Friends of Learning in Killingly (FOLK) is an organization that has been in existence for a number of years.  Graduates from the Killingly High School Class of 1966 formed a foundation that provides grants to teachers for specific projects that they would like to teach their students.  The annual application process is open to all Killingly School teachers.  Janice Ahola Sidaway is present tonight to announce the recipients of this year's grants. 

On February 10^th, nine students from Killingly High School competed at The International Builders Show at The Orange County Convention Center in Orlando.  The students took part in an annual competition that pits high schools and colleges from across the United States in a residential construction competition.  Their challenge included the production a full set of blueprints, construction schedule, pricing, and green package for a fictitious home. 

The students were also judged on several other factors including community service, networking with industry professionals, and outreach in the Outstanding Student Chapter portion of the competition. The KHS team received Second Place in the Outstanding Student Chapter category triumphing over Universities such as: Brigham Young, Penn State, Purdue, and Texas A&M, two year schools like Delgado, North Central, and Linn State Technical College, and High Schools like Cumberland Perry, Marion County, York County, and Shelby County.

Samantha Robinson received the Outstanding Student Award.  Students are selected on the evaluation of their academic standing and their level of involvement with their student chapter.  Samantha was a key member of the Killingly High School student chapter.   She acted as chapter president, created monthly newsletters, presided over chapter meetings, and coordinated/attended every chapter functions.  She was also the chapter’s biggest advocate, working closely with the community and industry professionals while helping to keep other chapter members focused and enthused. 

     She has applied to colleges that include Brown and Rhode Island University and hopes to pursue a career in environmental law. 

Members of the Killingly community are encouraged to share their thoughts with the Board of Education and are invited to do so during this segment of the meeting. When appropriate to do so, members of the Board and the administration may respond to comments. However, in consideration of those in attendance and in an effort to proceed in a timely manner, follow-up discussion may need to take place outside of the meeting setting.

Tim Mugan, our food services director, and John Prunier, regional manager for Whitsons, will give a mid-year update to the board.

The Common Core of State Standards (CCSS) are national standards that have been adopted by Connecticut.  They consist of new standards for English/language arts and math.  Colin McNamara, Karen Jackson, Cindy Marshall, and Maryann McGillivray will provide a brief overview of the CCSS and talk about some of the implications they will have on the district.

Attached is Frank Connolly's monthly report, and the February 29 system object report.  This has also been provided to the Town Council.

approval of payment of bills for the year 2010-11 year in February in the amount of 4,114.99 and for the 2011-12 year in February in the amount of $1, 618,566.88

A draft school calendar for 2012-13 is attached.  It aligns with the regional EASTCONN calendar that you've already seen for all major events - start of school, and December, February and April holidays.  The most significant change from past years is that we will have only one staff day prior to the start of school, with the second day for professional development moved to October, after Columbus Day weekend.  The third professional development day remains on Election Day.  Graduation is set for Friday, June 14.

If the board is comfortable, you can approve the calendar tonight; if not, it can wait until the April meeting.

This has been discussed as part of the FY13 budget development process, but the actual hiring of the IA's needs to be done this year.  By way of review, 1.0 FTE is needed for a student who moved into the district this winter, and has an IEP requiring this level of support.  The other 1.0 FTE is needed to support the IEP requirements of existing students.

In accordance with Connecticut General Statutes 10-151(b), the Board must act to non-renew the employment of any teacher not offered a contract for the following school year.  This first step is essentially a procedural formality necessary to start this process.  The board vote must occur before May 1, 2012.  [This is a statutory change from the previous April 1.]

At this point in time, the only non-renewals for board action are for long-term substitute teachers; the non-renewal process is really "belt and suspenders," making clear that the contract in place was for this year only.