Watertown Board of Education
Regular Meeting
Minutes
Meeting Date: November 14, 2005
Meeting Time: 7:30 p.m.
Meeting Place: Watertown High School Technology Center
Members Present: Ms. Mary Dzioba, Board Chairperson
Ms. Maureen Caine, Vice Chairperson
Mr. Todd Griffin, Board Secretary
Ms. Gina Calabrese, Board member
Ms. Mary Colangelo, Board member
Mr. Chris Lafferty, Board member
Mr. James Marks, Board member
Mr. Richard Mazzamaro, Board member
Mr. Victor Vicenzi, Board member
Dr. Joseph Erardi Jr., Superintendent
Dr. Philip Pelosi, Assistant Superintendent of Schools
Ms. Amelia Grover, Dir. of Budget and Financial Planning
Ms. Betsy Hackett, Director of Special Services
Mr. Todd LoFrese, Director of Operations
Mr. Matthew Dzioba, W.H.S. Student Representative
Absent:
Press: Mr. Tommy Valuckas, Waterbury Republican American
Mr. Jim Taylor, Town Times
Guests: Ms. Janice Pond, Ms. Paulette Koosed, Ms. Mary Ann Rosa, Representative Sean Williams, Ms. Nadine Savage, Ms. Susan Atkins, Mr. Tom Buckley and Mr. Thad Hasbrouk. Ms. Michelle Benedetto, Ms. Deborah Bortolan, Ms. Patricia Chipko, Ms. Donna Iacoviello and Ms. Patricia Mauriello.
Other interested citizens: Ms. Susan Rosa, Mrs. Kathleen Scully, Ms. Pat Corvello, Ms. Lisa Rommel, Mr. Richard Sansoucy. Mr. Whitey Greenwood, Mrs. Sandy Greenwood, Mr. Bob Grady, Ms. Rosalie Loughran and Ms. Trish Kropp.
A. Convene Regular Meeting - 7:30 PM
Dr. Erardi convened the Regular Board of Education meeting at 7:32 p.m.
B. Salute to the Flag
Dr. Erardi led the salute to the Flag.
C. Oath of Office
Newly elected members of the Board of Education will be sworn in.
Dr. Erardi asked Attorney Eric Palladino to come forward to bring the Oath of Office to the Board of Education.
Attorney Eric Palladino: Yes, I’d like to ask all Board members to raise their right hands and stand please. “As members of the Board of Education do you solemnly swear to perform your duties in accordance with State and Local law, so help you God?”
All Board members present stood to take their Oath and answered in the affirmative to the above Oath of Office.
D. Reconvene Regular Meeting
E. Election of Officers
Sec. 10-218. Officers. Meetings. “Each board of education shall, not later than one month after the date on which the newly elected members take office, elect from its number a chairperson and elect a secretary of such board and may prescribe their duties. The votes of each member of such board cast in such election shall be reduced to writing and made available for public inspection within forty-eight hours, excluding Saturday, Sunday or legal holidays, and shall also be recorded in the minutes of the meeting at which taken, which minutes shall be available for public inspection at all reasonable times. If such officers are not chosen after one month because of a tie vote of the members, the Town Council, or if there is no Town Council, the selectmen of the town shall choose such officers from the membership of the board. The chairperson of the Board of Education or, in case of such chairperson’s absence, or inability to act, the secretary shall call a meeting of the board at least once in six months and whenever such chairperson deems it necessary, or is requested in writing to do so by three of its members. If no meeting is called within fourteen days after such a request has been made, one may be called by any three members by giving the usual written notice to the other members.” The organization, according to this statute and policies of the Board of Education, shall be as follows:
Dr. Erardi: At this time we would like to elect the leadership of the Board of Education. Each Board member has three ballots in front of them; the vote will be a written vote and then made public to the community. We will start with the nominations for the Chair of the Board of Education.
1. A Chairperson of the Board
Motion presented by Ms. Caine, seconded by Mr. Griffin to nominate Ms. Mary Dzioba for Chairperson of the Board of Education.
Dr Erardi asked that each Board member write down the name of their nominee and pass them to Dr. Pelosi to be tallied.
