REDDING BOARD OF EDUCATION

MEETING

April 1, 2008

 

Present: Barickman, Brey, Gaspar, Goldberg, Joyce-Kirk, Lewson, Miller

Administration: Fossbender, Sullivan, Pierson, Johnson, Martin, Wallin

Others: five members of the community

 

Mr. Lewson called the meeting to order at 7:35 pm.

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Motion:  move to approve the minutes of the March 3, 2008 meeting as submitted.  Barickman, Joyce-Kirk.  Approved. 6-0-1.  Miller abstained.

 

Motion: move to approve the minutes of the March 4, 2008 meeting as corrected.  Gaspar, Joyce-Kirk.  Approved. Unanimous.

Correction:  page 1, insert the following prior to the motion regarding the nonrenewals

“Dr. Fossbender noted that the following nonrenewal action is a procedure required by law.  He emphasized his respect and appreciation for the many contributions that the identified teachers made to the school community.”

 

AGENDA ADDITION
Motion:  move to add Discussion and Possible Action on the 2007-2008 operating budget.  Barickman, Joyce-Kirk.  Approved. Unanimous.

 

PUBLIC COMMENT

Mike D’Agostino, Glen Hill Road:  commented that he thought the Board of Education should have taken a more proactive role and interest in the problems the Park & Recreation Department Extended Day program was having with the growing numbers and lack of facility to accommodate them. Mr. Lewson responded that the program is a Park and Recreation Department and not under the purview of the Board of Education.  The school administration has worked cooperatively with Parks and Recreation to help with the problem.

 

BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS

Mr. Goldberg congratulated the JRMS 5th grade Odyssey of the Mind team for achieving 2nd place recognition in the State and an invitation to compete in the world competition in June. Mr. Miller added his congratulations and also recognized the two teams from RES for their work.

 

Mr. Barickman asked if Mrs. Mas would report on the potential of a writing lab at JRMS for the next meeting. Dr. Fossbender reported the report would be given at the next meeting.  Mrs. Mas was not present due to a family emergency.

 

IMPROVEMENT OF COMMUNICATIONS: RES WEBSITE

Teachers Cindy Rohr and Laura Coates presented an overview of the changes made to the RES website. The new design provides information for both parents and students.  The Board acknowledged the contributions and leadership of Mary Johnson.

 

 

DISCUSSION AND ACTION ON 2008-2009 SCHOOL CALENDAR

The Board addressed a request by the Redding Education Association to change 12/23/08 and the last day of school from full days to minimum days.  Dr. Fossbender consulted with the three representatives of the Calendar Committee, Lewis Goldberg, Cathy Gombos (Region #9 BOE), and Elin Cohen (Easton BOE).  He reported both Mr. Goldberg and Mrs. Gombos favored keeping both days as full days, while Dr. Cohen was agreeable to the request to change the days to minimum days.  Dr. Fossbender suggested the last day of school could be a minimum day based on the need for the teachers at RES to “pack up” their classrooms for the summer.  Many of the RES classrooms are used for Park and Recreation programs during the summer months and all teacher materials need to be packed up.  Discussion of the pros and cons continued on the 12/23 day. 

 

Motion: move that the Redding Board of Education approve a change to the school calendar making the last day of school for the 2008-2009 school year a minimum day.  Brey, Miller.  Approved. 6-0-1.  Mr. Barickman abstained.

 

DISCUSSION AND ACTION ON 2007-2008 OPERATING BUDGET

Mr. Lewson reported on discussions at the March 31, 2008 Board of Finance meeting.  At the Board of Education meeting prior to the Board of Finance meeting, the administration identified an additional $102,607 in savings (including a reduction of $50,000 in the Health Insurance Reserve Fund).  The Board of Education presented this to the Board of Finance along with the proposal to defer $25,000 for paving and request that that amount, with a previously deferred $25,000 for paving, be included in capital funding by the Town of Redding.  The proposal also included removal of the capital item identified in the 2008-2009 operating budget ($28,000 for classroom conversion) to be included in the capital funding by the Town of Redding.

 

The Board of Finance took action to request a Town Meeting to seek approval for funding for capital expenditures of $1,000,000, which includes the Board of Educations request for $50,000 for paving/stair work and $28,000 for classroom conversion.  Action on the request is expected to take place within the month of April.

 

The Board of Education and Board of Selectmen have been asked to revisit their current year budgets with an eye to stopping or deferring all nonessential spending.  Due to extreme shortfalls in anticipated revenues, the Town is exploring all options to stay within the approved 2007-2008 budget. 

 

The administration reviewed the current budget as requested. Mrs. Sullivan recommended that the Health Insurance Reserve Fund be reduced by an additional $100,000, bringing the estimated balance to $316,545.  A long discussion followed.  The Board did not take action, but requested a meeting with the Board of Finance for a discussion of the potential reduction in the Health Insurance Reserve Fund and the risks and consequences of the reduction.  A special meeting with the Board of Finance was planned for Monday, April 7, 2008.

 

INITIATIVES TO SUSTAIN SAFE AND POSITIVE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENTS

Mrs. Martin and Ms. Pierson gave a presentation on how the schools are dealing with inappropriate behavior and bullying.  A discussion followed.

 

 

 

FIRST READING OF POLICIES

Motion:  move that the Redding Board of Education accept the following board policies for a first reading:

1411 Law Enforcement Agencies

3524.1 Hazardous Material in Schools

4152.6 Family and Medical Leave of Absence

5114 Student Discipline and Due Process

Motion by Gaspar, seconded by Goldberg.  Approved. Unanimous.

 

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS

Dr. Fossbender provided a copy of a position paper of the Southern Fairfield County Association of Superintendents related to special education in the State of Connecticut. He reported that the Fairfield County Job Fair provided very positive leads for open positions and thanked the administrators for their participation in the Fair.

 

Redding Elementary School: Ms. Pierson reported on the upcoming coffee with the Principal that will include discussion of coping with bullying and inappropriate behavior at home.

 

John Read Middle School: Mrs. Martin reported the student Conservation Committee has purchased recycle bins and have created a bulleting board to encourage recycling.

 

PTA LIAISON COMMITTEE

Mr. Gaspar reported the most recent PTA Liaison meeting centered on preparation for the upcoming budget referendum.  There was also a discussion and concern about whether the curriculum was driving the CMT tests or vice versa, and a concern about the pressure the CMT testing places on both students and parents.

 

LONG RANGE PLANNING

Mr. Barickman reported the committee met and reaffirmed the guidelines for capital expenditures with a change in the threshold for a capital item changing to $20,000, form $100,000

 

CURRICULUM COMMITTEE

Mrs. Joyce-Kirk reported the committee is in the process of completing their work on ILA discussion and writing a report.

 

METRICS COMMITTEE

Dr. Gaspar distributed the first draft of the set of indicators. A web site for the information is being created for access to the information.

 

BOARD COMMENT

Mr. Barickman made further comments related to the request by the Board of Finance that the Board of Education seek further reductions in its current year expenditures.

 

ADJOURNMENT

The meeting was adjourned at 10:37 pm

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Lewis Brey, Secretary

 

Recorded by Mary Maday