REDDING BOARD OF EDUCATION

MEETING

MAY 13, 2008

 

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

Administration: Fossbender, Sullivan, Mas, Pierson, Johnson, Martin, Wallin, Farrell, Freeston

Others: 13 members of the community and a representative of the Redding Pilot

 

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

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Motion:  move to approve the minutes of the March 31, 2008 meeting as submitted.  Joyce-Kirk, Miller.  Approved. Unanimous.

 

Motion: move to approve the minutes of the April 1, 2008 meeting as corrected.  Joyce-Kirk, Miller. Approved. Unanimous.

Correction:  page 2, under Discussion of current budget, line 3, the savings totaled $102,687; page 3, under Administrative Reports, line 2, …related to special education in Fairfield County.

 

PUBLIC COMMENT

Ron Wendschuh:  asked why the board was so willing to accept the directive of the Board of Finance to reduce the 2008-2009 budget by $125,000.  He asked that they not cut a cent from the budget.

 

BOARD MEMBER COMMENT

Mr. Goldberg stated that the Board of Finance has the ability to direct a reduction in the budget, but he believes that the board members have the best interests of the school in mind.

 

Mr. Miller commented that he did not understand the rational of the request for a reduction.

 

DISCUSSION AND ACTION ON THE 2008-2009 PROPOSED OPERATING BUDGET

The Board of Financed requested a reduction in the school budget of $125,000 following the defeat of the budget referendum.

 

The administration presented a series of reductions totaling $125,000 for consideration. Included in the reductions:

Defer purchase of Powerschool, $23,000

Magnet school transportation $40,498

Remove RES Library additional time, $3,025

Remove RES ERB testing, $1,500

Reduction in Central Office Expenditures, $6,693

Defer Social Studies Alive/5th grade textbook purchase, $4,000

Defer Pre Algebra/Algebra textbook purchase, $13,000

Reduction in Special Ed outside services, equipment, supplies, $19,071

Reductions in JRMS conferences, PD, equipment, $5,642

Reductions in RES PE supplies, furniture, instructional supplies, $8,571

 

Mrs. Sullivan reported she anticipates an end-of-year balance in the Medical Reserve Fund of $343,905, (the number reflects the $150,000 reduction).  That amount is approximately 1.75 month reserve; the consultant recommends a minimum of one month reserve.

 

Board members reviewed and discussed the reductions.

 

Motion:  move that the Redding Board of Education reduce the 2008-2009 proposed operating budget by $125,000 as requested by the Board of Finance, with specific reductions of Magnet school transportation $40,498 and reduction in Central Office Expenditures, $6,693, and defer specifying the remaining reductions pending further review of the level of the Medical Reserve Fund.  Barickman, Goldberg.  Approved. Unanimous.

 

Mr. Barickman will prepare a draft explanation of the reduction for communication to the community.

 

AGENDA ADDITION

Motion:  move to add public comment at this point.  Gaspar, Miller.  Approved. Unanimous.

 

PUBLIC COMMENT

Mike D’Agostino:  questioned why the board would defer the purchase of the Social Studies textbooks, especially since the book being used is very outdated.

 

Dana Gray:  support for including the purchase of the textbooks.

 

DISCUSSION AND ACTION: HEALTHY FOOD CERTIFICATION   

Motion:  move that the Redding Board of Education certify that all food items offered for sale to students in the schools under their jurisdiction, and not exempted from the Connecticut Nutrition Standards published by the Connecticut State Department of Education will meet said standards during the period of July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009.  Such certification shall include all food offered for sale to students separately from reimbursable meals at all items and from all sources, including but not limited to, school stores, vending machines, school cafeterias, and any fundraising activities on school premises, whether or not school sponsored. Miller, Joyce-Kirk.  Approved. Unanimous.

 

DISCUSSION OF THE CONCEPT OF A MIDDLE SCHOOL WRITING CENTER

Mrs. Martin and Mrs. Mas provided an overview of how the Writing Center concept functions at John Read Middle School. 

