|
MANCHESTER
BOARD OF EDUCATION
REGULAR MEETING MONDAY, JULY 10, 2006 |
|
|
M
I N U T E S
|
|
|
7:30
p.m.
Lincoln Center |
|
|
A. OPENING PRESENT: Crockett, Edwards, Hackett, Rizzo, Small-Miller, Stafford, Pohl ABSENT: Huyler ALSO
Superintendent of Schools Ouellette, Director of Business A.2.
Pledge of Allegiance A.3. Nomination to Fill Board Vacancy and Swearing in of Appointed Board Member Ms. Hackett called for nominations to fill the vacancy on the Board arising from the resignation of Mr. Rowe. Ms. Small-Miller said it was an honor and privilege for her to nominate Mr. Enrique Marcano, whom she had known for six years. She had admired Mr. Marcano throughout his Political Campaign, when he pledged to do everything he could in the interests of the Town of Manchester; keep our schools safe from drugs, crime and violence; address the problem of overcrowding in the classrooms and the student/teacher ratio. He encouraged participation in after-school athletic programs in the belief that to keep students busy would greatly decrease juvenile delinquency. Mr. Marcano has a wife and two daughters. Ms. Small-Miller firmly believed that Mr. Marcano would fulfill his pledges. Mr. Crockett said he was honored and privileged to proudly second the nomination of Mr. Enrique Marcano. He looked forward with great excitement, anticipation and expectation, knowing that Mr. Marcano will be a valued edition and bring credit, not only to the Board and the children of Manchester, but to the entire community. There being
no further nominations Ms. Hackett made a motion that the Board approve
the nomination of Mr. Enrique Marcano to fill the remainder of Mr. John
Rowe's term, effective July 2006 through November, 2006. Mr. Marcano was officially sworn in by Mr. Joseph Camposeo, Town Clerk. Mr. Marcano was greeted with a round of applause as he was invited by Ms. Hackett to take his seat on the Board. Mr. Marcano expressed his thanks to the Board Chair and the members for the opportunity to serve on what he termed as "this illustrious Board". He expressed his thanks, especially to his family and friends, for their support. As a Board member he promised to do his very best to ensure that all children receive the quality education Manchester had to offer, and will continue to offer. He reaffirmed his commitment to the citizens of Manchester, and the children; keep them safe from drugs and crime; rectify the overcrowding, and increase parental participation in their children's education. A.4. Minutes of June 26, 2006 Ms. Hackett asked for a Motion to adopt the Minutes of June 26, 2006. MOTION: Rizzo/Pohl s.v. The Manchester Board of Education approved the minutes of June 26, 2006. The motion carried 7/0/2. Ms. Hackett proposed a change in the evening's agenda. One item would be removed and one brought forward, as under: "New Business - Item F.2 - Grievance brought by Manchester School Administrators' Association (MSAA)-RE - Accumulated Sick Leave Payout" removed from the agenda, as the parties involved were not present. "Item F.3- Grievance brought by Manchester School Administrators' Association (MSAA) RE- Retiree Health Insurance" - become Item E.2. A Revised Agenda had already been tabled for the evening's Agenda. MOTION: Edwards/Rizzo s.v. The Manchester Board of Education unanimously approved the changes to the Agenda, as outlined by the Chair. 9/0/0 E. 2.
PUBLIC COMMENTS Humanist Magazine July /August 2006 - Cover story "Are you Prepared for a Terror Attack?" E. Magazine - July/August 2 - 2 articles (a) clean low sulphur in school bus diesel fuel; energy light conservation in schools. Attitude Magazine July/August, 2006, ADD "Attention Deficit" 2 cover stories - Secrets of Parenting: Transition from Classroom to camp." - can be purchased at Borders Bookstore. Child Safety
during the summer participating in various sports activities. C.1. Accelerated Middle School Schedule - Facilities Update Mr. Keith Epstein extended his personal congratulations to Mr. Marcano on becoming a new Board member. Mr. Epstein reported on the following projects: Swing Space: Moving ahead at a quick pace; Martin: Individual projects - foundations are already in place, etc. concrete floor to be poured on July 11; Major items awaited are steel and masonry and Mr. Epstein gave a detailed report on these two items. Bricks are expected to be shipped between August 10/14; delivery of steel may be two weeks behind but this should not affect overall schedule. The situation will be monitored. Buckley:
Rooms have been completely gutted; asbestos removed and work moving
