MINUTES OF THE CORNWALL BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING
HELD ON THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 2006 AT 5:00 P.M. AT
CORNWALL CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL

Board members present were: Barbara Gold; Phil Hart, Wynne Kavanagh, Catherine Tatge, and Jim Terrall. Irene Hurlburt was absent. Others present were Tom Gaisford, Assistant Superintendent of Schools; Kathleen Fitzgibbons, Principal; and one member of the press.

Mrs. Gold called the meeting to order at 5:14 p.m.

On a motion by Ms. Tatge, seconded by Mrs. Kavanagh, the minutes of the December 15 meeting were approved with the following correction: 1^st paragraph - …Patricia Chamberlain, Superintendent of Schools; Patricia Chamberlain, Superintendent of Schools;…

Mrs. Kavanagh will attend the Board of Finance January 19 meeting.

Mrs. Gold, Mrs. Kavanagh, and Mr. Hart will attend the CABE (Connecticut Association of Boards of Education) Legislative Breakfast. Education Connection will present a program on February 9 called Too Sleepy to Learn - regarding later class start times for high school students.

A Math Curriculum program is scheduled for the February 28^th PTA meeting - 6:00 p.m. in the Gathering Room.

The budget to date is still in good order.

Mr. Hart reported from the Region One Board that the Faculty Association had requested an early retirement package. The board denied a sabbatical request. They approved a full-year AP English class (currently ½ year). The All-Boards Meeting was postponed. And the exam schedule has changed – on the four days of testing, instead of free time when exams aren’t scheduled, students will attend class.

There was no Board of Finance report.

Mr. Terrall said there is nothing new to report from the Building Committee.

Mr. Gaisford - Ms. Chamberlain’s Superintendent’s Report

• HVRHS hosted visitors from China today - the exchange program will enable Principal Gretchen Foster to travel to China in April. And through a State Department of Education program, a teacher from China will teach classes this spring at the high school.

• Distributed papers on the School Wellness Policy - one from Attorneys Shipman and Goodwin, and one from CABE. A committee will be formed to work on this policy - to include principal, nurse, PE teacher, one or two Board members, a classroom teacher, and parents.

• Smaller schools in the region, like CCS, will benefit from the revised billing schedule from Education Connection.

• Distributed Five-Year Regional Tuition Projections for Cornwall. Attendance numbers at HVRHS are projected to increase only slightly for the next few years, then decrease.

Dr. Fitzgibbons – Principal’s Report

• Distributed detailed information about use of the Extended Day Learning Program. It seems that people who need the service are taking advantage of the program.

• Two Brown Bag Concerts were held successfully in the gym this month.

• Ms. Good has been working with several students on special art projects.

• Pointed out that CCS already addresses several issues detailed in the School Wellness Policy

Old Business

• The next Budget Work Session – Monday, January 30^th, at 5:00 p.m.

• Mrs. Gold and Mrs. Kavanagh will set dates to work on the 5000 Policy Series – Students

• CBC (Committee of Board Chairs) continues to seek input from Region One school boards regarding a regional athletic director/coordinator. Cost would be between $6 and $12K and could be folded into the regional budget. Suggested that a job description would be necessary along with justification for the position; i.e. how the position will benefit students. Cornwall Board supports the concept.

(Ms. Tatge left – prior commitment)

On a motion by Mr. Terrall, seconded by Mrs. Kavanagh, the Proposed Region One calendars for the 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 school years were approved.

New Business

• Ms. Chamberlain will talk with Board members at the next meeting and answer any questions, after which the Board will discuss and complete the superintendent evaluation.

On a motion by Mr. Hart, seconded by Mr. Terrall, the Board went into executive session at 6:03 p.m. to discuss the bus contract

The Board came out of executive session at 6:07 p.m. No action was taken.

The meeting was adjourned at 6:08 p.m.

Susan F. Gingert

Board Clerk