 

FIRST READING OF POLICY

Motion:  move that the Redding Board of Education accept Policy 1332 (Program Accessibility in Schools and Facilities. Joyce-Kirk, Goldberg.  Approved. Unanimous.

 

SECOND READING OF POLICIES

Policy 1411, Law Enforcement Agencies:  action on this policy was postponed, pending further revision.

 

Motion:  Move that the Redding Board of Education accept Policy 3524.1 Hazardous Material in Schools, as modified, for a second and final reading.  Miller, Joyce-Kirk

 

Motion:  Move that the Redding Board of Education accept Policy 4152.6 Family and Medical Leave of Absence for a second and final reading.  Gaspar, Joyce-Kirk.  Approved. Unanimous.

 

Motion:  Move that the Redding Board of Education accept Policy5114 Student Discipline and Due Process for a second and final reading.  Miller, Joyce-Kirk.  Approved. Unanimous.

 

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS

Dr. Fossbender provided a copy of a letter from the Commissioner of Education on high school design, an update on contract settlement, and an article on the importance of improving science education in the United States.

 

Redding Elementary School: Ms. Pierson thanked the RES PTA for events and recognition provided for staff for staff appreciation week.  The Kindergarten Readiness Night and Kindergarten visitation events were very successful.  Another highlight was a visit by Commander Pamela Melroy who piloted the space shuttle Discover on October 23, 2007.  Mrs. Johnson reported the children were very inspired and she thanked the Goodrich Corporation for underwriting the visit.

 

Special Services: Mr. Farrell reported the staff is busy with PPT’s and with preparation for the transition of students from 4th to 5th grades and 8th to high school.

 

Director of Finance: Mrs. Sullivan provided copies of the Sodexho newsletter that included information on the increase in healthy meals being served to the students. Mrs. Sullivan also reported the parking issues at RES are being addressed. Mr. Larkin, Head Custodian, has recommended providing 20 parking spaces around the center island at the front of the school. The plan will need to be reviewed by the Zoning Department and Fire Marshall.

 

John Read Middle School: Mrs. Wallin thanked the JRMS PTA for staff appreciation week. She announced that 7th grade student, Anthony Riso, was an honoree for is Anti-Tobacco Graphic Design in a RYASAP contest.

 

METRICS COMMITTEE

Mr. Gaspar reported the website is being developed.

 

PTA LIAISON COMMITTEE

Mr. Gaspar reported the last meeting included discussion of budget issues and ILA instruction.

 

CURRICULUM COMMITTEE

Mrs. Joyce-Kirk reported the committee is continuing the work on the ILA curriculum and improvements are being developed for better continuity between RES & JRMS & Barlow.

 

AGENDA ADDITION

Motion:  Move that the Agenda be amended to include a discussion of teacher & staff negotiations in executive session.  Goldberg, Miller.  Approved. Unanimous.

 

PUBLIC COMMENT

Mike D’Agostino: expressed concern for transportation costs which appears to be over budget; the importance of improvements to and maintenance of facilities, especially the condition of the boiler.

 

Ron Wendschuh:  expressed his disappointment that the Board did not discuss plans to get parents out to vote on the budget.  Dr. Fossbender noted that the Board as a group can only provide information on the budget.  He asked Mr. Wendschuh to consult with individual board members on what they have planned.

 

EXECUTIVE SESSION

Motion:  move to recess to executive session for a discussion of 1) school security and 2) teacher and staff negotiations.  Goldberg, Barickman.  Approved. Unanimous. 

The administrators were asked to be present for the first item.

 

The meeting recessed at 10:00 pm

 

RECONVENE

The Chair reconvened the meeting in public session at 10:30 pm

 

ADJOURNMENT

The meeting was adjourned by the Chair at 10:30 pm.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

Recorded by Mary Maday