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MANCHESTER
BOARD OF EDUCATION
REGULAR MEETING MONDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2004 |
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M I N U T E S Executive
Session - Personnel Matters |
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7:30
p.m.
Lincoln Center |
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A. OPENING PRESENT: Edwards, Hackett, Holmes, Huyler, Lok, O'Neill*, Rizzo, Robinson, Thresher** ABSENT: None ALSO ABSENT: Director of Human Resources Attorney Libby
Mr. Robinson led the Pledge of Allegiance. Mr. Robinson made a friendly amendment to move item A4, with regard to the Superintendent of Schools, to follow the public comment session. Additionally, he tabled Item F. Old Business to a future meeting. Minutes
of October 12, 2004 and October 14, 2004 MOTION: Hackett/Edwards s.v. The Board of Education accepts the minutes of October 12, 2004. (7/0/2 - Hackett, Lok) MOTION: Hackett/Rizzo s.v. The Board of Education accepts the minutes of October 14, 2004, with a friendly amendment on page 9, Mr. Jasinski's comments, to change $8,000 to $108,000. (9/0/0) Appointment
of Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mistretta stated the search for the Superintendent was conducted through the Human Resources Office headed by Attorney Joan Libby, and in conjunction with New England School Development Council (NESDEC). She stated that under Connecticut General Statutes, it is the responsibility of the Board of Education to elect the Superintendent. She referred to Section 10-157, which reads in part, "that employment of Superintendent shall be by election of the Board of Education…a majority vote of all members of the Board shall be necessary to an election, and the Board shall fix the salary of the Superintendent, and the term of office, which should not exceed three years". In addition, she stated that it is in the bylaws of the Manchester Board of Education, which reads, "the Board shall, in accordance with general statutes of the State of Connecticut, and the Charter of the Town of Manchester, and these bylaws: a) appoint a Superintendent of Schools and evaluate, at least annually, the Superintendent's performance." She stated there were a number of meetings that took place from April through the previous Thursday night (September 21, 2004) that were conducted by the search committee. She assured the public that these meetings are not subject to FOI (Freedom of Information), and therefore do not have to be posted. She stated she had a letter from the Board's lawyer, which read, "we determined that the meetings of a duly appointed personnel search committee need not be posted or conducted as a 'meeting' as described under the Freedom of Information Act. The reasons for this conclusion follow: as a threshold matter, Freedom of Information Act requires that meetings of a public agency must generally be posted in advance and conducted in public. However, there is specific provisions regarding meetings for the purpose of filling the position of Superintendent and other 'executive level' employment positions. The law now excludes meetings of a personnel search committee for executive level positions, from a definition of a public 'meeting' under the Freedom of Information Act, which relieves the Board from posting and public access requirements for meetings of such committees. Thus, it was not necessary for the personnel search committee, established by the Board, to conduct the Superintendent search, to post its meetings, to move into executive session, or to produce minutes. Rather similarly, to matters and meetings regarding collective bargaining, the personnel search committee's proceedings were non meetings, and therefore exempt from the Freedom of Information Act." She reviewed the process used to select the Superintendent. The Board of Education met in April with the New England Schools Development Council, and had several meetings. They spent a few nights interviewing various groups that might serve as a search committee. Ultimately, NESDEC was selected to help the Board with the search. There were needs assessment focus groups on June 9, June 17, June 22, and June 25. These focus groups were for administrators, faculty and staff, community, Board of Directors and Town officials, Board of Education, teachers and the General Manager. A total of 28 people came to the sessions to be interviewed by NESDEC and Attorney Libby, and to give input into the search for the Superintendent. From the information given by these people, there was a Profile of Superintendent that was created, as well as brochures to advertise the position that were sent out to 750 school systems in Connecticut and throughout New England. Throughout late August and early September, there were initially eight people who were interviewed out of the 24 candidates who submitted applications. That was then narrowed to four candidates, then three. Although the process was supposed to end at the end of September, the Board of Education expanded the schedule because they wanted to be thorough and they went on three site visits, and met twice to discuss their findings and the data that had been gathered throughout the process. Mr. Robinson added that the search involved hundreds of hours of community time, Board of Education time, and time of all the candidates that they found to be exceptionally competitive, each of whom they felt could do the job of Superintendent. The candidates conducted themselves with the utmost decency and respect. He stated that they are hopeful that the public comments made are consistent with this level of decency, and that the community will welcome the new Superintendent. B. PUBLIC
COMMENTS 2. Holly Cassano, 1109 East Middle Turnpike. She stated she does not know Ms. Ouellette, but came because of the press release that came out which excited a lot of people. She had a large holiday party, and the appointment was the topic of conversation. She spoke highly about Mr. Erardi, and commented that he and Ms. Ouellette are very deserving of the position. However, she wanted the Board to know that she had a vote of confidence for Mr. Erardi. Her children all benefited from him as a coach, teacher, and vice principal. She also stated that people from Bolton have wonderful things to say about him as well. 3. Milt Perlman, 3 Sanford Road. He referred to a letter that he gave to the Journal Inquirer regarding the high school. He read the article, which stated that Manchester residents should vote no for the referendum regarding the addition to Manchester High School. He does not believe that this addition will help grade 9 students. He feels one of the reasons grade 9 students cannot find their way around the school is due to room numbers not being posted, and inadequate paper maps posted throughout the halls. He thinks all rooms should be clearly identified. On October 20, only six Manchester residents attended an informational meeting regarding the referendum. After a brief meeting, three residents and two Board members took a short tour of the building. They commented that little is done to identify areas of the building, such as departments and room numbers. He does not feel the high school is user friendly. He believes the high school may have caused the problems they face by taking out 22 rooms to use them for other purposes. Additionally, he believes the high school also created the problem of not enough time for students to buy and eat their lunch by instituting block scheduling. He stated the addition to the high school is not necessary. 4. Steve Cassano, 1109 East Middle Turnpike and Mayor of Manchester. He stated that like the Board, he is elected by the public to serve the people of Manchester. He is concerned about the process used to select the Superintendent. He referred to a joint meeting recently held, where the Board of Director's asked, in the spirit of cooperation, if there was an opportunity to have the Board of Directors, Interim Superintendent and Chair of the Board of Education to meet with the final candidates, along with members from the business community, conference of churches, and other stakeholders in the Town to be a part of the process. He stated the community spends $70M in education, which is two-thirds of the Town budget. He believes the Superintendent is the most significant position in the Town of Manchester, as well as the hiring of the position. He stated that the system is somewhat in turmoil, and the Town needs to change direction and build confidence. He stated that this hiring is going to go father to make these strides. He believes it is imperative, particularly because no votes have yet been taken, that the opportunity is provided to meet with the final candidates, to discuss ways they will have an impact on the community. He feels that it is everyone's community, and to be left out of the process is an insult. He urged the Board to postpone their vote until the next meeting so that they can have an opportunity to be part of the process so that Manchester citizens are represented. 