October 11, 2005 at 7:00 PM - 10-11-05 Regular Board Meeting

Rationale:  The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m.

Rationale:  Chair Boske explained the rules of Public Session.

Rationale:  School Days Missed: None The Senior Class of 2006 would like to continue the annual class trip to the Nevelle Grande, a ski resort in Ellensville in the Catskills of New York. Traditionally, the 40-80 seniors would leave by bus accompanied by 10 chaperones from staff, parents and police volunteers. The trip is scheduled to depart right after the last final exam block on Friday, January 20th, 2006 and to return on Sunday afternoon, January 22nd. This ski resort, which we have visited before offers a package deal for senior class groups from the north coast, and provides both outdoor and indoor activities to appeal to all. The cost of the bus, the hotel room, all meals, snack bar, and activities are part of the package offered at $259 per person. The trip provides the seniors with an excellent break following their January final exams. The students get to know each other better, and special bonds are created. Chaperones from previous years have expressed an interest in doing the trip again. All baggage is searched before loading the bus, and frequent room checks are held. The hotel has security on all floors to assist with the curfew. Our school usually has all rooms located in the same wing to facilitate coordination. The hotel is an enclosed and gated resort. This has been an excellent trip in the past. We ask that it be allowed to continue!

Rationale:  School Days Missed: None (winter break) Middletown High School is a part of the Lou Irvin Historically Black College and University Tour Consortium. This is an organization that introduces and aids students in the college application process and post secondary planning. The students are assisted in application completion, standardized testing and the financial aid process. The program begins in September with mandatory evening meetings and culminates in February with the college tour to seven H.B.C.U. schools. They are: 1. Morehouse 2. Spellman 3. Clark-Atlanta 4. Morris Brown 5. Tuskegee 6. Fort Valley State 7. Alabama State While on the campuses, the students can learn the history of these schools, apply for admission, receive scholarships and experience college life. The major focus is to give students choice for there post secondary plans.

Rationale:  School Days Missed: None (winter break) The Boys Swim team plans to travel to Orlando, FL during February vacation. Time at school will not be missed. The purpose of this trip is to provide opportunities for training and team building away form Middletown. The team of 30, coaches and chaperones will practice daily, participate in scrimmages with other teams also gathered in that area for the same purposes and participate in team building activities. The group will spend nights in a hotel sleeping 4 to a room. A sightseeing trip will also be scheduled. Previous trips of this type have been both beneficial and enjoyable. It is a good opportunity for both personal and educational growth.

Rationale:  School Days Missed: 3 (March 15, 16, 17, 2006) This Columbia Scholastic Press Convention, operated out the School of Journalism at Columbia University, is the oldest and best high school journalism convention in the nation. In a typical year, more than 4,000 students and their advisers from more than 45 states attend. There will be more than 250 workshops on just about every aspect of producing high school publications given by experts in the field. The overwhelming majority of the workshops/seminars are given by high school advisers, and they offer practical advice on how to make newspapers better. The convention begins on a Wednesday morning at 10 a.m. on the campus of Columbia (students are on spring break) and runs until 3:30. On both Thursday and Friday, the workshops begin at 9 a.m. Our students will be on campus for the duration. The school mission statement says that Middletown High School prepares students to live in the democratic society of the United States. A school/student newspaper is excellent training in support of that goal. In my experience, this convention, better than any I have attended, addresses First Amendment issues, sound journalistic principles, and the importance of a newspaper in a free society. The convention also places a heavy emphasis on writing. In workshop after workshop, presenters demonstrate the importance of clear, concise writing. Items taught include interviewing skills, writing strong leads, how to write personality profiles, how to write sports/news/feature stories, how to construct a persuasive piece (editorials), all of which are things that we teach throughout the curriculum. Workshops on technology are offered (relative to newspaper design, photography, art) and workshops on legal issues (libel, relevant court cases such as Tinker and Hazelwood, etc.) are also offered. In short, many of the things we deem important to teach in language arts, social science and tech Ed courses are taught. Lastly, there are workshops on advertising (our students sell ads on their own to fund Blue Prints) and these, too, are helpful. I would also suggest that there is an overarching educational benefit besides the ones listed above. Newspapers are critically important in a free society. For three days our students are immersed in a newspaper culture. They get to talk with students from across the nation who share their interest in journalism. For three days, that's all they talk about. Every year I have discussions with our students who become even more excited than they already are about working on a student newspaper. They come back energized about the paper and about trying some new ideas they've picked up. It is the best trip I've taken. So the board is aware, we fill the evenings with cultural activities. On Tuesday evening, we take a walking tour of midtown Manhattan, seeing such sights at Rockefeller Center, St. Patrick's Cathedral, Fifth Avenue, Times Square, etc. On Wednesday and Thursday evening, we attend Broadway plays. Each student and their family will receive a detailed handout of itinerary, costs, rules and regulations. I will also meet with the parents in an evening at the high school well before the trip to answer all questions they may have. This trip is a very good educational experience for our students.

Rationale:  School Days Missed: None This trip provides an opportunity for athletes to visit the Baseball Hall of Fame in an effort to identify individuals of character that have dedicated themselves to reach their potential.

