Board of Education Meeting Minutes

August 16, 2005

BOARD OF EDUCATION

AUGUST 16, 2005

ATTENDANCE: Rosa Murray, Chairman; Mayor Knopp; Rob Polley; Marina Rivera; Jody Bishop-Pullan; Richard Fuller.

STAFF: Dr. Salvatore Corda, Superintendent of Schools

OTHERS: Michael Schrier, Deborah Thompson of Fletcher Thompson Architects

I. CALL TO ORDER

Ms. Murray called the meeting to order at 7:50 p.m.

II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

Ms. Murray led the Board in the Pledge of Allegiance.

III. SPOTLIGHT

Norwalk Public Schools won an award at the National Association of School Nurses Annual Conference held in Washington, D.C., June 30-July 3, 2005. The winning poster, presented by Leah Turner, Health Services Coordinator, and Angela Vicenzi, Brookside school nurse, highlighted healthy eating and physical activity. Also attending were Norwalk Public School nurses Su Chen of Marvin School and Mary Russell of Fox Run School. Ms. Turner also presented a workshop on preventing health risks and promoting healthy outcomes among lesbian, gay and questioning youth. IV. SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT

Dr. Corda gave a brief report to update the Board on the status re: personnel, summer work summer schools and programs. Dr. Corda reported that there were still elementary and secondary school staff openings still to be filled. He said that there were four schools where class enrollment was on the cusp of being too full. His department had to notify a number of parents whose older children were attending these schools that their siblings were unable to attend. Dr. Corda said that staffing plans for these schools seemed appropriate but if there was an increase in these four classes then they may have to make further staff adjustments.

Dr. Corda reported that the Norwalk Summer Schools served more students this year than ever before. He said initial comments were very positive.

Dr. Corda said he had received a recommendation from Jefferson regarding the proposal for a magnet school. A special meeting will be held on the proposal on August 30, 2005. He also said he will be meeting with administrators about expanding the Mano-a-Mano program to other magnet schools in the city. He said there were a number of parents who have expressed interest in expanding the program into other schools. Ms. Murray asked if Dr. Corda could provide a dollar figure on the cost of the program. Dr. Corda said he couldn't promise until he had a better idea of how the program will flesh out but promised to get back to Ms. Murray. Ms. Rivera asked how the summer programs were funded. Dr. Corda said the programs were funded mostly through grants. Mr. Fuller asked if the programs would continue. Dr. Corda said that if the demand were the same as this year, they would continue, as the main goal of the programs was to attract more students to them. Mr. Fuller said that Ponus Ridge had been running a program to prepare students for the coming school year and suggested this program should be done at all schools.

Mayor Knopp thanked Dr. Corda, his office and the Board for utilizing summer school students at the elementary and middle school levels, saying the children received more attention and that it was a good experience and a win-win situation for all concerned. Mayor Knopp asked Dr. Corda to provide material on the program for the meeting on August 30, 2005 and Dr. Corda said he would do so.

Dr. Corda said they were fleshing out programs for the Board's approval for the 2006-2007 school year. He said he is anticipating significant linkages between the schools and the Maritime Aquarium, museums, etc. as partners with program development. V. PUBLIC COMMENTS

Ms. Bishop-Pullan recognized Janice and Craig Burns who wanted to address their comments on the process being used regarding siblings not being able to enter Naramake school this year. Mr. and Mrs. Burns said that there had been no attempt to reach out to parents who were impacted by this decision. She said she was notified by registered letter only two weeks before the start of the school year that her younger child would not be able to attend Naramake and said it was an insensitive process. She requested the Board reveal its decision-making process so it can be re-examined and include the families of the three other children also affected. Ms. Burns said she had significant concerns that her daughter can't attend kindergarten at Naramake and asked how are parents supposed to make a decision when there was no clear reason why her child cannot enter the school. Ms. Burns said that in the past there had been an unfortunate incident involving her older child that was greatly upsetting and wanted to know, if there should be another incident involving her daughter, she was putting the Board on public notice and wanted to know how they will respond if such an incident were to happen again. Ms. Bishop-Pullan replied by saying that they can and will refer Mr. and Mrs. Burns' comments to the administration but was unable to answer them at this time and in this forum.

VI. ACTIONS

A. CONSENT

** MS. RIVERA MOVED TO APPROVE THE CONSENT ITEMS. ** MR. FULLER SECONDED. ** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

1. Personnel Actions

** MR. POLLEY MOVED TO APPROVE PERSONNEL ACTIONS. ** MS. RIVERA SECONDED. ** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

2. Budget Transfers ** MS. BISHOP-PULLEY MOVED TO APPROVE THE BUDGET TRANSFERS. ** MS. RIVERA SECONDED. ** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

3. Contract Renewal for Zeus Swim Team

** MS. RIVERA MOVED TO APPROVE CONTRACT RENEWAL FOR ZEUS SWIM TEAM. ** MR. FULLER SECONDED. ** MOTION PASSED WITH ONE ABSTENTION (MR. POLLEY)

4. Approve Policy #5141.21 Administration of Medication

** MS. RIVERA MOVED TO APPROVE POLICY #5141.21 ADMINISTRATION OF MEDICATION. ** MR. POLLEY SECONDED. ** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

