BOARD OF EDUCATION TOWN OF SOUTH WINDSOR, CONNECTICUT REGULAR MEETING AGENDA PLACE: TIME: Timothy Edwards Middle School 100 Arnold Way 7 p.m. DATE: February 14, 2017 Item Item# Action I. Call to Order II. Pledge of Allegiance III. Roll Call IV. Public Schools Vision Statement V. Approval of Minutes A. Approve Minutes of the January 24, 2017 Regular Meeting B. Approve Minutes of the January 25, 2017 Special Meeting VI. Communications A. Superintendent B. Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction C. Student Representatives D. Board Members VII. Hearing of Visitors VIII. Consent A. Post-facto approval of ESEA Grant Application (Title I, Part A; Title II) #2/14/17-1 B. Post-facto approval of ESEA Grant Application (Title III, Part A) C. Post-facto approval of Open Choice Academic, Student and Social Support Grant Application IX. Donations #2/14/17-2 X. Superintendent of Schools Report A. Approve 2017-2018 Open Choice Enrollment Recommendations B. Personnel Report XI. Unfinished and New Business A. BOE Policy #6172.3 Home Schooling - First Read B. Committee Reports C. 2017-2018 Budget Discussion XII. Hearing of Visitors #2/14/17-3 #2/14/17-4 #2/14/17-5 XIII. IX. Items for Future Agendas Adjournment
SOUTH WINDSOR BOARD OF EDUCATION SOUTH WINDSOR, CONNECTICUT Welcome to this meeting of the Board of Education. This meeting is a time when the board conducts its business and observers are always welcome. The board is a policy-setting body. Because education is a state function, once board members are elected to office, they become officers of the state. Locally, the board is a legislative body responsible for establishing local policy ensuring that the schools are properly run in accordance with federal law, state law, and regulations. Copies of the policy manual are available in the library, the superintendent s office, and the town hall. The board hires an administrative staff to oversee all of the daily operations in the schools and to do the staff work necessary for the board both to act on policy matters and evaluate, in a general sense, the overall functioning of the school system. Thus, the board asks the administrative staff to do a variety of tasks involving data collection and analysis and to make recommendations where appropriate. In many instances, the law requires from the superintendent a recommendation upon which the board can act. This is an official business meeting of the school board conducted under a prepared and limited agenda distributed to the board, town hall, and school offices several days ahead of time. The policy of the board with respect to public participation during this meeting of the Board of Education states: All regular meetings of the board shall be open to the public Time shall be reserved at each regular meeting of the board for hearing of visitors and citizens groups. Visitors who address the board should be mindful of the following: A fifteen-minute period * will customarily be provided for public presentations at the beginning and end of the meeting. In both instances, participants may present written or oral statements or requests. The board would appreciate receiving copies of any written statements. These statements or requests must be limited to three minutes. Unless an answer to a question is provided in the board s written policies, established regulations, or procedures, the board will not respond to the request at the same meeting, nor will it take action on a proposed recommendation, but may defer the item to a later meeting. The board suggests some guidelines that may be helpful: 1. Each person wishing to speak should limit his or her remarks to three (3) minutes. 2. If there are many citizens desiring to speak on the same subject, they will be asked to limit their presentation so that each different subject may be given fair presentation time. 3. Citizens should not expect an immediate reply from the board since this is the time for citizens to be heard and not the time for decisions to be made. If the board feels there is need to discuss the citizen s matter of interest further, it may place the matter on the agenda for a future meeting. The school board appreciates your assistance in helping it discharge its duties properly. * School board business may at times require reduction of time period.
GOOD NEWS FROM SCHOOLS February 14, 2017 ELI TERRY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Submitted by Principal, Vincent Federici Eli Terry second grade students celebrated the 100 th day of school on February 7, 2017 by collecting at least 100 food items to benefit the Hockanum Valley Community Council Food Pantry in Vernon. Students collected several hundred items and tabulated their results. On the morning of February 14, third grade parents were invited in to the Eli Terry math room for a program called A Second Cup of Coffee, which featured advice and information on the Common Core State Standards in Math. Under the direction of Math Interventionist and Coach, Nancy Bassilakis, parents discussed strategies using number lines, place value and multiplication fact fluency and examined student work samples. PLEASANT VALLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Submitted by Principal, Tiffany Caouette Pleasant Valley held a Soup er Bowl food drive in the week before the actual Super Bowl. Students brought in canned goods and used them to vote for the team they wanted to win the Super Bowl. At the end of the week, the New England Patriots had won the contest, but more importantly, students collected over 1,000 food items for area food pantries. WAPPING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Submitted by Principal, Laura Hickson The Wapping WATCH club made valentines and gifts for the seniors at the Senior Center in honor of Valentine s Day. TIMOTHY EDWARDS MIDDLE SCHOOL Submitted by Principal, Nancy Larson On Saturday, February 4 TEMS students participated in the Regional Math Counts Competition. TEMS placed 3 rd out of 28 teams. There were over 200 students who participated and TEMS students placed in the top 25% with four students placing 2 nd, 5 th, 6 th and 10 th place. We have a team of four students along with three individual students who have been invited to the State Competition on March 11. Kudos to the TEMS math team and coaches Bill Denker and Beth Goldman SOUTH WINDSOR HIGH SCHOOL Submitted by Principal, Daniel Sullivan broadcast news students entered a contest with Fox 61. Fox was so impressed with the students that they aired their story about Josie the Therapy Dog as the first FOX 61 Student News story on Friday, Feb. 3. In addition, they invited teacher Phil Rockey and Madison Donahue, the student reporter, to be on the air during the 8 o clock hour to talk about the story.