Rationale:  School Days Missed: 4 (April 28, May 1, 2, and 3, 2006) Middletown DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America) has competed in the International Career Development Conference over the past twenty-five years. This year, the conference will be held in Dallas, Texas from April 28th through May 3, 2006. The purpose of this conference is designed to enable students to engage in competitive events that will extend their skills for careers in marketing and management. Over the past three years, Middletown DECA has had numerous award winners (48) at state level and has been recognized at the international level. The cost of the conference is approximately $500 per student, which includes transportation and lodging. All arrangements will be made by Connecticut DECA, which is affiliated with the State Department of Education. DECA Advisor Michael J. Awdziewicz will chaperone this trip.

Rationale:  School Days Missed: 1 (May 19, 2006) The Woodrow Wilson Music Department has had the extreme privilege of being accepted to perform in Hershey Park, Pennsylvania for over the past ten years. We have been invited to compete on May 19, 2006. Here is an outline of the trip, so that it may be reviewed by the Board of Education. Thank you for your consideration. I would like to extend this invitation to the members of the eighth grade band, jazz band, chorus and select chorus for this May 2006. This exciting trip gives our musicians the rare chance to participate and compete against middle school performing groups from all over the country. The ensembles are asked to prepare high grade, challenging middle school music literature and perform for an esteem panel of judges. Each group is then given a score and a rating that is then compared with all other performing groups in their category. We continue to stress how important our rating is and do not get caught up with the placement within our category. We have very high expectations for all of our musicians. As a bonus, a tape made by the adjudicators, is given to the Directors to bring home and share with the students. On the second day, there is an awards ceremony at the Park for the students to receive their placement and are awarded trophy’s. Each group’s school spirit is demonstrated at the ceremony through excitement and respect for all other groups. Ultimately, there is an extreme sense of pride once the ratings and trophies are awarded for their commitment, attitude and accomplishments. There are three main objectives for our students as they prepare for this competition: to continue to raise their individual level of musicianship, to improve ensemble skills, and to strive for their best performance as a musician. This trip is an extremely successful tool to help make this happen. The students are expected to work hard in their performing groups and on their teams throughout the year. They are to show respect, hard work and a positive attitude in order to be given the chance to participate in this rare opportunity. This encourages the students to have the motivation to strive for success, raise level of musicianship and continue to demonstrate a positive attitude. This is a special overnight trip and a rare exciting musical opportunity for our young musicians. We accept this invitation so that our students can be rewarded for their musical accomplishments throughout the year. We hope to offer this adventure to the music students of Woodrow Wilson Middle School, so that they may participate in an unforgettable musical experience.

Rationale:  Executive Summary Textbook Adoption – First Review Science: High school science teachers are recommending the adoption of a new text for advanced biology classes. The current, advanced-level text is out of date and at an inadequate content level for an advanced biology class. The proposed text covers the major topics of biology thoroughly and meets all of the requirements of the new science framework. The new text is supplemented by a CD-ROM that allows students to make connections to related topics The proposed adoption is available in the Curriculum Office for those who may wish to review it. Biology Concepts and Connections, fifth edition, Campbell, N.; Reece, J.; Taylor, M.; Simon, E.; Pearson, Benjamin Cummings, San Francisco, CA, 2006

Rationale:  Executive Summary of Social Studies and Science Elective Course Proposals Social studies: In response to student interest and survey findings from the recent K-12 social studies evaluation, the High School social studies department is proposing Witness to History, a junior/senior elective that will focus on recent and current global developments in largely non-Western cultures. The proposed course’s emphasis on primary documents, demanding and engaging course activities (e.g., interviews and memoirs), and use of technology to access foreign and global agencies – makes it especially relevant and rigorous (two concerns raised in part by the last evaluation). It should be further noted that the department has consolidated and eliminated other electives, carefully considered the state social studies frameworks, minimized start-up costs, and hopes to attract a heterogeneous mix of students. Please see the attached proposal. Science: After several years of review and discussion, including student survey and the preliminary stages of the this year’s K-12 science evaluation, the High School science teachers are recommending the development and offering of four new science electives (single semester courses): 1. Anatomy & Physiology (for college prep and advanced juniors and seniors) 2. Astronomy (for regular and college prep juniors and seniors) 3. Meteorology (for regular and college prep juniors and seniors) 4. Topics in Science (for all levels of juniors and seniors) A letter to Board members and course proposals, including rationale, costs, and evaluation design, are included in the attached file. Please note the following: - Each proposal addresses the state’s science frameworks - The department has submitted an alternating year schedule as requested by Mr. Fontaine and me. - There are no additional personnel requirements. - The proposals will support moderately heterogeneous classes, a much-needed dimension missing in many high school offerings. - Compared with other districts, Middletown High School offers fewer electives than many. - Costs vary from course to course, but would entail about $9,000 for texts and materials for all four courses. - Mr. Fontaine has indicated that the additional two courses should not significantly impact scheduling and class sizes. Having met with and discussed these proposals with the supervisors, high school principal, and science teachers, I support both proposals as being educationally and fiscally sound. An additional note: Both departments have readily embraced the Learning Team model in giving much greater emphasis to reading and are presently strengthening the writing components of their courses.