5. Approval of YMCA of Norwalk to provide afterschool services at Ponus, Roton and West Rocks

** MS. BISHOP-PULLAN MOVED TO APPROVE YMCA OF NORWALK TO PROVIDE AFTERSCHOOL SERVICES AT PONUS, ROTON AND WEST ROCKS. ** MS. RIVERA SECONDED. ** MOTION PASSED WITH TWO ABSTENTIONS (MR. FULLER, MR. POLLEY)

6. Approval of Afterschool Achievement Program (ASAP) providers of before and afterschool services at elementary schools for 2005-2006 ** MS. RIVERA MOVED TO APPROVE THE AFTERSCHOOL ACHIEVEMENT PROGRAM (ASAP) BE PROVIDERS OF AFTERSCHOOL SERVICES AT ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS FOR 2005-2006. ** MR. FULLER SECONDED. ** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

7. Approval of ACHIEVE to provide afterschool services at Nathan Hale and West Rocks

** MS. RIVERA MOVED TO APPROVE ACHIEVE TO PROVIDE AFTERSCHOOL SERVICES AT NATHAN HALE AND WEST ROCKS. ** MR. POLLEY SECONDED. ** MOTION PASSED WITH ONE ABSTENTION (MR. FULLER).

VIL. INFORMATION AND REPORTS

A. Fund balance 2004-2005

Mr. Stuart Opdahl reported that the goal was to come up with a fund balance of $500,000. He reported that they have accomplished a balance of $300,000 above that. He said this money would be going to supplementing and supporting ongoing projects. Mr. Opdahl said the construction at Kendall and Norwalk High School did not have enough funds to complete the projects so they used this fund balance to go out for bids on equipment for both buildings, including classroom furniture and cabinetry and cleaning equipment for when Brien McMahon's construction is completed. He said there is also money from salaried positions, which have not been filled.

Mr. Opdahl said they have healthy accounts in reserved areas and has accomplished goals. He said that by October 1st he hoped to have a balance sheet like this for 2004-05 because utilities will be hit hard. Mr. Fuller asked if utilities and heating oil prices have been locked in for the year. Mr. Opdahl said they have not been locked in at all at this time. Ms. Bishop-Pullan inquired about reserve numbers. Mr. Opdahl said that April and May looked good and June has leveled out. He said they have built in a margin to handle fluctuations and have a fairly healthy situation to move into. Mr. Fuller asked if the city gets the maximum reimbursements and Mr. Updahl said they did whenever they were able. Mr. Corda stated the Board may recall that among their goals was 1) long range planning and 2) staying within their budget. He explained that what they were seeing here was how they stay within these goals. He said the budget, although un-audited, reflects an expenditure fairly accurately of the financial plan put together at least eighteen months earlier.

Dr. Corda said there have been discussions to use the balance to fund "X" amount of textbooks in the future.

B. Discussion of Modified Ed Specs - Norwalk High School

Mr. Michael Schrier and Ms. Deborah Thompson of Fletcher Thompson Architects gave an oral report on the floor plan design for Norwalk High School. They reported there will be a new 2-story science addition and renovation to 10 classrooms, widening the parent drop-off area, creating a right turn only lane and widening the driveway to County Street. This will bring a net gain of two further parking spaces located in the parking area near Strawberry Hill Avenue. There will be a gain of sixty-five parking spaces in the parking lot on the north side of the building and a security overlay on the building. Other upgrades include enlarging the cafeteria space and servery, improving the flexibility of traffic flow, new lighting, replacement of all windows and doors, which will make it look and feel like a new building. On the first floor in E House, an area will be provided for a child development program and the graphics department will be relocated to the third floor. The tech area will be removed to D House and a culinary arts room will be created. C House will include a new lecture hall. What they have tried to accomplish was to move the existing classrooms to gain more light and utilize the existing corridors.

Ms. Thompson said the main floor will look like new. She pointed out key items in addition to the updating and renovation, which will include science rooms, all new lockers and more privacy and space. Mr. Polley inquired about noisy ventilators. Ms. Thompson said these were being repaired. Ms. Murray asked if there was a clear document, which shows option C and what is not needing to be updated, as there were some groups still questioning the need for the project. Ms. Murray asked if the Board could have an estimate on how Fletcher Thompson would proceed. The Mayor pointed out that the enemy of the project now was delay. It was mentioned that construction prices have gone up four percent since the beginning of the project. Ms. Murray inquired about a computer cable infrastructure and was told that whenever there was work being done they would attempt to utilize the existing cabling when possible.

C. Board Members Announcements Mr. Fuller mentioned the NAACP was sponsoring a Back-to-School event that parents can attend and would attempt to work with the Board of Education to take on workshops.

Ms. Murray said there was a need to hold a special meeting on Tuesday.

Mayor Knopp left the meeting at 9:02 p.m.

VIII. ADJOURNMENT

** MS. RIVERA MOVED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING. ** MR. POLLEY SECONDED. ** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:05 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Linda J. Hayes Telesco Secretarial Services

Category: Minutes