North Canaan Elementary School
Board of Education
May 2008 Minutes
 

The North Canaan Board of Education meeting was held on Thursday, May 8, 2008.

The meeting was called to order at 7:03 P.M.

Board members present: Martha Scott, Chairperson, Dorothy Cecchinato,
Richard Greco, Beth McGuire, Dolores Perotti,
Laurie Perotti, Shelley Veronesi and Susan Warner

Patricia Chamberlain, Superintendent; Rosemary Keilty, Principal

Mrs. Cecchinato made a motion to amend the agenda by adding Board acceptance of the school roof project as complete under New Business. Mrs. McGuire seconded. Vote: Unanimous

Mrs. Cecchinato made a motion to adopt the agenda as amended above. Mrs. McGuire seconded. Vote: Unanimous

Mrs. Warner made a motion to approve the minutes dated, April 17, 2008, as written. Mrs. Dolores Perotti seconded. Vote: Unanimous Mrs. Laurie Perotti and Mrs. McGuire abstained.

Mrs. Warner made a motion to approve the minutes dated, April 28, 2008, as written. Mrs. Veronesi seconded. Vote: Unanimous Mrs. Dolores Perotti abstained.

Communications
Written
Mrs. Scott reported that she received three letters from fifth grade students concerning their trip to Nature's Classroom. Students thanked the Board in their letters for the opportunity to attend the program.

Public Comment
Kim Casey, a North Canaan resident, explained and reviewed with the Board her concerns regarding Century Acquisition's application to the Town of Sheffield, Massachusetts to build an asphalt plant off Clayton Road. If the Zoning Board of Appeals approved the plan, she cited many concerns ranging from toxic emissions and increased truck traffic to a decline in home and property values. She recommended that the Board send a letter to the Sheffield Zoning Board of Appeals voicing their concerns and opposition to the proposed plant relative to the health and safety of students and their families living within a radius of it. If granted, the proposed plant would be built 1.5 miles from the school. Mrs. McGuire made a motion that the Board write a letter to the Sheffield Zoning Board of Appeals stating the concerns over safety issues for students if Century Acquisition, Inc. builds an asphalt plant and that the superintendent and principal write the letter. Mrs. Dolores Perotti seconded. Vote: Unanimous

Board Comment
Mrs. Dolores Perotti reported that there will be a Lunch Committee meeting held on Tuesday, May 27, 2008 at 5:00 P.M. She suggested that it would be helpful if more Board members would join this committee. Mrs. Veronesi volunteered to join the committee and attend the meeting. Mrs. Laurie Perotti reported she would attend the meeting, too.

Region I Report
Ms. Chamberlain reported on the last Region I meeting she attended. Some of the highlights of the meeting included the following:

  • The long range planning forum went well at North Canaan. Over thirty residents attended the forum at the town hall.
  • Ten students from the high school visited China; it was a tremendous life experience for these students.
  • The high school budget passed.
  • The regional track meet will be held on Friday, May 16, 2008 with a rain date of May 19, 2008.

Education Connection Report
Mrs. Scott reported that she did not attend the last Education Connection meeting held in Danbury but officers were chosen for the Board.
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Principal's Report
Miss Keilty made the following additions to her written report:

  • Moving recess before lunch has been successful and this North Canaan story was published in the Alliance for a Healthier Generation's newsletter.
  • The school lunch program will have an approximate deficit of $10,000 by June due to escalating food prices, with some doubling, and fuel charges on all invoices.
  • Arbor Day has been rescheduled for Friday, May 16, 2008.
  • Graduation for the Class of 2008 is Monday, June 16, 2008 at 7:00 P.M.
  • Cassidy Zipkin, Michael Hogan, Alexandra Borgert and Rebekah Borgert, North Canaan residents and students at HVRHS were inducted into the National Honor Society recently.
  • Chantel Richards, North Canaan resident and HVRHS student completed her high school requirements in December 2007; she was accepted into the nursing program at St. Joseph College in West Hartford, where she is currently enrolled and attending classes.
  • The heating conversion work began on April 28, 2008 in the crawl space under the school. The demolition company stripped the pipes and are now cutting and removing them.
  • The Health Fair was a topic for discussion at the last faculty meeting and teachers are signing up their classes as sponsors for the various vendors. The health fair will be held on October 30, 2008.