5. Nate Agostinelli. He spoke about the appointment of the Superintendent of Schools, and stated that this decision is very far-reaching and difficult. He stated he has heard rumors around the Town, since the announcement was made, that there was a divided vote on the Board of Education. He feels it is very important that coming into this meeting, that the Board tries everything in its power to make it a unanimous decision, with the backing of the Mayor and Town Manager. He agrees with the Mayor that as many people as possible should be brought into the process. He feels that the referendum is in deep trouble if the Town makes a mistake at this particular point in time. He feels that they have to work together to bring the community together to be able to move forward. He urged the Board to table the vote and reconsider until a unanimous decision can be made. He commended the Board for the hard work they have done to date. 6. Keith Carson, 45 Kane Road. He spoke as a town resident and parent regarding the decision of the Superintendent. He knows both candidates, and he knows that it is a tough decision to make. He personally has no problem with the Board's selection of Superintendent. Both of his children went through Bennet, and he was on the search committee that hired Ms. Ouellette as Principal there. He stated she impressed a lot of people in the interview process, and he feels it was the right decision to make, especially noting the progress the school has made to date. He feels she has done an exceptional job at Bennet Middle School. He feels she has leadership, which is lacking in the district. He believes she is a true leader. 7. Rick Rivard, 25 Green Road. He stated he was impressed as it is about time to put aside disagreements and come to a mutual conclusion of a Superintendent. He thinks it was an ethical and fair decision. It is about time to get away from the "good old boy system". He has also heard great things about Mr. Erardi, but he thinks the Board has selected the best person for the job. He believes Bennet Middle School is the model school of the district. With regard to condition of the building, Ms. Ouellette has put together a team that has educated the children to be the best they can be. He feels she will be the best Superintendent Manchester has had and he supports the decision of the Board. 8. Margery Bialeck, 85 Hampton Drive (Principal of Nathan Hale School) She supports the wonderful choice for the next Superintendent of Schools, Ms. Ouellette. She realizes the Board had a very difficult decision to make, complicated by three exceptional finalists. She feels that any one of the three would have been a great choice. She looks forward to the opportunity to work with Ms. Ouellette, as she has a vision, is child-centered, and is hardworking, ethical and highly professional. Her work in the last five years has shown that she understands the demographics of the town, what the needs are, and has the ability to relate with people. As a resident and educator in the system, she is thrilled and excited with this decision. She asked why there are questions about the process now, when it has been occurring for months. She feels if there were problems with the process, it should have been brought forth then so it could have been addressed. She does not feel this discussion is fair to the candidate that has been selected to re-examine the process. She believes any flaws in the process should be a learning experience for those decisions made in the future. She commended the Board for their decision. 9. Merrill Kidd, 158 Folly Brook Lane. She is the Town PTA Council President, and a parent. She is very confident that Ms. Ouellette is the right choice for the Superintendent's position. She feels that Ms. Ouellette has totally turned Bennet around. She congratulates her and wants her to know that the PTA Town Council is looking forward to working with her in the near future. 10. Jonathan Daube, 50 Scarborough Road. He stated that he lived in Manchester for 17 years and has been President of Manchester Community College since 1987. He had previously been a Superintendent of Schools. When Dr. Davis and Mr. Beitman were appointed, community leaders did have a chance to express their views, although the process was less formal. This time around, right or wrong, there was no consultation whatever. The community is in transition and face major building and other problems. He is looking for a Superintendent of Schools who, above all, has a track record of bringing groups and individuals together. Superintendents in places the size of Manchester can delegate a great deal, but the ability to bring people together so that Manchester 2010 is better than Manchester 2004 depends on a savvy and skilled School Superintendent working for the school Board that is forward looking. As the Board makes their vote, which should not be delegated to anyone else, he urges that the big picture wins out. He reminds the Board that this is the biggest vote as Board members. He hopes that in the next several years, the Board and its new Superintendent spend a lot of energy on reaching out to the community. MCC stands ready with assistance, and he will support the Board's choice for the position. 11. Regis Linders, 76 Westminster Road. She spoke about the selection of the Superintendent and she questioned how many members of the faculty, administration and staff at Bennet Middle School left during Ms. Ouellette's tenure. Mrs. Lok requested a Point of Order regarding a personnel issue being discussed at the podium. Ms. Linders also asked if the process included any exit interviews with staff who are no longer on the Bennet faculty or staff. Mr. Robinson stated Point of Order is still reserved with respect to personnel matters. Ms. Linders thanked the Board for their time and stated she believes it is an important issue that should have been investigated. 12. Larry Linders, 76 Westminster Road. He feels that the negative comments made may lead the chosen candidate to assume the role of Superintendent under a cloud. He believes there is an opportunity to solicit additional public comment to judge on additional merits. In that case, no one would be able to second-guess the decision. He asked that the Board postpone the vote and ask for public comment. 13. Terry Werkhoven, 88 Santina Drive. He congratulated Ms. Ouellette as being chosen by the Board as the new Superintendent of Schools of Manchester. Her spirit, high standards and motivation have been recognized, and he wished her the best of luck on her endeavor as a true leader. Additionally, he stated he met two great ambassadors at Bennet Middle School during the mock election. He appreciated their kindness and hospitality. With respect to the flyer regarding the upcoming referendum, he stated the complete code work included a new roof. He asked why a new roof is needed. He stated that a representative of the Carlisle Company reported that there was 5-10 more years of life left in the rubber membrane, and that he has not heard of any leakage. He would like to have a report of why a new roof is needed. With regard to the Barnard Building, he asked who was responsible for the latest leakage from the roof drains in the southwest corner in the last four to six weeks. In his opinion, there is nothing wrong with a rubber membrane roof, but does not feel an adequate job was done to replace and secure the drains. 14. Stephanie Knybel, 138 Bobby Lane. She knows the decision was very hard in choosing a Superintendent, and she asked the Board to stand by their decision. She believes the Board has made the right decision and she urged the Board not to wander on their vote. 15. Paul Berte, 57 Tuck Road. He came to the meeting because of things he had heard regarding the process used to select a Superintendent. He feels the public should hear the rest of Mr. Kelly's remarks, made earlier in the evening, regarding Mr. Erardi. He stated that gave his progression of positions, including coach, teacher, vice principal, principal and Superintendent. He feels this progression of professional development is how it should be done. It is his understanding that one of the prerequisites for Superintendent of Manchester was current experience as Superintendent. The selected candidate is currently the principal of a middle school with no experience above that level. He urged the Board to get it right, and believes the Town of Manchester deserves a proven Superintendent, and Mr. Erardi is that person. He thanked the Board for allowing him to complete Mr. Kelly's comments. 