February 5, 2020 at 7:00 PM - Regular Board of Education Meeting

Rationale:  This year's recipients of the CAPSS Superintendent's Award are Elizabeth Cravinho and Trevor Wells. I have attached bios of these students which describe their many accomplishments in school and within the community. This award is based on their service, leadership, and academic prowess.  Jim Wygonik will introduce them.

Rationale: 

Please note the personnel report as you will find updated employee information reflected in it.

Please take note of the February enrollment report. We have a total of 1,299 students (in-house) enrolled, an increase of 12 students from last month this time.

We are in the process of completing our refunding of the 2009, 2011, and 2012 bonds and are pleased to report that we were able to save the district $514,629.87 over the next 11 years including $111,187.50 in the current year and an additional $58,742.37 next year.  This change for next year has allowed us to further reduce the proposed budget to below one quarter of a percent (0.23%).

We have planned our first public forum for the turf field on March 25, 2019 at LOLHS at 6:30 p.m.  Please mark your calendars.  Advertising for this event will begin soon.

Thank you to the Sicuranza family for their generous donation to the LOLHS Ski Club of $1500 to support ski trips.  Their donation letter is attached.

The recycling discussion has been tasked to the Coordinated School Health Council.  They will be meeting this month to address concerns raised earlier this year. 

Our discussion with the Lyme Academy has continued regarding the potential purchase of the abutting property.  I will update the Board on that discussion.

The state's accountability report for schools has been released and congratulations are in order for all of our schools.  As a reminder, the School Category Accountability Index Values are based on the overall performance index (a total of all 12 indication point values listed below).

1. Academic achievement status measured by state assessments

2. Academic growth

3. Assessment participation rate

4. Chronic absenteeism - (Chronic absenteeism is defined as a student missing more than 10% of the designated school days in a school year. Absences counted include out of school suspension, but not in school suspension).

5. Preparation for postsecondary and career readiness – coursework

6. Preparation for postsecondary and career readiness – exams

7. Graduation – on track in ninth grade

8. Graduation – four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate – all students

9. Graduation – six-year adjusted cohort graduation rate – high needs

10. Postsecondary entrance rate – all students (college enrollment)

11. Physical fitness

12. Arts access

Category 1 School  85 – 100 (School of Distinction)

Category 2 School 70 – 84.9

Category 3 School 0- 69.9

(there are category 4 and 5 schools as well - those are priority or turnaround school categories).

Other factors that are not point-based:

• Performance gaps between non-high needs and high needs students in all tested areas.
• Graduation gap between non-high needs and high needs students.
• Participation rates in all tested areas.

Our results:

Lyme: Overall Index:  86.1 - Category 1 School of Distinction

MC:    Overall Index:  86.6 - Category 1 School of Distinction

MS:    Overall Index:  79.6 - Category 2 School

HS:     Overall Index:  87.8 - Category 2 School due to performance gap in science between non-high needs/high needs students - otherwise - the overall index score places the HS as a Category 1 School of Distinction.  The HS continually scores performance-wise as a School of Distinction but other factors, such as performance gaps, automatically disqualify the school to be in Category 1 by the CSDE criteria.

I will update the Board on progress toward our district goals.

Rationale:  Mrs. McCalla will provide a year to date budget status report as well as a contingency fund report.

Rationale:  There is no educational presentation this month.

Rationale: 

Based on any feedback we get from the budget forum prior to this meeting, we will move to approve the proposed budget.  This requires Board action.

Rationale:  Please see the attached field trip request from Mrs. Hylas.  This will require Board action.

Rationale:  Approval of this student will bring us to 11 tuition students.  This requires Board action.

Rationale: 

The existing high school tennis courts are over twenty years old exceeding their life expectancy.  The facility committee with some ad hoc community members evaluated alternatives and decided to replace the existing courts with a post tension concrete system.  This system will provide longevity, minimal maintenance and provide a consistent quality playing surface.

The project was publicly bid.  Bid results are attached.

This requires Board action.

Rationale:  You will have an opportunity to interview the finalist for John's position, Ron Turner.  His application materials are attached. I will review the process we used to determine him becoming the candidate of choice.  I have also attached a list of possible questions to ask but please feel free to ask whatever you deem appropriate.  After interviewing him, and assuming you approve of his hire, you will need to move to open session to vote. 

Rationale:  You will have an opportunity to interview the finalist for John's position, Ron Turner.  His application materials are attached. I will review the process we used to determine him becoming the candidate of choice.  I have also attached a list of possible questions to ask but please feel free to ask whatever you deem appropriate.  After interviewing him, and assuming you approve of his hire, you will need to move to open session to vote.