Frederick Chappelle, Marie Derosier, Daniel Filer, Lloyd Duggan, Edward McMillan, Geen Thazhampallath, and Barbara Weiss.

Superintendent of Schools Carol Parmelee-Blancato, Associate Superintendent Richard Cormier, Assistant Superintendent John Hennelly, Director of Food Services and Transportation William Pillarella, Director of Facilities Kendall Jackson, Assistant to the Superintendent/Board of Education Secretary Kathryn Eyles, Board Extern Evelyn Ambriscoe, Student Representative Roisin Wisneski, two representatives from the Middletown Federation of Teachers, one representative from the Middletown Federation of Paraprofessionals, Hartford Courant Reporter Ken Byron, and thirty-two visitors. Also present during the first part of the meeting were State Senator Thomas Gaffey, State Representatives Gail Hamm and Theodore Raczka, Mayor Domenique S. Thornton, Common Council Members Klattenberg, Nocera, Patnaude, Robinson, Salafia, Santangelo, Shapiro and Streeto.

Mr. Chappelle called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. and the pledge of allegiance was recited.

At this time, diplomas were awarded to four World War II Veterans. This is in accordance with P.A. 00-124. Mr. Chappelle presented Middletown High School (MHS) Diplomas to Earl M. Edgar, Sebastian Marino, Alfred F. Sutkowski, and Walter J. Zawilinski. MHS Interim Principal Robert Fontaine presented Middletown Public School pins to the graduates. Ms. Parmelee-Blancato introduced Middletown Mayor Domenique S. Thornton who presented each graduate with a City of Middletown Proclamation and a Key to the City of Middletown. Senator Gaffey, and Representatives Hamm and Raczka presented the gentlemen with a State of Connecticut Citation.

Mr. Chappelle called for a brief recess at 7:20 p.m.

Ms. Derosier left the meeting at 7:20 p.m.

Mr. Chappelle reconvened the meeting at 7:30 p.m.

MOTION Mr. McMillan made a motion, seconded by Ms. Weiss and the Board VOTED with four in favor - Mr. Filer, Mr. McMillan, Mr. Thazhampallath, and Ms. Weiss, and two abstentions -Mr. Chappelle and Mr. Duggan, to approve the minutes of the August 22, 2000 regular meeting.

Wendy Fiore, 215 Hunting Hill Avenue, expressed her concern that bus route information is not available earlier to parents and the one-mile walking rule.

John Phillips, 266 Fowler Avenue, expressed his concern about the number of children in the Farm Hill School Grade 1 classes.

Dena Rosenbloom-Snow, 31 Clover Street, expressed her concern about the number of children in the Farm Hill School Grade 1 classes.

Renea DiCicco, 347 Fowler Avenue, expressed her concern about large class sizes.

Pat Augeri, 35 Scenic View Drive, inquired about a parent representative on the Wesley School Building Committee.

1. Ms. Parmelee-Blancato said that Vo Ag Director Daniel A. Digiulio has been notified that the Middletown High School Mattabeset FFA Chapter has been recognized as a 2 STAR chapter in the National Chapter Award Program.
2. Ms. Weiss mentioned that she had received a letter from a parent concerning a bus issue and had made copies for appropriate people.
3. Mr. Thazhampallath said he represented the Board at the Russell Library Strategic Planning Initiative which examined the community and Russell Library's role in it.

MOTION Ms. Weiss made a motion, seconded by Mr. Thazhampallath, and the Board VOTED unanimously, to approve the following Personnel Action items:

Brittany Helddon, a Special Education teacher employed since August 1993 has submitted her resignation effective September 11, 2000 for personal reasons.

Dawn Brooks, Spanish teacher, Step 5 of the Master's schedule, salary $42,734 (prorated).

Joseph Collette, Music teacher, Step 7 of the Bachelor's schedule, salary $43,464.

Candace Kalmick, Speech/Language Clinician, Step 1 of the 6^th year schedule, salary $39,812.

Jennifer Milardo, (.5) Elementary teacher, Step 2 of the Bachelor's schedule, salary $34,413.

Julia Wiszniak, Special Education teacher, Step 1 of the Bachelor's schedule, salary $34,413.

Mr. Duggan distributed a form he developed to determine the goals and objectives for internal operations and performance.

Ms. Parmelee-Blancato said that this was a smooth opening with all schools ready to open thanks to Board of Education and City staff working together. There were a few late buses and some concerns about bus stops. Staff Development also went well.

2. Enrollment

Ms. Parmelee-Blancato distributed copies of current enrollment figures to the Board and noted 284 students over what was projected. Mr. Thazhampallath asked how the administration determined the need to add an additional teacher. Ms. Parmelee-Blancato said when the number for a specific grade level is in the 50s, they will look at 3 teachers; however, the administration's primary focus is educational need and not necessarily numbers. Mr. Filer expressed his concern at the high number of students at Middletown High School. Ms. Parmelee-Blancato said some adjustments were made in anticipation of exceeding 1,100 students.

3. Reading Recovery Program 1993-2000

Former Middletown Language Arts Consultant Dr. Joanne Phillips told the Board that the Reading Recovery Program is fully implemented in the Middletown School District. They work in concert with the classroom teachers to raise students' reading and writing skills. Ms. Weiss asked if what a child learned in the short-term Reading Recovery Program would sustain them. Dr. Phillips said that the study only follows students to third grade. Dr. Hennelly said that students who do not receive assistance are at a much greater risk of never becoming readers. This program has strong continued staff development, teachers attend extra classes once a month, and it is a highly structured teaching/learning program with a district and parental component. Dr. Phillips said this program is not meant to stand alone - it supports the classroom.