Superintendent's Report
Ms. Chamberlain made the following announcements to the Board:

  • She attended a conference for superintendents at Brown University in Rhode Island on strategies for school improvement.
  • She received a letter from Jaime Crane requesting her leave be continued through next year.
  • The ABC Committee is working on creating a uniform transportation contract for all of Region I.
  • The ABC Committee would like to see Region I have the same language in all the Certified Teachers contract, such as all new hires have the same salary schedule.
  • High school graduation will be held on Wednesday, June 18, 2008 at 6:30 P.M.
  • Legislation closed last night but not a lot has changed

New Business
Miss Keilty reviewed with the Board the minutes of the last School Building Committee meeting held on May 6, 2008. She stated that Doug Humes recommended that the Board of Education approve the design that the Building Committee had previously endorsed so that a special town meeting could be held to move forward toward a referendum. Mrs. Laurie Perotti made a motion that the Board approve and present the recent Building Expansion project design to the next step which is the Board of Selectmen. Mr. Greco seconded. Vote: Unanimous

Miss Keilty reported that the present school budget surplus will be approximately $66,586 or $93,618 when the high school portion is added. Miss Keilty made the following purchase recommendations to the Board:

  • Complete the interior and exterior surveillance camera program, complete with a server: $8,800. The server would store images.
  • Add a camera with software to the Weather Bug for a cost of $2,500.
  • $3,900 for three new office desks and a bookcase for secretaries.
  • Updated laptop computers for the principal and computer teacher at $1,500 each.

Mrs. Dolores Perotti made a motion to the Board to use surplus funds to purchase the recommended items, which should not exceed a total of $20,000. Mrs. Warner seconded. Vote: Unanimous

Miss Keilty reviewed with the Board the dress code draft created by the Discipline Committee. She stated that the faculty, students and other committee members worked together to created the draft to submit to the Board of Education for approval. Mrs. Laurie Perotti made a motion to endorse the dress code draft with the changes discussed. Mrs. Dolores Perotti seconded. Vote: Unanimous

Miss Keilty announced that a letter was received from Jaime Crane requesting a leave without pay for the next school year. She reported that Teresa Jacquier filled the second grade position this year from November to June while Jaime Crane was on maternity leave. Miss Keilty made a recommendation to the Board to hire Theresa Jacquier for the one year position. She cited Mrs. Jacquier's performance, experience, and the least disruption to the second grade program as reasons for the proposal. Mrs. Laurie Perotti made a motion to hire Teresa Jacquier at a Step 4 MA for the one year position. Mrs. McGuire seconded. Vote: Unanimous

Miss Keilty reported that four lawn bids were received. She explained that the highest bidder was Top Notch Lawn Service. Greenacres Landscaping and Sebben's Lawn Service were in the middle, and Patrick Foley had the lowest bid. Miss Keilty recommended that the Board award the bid to Patrick Foley, the lowest bidder.
Mrs. McGuire made a motion to accept the lowest lawn bid from Patrick Foley at $4,800 for the first year of the contract and $5,100 for the second year, which includes mulch and leaf cleanup. Mrs. Dolores Perotti seconded. Vote: Unanimous.

Mr. Greco made a motion to accept as complete the school roof project.
Mrs. Laurie Perotti seconded. Vote: Unanimous

Mr. Greco made a motion to adjourn at 9:11 P.M. Mrs. McGuire seconded.
Vote: Unanimous

The meeting adjourned at 9:12 P.M.

Respectfully submitted,


Marjorie E. Gandolfo

Approved: June 12, 2008

Updated September 5, 2008