Board of Education Meeting Minutes

August 17, 2004

BOARD OF EDUCATION

AUGUST 17, 2004

ATTENDANCE: Jody Bishop-Pullan, Chairman; Thomas Vetter; Rosa Murray; Marina Rivera; David Cole; Mayor, Alex Knopp

STAFF: Dr. Salvatore Corda, Superintendent of Schools; Stuart Opdahl

OTHERS: Michael Schrier, Fletcher Thompson

CALL TO ORDER

Ms. Bishop-Pullan called the meeting to order at 8:10 pm.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

All present recited the Pledge of Allegiance

SPOTLIGHT

Mr. Vetter read the written report, Spotlight on Norwalk Public Schools.

SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT

Dr. Corda indicated that in the interests of time, there would be no Superintendent’s Report this evening.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

No members of the public wished to speak this evening.

ACTIONS

A. CONSENT

1. Approval of the minutes (August 3, 2004)

2. Personnel Actions

** MS. MURRAY MOVED APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT CALENDAR AS PRESENTED. ** MR. VETTER SECONDED.

Ms. Bishop-Pullan indicated that the Personnel Actions included the addendum attached.

** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

B. BMHS/CENTER FOR GLOBAL STUDIES FINAL PLANS AND PROFESSIONAL COST ESTIMATE

Ms. Bishop-Pullan introduced Michael Schrier from Fletcher Thompson. She said with regard to the time line, after tonight’s approval this will go before the NFCC and then it will be presented to the State next Wednesday.

Mr. Schrier explained that FF&E would describe everything that would fall out of a room if it was tipped upside down, for example, the chairs, desks etc. He said they had met with the staff at Brien McMahon and had put together a package that is within their budget of $1.1 million. He explained further that they have to tag all of the drawings; they are then cross-referenced and then sent to the State for presentation. This encompasses phases four of five for the high school and three of four for the Center for Global Studies and it uses a mix between existing and new items.

Mr. Opdahl pointed out that this does not include the technology for the Center for Global Studies.

Ms. Bishop-Pullan stated that the Adhoc Committee went through this at their last meeting; the committee will see it again on Thursday. She added that even though so much work has been put into this there is still opportunity for addendums if needed; this really needs to be moved along.

Mr. Schrier added that since their last meeting he had presented the entire package to Mr. Rodriguez and all of the addition and deductions are reflected in this package.

Mr. Vetter said although this is within its budget; is the technology on a separate line item.

Mr. Schrier replied that it was.

Mr. Vetter asked if all of the funding had been approved for this.

Mr. Schrier responded that all the items put forth in this project are within budget and all within the line items.

Mayor Knopp pointed out that these are submissions to the state for their approval and when these go out to bid there is no guarantee that the bids will come back so that all of the equipment is able to be purchased for the $1.1 million – they hope it is. These are submissions to the state, not bids from private vendors; this is an event that happens later on after the plans have come back from the state.

Mr. Schrier concurred with the Mayor’s statement.

** MR. COLE MOVED: RESOLVED, UPON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS, THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION APPROVE THE FINAL PLAN AND SPECIFICATIONS AND THE PROFESSIONAL COST ESTIMATE FOR PHASE 3 OF 4 FOR THE CENTER FOR GLOBAL STUDIES PROJECT NO. 103-0212 MAG/E AND THE BMHS PROJECT NO. 103-0213 RNV/E PHASE 4 OF FIVE ** MS. MURRAY SECONDED. ** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

Mayor Knopp added that he had been to the school yesterday and was pleased to learn that the asbestos abatement had been completed before schedule so this has given staff time to prepare the school for re-opening in September.