Ms. Weiss asked if agenda item F-6, Transportation, could be moved to the next agenda item. A consensus of the Board agreed.

6. Transportation

Ms. Parmelee-Blancato said there were some minor concerns with early and late buses and bus stops. Mr. Pillarella concurred. Ms. Parmelee-Blancato said the school system worked with DATTCO to number all buses, parents received route information from the newspaper and at the school, and the non-public schools have been cooperative. Ms. Teddi Barra, District Manager for DATTCO, said Middletown has a good driver return rate because they receive cooperation from principals and the transportation office. Ms. Weiss asked if all buses had cameras. Ms. Barra said no, but they all have camera boxes. The cameras are moved around during the year. Ms. Weiss also asked if all buses had two-way radios. Ms. Barra said yes, but there is a lot of interference over the airways. Mr. Pillarella was asked why the bus routes were not available earlier. He said that it takes most of the summer to finalize the routes because information is compiled from 18 schools for over 6,000 students. Ms. Parmelee-Blancato said late registration is held in the middle of August.

8. Building Projects

Mr. Jackson said at the building committee meeting on Tuesday, August 23, 2000, a subcommittee was formed to develop the specifications for the Request For Proposal for the project's architectural and engineering services. The subcommittee met on August 30, 2000. The building committee met again on September 7th and was given a tour by Wesley Principal Joseph Cassella. Mr. Filer asked if a list of the committee members could be made available for the public.

Mr. Jackson said at the building committee meeting on Tuesday, August 15, 2000, a subcommittee was formed to develop the specifications for the Request For Proposal for the project's architectural and engineering services. The subcommittee met on August 23, 2000.

Mr. Jackson said that the school opened on time and expressed his appreciation to the many people whose efforts made this possible. Haynes construction advised Mr. Jackson that they intend to be ninety-nine percent complete by the end of September. During October and November the final punch list work will be completed. Mr. Jackson said that the building committee will address additional school needs throughout the fall as funding allows.

2. SAT Report

Dr. Hennelly said that the College Board has released the results of Middletown's Scholastic Aptitude Test I (SAT) for the Class of 2000. The verbal mean for the class is 487 or 1 point higher than the Class of 1999. The mean score in mathematics for the Class of 2000 is 486 or 1 point lower than the Class of 1999. The SAT scores are one of several criteria used by colleges and universities to determine college admissions. One hundred seventy-five students took the SAT during the 1999-2000 school year, and seventy-eight percent were graduating seniors. Dr. Hennelly said two goals are to look at what will be offered for this year's senior class and what will be provided for next year's senior class. He also said that an SAT course in mathematics and language arts is offered in the spring. This is an elective course and enrollment is low because students are taking other elective courses. Ms. Parmelee-Blancato mentioned that the computer lab has a software program to assist students. Ms. Wisneski said that the guidance office gives students booklets and copies of former tests to review. Ms. Weiss mentioned that this course was offered through summer school, but because of small numbers the course was dropped. Ms. Parmelee-Blancato also said that the numbers of people taking the course through Adult Education have dwindled.

Mr. Chappelle asked about the advantage in taking the PSAT. Ms. Parmelee-Blancato said that is used as an initial profile to look at ways to assist students.

3. Status of Summer Repair Projects

6. Hiring Report

8. Summer Programs and Activities

MOTION Ms. Weiss made a motion, seconded by Mr. McMillan, and Mr. Chappelle called for discussion.

Ms. Parmelee-Blancato said this is a competitive grant submitted in collaboration with the Middletown Police Department. Mr. Chappelle asked that the Board hear from someone about the effectiveness of the DARE Program.

MOTION Ms. Weiss made a motion, seconded by Mr. Thazhampallath, and the Board VOTED unanimously to authorize the administration to apply for funding, in collaboration with the Middletown Police Department, under the Drug Enforcement Program Grant.

Ms. Parmelee-Blancato said these grant funds will be used to support the Middletown High School/Hartford Symphony Orchestra Program.

MOTION Ms. Weiss made a motion, seconded by Mr. Thazhampallath, and the Board VOTED unanimously to authorize the administration to apply for funding under the Texaco Foundation Grant Program.

Mr. Jackson said the Middletown Board of Education is eligible for school building improvement grants from the State of Connecticut for five years. The FY 2001 Grant is the third year's grant.

MOTION Mr. Thazhampallath made a motion, seconded by Mr. Filer, and the Board VOTED unanimously to approve the maintenance projects proposed by the administration to be submitted to the State of Connecticut Department of Education for the School Improvement Grant FY 2001.

MOTION Ms. Weiss made a motion, seconded by Mr. Filer, and the Board VOTED unanimously to go into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing compensation of an employee of the Middletown Board of Education, pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes, Section 1-18a(e)(1). Time 10:15 p.m.

MOTION Ms. Weiss made a motion at 10:55 p.m., seconded by Mr. McMillan, and the Board VOTED unanimously to return to public session.

PUBLIC SESSION

MOTION Mr. McMillan made a motion, seconded by Mr. Filer, and the Board VOTED unanimously to move the Principal of Keigwin School from Category 3 to Category 2 in the M.S.A.A. Contract salary schedule, $88,442, effective July 1, 2000.

With no further discussion, Mr. Chappelle adjourned the meeting.

Time: 10:56 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Barbara M. Weiss

Secretary/kce

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