16. Annette Davies, 11 Richard Road. She stated that when she sees a room full of people with dissenting votes, she feels that the work has not be completed. She supports Mayor Cassano in his request that some additional people be brought into the decision making process before a vote is made. 17. Tom Stringfellow, 183 Hillstown Road. In regard to 9/11, he recommended the September 2004 Education Digest article, Revising School Attack Protections Since 9/11, by Susan Black. He additionally recommended a USA Today article, Stress and Psychological Balance After a Terrorist Attack Nationally. He mentioned there are homeland security courses at various colleges and universities for undergraduate students in the United States. He presented a paper that was distributed to Connecticut Public Schools, Making a Difference, published by the State Department of Education. He stated that he was at the high school for Coffee with the Principal, which was followed by a tour of the school. He believes something needs to be done at the high school related to NEASC situations. He urged the community to read the brochure carefully and to vote on November 2. He also attended a globalization conference at Manchester Community College on October 23 that he felt was very beneficial. Regarding the Superintendent, he is concerned with the process, and believes there were two great finalists. He asked if there were persons of color involved in the pool of candidates. He hopes that the Board will get more public input in the future related to Superintendents. He feels the Town will have to live with the decision of the Board. 18. Wendy Houlick, 92 Redwood Road. She is embarrassed about the situation the Board and Ms. Ouellette are in at this meeting. She stated that there are many people present that want to give their comments, but they haven't been given the proper forum to give them. She would like to speak out in support of Mr. Erardi, although she feels uncomfortable doing so in this setting. She does not believe the Board allowed a sufficient forum for public to give their comments. She stated that people are interested in this decision, and she believes everyone should be able to submit their comments in a proper forum, and not at a regular Board meeting. 19. Cynthia Womack, Manchester resident and Principal of Washington Elementary School. She stated she is in support of Ms. Ouellette as Superintendent of Schools. She had the privilege of attending the site visit, where she shared her sentiments and echoed by comments about how she has done a fabulous job at Bennet Middle School. Washington is a feeder school to Bennet, and she routinely talks to her students about Ms. Ouellette and how they are functioning in the middle school to prepare for the transition. She has never heard a bad comment about Ms. Ouellette or Bennet Middle School from her previous students and parents. She also believes that in the future, if the process is flawed in any way, something should be done during the process, and not after the decision has been made. 20. Eileen Sweeney, 86 Hawthorne Street. She requests the Board of Education's reconsideration of the consensus to hire a current employee for the position of School Superintendent. The candidate before the Board has, as principal of Bennet Middle School, brought a stabilizing influence to the students, teachers and staff. As Bennet students and parents face the upcoming changes, she feels it would be in their best interest to have the security of this principal. She has an intimate knowledge of the students and can best maintain a solid atmosphere for learning through any renovations or moves in the years ahead. She feels it is also sometimes helpful to hire from the outside the system to get a new, fresh prospective. She spoke in favor of the Board's continuation of a review of candidates for the job of Manchester Superintendent of Schools. 21. Sue Stepanski, 680 Center Street. She gave her support to the appointment of Ms. Ouellette to the Superintendent's position. She is a Bennet teacher, and a parent of a Bennet student, and she has worked with Ms. Ouellette for the past four years. She has seen Ms. Ouellette working with students to get them back on track and with families in the community behind the scenes. She sees Ms. Ouellette's ethical standards, and what she does for the community. She assists students and parents on a personal and school basis. She feels the discussion regarding another candidate's qualifications is in poor taste. She believes the Board of Education is chosen to make an intelligent decision regarding hiring issues, and she believes this was the right decision. 22. Judy Moore, 41 Braeside Crescent. She commented that Mr. Beitman was the middle school principal of Illing upon his appointment to Superintendent. She stated she has had children go through Bennet, and that Ms. Ouellette arrived when Bennet was in complete chaos. She feels she brought order to the school, and made the children and teachers accountable. She fully supports Ms. Ouellette as Superintendent and requests that the Board continues with their vote. She feels that Ms. Ouellette is a leader. 23. Candy Hilton-Rang, 57 Princeton Street. She stated that as head of the failed "Save Mrs. Melesko campaign" for Bowers Elementary School… Mrs. Lok requested a Point of Order regarding Personnel Issues. Ms. Hilton-Rang stated that was only her introduction, and stated that she was very disappointed, as well as the whole Bowers community, that the interim principal, Mrs. Grande, was not hired to be the permanent principal. She stated that Ms. Grande uplifted the whole school, and the parents, teachers and children love her. Appointment
of Superintendent of Schools MOTION: Lok/ Rizzo s.v. The Board of Education begins negotiations of a contract between the Board of Education and Kathleen Ouellette as Superintendent of Manchester Public Schools. (7/2 - O'Neill, Huyler/0) Mrs. Lok commented that if the quality of candidates is any indicator of the vitality of a community, then Manchester is a vibrant community. The choice of candidates was excellent; unfortunately, the Board is in the position of only being able to choose one person. She believes that although Manchester is a vibrant community, it is in serious need of focused direction. She stated that Ms. Ouellette is certified as a Superintendent, has a vision, has been able to articulate that vision with the Board, has a vision that has been put to the test everyday at Bennet Middle School and is in synch with the Board's goals. She brings three outstanding goals and focus points to the Board. The first is student achievement and she is planning to focus on closing the achievement gap. She has proven she has the ability to bridge relations in a diverse community. Mrs. Lok stated that the environment at Bennet is one that is conducive to learning, which is the environment wanted in every school in the district. She expects to see the successes at Bennet duplicated throughout the community. She stated that Ms. Ouellette is immersed in the community, and within the lives of the students. She is prepared academically and professionally to lead the students, staff and community toward excellence in education, schools, and programming. She encouraged Board member's support of this nomination. Mrs. O'Neill stated that when she found out that a new Superintendent needed to be hired, she envisioned certain ideal qualities that the candidate should possess. They were a consistent leader, a leader who can unite the students, staff and community, a leader who understands all aspects of Manchester, a leader who can bring Manchester up to a high level rivaling any school system in the State, and a proven moral building. She stated she made it a priority to attend every minute of every interview and every site visit, even though there was very short notice. She disagrees with those who think Ms. Ouellette is the most qualified candidate from the pool of applicants. She supports a more qualified candidate, a proven leader not only in Manchester, but in three other communities. Two of the