Motion Passed Unanimously
(9-In Favor, 0 -Opposed, 0-Abstained)
2. A Vice Chairperson of the Board
Motion presented by Ms. Dzioba, seconded by Mr. Griffin to nominate Ms. Maureen Caine for Vice Chairperson of the Board of Education.
3. A Secretary of the Board
Motion presented by Mr. Lafferty, seconded by Ms. Dzioba to nominate Mr. Todd Griffin for Secretary of the Board of Education.
F. Recognition
1. The Board of Education wishes to recognize Watertown’s 2006 Teacher of the Year, Ms. Paulette Koosed, Special Education Teacher at Heminway Park School. The Board would like to present a gift and Certificate of Excellence to Ms. Koosed.
The Board would like to recognize this year’s nominees for 2006 Teacher of the Year and present each of them with a small gift and Certificate of Excellence.
Ms. Michelle Benedetto, Art Teacher, Watertown High and Polk Schools
Ms. Deborah Bortolan, Grade 2 Teacher, John Trumbull School
Ms. Patricia Chipko, Grade 3 Teacher, Judson School
Ms. Donna Iacoviello, Kindergarten Teacher, John Trumbull School
Ms. Mary Lou Kuegler, Social Studies Teacher, Watertown High School
Ms. Patricia Mauriello, Grade 1 Teacher, John Trumbull School
Ms. Cynthia Murphy, Special Ed Teacher, Judson School
Mr. Michael Watson, Math Teacher, Watertown High School
The Board would like to thank Ms. Janice Curulla-Pond, Principal of Heminway Park School, for serving as the Teacher of the Year Chairperson.
Ms. Dzioba: Congratulations and welcome everyone.
Dr. Erardi: If we could start with Mrs. Janice Pond who is the sole administrator of Heminway and who also has the responsibility for our Teacher of the Year program
Mrs. Pond: Thank you, I was asked to introduce the Teacher of the Year this year, and it is my pleasure to do so. Paulette and I go way back to our days here, at Watertown High School. When I first became Assistant Principal in 1986, she was the first person that I hired, well at least I recommended for hiring, to the Board of Education. She was an excellent choice. She is a child advocate; she uses all types of differentiated instruction, even before we heard the name, differentiated instruction. She feels that children need to be heard and she is their voice and she feels that all children can achieve. She is a special education teacher but she gets involved in all mainstream curricular meetings, she doesn’t isolate herself and she doesn’t isolate her students, she is the first one to advocate that they need to go to the mainstream. I could go on and on about Mrs. Koosed, but you need to know she is an advocate for children and their rights and it’s really awesome to be in this room because I spent many times with Mrs. Koosed, who was then Paulette McKool, when she did her Crafts for Cash program here . They had all kinds of things here that they made in the special education classrooms and we came in here, which was the Senior Café, and the children sold them, marketed their products and afterwards used their math skills with a checkbook. She always forgets to tell people that aspect of the creative project that she put in place, but they had to bank their money and they had to know how to use their checkbook, I think I should take that class Paulette.
Paulette, you need to know that your peers and your friends from Heminway Park School have a little gift for you, with love.
Mrs. Pond presented Mrs. Koosed with a bouquet of flowers.
Mrs. Pond: I wish I could take everyone with us next week but Dr. Erardi will be coming to the Bushnell next Monday. When Watertown’s name is called and Paulette stands, she represents all the awesome teachers in Watertown, she doesn’t just stand for herself, she does, but she also symbolizes all the awesome teachers that we have and we cannot forget that.
Dr. Erardi, you have a gift?
Dr. Erardi: We do, Mrs. Koosed before we get to you, I would like Mrs. Pond and Ms. Dzioba to recognize five of our nominees that were also celebrated in 2005-2006. Before we do recognize the five teachers that are here, there are three teachers that were unable to be here and I would like to mention them for our audience and for our viewing audience. Congratulations to Ms. Mary Lou Kuegler, Ms. Cynthia Murphy and Mr. Michael Watson. Those honorees that are here tonight as runner-up to our Teacher of the Year, I’d like them to come forward to receive a signed certificate from the Administration, along with a symbolic pen of your teaching excellence.
Dr. Erardi and Mrs. Pond called each of the honorees up as Ms. Dzioba presented their gifts.
Dr. Erardi: I’d like to share with our audience an excerpt from Mrs. Koosed’s application for State Teacher of the Year, we felt this exemplified who she is with our students.