#2/14/17-1 Memorandum February 8, 2017 To: From: Subject: Dr. Kate Carter Superintendent of Schools Sheryl L. Mortensen Assistant Superintendent, Curriculum & Instruction Post-Facto Approval of 2016-2018 Grants The grant applications listed and described below were recently approved by the state of Connecticut. I am seeking the Board of Education s post-facto approval of these grant awards for the following programs: Title I Part A, Improving Basic Programs Operated by Local Educational Agencies $315,382 Salary and benefits to support four Response to Intervention Specialists Title II Part A, Teacher and Principal Training and Recruiting $52,230 In-service curriculum writing, training and supplies costs related to adoption of new Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and Connecticut Elementary and Secondary Social Studies Frameworks Professional services relating to training for Literacy, S.T.E.M., Mathematics and Cultural Awareness Funding for differentiated, individualized professional development and professional learning resources for K-12 teachers Title III, Part A. Subpart I, English Language Acquisition and Language Enhancement $23,251 Funding to support annual parent/student cultural learning field trip Supplemental instructional materials related to the TELL English Proficiency Program and English Learner texts (REACH and Worldly Wise) Technology purchase to provide four (4) additional Chromebooks to elementary schools in support of the expanded EL program Open Choice Academic, Student and Social Support (Sheff Region) $100,725 Stipend for Open Choice Coordinator at Partial salary for part-time elementary and middle school paraprofessionals providing math intervention support Hourly compensation to support two (2) teachers at each elementary school for the before-school homework program Emergency transportation and translation services for Open Choice families Bus monitor for Timothy Edwards Middle School School Climate and Culturally Responsive Education Programming (Targeted Professional Development) o participation in Anytown and Bridges student leadership programs sponsored by National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ) o Grant funds will also be utilized to fund additional session(s) with Deacon Art Miller
#2/14/17-2 Public Schools Office of the Superintendent Memorandum TO: Members, Board of Education FROM: Kate Carter, Ed.D., Superintendent of Schools RE: Gift Acceptance February 14, 2017 Organization/Person Making Donation Gift Recipient Category TEMS PTO $5,000 Travelers $60 Pleasant Valley PTO $4,000 Geissler s Supermarket $69.20 Travelers $15 Aetna Foundation $144.84 Kristen & Seth Walter $101 Community Women s Club $150 Raymond & Pamela Marra $300 Gregory Marra $500 Christopher & Raymond Marra $500 Human Relations Commission *7 Benches valued at $400 each $100 in supplies for each school Timothy Edwards Middle School Orchard Hill Elementary School Pleasant Valley Elementary School Pleasant Valley Elementary School $3,500 * Public Schools Performing Arts Other: Art on a Bench Project for each school in the district Each donation provided to the board for its acceptance is associated with one of the following categories: Athletics, Classroom Support, Cultural Arts, Field Trips, Performing Arts,, Student Activities, Technology, Other (with explanation)
#2/14/17-3 Memorandum February 8, 2017 To: From: Subject: Dr. Kate Carter Superintendent of Schools Sheryl L. Mortensen Assistant Superintendent, Curriculum & Instruction 2017-2018 Open Choice Enrollment Recommendations The purpose for this memo is to offer my recommendation regarding the number of new Open Choice enrollments for the 2017-2018 school year. School districts are encouraged to declare their seats for the 2017-2018 school year prior to March 1. Background. As part of the Sheff Phase II Stipulation and Order, the State of Connecticut continues its goal of increasing the enrollment of Hartford-resident minority students in order to reduce racial, ethnic, and economic isolation, improve student achievement and provide parents with a choice of educational programming. South Windsor has participated in the CREC Open Choice program since 1966. 2017-2018 Proposal. This year Public Schools welcomed 126 Hartford students from CREC s Open Choice program, 3.1% of our 10/1/16 district enrollment. Based on enrollment and application information we have to date, I am recommending that we accept fourteen (14) new kindergarten Open Choice students. The following table outlines the anticipated 2017-2018 Open Choice student enrollment for grades K 12, reflecting a total of 131 students (3.2% of the projected district enrollment). Anticipated 2017-2018 Open Choice Enrollment Grade K 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Total 14 8 8 9 15 9 10 13 11 11 9 8 6 131
#2/14/17-4 PERSONNEL AND ADMINISTRATION Public Schools 1737 Main Street, CT 06074 MEMORANDUM cmcnamara@swindsor.k12.ct.us Date: February 3, 2017 To: From: Subject: Kate Carter, Ed.D. Superintendent of Schools Colin J. McNamara Assistant Superintendent Personnel and Administration Personnel Report Resignation Elizabeth Francolino, music teacher at Wapping Elementary School, resigned effective January 26, 2017. Ms. Francolino had been employed by Public Schools since January 2009.
#2/14/17-5 6172.3 Instruction Home Schooling The Public Schools recognizes the right of parents or guardians to educate their children at home. Pursuant to State law, school-age children who are South Windsor residents can be excused from the statutory requirement to attend school if the child s parent or guardian notifies the school district that the child is receiving home instruction. Parents or guardians must file a Notice of Intent form annually with the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction acknowledging that the parent or guardian is taking full responsibility for the education of their child in accordance with the requirements of state law. Upon receipt of such notification, the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction will send the parent or guardian an acknowledgement in writing of receipt of the form. The Public Schools shall not provide any educational services, including special education or related services, to a child who is not enrolled in the Public Schools except for those services required by law. Participation in Public School activities and programs including but not limited to, athletic teams, extra-curricular clubs and programs, is restricted to students enrolled in the Public Schools. These programs and activities are not open to non-students. Legal Reference: Connecticut General Statutes 10-184 Duties of parents 10-184a Special education programs not required for children in home or private schools 10-220 Duties of boards of education