three communities are as diverse and reflect the same economics as Manchester. The candidate was trained in Manchester, has more experience in Manchester, and in general. The three other communities excelled and continually improved beyond expectations due to the candidate's instructional leadership, vision and successful execution of his plans. She truly believes the candidate she supports is the best choice for Manchester. She hopes the chosen candidate will embrace the true spirit of the residency requirement of the Charter, and not simply rent an apartment and register a car. She hopes the candidate embeds herself in the community both professionally and personally. MOTION: O'Neill/Huyler s.v. The Board of Education postpones the appointment due to the comments heard. (2/7/0) Mrs. O'Neill stated with all the comments made at the meeting, especially from the Mayor, that the Board should consider these comments before making a decision. Mrs. Lok pointed the Board members, audience and viewers to the dates that were given at the beginning of the meeting as the opportunity for any member of the community to come forward to voice their opinion of what the perfect Superintendent should be. She feels badly about those who missed this opportunity. She feels the process could be done differently in the future. However, the fact is the Board is nearing the completion of its process that was clearly outlined in the beginning, and is ready to go forward. Mr. Robinson added that in hiring NESDEC, the Board was following protocol that has been successful for that firm and any such firm throughout the country. This protocol was successful in the placement of a candidate in Glastonbury, Simsbury and many other districts throughout New England. The Board has been available for public comment, and Board members have been accessible to members of the public. The Board is charged statutorily with exercising its discretion on the matter, as well as with the bylaws. They have taken as much input as time permits, and they need to appoint a Superintendent. He believes they have arrived successfully at that point. He stated he would not support the motion to postpone, but would prefer to move to make the appointment. Mr. Edwards stated he would not support the motion to postpone the vote. He stated the person who made the motion knew of the process for months. If there was a problem with the process, it should have been pointed out months ago. Additionally, he feels Manchester is in an interesting situation in that there are three hometown heroes. The three final candidates include two current residents, and one that is currently Bennet Middle School principal. He firmly believes that people would not have come to the meeting to express their views if the candidates were from out of State. He does not see the value is delaying the decision. He feels the opportunity for input was built into the process early on, with several sessions. Some of the sessions were very poorly attended. Mrs. Huyler stated that as an elected official, she does not want to put on fighting gloves. She wants to go towards the public and not away from them, as the public is the reason she is on the Board. To discount public input at any level is not something she wants to do. She referred to the vote made at Executive Session. Mrs. Lok requested a Point of Order regarding the discussion at Executive Session. Mrs. Huyler asked if the bylaws of the Board are public information. Mr. Robinson stated the bylaws are public information; the discussion in Executive Session is not. Mrs. Huyler quoted the bylaws that "no vote shall be taken at an Executive Session meeting". She asked for clarification regarding this. Dr. Mistretta stated that the Board was not in Executive Session, as Executive Session's need to be posted with the Town Clerk. She stated that in the instance of a personnel search committee for an executive level employment position, the Board is exempted from Freedom of Information. She stated the Board was not in Executive Session and did not have to produce minutes. Therefore, the rules for executive session do not apply. Mr. Rizzo stated he would not support Mrs. O'Neill's motion. Mr. Rizzo has come to recognize how much time the Board spends soliciting public input to the processes and decisions the Board makes. Opportunities for community input were afforded in a formal sense through the meetings that were held, which were poorly attended. More importantly, is the informal opportunity people have to contact Board members, which many take advantage of. However, to come at this point and imply that the process was not broad enough is disingenuous. After the second motion failed, Mr. Robinson asked Mrs. Lok to reread the original motion. Mr. Edwards stated that the Board was blessed with very capable candidates. It is the Board's job to select whom they feel would be the best candidate and he believes they have done that. He stated he would support the motion. He asked community members to put their differences behind them and put their full support to the new Superintendent. Mrs. Hackett thanked the members of the public who attended the meeting and contacted her over the six month long period of this process. She stated that the public needs to understand that the selection process was very difficult because of the high caliber of applicants who were interested in the position. The Board is charged with hiring and evaluating a Superintendent statutorily. Several sessions were conducted for focus groups. Armed with this data, along with resumes, essays, and interviews, a thoughtful, caring and honest process ensued to ensure the most qualified candidate was selected. Throughout the process, her thinking and opinions continued to evolve, and that there were no preordained outcomes for her. She stated that the candidate chosen is of superior merit. She urged everyone to give the candidate a fair chance. Mrs. Huyler urged the public that regardless of the decision, that they give Ms. Ouellette their full support. Although the candidate was not her choice, it does not take away credibility, knowledge and integrity that Ms. Ouellette has. She will embrace the decision made by the Board. Mr. Rizzo stated that as the process progressed, it became more and more difficult because the candidates to choose from were excellent and very qualified candidates. The process is designed to bring the Board the best pool of candidates. A great deal of time was made deliberating, talking and deciding. He believes it came down to the issues the community faces, which need to be met by a leader that is capable and willing to tackle different types of issues. The issue of diversity within the student population is something Ms. Ouellette has dealt with successfully at Bennet. He stated that the district needs an instructional leader, and Ms. Ouellette has come with many initiatives to try at Bennet, which have been successful. She also knows how to motivate her staff and students, and has the ability to move people ahead. He would like everyone to support Ms. Ouellette to move the district ahead. Mr. Robinson stated that the Board is delighted to recommend the appointment of Kathy Ouellette as Superintendent. Her record at Manchester demonstrates impressive academic results, high caliber leadership that Manchester needs, and the ability to empower and motivate students, administrators and faculty. She has a profound understanding of the educational needs of Manchester's tremendously diverse community, and the ability to bring the community together. She has demonstrated high expectations, demanded excellence, and the Board believes unquestionably that she will be instrumental in improving the quality of education for all the students in the Town. He asked that everyone embrace the new Superintendent with the unity, support and focus of purpose that she deserves and needs in this difficult climate in the community. Mrs. Hackett thanked Mrs. Huyler for her comments. After the successful vote of the motion, Mr. Robinson welcomed Mrs. Ouellette as the new Superintendent of Schools. Ms. Ouellette stated that she is truly honored to represent Manchester Public School as the prime educator and lead advocate for all children in Manchester. She stated she is an educator that makes sound decisions based on the child's best interest. She wants to represent all educators in this capacity. She stated she has worked with this Board of Education for over five years, and she is thrilled that they have the confidence is her to lead Manchester. She stated that together, they will