C. WEST ROCKS CODE/RENOVATION PROJECT AS COMPLETE

** MR. VETTER MOVED: RESOLVED, UPON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS, THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION ACCEPT THE WEST ROCKS CODE/RENOVATION PROJECT NO. 103-0195 EA AS COMPLETE. ** MR. COLE SECONDED. ** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

D. APPROVAL OF SUMMER OF 2003 ROOF PROJECTS AS COMPLETE

** MR. COLE MOVED: RESOLVED, UPON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS, THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION APPROVE THE NATHAN HALE, JEFFERSON, KENDALL, NARAMAKE, SILVERMINE AND WOLFPIT ROOF PROJECTS AS COMPLETE. ** MS. MURRAY SECONDED.

Mr. Vetter asked if there were any roofs that were not complete.

Mr. Opdahl said they were all complete with the exception of Briggs.

** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

E. APPROVAL OF SUPERINTENDENT’S CONTRACT

** MS. MURRAY MOVED: RESOLVED, UPON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS, THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION APPROVE THE ATTACHED CONTRACT FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT FOR 2004-2005. ** MS. RIVERA SECONDED.

Ms. Bishop-Pullan indicated that the Board of Education had met to undertake an evaluation and had presented the information during the previous meeting. She said there were two or three points that they had all agreed to work on but the Board wanted to ensure stability in the district by approving the contract for the Superintendent.

** MOTION PASSED FOUR VOTES IN FAVOR, (MS. BISHOP-PULLAN, MR. VETTER, MS. RIVERA, MS. MURRAY), ONE ABSTENTION (MR. COLE).

** MR. VETTER MOVED TO ADD AN ACTION ITEM TO THE AGENDA – SECTION 125 PLAN. ** MS. MURRAY SECONDED. ** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

** MR. VETTER MOVED: RESOLVED, UPON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS, THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION APPROVE AN AMENDMENT TO THE EXISTING IRS SECTION 125 PLAN TO INCLUDE MEMBERS OF THE NORWALK FEDERATION OF TEACHERS (NFT). ** MR. COLE MOVED. ** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

INFORMATION AND REPORTS

A. ZEUS SWIM TEAM.

Dr. Corda mentioned there had been a number of issues raised by members of the Board of Education with regard to the contract. He said they had met with the people at Zeus and the document that was sent now addresses all of those concerns. This is for discussion tonight and if members are comfortable it will be brought back at the next meeting for a vote.

Ms. Murray thanked the administration for bringing this back; she asked who would be monitoring the actual contract.

Dr. Corda said the use of the pool would be under the responsibility of Mr. Daddona; Mr. Opdahl will manage the overall contact.

Mr. Cole thanked the administration for bringing this back in its present form stating that his area of concern was with regard to priority over the pool. He said the students from Norwalk High would have the first priority, secondly would be parks and recreations and lastly the swim team.

Dr. Corda said they are finalizing the schedule for the use of the pool and for a period of time there is a request that Zeus share the pool with the parks and recreations and this is consistent with what has happened in the past. He added that he would be discussing this with Mr. Moccaie (Director of Parks and Recreations).

B. ELEMENTARY PROGRESS REPORTS

Dr. Corda indicated that the teachers that worked on the committee would be discussing the issues that were raised with the elementary school principals, Mr. McKiernan and Dr. Lang. He said they want to make sure everyone has had their input.

C. BOARD MEMBER ANNOUNCEMENTS

Mr. Cole announced that he would be attending the NFCC meeting tomorrow. He also said that they have organized for members of the Ed Spec committee to visit as many schools as they can, especially those they have never been to before.

Ms. Bishop-Pullan stated that there was a need for executive session this evening.

** MR. VETTER MOVED TO ADD AN AGENDA ITEM – TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS PERSONNEL ITEMS. ** MS. MURRAY SECONDED. ** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

** MS. RIVERA MOVED TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR THE PURPOSE OF DISCUSSING PERSONNEL ITEMS. ** MR. COLE SECONDED. ** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

The Board went into executive session at 8:35 pm and reconvened into public session at 9:10 pm. No action was taken.

** MR. VETTER MOVED TO ADJOURN. ** MS. RIVERA SECONDED. ** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:10 pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Kate Kye Telesco Secretarial Services

Category: Minutes