“My students master a skill level that encompasses both academic goals and real life accomplishments. These successes leave both students and parents with a feeling of genuine pride. I believe this is, and continues to be, my greatest contribution and accomplishment in education.” Mrs. Koosed, on behalf of the Administration, your colleagues and this Board of Education, congratulations on being a terrific representative of our Watertown schools.
Mrs. Pond: Dr. Erardi the children in Paulette’s class did a collection and she has one of her students, Vita Carniero here.
Ms. Carniero presented Mrs. Koosed with a bouquet of flowers.
Mrs. Koosed: This is a great watch; I’ll never be late again. Life is good, Life is good. Thirty years ago when I started teaching in the inner city of St. Louis, Missouri I walked into my classroom and sat down at my desk and looked around, anticipating the start of a new year, my first year with a lot of energy. Thinking about the students that were coming in in a few minutes, thinking about them getting to know me, and me getting to know them. Well thirty years ago, my hair was all one color, it didn’t have all the gray in it and I didn’t have all of the wrinkles on my face that I have now, and I didn’t have my glasses, I could see the teacher’s manual without them. Thirty years have passed and I’m now at Heminway Park School, I still anticipate the start of the school year and getting to know the students as they walk into my classroom, and thinking about how they will get to know me. I really love teaching and it’s a wonderful thing to get an award for doing something that I love to do, so I ask you, what could be better that this? As I said at the beginning, Life is good, thank you.
2. At the last Board of Education meeting, three Board members were recognized for their commitment to the students in the Watertown Public Schools because their terms have expired.
Tonight, State Representative Sean Williams is with us to present to Ms. Mary Ann Rosa, outgoing Chair, a state proclamation in honor of her many years of dedication and service to the Watertown Public Schools.
Dr. Erardi introduced State Representative Sean Williams.
Representative Williams: Thank you Dr. Erardi and thank you members of the Board for having me. Congratulations to you first, on your election victory, I know you are all going to do a great job and I know you are all going to have the best interest of the community at stake as you go through your deliberations in the next few years. Special congratulations to Mary and Todd and Maureen for your election, your successful write-in ballot, I think Mayor Jarjura really started a revolution in Waterbury with his write-in.
I am in my second term in Office now and every year I have seen a few of my colleagues in public service here in Watertown retire. It’s difficult when good people decide to no longer use their goodwill for the betterment of the community but, certainly we respect their decisions because they have a lot catching up to do with their families and a lot of things they have to do in their personal life, obviously. As we all know, you spend a lot of time as members of the Board and as public servants. We have a special award tonight for MaryAnn Rosa. When Dr. Erardi called me to present this award, I thought to myself, My God, this is another person who has decided to step down and not spend as much time as she has given to the community, but I’m sure she is going to be very active in a passive role, at least, I certainly hope that she will be. I have a citation here from the General Assembly introduced by myself and Senator Lou DeLuca, it reads;
“Be it hereby known to all that the Connecticut General Assembly hereby offers it’s sincerest congratulations to MaryAnn Rosa. In recognition of your eighteen years of dedicated service to the Watertown Board of Education, including the past two as Chairman. Your astute leadership and commitment to academic excellence has assured that both parents and students that the bills you pass through the halls of Watertown Schools will receive the best education possible. You are sincerely thanked. The entire membership extends it’s very best wishes on this memorable occasion and expresses hope for continued success.” This is signed by the President of the Senate, Speaker of the House and Secretary of the State, Susan Bysiewicz.
Mary Ann thank you for all of your years of service, thank you for everything that you have done for the students.
Ms. Mary Ann Rosa: Thank you to the Board of Education for allowing this to be included on your agenda tonight which is a very busy agenda, I appreciate that. Good luck to all of you, I’m certain you’ll do a wonderful job, thank you.
Representative Williams: Before you continue your business, if you might indulge Susan Rosa, Mary Ann’s daughter who has something she would like to read also.
Ms. Susan Rosa: Hi, I am not the public speaker that my mother is but if you would grant me a few moments to read a poem that I wrote for her for this occasion.
“MaryAnn Rosa, a few things that she taught me,
She taught me to believe in angels, that sometimes faith is all that we’ve got.
