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MANCHESTER
BOARD OF EDUCATION
REGULAR MEETING MONDAY, APRIL 24, 2006 |
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M
I N U T E S
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7:30
p.m.
Lincoln Center |
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OPENING
PRESENT:
Rowe, Small-Miller, Crockett, Rizzo, Hackett, Huyler, ALSO
Superintendent of Schools Ouellette, Director of Business A.1
Call to Order A.2.
Pledge of Allegiance A.3.
Nomination to Fill Board Vacancy Mr. Stafford nominated Mr. Michael Pohl for the Board vacancy. Mrs. Huyler seconded the nomination. There being
no further nominations the board voted to approve the nomination. Mr. Pohl was officially sworn in by Mr. Joseph Camposeo, Town Clerk. Mr. Rizzo, in his welcoming remarks said that Mr. Pohl had been involved in local politics for several years. He has been the Democratic Town Committee secretary since 2004 and managed the Campaigns of State Rep. Ryan P. Barry in 2002/2004 and Mr. Golas in 2003. It was obvious from his record that Mr. Pohl was very dedicated and committed to the Town of Manchester and everyone on the Board is looking forward to working with a man who shared their belief that children's social and personal growth should be important parts of their education.
MOTION: Rizzo/Stafford s.v. The Manchester Board of Education approved the minutes of April 10, 2006. The motion carried unanimously. Ms. Hackett announced that Ms. Ouellette had just been awarded her Doctorate at the University of Hartford that morning. She congratulated Dr. Ouellette on all her hard work and commitment, and presented her with a bouquet on behalf of the Board. Ms. Hackett asked the Recording Secretary to replace Ms. Ouellette's nameplate with one which reflected her new title. Dr. Ouellette said she appreciated the Board's support throughout the long in-depth process. She wanted to expressly thank her parents who had been supportive of her throughout her professional career. B. Superintendent's Report - Part I B.2.
Connecticut Association of Boards of Education (CABE) Award Mr. Sierakowski said that the award reflected the contributions of a number of teachers, administrators, parents, and teachers. B.1.
Robertson Elementary School "i-movie' Presentation Ms. Doherty invited five 3rd Grade students; Nikki Purtel, Dastar Pagdiwala, Ajeet Sandhu, Mackenzie Ranzoni, Kwabena Appiah-Yeboah and Drew Noel to describe their personal input to the " i-movie". Ms. Hackett
thanked the students for a wonderful job. C. PUBLIC
COMMENTS 2) Tom
Stringfellow, 183 Hillstown Road Mr. Stringfellow met E.R. Braithwaite, author of "To Sir, with Love". Dr. Braithwaite is to be Commencement Speaker at Manchester Community College on May 25th. Dr. Braithwaite is an RAF veteran from WWII. Thursday, April 27th, the College will hold its 8th Annual Cultural Diversity Day from 10:30am-3:00pm. Article by Karen Jenkins "Foreign Language Skills" talked about how the world is changing as regards to language skills. Congratulations to Mr. Sierakowski on the Student Handbook. June 13th Conference at UConn on "Closing the Achievement Gap". Dr. James Comer, Yale University is to be the keynote speaker. April 27th Dr. Jawanza Kunjufu will speak at the Connecticut Legislative Office. D. Student
Representative Report The 11th Annual Mr. MHS Competition is planned for Friday, April 28th in the Bailey Auditorium at 7:30pm. "Christmas In April" is on Saturday, April 29th. Several groups from Manchester High School will be performing community work. Examinations will start on May 2nd. The Junior Prom will be held at The Colony, Vernon, on May 6th. Tickets are now on sale. Elections for class officers have taken place for the Class of 2007 downwards. Other clubs in the school will follow suit. Amber Bansavich won a National Award in the Scholastic Art and Writing Competition. Her art submission will be displayed in Carnegie Hall throughout June and Corkrin Gallery (Smithsonian) in Washington, D.C. throughout July. Only one half of 1% of the students who submitted were chosen for this award. Construction has begun at the High School. The Faculty parking lot has been fenced off but presently is not affecting students. Blueprints could be viewed in the Library. Proficiency Days had been well attended and were working well. Mr. Edwards professed his pleasure at the success of the Roundtable singers and expressed his desire to see them perform for the Board. E. CONSENT
CALENDAR
Dr. Ouellette explained that the remaining items on the Consent Calendar were self-explanatory and asked for a motion to approve the Consent Calendar. MOTION: Rizzo/Edwards s.v. The Board of Education voted unanimously to approve the Consent Calendar, as outlined by the Superintendent.
