MINUTES OF THE CORNWALL BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING
HELD ON THURSDAY, MAY 18, 2006 AT 5:00 P.M. AT
CORNWALL CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL

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

Mrs. Kavanagh called the meeting to order at 5:10 p.m.

On a motion by Ms. Tatge, seconded by Mrs. Hurlburt, the Agenda was amended as follows: under New Business add d) Landscaping and e) Bradford Scholarship and f) Anticipated Executive Session to discuss bus contracts.

On a motion by Ms. Tatge, seconded by Mr. Hart, the minutes of the April 20 meeting were accepted.

There was no PTA report.

Mr. Hart reported from the Region One Board that because the budget passed, the position of Middle School Athletic Director will be posted soon. Sam Herrick, Business Manager, will coordinate mandatory radon checks, which will cost each school approximately $600. Non-certified staff negotiations continue. The principal’s trip to China was a success. The cooperative football team made up of HVRHS and Wamogo players was a success this year, and will continue next year. ERGs have been replaced by DRGs, so CCS is now ranked among other District Reference Groups.

There was no Board of Finance report. Budgets of the Town of Cornwall Fiscal Year 2007 were distributed.

There was no Building Committee report.

Ms. Chamberlain - Superintendent’s Report

• Explained that the Region One Board was reviewing the 7000 policies and investigating the role of the RSSC. Two groups – Central Office (the old Regional Services Committee) and the ABCC (All Board Chairs Committee) were officially formed (after review by the attorneys). The entire policy, explaining all, will come to all the boards of education as a single document.

• Distributed the CAPSS Legislative Update and Summary of the 2006 Legislative Session.

• Distributed Education Connection Program and Staff Report

• Graduation will take place at the high school at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, June 16, with the awards assembly at 3:30 p.m. on June 15.

Dr. Fitzgibbons – Principal’s Report

• CCS graduation takes place at 6:00 on Thursday, June 8, with the awards assembly the same day at 11:00 a.m.

• The 8^th graders are on the way home from their successful class trip to Washington, D.C.

• A check for $875.50 from Art at the Dump proceeds was given to the CCS Educational Trust Fund to be used for the Art Program.

• The Spring Concert and Art Show for the primary grades will be held on Wednesday, May 24^th.

On a motion by Ms. Tatge, seconded by Mrs. Hurlburt, the request from Alicia Simonetti-Shpur (Winsted resident) for her son Caleb Shpur to enter Kindergarten in September 2006, was approved.

On a motion by Ms. Tatge, seconded by Mrs. Hurlburt, Policies 5118-5140 of the Policy Series 5000 – Students, were approved.

On a motion by Ms. Tatge, seconded by Mr. Hart, Policy 6142.101 – Student Nutrition and Physical Activity, of the Policy Series 6000 – Instruction, was approved.

Mr. Hart said that Tracy Gray will be the graduation speaker. Her father taught at CCS, she attended CCS, and her twin daughters did as well.

Mr. Hart also mentioned the need to follow up with the recommendations made by Art Gingert for maintaining the perimeter of the school grounds.

The trees planted as part of the building project have yet to be signed off on. Mr. Hart mentioned a couple of dying trees and the need to extend the mulch “dishes.” Karen Bartomioli suggested contacting Tom Zetterstrom regarding replanting trees.

On a motion by Ms. Tatge, seconded by Mrs. Hurlburt, the Board went into Executive Session at 6:53 p.m. to review bus contract proposals.

The Board came out of Executive Session at 5:59 p.m. and on a motion by Ms. Tatge, seconded by Mrs. Hurlburt, the contract with All-Star Transportation for July 1, 2006 through June 30, 2009, was accepted.

On a motion by Ms. Tatge, seconded by Mrs. Hurlburt, the meeting was adjourned at 6:03 p.m.

Susan F. Gingert

Board Clerk