She taught me that when I’d like to quit, is when I must give it one more shot.
She taught me the importance of dedication, that integrity defines who you will be.
She taught me to speak up for what I believe in, even when others may disagree.
She showed me how to be independent, how to stand on my own two feet.
Though I may not win every battle, only when I quit, will I know defeat.
She tried to teach me about fashion, and how to organize hundreds of shoes.
She taught me how to keep a clean house, and that shopping can wash away the blues.
She taught me the importance of family, to be there for those that you love.
She showed me the value of friendship, to trust in the Lord above.
Through her I know compassion, giving your heart out to another.
These things made her a good Board member, but they made the World’s Greatest Mother.”
G. Public Participation
PTO Representative
Ms. Nadine Savage, 629 Linkfield Road, Watertown
Good evening, my name is Nadine Savage and I am the president of the John Trumbull PTO. This past month has been a very busy one for all the Parent Teacher groups.
The month of October brought Halloween parties at Judson, Polk & John Trumbull. Swift had a haunted house and Heminway held a rewards night with a Halloween theme. Judson, Polk & John Trumbull groups also conducted food drives in conjunction with their Halloween Parties. October also signaled the end of the major fundraisers for most of the organizations. It was also the start of round two of fundraising for several organizations. You can probably still order some pies, cakes or cookie dough in time for the Holidays from three of the groups.
The book fair at John Trumbull complete with readings by the princesses and queens made for a wonderful week and great family night. The PTO combined forces with the family literacy program run by the teachers to have fairly tales and other stories read to the children in the "kingdom of reading"
Rounding out the Heminway activities for the month of October was the celebration of Red ribbon week with the help of the Watertown DARE officers. The 6th graders decorated their classroom doors in a friendly competition. The winners were first place Mrs. O'Leary's class and second place Mr. Russo's class. The children reinforced the continuing message of saying "yes" to a drug free life
November brought forth the start of the educational enrichment programs at the schools. "Ball in the House" a popular a cappella band from Boston performed at Polk and Heminway and will be performing at Swift. This was truly enriching to the students as they learned how their voices could be used as musical instruments. Judson students listened to Tom Lee tell stories. John Trumbull students learned about how blind people are helped by Seeing Eye dogs. They will be sponsoring a group of puppies as they make their way through training to become guide dogs. Monthly progress reports will be sent to the students.
The High School has also had a busy few weeks. They hosted house for the 8th | fair open house for the 8th grade parents and will be hosting a college later on this week.
Several of the groups have been working to beautify the grounds at the school. John Trumbull started planting butterfly garden, Swift worked with the Watertown Garden Club beautifying their gardens and courtyards and the high school worked on clearing their courtyards.
This brings us to upcoming events for the month of November. A book drive is currently in progress at John Trumbull with new or gently used books being accepted for use in the school library and classrooms, with any extras being sent to the Watertown Library. The giving tree will also be up to help the needy families of the John Trumbull community. Judson will be hosting they great American Education breakfast on November 29.
November 29, a day that many of us have been hearing about for the past month. The day there is a second referendum for the Swift expansion project. For those who are not aware, all parent groups in Watertown, either through their executive boards or general meetings have endorsed the project. This is the first time all the groups have openly come out in support of any referendum. All the groups have been trying to put back the pride and enthusiasm in our schools. We therefore openly support something that will benefit our greatest assets; our children.
To the outgoing Board members thank you for your service. To the incoming board members, we welcome you and invite you to our meetings. Thank you.
Report from Student Council Representative – Mr. Matthew Dzioba
Good evening everyone. I would like to welcome the Board of Education and the members of our community to Watertown High School this evening. We are very pleased to be able to host our community's leaders in our new technology center, and I anticipate that the board's relocation here will truly highlight the importance of the high school to our community. Again, welcome.
On behalf of the student council, I would also like to welcome and congratulate the new members of the Board. I look forward to working with all of you in the coming months.
I have a few short comments about the student council. We will be holding our annual college fair this Wednesday from 7-9 pm at the WHS Gym, and over 100 colleges and universities will be represented. We will be meeting in the next few weeks to continue plans for the rest of the year, and due to conditions beyond our control, we will not be holding our annual bonfire this year. Thank you and I will have a full report for you next meeting
H. Budget Summary – (Information Only – No Action Required)
Ms. Dzioba: The Budget Summary is in your packet if you have any questions please direct them to the Superintendent.