F1.
New Horizons Update - Diane Kearney/Bruce Thorndike Mr. Thorndike
explained that his committee had been appointed to develop ideas to
strengthen the continuum of educational options that existed in Manchester. Conceptual
Overview - aimed at students who have demonstrated, through their behavior,
that they require more intensive programming; Mr. Thorndike and Ms. Kearney elaborated on the paragraphs outlined. Mr. Rizzo said he was familiar with this program through his participation in the Curriculum Committee. He had come to the realization that major disciplinary problems do not have one simple answer. Mr. Rizzo asked Mr. Thorndike to confirm firstly, the need for the program; secondly, how many needs would be addressed by it. Mrs. Tait described it as "a moving target", dependent on what was going on in the community. The idea was to make the program small enough to ensure its success. Once it is learned how it is working, it may then be possible to expand it. It is not a full day program, and students would not be in it for an extended period of time. Mr. Edwards confirmed that he, too, is familiar with the Program. He was concerned about expelled students. Mrs. Tait told him that the program was not appropriate for every student who is either expelled, or almost expelled. Mr. Edwards stressed the importance of understanding this aspect of the program and was reassured by Mrs. Tait that there is a Screening Committee. Mr. Edwards brought up budget issues and Mrs. Tait told him that five students are currently being paid for, which is a fair amount of money. At some point, Mr. Edwards would like to know the actual cost. Mr. Pohl queried that if once a student was brought into the program and had made a connection with staff, could they find ongoing support when they returned to their original school. Ms. Kearney thought there would likely be at least one member of staff who could provide a continuing relationship. She added that the Student Support Center at the high school, as well as Guidance Counselors, play an integral part to ensure that the transition is a smooth one. Mrs. Huyler
thought the program could be likened to a 'test' or a type of crutch
while something was being mended. Ms. Kearney told her it was a time
for a student to regroup and give him/her an opportunity to reflect
on his/her behavior. Students would be in group counseling. Ms. Kearney
emphasized that the key to the program was staff. Having certified trained
staff and Special Education Staff was the key because they had the expertise.
Ms. Huyler asked how many students might not meet the criteria. Mr.
Thorndike responded that there was not going to be a criteria per se`.
Personnel on the Review Panel would be the decisive factor. Mr. Crockett confirmed that the program operated Monday through Thursday. Mr. Crockett asked if the student had an option and Mrs. Tait said they did not; that this was it. Mr. Crockett asked for an approximate number of students, at a given time, and was told ten to twelve at the most. It would not be mandatory for a student to attend the program but parents were supportive of the idea. Mrs. Tait stated that if they at least 'break even' with the program there might even be the possibility of making some money. It would not incur more expense than the current expenditure. The ultimate aim was to help students succeed. Mr. Thorndike informed Ms. Small-Miller that he was going to invite Dr. Braithwaite, Author of "To Sir, With Love" to come to Manchester Regional Academy, as he thought his message would be inspirational. Ms. Hackett asked for some clarification on the fact that they had been discussing a new program. Apparently this is an alternative to an expulsion program that was recommended in the Superintendent's Budget for FY '06/07. Ms. Hackett wanted to know if this was the first presentation to the Board on this program. Ms. Hackett thought there was an existing program titled "New Horizons". Ms. Tait said this was correct, but the one under discussion is the new "New Horizons." Ms. Hackett thought this might cause some confusion and suggested they come up with a new title. Mrs. Tait said the reason for naming the program New Horizons was that using the original name had provided the financing to open the new program. Ms. Hackett asked if a student was expelled but coming to the program in the evening, would they then not receive any afternoon tutoring services at Bentley. Mrs. Tait said that was correct. Mrs. Tait assured Ms. Hackett that there would be some flexibility for students who might not meet the criteria to get some out of district program. It was expected, however, that most students would make it though this program. Mr. Crockett asked if there was a potential for profit in running the program and was told by Mrs. Tait that if the program went well they might look at expanding the program to include more students. The MRA facility could accommodate seventy-five students. F.2
Summer School Tuition - Bruce Thorndike. Mr. Rizzo asked Ms. Brooks if it was the Board's practice to reduce tuition if a student was unable to afford it. He also wanted to know the number of students who had taken advantage of that option. Ms. Brooks did not have the exact number and was requested to ascertain this at some point. Mr. Edwards talked about reduced tuition saying it was not a case of "a free ride". There is a cost for everybody. He perceived the rationale was that Summer School courses at the high school were offered to make up for a course that the student had either failed, or not attended. This was like a makeup chance but everyone should have to pay something. Mr. Thorndike quoted up to 75%. However, not a lot of students had applied for a reduced rate. Mr. Rowe asked for confirmation that these courses are just for students who fail a course during the school year rather than an excuse to graduate early, and was told by Mr. Thorndike that it was the former reason. Ms. Hackett recalled previous discussions of this issue when she was serving on sub committees and emphasized that the Board needed to make sure it did not run into a shortfall by offering this program. This is an important issue and needs to be looked at closely every year. F.3.
