May 2012

THESE MINUTES ARE SUBJECT TO BOARD APPROVAL AT THE NEXT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING
ESSEX ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BOARD OF EDUCATION
May 10, 2012

Regular meeting of the Essex Board of Education was held on Thursday, May 12, 2012. In attendance were Lon Seidman, DG Fitton, Loretta McCluskey and Adam Conrad. Also in attendance were Dr. Ruth Levy, Superintendent, Mr. Ian Neviaser, Assistant Superintendent, Mr. Garth Sawyer, Business Manager, Dr. Joanne Beekley, Principal, Deborah O’Donnell, Assistant Principal and Kelley Frazier, Clerk. Absent: Matt Cooper, Judie McCann

CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Lon Seidman at 7:00p.m. Mr. Seidman led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Mr. Seidman asked that the Student Presentation be moved to the beginning of the meeting.

PRINCIPAL’S UPDATE- J. Beekley
STUDENT PRESENTATION
Mrs. O’Donnell introduced the four students who won the Essex Elementary School Invention Convention and competed in the state competition. Celia Ghilani, Logan Burdick, Madden Riley and Caitlin Kressley presented their inventions to the Board. Mrs. O’Donnell went on to thank the people who judged the contest and the families who encouraged their children to participate.

Dr. Beekley reported that the school is celebrating Ant Day next week. The children are making ants and filling the halls of the school. This is in celebration of the book of the month called Hey, Little Ant.

We have 54 students eligible for Kindergarten next year and presently 50 students are registered for September. There will be two classrooms with 17 students and one with 16 students. The school can not assess if a student is ready for Kindergarten. Parents have to make their own decision. A child must be 5 years of age by January 1st to be eligible for Kindergarten in September.

CONSENT AGENDA
DG Fitton made a motion to approve the minutes from the March 8, 2012 and the Accounts Payable report. Loretta McCluskey seconded the motion. The motion carried by a unanimous vote.

PUBLIC COMMENT
None

REPORTS:
Financial Status Report – Mr. Garth Sawyer
Mr. Sawyer gave a brief update of the financial status for Essex Elementary School. We have a better idea of what the final numbers will be. Mr. Sawyer noted that the boiler was funded by the sinking fund and not taken from the budget. The school is currently projected a surplus of approximately $10,000. The Administration will keep the Board informed if the situation changes as we proceed through the year.

Cafeteria Report – Mr. Sawyer
Mr. Sawyer gave an update on the status of the Cafeteria Budget Updates. We are seeing lower number in sales to staff. There will be a reduction also in food purchases due to lower sales. We are still projecting the board subsidy, but no additional funds are expected. He noted that the cafeteria workers have unionized and there are contributions made by the Board which is approximately $5,000 per year.

COMMITTEE REPORTS
Finance – L. Seidman
The Finance Committee discussed the insurance fund for the District.

Curriculum
The Curriculum Committee meeting was cancelled and will be rescheduled.

Joint PK-12 Policy Committee – L. Seidman
The Policy Committee was cancelled and will be rescheduled.

Supervision District – L. Seidman
No update given.

Other Committee Reports
Mr. Fitton noted that negotiations went well for the Network Technicians, Secretaries and Custodians.

ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT - I. Neviaser
General Update
Mr. Neviaser finished two weeks of curriculum meetings dealing with text complexity. The teachers are working on their data boards for the June Joint Board of Education meeting. The Math Committee meetings are finishing. His staff is working on the Celebrate Learning Summer Program which begins July 2nd and runs for four weeks.

SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT - R. Levy
District Update
Dr. Levy has been attending the town budget hearings and the town meetings in addition to her regular schedule of meetings. The Deep River Elementary School was reduced by the Board of Finance resulting in the reduction of two Paraprofessionals. In Chester the education budget was initially cut by $20,000 and after much discussion with the Board of Finance, they decided to instead only reduce the budget by $2,000. All three towns passed the Region 4 budget by a very low voter turnout. There are many exciting things happening in our district. Dr. Levy discussed a mini boat with GPS launched from Cape Hatteras which will be studied by the students at John Winthrop. She congratulated Katie Mulligan and Phoebe Petrovic who won in a state debate competition. Dr. Levy had a meeting scheduled with the Commissioner of Education and this has been rescheduled until June. We are starting a manufacturing curriculum with Whelen Engineering. She is in the final stages of filling the Principal position which is open at John Winthrop. Dr. Jennifer Byars has been hired for the Deep River Elementary School Principal position.

Information and Communication
Discuss Strategic Plan Presented at April Joint BOE Meeting for Vote at June Joint BOE Meeting
Dr. Levy distributed and discussed the Strategic Plan brochure for Regional School District Number 4 for years 2012 through 2017.

Discussion and possible Vote to Renew the Agreement Concerning the Establishment and Operation of an Interim Collaborative Preschool Program dated February 13, 2008.
Dr. Beekley confirmed that we currently do have space available for the preschool in our school. She noted that the Preschool program is growing and space will be evaluated in the future. Dr. Beekley stated that having this program in our school is good for the school community.

On a motion duly made and seconded the Board unanimously VOTED to renew the Agreement Concerning the Establishment and Operation of an Interim Collaborative Preschool Program dated February 13, 2008 for renewal for a one year increment upon agreement (vote) of all signing parties (Boards of Education for Chester, Deep River, Essex and the Regional Supervision District Committee) no later than June 30, 2012.

Discussion of NextEd, Education Transformation Article
Dr. Levy discussed the article that she distributed and said it will be discussed in more detail at the Joint Board of Education meeting.

PUBLIC COMMENT
None

Mr. Seidman discussed that Matt Cooper communicated with him that his job has taken him out of state. He is no longer able to serve on the Board. He has submitted his resignation. Jeff Burzin has expressed interest in completing Mr. Cooper’s term. This will be voted on at a later time.

ADJOURNMENT
On motion duly made and seconded, the Board unanimously VOTED to move into Executive Session at 8:08pm to discuss the Board of Education evaluation of the Superintendent and the Board of Education Self Evaluation. The motion passed. Dr. Levy remained at the meeting.

The Board Moved out of Executive Session at 8:31pm.

On a motion duly made and seconded the Board unanimously VOTED to adjourn at 8:32pm.

Respectfully Submitted,

Kelley Frazier, Board Clerk

FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
8.1 Joint BOE Meeting June 7, 2012
8.2 EES Regular BOE Meeting September 13, 2012
8.3 Evaluation participation as Collaborative Pre-K Host Community per Collaborative Agreement (Sept.)

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