November 5, 2008 at 7:00 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting

Rationale:  Patricia Armington - Elementary Teacher from 1970 to 2001
Rosemarie Witkewicz - Elementary Teacher from 1968 to 2001
Angela Spinelli - English Teacher from 1948 to 1986
Kenneth Ross – Science Teacher from 1974 to 1994

Rationale:  Approval of the October 1, 2008 Regular Board of Education Meeting Minutes.

Rationale: 

This agenda item will address any reports from Board committees to the full Board.

Rationale: 

Pursuant to Robert’s Rules of Order, the following questions are subject to the Board’s vote without debate.  Should a member choose to debate a specific question, he/she will move to lay the question on the table, and it shall become the first item of New Business.  The Board will then vote on the remaining questions.

Rationale:  Robert Garry - Co-Principal - Northeast Middle School - Effective 11/17/08;

Rationale:  Amanda Lizotte - JJJ - Grade 5 - Effective 9/26/08
Lisa Musumeci - MBMS - Guidance - Effective 1/5/09

Rationale:  Jennifer Zenuh - CHMS - Language Arts Grades 6/7 - Effective 11/10/08 through 6/30/09.

Rationale:  Attached is a list of certified professional personnel who have reached continuing contract statues (tenure) during the period of Septemember 1, 2007 through September 1, 2008.

See Attached List

Rationale: 

The attached grant is submitted for approval.  This grant is in addition to Title III funding that the district receives to provide support to our English Language Learners.

Three schools – Chippens, Edgewood and O’Connell – have been designated bilingual due to at least 20 or more families whose dominant language is Spanish.

Rationale: 

AT & T has awarded the Bristol Schools $34,000 in grant funds as part of their program to promote high school success and workforce readiness. These funds will be used to plan a program for grade 9 students to prepare them for the rigor of Advanced Placement courses and support the “Career Connections” collaborative work with the Bristol Technical Education Center.

Rationale: 

Members of the public are invited to comment to the Board on any topic related to school business.

 

Items requiring consideration by the Board must be approved as an agenda item by a 2/3ds vote of the Board members present.  Such items may be referred for further study and not necessarily acted upon at this meeting.

 

Anyone wishing to address the Board should adhere to the following procedures:

 

1.                  Sign in on the Public Comment sign-in roster.

2.                  Wait to be recognized by the Board Chair.

3.                  Proceed to the speaker’s table.

4.                  Preface your remarks by stating your name and address.

5.                  Direct your comments to the Board chairman.

6.                  Please limit your comments to three minutes.

7.                  Any comments should be made in an appropriate manner, particularly if  concerning a personnel matter.

 

  Board Policy #1120(a)

Rationale: 

Central office staff will review October 1 enrollment figures for the Board.

 

Note:  Parochial school numbers are not included because the State has given them until 11/7/08 to send 10/1/08 information.

Rationale: 

Present Board of Education Financial Statements through September 30, 2008.

 

To include Cafeteria Expenditures, All Student Activity Accounts, and all Grant funds.

Rationale: 

This policy in no longer recommended or required for inclusion in our policy manual.

Rationale: 

 The State legislature is requiring school districts to update their Bullying Policy effective January 1, 2009 to be compliant with legislative language enacted in the June 2008 legislative session. Significant changes to the policy include: Implementation of a positive behavioral interventions and supports process or another evidence-based model approach for safe school climate or for the prevention of bullying identified by the Department of Education, Inclusion of grade-appropriate bullying prevention curricula in kindergarten through high school, individual interventions with the bully, parents; and school staff, and interventions with the bullied child, parents; and the school staff and school wide training related to safe school climate.

This legislation did not come with funding for implementation. Currently we have evidenced-based programs in place at the elementary and middle school level. However, additional training is required and necessary at all instructional levels.

Rationale: 

The Board of Education will discuss any old business proper to come before the Board.

Rationale: 

The Board of Education will discuss any New Business proper to come before the Board.

Rationale: 

The Board of Education will receive various building committee reports.

Rationale: 

Any communications received or any questions by Board members concerning items not on the agenda.

 

1. AT & T High School Success Grant
2. Prudence Crandall Statue Dedication
3. 2007-2008 Strategic School Profiles

Rationale: 

The Board of Education should vote to convene into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing:

1. Teacher Negotiations

2. Student Expulsions

Rationale: 

The Board of Education should reconvene into Public Session to take any votes on matters discussed in Executive Session.

Rationale:  The Board of Education adjourn the November 5, 2008 Board of Education Meeting.