April 7, 2021 at 6:30 PM - Regular Board of Education Meeting
Minutes |
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I. Call to Order
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II. Approval of Minutes
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II.A. Regular Meeting of March 3, 2021
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II.B. District Budget Hearing of April 5, 2021
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III. Visitors
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III.A. CAPSS Superintendent's Award
Rationale:
This year's recipients of the CAPSS Superintendent's Award are Connie Pan and Megan Cravinho. I have attached bios of these students which describe their many accomplishments in school and within the community. This award is based on their service, leadership, and academic prowess. Jim Wygonik will introduce them. |
III.B. Report from Student Representatives
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III.C. Public Comment
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IV. Administrative Reports
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IV.A. Superintendent's Report
Rationale:
Please note the personnel report as you will find updated employee information reflected in it. I will update the Board on our goals for the year. |
IV.B. Business Manager's Report
Rationale:
Mrs. McCalla will provide a year to date budget status report as well as a contingency fund report.
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V. Educational Presentation
Speaker(s):
Jim Wygonik
Rationale:
Mr. Wygonik will present the plans for the HS schedule for next year.
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V.A. LOLHS Schedule for 2021-2022
Speaker(s):
Jim Wygonik
Rationale:
Mr. Wygonik will present the plans for the HS schedule for next year.
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VI. Chair and Committee Reports
(Facilities, Finance, Communications, Policy, LEARN, LOL Prevention Coalition, Sustainability)
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VII. New Business
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VII.A. Mile Creek Sound System Upgrade Project
Speaker(s):
Ron Turner
Rationale:
Background: The current sound system in the Mile Creek cafeteria is insufficient and outdated, and the gymnasium currently only utilizes a portable sound system. These proposed upgrades will enhance the ability for student performances, and both systems will allow better access to sound by students, staff, and community members. Proposals: Sound Stage Systems $20,390.00 HB Communications $21,316.00 Unitech $27,404.11 Recommendation:
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VII.B. Mile Creek Outdoor Classroom Project
Speaker(s):
Ron Turner
Rationale:
Background: Recent developments with the COVID-19 pandemic generated a request by parents and staff for potential outdoor classroom spaces at District schools. This request was included in the five-year facilities plan with a goal to begin to add spaces during the 2021/22 school year. With the approval of the Facilities Committee, a cooperative project was proposed to provide not only educational opportunity for technical school students, but also outdoor classroom space for Region 18. Vinal Technical School in Middletown was very interested and enthusiastic about the project, and their students will complete all aspects of design and construction. April approval by the Board will allow the foundation and deck work to be completed by the end of this school year, with completion scheduled for the beginning of the next school year. The District sought comparable commercial quotes for work at the site to confirm that the building opportunity was also at a discount. Carefree Small Building in Colchester quoted the work at $37,025, and The Barnyard in Ellington quoted on-site work at $40,000. This project is the first in a District plan to add outdoor classroom spaces. The next projects will include the Lyme School and the Middle School. This classroom project was originally funded by monies budgeted in the 2021/22 FY proposed budget, but will now be covered by Esser II grant funds. The budgeted funds will be applied to other projects in the five-year facilities plan.
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VII.C. Middle School Gymnasium Floor Refinishing Project
Speaker(s):
Ron Turner
Rationale:
Background: The existing gymnasium floor in the Middle School is overdue for renovation, and the work is included in the five-year facilities plan. There are years of oil-based finish buildup, insufficient painted lines, an outdated school logo, and an outdated color scheme. The proposed work involves sanding the surface down to bare wood, repainting with fresh lines and our current paw logo, and sealing with a water-based finish. The plan is for a finished product that matches the high school floor. New England Overland was approved by the Board on June 3, 2020 to complete the High School gym floor renovation project. They completed a high-quality job on the high school floor, and their current price, which is $2,000 less than the high school job, considers that they still possess all of the stencils and patterns required for the logo and lettering with no extra costs. New England Overland will also be retained on an annual basis to apply a maintenance coat to both floor surfaces. We are confident that the end result will be an additional floor that will make the district proud.