along. Bowers, Verplanck, and Keeney: Movable partitions being installed: prep work being done; should be finished within schedule. Ms. Hackett thanked Mr. Epstein for ensuring the Board had received copies of the agendas and minutes of the Building & Sites Committee meetings. Mr. Stafford had a question on the progress at Waddell School, particularly regarding the sprinkler system and was told this represented an odd scenario. It appeared that vermiculite was discovered in the attic space and numerous tests have been carried out to rule out the possibility of asbestos content. An Abatement Contractor will be hired to remove the ceiling and the vermiculite, to avoid the slightest risk of the presence of asbestos; this process should take about one week. Mr. Stafford asked if we were on target for furniture for both Bowers and Waddell and was informed there was a commitment date for delivery of between August 14/18 for all the furniture, with the exception that the Chair and Desk manufacturer would not give a commitment until a week before they delivered. They have said they feel they will make their delivery by the 18th so we should be on schedule for the opening of the schools. Manchester High School: Mr. Epstein gave a detailed report on the work in progress and said he would like to have the Board visit the site before the school opens to see how the work was coming along. Dr. Ouellette asked how members would go about arranging to visit the school site, and was told that Mrs. Brooks could coordinate this with him. He would arrange for the necessary protective hard hats to be available for them to wear, as they conducted their tour. D. CONSENT CALENDAR Dr. Ouellette said there were two items on the Consent Calendar she would like to bring to the Board's attention. She requested the following items be approved by the Manchester Board of Education: D.1 Personnel Action RESIGNATIONS: Christina Barrett, Special Education Teacher, Manchester High School: submitted her letter of resignation on retirement, effective the end of business on June 30, 2006. Ms. Barrett had been with Manchester Public Schools since November 17, 1999. It was recommended that her resignation be approved. Dr. Ouellette extended her best wishes to Ms. Barrett in her retirement and future endeavors. APPOINTMENTS: Dr. Ouellette
welcomed the new team of professionals to the teaching staff: Parang Joshi: Social Studies Teacher, Manchester High School. Mr. Joshi received his Master's Degree in Policy Analysis & Evaluation at Stanford University. Currently, Mr. Joshi is working toward his Doctorate in Social Studies Education at Columbia University. He resides in Vernon. Robin Kristoff: Grade 1 teacher at Washington School. Ms Kristoff received her Masters Degree in Holistic Thinking at the Graduate Institute, Milford, Ct. She resides in Manchester. Kimberly Lance: English Teacher, Manchester High School. Ms. Lance received her Bachelor's Degree in English at St. Joseph's College. She resides in Manchester. Karen Layman: Grade 3 Teacher, Robertson School. Ms. Layman received her Bachelor's Degree in Psychology and Elementary Education at Eastern Connecticut State University. She resides in Coventry. Stephen O'Reilly: English Teacher, Manchester High School. Mr. O'Reilly received his Bachelor's Degree in English at Eastern Connecticut State University. He resides in Manchester. D.2. Appropriation for Education Special Projects - $766,000 State Teachers' Retirement Grant for the 2006/2007 Fiscal Year Each year the Manchester Board of Education receives grant funds from the State Teacher's Retirement Board to subsidize health insurance premiums for retirees. Retired teachers and administrators can elect to continue health insurance coverage through Manchester Public Schools. When they do, the Manchester Board of Education receives the subsidy. D3. Appropriation for Education Special Projects - $150,000 Medicaid Grant for the 2006/2007 Fiscal Year The Manchester Board of Education receives funds from the State of Connecticut Department of Social Services for Medicaid eligible Special Education and related services. The anticipated payment of Medicaid funds is calculated as part of the Special Education budget. Ms Hackett made a motion to approve the Consent Calendar. MOTION: Rizzo/Edwards s.v. The Manchester Board of Education approved the Consent Calendar, as presented by the Superintendent of Schools. 9/0/0. E. OLD BUSINESS E.1. Superintendent of Schools' Evaluation Ms. Hackett stated that this process had not yet been completed and the public would be informed when this had been done. E.2 Grievance Brought by Manchester School Administrators' Association(MSAA) Re-Retiree Health Insurance Ms. Hackett called for a motion, and Mr. Edwards moved that the Manchester Board of Education deny the Grievance, as outlined. MOTION: Edwards/Rizzo s.v. The Manchester Board of Education agreed to deny the Grievance brought by the MSAA. The motion carried 7/1/1. F. NEW BUSINESS F.1 Board of Education Self Evaluation Ms.Hackett reminded the Board this was an annual process they participated in; taking a thoughtful look at how the Board conducted itself; what the dynamics were between the members in trying to come to agreement with onboard issues, putting forth the best light possible to the public. There are several categories of evaluation: questions had arisen previously on the evaluation, subsequently last year's document was being looked at to clear up any uncertainties before it would be made available. This may be done in August, to make allowance for the vacation season. G. COMMUNICATIONS No communications were reported. H. COMMITTEE REPORTS Mr. Edwards summarized the Building & Sites Committee meeting held on June 29, 2006. The FY2006/07 meeting schedule was reviewed and approved, with the elimination of August 10, 2006 and the addition of August 24, 2006. Meetings will begin at 5:30 p.m. and be held in the Board Room at Central Office. Mr. Keith Epstein updated the Committee on building projects: Waddell & Bowers: There were still minor items on the punch list and these should be completed by June 30th. Gar