Board of Education Meeting Minutes

April 5, 2005

BOARD OF EDUCATION

APRIL 5, 2005

ATTENDANCE: Rosa Murray, Chairman; Jody Bishop-Pullan; Susan Hamilton; Rob Polley; Marina Rivera (7:52 p.m.); Judith Rivas (7:46 p.m.); Richard Fuller; Thomas Vetter

STAFF: Dr. Salvatore Corda, Superintendent of Schools; Mayor Alex Knopp (8:30 p.m.)

CALL TO ORDER

Chairman Murray called the meeting to order at 7:43 p.m.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

SPOTLIGHT

Mr. Vetter reported that the Spotlight on Norwalk Public Schools honors Norwalk High Students Eric Johnson and Craig North, who will be honored by the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship on April 26 in New York City at the 12th Annual Salute to Enterpreneurial Spirit Awards Dinner. They will be recognized in the operating business category for revenue generating businesses. They founded No Joe’s Neckwear in 1987, and they will receive a $1,000 award. The program was started by a public high school teacher in New York City to prevent drop-out risk and improve academic performance. The program has helped people from low-income communities build skills and unlock their entrepreneurial creativity. Since 1987, the program has reached over 100,000 young people, paying more than 3,200 certified entrepreneurship teachers to improve their curriculum. Ms. Rivas arrived at 7:46 p.m.

SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT

Dr. Corda introduced Mr. Dennis Santella and Mr. Kevin Emerow, from the East Norwalk Improvement Association, who made a donation of books to local schools that have weather stations. The title of the book is “Weather for Idiots”, by Dr. Mel Goldstein. Mr. Santella and Mr. Emerow then presented signed copies of the books to those who couldn’t pick them up previously at the East Norwalk Public Library.

Ms. Rivera arrived at 7:52 p.m.

Dr. Corda reported that there is one snow day to make up, and the last day of school will be June 22. Brien McMahon High School’s graduation will take place on June 21. Norwalk High School’s graduation will take place the evening of June 22.

Dr. Corda then presented the CMT report. It was received from the State Education Department and allows a comparative analysis among Norwalk student, those in the ERG, and those in the State. The CMT’s establish high standards for all students in reading, writing and math. There is now a 98% participation rate for students in grades 4, 6 and 8. The requirement under the No Child Left Behind Act is 95% participation as well as who performs at the proficiency level. The goal is to get everyone at the proficiency level. This is the last year of the third generation of CMT’s. There are 800 students who take the test in grade 4. There was an increase in participation in grade 6, and in grade 8, the increase in participation went from 650 to 827. There are two definitions of proficiency – one by the state and one by the No Child Left Behind Act. The state defines proficiency is based on results of all students who took the CMT’s in the district regardless of the length of time that student was in the district. The No Child Left Behind Act defines proficiency as a federally approved calculation used to analyze adequate yearly progress. That student must have been in the district for a year. Dr. Corda stated that the goal is to have a responsibility to every child to increase scores. 26% of our students are performing below proficiency, and that rate of 1 in 4 is too high. Things need to be changed in order to improve performance. There is already a change being seen, going from a low of 41 to a high of 53. The data is important and helps focus on the issues related to the achievement gap, which is the discrepancy in scores between black, white, and Hispanic students. 58% of white students are at goal; 38% of Hispanic students are at goal; and 20% of African American students are at goal. While progress has been made in some areas, other areas are still in need of improvement. The pre-K programs throughout the city need to be examined for participation level as well as the quality of program. Mr. Fuller indicated that in the past, a problem involved money and the pre-K program not being under the Board of Education program. Dr. Corda quoted the Commissioner of Education, Dr. Betty Sternberg, as saying when reviewing the analysis of the total population taking the test over the past 5 years, there has not been a consistent pattern, either an increase or a decrease, across all subject areas. The data over the last 5 years was disaggregated in order to track changes in the achievement level of Norwalk students. The disaggregation was not intended to minimize the importance of assessing all the students. It illustrates one of the difficulties with the No Child Left Behind Legislation because it lumps all the students together. The framework for improvement begins when you look across the district, building by building, classroom by classroom, and teachers looking at the individual student level. The CMT data and classroom data used includes individual interventions; grade level planning; professional development; and current program/evaluation. In reviewing the work that has been going on over the last four years, it has included curriculum revision, examination of practice, and focus on supervision for the purpose of improving instruction. Now the plan will be to include individual plans school by school based on the analysis of data. This will then go beyond the CMT. Mr. Polley asked if teachers have access to sample CMT tests, and do they look at it in any systematic way. Dr. Corda replied that Ms. Diane Filardo works with all the schools and analyzes the CMT data. There is new information that is now available from the State Education Department about the CMT data that is readily accessible to the schools and teachers.