Policy - Sniffer Dogs/Wands/Breathalyzers Mr. Bishop reported that the majority of students understood the importance of safety and security and thrive in a safe atmosphere. Our schools reflect the issues in the community, and presently a small percentage of individuals had chosen to test our community with aggressive criminal behavior. The police department and town agencies had accepted the challenges and were responding in a professional manner to curb such actions. Additional security staff had been added to Manchester High School and Bennet Middle School. It was anticipated that the security staff presently assigned to Bennet would be assigned to Illing School, bringing the total to three. It was also anticipated that Illing would have a full-time SRO. Mr. Bishop recommends including the need for increased security into the Policy 3510 facility maintenance. He believed additional technological improvements, security alarm systems, fire safety, cameras, card access, etc., should continue throughout the district. Metal detecting wands should be considered and entry buzzer systems needed to be completed at remaining elementary schools. A full facility camera system needed to be installed at Illing School. Specifically, the use of sniffer dogs would provide a method for detecting the presence of illegal materials. Ms. Libby and Mr. Bishop, acting under the direction of the Board, had made comparisons with other districts on their security measures. The focus had been on metal detectors, particularly the sub-category of wands, sniffer dogs and breathalyzer equipment. All of these come under the concept of a 'search.' The federal and state courts had determined that there were legal standards as to whether a search was both legal and reasonable. Starting off with the U.S. Constitution and Fourth Amendment, which protects individuals from unreasonable search and seizure, the question must always be asked, "Is the search reasonable/unreasonable? Ms. Libby defined that where certain school property was concerned a search could be considered either acceptable or unacceptable, e.g., if a certain student was suspected of carrying something illegal, a wand could be used to search, and they could properly show that this was a reasonable search. It was learned that breathalyzers were used in a number of schools for the purpose of ascertaining if a student was inebriated. New breathalyzers could detect the presence of alcohol without the necessity of a person having to breathe into it. If sniffer dogs are to enter schools they will have to be trained dogs, and handled by trained police. Metal wands and breathalyzers would be the responsibility of school officials, who would also have to be trained to a very high degree and the equipment used absolutely reliable. Mr. Rowe wanted to know in which schools we would be implementing buzzer systems and was told by Mr. Bishop that presently Robertson was the first on the list to be completed. Additional buzzers are needed at Martin, Highland Park and Bowers. The buzzer systems have the ability of a camera at the door which, when activated, is directed towards the individual, and a picture may be brought up on a computer screen. Mr. Rowe wanted to know if reasonable cause had to be shown before a metal detector was used and what was the law governing its use. Ms. Libby said it would be used in a situation where there was a strong belief that someone was carrying in a metal weapon. It would also have the effect of slowing down entry into the school. Although this would be considered a search, it would be non-intrusive and reasonable. Ms. Libby informed Mr. Rowe that if a wand were to be used, personnel involved would require to be trained very carefully and show sensitivity for the individual. In many instances wanding had been used where a particular individual had given cause for suspicion. Mr. Rowe said he supported sniffer dogs going into the schools. This action would show the public that the Board was doing everything within its powers to put a stop to illegal practices. He also favored the use of wands to prevent metal weapons from being brought into schools. Mr. Pohl wanted to know what a dog would specifically hit on if brought into the schools. Mr. Bishop told him that dogs are trained to detect the presence of various things. Each dog may be trained differently, depending on different circumstances. Mr. Pohl wanted to know if the dog always hits on contraband or on someone who happened to be in the area of a person who was smoking marijuana. Mr. Bishop said the dogs are very sensitive, but are highly trained, and normally would hit on a significant item, rather than one of residue. Mr. Pohl was concerned that we strike a balance and not create a police state at the high school. Mr. Bishop