New Harford Public Schools
Approved 3/31/2015
New Harford Public Schools
Board of Education Meeting Regular Meeting Minutes
Ann Antolini School
Tuesday, March 17, 2015
7:00PM
Present: Josh Adams, Mike Linnetz, Pat Spaziani, Jennifer Benaitis, Sue Lundin, Penny Miller, and Jen Zenuh (in at 7:04 p.m.)
Absent: Melissa Giaconia
Administrators: Brian P. Murphy, Paula Gladu-Morabito, Erika Sacharko and Amanda Shaw
Guests: Erica Mumm, Dawn Geiger, Francis Galliher, Holly Tokarz, Christi Hayes, Kristine Monaco, Colleen Wipperman, Heather Trotto, Rebecca Wipperman, Sarah Cloutier, McKenna Galliher, Amanda Geiger, Caitlin Trotto, Lindsay Hayes, Vivienne Grube, Gina Maroney, Bob Moore, and Maria Moore
A. Chair to Open Meeting
Josh Adams called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM
B. Chair to Select Order of Business
As presented
C. Superintendent’s Report
1. SBAC Testing Schedule/CMT Schedule – Mr. Murphy thanked Amanda Shaw for her hard work in preparing students and staff for the Smarter Balanced and Connecticut Mastery Tests. The Science CMT will be administered on March 16 for Grade 5, and the SBAC will start on April 6 and end on May 15 for all grades at Antolini School.
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2. Letter Home to Parents/New Math Program – A letter was sent home to parents informing them of two new math pilot program plans: enVision Math and Investigations. A recommendation will be made to the Board of Education by the end of this school year.
3. Approval of Healthy Food Certification Statement – Sue Lundin made a motion to continue to participate in the Healthy Food Certification Program under Public Act 06-63 for the 2015-2016 school year and directed the Superintendent to sign the necessary paperwork. Penny Miller seconded the motion. Unanimous. (Jen Zenuh was not present at that time to vote).
4. Presentation of Antolini Students – Girl Scout Troop 40338 did an audit of Antolini School regarding energy efficiency and presented their findings to the Board of Education.
5. Transition Plan/ Superintendent – Mr. Murphy presented his Transition Plan to ensure a successful transition into the role of Superintendent for New Hartford Public Schools. He attended a PTO meeting and recognizes the importance of the PTO and how their efforts improve education. Jen Zenuh stated that she was impressed to see the Superintendent at the Region 7 concert. She thanked Mr. Murphy for attending and supporting the children.
D. Consent Agenda
1. Approval of Minutes – February 17, 2015 and March 10, 2015.
Mike Linnetz made a motion to remove the Personnel Report from the Consent Agenda. Penny Miller seconded the motion. Unanimous.
Josh Adams moved to have the March 10, 2015 minutes removed from the Consent Agenda. Penny Miller seconded the motion. Unanimous.
2. Financial Report – no comments/questions.
Penny Miller made a motion to accept the February 17, 2015 minutes and the Financial Report. Mike Linnetz seconded the motion. Unanimous.
3. Personnel Report - Mr. Murphy stated that Interventionist Kama Sanchy, announced her intent to resign effective March 13, 2015. Mike Linnetz, on behalf of the Board of Education, thanked Kama for her time and service to New Hartford Public Schools. Penny Miller made a motion to accept the resignation of Kaman Sanchy with a second from Jen Zenuh. Unanimous.
Mr. Murphy then made a recommendation to the Board of Education to vote to non-renew Sarah Baker and Aimee Tsyzka due to a reduction in force.
Mike Linnetz made a motion that the contract of employment for Sarah Baker and Aimee Tsyzka not be renewed upon its expiration at the end of the 2014-2015 school year and to authorize the Superintendent to advise such persons in writing of this action. Penny Miller seconded the motion. All in favor except Jen Zenuh who abstained.
No action was taken on the minutes of March 10, 2015.
E. Opportunity for Public Comment
Gina Maroney stated that she recently attended hearings at the State Capitol regarding NCLB, CCSS, FERPA and various others. She asked that Mr. Murphy be more proactive and stop what’s going to negatively affect our children. She stated that her children are not taking SBA.
Erica Mumm asked that the Board look at lesstesting.org. She further stated that Common Core training takes teachers out of the classroom not just on Professional Development Days. She stated that more substitutes are being used this year because of the Common Core, which is disappointing to children.
Maria Moore requested that copies of topics under the Consent Agenda be made available to the public.
F. Communication to the Board of Education
Josh Adams read a letter from Martha Busemeyer announcing her immediate resignation from the Board of Education, stating personal reasons. Board members wished Martha the best and thanked her for her time and service on the Board of Education. Sue Lundin accepted the resignation with deep regret with a second by Pat Spaziani. Unanimous.
G. New Business
1. Board of Education Meeting Schedule – Due to the Public Hearing on April 7, 2015 regarding the 2015-2016 proposed budget, Penny Miller made a motion to reschedule the April 7, 2015 Board of Education Meeting to March 31, 2015. Jen Zenuh seconded the motion. Unanimous.
H. Old Business
1. Superintendent’s Proposed 2015-2016 Budget – Due to a clerical error in the budget, Pat Spaziani made a motion to decrease Central Office 2320 Line 112 from 2.64% and reflect a 2.5% increase. For: Jen Bentaits, Pat Spaziani and Sue Lundin Opposed: Jen Zenuh and Mike Linnetz. Josh Adams abstained. Motion carries.
After much discussion Sue Lundin made a motion to back out the stipends from the principals base salary when computing the contracted base salary and note the stipends separately. Penny Miller seconded the motion. Unanimous.
It was decided that the budget would be adjusted to reflect stipends separately from the salary lines.
I. Reports
1. Capital Report Update – The Board of Finance has accepted the BOE Capital Plan with no changes.
J. Adjournment
Penny Miller made a motion to adjourn at 8:15 p.m. with a second by Jen Zenuh. Unanimous.
Respectfully submitted by Janet Terenzi, Recording Secretary