I. 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
Ms. Dzioba: There aren’t any Reports, Committees will be reorganized by the next meeting, and I would appreciate it if Board members would send their interest in Committees to the Superintendent before the next Board meeting.
J. Communications - Secretary
There were no communications for the Board.
K. Minutes
1. Regular Board of Education Meeting – October 24, 2005
Motion presented by Ms. Colangelo, seconded by Ms. Calabrese that the minutes of the Board of Education meeting of October 24, 2005 be approved as presented.
L. Superintendent's Recommendations and Report
Dr. Erardi presented the Superintendent’s Report to Board members receiving no questions from Board members, while praising the students for their beautiful art work on display tonight.
1. Appointments – (Information Only – No Action Required)
a. Ms. Amy Dawson to the position of One to One Paraprofessional, Cat. #1, Special Ed Program at John Trumbull Primary School starting October 31, 2005 for 30.00 hours paid per week, at an hourly rate of $11.45.
b. Ms. Roseanne Mancini to the position of SSCLSC Paraprofessional, Cat. #2 Special Ed Program, at Judson School starting November 9, 2005 for 5.5 hours paid per day at an hourly rate of $11.45.
2. Transfers – (Information Only – No Action Required)
a. Ms. Marisa Sinopoli from the 5.5 hours paid per day position to a 6.0 hours paid per day position of Paraprofessional, Cat. #2, Special Ed Program at Judson School starting October 25, 2005 at an hourly rate of $14.39.
b. Ms. Michele Yerger from the position of Judson School Cafeteria Para and John Trumbull Primary School Kindergarten Classroom Para to Resource Room Paraprofessional at Judson School, Cat. #2, Special Ed Program, starting October 27, 2005 for 30.0 hours paid per week, at an hourly rate of $13.34.
3. Strategic School Profiles 2004-2005
Board members have received a copy of the Strategic School Profiles 2004-2005 under separate cover.
The State Department of Education has provided the final version of the 2004-2005 Strategic School Profiles for the Watertown School District. The law requires that profiles must be presented to local boards of education”… at the first regularly scheduled public meeting following the receipt of these documents.”
Due to the complexity of the November 14 meeting and the State Board of Education requirements that it be presented to the Board of Education at the first Board of Education meeting upon receipt of the Strategic School Profiles, it is being presented tonight for informational purposes only. Dr. Erardi will highlight areas of accommodation at the December meeting.
4. Student Artwork on Display
The artwork on display this evening was done by the following young and talented artists:
Mary Ryan, Grade 1, John Trumbull Primary School
Erin Montambault, Grade 4, Judson School
David Guo, Grade 3, Polk School
Heba Omar, Grade 6, Heminway Park School
Chelsea Carlson, Grade 8, Swift Middle School
Drew VanSteenbergen, Grade 11, Watertown High School
M. Report from the Chairman
Ms. Dzioba: I do not have a Report tonight other than to welcome everybody and hope that we can work well together, I’m sure that we will. There is going to be an Executive Session tonight for pending litigation, teacher contracts and negotiations for which we will need Dr. Erardi, Dr. Pelosi and the Attorneys.
N. Action Items – Adoption of Items to be Approved by Consent
a. Consideration of Approval of Medical Leave of Absence
Ms. Carole Weaver, English Teacher at Swift Middle School, requests a medical leave of absence commencing December 5, 2005 for approximately four to six weeks, with use of accumulated sick time and a medical doctor’s note to return.
It is recommended that the Board approve of a medical leave of absence for Ms. Carole Weaver, English Teacher at Swift Middle School, commencing December 5, 2005, for approximately four to six
weeks, with use of accumulated sick time and a medical doctor’s note to return.
Motion presented by Ms. Colangelo, seconded by Mr. Vicenzi that the Board approve of a medical leave of absence for Ms. Carole Weaver, English Teacher at Swift Middle School, commencing December 5, 2005, for approximately four to six weeks, with use of accumulated sick time and a medical doctor’s note to return.
