EASTON BOARD OF EDUCATION

NOVEMBER 13, 2007

Minutes

Filed subject to approval.

Present: Allan, Cohen, Katz, Underberger

Administration: Fossbender, Mas, Sullivan, Fox-Santora, LaTorre, Dekle

Others: two members of the public and a representative of the Easton Courier

ELECTION OF OFFICERS

Dr. Fossbender read the board of education by law regarding the election of officers. The election of Chair and Secretary followed. The voting was conducted by paper ballot, with Dr. Fossbender collecting the ballots and announcing the results.

Motion: move to nominate Alan Katz for Chairman of the Easton Board of Education. Underberger, Cohen. Approved. Unanimous.

Motion: move to nominate Alfred Treidel as Secretary of the Easton Board of Education. Allan, Underberger. Approved. Unanimous.

Mr. Katz, on behalf of the board members, and Dr. Fossbender, on behalf of the administrators, thanked Mr. Allan for his leadership over the past two years.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Motion: move to accept the minutes of the October 16, 2007 meeting as submitted. Allan, Underberger. Approved. Unanimous.

SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLANS

Ms. Mas and Dr. Fossbender reviewed the School Improvement Plans for Helen Keller Middle School. Administrators were unable to be at the meeting, but participated in the formulation of the plan. A written document was distributed and reviewed. Dr. Fossbender asked the board members to give thought to teacher-student load at the school. The current ratio is 1-105; comparable schools have a ratio closer to 1-80. The school administration is reviewing methods to reduce the ratio and will present concepts for discussion at the next meeting.

Mrs. Fox-Santora and Mrs. LaTorre provided a written document and reviewed the plan with the board members. Dr. Fossbender noted the increasing need for a social worker at Samuel Staples and at Helen Keller, a .5 position at each school. In addition, he asked the board members to give thought to increasing the .4 writing specialist position at Staples.

Dr. Dekle provided a written document for the plans for Special Services. She reviewed the document and answered questions. Dr. Fossbender noted the increased need for a Special Education Supervisor to assist the Director and allow her to work on program needs.

DISCUSSION OF CURRENT OPERATING BUDGET

Mrs. Sullivan provided copies of the Health Insurance Analysis and Object Summary. The health insurance claims for October were significantly higher than previous months and the expenses are trending upward. A review of the object summary indicated higher than anticipated expenditures due to three extended leaves due to illness and two significant unanticipated developments in the special education area. As a result, Mrs. Sullivan recommended a temporary freeze on the budget until there is a better understanding of the extent of the unanticipated developments.

BOARD PRIORITIES FOR 2008-2009 SCHOOL-DISTRICT BUDGET

Board members offered their priorities for the upcoming budget.

Underberger: suggested a review of transportation, especially in light of the letter from Mr. Kupinse regarding a seat for every student; explore any options that could reduce transportation costs.

Cohen: support for the social worker position at each school; suggested inclusion of non-core extra curricular activities.

Allan: support for an upgrade of the computers at Samuel Staples Elementary School, and support for an increase in the writing specialist position.

Katz: support for the reading specialists and social worker positions; support for the Smart Board program; suggestion to begin discussions of a pilot program for the gifted students including consideration of the cost and value.

METRICS AND MEASUREMENTS FOR SCHOOL SUCCESS

Dr. Fossbender has formed a committee to discuss what criteria can and should be used to evaluate the schools and areas for remediation or improvement. Dr. Fossbender reported the committee is made of representatives of school administration, Easton, Region #9, and Redding boards of education, the Easton Learning Foundation, Redding Education Foundation, the Easton, Redding & Region #9 education associations, and students from Joel Barlow High School, is being constituted. The first meeting of the committee will be scheduled for late November and the committee will conclude their work in February.

TECHNOLOGY LEASE AGREEMENT

Mrs. Sullivan reported the lease for computer equipment at Helen Keller Middle School is ready for signing. The 5-year lease for the $250,000 of equipment will have an annual cost of $54,664.

Motion: move to authorize Director of Finance, Peggy Sullivan, to sign the 5-year lease agreement for the purchase of computer equipment as discussed. Allan, Underberger.

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS

Central Office Committee: Mrs. Sullivan reported the Easton Committee working on the Central Office project has hired architect Steve Rowland for the job. Work is moving forward.

Strategic School Profile: Dr. Fossbender distributed the Strategic School Profile for review. Discussion of the report will be an agenda item for the next meeting.

PUBLIC COMMENT

Margo Abrams: asked if the personalized learning program addressed the needs of gifted and talented students. Dr. Fossbender responded that the personalized learning program would recognize these needs, but Gifted and Talented programs usually require separate resources and specialized teaching skills, and a program that would not be included in the regular classroom.

BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS

Dr. Cohen expressed a concern that the recess time is sometimes denied students as a disciplinary measure. She stressed the need for children to be active and suggested that alternative means be used for discipline. Dr. Fossbender asked the building administrators to review the issue and discussion will be scheduled for the next board meeting.

ADJOURNMENT

Motion: move to adjourn the November 13, 2007 meeting. Allan, Underberger.

The meeting adjourned at 9:31 pm

Respectfully submitted,

Recorded by Mary Maday