WILLINGTON SCHOOL DISTRICT
BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING MINUTES
THURSDAY, AUGUST 28, 2008
(Unofficial until Board approval)
The meeting was called to order at 6:15 p.m. by Chairman Mark Makuch at the Town Office Building.
PRESENT: Mark Makuch, Laurie Semprebon, Herb Arico, Christine Psathas, Teri Gareau,
Christina Mailhos, Superintendent David Harding
ABSENT: David Tharp
MOTION: by Herb Arico, seconded by Christina Mailhos, to rearrange agenda items 3 ÒCommunications,Ó 4 ÒPresent to Speak,Ó 6 ÒConsent Agenda,Ó 7 ÒSuperintendent Reports,Ó and 9 ÒNew BusinessÓ to the area of the agenda between item 1 ÒCall to OrderÓ and
item 2 ÒExecutive Session.Ó
VOTE: Unanimous in Favor
COMMUNICATIONS:
The Board received a letter from CABE recognizing Herb Arico and Laurie Semprebon for earning their Certificated Board of Education Member Award, resignation and exit interview letters, a thank you from Jan Boudreau, a memo from Planning and Zoning, minutes from Region #19 and a packet from CABE’s Policy Service.
PRESENT TO SPEAK:
No requests
CONSENT AGENDA:
MOTION: by Herb Arico, seconded by Christina Mailhos, to divide the Consent Agenda.
VOTE: Yes: Herb Arico, Teri Gareau, Christina Mailhos, Christine Psathas,
Laurie Semprebon
No: Mark Makuch
Motion Passes
MOTION: by Teri Gareau, seconded by Laurie Semprebon, to accept the minutes of the
July 14, 2008 meeting.
VOTE: Yes: Teri Gareau, Christina Mailhos, Mark Makuch, Christine Psathas,
Laurie Semprebon
Abstain: Herb Arico
Motion Passes
MOTION: by Herb Arico, seconded by Laurie Semprebon, to approve review of payment of
bills and/or transfers.
VOTE: Unanimous in Favor
SUPERINTENDENT REPORTS:
Superintendent Harding commented that it was too early to report on fixed numbers of the budget.
Updates were given on the following projects: kitchen equipment and front pillars at Hall Memorial, mulching in playgrounds, all-purpose room floor at Center Elementary, new website and John Mindek’s Eagle Scout project.
NEW BUSINESS:
MOTION: by Teri Gareau, seconded by Laurie Semprebon, to relocate agenda item 9A ÒApprove web camera placement at Hall Memorial SchoolÓ to immediately prior to agenda
item 10 ÒPresent to Speak.Ó
VOTE: Unanimous in Favor
MOTION: by Christine Psathas, seconded by Christina Mailhos, to approve the hiring of
Sean Conlin, Brynn Lipstreu and Brendan Tormey for the school year 2008-2009.
VOTE: Yes: Herb Arico, Teri Gareau, Christina Mailhos, Christine Psathas,
Laurie Semprebon
Abstain: Mark Makuch
Motion Passes
MOTION: by Herb Arico, seconded by Laurie Semprebon, to pay $1,500 for field maintenance for Center Elementary and Hall Memorial schools for the remainder of the season.
VOTE: Yes: Herb Arico, Mark Makuch, Christina Mailhos, Christine Psathas,
Laurie Semprebon
Abstain: Teri Gareau
Motion Passes
MOTION: by Christina Mailhos, seconded by Laurie Semprebon, to move agenda
item 8 ÒOld BusinessÓ immediately prior to agenda item 2 ÒExecutive Session.Ó
VOTE: Unanimous in Favor
OLD BUSINESS:
MOTION: by Laurie Semprebon, seconded by Christina Mailhos, to accept the Administrator’s contract from July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2012 as presented.
VOTE: Unanimous in Favor
MOTION: by Herb Arico, seconded by Christina Mailhos, to approve Five Year Plan for the period of July 2008 to June 2013.
VOTE: Unanimous in Favor
MOTION: by Laurie Semprebon, seconded by Herb Arico, to move agenda item 2 ÒExecutive SessionÓ to after agenda item 10 ÒPresent to Speak.Ó
VOTE: Unanimous in Favor
PRESENTATION:
Debra Sullivan and Colin McNamara gave presentations on the Connecticut Mastery Test.
NEW BUSINESS:
Discussion on web camera placement at Hall Memorial School. Superintendent Harding answered questions that Board members had.
MOTION: by Laurie Semprebon, seconded by Teri Gareau, to allow Present to Speak as an exception to the agenda.
VOTE: Unanimous in Favor
PRESENT TO SPEAK:
Jennifer Goodwin said that the biggest issue is going from no security to the other extreme.
She suggested using teachers and other children as monitors to behavior.
Amy Twiss commented that the money spent for the security system could have been used for other things in the schools.
Lynn Nichols related an experience she had several years ago when she walked through
Center Elementary School and no one stopped to ask who she was.
Kathy Mikel asked about the camera placements.
Bill Konieczny mentioned that a security system is for the childrens’ safety.
Michelle Bidwell thanked the Administrators for their presentation.
MOTION: by Christine Psathas, seconded by Laurie Semprebon, to postpone discussion of placement of web cameras until the next regular meeting.
VOTE: Unanimous in Favor
MOTION: by Christine Psathas, seconded by Herb Arico, to go into executive session at
8:36 p.m. to hear a parent transportation request and to invite Attorney Meuser, Superintendent Harding and witnesses, parents and witness.
VOTE: Unanimous in Favor
Board moved out of Executive Session at 10:35 p.m.
MOTION: by Christina Mailhos, seconded by Mark Makuch, that based on the evidence introduced during the transportation hearing conducted on August 28, 2008 by the Board, that the Board affirm the Administration’s determination that the student in question is ineligible for the specific transportation modification requested by the student’s parents and move further that the Board Chair be authorized to issue a written decision setting forth the basis for the Board’s decision, as discussed by the Board during its deliberations on this matter on August 28, 2008.
VOTE: Unanimous in Favor
BOARD COMMENTS:
The Board congratulated Aaron Lopes and Cassie Svelnys as having been recognized as the state’s top Scholar Leaders in Willington by the Connecticut Association of Schools and also congratulated John Mindek on completion of his Eagle Scout project. Board members attended
Meet and Greet and the teachers’ kick off meeting. The Board wished the staff good luck at the start of the new school year.
Meeting adjourned at 10:41 p.m.
Christine Psathas
Board Secretary
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