See Previous Agendas & Minutes

See Previous Agendas & Minutes

DRAFT

 

Mansfield Board of Education Meeting

November 12, 2009

Minutes

 

Attendees:

Mary Feathers, Chair, Shamim Patwa, Vice-Chair, Chris Kueffner, Secretary, Martha Kelly, Mark LaPlaca, Min Lin, Katherine Paulhus, Superintendent Fred Baruzzi, Board Clerk, Celeste Griffin.

Absent:

Dudley Hamlin, Carrie-Silver-Bernstein

The meeting was called to order at 7:35pm by Ms. Feathers, Chair

 

RECOGNITIONS:  The Mansfield Public Schools was awarded an Honorable Mention in the CABE Award of Excellence for Educational Communications contest.  Ms. Feathers thanked Maria Capriola, Assistant to the Town Manager and Cherie Trahan, Director of Finance for preparing the budget documents which were distributed to Town Residents.  Ms. Feathers and Mr. Cryan recognized Mr. Baruzzi, recipient of the CAS Citation of Honor.

 

HEARING FOR VISITORS:  None

 

COMMUNICATIONS:  Ms. Feathers read a letter of thanks from Teacher of the Year, Janet Pagoni.

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS: Goodwin Committee:  Mrs. Kelly reported that the committee received five applications for Goodwin Bequest Funds of which two were awarded.  Region 19 Regionalization Exploratory Committee:  Ms. Patwa reported that the committee is exploring cost effectiveness of regional options.  Building Committee:  Ms. Feathers reported that the MMS Fuel Conversion project will be finished as originally designed and the joint meeting of the Town Council, MBOE, and Building Committee scheduled for November 23rd will be rescheduled.

Carrie Silver-Bernstein arrived at 7:49pm

 

REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT:

·         Language Arts/Reading and Mathematics Update:  Judy Shay, Reading/Language Arts Consultant, and Karen Moylan, Mathematics Consultant, reviewed fall district assessment scores and their implications.

·         Quarterly Financial Report:  Cherie Trahan reported that there are no major issues at this time.  MOTION by Ms. Patwa, seconded by Mrs. Kelly to accept the September 30, 2009 Quarterly Report.  VOTE:  Unanimous in favor.

·         Budget Transfers:  Mrs. Trahan reported that there was a slight reduction in budget salaries.  MOTION by Mrs. Kelly, seconded by Ms. Lin, to approve the Salary Budget Transfers for the 2009-2010 school year.  VOTE:  Unanimous in favor.

·         Group Testing Report:  Mr. Baruzzi reviewed the 2009 Connecticut Mastery Results and district plans to help children attain the confidence needed to reach mastery.

·         Strategic School Profile:  Mr. Baruzzi reviewed the recently released 2008-2009 SSP.

·         Mobile Dentist:  Mr. Baruzzi discussed the success of the Mobile Dentist program.

·         EASTCONN Executive Committee:  There is an opening for a Board Member to serve on the committee.

·         BOE Workshop – November 19th:  The workshop will be at the Bishop Center in room 7AB.

·         Community Conversation:  Mr. Baruzzi will host a morning and evening informational meeting for parents/guardians at each school in December.  Notices of the meetings will be widely distributed.

·         Class Size/Enrollment:  The administrators noted no major changes in enrollment in October.  Class sizes at the middle school were discussed.

·         Enhancing Student Achievement:  Three new projects were reviewed and will be implemented at the schools in support of this activity.

 

NEW BUSINESS:  MOTION by Ms. Lin, seconded by Mrs. Paulhus to move the October 22 minutes from the consent agenda.  VOTE: Unanimous in favor. MOTION by Mrs. Paulhus, seconded by Mr. LaPlaca to approve the minutes of the October 22, 2009 Board Meeting as appended.  VOTE: Unanimous in favor

 

CONSENT AGENDA:  MOTION by Mr. Kueffner, seconded Mr. LaPlaca that the following item for the Board of Education meeting of November 12, 2009 be approved or received for the record:  VOTE: Unanimous in favor

 

That the Mansfield Public Schools Board of Education adopts the proposed 2010 Board Meeting Calendar.

 

HEARING FOR VISITORS:  None

 

SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE AGENDA: Mrs. Paulhus requested a review of the K-4 Progress Reports.

 

Ms. Feathers presented the Board with her copy of Roberts Rules in Plain English and spoke briefly on her retirement from the Board.

 

MOTION by Mrs. Paulhus, seconded by Mrs. Kelly to adjourn with great sorrow at 10:15pm.  VOTE: Unanimous in favor.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Celeste N. Griffin, Board Clerk