MINUTES OF THE CORNWALL BOARD OF EDUCATION SPECIAL MEETING
HELD ON THURSDAY, MARCH 11, 2004 AT 5:00 P.M. AT
CORNWALL CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL

Board members present were: Barbara Gold, Chairperson; Phil Hart, Becky Hurlburt, Wynne Kavanagh, Catherine Tatge, and Jim Terrall. Others present were Kathleen Fitzgibbons, Principal; John O’Brien, Superintendent of Schools; Sarah Blexrud, administrative intern; Patricia Bramley, PTA President; Ken Keskinen, Selectman; and one member of the press.

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

Board of Finance Meetings: March 18 – Board of Education Budget review.

On a motion by Mr. Hart, seconded by Ms. Tatge, the minutes of the February 12 special meeting were accepted as written.

Mrs. Gold shared a letter received from David Grossman, Board of Finance Alternate regarding the Board of Education budget.

Expenditures for February are in line with the budget.

Mrs. Bramley – PTA

· PTA Cornwall News will be given to students

· Intergenerational spelling Bee for Region I – Saturday, April 21 at the high school. Cornwall participants will be Jane Bean, John Leich, and Ken Keskinen along with three middle school students

· Proposal for After School Program has been presented to the Board of Finance

Region One Budget dates as follows:

· Tuesday, March 23 – local selectmen and board of finance members invited to discuss Region One budget

· Tuesday, April 6 - Region One Budget Hearing

· Tuesday, May 4 – Referendum

Building Committee – Jim Terrall

· Starting trusses

· Heating bills high – used much of the contingency fund

· Change in back retaining wall (lower) and gym floor (looking into using a different grade of wood)

· School ends with half-day June 17^th – then work will start inside.

· Scheduled to be done by start of school with a few days to move back into the classrooms – multipurpose room would be last – current schedule set for project completion by the first day of school

Dr. O’Brien – Superintendent’s Report

· Grease March 11, 12, 13

· Passed out Suggested Changes to NCLB that Commissioner of Education is recommending to the federal government.

o Non-English-speaking students may now request waiver for one year. They are counted in a sub-group and scores may be counted for two years after the child moves out of the sub-group

o Regarding NCLB - problem with federal government setting specific goals rather than monitoring constant improvement

· Region One is looking into formation of a consortium on electricity

· Legislature in session – bills passed by house – now before to the senate

o School boards have to negotiate regarding BEST mentors

o Make teacher evaluations subject to grievance procedures

o National Board Certified teacher coming to Connecticut would be certified by Connecticut

· Since the Board has budgeted for one less teacher next year, that individual will be notified by April 1.

Dr. Fitzgibbons – Principal’s Report

· 7th Grade Early American Dinner on March 10

· Re-enactment of a Revolutionary War battle took place on March 4 as part of Bob Coppola’s Social Studies Unit

· 8th grade students debate in Kent tomorrow

Mrs. Gold discussed the budget. The Board will hold a budget work session on Thursday, March 25 at 5:00 p.m. to discuss possible changes.

A date has not yet been set for graduation. Mr. Hart will find a graduation speaker.

The town will hold a budget hearing on Friday, April 23. Ms. Tatge will present the budget.

Mr. Keskinen requested an update on the school for the Cornwall Chronicle. Dr. Fitzgibbons is already working on it.

The meeting was adjourned at 5:40 p.m.

Wynne Kavanagh

Secretary pro-tem