Board of Education Meeting Minutes

December 6, 2005

BOARD OF EDUCATION

DECEMBER 6, 2005

ATTENDANCE: Thomas Vetter, Chairman; Rosa Murray; Rob Polley; Bruce Kimmel; Jody Bishop-Pullan; Greg Burnett; Richard Fuller; Susan Hamilton; Judy Rivas; Mayor Dick Moccia (9:25).

STAFF: Dr. Salvatore Corda, Superintendent of Schools.

OTHERS: Stuart Opdahl; Tami Green, BSN, NCSN, President CHCA Chapter; Angela Vicenzi, EdD, NCSN, Vice-President CHCA Chapter; Carol Seirup; Bruce Mellion; Donna Riddell, President, Norwalk Federation of Educational Personnel; Mark Gorian, Director of Facilities; JoAnn Cegan, Budget Director; Dr. Karen Lang; Michael Schreiner, Fletcher, Thompson.

I. CALL TO ORDER

Mr. Vetter called the meeting to order at 7:49 p.m.

II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

Mr. Vetter led the Board in the Pledge of Allegiance.

III. SPOTLIGHT

Mr. Fuller reported that students in the West Rocks Middle School Community Service Club raised $1,190 to donate to Oprah Winfrey’s Angel Network after doing research and hearing about Ms. Winfrey’s “Make A Home” program. This program helps families as they begin to rebuild their lives as a result of the devastation from Hurricane Katrina. After reviewing the list of items that needed to be purchased for these families, the students decided to purchase a new children’s bedroom set. The students received a signed letter from Ms. Winfrey thanking them for their efforts.

On November 10, Brien McMahon H.S. ROTC cadets Jonathan Leon, Christian Leone, Karla Moran, Scott Spezzano and Gary Stanizeski were picked to attend a special conference at the U.S. Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Florida. They met several top naval commanding officers, Governor Jeb Bush, and Senator John McCain. These cadets were chosen based on their record of achievement in the ROTC program.

V. SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT

Dr. Corda gave a short report outlining the Board’s budget objectives for the next fiscal year. He stated these objectives include funding continuing expenditures to meet State requirements, Board policies and contractual obligations; continue the support for development and revision of curriculum, acquisition of materials and equipment, and necessary professional development; and to provide those programs that are necessary to increase the achievement level of all students. Dr. Corda stated that some items under consideration are the expansion of academic support programs across all grade levels; expansion of Dean of Students support; continuation of the Mano-A-Mano program at West Rocks Middle School; implementation of the Jefferson School magnet program and an alternative to suspension program; and retaining instructional specialists in Social Studies, World Languages and the arts to round out central office instructional staff. Dr. Corda pointed out in his report that it may be necessary to defer, postpone or revisit these items as budget revisions allow.

Dr. Corda’s report outlined what he saw as potential needs based on enrollment and programs, including bilingual ESL, secondary staff, special education, technology support and a central registration or welcome center. Dr. Corda said his goal is to have a proposed budget ready for the Board by the end of the Christmas recess. The Board’s task would be to then adopt a budget that could be presented to the City by January 3rd. He distributed a revised calendar outlining the budget process by month, beginning in November 2005 and continuing through the first full week of January when the budget would be formally presented to the City on or before January 15th. The budget then moves on to the Board of Estimate and Taxation. After any reviews and revisions are completed, Dr. Corda expects the Board’s budget to be approved by May 16, 2006.

V. PUBLIC COMMENTS

Ms. Tami Green, President of the School Nurses Union CNCA Chapter, and Ms. Angela Vicenzi, Vice President, distributed their letters to the Board in regards to the 2006-2007 Board of Education Operating Budget.

Ms. Green read her letter to the Board, which stated that school nurses are a highly educated group, all of whom have Bachelor’s degrees, eight have Masters degrees, and one has a doctorate (Ms. Vicenzi). She said approximately half of them have a National School Nurse Certification, and collectively they have hundreds of years of experience in nursing. She stated they are very dedicated to the health and education of the students in the Norwalk Public Schools. She also stated that they are the health educators as well as nurses.

Ms. Green said that as part of their regular nursing duties they conduct classes, give lectures, present programs and teach children about their health every time they visit the nurse’s office. She stated that it was the nurse’s job to help students maintain their optimum health in order to be at their best to learn. The school nurse is often the first line of health care, and frequently, with instruction from their parents, students step off the bus and go directly to the nurse’s office to receive medical attention. She cited published research, which has shown that the presence of the school nurse greatly reduced the number of times children are dismissed early from school due to illness.

Ms. Green said the Public School Nurses are struggling to provide the best nursing services for children with insufficient equipment and often inadequate staffing. She indicated that in the Norwalk Public Schools during 2004 there were as many as five schools without a nurse for many weeks, that Jefferson School had no nurse for many months; and that Kendall School had no nurse at all for almost the entire school year. Ms. Green strongly urged the Board to consider increasing the Health Services budge as part of the 2006-2007 Operating Budget.