restore confidence and the Town of Manchester will be thought of as the top promoter of education in the State. She will continue to remain focused on student achievement and closing the achievement gap for all children, and be equally focused on mobilizing parents of all cultures to join her in making critical decision for the students' future education. She looks forward to working with both Town officials and citizens of Manchester to forge a united path that will move towards total improvements for all facilities. In addition, she is eager to support the many new staff in Manchester. She stated she would provide strong district-wide leadership to begin the cycle of change to keep within the district's vision. She graciously and humbly accepts the position of Manchester's Superintendent of Schools. She thanked administrators, teachers, parents and students for their encouragement and support. Mr. Robinson called a short recess at 9:08 p.m. Mr. Robinson called the meeting back to order at 9:25 p.m. C. STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE'S REPORT Devorah Donnell welcomed Ms. Ouellette as she has worked with her in the past. She looks forward to working with her in the future, and she has much faith in her ability. She reviewed the activities at Manchester High School. Spirit week was following by the Homecoming Parade on October 15. The theme was intergalactic, and the seniors won with the "Men in Black" float. Sock and Buskin came in second place. There was great turnout and incredible enthusiasm at both the parade and football game that evening. The event was culminated in the crowing of the MHS Homecoming Queen and King, Allison Salkowski and Allenston Sheriden Jr. They have recently begun their bathroom painting initiative sponsored by the Activities Planning Board. Each club has been designated to decorate one bathroom of the high school, which will help to beautify the school by showcasing MHS students' artistic abilities. The initiative was very successful. On the past Thursday and Friday, Sock and Buskin had their performance of "You Can't Take it With You", which was a big success. Two out of the three shows were sold out. The Student Government sponsored an Educational Forum between Matt Peak and Ryan Berry who are the two candidates to be the State Representative of the Manchester district. She stated she had the opportunity to organize and moderate this debate, in which 120 students were present for. Devorah reported that the Class of 2006 high very high CAPT scores and the highest participation in Manchester's history. Additionally, the senior class has six National Merit Scholars, two National Merit semi-finalists and one National Merit high scorer African American, scoring in the top five percent of the country. This is the time of year when students are applying to colleges. Most importantly, as the school year progresses, and the crowding continues in classrooms and hallways, students are certain that MHS could truly benefit from the potential addition that will be on the ballot on November 2. With many rooms dedicated to computer rooms and other activities, which are imperative to the well-rounded education of students, there is a shortage of classrooms. She urged all to approve the referendum. Justin Smith encouraged Board members to come and tour the school, and would like to have one of the students conduct the tour. We stated MHS is a wonderful high school with wonderful students, but that it is very overcrowded. He feels that it is something they must have to ensure the school is safe, to ensure there is a learning environment that meets the goals of students for the future. He stated he had taken some time off from Board Representative for academic reasons, but looks forward to returning now. With respect to the discussion regarding the Superintendent appointment, he feels that something that the community and country is lacking is communication. He feels that the process may have had some flaws, but believe it is time to move on as a community. As a former student of Bennet, he knows that Ms. Ouellette is not only ready, but also more than capable to do the job. He related that in his eighth grade year, he struggled a lot, and Ms. Ouellette was faced with the choice of pushing him to the high school, or holding him back. He feels she made the best decision of keeping him there, and helping him. She did his personally. When deciding on the Superintendent, he does not feel the community or the Board should let personal issues get in the way. Speaking as a student, he feels the community should support Ms. Ouellette. Of all the people who spoke at the meeting, for or against the appointment, only one person mentioned the students, and that was Ms. Ouellette herself. He stated that discourages and insults him as a student, as it is the number one priority in the Town. He pointed out what Ms. Ouellette has done for Bennet, and believes she can do more for the Town of Manchester. On behalf of the students at Manchester High School, he welcomed Ms. Ouellette as the new Superintendent, and looks forward to working with her. D. CONSENT CALENDAR Dr. Mistretta reviewed the items on the Consent Calendar. 1) Permission
To Apply for Education Special Projects - 2) Permission
to Apply for Education Special Projects - 3) Permission
to Apply for Education Special Projects - $10,000 4) Appropriation
for Education Special Projects - $500 Mr. Robinson asked for a motion on the Consent Calendar. MOTION: Hackett/Holmes s.v. The Board of Education adopts the items listed on the Consent Calendar. (9/0/0) E. SUPERINTENDENT'S
REPORT 1. Bailey
Auditorium Presentation Mr. Sierakowski stated that Bailey Auditorium renovations are a portion of the referendum project. Bailey Auditorium is a jewel from the standpoint of an acoustically designed facility. However, the infrastructure has deteriorated beyond effective use. The travelers and rigging are poor, and there is emergency budget expenditure to put additional travelers because the material is rotting. He stressed that this is not abuse, but aged wear and tear. He reported that this is a significant electrical problem with the facility, to the point that two years ago, the boards needed to be removed and a temporary lighting board was rented. The old board was shorting out and was a distinct fire hazard. The auditorium has also been subject to use by people who are not used to using the facility, which breeds a greater degree of unintentional misuse. This use by outside groups causes additional wear and tear. There are staging issues and a lack of storage space that needs to be addressed, but cannot be until sprinklers are put in to ensure a fire hazard is not created. There is a significant heating, ventilating and air conditioning issue, and what the proper temperature should be. The last major issue is the actual seating. The seat cushions are worn and suffering. Mrs. Hackett feels that this is a very important and timely issue. She feels it is important that members of the public understand what there is to gain by the referendum. She asked how the quality of life for an audience member would improve with the renovations. Mr. Sierakowski stated that there is one other significant alteration that would affect the audience, which is the sound system. There are microphone issues and sight line issues that would be improved, and the sound system would be greatly improved. Seats would not be replaced, but cushions would be. The lighting would also be better once the electrical system is improved. Mrs. Hackett asked if the improvements are strictly within the confines of the auditorium, or if they concerned adjacent areas as well. Mr. Sierakowski stated that areas adjacent to the auditorium would fall under the code work that has been slated for the project. There will be variety of items done based upon the individual room. For example, there is a midi-lab that needs air conditioning. This level of detail has not been reached yet, and depends upon the bids that come in. Mr. Rizzo confirmed that the structure of the seats would stay and that only the cushions would be replaced. Mr. Sierakowski stated that he believed so, with the exception of refinishing the arms. Mr. Rizzo asked Mr. Sierakowski to detail other items that fall into this category. Mr. Sierakowski stated that the carpeting would be a consideration, but could not speak with any certainty as it depends about bids and costs. This is where a detailed architectural study comes in if the referendum is successful. Mr. Rizzo asked how much money from the referendum would be spent on