MINUTES OF THE CORNWALL BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING
HELD ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2004 AT 5:00 P.M. AT
CORNWALL CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL

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

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

Board of Finance meetings:

September – Ms. Tatge; October – Mrs. Hurlburt; November – Mrs. Kavanagh

On a motion by Ms. Tatge, seconded by Mrs. Hurlburt, the minutes of the June 17, July 23, and August 18 meetings were approved.

A forum will be held about Universal Pre-K on Thursday September 21, in the high school cafeteria.

The PTA distributed their 2004-2005 brochure.

Mr. Hart reported that the next three meetings of the Region One Board would be held on Tuesdays, September 21, October 19, and November 16,instead of the usual Mondays. Mr. Hart is a member of the Standing Building Committee at HVRHS.

There was no Board of Finance report.

Dr. O’Brien – Superintendent’s Report

On a motion by Ms. Tatge, seconded by Mrs. Hurlburt, the Board approved Dr. O’Brien’s recommendations to hire Terri Chemerys to the position of Media Specialist and Kristi Pramuka to the 5^th Grade teacher position.

On a motion by Mr. Hart, seconded by Ms. Tatge, the Board rescinded the motion that made an exception to the tenure requirement in Article 7-9.1 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Board of Education and the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 for the 2004-2005 school year to Sarah Blexrud, which was unanimously voted on June 17, 2004.

On a motion by Ms. Tatge, seconded by Mr. Hart, 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 Sarah Blexrud, commencing with the end of her maternity leave and extending through the remainder of the 2004-2005 school year.

· Central Office donated two books to the CCS Library – Don’t Know Much About the 50 States and Don’t Know Much About Presidents.

Dr. Fitzgibbons – Principal’s Report

· After a three-day delay, school opened due to the tremendous efforts of all staff members.

· A part-time custodian has been hired to work four hours in the evenings.

· Dr. Fitzgibbons read a letter of appreciation from the Boy Scouts of America for Pete Selino’s volunteering his time for a week of Boy Scout camp.

· Alicia Simonetti-Shpur’s son Jacob is attending Kindergarten at CCS as a non-resident child of a certified staff member.

· The staff will discuss when to make up the three days lost in the delayed opening of school, and Dr. Fitzgibbons will discuss the issue with the superintendent.

· A Policy Work Session will be held at 4:00 p.m. prior to the regular Board meeting on October 21.

Technology Policies – First Reading.

Ms. Tatge read a letter from the Cornwall Foundation that accompanied a $500 check for the CCS Fund for Excellence.

On a motion by Mrs. Hurlburt, seconded by Ms. Tatge, the Board went into Executive Session at 5:50 p.m. to discuss AFSCME negotiations.

The Board came out of Executive Session at 6:07 p.m. and the meeting was adjourned.

Wynne Kavanagh

Secretary pro tem