Board of Education Special Meeting Minutes

June 21, 2004

STAFF: Dr. Corda, Superintendent of schools

CALL TO ORDER

The meeting was called to order at 7:10pm.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

There were no public comments.

ACTIONS

CONSENT

PERSONNEL ACTIONS

Ms. Rivas asked to have the personnel actions removed from the consent calendar.

** MR. VETTER MOVED TO APPROVE THE PERSONNEL ACTIONS AS FOLLOWS: 1. APPOINTMENT OF JOSEPH ARRIGO, NORWALK HIGH SCHOOL, MATH AND DRU WALTERS, WEST ROCKS MIDDLE SCHOOL, MATH. 2. RESIGNATION OF EVA DIAZ-EDWARDS, ADMINISTRATOR, WORLD LANGUAGES, BILINGUAL AND TESOL EDUCATION. 3. RESIGNATION OF JENNIFER KARL, FOX RUN, GRADE 2 4. RESIGNATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF RETIREMENT ** MR. POLLEY SECONDED THE MOTION.

Ms. Rivas stated that through out the course of the budget reconciliation and the curriculum revisions Ms. Diaz-Edwards had been very professional. The district will miss her and commends her for her fine work. Dr. Corda stated that Ms. Diaz-Edwards has served the district very well and again the district will miss her.

** THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

APPROVAL OF 2004-05 BUDGET RECONCILIATION

** MR. FULLER MOVED: RESOLVED, UPON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS, THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION APPROVED THE 2004-05 BUDGET RECONCILIATION BY REDUCING THE BUDGET INTHE AMOUNT OF $4,924,188.00. ** MS. MURRAY SECONDED THE MOTION.

Ms. Rivas said that the body had done a wonderful job during a difficult year. Ms. Rivas said for the reason of eliminating the positions of bilingual teachers to reconcile the budget I will not be voting in favor of it. The Spanish population is growing and this body would do better by giving this project a chance.

Mr. Polley said that with the special education reserve teachers there is no deadline by which we will know. This could happen at anytime where we need a teacher that they don’t have the reserve for. Dr. Corda said that the recommendations we have made are our best estimates for personnel needed. If over the summer or during the year a number of extra special education, bilingual, or even kindergarten students, for example, enroll we will have to deal with that then. The budget however is a fluid document that represents our estimates.

Mr. Vetter said that he shares Ms. Rivas’ concerns but will vote in favor of these changes. However the Board must keep an eye on it to make sure it’s working.

Mr. Fuller said that regarding the access to Spanish speaking personnel in each school, with in this budget we would be able to have one in each school. Dr. Corda said that he can not guarantee that there will be one fluent Spanish speaking person in each school; each school does not have that now. However there will be someone appointed to translate for students and families who need it.

Ms. Murray wanted to know about the team leader reduction at Briggs. Dr. Corda said that it is one person who is there now. The team leader is the only person for that job, she is retiring and there is no need to replace her.

Ms. Murray also wanted to know about the reduction in bus monitors. She said that she was worried about safety, however Dr. Corda said that it reduction is only a revised estimate and safety will not be an issue. Mr. Opdahl said that it is just what the projected needs are. Ms. Murray concluded that she supports the budget with its changes.

Mr. Fuller questioned why the new textbook debt service is being reduced. Dr. Corda said that the note will be taken out next year. Mr. Opdahl added that the interest is paid this year while the principle is not paid until next year.

Ms. Rivas asked about the cost of the two instructional specialists. Dr. Corda said that the value was about $90,000 per. Mr. Opdahl agreed that that guess was closer than his original guess of $60,000 per specialist.

Mr. Fuller said that he thought that there were going to be more guidance counselors at Brien McMahan and West Rocks School. Dr. Corda responded by stating that their intent was to share one position between the two schools. Mr. Fuller asked if the proposal was to have three and a half counselors. Dr. Corda said that the one counselor would spend three days at McMahon and two days at West Rocks. Ms. Murray asked what the ratio of student to counselor is. Dr. Corda said at West Rocks it is about 235 to 1.

Mr. Fuller asked about the substitutes. Dr. Corda answered that that was a revised estimate.

Ms. Bishop-Pullan said that he supports the decisions that have been made on this budget. He suggested that the board monitor the way the budget works during the course of the year.

** THE MOTION PASSED WITH ONE VOTE IN OPPOSITION (MS. RIVAS).

Dr. Corda stated that for the next year replacing text books is the number one priority. It is going to take $1.2 million dollars to replace all the existing books but no matter what that is the next big step the board should take.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

DISCUSS C.O. ADMINISTRATIVE CONTRACT

** MS. HAMILTON MOVED TO GO INTO AN EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS C.O. ADMINISTRATIVE CONTRACTS. ** THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

The Board went into executive session at 7:35pm.

Respectfully submitted,

J. Marci Rosenberg Telesco Secretarial Services

Category: Minutes