(9-In Favor, 0-Opposed, 0-Abstained)
b. Consideration of Approval of Change of Location for Board of Education Meetings
It is recommended that the Board approve of the change of the location of the November 28, 2005 and December 12, 2005 Board of Education meetings from the John Trumbull Primary School Library to the Watertown High School Technology Center and authorize the Superintendent of Schools to notify the Town Clerk’s office.
Motion presented by Ms. Calabrese, seconded by Mr. Lafferty that the Board approve of the change of the location of the November 28, 2005 and December 12, 2005 Board of Education meetings from the John Trumbull Primary School Library to the Watertown High School Technology Center and authorize the Superintendent of Schools to notify the Town Clerk’s office.
c. Consideration of Approval of the Acceptance of Gift
Ms. Susan Atkins, on behalf of The Watertown Education Foundation, would like to donate this new Technology Center at Watertown High School to the Board of Education with an estimated value of $100,000.00. This state-of-the-art studio will benefit the students and the entire Watertown community.
It is recommended that the Board accept this generous donation and a letter of thanks to be sent to the donor.
Motion Presented by Mr. Lafferty, seconded by Mr. Griffin that the Board approve of from Ms. Susan Atkins, on behalf of The Watertown Education Foundation, would like to donate this new Technology Center at Watertown High School to the Board of Education with an estimated value of $100,000.00. This state-of-the-art studio will benefit the students and the entire Watertown community.
Discussion:
Ms. Dzioba: Is Mrs. Atkins here? Mrs. Atkins, this is an incredible honor.
Mrs. Susan Atkins: I think we should have gotten the air-conditioning going. It’s with great pleasure that Watertown Public School Education Foundation presents this room to the Board of Education and the children of the Town of Watertown. We are witness tonight to a collaboration of many factions within our community. Hundreds of people lent their talent, expertise, time and money to this project.
I’d like to recognize the people who are most instrumental in getting this room finished. First of all, David Hoffman, a good teacher, visionary, dedicated and tenacious in his efforts to do what is best for his students, that is Dave Hoffman. We were a new organization founded in January of 2004, our mission, to provide the students of Watertown with innovative projects and programs that are beyond the conventional resources of a public school system. Dave came to us in May with this proposal and he was very tenacious in explaining the creativity this Media Center would encourage in the students, the wide-spread use of the equipment and the use of the technology by the entire school system. The possibilities of this system are tremendous; there will be thousands of children who will benefit from this room for many years to come. Those fortunate children will realize the effects of one great teacher.
I’d also like to recognize the members of the Board of Directors Watertown Public School Education Foundation:
Victor Atkins, Sandra Broden, Lisa Carew, Martha Chouinard, Janet Dayton, BillDunbar and Janet Dunbar. Bill Dunbar who was the Construction Manger for this room, we would not have been able to do it without him; he was here day in and day out. He was here getting supplies and helping with the Lions Club, and that was difficult job in itself.
Jeff Franson, Siobhan Kalnins, Eric Norman, David Pope, Susan Santopietro, Kathleen Scully, Dennis Strozzi and Bernice Toomey- Welch
When we got this proposal, we sat around the table, I looked back at my notes this morning and they said; it was unanimous approval, but everybody said, how are we going to raise this amount of money? We all rolled up our sleeves and pulled in all of our favors and begged, borrowed and stole whatever we could just to get it. So here we are and thank you to them, they did a great job.
There were also many people in our community that helped out. The Town Times gave us a corner and publicized our progress every week. Our area foundations were extremely generous, the Watertown Foundation, The Woodward Fund, Thomaston Savings Bank and SBC Communications Foundation. When those grants came in we celebrated those moments because they were big grants and we knew with that money we could do this. Our civic organizations, the Watertown Rotary, the Lion’s Club and UNICO all chipped in to help out too.
But the next group of characters that I need to recognize is the group who put all of the sweat into this. That is the LOFPC, The Lions Old Fellows Professional Craftsman, but I think most of us know them as The Lions Old Farts Club. Their average age is 80 and they were here all summer working in this room, sweating in that hot, heat and humidity. They built the Control Room, they painted, they put up the trim, they put up the doors, and they did everything they possibly could. They were here today, they built this beautiful table, with the help of Dick Marti from Brookside Cabinets and they were here until the last minute, fixing it up. So, thank you to them and I would like to take a minute to introduce them, I don’t know who is here but if you could just stand.
