WILLINGTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS
BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING MINUTES
TUESDAY, MAY 13, 2008
The meeting was called to order at 7:06 p.m. by chairman Mark Makuch at the Town Office Building.
PRESENT: Mark Makuch, Laurie Semprebon, Christine Psathas, Christina Mailhos, David
Tharp, Herbert Arico, Teri Gareau, Superintendent David Harding, Special
Education Director Holly DiBella-McCarthy
ABSENT: None
COMMUNICATIONS:
Superintendent presented copies of letters of resignation from Marica Henneson and Jan Boudreau, two letters from the State of Connecticut, one stating the award of the STEAP Grant for the water main at Center School, the second regarding coaching permits.
PRESENT TO SPEAK:
None
PRESENTATION:
Special Education Director, Holly DiBela-McCarthy presented on the I.D.E. A. Grant proposal
MOTION: by Herb Arico, seconded by Teri Gareau to approve the Special Education proposal
for the I.D.E.A. Grant as presented.
VOTE: Unanimous in Favor
CONSENT AGENDA:
MOTION: by Herb Arico, seconded by Laurie Semprebon to approve the consent agenda.
VOTE: Unanimous in Favor
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
The Facility Committee discussed landscaping in front of HMS, Capital Improvement list revisions, mulch for play areas, and STEAP Grant.
The Policy Committee discussed policy #9310 Policy Procedures, Development and Adoption, and #9312 Policy Review and Amendment. Reviewed and revision of policy #3326 Payment of Bills.
The Finance Committee met on 5/13/08, reviewed and approved bills.
Herb Arico, liaison with Region #19 and EastConn, discussed Region#19 Magnet School, athletic facility upgrade procedures, Depot School ribbon cutting ceremony and the Eastconn budget with annual meeting to be held on May 27, 2008.
The Health and Safety Committee met and the Wellness Advisory Committee provided an overview of the four student wellness areas, discussed update on recycling for each school and emergency procedure drills, and established goals for next year.
SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT:
Superintendent Harding reported on the budget update, the HMS water project being 100% completed, status of new kitchen equipment for HMS, mulch project information, sidewalk pricing, and the Reading Update.
OLD BUSINESS:
Board discussed Citizenship Award.
MOTION: by Christine Psathas, seconded by Cristina Mailhos to approve Policy #5118 Non-
Resident Attendant as presented with changes in B1 of the word "less" to "fewer" and
add "school" in front of days.
VOTE: Unanimous in Favor
MOTION: by Laurie Semprebon, seconded by Herb Arico to accept the Hall Memorial School
water project as 100% complete.
VOTE: Unanimous in Favor
MOTION: by Mark Makuch, seconded by David Tharp to split out the third page of the transfer
packet to approve separately.
VOTE: Yes: Mark Makuch, David Tharp, Herb Arico
Abstain: Christine Psathas, Teri Gareau, Laurie Semprebon, Christina
Mailhos
Motion Passed
MOTION: by Mark Makuch, seconded by David Tharp to approve pages one and two of the
transfer packet as presented.
VOTE: Yes: Mark Makuch, David Tharp, Herb Arico, Christine Psathas,
Laurie Semprebon, Teri Gareau
No: Christina Mailhos
Motion Passed
MOTION: by Christina Mailhos, seconded by Herb Arico to separate line item of the laptop
purchase out of the transfer packet page three as presented.
VOTE: Yes: Mark Makuch, David Tharp, Herb Arico, Christine Psathas,
Laurie Semprebon, Christina Mailhos
No: Teri Gareau
Motion Passed
MOTION: by Teri Gareau, seconded by Laurie Semprebon to accept the remainder of the
transfer packet page three without the laptop line item.
VOTE: Unanimous in Favor
MOTION: by Laurie Semprebon, seconded by Teri Gareau to approve the line item of the
laptop computers for $30,000.00 of page three of the transfer packet as presented.
MOTION: by David Tharp, seconded by Christina Mailhos to table the motion of the laptop
transfer approval on the floor for the next meeting.
VOTE: Yes: David Tharp, Mark Makuch, Christine Psathas, Christina Mailhos
No: Herb Arico, Laurie Semprebon, Teri Gareau
Motion Passed
NEW BUSINESS:
Board held first reading and discussion of Policy #3326, Payment of Goods and Services.
MOTION: by Christine Psathas, seconded by Laurie Semprebon to approve the request to fund
the National History Day Trip in the amount of $500.00.
VOTE: Unanimous in Favor
MOTION: by Laurie Semprebon, seconded by Teri Gareau to move Agenda Items 10, Present
to Speak and 11, Board Comments before Item C of New Business.
VOTE: Unanimous in Favor
PRESENT TO SPEAK:
None.
BOARD COMMENTS:
Members congratulated on HMS water project completion and attended the Into the Woods Musical, History Day Exhibit Night, and the Success Assembly all at HMS, and the Earth Day Celebration at CES, all were wonderful events. Members mentioned upcoming school activities: Success Assembly for HMS in June, date TBD, the Region #19 Meeting for Willington at the Willington Public Library on May 21, 2008 at 7pm to present on the renovation project for the outdoor athletic facilities at E.O. Smith High School.
MOTION: by Christine Psathas, seconded by Laurie Semprebon to enter executive session at
9:02 pm to discuss personnel matter and the evaluation of the Superintendent, and
invite the Superintendent, David Harding to attend.
VOTE: Unanimous in Favor
Board moved out of executive session at 10:05 pm.
Meeting adjourned at 10:06 p.m.
Nichole Page
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