just the auditorium. Mr. Sierakowski stated he believed it was $3M, but he would have to verify it. Mr. Edwards noticed that there was both a lot of in-district, out-of-district and community use of the auditorium. He asked how long Bailey Auditorium would be offline and what would be done to work around it. Mr. Sierakowski stated that he was not prepared to discuss this, although there have been early discussions on how to minimally impact regular educational program. This concept also applies to the cafeteria area upgrades. There will have to be some flexibility to accommodate the entire renovation project throughout the school. Mrs. Huyler stated that she is hopeful that the referendum will pass, and also hopes that as a Board, they would not ask for answers that put them in a situation of speculation of the outcomes. She does not want anyone to be uncomfortable or confused about the issues. Mr. Sierakowski stated that the NEASC accreditation process is designed to ensure that colleges can articulate a level of quality observing student transcripts on a reasonable degree of comparison and equality. Colleges need to know what they are looking at, and the accreditation process assures colleges that students coming from those schools have adequate resources to provide them with an education that will give them the academic edge to be competitive at a college. There are three phases: a self-study by the high school staff, the decennial evaluation, and two and year report following accreditation. In the interim, NEASC may put a school on warning, which is where MHS is. MHS is only on warning for structural issues and finances. He credits that staff for bringing the school to a new level with regard to the Mission and Expectations, the school-wide rubrics, and all of the plans that will go forward. If warning requirements are not met, a school goes to probationary status, and ultimately could lose accreditation. Mrs. O'Neill asked if a school is cited, how many chances the school would get to rectify the situation. Mr. Sierakowski stated NEASC expects that the school will do what it is required. NEASC's position is that it is not about money, but issues must be in place and completed. They will continue to cite the school until they are rectified. In the upcoming report of November 1, the referendum is carefully outlined as the plan to alleviate the space shortage. If the referendum does not pass, then the community will be responsible to come up with a plan to resolve the issue. He believes NEASC would become more insistent that solid progress be made. 2. Parent/Student
Surveys: Middle to High School Transition Dr. Brett congratulated Ms. Ouellette and stated she looked forward to working with her. She stated she has been assigned a task of working with a middle school alignment committee. This committee consists of parents, teachers, and administrators to focus on improving Manchester's middle school practices and establishing uniformity between the two schools in particularly five areas: teaming, curriculum, instruction, assessments, and successful transition to the high school. She stated the parent survey was conducted in the spring of 2003, and the NELMS assessment, which follows, was conducted in the winter of 2002. She reviewed the presentation packet that was distributed to Board members, including a summary of the middle school transition parent perspective, and NELMS updates from both Illing and Bennet Middle Schools. The original presentation given by Dr. Mistretta in 2002-2003 is also provided. Mr. Carson stated that last spring, there were a group of parents concerned at the high school regarding the transition of the freshmen class. There were over 800 failing grades in the freshmen class of 2003. That raised a red flag, and they wanted to find out what was causing this. He stated there is an issue of students trying to make the transition from both middle schools with different philosophies to the high school. The more they talked to parents, the more they realized the bigger issue of transition. This is a problem that a lot of school districts are dealing with. The dropout rate has been greatly improved and there are excellent support services at the high school. The group they were interested in hearing from was the students, and they came up with a survey to accomplish this. The questions were based upon experiences in eighth grade, and in ninth grade at the high school. The high school was very supportive of this effort and the surveys were given during class time, and collected by teachers. There were over 420 responses and the students were very honest with their answers. Dr. Brett then formalized some meetings with principals and guidance in the areas of instruction, curriculum and the emotion aspect of the transition. To summarize, 80 percent of the respondents come out of the middle schools with A's and B's. Students get placed 20 percent in honors, 49 percent in college prep, 26 percent in post-secondary prep. Math and science proved to be the most difficult subjects, followed by English, World Language and Social Studies. Students were very honest in stating what they thought high school would be like, and that their expectations were completely different from their experiences. Part of this problem was the expectation setting that they did not receive in the middle school environment. These expectations include the added homework and the time in class, and the consequences of missing class and assignments. Time management and study skills were very important aspects. They prepared the responses and composed a document of information and recommendations. They reviewed the recommendations with Dr. Brett and the middle school principals, and are very encouraged as parents. They hoped to create a committee to deal with the transition issue on an ongoing basis. This will be a subcommittee of the secondary principals in the district. They are hopeful for better communications between the middle schools and high school regarding curriculum and assessment. In addition, the guidance departments and principals need to have more formalized communication. Another issue is that it is a very large high school, and more has to be done along the lines of Freshmen First Day to help the freshmen transition process. Mrs. Lok asked what the plan was for follow-up to monitor implementation of any of the recommendations. Mr. Carson stated that a subcommittee is working with the secondary principals to look at other ways to create programs or help what is in place currently. The other activity that will be followed up on this year will be another survey at the end of the year to get student input. Hopefully, this will show some improvements that have been made. 3. NELMS
Presentation Mr. Cuprak, Principal of Illing Middle School, referred to the Illing packet that was provided to the Board. The stated the middle level is unique in that students spend the least amount of time here. They transition students from elementary school to the middle school. They then transition students to the high school level. They are responsible for mastery testing for two grades. They work with students who are changing physiologically, emotionally, and socially. The NELMS report was delivered almost two years ago, and the staff believed they were shortchanged in some elements of the report. There wasn't an opportunity for the committee that visited Illing because they came on two snow days. Since that time, they have taken the recommendations very seriously. Teaming is a very important part of Illing; they have teams of teachers working together on a daily basis, as well as working with counselors and administration. Teams meet at team leader meetings, and keep notes and records for all that goes on during the course of the week so they can reflect back on it and share it with parents. The staff involves the parents on a regular basis. Teams, on a quarterly basis, provide recognition for those students who make the honor roll. They are plan interdisciplinary activities with all of the elective areas. Last year, they were at a disadvantage because they did not have a curriculum specialist. This position has been successfully appointed. Ms. Ouellette stated there were two major recommendations in the Unified Arts area. The first being the interdisciplinary approach needs to increase. Currently, their team class assignments are now scheduled to correlate with the unified arts class assignments. This had not happened in the past. It is somewhat difficult to assign a whole team this way because of the need of increased