MINUTES OF THE CORNWALL BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING
HELD ON THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2009 AT 5:00 P.M. AT
CORNWALL CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL

Board members present were: Barbara Gold, Chairperson; Phil Hart, Becky Hurlburt, Irene Hurlburt, Wynne Kavanagh, and Thomas K. Levine. Others present were Patricia Chamberlain, Superintendent of Schools; Kathleen Fitzgibbons, Principal; and Bob Kanehl, CCS teacher and principal intern.

Mrs. Gold called the meeting to order at 5:04 p.m.

On a motion by Mrs. B. Hurlburt, seconded by Mr. Hart, the Agenda was approved as amended: Principal Search (under Old Business) moved to follow Additional Comments.

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On a motion by Mr. Levine, seconded by Mr. Hart, the minutes of the March 19^th meeting were approved.

There were no communications to the Board.

The 3^rd quarter budget report for January, February, and March was reviewed.

There was no Board of Finance report.

Mr. Hart reported that the Region One Board approved their mission statement. He passed around an updated guidance department report on college acceptances. Although the budget has been set, there remain those who dispute the reduction of a maintenance position as well as the prospect of no 9^th grade girls and boys basketball program.

Ms. Chamberlain – Superintendent’s Report

• Anything Goes was a wonderful production, with several Cornwall stars.

• Distributed NESDEC (New England School Development Council) reports on historic, present, and projected enrollments. It appears that Cornwall enrollments have hit their low numbers and should even out with somewhat higher numbers in the near future.

Dr. Fitzgibbons – Principal’s Report

• The 4^th and 8^th graders went to the capital in Hartford.

• Many of the desks and chairs in storage were taken to the high school over the spring holiday.

• Kindergarten registration takes place on April 16^th and 17^th.

• The first ever Vegetable Day, proposed by second grader Olivia Woods, will take place at CCS on April 27^th.

The Standing Building Committee has not met recently, but John Denis will be installing new, wider gutters in April, as well as repairing some winter damaged areas.

Graduation will take place in the CCS gym on Thursday, June 11th at 6:00 p.m.

There was a first reading of Policy 4000 – Personnel.

Pursuant to the minutes of the March 20, 2008 Regular Meeting of the Board of Finance that stipulate that the Board of Education reduce line #37 (Unemployment Benefit) by $10,000 with the understanding that the Town would transfer funds if necessary to cover a potential claim in fiscal year 2008-2009, Mrs. B. Hurlburt moved that the Board of Education submit a budget transfer request to the Board of Finance in the amount of $10,000 to fulfill the terms of the aforementioned understanding. Mrs. I. Hurlburt seconded the motion. The affirmative vote was unanimous.

On a motion by Mr. Levine, seconded by Mr. Hart, the Board directed the Board Clerk to request from the Town Treasurer the appropriation received from the State of Connecticut in the amount of $1,541 for school heating assistance.

On a motion by Mr. Levine, seconded by Mr. Hart, the Board went into executive session at 5:35 p.m. to discuss the principal search. Superintendent Chamberlain was invited to attend.

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The Board came out of Executive Session at 6:33 p.m. and the meeting was adjourned at 6:34 p.m.

Susan F. Gingert

Board Clerk