October 12, 2011 at 7:00 PM - 2011 Regular BOE Meeting

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Lisa was chosen as Employee of the Month for September, 2011 and her work deserves commendation given the scope of her responsibilities. 

As the newly appointed Librarian at Killingly Intermediate School, Lisa volunteered nearly 100 hours in reorganizing the library. Lisa has been passionate about ensuring that all children will have quality literature in their hands.

 Every single book in the library was literally checked by Lisa and Lisa even organized volunteers to assist in this monumental task.  In addition to her research on quality standards, she also assisted teachers and staff in learning which resources are considered high quality for students.

Lisa'a dedication to the Killingly Public Schools and their children is amazing!

 On behalf of the Board of Education, we commend you and thank you for your dedication to the Killingly Public Schools.

Rationale:  Members of the Killingly community are encouraged to share their thoughts with the Board of Education and are invited to do so during this segment of the meeting.  When appropriate to do so, members of the Board and the administration may respond to comments. However, in consideration of those in attendance and in an effort to proceed in a timely manner, follow-up discussion may need to take place outside of the meeting setting.

Rationale:  We have completed the transition of  our food services program from a self-run program to a management company, and have slightly more than a months experience with students and staff under Whitsons management.  Tim Mugan, our district manager, and John Prunier, Whitsons' regional director, will update the board on the transition, initial sales experience, and future plans and challenges.

Rationale:  Joan Gardner will be at the meeting to give a brief report on KCS news.

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Rationale:  October 1 (this year, September 30) is the official date for reporting student enrollment to the state for all state reports, ECS aid, and projections.  Attached is a report showing the October 1 enrollment compared to the NESDEC projections for this year (based on the October 1, 2010 data) and attendance at the start of the school year.  Enrollment is up significantly (4.3% over projection); especially take note of the size of the freshman and sophomore classes.  Enrollment is down at KIS compared to projections, but fairly close to projections at the elementary grades.

Rationale:  The Danielson Rotary Club is sponsoring the 28th Annual Teacher of the Year BAnquet for Killingly, Brooklyn and Ellis Tech on October 27 at 6:00 p.m. at the Imperial Room.  Board members are encouraged to attend this festive evening.  Please let Keely know if you'd like to attend.

Rationale:  The September 30 quarterly report shows that the current year budget is on a typical expenditure trajectory with no major surprises.  Projections to the end of the year show a very modest balance, but some budgetary lines that typically show positive balances at this time of the year are not doing so, and some unanticipated expenditures (mostly in special education) will present a challenge.   The budget w ill require careful monitoring throughout the year.

Rationale:  The District Improvement Plan has been updated for the 2011-2012 school year.  Minor changes were made to different parts of the plan, and a prioritized need was added that reflects the curriculum and assessment work that needs to take place as a result of the adoption of the Common Core of State Standards.  While still in draft form, Mr. McNamara will share the ongoing work of the District Data Team in updating the plan.  

Rationale:  MOTION:  to approve the consent agenda:

a.  BOE Meeting Minutes of Sept 14, Sept. 21 and Special Meeting on Sept. 28, 2011.                        
b.  payment of bills for the year 2010-11 year in September in the amount of $70,520.70 and for the 2011-12 year in September in the amount of $1,298,619.05
c.  Nominee for October EOM 2011
d. Ms. Beland's Field trip to the Home Builder's Assoc. Show in Orlando, FL Feb. 6-Feb. 10
e. Ms. Rodgers and Mr. Ethier's Music Dept. Field trip to Disney World, FL, April 17-23

Rationale:  There have been no significant changes to the draft calendar shared at the September meeting.  Second meetings of the month remain reserved for the Lighthouse Project.  Other curriculum presentations may be added as the year goes on, depending upon interest or the direction of the Curriculum Committee.  It is requested that the board approve the 2011-12 Board of Education Annual Calendar as presented.

Rationale:  This action is necessary should the board want to appoint a voting delegate to the Delegate Assembly at the CABE/CAPSS Convention in November.  The Assembly is held the day before the convention starts, on Thursday, November 17.  In the past, the board has also selected an alternate.

Rationale:  At the Special Board budget meeting on July 7, prior to setting the line item budget for FY12, the Board defeated a motion to waive the three-credit science requirement for the Class of 2012.  The Board understood at the time that this action would require that an additional science teacher be added to the high school faculty, with a line item transfer necessary subsequent to increasing the number of teacher FTE's on the table of organization.

Rationale:  The General Assembly passed Public Act 11-232, "An Act Concerning the Strengthening of School Bullying Laws, which makes significant changes to the existing statute.  This new law makes substantial changes to and expands the definition of bullying and other terms, expands school oversight to off-campus and cyber-bullying, imposes new obligations on school employees, and requires school districts to develop a Safe School Climate Plan, appoint a Safe School Climate Coordinator, provide in-service training.  The changes are significant enough that a new policy is required (rather than trying to revise our existing one).  The proposed new policy was reviewed by the Policy Committee at their meeting on September 26, and they recommended approval on a first reading basis.

Rationale:  Several changes to legislation and CT State Department of Public Health regulations governing required immunizations for enrollment in school have left our existing regulation out of date.  The proposed changes simplify the language in the regulation and attach the list of immunizations as updated annually by DPH.  In the future, the only change required would be replacing the list of immunizations when so advised by the DPH.  The proposed revision was reviewed by the Policy Committee at their meeting on September 26, and they recommended approval on a first reading basis.

Rationale:  As part of Public Act 10-111, School Governance Councils are required to be established in schools that did not make AYP as of July 1, 2010; in Killingly, that means that KMS and KHS must establish councils by November 2011.  The statute outlines council membership and means of election.  School Governance Councils serve in an advisory capacity to school administration if the following areas: developing a School Improvement Plan, reviewing the school's draft budget, participating in the hiring process for school administrators, assisting the principal in making programmatic and operational changes, and developing a written parent involvement policy and school compact.   There are also limitations on the responsibilities of councils listed in the legislation.  The statute also imposes obligations on school districts for training council members. 

This is not a required policy, though the creation of School Governance Councils in designated schools is.  Given the scope of the statute and the obligations it imposes on the district and individual schools, it makes sense to adopt a new policy to make those  obligations clear.  The proposed new policy was reviewed by the Policy Committee at their meeting on September 26, and they recommended approval on a first reading basis.

Rationale:  This proposed change is a small technical change due to legislative action that now permits expelled students between the ages of 16 and 18 to enroll in an adult education program as the alternative educational program without having to withdraw from school.  Consequently, only the single affected page of the much larger student discipline policy is included.  The proposed policy was reviewed by the Policy Committee at their meeting on September 26, and they recommended approval on a first reading basis.

Rationale:  The revision is recommended by the Board's attorney, to conform with statutory language.