Don Atwood, Bernie Beauchamp, Bob Fuller, Oakley Fuller, Charlie Greider, Dick Harris, Don Harris, Herb King,
Henry Long, Bob Minicucci and Bob Shumway.
Henry please come here for a moment, they did this work and didn’t charge us a dime but Henry kept asking us if we had any money left over. So in gratitude for the work that you did on this room, the Board of Directors would like to present the Lions Club with a check for $1,000 in gratitude for what you have done for us.
Mr. Long: Just let me say one thing Sue, I take back what I said about you.
Mrs. Atkins: The people of Watertown and Oakville, the checks that we got in everyday were just tremendous, they were checks for $5 and checks for $500, it was just so wonderful to see how many people had a vision of this room like we did and how many people contributed and how proud we should be, to be from this community. The people had a vision; the people know that their greatest resource is their children, so we present this to you with great honor.
Dr. Erardi introduced Watertown High School, Principal Thad Hasbrouk to read a plaque, in gratitude, that will be placed in the Media Room.
Principal Thad Hasbrouk: “The Students and Staff of Watertown High School would like to recognize and thank the following individuals and groups who generously contributed to the design, construction and realization of this unique facility.” Firstly, the members of the Watertown Public School Education Foundation who chose this as their initial project and of course, the LOFPC and quite a number of contributors that Sue has identified in her presentation earlier. On behalf of the Staff and Students at Watertown High School, I am just excited beyond excitement about this facility. This was kind of a “catch-all” room, if you didn’t know where to meet, use the Senior Café, if you didn’t know where to distribute cookie dough, use the Senior Café and now if you want creativity and productivity, use the Technology Center. On behalf of all of us, thank you.
O. Future Agenda Items
Ms. Dzioba: I’d like to ask any Board members who have Future Items, please get them to the Superintendent before the publishing of the next Agenda.
P. Public Participation
Representative Sean Williams, 31 Slade Avenue, Oakville
We have with us here tonight to wrap things up here with the Technology Center, Tom Buckley, of SBC Communications, a few months ago; SBC contacted me and the Waterbury Regional Chamber and asked all of us what groups might benefit from what they call the Accelerator Grant. They talk about different organizations that they want to support and it’s not unlike the Watertown Public School Education Foundation, that are outside of the normal purview of what you would do as a School Board, but something that benefits the community as a whole. SBC has decided to award a $5,000 Accelerator Grant to Watertown Public School Education Foundation for this project. I have to say that in the two years that I have been in the Legislature I have found SNBC to be one of the most generous, corporate citizens here in CT and they are very good about reaching out and asking us what we need. Tom is here to present this check to Sue and Watertown Public School Education Foundation.
Mr. Tom Buckley, SBC:
This is my first chance to see a Technology Center like this, I want to congratulate the Lions because you obviously know what you are doing, I’d also like to congratulate Sue Atkins, you did a wonderful job, Lisa Taccardi, of the Town Board, she was instrumental in bringing this about, also Steve Sasalla from the Waterbury Chamber really brought this together and enabled us to find you, as an organization, to provide the funds. The Accelerator Grant is intended to help organizations to use technology to do their job better; it’s as simple as that. When we contacted Sean and he brought forward the idea that you were putting together a Technology Center that can be used not just for the school, but also for community members, so they are better aware of what is happening and able to use the technology themselves. That was enough for us, so on behalf of SBC, we are very proud to be able to provide you with a check for $5,000 to help you along the way.
Ms. Dzioba: Thank you very much and thank you Sean and SBC.
Q. Executive Session
Motion presented by Mr. Vicenzi, seconded by Ms. Calabrese to enter into Executive Session with all Board members present, Dr. Erardi, Dr. Pelosi, Attorney Joseph Summa and Attorney Franklin Pilicy.
All Board members along with Dr. Erardi, Dr. Pelosi, Attorney Joseph Summa and Attorney Franklin Pilicy convened into the Library at 8 20 p.m.
Executive session ended at 9:30 p.m.
R. Adjournment
Motion Presented by Ms. Caine, seconded Mr. Griffin to adjourn the Regular Board of Education meeting of November 14, 2005
Meeting adjourned at 9:30 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted by
Todd Griffin, Board Secretary
Barbara Mordenti, Board Clerk