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VII.D. High School Soundfield Upgrade Project
Speaker(s):
Ron Turner
Rationale:
Background: The current sound amplification systems deployed in the high school classrooms are outdated and no longer function properly. Lightspeed is the proprietary vendor of the more modern soundfield systems that the District has deployed in the four other district schools. These systems are very affordable and user friendly, and we receive excellent customer support from the Lightspeed team whenever needed. The installation would occur after July 1, 2021, and your approval allows Lightspeed to gather all of the necessary equipment to start immediately in July. This purchase value includes a credit of $3,200.00 for a trade-in of our old systems. This contract value is in the anticipated range for the proposed 21/22 FY budget.
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VII.E. Lyme School Tennis Court Project
Speaker(s):
Ron Turner
Rationale:
Background: Renovation of the Lyme School tennis courts is included in the five-year facilities plan and is scheduled for the summer of 2021. The bid pricing is within the budgeted value, and April Board approval will allow the vendor to make preparation for a July start. Classic Turf is the same vendor who replaced the high school tennis courts with post and tension concrete in June of 2020. They did an exceptional job with the project, were very conscientious, and completed the job on budget and on time. I have spoken with the representative and, with Board approval, they will put our work first for the summer schedule. This was bid through the CREC bidding process. For those unfamiliar with the CREC bid process, below is a description of their process from their website: All of the CREC contracts are established through an Invitation to Bid (ITB) or Request for Proposals (RFP). CREC awards bids based on the lowest responsive, responsible bidders. We take into account quality of service, proven performance, and pricing. RFPs and ITBs are conducted in accordance with purchasing procedures mandated by state procurement laws and regulations, and are available to all public and private schools, colleges and universities, cities and towns, and non-profit organizations. The ITB/RFP Process
FieldTurf is also the only company in the CREC marketplace that offers post and tension concrete tennis courts as part of their scope.
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VII.F. 2021-2022 Budget
Rationale:
As previously noted, with the addition of grant funding from the ESSER funds, we have been able to further reduce the budget from a 0.73% increase to a 0.47% increase. This change will further reduce the costs to the towns as noted on the attached Impact to Towns page from the budget book. This requires Board action.
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VII.G. Donation Letter
Speaker(s):
Ian Neviaser
Rationale:
As we have previously discussed, we have had many requests from the community on how we can support and recognize our staff for such a successful year. Attached is a proposed letter we can send to the community to ask for their support of our recognition of the staff at our end of the year banquet. This requires Board action.
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VII.H. Nonrenewals of Non-Tenured Staff
Speaker(s):
Ian Neviaser
Rationale:
As is annual practice to ensure compliance with state statute, and in accordance with Conn. Gen. Stat. § 10-151(b), which gives authority to the Superintendent to determine whether a non-tenure teacher should be offered a contract for the subsequent school year, I am recommending the non-renewal of all non–tenured teachers. This requires Board action. |
VII.I. Annual Review of Tuition Policy/Rate
Speaker(s):
Ian Neviaser
Rationale:
Per policy #5118, the Board is required to set a tuition rate for non-resident students by May 30. The current tuition rate is: A) Tuition Student Rates B) Students attending under Attendance Agreements (unless a multiple-year agreement to provide education facilities is entered into with another Board of Education) This requires Board action. |
VII.J. Tuition Student Request for LOLMS and LOLHS
Speaker(s):
Ian Neviaser
Rationale:
We are pleased to welcome back a former tuition student and that student's sibling who moved away and are now returning to CT. This requires Board action.
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VII.K. Revision of 2020-2021 School Calendar
Speaker(s):
Ian Neviaser
Rationale:
I am recommending that we end school on Friday June 18, 2021 to avoid having all students come back for one additional Monday in June. June 21, 2021 will be a staff only day and will be the day we hold the staff recognition banquet. This change will put us at 179 student days and 187 staff days. The state requirement this year is 177 student days. This requires Board action.
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VII.L. Policy Review - Administering Medications to Students
Speaker(s):
Ian Neviaser
Rationale:
First read of Policy 5141.21 Administering Medications to Students.
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VIII. Old Business
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VIII.A. Policy Review and Update - Title I Programs and Special Education
Rationale:
This is a second read of both policies and requires Board action.
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VIII.B. Closing of LOLHS Project
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IX. Executive Session
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X. Adjournment
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