personnel. Academic teams are assigned to specific unified arts teams, and they continue to maintain continuative academic teams. The second recommendation from NELMS was the increased conversation between unified arts and the core academic teachers, and to improve subject integration. This was provided many times through their in-house professional development, faculty meetings and leadership council meetings. Many of their language arts strategies are also integrated on a continual basis. Academic teachers also provide interdisciplinary reading and writing materials, which is instrumental. The math standards are integrated daily into the lessons, especially in the area of Family Consumer Science and Art. This has proven to be successful with the Connecticut Mastery Test scores. Science skills are also enhanced in the Family Consumer Science classes as well. Mr. Cuprak stated that the unified arts in the NELMS report cited that there were numerous areas for improvement. Knowing the staff involved, including Manchester's Teacher of the Year, Mrs. Haugh, there was great offense taken from some of the feedback they received from NELMS. However, they realize that unified arts is a very important part of the students' day. For some, it may be the only time they can succeed, and hopefully will carry over to their other classes. Some of the recommendations that were made have been addressed vigorously within the last year to create a more interdisciplinary curriculum. The unified arts teachers had numerous activities this past year where they integrated language arts, social studies, art and health for several units. This is an ongoing process. Another recommendation that was made was to provide extra time for students to meet standard based practices and having quality benchmarks. There is a Family Consumer Science club with community-based activities. There is a Health program for girls and Art has an open art studio after school. One of the strengths of Illing is they continue to develop policies and procedures that cross departments and curriculum area within the unified arts, which accommodate students at various ability levels. Ms. Ouellette reviewed the Language Arts area, and stated there were two major recommendations made by NELMS. She advised the Board that they are ongoing. One recommendation was to increase reading and writing integration across the entire curriculum, and the other to improve student groupings through scheduling. The first was addressed by continuing to analyze and disaggregate cohort data for classroom teachers to focus on instruction on CMT and CAPT reading and writing objectives. She stated that 71 percent of their students are scoring at proficient levels and above the reading comprehension test, and are currently above the district average. Additionally, 73 percent of their students are scoring in the top three bands in the area of writing, which is again above the district average. This is the second year they have been able to provide a literacy facilitator through Title I funding to help students with the language of mathematics. They found it to be significant in the CMTs. Title I reading tutors have been placed in all academic areas, who provide support also in mathematics. Science teachers are incorporating language arts reading and writing strategies. Ongoing professional development also allows teachers to share strategies. With regard to recommendations for improving student groups through scheduling, they believe the inclusion model, rotation of their teams schedules, and cross teaming has been integral, as well flexible groups and increased time for math and language arts for enrichment projects. Mr. Cuprak stated that he is very happy that Illing has a reading consultant working very closely with the curriculum specialists, as well as the department facilitator. One of the recommendations was to increase use of reading strategies in all of the content areas. Currently, the reading language arts consultant is working with teams and presenting in service opportunities for all departments. Professional development is geared towards presenting teachers with tools and strategies for differentiated instruction. Data is used to assess where the students are, and they were able to identify students who were deficient in areas of reading, writing and math. They were able to set up tutorial sessions with teacher volunteer help for those students prior to mastery testing. They tutored between 60-80 students. There are opportunities for writing across the curriculum, and teachers provide students with writing opportunities, which are expanded upon in the computer labs. Another recommendation was to develop common rubrics for students' work, which is in the process of completion. Ms. Ouellette reported on mathematics at Bennet. She stated the school needed to focus on four recommendations: varying assessment practices; use tech labs more; pre-test before new units; and further efforts to improve student achievement. For the first recommendation, the math department pioneered quarterly assessments. Results for every student were shared with her on an individual basis. If students were found deficient, they provided focused learning stations to address these topics. The teachers use data to design instruction and assessments. For the second recommendation, both technology labs are consistently scheduled, and the language arts department tends to sign up the most. They have encouraged the math department to be more assertive in this area. The teachers follow up classroom instruction with practice sessions on selected math websites. The teacher evaluation model also supports the integration of technology through formal observations. For the third recommendation, the math curriculum specialists presented a model for data collection, and pre-tests are an integral component of the data system. The teachers use data results to compare pre and post tests to differentiate instruction. Enrichment lessons are also provided where needed. For the final recommendation, the math teachers have completed the PIMS onsite professional development that uses student data to analyze instruction. An administrator and curriculum specialist attended workshops on data design, and data teams were formed this year. Professional development was also presented to the full staff. This will be ongoing in November. Mr. Cuprak stated that recommendations such as supporting technology in the classrooms, getting into the computer lab more and connecting math with other content areas has been addressed consistently, as demonstrated in technology, family consumer sciences, and in math programs. On the August professional development day, the staff took time to work the CMT math objectives into their lesson planning. Having data is enabling staff to address situations early on. Math teachers have been offered numerous technology training options and they have incorporated technology into their instruction. They made changes by increasing the application of student directed instruction. To address the concerns that the high school has, teachers are looking at establishing tests in the areas of math to see how proficient students are so students get used to taking exams. The number of assignments, projects graded using rubrics and alternative assessments have also been increased. Ms. Ouellette stated there were three science recommendations: professional development would help science teachers to integrate math and language arts; teams should use curriculum maps to connect learning and skills; and further efforts to improve student achievement. She stated their department meetings provide time for professional development to get acclimated with the next texts and curriculum, integrating math and language arts, and providing a more disciplinary approach to instruction. Curriculum maps are used by the staff and are constructed throughout the summer. A great amount of time is spent using these maps to connect learning and skills. Team planning time is also used to coordinate curriculum maps at each grade level. Each department is interlinked within content areas. For the reference to improve student achievement, the department has been trained in data driven decision-making and meets regularly with Illing and MHS staff to articulate the curriculum. Teacher use performance based activities to assess student performance, and regularly use CAPT like assessments. Mr. Cuprak stated that the NELMS recommendation was that all staff should utilize the rubric designed to understand the CAPT process, incorporate technology into the