Rationale:  The minutes of the October 6, 2005 will be distributed at the October 11, 2005 Board of Education meeting.

Rationale:  In Policy #4111.1(c) insert wording to include board member(s) in numbered paragraph #2. 2. Where possible, screening is done by a multi-ethnic committee composed of [board member(s)], teacher(s), parent(s), community member(s), principal(s), director(s), and central office administrator(s). The superintendent of schools chairs the screening committee.

Rationale:  In Policy #5141.3(a-b) Health Assessments and Immunizations changes were made to the policy to incorporate new language concerning asthma assessments and new legal references concerning immunizations.

Rationale:  Bylaw #9325(a) Meeting Conduct - Committee members recommend a change to paragraph #5, the sentence starting with "If speakers cannot complete their remarks, they will be asked" change the word "asked" to "allowed" and "to return for an additional five (5) minutes" changed to "to return for an additional two (2) minutes".

Rationale:  Bylaw #9270 Conflict of Interest - This replaces the current Bylaw which will address the changes in language for civil unions. It is proposed to take the place of old Bylaw #9270.

Rationale:  In the Fall and in the Spring the Superintendent holds breakfast meetings at each school with staff. The schedule is attached.

Rationale:  Attached please find a Grants Summary to date for Middletown Public Schools for the 2005-2006 School Year

Rationale:  TO: Michael Frechette, Ph.D., Superintendent of Schools FR: Ken Jackson, Director of Facilities DATE: October 3, 2005 RE: New High School / Vo-Ag Project Per your request, to follow is an update regarding the New High School and Vocational Agriculture projects. - To date the New High School Building Committee has recommended that the site bid package be awarded to DeRita Construction Company of Middletown, Connecticut and that the steel bid package be awarded to Berlin Steel Construction Corporation of Berlin, Connecticut. Other contracts, such as for the concrete bid package will be brought to the Building Committee in the near future for recommendations to award and other bid packages may be re-bid. - As of today site work has commenced at the Woodrow Wilson Middle School site. DeRita Construction will be installing silt and erosion control fencing as required, site excavation will commence and topsoil will be moved around the site in accordance with the grading requirements, and construction of the new access road will begin. The access road will go south from Wilderman’s Way (across from Spruce Street) to the end of the site and then head west to Cynthia Lane. When the access road is complete Wilderman’s Way will be closed off just to the west of Spruce Street. - Pinnacle One is continuing to coordinate the efforts of DeCarlo & Doll in the project redesign and with TBI Construction regarding on going cost estimating and construction schedule impact. - Pinnacle One had scheduled the closing date for the submission of tri-gen proposals from various energy service companies (ESCOs) for September 30th. There will be discussion regarding the tri-gen option at the October 5th Building Committee meeting, but I do not believe this will be an action item for the Building committee at this meeting. Please advise if you require any additional information at this time.

Rationale:  Transportation Report August 31, 2005 through September 30, 2005 The first full month of transportation for Middletown Public and Non-Public schools went well. We continue to monitor and adjust our bus routes for full efficiency. There were approximately nine out of four hundred plus routes that had on time issues. These routes have been worked on and appear to be on track. The committee has reviewed all initial parental requests for bus stop changes. Some changes were accepted with minimal impact to bus routes. We continue to address busing concerns, issues, and requests and resolve most within a twenty-four hour period. The latest new busing hurdle is the additional busing needed for athletic activities. We are now busing Middle School Athletics away from the construction area of the new Middletown High School. Bus evacuation drills are, or are soon to be, underway for the twenty Public and Non-Public Schools that we provide service for. Please see attachment for complete report.

Rationale:  PERSONNEL ACTION: Leave of Absence: Jodi DiMauro, Mathematics Teacher (Woodrow Wilson Middle School) employed in Middletown since August 1998, has requested a child-rearing leave of absence for six to eight weeks. The effective date is March 18, 2006. Appointment: Wieslawa Mocarska, is nominated as a Mathematics Teacher (Middletown High School). Her position on the salary scale is Step 4 of the Bachelor’s Salary Scale, salary $42,846.00 effective August 29, 2005. Ms. Mocarska earned her Baccalaureate at Warsaw University in Poland. Cathy Pelkey, is nominated as a Mathematics Teacher (Middletown High School). Her position on the salary scale is Step 7 of the Master’s Salary Scale, salary $53,634.00 effective August 29, 2005. Ms. Pelkey earned her Baccalaureate at the University of New Haven and her Master’s at Southern Connecticut State University. STATUS OF CERTIFIED EMPLOYMENT: Vacancies: There is an Assistant Superintendent of Schools and a High School Assistant Principal, which are both presently being filled by Interims. Resignations: Tanya Goldstein, Elementary Teacher (Moody School) employed in Middletown since August 1996, has submitted her resignation for personal reasons. Cara Viggiano, Speech/Language Pathologist (Bielefield/Spencer Schools) employed in Middletown since January 2002, has submitted her resignation to take a position in another school district.