San is doing the work and billing the contractors; there was a discussion on how to get contractors to respond to punch list items and Mr. Epstein said this was very difficult because the contractors were onto other projects and the amount of money held back was minor when they were on another job. Ms. Hackett expressed disappointment with teachers defacing lockers with stickers. She would like teachers to be requested to find another way to identify student lockers so that the lockers do not get damaged. Mrs. Brooks will share this concern with the building principals. Buckley: The Michael James Construction Company was a little behind, with the finding of asbestos on piping in the wall. The asbestos needed to be abated before the project was continued. Martin School: Additional classrooms moving along on schedule; Keeney: Construction was on schedule, with a projected completion date of August 19. Manchester High School: Project moving rapidly. Demotion began at the start of summer vacation. Asbestos wrapped piping found in corridor ceilings and needs to be abated. Construction work is being done 10 hours per day, six days per week. Illing: Phase I bids came in at $40,000 under budget. Phase II going to the State for approval and project should be out to bid by mid-August. Bennet: Project moving along. No change since Committee last viewed the drawings. Approximately $40,000 over budget with 80% construction document estimates. Project will be taken to the State Facilities Unit in mid-July and out to bid later this summer. Mr. Edwards asked if the FF&E was cut to get the project under budget and was told that it had not been cut; there was a $300,000 savings with keeping the exterior walls, plus a reduction in the escalation cost and architect's fee. Ms. Guarnaccia will send the final list of reductions to the Building & Sites Committee. Ms. Guarnaccia reported that all the houses are under contract to provide green space. She had been able to stay within budget with the purchases. There was an additional $900,000 to do site work. The amount of land acquired for green space is 130ft x 200ft. Mrs. Brooks reported on the roof leak that occurred at the high school when water was approximately five inches deep in a section of the library. Damages included 350-400 library books; library carpeting; ceiling tiles and Classroom 210. Water had also leaked down to the 1st floor, affecting carpeting in the Grade Level Principal's offices, and secretaries' offices. The bookkeeper's office needs to be replaced, also a portion of the walls and ceiling tiles. Mr. Epstein reported that the roofing contractor had not been at fault; the patch they did to test the insulation did not fail; it was the membrane around the patch that failed. A claim to the Board's insurance company had been made; the deductible being $50,000. Mrs. Brooks will keep track of the overtime costs for the custodians who worked on Sunday for the clean up, which will go towards the deductible. Mr. Pohl had a question about the humidity problem at Highland Park and was informed that nothing could be done about this at the current time. There was a discussion on requesting the Directors to have a fall referendum for building construction shortfalls and Mr. Epstein said that the bids for Bennet would not be opened until the fall. The request for a referendum was tabled. The next meeting of the Committee would be July 13, at 5:30 p.m. in the Central Office Boardroom. I. PUBLIC COMMENTS Mr. Stringfellow supported all the items on the Consent Calendar; approved the report given by Mr. Epstein about Middle School renovation, and said he was impressed by the utmost concern being shown for student safety with the asbestos removal and abatement process. Mr. Stringfellow hoped the budget procedures would go well for both middle school and the green space project; that the damage to the MHS library can be repaired, and rugs replaced. He believed the right person is on the job and, hopefully, the contractors will have the work done on time. Mary Angeli, 65 White Street, commented that she had spoken to Mr. Epstein on the Bennet project and was very happy to learn that it was not over budget. She was delighted to know that the windows to be installed were going to be the universal type, which could remain opened or closed, meaning they do not have to have air conditioning. Some kind of ductwork will be put into the building so that air conditioning may be installed at a later time, if that becomes necessary. She thought it was important for the taxpayers to know that while we are helping our students, at the same time we are also looking at the financial situation. We have a global warming; we have a calendar that could even be adjusted to possibly have students out of the school by June 8th. With the global warming, we definitely have longer springs, so may not have to pay for air conditioning at all. Ms. Angeli referred to the Waddell School project and the non-dangerous substance that had been found there. She was impressed that the Town was so conscientious that they had decided, in the safety of the children, to go ahead with removing it. J. ITEMS FOR FUTURE AGENDAS No items were proposed for future agendas. MOTION: Pohl/Edwards s.v. The Manchester Board of Education adjourned at 8:30 p.m. 9/0/0. Respectfully submitted, Michael
Rizzo, Secretary |