curriculum, writing across the curriculums, and have additional time for departments and teachers to meet. The science department has begun to dialog with the MHS science department to discuss how they can better prepare students to be more successful with high school science and CAPT testing. Teachers have visited classes at MHS, and observed actual science CAPT tests and progress. They continue to integrate technology into science, as students register online to access their textbooks, internet sites to supplement learning, and are taught how to use interactive software programs provided by the new science textbook. Workshops have also been presented. Teachers use department meetings to share labs, activities and projects that teachers have had success with. Ms. Ouellette stated three recommendations highlighted in the social studies department include: six grade team design effects curriculum continuity; fiction and non-fiction should compliment units; and grouping practices in differentiated instruction need to improve. She stated teachers are continuing to map their curriculum for the purpose of synthesizing instruction to develop understanding of the big picture. Teacher assignments are dictated by individual areas of expertise that are specifically for sixth grade. Assignments are based on the strengths of teaching staff in all areas. Interdisciplinary units are taught in social studies and language arts, with the use of trade books. In addition, social studies teachers are incorporating fictional short stories into the predominantly non-fiction curriculum. Flexible grouping practices based on students' interests and abilities is ongoing, and in-house professional development provides differentiated instruction and co-teaching models. Mr. Cuprak stated one of the recommendations was due to the grouping practices of the school; the entire curriculum may not be available to all students. He stated the grouping practices of Illing have changed dramatically. They are heterogeneously grouped so that student groups are mixed up. Another area was expansion to sustain a meaningful integrated learning experience. The sixth grade worked across teams to create a documentary on history, and there is another large experience in grade 8. Another recommendation was to provide opportunities for teachers to share their BEST practices and work together. He reported the veteran staff is always willing to support curriculum and instructional strategies to work with new teachers. Curriculum mapping is done very two months. Another area that was recommended was to incorporate processes being taught in language arts. Each grade level is focusing on the CAPT skills. In closing, Ms. Ouellette stated that Bennet's continuing efforts would be consistent efforts to improve standards. They will continue to examine curriculum and instruction by way of student data, including work samples and test scores. The entire Bennet community shares a common goal that equity and proficiency for all students must be constant and continuous throughout the schools. Also based on the positive results they received from the cohort CAPT 2003 data, and the CMT 2003 scores, Bennet will continue to do what they have been to improve student achievement and will provide advanced level classes in mathematics, as well as block time and flexible scheduling, the co-teaching model, student support services, and will improve the middle school teaming model. She thanked the Board for the opportunity of this process. Mr. Cuprak agreed with Ms. Ouellette that the process was beneficial. He stated that there is two fine middle schools in town that meet the challenge each and every day. F. OLD
BUSINESS G. NEW
BUSINESS Mrs. Lok commented that the memo she received from the General Manager satisfied the question she had on this item, but she would like to see it back on the agenda at the next meeting after Election Day. 2. Collaboration
with Town of Manchester G. COMMITTEE
REPORTS H. COMMUNICATIONS Mrs. O'Neill stated that there should be a standard place for room numbers to appear on the doors at the high school to make it easier to find where you are going. She also suggested some identifier in the hallways, such as color-coded stripes to also make it easier to get around. She also stated that she would support the Board's decision and help Ms. Ouellette in any way possible to make Manchester the best it can be. I. PUBLIC
COMMENTS 2. Dan Moran, Chestnut Street. He stated that the Board of Education made a good choice in their selection of Kathy Ouellette as the Superintendent. He based his remarks upon observing her when she gave presentations, as well as all of the positive things he has heard about her from students, parents and staff. He referred to Justin Smith's remarks and feels that she is compassionate and logical. He has a gut feeling that she is exactly what Manchester needs as a Superintendent. She has demonstrated that she is a capable leader in every sense of the word and has a potential to relate to the entire community. He asked the Board to let Kathy lead, and not to force her into becoming a political pawn. He congratulated Kathy on her appointment. 3. Milt Perlman, 38 Sanford Road. He congratulated Ms. Ouellette on her appointment and he feels that she will do extremely well. He stated that he experienced the transition problem of students coming out of the middle schools when he taught at Cheney Tech. He feels this has to be addressed. He also wondered why things are allowed to deteriorate to the point they are, as related to the auditorium discussion. As far as NEASC, student transcripts show grades and they don't show anything with respect to the building. He thinks the grades would be the most important item to be considered. He feels the students don't see old buildings, but what they can accomplish. He feels the Board should speak with students more frequently about the buildings. 4. Keith Carson, 45 Kane Road. He congratulated and welcomes Superintendent Ouellette. He also thanked the Board and feels the process worked, including this meeting. He feels everyone has the opportunity to express their views. He commended the Board and asked them not to second-guess themselves. 5. Jeffrey Naab, 188 South Main Street. He came to congratulate Ms. Ouellette, and had no idea there was any controversy until he arrived at the meeting. He couldn't get in, so he went home and watched the meeting on television. He decided to come back to congratulate her and he commended the Board on a wonderful choice. He predicts that everyone will come together to support her in her administration. 6. Cheryl Scribner. She congratulated Ms. Ouellette on her appointment and she looked forward to working with her. 7. Eileen Sweeney, 86 Hawthorne Street. She asked the Board to give some thought about having a later start to schools. West Hartford has been working on this for some time, and she has seen a lot of research over the last few years about the physiological impact of students. She would like to see the Board entertain speakers. She stated the League of Women Voters and the CT Lung Association sponsor this whole program and the Town of Wilton has implemented it. The town of West Hartford is presenting it to their Board. She would appreciate the Board if they would think about it. It has been connected to driving times for teenagers, absenteeism, and grades. 8. Tom Stringfellow, 183 Hillstown Road. He supports improvements to be made at the Bailey Auditorium. He also supports Mr. Carson's presentation about the transition from middle school to high school, and recommended an article in the September 2004 Education Digest, Allies Can Reach Middle Schoolers, by Linda Perlstein. He commended the dual NELMS report by Mr. Cuprak and Ms. Ouellette. He also commended the staff members, consultants and specialists that helped to achieve their respective goals. Regarding science, he recommended articles in Archeology Magazine, September 2004. He also recommended an article in the Better Homes and Gardens Magazine, November 2004, Time for Tutoring, by Dara Chadwick, as well as an article in the September 2004 Education Digest, Test Today, Privatize Tomorrow, by Alfie Kohn. He congratulated Ms. Ouellette and wished her well on her appointment. He also hoped things go well with the referendum on November 2. He urged the community to go out to vote. J. ITEMS
FOR FUTURE AGENDAS MOTION: Holmes/Rizzo s.v. The Board of Education adjourned to go into Executive Session at 11:20 p.m. Executive Session ended at 12:15 a.m. |
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