Board of Education Meeting Minutes Part 2

June 5, 2007

** THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

I. Transfer of Capital Funds

** MR. VETTER MOVED THE ITEM. ** MS. MURRAY SECONDED.

Mr. Opdahl distributed some information packets to the Board. Mr. Opdahl then reviewed the documents that he had distributed with the Board.

Mr. Kimmel had several questions about the details of the document regarding Capital projects. Mr. Kimmel said that he hoped that there would be interior painting and attention to the floors at Norwalk High School when the projects are completed.

Mr. Kimmel also said that he had notice the distance that students and staff would have to travel from the Science wing to the nearest bathroom. Mr. Kimmel said that he had requested from the Facility Commission some of the data on what is required and what is not required by law regarding this. Mr. Kimmel went on to say for the record, that he believed this was a big mistake, even though is it expensive, not to have a bathroom in the wing of a building. Even it the bathrooms are not required by law now, Mr. Kimmel said that it was not a sufficient condition for him because it was not cosmetic. He said that it would more difficult to undo the problem once the construction is completed.

Mr. Burnett said that he had been under the impression that the power washing to the building had been tested and discovered to be inadequate. He then questioned why it was being considered as a solution. Mr. Opdahl said that the building had been painted eight or ten years ago.

Mayor Moccia thanked everyone for attending the meetings regarding this. He explained that there would still $1,750,000 in the Jefferson account for essential work. Communications have been worked on. He also said he did not disagree with the concerns about bathrooms in the Science wing. But he reminded everyone that the Committee was also looking at painting the building and also had to work on the athletic field that could cost anywhere between 1.3 to 1.5 million dollars. Mayor Moccia said that the Committee was looking to shift funds and allocate funds in the Capital budget in order to try to meet as many of the needs of Norwalk High as possible. As far as priorities go, the Mayor said that he would look at a bathroom over painting the building.

Ms. Murray said that she had asked about the color of the building. Mr. Opdahl replied that this would be discussed at a meeting with Fletcher Thompson and the BAC the next day.

Ms. Rivas expressed concerns about the intercom and P.A. system. She asked about the timeframe for this project. Mr. Opdahl gave a brief overview of this. The Mayor commented that the intercom system is currently working and that repairs are ongoing. This issue will be on the agenda at the next NFCC meeting and then will go out to bid as soon as possible.

Mr. Valenzisi said that there would be a need to change the switches in the closets and once this is done, the phones will act as speaker phones, along with additional speakers where needed. This is not patching the old system, but installing a new system. ** THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE TRANSFER OF CAPITAL FUNDS PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. J. Approval of Personnel Actions

** MR. POLLEY MOVED THE ITEM. ** MS. HAMILTON SECONDED. ** THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE PERSONNEL ACTIONS PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. VII. INFORMATION AND REPORTS

A. Presentation of Elementary Math Pilot and recommendation for textbook adoptions

Mr. Keogh came forward and greeted the Board. He said that he had met with the Curriculum Committee about the Elementary Math Pilot program. Mr. Keogh then gave a brief history of how this curriculum had come to be chosen.

In 2005, the State released a new mathematics curriculum framework, which provides the basis for all the acceptable mathematics programs. He then listed the details of this framework. Mr. Keogh said that the major change was a shift toward algebraic thinking in earlier grades and working with data. The new curriculum moves away from computational abilities especially with large numbers. This is reflected in the CMT tests.

These programs have been created in the reverse method by determining what program will help the students to reach the standards. There is less teacher talk and more student engagement. The programs were piloted in various elementary schools in Norwalk. Mr. Keogh reviewed the degree of success for these pilot programs at the various schools. Mr. Keogh pointed out that one of the programs provides materials in Spanish while the other one does not. This resulted in one or two of the schools selecting that mathematical curriculum over the other because the student population.

B. Board Members announcements

VIII. DISCUSSION CONCERNING EMPLOYMENT OF A PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PURSUANT TO CGS 1-200 SUBSECTION 6 AND DISCUSSION OF NEGOTIATIONS WITH FOOD SERVICE WORKERS

** MS. RIVAS MOVED TO ENTER INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR DISCUSSION REGARDING EMPLOYMENT OF A PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PURSUANT TO CGS 1-200 SUBSECTION 6 AND DISCUSSION OF NEGOTIATIONS WITH FOOD SERVICE WORKERS. ** MS. MURRAY SECONDED. ** THE MOTON PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

IX. ADJOURNMENT

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

The meeting adjourned at 10:30 p.m. Respectfully submitted,

Sharon L. Soltes Telesco Secretarial Service

Category: Minutes