Agenda

WATERTOWN BOARD OF EDUCATION REGULAR MEETING

JOHN TRUMBULL PRIMARY SCHOOL LIBRARY

Monday, OCTOBER 24, 2005 – 7:30 PM

A. Convene Regular Meeting - 7:30 PM

B. Salute to the Flag

C. Public Participation

Report from Student Council Representative – Mr. Matthew Dzioba

D. Budget Summary – (Information Only – No Action Required)

E. Committee Reports:

1. Advertising Committee, James Marks, Chair

2. Athletics and Facilities Committee, Mr. Victor Vicenzi, Chair

3. Curriculum & Instruction Committee, Gina Calabrese, Chair

4. Policy and Labor Committee, Mary Colangelo, Chair

5. Cablevision, James Marks

F. Communications - Secretary

G. Minutes

1. Regular Board of Education Meeting – September 26, 2005

2. Regular Board of Education Meeting – October 11, 2005

H. Superintendent's Recommendations and Report

1. Appointments – (Information Only – No Action Required)

a. Ms. Judy Johnston to the position of Kindergarten Classroom Paraprofessional (Category #3 – Regular Classroom) at John Trumbull Primary School starting October 17, 2005 for 2.0 hours paid per day at an hourly rate of $11.45.

b. Ms. Mary Ellen Coe to the position of LPN at St. John the Evangelist School effective Friday, October 21, 2005, being hired at an annual salary of $23,085.00 prorated for 2005-2006.

2. Transfers – (Information Only – No Action Required)

a. Mr. Charles Daniels from Computer Lab Paraprofessional at Swift Middle School to Computer Lab Paraprofessional at John Trumbull Primary School starting October 24, 2005 for 15.0 hours weekly at an hourly rate of $12.64.

3. Community Tours of Swift Middle School – No Action Required

The Superintendent of Schools will be conducting tours of Swift Middle School for any members of the community who wish to take advantage of this opportunity to get a more thorough look at Swift and why the renovation project is needed and so important. The tours will take place at 6:00 p.m. on November 15th and 22nd, and on Saturday, November 19, 2005 at 10:00 a.m. The tour group will meet in the Swift lobby.

4. Community Day – November 8, 2005

On Election Day, when school is not in session, all Watertown High School students have been invited to participate in Community Day. from 8:00 a.m. to noon. Groups of students will go out into the town and rake leaves in the yards of senior citizens. This is not a fundraising venture. It is a way of reaching out across the generations to offer needed assistance.

5. Submittal of the Local Competitive Grant for Computer Assisted Writing, Instruction and Testing – (Information Only – No Action Required)

The Local Competitive Grant for Computer Assisted Writing, Instruction and Testing (2005-2006) has been written and submitted. Grant funds will be used to purchase laptop computers and software, and provide the four teachers involved in the program, along with the English Department Coordinator and Assistant Principal, training in the use of the laptop computers and the MY Access! Program. The Grant was submitted in the amount of $95,815.

The grant was prepared by Matthew Geary, Assistant Principal of Watertown High School, and Dr. Philip Pelosi, Assistant Superintendent of Schools, in collaboration with Thad Hasbrouck (Principal), Colleen Spieler (English Department Chair), Todd LoFrese (Director of Operations), Anthony Antonucci (Professional Development Coordinator), and members of the High School English Department.

The major goals of this project are:

?To increase student achievement in the area of writing by providing students more frequent opportunities to respond to various writing prompts with the use of laptop computers, and receive immediate, detailed, constructive feedback initializing MY Access! to measure student progress.

?To utilize the laptops during the 10th Grade CAPT Writing Test in the Spring of 2006.

?To analyze data by comparing the CAPT-10 writing results of the experimental groups (those who used laptops) and the control group (those who did not use the laptops).

Professional development will be provided for the development of technology skills at least two full days during each of the following years: 2005-06, 2006-07 and 2007-08.

6. School Ledger Books Donated to the Watertown Historical Society

At its meeting on September 12, 2005, the Board approved of authorizing the Superintendent to turn over to the Watertown Historical Society four ledger books representing school years in the 1880’s. The books had been stored in the attic of the Board of Education offices at the Munson House. Attached is a copy of a thank you letter received from the Watertown Historical Society for the receipt of the books. (See Attachment A.)

Mr. Ron Webb, Executive Committee Member of the Watertown Historical Society, is present tonight to give the Board an update on the Historical Society and the potential partnership with the Watertown Board of Education.

I. Report from the Chairman

J. Action Items – Adoption of Items to be Approved by Consent

a. Consideration of Approval of Volunteer Policy – Second Reading

The Policy and Labor Committee reviewed the Volunteer Policy at its meeting on October 3, 2005 and the policy was presented to the full Board of Education for the first reading at its meeting on October 11, 2005. It is presented tonight for the second reading and for Board of Education approval.

It is recommended that the Board approve of the Volunteer Policy effective immediately. (See Attachment B.)

b. Consideration of the Approval of Acceptance of Gifts

1. The Thomaston Savings Bank Foundation, Inc. would like to donate a grant award in the amount of $2,000 to Swift Middle School to be used to purchase research and reference materials related to student’s heritage. This grant was written by Ms. Joann Barthelmess, .40 Library Media Specialist and .60 Art Teacher at Swift Middle School.

2. The Thomaston Savings Bank Foundation, Inc. would like to donate a grant award in the amount of $1,000 to Watertown High School to be used for School to Career Field Trips. This grant was written by Ms. Kathleen Kottwitz, Business Education Teacher and School to Career Advisor.

It is recommended that the Board accept these generous donations and letters of thanks to be sent to the donors.

c. Consideration of the Approval of Meeting Dates for 2006

Connecticut General Statutes require that the Board of Education publish the year’s schedule of regular meetings with the Town Clerk 30 days prior to the first meeting of the up-coming year. The Board of Education has traditionally established the second and fourth Monday of all months of the year except July, August, and December as those on which regular meetings will be held. Over the past several years, Board Members have indicated an interest in meeting at least once during the months of July and August. Only one meeting has been traditionally held in December. All meetings are scheduled to be held in the new Technology Center at Watertown High School. Attached is a draft of the calendar of meetings for 2006. (See Attachment C.)

d. Consideration of the Approval of Family Medical Leaves of Absence

1. Ms. Christine Shortsleeve, Physical Education Teacher at Swift Middle School, is requesting a Family Medical Leave of Absence commencing November 7, 2005 through November 28, 2005, with use of accumulated sick time, and a medical doctor’s note to return.

It is recommended that the Board approve of a Family Medical Leave of Absence commencing November 7, 2005 through November 28, 2005, with use of accumulated sick time, and a medical doctor’s note to return.

2. Ms. Elizabeth Tracey, ½ Kindergarten and ½ day Day Care Component Program Kindergarten Teacher at John Trumbull Primary School, requests a Family Medical Leave of absence commencing approximately December 19, 2005 for approximately 8-12 weeks, with use of accumulated sick time and then leave without pay, and a medical doctor’s note to return.

It is recommended that the Board approve of a Family Medical Leave of absence for Ms. Elizabeth Tracey, ½ Kindergarten and ½ day Day Care Component Program Kindergarten Teacher at John Trumbull Primary School, commencing approximately December 19, 2005 for approximately 8-12 weeks, with use of accumulated sick time and then leave without pay, and a medical doctor’s note to return.

K. Future Agenda Items

L. Public Participation

M. Executive Session

Litigation Matter

Personnel Matter

N. Adjournment