Also Present

Superintendent of Schools Carol Parmelee-Blancato, Associate Superintendent Richard Cormier, Assistant Superintendent John Hennelly, Assistant to the Superintendent/Board of Education Secretary Kathryn Eyles, MSA President Kim Berry, Student Representative Roisin Wisneski, two representatives from the Middletown Federation of Teachers, Hartford Courant Reporter Ken Byron, Middletown Press Reporter John Christie, and fifty-eight visitors. 

Mr. Chappelle called the meeting to order at 6:49 p.m., and the pledge of allegiance was recited.

 B PUBLIC SESSION

Mr. Chappelle reviewed with the public the procedures for addressing the Board and said that this is a special meeting to address the single item on the agenda, Policy #6145.2.

Mr. Lee Smith, 17 Afton Terrace, asked if he could address the Board about something not on the agenda. Mr. Chappelle said he could only speak to the agenda item.

Ms. Linda Miller, a former Board member and Chair of the Policy Committee in 1995, 551 Shuttle Meadow Ave., New Britain, gave a brief history of the policy. She said that a few years ago, the Board voted to elevate academic performance requirements because the Board thought that the CIAC standard was the wrong message to send to our athletes and students. Instituting a "C" rule was overwhelmingly supported by parents, community, Board, NAACP and was decided with input from teachers, coaches, administrators, parents and the community at large. The policy is easily applicable to students not involved in sports or extra curricular activities through the institution of corrective actions to get students back on track. The implementation procedure could also benefit any student having academic difficulties. Rescinding the policy sends a poor message to our children. Ms. Miller implored the Board to reconsider and vote not to rescind this policy and to support implementation and work out problem areas.

 Kathy Gallagher, President of the MFT and a member of the Middletown High School (MHS) teaching staff, wanted to clarify that the remarks made by a teacher at the 1//09/01 Board meeting and an article written by another teacher were made as individuals not as representatives of teachers as a whole and that the sentiments expressed were not indicative of the teaching staff as a whole.

Faith Jackson, President NAACP, spoke in support of the policy on behalf of the NAACP.

Ms. Kim Berry, MSA President, 797 Ridge Road, said that the MSA believes the requirements of Policy #6145.2, Athletic/Extracurricular Activities, should be enforced for Grades 9 through 12.

John Robinson, Councilman and Vice President of the NAACP, spoke in support of the policy.

Sue Englehardt, Co-president of the MHS PTA, spoke in support of the policy.

Joe Pessoni, 6 Huber Manor, spoke in support of the policy.

Marie Coughlin, area realtor and former Board member, spoke in support of the policy and noted that persons considering a move to Middletown always ask about the school system.

Debra Moore, Administrative Assistant to the Mayor, stated that she was speaking in support of the policy, not as a representative of the Mayor's Office, but as a former Board member, citizen, the mother of a student athlete and sophomore. She said it was a privilege for students to wear the uniform of MHS.

Mr. Alexander Tucci, Academic Advisor for MHS Football and a member of the MHS teaching staff, 56 Red Road, spoke in opposition to the policy and expressed support for raising standards for all students.

Robert Smernoff, Head Boys Tennis Coach and Head Girls Soccer Coach, and a member of the MHS teaching staff, spoke in support of the policy.

Mark Fong, Wrestling Coach, and a member of the Middletown teaching staff, spoke in opposition to the policy.

John Phillips, 266 Fowler Avenue, spoke in support of the policy.

David Taraskewicz, Middletown resident, spoke in support of the policy.

John Bagley, 136 Ridge Road, spoke in opposition to the policy.

Carolann D'Eon, 35 Knox Boulevard, spoke in support of the policy.

Edith Dubey, Co-president of the MHS PTA, spoke in support of the policy.

 C NEW BUSINESS

Policy #6145.2 - Athletic/Extracurricular Activities - First Reading

Mr. Chappelle delineated the four alternatives for the Board's consideration: 1) No action, 2) Amend the Policy to include Grade 11, 3) Amend the Policy to include Grades 11 and 12, and 4) Repeal the Policy. At this time, he asked for a motion to open discussion.

