MINUTES OF THE CORNWALL BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING
HELD ON THURSDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2004 AT 5:00 P.M. AT
CORNWALL CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL

Board members present were: Barbara Gold, Chairperson; Becky Hurlburt, Secretary; Phil Hart, Catherine Tatge and Jim Terrall. Wynne Kavanagh was absent. Others present were John O’Brien, Superintendent of Schools; Kathleen Fitzgibbons, Principal; Ken Keskinen, Selectman; and one member of the press.

Mrs. Gold called the meeting to order at 5:06 p.m.

A Policy Work Session will be held at 4:00 p.m. prior to the regular Board meeting on November 18.

Board of Finance meetings: November – Mrs. Kavanagh

On a motion by Ms. Tatge, seconded by Mrs. Hurlburt, the minutes of the September 16 meeting were approved with the following correction: the last bulleted item regarding Policy Work Session under Dr. Fitzgibbons’ report is a separate paragraph and not part of her report.

Mrs. Gold noted a thank you from Dr. Fitzgibbons, for the afternoon tea hosted by the Board of Education for the staff.

Mr. Hart reported from the Region One Board that there has been a smooth transition to the new principal, Dr. Gretchen Foster, who has set a good tone at HVRHS. A music trip to London is being discussed. The Berkshire Music League will hold a concert at the high school on October 15. Mr. Hart distributed “CAPT Percentage of Students At or Above Sate Goal,” noting that in three of four areas, the percentages have increased. Cornwall senior Alyssa Ackerman received the annual Superintendent’s Award.

There was no Board of Finance report.

Mr. Terrall reported from the Building Committee that there have been a number of delays, but that the lights have been installed in the gym and the floor will be laid soon. All but the stage will be completed by November 15. The School Building Committee agreed to move the backboard back three feet, so that the CCS basketball court will be equal to or greater than most of the other Region One elementary school courts. The scoreboard, purchased with money from the Fletcher Foundation, is up and working, and there is a new site contractor on the job.

Dr. O’Brien – Superintendent’s Report

· Cornwall has $23,521 from the REAP grant this year. Over $500,000 has been distributed Region-wide over the past three years from these grants that Dr. O’Brien “discovered.” He noted that each year the president cuts the funds, and each year congress reinstates them.

· Distributed “Summary of 2004 Connecticut Legislative Enactments Affecting the Public Schools and Public Sector Employers.”

· The track at the high school has been completed.

· An Octoberfest was held in the high school cafeteria, funded by the Culture Diversity Fund (set up by a community member). Different activities are scheduled throughout the year.

· A Kitchen Tour will be held on November 6 to benefit the Housatonic Musical Theatre Society and Bye Bye Birdie.

The Board expressed great appreciation to Dr. O’Brien for his work in securing the REAP funds over the past three years.

Dr. Fitzgibbons – Principal’s Report

· Dr. Fitzgibbons sought approval to fund a recess aide for two hours per day, necessitated by reduction to two teacher assistants, one of whom is working in a special program with lower grade classes.

On a motion by Ms. Tatge, seconded by Mrs. Hurlburt, the Board authorized Dr. Fitzgibbons to hire a recess aide for two hours per day for the remainder of the school year.

· Make-up days have been reviewed and voted by the staff. They are fine with the bus company, and the superintendent.

On a motion by Ms. Tatge, seconded by Mrs. Hurlburt, the Board accepted a plan to make up the three delayed opening days on: Veteran’s Day (all classes will address the meaning of the day in their curricula), a Teacher Workshop day in March (staff will schedule their own time), and an additional day at the end of the school year in June.

On a motion by Ms. Tatge, seconded by Mrs. Hurlburt, the Board made an exception to the tenure requirement in Article 7-9.1 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Board of Education and the Cornwall Consolidated Faculty Association and granted a parenting leave to Katherine West, commencing with the end of her maternity leave and extending through the remainder of the 2004-2005 school year.

On a motion by Ms. Tatge, seconded by Mrs. Hurlburt, the Board adopted the 3523.11 - Acquisition of and Updating Technology policy and the 6141.322 – Cornwall Consolidated School Web Site policies.

On a motion by Ms. Tatge, seconded by Mr. Terrall, the Board set the 2005 Meeting Schedule. All Board of Education meetings will be held at 5:00 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month, except for July and August, when no meetings will be held.

January 20 July – no meeting

February 17 August – no meeting

March 17 September 15

April 21 October 20

May 19 November 17

June 16 December 15

Mr. Terrall brought up two issues. 1) Questions about the grammar school sports games schedules. A Region One principal volunteers to organize the schedules, and the administrators are in discussion about increasing numbers of games and enhancing those programs. 2) Expressed concern about the debacle of CMT test scoring last year.

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

Susan F. Gingert

Board Clerk