Ms. Vicenzi stated in her letter, which she read before the Board, that the nurses in the Norwalk Public Schools believe their students are a public health population that they are responsible for. The nurses not only treat each child who visits the health office, over 100,000 visits last year, but they also see the “big picture." She cited as an example the connection between obesity trends and academic scores, school lunch nutrition and NCLB goals. She stated that their written comments to the Board had been printed on salmon-colored paper, which is the color for the discipline of Public Health. As the Board deliberates on the next year’s budget, they need to fund several areas in order for them to give the best care to all students.

Ms. Vicenzi said the schools need to have a floating nurse who can fill in for other nurses who are absent because of sick days, professional days or educational days. Currently there is no such floating nurse, and when a school nurse is absent, the health office is usually closed for the day and the principal or other non-medical personnel gives “care,” which Ms. Vicenzi said usually amounts to them sending the child home. Research shows that 57% fewer students leave school early when a nurse is on-site, meaning more children are at their desks learning.

Ms. Vicenzi said the schools also need the Board to clarify the hourly pay that nurses receive for their summer employment at camps and summer schools. She pointed out that in 2004 there was no on-site nurse at Brookside School for the 450 children attending the summer program there, because the Board refused to pay the market rate for part time registered nurses in the community, and stated that last summer, school nurses earned $45 per hour working for other agencies. She also read through a list of must-have, desperately needed items obtained from a recently conducted survey, which are necessary for the optimum functioning of the nurses’ offices. In many cases, nurses are using instruments that are taped together, medical texts that are 20 years old, and medications that are little more than placebos. Ms. Vicenzi asked the Board to seriously consider her requests.

Ms. Carol Seirup and Mr. Bruce Mellion of the Norwalk Federation of Teachers distributed their report to the Board, which covered results of the 2006-2007 Operating Budget Survey they conducted with Federation members. A total of 92 responses were obtained; 30 elementary, 27 middle school, and 35 high school. The overriding results indicated that the most important issue teachers needed to have addressed was technology, followed by staffing and equipment needs, and the opportunity to give more input. In addition, the respondents were asked for their comments. These ranged from inviting the BOE and Common Council members to tour the schools and talk with parents, teachers and staff; to publicizing the positive things happening in the schools rather than the negative; utilizing the BOE’s Cable channel to showcase what is happening in the schools; and distribute more information to the public on the State and Federal regulations that hamstring the district’s work over regulations and requirements. Ms. Seirup said they were taking another survey to be ready for the Board’s December 20th meeting.

Ms. Seirup also briefly discussed Dr. Corda’s statement in regards to coming up with alternatives to suspension of students and pointed out that there are some extraordinarily disruptive students that are involved in situations where suspension is the only alternative to taking class time away from these situations, and indicated that more serious thought needs to go into the alternatives to suspension.

Ms. Donna Riddel, President of Norwalk Federation of Educational Personnel, told the Board that all members need and deserve to participate in professional development programs. She also questioned why there were no workshops offered on Election Day when the schools were closed. Ms. Riddel stated that more aides were needed for increasing class size and library assistants need more training in order to better assist students. She pointed out the lack of workspace in school offices. In her closing comments Ms. Riddel reiterated the need for professional development for the 385 members of the Federation.

VII. ACTIONS

A. Consent

1. Approval of personnel actions 2. Approval of budget transfers

** MS. BISHOP-PULLAN MOVED TO APPROVE THE CONSENT ACTIONS. ** MS. MURRAY SECONDED. ** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

B. Approval of Minutes (November 1 and November 15, 2005)

** MR. FULLER MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 1, 2005 AS WRITTEN. ** MS. HAMILTON SECONDED. ** MOTION APPROVED WITH ONE ABSTENTION (MR. BURNETT)

** MR. POLLEY MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 15, 2005 AS WRITTEN. ** MS. HAMILTON SECONDED. ** MOTION APPROVED WITH TWO ABSTENTIONS (MS. RIVAS, MR. BURNETT)

C. Approval of final plans and professional cost estimate for Norwalk High School –Project No. 103-0233EA-Phase 1

** MS. MURRAY MOVED TO APPROVE THE FINAL PLANS AND PROFESSIONAL COST ESTIMATE FOR NORWALK HIGH SCHOOL – PROJECT NO. 103-0233EA – PHASE 1. ** MS. HAMILTON SECONDED.

Mr. Vetter called for discussion on the item. Mr. Michael Schreiner of Fletcher, Thompson gave a brief report on the asbestos removal at Norwalk High School and West Rocks Middle School and offered a set of plans showing areas of removal. He stated that these were abatement plans only. Mr. Schreiner said this was Phase 1 and that he would be back in January with plans for Phase II. Mr. Kimmel inquired as to when Norwalk High School was originally built. Mr. Schreiner said it was built in 1972. Mr. Vetter asked Mr. Schreiner if he was in touch with the building administration. Mr. Schreiner said he has coordinated with Tony and the Board of Education and that the building schedule was compacted.

** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

D. Approval of Field Trip

** MS. HAMILTON MOVED TO APPROVE THE FIELD TRIP FOR THE BRIEN McMAHON HIGH SCHOOL GRADE 9-12 CHORUS TO TRAVEL TO ORLANDO, FLORIDA APRIL 18-24, 2006. ** MS. BISHOP-PULLAN SECONDED.

Mr. Vetter asked if there were any questions. Mr. Burnett asked since the trip was scheduled for April 2006, what would happen to the trip if the country were to be under an alert or similar action. Dr. Corda stated that the financial investment may not be returnable to the families and that all participants were advised of this at the time they signed up for the trip.

** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

E. Approval of new high school courses

** MS. RIVAS MOVED TO APPROVE THE NEW HIGH SCHOOL COURSES. ** MR. FULLER SECONDED. ** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

** MS. BISHOP-PULLAN MOVED TO AMEND THE COURSE LIST TO ADD A BIOTECHNOLOGY COURSE, WHICH HAD BEEN INADVERTENTLY LEFT OFF THE LIST. ** MR. KIMMEL SECONDED. ** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

VIL. INFORMATION & REPORTS

A. Teacher Evaluation Plan

Dr. Corda stated that this plan was very time consuming. Mr. Fuller said it frees up time. Mr. Kimmel said the plan seemed quite rigorous and was very good. He said it showed substantial discussions and was intended to show the people at work. He inquired as to the percentage of tenured teachers available to be in the program. Dr. Corda said he didn’t know the answer at this time and did not want to speculate. He said he would find out the answer and respond to Mr. Kimmel at a later time.

Dr. Corda stated he had attended the Northeastern ASCD conference with a large group of Norwalk teachers. The conference stressed the importance of developing learning communities within schools and received significant enthusiasm from the teachers. He stated that the teacher evaluation plan really highlights what it is they are trying to do in Norwalk; how teachers are organizing their day, whether the focus should be more on students’ needs than it currently is. He said he was very enthusiastic about the work being done.

B. Change elementary conference night from March 9 to March 16, 2006

Dr. Corda said he recommended the date of the conference be changed because of the CAP testing being done at the same time and they were concerned about the impact on the students. Dr. Karen Lang briefly outlined the reasoning behind the recommendation. Ms. Bishop-Pullan asked if the elementary school principals had agreed to the date change. Dr. Lang said they had.

C. Budget Update – Significant impacts

Mr. Opdahl reported that they are trying to assess the current budget through June 30th. He said that health insurance plays a significant part in this. He has been in touch with Mr. Robert Lindberg of Lindberg & Whipple to discuss the insurance. Mr. Opdahl gave a review of facilities and current maintenance costs.

Mr. Vetter paused Mr. Opdahl’s report to welcome Mayor Richard Moccia to the meeting and invited Mayor Moccia to take his seat at the table.

Mr. Burnett asked if the Board has done an assessment on the shelf life of technological equipment. Mr. Opdahl said a study had been done approximately four years ago and that when Gilbane was brought in, they modified the study. Mr. Opdahl mentioned the need to replace a boiler at Marvin School and suggested this could be done in the summer. He also discussed cafeteria tables and said they were going for a hexagonal shape to maximize seating and easier cleaning. Dr. Corda said that because of enrollment they actually have to consider going to a third lunch seating. Mr. Fuller asked if the heating systems in the schools were being updated as the buildings were being updated. Mr. Opdahl said this is being done as they go along, but West Rocks didn’t get theirs done.

Mr. Mark Gorian, Director of Facilities, discussed the metalwork done on the failed boiler. He said they have experienced a number of hazardous waste problems, including an oil tank that was dumped on the Ponus Ridge Middle School property. Mr. Polley asked if there were any energy conservation plans in place. Mr. Gorian said the heat in the schools is not going below 68 degrees during the day or 55 degrees at night, otherwise it would jeopardize the building and increase the cost to get the heat back up each day. He said he has also spoken with the various groups that use the buildings before and after school to discuss the possibility of their relocating their programs to other buildings that would serve them better and could accommodate them.

JoAnn Cegan (sp), Budget Director, distributed a report to the Board for their reading and briefly discussed the items. Ms. Hamilton questioned an error on the report and Mr. Opdahl said it would be corrected and redistributed. Mr. Opdahl said that the bottom line is that when they are done with the analysis, the Board could expect to see the fund balance beyond what they are seeing now.

D. Board Members Announcements

Mr. Vetter stated that he has committee assignments to be handed out and asked that the Board members meet with him after the meeting.

IX. ADJOURNMENT

** MS. MURRAY MOVED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING. ** MS. RIVAS SECONDED. ** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

The meeting was adjourned at 10:01 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Linda J. Hayes Telesco Secretarial Services

Category: Minutes