Mayor Knopp arrived at 8:30 p.m.

Dr. Corda felt that the spring testing will give everyone some breathing room at the beginning of the year, and it will give the teachers some ownership as to having the students in the classroom the balance of the year before the test is given. The ESL population has increased substantially over the last 5 years and is about 1,100-1,200 students out of 11,300 students; the Special Education population is between 900-1,000.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Sharon Cadden, Saxon Road; Jeff Smith; James Volo, Shepherd Street; Claire Schoen, 18 Buckingham; Maria Brancacio, 10 Heritage Hill; Divya Johnson, Student Government, NHS; Shari Ulman, 2 Silver Ledge Rd; Barbara Smith, 34 Winding Lane; Troy Jillerette, 25 Elm Street; and Terry Quell were the members of the audience this evening who all spoke of the conditions and issues surrounding the Norwalk High School renovations. The project is $6M shy of completion; conditions are deplorable; equipment hasn’t worked in 25 years; the money has to be found somewhere in order to complete the project, and complete it correctly. Student health and safety issues are of everyone’s concern and are of primary importance right now. Tom Vetter, the Board Representative of the Building Advisory Committee, was the final speaker on the Norwalk High renovations topic, and stated that the comments and concerns presented by individuals tonight were not exaggerated. The renovation project is $32M, and is now in danger of not being completed due to lack of funds. One library won’t be renovated; one auditorium won’t be renovated; ten science labs won’t be renovated; and the boilers that are 35 years old with a warranty of 25 years will be rehabilitated, not repaired. Basically, the building hasn’t been touched substantially in 35 years. There will be seven generations of students (approximately 14,000 students) that will be affected by this project.

Michelle Novak, 15 Heather Lane, spoke of the recent shootings that have occurred in the Norwalk area and urged student governments, church groups, parents, etc. to become more involved in educating young people about the danger associated with guns. Mayor Knopp thanked Ms. Novak for raising this issue. He addressed Ms. Novak’s concerns stating that Norwalk as a municipality can’t control firearms; only the State can. It is illegal under 18 to own/carry a gun. Mayor Knopp stated that Congress just let expire the federal ban on assault weapons. He suggested that the idea of a metal detector at entrances to high schools came up last week at the Brien McMahon PTA meeting. He also stated that he and Chief Rilling announced last week the creation of a Police Task Force Mobile Anti-Crime Unit to increase security and surveillance at Andrews Field and other locations throughout the City.

ACTIONS

A. Consent 1. Approval of Minutes of March 15, 2005.

** CHAIRMAN MURRAY MADE MOTION TO REMOVE TRANSFERS MINUS CONSENT CALENDAR. ** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

** CHAIRMAN MURRAY MADE MOTION TO APPROVE MINUTES OF MARCH 15, 2005. ** MS. RIVERA SECONDED.

Mr. Polley stated the following corrections should be made. On the third page, second bullet point, “Monica spoke in Hispanic” should be changed to “Monica spoke in Spanish”. On the following page, the three people involved were indicated as “former”. The word “former” should be removed. On page 8, “Dr. Cole” should be “Mr. Cole”. Under the section Board Member Announcements, there are three references to “Dr. Cole” that should be corrected.

** CHAIRMAN MURRAY MADE MOTION TO APPROVE MINUTES OF MARCH 15, 2005 AS AMENDED. ** MOTION PASSED WITH MS. RIVERA, MS. RIVAS, MS. HAMILTON, MS BISHOP- PULLAN, MR. POLLEY, MR. FULLER, MS. MURRAY. ** ALL IN FAVOR (MR. VETTER ABSTENTION)

2. Personnel Actions

** CHAIRMAN MURRAY MADE MOTION TO APPROVE PERSONNEL ACTIONS ** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

3. Approve Budget Transfers

** CHAIRMAN MURRAY MADE MOTION TO APPROVE BUDGET TRANSFERS ** SECONDED BY MR. VETTER.

Mayor Knopp reported that last night the Board of Estimate adopted the City’s budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1, 2005. Part of the anticipation of the budget is the understanding that the Mayor and Dr.Corda have that the Board of Estimate will authorize a special appropriation, at least the $550,000 surplus that is currently projected as a result of the current year’s operations. Dr. Corda clarified that the budget will have to be reconciled to the amount that the Council and the Board of Estimate finalized, plus the $550,000. Remaining expenditures will be very closely monitored for the rest of the fiscal year in order to assure that the $550,000 surplus will be there.

** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

B. Approve Science Curriculum 9-12 and adoption of textbook

** MR. FULLER MADE MOTION TO APPROVE SCIENCE CURRICULUM 9-12 AND ADOPTION OF TEXTBOOK. ** MS. RIVERA SECONDED. ** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

C. Approve Extension of the Mano-a-Mano program to the middle school level

** CHAIRMAN MURRAY MADE MOTION TO APPROVE EXTENSION OF THE MANO-A- MANO PROGRAM TO THE MIDDLE SCHOOL LEVEL. ** MS. HAMILTON SECONDED.

Mayor Knopp asked if an evaluation was done of the children in the Mano-a-Mano program in terms of their 4th grade CMT scores. Dr. Corda replied that the CMT scores were used as a measurement device, and the data indicated that the academic performance of the students was comparable to, and sometimes superior to, those students that weren’t in the program. There has not been a comparison done of ESL students in program compared to those not in the program. Ms. Rivas stated that she found the presentation they received recently to be very helpful.

** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

D. Approve Special Meeting of BOE – April 12, 2005

** CHAIRMAN MURRAY MADE MOTION TO APPROVE SPECIAL MEETING OF BOE ON APRIL 12, 2005 AT 6:30 P.M. ** MR. FULLER SECONDED. ** MOTION APPROVED BY MR. POLLEY, MRS. MURRAY, MS. HAMILTON, MS. RIVERA, MS. BISHOP-PULLAN, AND MR. VETTER (MRS. RIVAS ABSTAINED).

E. Approval of Field Trip Rowayton School to Boulder, CO – Odyssey of the Mind

** MR. VETTER MOVED TO APPROVE FIELD TRIP OF ROWAYTON SCHOOL TO BOULDER, CO FOR ODYSSEY OF THE MIND. ** MS. RIVERA SECONDED. ** MOTION APPROVED BY MR. POLLEY, MR. FULLER, MRS. MURRAY, MRS. HAMILTON, MR. VETTER (MRS. BISHOP PULLAN ABSTAINED).

F. Approval of Field Trip BMHS Field Hockey to Orlando, FL

** MR. VETTER MOVED TO APPROVE FIELD TRIP OF BMHS FIELD HOCKEY TO ORLANDO, FL ** MS. RIVERA SECONDED. ** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

INFORMATION AND REPORTS

A. Report on Class Size. Changes done earlier in the year were noted in the report received and they were at the Cranbury School. The hours of a kindergarten aide were decreased, due to enrollment, and a kindergarten aide was added was added at the Marvin School. B. Policy #3542.34 Healthy Eating and Policy 6142.61 Physical Activity. Ms. Bishop-Pullan reported that it was a job well done to have recess before lunch. Mr. Vetter stated that projects have been taken on to get healthy snack vendors in the schools. The National Health goal is to have no more than 5% of the youth population overweight in the year 2010. The current percentage is at 15% and 18% overweight. C. Technology Education Curriculum 9-12 and textbook recommendation. Mr. Ralph Valenzisi presented on Technology Education, along with Mr. Sam Alsevich and Mr. Paul Thompson, Department Chairs. The teachers have built the curriculum and the program is funded through Perkins and CCC. Technology has made a difference over the last 40 years for at- risk students. There would be some difficulty involved as far as expanding this to Briggs due to staffing. Graphics has 60% females enrolled; electronics has 10-15% females enrolled, and manufacturing has 10-15 % females enrolled. There is a national push on for female engineers. D. Board Member Announcements. Chairman Murray addressed the Norwalk High renovation issue, stating that the process may need to be slowed down before additional dollars are discussed. Dr. Corda stated that $90M is in Capital Budget to cover renovations at all schools. There is a meeting scheduled with the administration and central office to further review needs and alternatives.

ADJOURNMENT

** CHAIRMAN MURRAY MOVED TO ADJOURN MEETING. ** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

The meeting was adjourned at 10:30 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Carolyn Marr Telesco Secretarial Services

Category: Minutes