Gilbert Parent Ambassadors
December 8, 2014
Minutes
Present: Tony Serio, Alan Strauss, Martha Rein, Rob Rein, Lisa Goulet, Mike Scherer, Kim Huber, Caroline Christensen, Danise Hall, Astrid Robitaille, Dale Denning, Donna Batista, Vikki Pac
Discussion: Tony Serio spoke about the issues of privatization of Gilbert and special education. Gilbert is a private school and the Town of Winchester pays tuition. William L. Gilbert’s will indicates that the school was built to meet the needs of the students in the town of Winsted. The intent is to continue to do so. Gilbert is public because it serves a public purpose. Gilbert is private since it is owned by the Trust. The Trust sends the international students to Gilbert. The Town of Winchester sends the public students to Gilbert. In the past, state money was used for construction loans. At that time voting members of the Winsted BOE were added to the School Corporation. Currently there are 40 international students, 510 Winchester students, and 1 Hartland student.
Gilbert School is private with a public mission. The intent is not to become an international school. The international students are here to help the school survive financially. The tuition from the international students allows Gilbert to increase their budget and enhance the programs provided by Gilbert School. The AP classes are the direct result of the international students.
As a private school with a pubic mission Gilbert is held to all of the Connecticut State statutes required by Connecticut law. Some grants go directly to the school while some go through the Winchester Board of Education.
Winchester Board of Education makes the decision regarding which high school is the designated high school for Winchester students. Currently the per pupil cost to send a Winchester student to Gilbert is $13,777. The middle school contract helped to drop the per pupil cost. Gilbert and the WBOE are currently in contract negotiations.
Special Education is currently controlled by the WBOE. The splitting of the control is frustrating. Additional programs are necessary to service the special education students. Gilbert would like to take over the entire special education program so that they can ensure that IEPs are met.
The 2015-16 school budget is being developed. Additional staffing, including a high school English teacher, a chemistry teacher, a math interventionist, a school resource officer, an internal school suspension social worker, and a curriculum director, are being proposed. Teaching resources will also be added. Discussions will be taking place over the next few months. Additional staffing will be included to support the international students program. This will be part of the Trust budget.
The need for more positive public relations was brought up.
Next meeting will be held on January 12 at 6:30pm. Agenda will include Mr. Schroeder and community service and continued improved public relations.
Meeting adjourned at 8:15 pm.