27, 2004

BOARD OF EDUCATION

APRIL 27, 2004

ATTENDANCE: Jody Bishop-Pullan, Chairman; Judith Rivas; Richard N. Fuller; Rosa Murray; Thomas Vetter; David Cole; Robert Polley.

STAFF: Dr. Salvatore Corda, Superintendent of Schools.

CALL TO ORDER

Mrs. Bishop-Pullan called the meeting to order at 7:45pm.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

All present recited the pledge of allegiance.

SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT

UPDATE ON BUDGET

There is no new news on the budget. Dr. Corda hopes to receive the final budget from the Board of Estimate after their meeting on Monday.

ESOL/BILINGUAL PLAN FOR 2004/05

Dr. Corda opened his presentation by stating if there are more than 20 students that speak the same language the school system must provide a bi-lingual program. The eligibility for this bilingual program will be determined by testing and all students must exit the program after 30 months. At this point in time any child in elementary school who is involved in this program is located at the Brookside School. Next year however, they will be educated at their home schools.

Dr. Corda showed that there will be 4 levels students can be identified as; beginner, intermediate, advanced, or transitional. For a beginner student between 180-225 minutes a week of service shall be provided; intermediate students shall receive 135-180 minutes a week; transitional and advanced student shall have a monitored 90 minutes of service a week.

Dr. Corda said that the average case load for a teacher should be 60 students and the minimum recommended number of students per period should be 5.

Dr. Corda said that of the 63 students now at Brookside 25 of them will remain there next year. The remaining students shall return to their home schools, however 12 of them have the ability to remain at Brookside School do to their age/grade or they have siblings in the school.

Dr. Corda said that there will be some faculty changes for next year. The largest change will be at Brookside School, they will be losing 3 teachers.

Dr. Corda said that there will be no changes to the ESOL/Bilingual program in the middle schools.

Dr. Corda showed how the high school will change. He said that instead of an ESOL/Bilingual student being taught math and science by a teacher certified to teach Spanish they will be taught by a teacher certified to teach math or science. Then student will then e offered extra help if they are having problems understanding the material.

UPDATE ON PRINCIPAL SEARCH

Dr. Corda said that the search committees have started interviews at the central office for the Norwalk High School Principal, the Housemaster positions at Norwalk High and Brien McMahon, and an assistant principal at Wilban Middle School.

Dr. Corda wanted to put an end to rumors; the cost for the searches is $6000.

PUBLIC COMMENTS One member from the audience asked if they are interviewing minorities for the principal positions. Dr. Corda answered by saying he has not seen the interview list so he is not sure.

Another lady from the audience asked about the process of telling parents about their children changing schools (due to the changes in the ESOL/Bilingual program). Dr. Corda stated that letters of notification have been sent out. She continued to ask if transportation will be provided to them. Dr. Corda said that if transportation was provide to them this year they will have it next year as well.

ACTIONS

Consent: approval of minutes and personnel actions

** MR. VETTER MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FOR APRIL 6, 2004 AND PERSONNEL ACTIONS ** THE MOTION PASSED WITH 6 FOR AND 2 ABSTENTIONS (MS. RIVAS AND MR. COLE) FOR THE MINUTES AND UNANIMOUSLY FOR THE PERSONNEL ACTIONS.

INFORMATION AND REPORTS

SECOND SEMESTER CLASS SIZE REPORT

Mr. Opdahl stated that grades K-2 should have no more than 22 students per teacher and grades 3-5 should have no more than 24. If a class exceeds this amount a teacher’s aide is needed. The following schools and grades have a teacher’s aide:

Brookside grade 4 & 5 bilingual class aide added Grade 1 balance Fox Run grade K aide to remain Kendall grade K aide to remain Marvin grade 1 aide to remain Rowayton grade 3 impact aid to remain Silvermine grade 5 aide in place effective 6/13/03 Tracey grade 1 aide to remain Wolfpit grade K aide to remain

Mr. Opdahl pointed out that no classes in the middle schools exceed the limit of 28 per student per class.

Mr. Opdahl showed that there is only one class in the high schools that exceed the limit of 28. That class in held in Brien McMahon and is Drawing Pt 1- 29 student Drawing Pt 1- 10 student

Mr. Opdahl stated that one of the ways they are trying to reduce the oversized classes is having teachers teach 6 classes per day instead of 5. As of now four teachers are adding an additional period.

Mrs. Bishop-Pullan was concerned with class size in the high schools due to the predicted enrollment. She asked Mr. Opdahl if having teachers teach 6 classes was helping the problem.

Mr. Opdahl responded by saying yes, tremendously. Class sizes in special areas have decreased but main stream class size has risen to about 27 kids per class. Due to this the school system has had to add one teacher to Norwalk High.

Mr. Tony Daddona added that one full time math teacher was added. He also said that they are not sure if teachers will be needed to be added to Brien McMahon, at this time he said they are doing the schedules for next year.

FACILITIES REPORT

Mr. Ben Birdsel began to talk about the Facilities Audit and Analysis and Priority Needs Assessment concerning Norwalk Public Schools. He stated that there is over $70 million to use to work on all the schools (except Brien McMahon and Brookside school). After looking at all the schools projected enrollment it is shown that the elementary school are projected to peak this year; the middle schools are projected to peak next year; and the high schools are projected to increase by 400 students through 2007-08.

Mr. Birdsel said that the construction company went through each school and evaluated the school on various items and then rated it on a scale from one to five; five being the most important. The schools that need the most work are Kendall Elementary; Norwalk High; Columbus Elementary; Roton Middle; and Tracey Elementary. The schools needing considerable work are Nathan Hale Middle; Jefferson Elementary; Cranbury Elementary; and Ponus Ridge. The following schools are in relatively good condition, Fox Run Elementary; Naramake Elementary; Rowayton Elementary; Wolfpit Elementary; Silvermine Elementary; Marvin Elementary; and West Rocks Middle School.

Mr. Birdsel said that it will take approximately $70,536,800 to complete all the work needed for the Norwalk Public Schools. The city approved budget was $70,540,000.

EXPANSION OF CHARGE TO EDUCATIONAL SPECIFICATIONS COMMITTEE

Mrs. Bishop-Pullan stated that this committee is looking for six people will construction experience. She asked the room if they know of anyone to inform her.

BOARD MEMBER ANNOUNCEMENTS

Ms. Rivas announced that on May 24, 2004 at the Norwalk Library at 6pm the Wilkerson Scholarship Committee will be giving out $26,000 plus in scholarships to Norwalk High School students.

Mr. Fuller added that the scholarship fund is named after the Wilkerson Family who left a large amount of their estate to Norwalk Students. He said the Mr. Wilkerson is a doctor in Norwalk while Mrs. Wilkerson taught in the Norwalk school system.

Mr. Vetter announced that for the next three weekends Norwalk High will be putting on their performance of Oklahoma.

Mr. Cole announced that last Sunday the Cadet Drill Team at Norwalk High performed at West Point. Each of the students received medallions for their great job.

** MR. POLLEY MOVED TO ADJOURN TO AN EXECUTIVE SESSION. ** THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

The Board went into an executive session at 9:20pm.

Respectfully submitted

J. Marci Rosenberg Telesco Secretarial Services

Category: Minutes