MINUTES OF THE CORNWALL BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING
HELD ON THURSDAY, JUNE 21, 2007 AT 5:00 P.M. AT
CORNWALL CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL

Board members present were: Barbara Gold, Chairperson; Phil Hart, Irene Hurlburt, and Catherine Tatge. Wynne Kavanagh and Jim Terrall were absent. Others present were Patricia Chamberlain, Superintendent of Schools; and Kathleen Fitzgibbons, Principal.

Mrs. Gold called the meeting to order at 5:03 p.m.

On a motion by Mr. Hart, seconded by Ms. Tatge, the Agenda was amended as follows: Add Report on School Grounds under New Business and add Bradford Scholarship under Old Business.

On a motion by Ms. Tatge, seconded by Mr. Hart, the minutes of the May 17 meeting were approved.

There was no PTA Report.

Mr. Hart reported that high school report cards will change from numbers to letters next year. Summer School begins at CCS on July 2^nd. Most of the 16 teaching positions at HVRHS have been filled. Graduation went smoothly. The Long Range Planning Committee is moving forward.

There was no Board of Finance report.

ABC Committee report. The committee meets at CCS on September 5^th.

Ms. Chamberlain – Superintendent’s Report

On a motion by Ms. Tatge, seconded by Mr. Hart, the Board accepted the superintendent’s recommendation to hire as the new Art teacher, Nick Premo, BA 1 at .6 FTE for $20,247.

• Distributed Legislative update papers. A lot of issues are on hold because of the state budget.

• Suggested that the School Building Committee project needs to be closed, and requires an audit of finances. Issue should be discussed with Business Manager Sam Herrick.

Dr. Fitzgibbons – Principal’s Report

• Commended the Class of 2007 for their good behavior on the class trip to Washington D.C.

• A change in scheduling and academic groups is in the works for next year

• Maria Seymour Brooker Memorial will provide dental cleaning, care, and education for grades 1-5 next year as part of a one year pilot program in Region One elementary schools.

• The School Lunch Healthy Menu Program was discussed.

The issue of field trips and particularly trips to foreign lands was discussed. Further discussion in the fall will be based on the high school policy regarding travel outside of the continental United States.

Mr. Hart has overseen the CCS grounds and suggested that the Board budget for the removal of a couple of trees next year. He will spend a few hundred dollars this year for more deep-root feeding and extra bark mulch around the new trees. Eventually fruit trees will be planted above the fire pond.

On a motion by Ms. Tatge, seconded by Mr. Hart, Policy 5131.911 on Bullying was approved as revised.

On a motion by Ms. Tatge, seconded by Mr. Hart, the 3000 Series – Business, was approved with noted corrections.

It was the sense of the Board that the Bradford Scholarship will again be advertised next year, but if no Cornwall student plans on attending the University of Connecticut in the fall of 2008, all Litchfield County seniors will be notified of the scholarship.

Additional Comments: Skip Kosciusko expressed concern that the high school is not offering EMT classes.

A motion was made by Ms. Tatge, and seconded by Mrs. Hurlburt, to go into Executive Session to discuss classified staff negotiations. Voting aye were Mrs. Gold, Mrs. Hurlburt, and Ms. Tatge. Voting nay was Mr. Hart. Ms. Chamberlain and Dr. Fitzgibbons were invited to attend. The Board went into Executive Session at 6:38 p.m.

The Board came out of Executive Session at 6:45 p.m.

On a motion by Mr. Hart, seconded by Ms. Tatge, the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Cornwall Board of Education and Cornwall Consolidated School Employees Local 1303-352 of Connecticut Council 4 AFSCME, AFICIO effective July 1, 2007 – June 30, 2010 was ratified, delegating to Chairperson Barbara Gold the signing of the contract when all changes are complete. (A complete contract was not yet available.)

The meeting was adjourned at 6:46 p.m.

Susan F. Gingert

Board Clerk