responded that this would not be the case. It would merely be giving the Board another tool to assist in keeping students safe. Mr. Rizzo agreed with Mr. Pohl's views. He said there was a very fine line to be drawn here. We are looking at a deterrent rather than apprehension. As a Board we needed to establish policies and practices that would deter people from breaking the law. The security factor should be included in all our future programs. He said we needed to ensure that school staff is knowledgeable about how to deal swiftly and effectively with students who break the law. Mr. Edwards stated the safety of our students is our first mission. He supported the idea of sniffer dogs entering the schools to track down on narcotics being brought in. The question of wands, however, needed further studying, because of the legal issues involved. This step would require some administrative guidelines. He observed that it was ironic that it is all right to use a breathalyzer to make sure that someone goes to a dance sober, but not enter a school sober. Mr. Edwards said the issue of cameras would be his greatest concern. Staff could not be in two places at one time. If students knew where cameras were placed they would, obviously, avoid them. He pinpointed the second floor of the high school, which has no camera, but recognized that Mrs. Brooks was working on those budget issues. He was supportive of the idea that as the Bennet and High Schools are renovated, we cover these items. Mr. Bishop stated that his security staff would be willing to sit down with the Boards and committees for further discussions. Ms. Hackett expressed her thanks to members of the public, parents, and other community members, who had responded to her request to provide feedback on the subject. Their feedback had been very positive. She reiterated that if the Board could not provide a safe learning environment for students they were failing in their mission. Previously the Board had not voted on, or been involved, in security matters, as security did not come under its jurisdiction. Administration had a lot of latitude to employ all or any of the security measures discussed. In actual fact, the Board did not need to take a vote to allow school administrators to plan for possible police dog searches. Ms. Hackett suggested that the Superintendent, in conjunction with Building staff, take the necessary steps to commence whatever steps they deemed necessary. F.4.
Accelerated Middle School Schedule Update - Dr. Ouellette The postings of all 2006/7 "Other Salary" and Extracurricular positions that had been consolidated would close Friday, April 28, 2006. A Selection Committee would be appointed to interview candidates and make their recommendations. May 31, 2006 is the Target Date to complete all other personnel transfers. This group includes school nurses, secretaries, food services and custodians. G. COMMUNICATIONS Ms. Huyler reported on her participation at a very successful Kindergarten Registration event at Central Office earlier that day. Ms. Hackett paid recognition to Linda Gejda, Curriculum Supervisor, who had received her Doctorate in Education at the University of Hartford.
Community
Relations Committee - Ms. Small-Miller Mr. Rowe mentioned three alternative plans: 1) Redistricting; 2) Controlled Choice; 3) Paired Sister Schools. The outcome will depend on community reaction to each option. The challenges are racially balancing schools and Quality of Schools. Mr. Stringfellow thought the matter should be dealt with in a positive manner, recognizing that the state's focus is to bring people together. Mr. Crockett commented that people buy homes in certain neighborhoods for a reason and redrawing of the lines might be easier. It was suggested that two schools be taken off-line providing it did not hurt the students and community they impacted. Wellness
Policy Strategic
Plan Mr. Rizzo said the committee needed to assess what they had/had not accomplished with the current plan. Everyone needed to be involved in the planning process. Mr. Stringfellow expressed the opinion that seeking feedback from the PTA was important, as this would provide invaluable information on students' progress. I.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Mr. Pohl queried if there was a calendar of school events and was informed by Dr. Ouellette that this information could be obtained at either the individual website or at the Manchester Board of Education websites. The Calendar of Events is recorded district-wide. Ms. Hackett expressed her concern about Peer Editing, which, allegedly, is being done in lieu of a teacher doing a complete edit. She would like someone to look into the issue. MOTION:
Edwards/Rizzo s.v. To adjourn: 10:05p.m. 9/0/0 Michael
Rizzo, Secretary |