MINUTES OF THE CORNWALL BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING
HELD ON THURSDAY, MARCH 15, 2007 AT 5:00 P.M. AT
CORNWALL CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL

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

Mrs. Gold called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m.

On a motion by Mrs. Hurlburt, seconded by Mrs. Kavanagh, the Agenda was amended to add under Old Business: Offer Retirement Incentive.

On a motion by Mrs. Kavanagh, seconded by Mr. Hart, the minutes of the February 15 meeting were approved with the following amendment: page 1- …Judge Manning is was elected the Chair of the ABC Committee and she is Mrs. Gold was elected Secretary.

There were no communications to the Board and no PTA Report.

Mr. Hart reported that the Region One Board approved a budget of $13,206, 112 to go to referendum, with an overall 4.93% increase. Cuts were made in the Consumer Sciences Department and in the reduction of teacher aides hours, as well as in other areas. The HVRHS review process is complete and the NEASC (New England Association of Schools and Colleges) will present a summary of preliminary findings, along with a blueprint for self-improvement.

There was no Board of Finance report.

Ms. Chamberlain – Superintendent’s Report

• Approved calendars for 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 were distributed

• Summer school 2007 will be held this year at CCS and will involve skills only (no enrichment classes) as well as sections for 6^th, and 7^th & 8^th grades instead of just the primary grades.

• Attendees at the Day on the Hill in Hartford heard from the president of CABE (Connecticut Association of Boards of Education) and from Governor Jodi Rell.

• “Potential New Mandates” in education was distributed, along with Governor M. Jodi Rell’s “Education Initiative,” which includes a proposal to phase in coverage of 50% of education costs over five years.

• A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum will be produced this Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at the high school.

• A reporter from New York Times looking for stories about small schools in small communities interviewed Dr. Fitzgibbons this afternoon

• Classified staff negotiations begin on March 19.

Dr. Fitzgibbons – Principal’s Report

• CMTs are over!

• Andes Manta will be performing in the gym for the school and community on Monday, April 2.

• The Tick Lady spoke to the entire school today

• Met with Region One school psychologists and Cynthia Bianchi (Housatonic Youth Services Bureau) to discuss programs for 7^th and 8^th graders

On a motion by Mrs. Kavanagh, seconded by Ms. Tatge, the Board offered Early Retirement Incentives to Teachers Covered by the Collective Bargaining Agreement Between the Cornwall Consolidated Faculty Association and the Cornwall Board of Education. (A combination of 78 years – consisting of: number of years service in Cornwall Consolidated School plus age of teacher – as of June 30, 2007 – must be verified for a teacher to be eligible.)

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On a motion by Ms. Tatge, seconded by Mrs. Hurlburt, the Board amended and accepted the motion to state that the offer of an early retirement incentive would not be made for another three years.

Mr. Hart is searching for a graduation speaker.

John LaPorta has resigned from the CCS Standing Building Committee. Mrs. Gold will present names of new possible members to serve at the next meeting.

Cornwall Planning & Zoning has requested Board of Education assistance as they “…undertake the revision of the Cornwall Town Plan of Conservation and Development.” Board members discussed issues relating to education that could impact the Town Plan, such as affordable housing for young families, and the possibilities of mandatory pre-school down the road.

The meeting was adjourned at 6:10 p.m.

Susan F. Gingert

Board Clerk