January 12, 2009 at 7:00 PM - BOE Meeting-1/12/2009
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1. CALL TO ORDER
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2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
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3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
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3.1. November 24, 2008 Minutes
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3.2. November 28, 2008 Minutes
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3.3. December 8, 2008 Minutes
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4. AUDIENCE TO CITIZENS/STAFF/STUDENTS
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4.1. Curriculum Presentations: Science & Food Service
Rationale:
Ms. Lynn Tracy, Food Service Teacher at Somers High School, will present an overview of the food service program. Included in the overview will be the courses offered, the meals served during the school day, and the community work that they do. An executive summary is enclosed for your information.
Dr. Judith Houle, Director of Curriculum, will update the Board of Education regarding our progress on implementing the newly-adopted science curriculum and an overview of grant programs we participate in and for which we have applied to help build instructional strategies and increase student achievement. An executive summary is enclosed for your information. |
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5. CORRESPONDENCE
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6. OPPORTUNITY TO ADD/DELETE AGENDA ITEMS
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7. CONSENT AGENDA
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7.1. Approval of Bills
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7.1.1. Approval of Bills - $276,767.47
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7.2. Retirement (J. Gonyea)/Resignation (M. Clay)
Rationale:
Judy Gonyea, SES Grade 4 teacher, has submitted her retirement notification effective 6/30/09. Judy has been an elementary teacher in Somers since 1979.
MaryEllen Clay, SES .5 FTE Special Education teacher, has submitted her resignation effective 1/13/09. |
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7.3. Requests for Child-Rearing Leave (K. Chung/S. Burda)
Rationale:
Kate Chung, MBA .4 FTE World Language teacher, has requested a child-rearing leave from approximately 4/6/09-6/30/09 as per the S.E.A. contract.
Sarah Burda, SHS Art teacher, has requested a child-rearing leave from approximately 4/27/09-6/30/09 as per the S.E.A. contract. |
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8. NEW BUSINESS
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8.1. Second Warning/Adoption of DBS Code: 2120-Organizational Chart
Rationale:
These policies were first warned at the 12/8/08 meeting and are now ready for formal adoption. |
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8.2. Second Warning/Adoption of DBS Coe: 3511-Compliance with 504 Regulations
Rationale:
These policies were first warned at the 12/8/08 meeting and are now ready for formal adoption. |
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8.3. Second Warning/Adoption of DBS Code: 4112.5/4215.5-Security Check/Fingerprinting
Rationale:
These policies were first warned at the 12/8/08 meeting and are now ready for formal adoption. |
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8.4. Second Warning/Adoption of DBS Code: 5125.11-Health/Medical Records
Rationale:
These policies were first warned at the 12/8/08 meeting and are now ready for formal adoption. |
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8.5. Second Warning/Adoption of DBS Code: 5131.21-Threats or Acts of Violence
Rationale:
These policies were first warned at the 12/8/08 meeting and are now ready for formal adoption. |
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8.6. Second Warning/Adoption of DBS Code: 5141.6-Crisis Prevention/Response
Rationale:
These policies were first warned at the 12/8/08 meeting and are now ready for formal adoption. |
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8.7. Second Warning/Adoption of DBS Code: 5144.1-Use of Physical Force and Seclusion Policy
Rationale:
These policies were first warned at the 12/8/08 meeting and are now ready for formal adoption. |
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8.8. First Warning of DBS Code: 5144.3-Discipline of Students with Disabilities
Rationale:
The Policy Committee is submitting these four policies for board review. The committee has worked on each of these policies and has recommended that they move forward for adoption at the next board meeting. |
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8.9. First Warning of DBS Code: 6145.3-Publications
Rationale:
The Policy Committee is submitting these four policies for board review. The committee has worked on each of these policies and has recommended that they move forward for adoption at the next board meeting. |
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8.10. First Warning of DBS Code: 6161.2-Care of Instructional Materials
Rationale:
The Policy Committee is submitting these four policies for board review. The committee has worked on each of these policies and has recommended that they move forward for adoption at the next board meeting. |
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8.11. First Warning of DBS Code: 4117.1-Retirement
Rationale:
The Policy Committee is submitting these four policies for board review. The committee has worked on each of these policies and has recommended that they move forward for adoption at the next board meeting. |
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8.12. Approval of Co-op Tennis Agreement
Rationale:
This past spring Somers HS and Ellington HS ran a combined tennis club. The NCCC has approved this co-op merger between our two high schools and the 2009 spring league schedule is completed. Ellington High School in conjunction with the Tennis Booster Club will manage these varsity teams. See the attached documentation for the Cooperative Tennis Agreement. There will be no budgetary requirements for Somers HS as Ellington HS will assume all administrative costs.
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8.13. Adoption of Botany Elective for Science Curriculum
Rationale:
The new Somers Science Curriculum was adopted by the Board of Education on June 17, 2008. That document provided the core curriculum for our students.
Enclosed with your packet is the first of several additional courses to be added to the curriculum. This elective is a Botany course. Although the State Department of Education does not delineate standards for courses past the tenth grade, the science department at Somers High School has made links to the state framework to demonstrate how this course extends and depends the learning of the standards related to this course.
The document has been reviewed by the district Instructional Leadership Team and the Curriculum Subcommittee of the Board of Education and have been recommended by both groups for presentation to the full Board of Education.
The Director of Curriculum will make a brief presentation regarding this elective at the meeting.
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8.14. First Warning of Botany Elective Textbook
Rationale:
The science department at Somers High School has presented a textbook to accompany the Botany elective. The book, titled Introduction to Botany, was written by Murray W. Nabors of the University of Mississippi and published by Pearson Education in 2004. This book underwent a thorough review, along with other books, and was determined by the science department as the most appropriate text for the course.
The book and written review forms were also reviewed by the Instructional Leadership Team and Board of Education Curriculum Subcommittee. Both groups support the approval of this textbook for this course.
A copy of this textbook and the review forms completed by the high school are available in the Director of Curriculum’s office should any Board of Education members wish to review them prior to the meeting.
The Director of Curriculum will make a brief presentation regarding this textbook at the meeting.
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9. OLD BUSINESS
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10. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS
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10.1. Strategic Plan Update
Rationale:
The superintendent will give a brief overview regarding the Strategic Plan and the work done on the monthly goals for January. |
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10.2. Enrollment 1/1/2009
Rationale:
There has been an overall increase of 3 students for our district since the December 2008 report. The numbers reflect a drop of 1 student each in grades 1 and 7 due to students moving out of district and an increase of 1 student each in kindergarten, grade 4, and grade 9 as a result of students either returning or moving into the district. Grade 12 reflects a change of 1 student who has moved out of district and 1 student returning to the district.
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10.3. Budget Schedule/Planning Discussion
Rationale:
The superintendent will give a brief update regarding the budget planning schedule and additional meetings held with the Board of Finance. |
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10.4. Update on Emergency Tabletop Exercise
Rationale:
The superintendent will inform the board about the recent emergency tabletop exercise that was held in December with all administrations in the district and in conjunction with the local State police (scenario enclosed). |
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11. COMMITTEE REPORTS
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11.1. Budget
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11.2. Curriculum
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11.3. Policy
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11.4. Salary & Negotiations
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11.5. Planning
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11.6. Other Committees
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12. OTHER
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13. ADJOURNMENT
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