MOTION Ms. Weiss made a motion to adopt the original Policy #6145.2, Athletic/Extracurricular Activities, and apply it to grades 11 and 12, seconded by Ms. Derosier.

Ms. Weiss said that she worked with Ms. Miller on this policy and that they were very proud of the support they were able to put in place for students. Through the chair, Ms. Weiss asked for the Director of Athletics and Student Activities Henry Koritkoski to speak to this item.

Mr. Koritkoski read prepared remarks that support this policy because it is working for Middletown, and he recommended that it be a 9-12 policy. In his remarks, he stressed the need to encourage our students to achieve academic success and to keep athletics and extracurricular activities in their proper perspective. He said that during the 1999-2000 school year, 66% of our students (677) participated in extracurricular activities. He also said that a report from the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference indicates that 43% of the districts in our state have higher standards for athletic participation than the CIAC mandates. The report also indicates that 82% of the districts do not want the CIAC to change its standards, but do want the flexibility to modify their own standards in accordance with its school mission. Mr. Koritkoski said that comparing Middletown to our Education Reference Group, 6 of the 12 schools (there are 13 schools in total) have standards higher than the CIAC standards and 93% of Connecticut's high schools participated in this CIAC survey. Mr. Koritkoski said that since 1998, 209 of our students involved in extracurricular activities have been placed on academic probation, with 157 of those students' successfully completing their probation.

Ms. Weiss noted a number of initiatives that raise standards. She also said that this policy is part of a larger district plan to raise the bar.

Mr. Duggan asked if Mr. Koritkoski could give the Board the mean grade point average for the group that participates as opposed to those students who do not participate. Mr. Fontaine responded that he has discussed this with his computer people, and it would require a hand tally that would take some time.

Ms. Wisneski distributed a hand out containing information titled "truths about athletics at Middletown High School" and spoke in opposition to this policy.

Ms. Derosier said that she is definitely in favor of raising the bar for Grades 9-12 and expressed her displeasure that educators and coaches appear to want the Board to lower their standards. She said that the Board does its best to hire the best teachers and administrators who are expected to put students forward in academics. Ms. Derosier said she is also in favor of raising the bar for every student at MHS.

Mr. Filer spoke in opposition to this policy and expressed support for a policy that would raise the standards for all students.

Mr. Duggan said that not one person sitting on the Board would consider lowering standards. He said he opposed this policy because it did not go far enough and expressed his support for a policy that would raise the standards for all students.

Ms. Boske said that she supports this policy because she has always believed in high standards for students, and she firmly believes that the policy does make a difference.

Mr. Thazhampallath said he was puzzled why everyone at the table agrees that there should be a policy for all students, so why cant the Board craft the wording of this policy as recommended and do that? Through the Chair, Mr. Thazhampallath asked Mr. Koritkoski and Mr. Fontaine if the advisor currently has to go through every student record and write down their grades and how the reporting system works. He also asked why GPA information was not brought to the table tonight. Mr. Thazhampallath said he feels people in sports or doing an activity have a higher GPA. Mr. Koritkoski said he tracks student grades. Mr. Fontaine said that to answer Mr. Thazhampallath's question data would have to be obtained prior to when the policy went into effect and reiterated that data must be compiled by hand.

Mr. Thazhampallath asked if it was possible for a student to go from being on probation to being ineligible to participate by our policy. Mr. Koritkoski said yes. Mr. Thazhampallath asked if there was any contact with these students. Mr. Koritkoski said they usually return to the sport. Mr. Thazhampallath said that legally this policy would seem to set the Board up for some trouble by creating an adverse situation for students of color. He said that unintentionally the Board is inflicting punishment on specific groups - students of color.

Mr. Fontaine said that athletes are held to different standards than the rest of the student body. The Athletic Handbook for Students and Parents states that a student states that a student who does not follow the regulations listed in the book can be suspended on a temporary or permanent basis for smoking, alcohol or other social behaviors. Whenever groups have gone to court over the issue of holding athletes to high standards, the courts have held that the Board has the right to hold students to higher standards. Mr. Fontaine said he discussed this issue with Mr. Koritkoski at length, and he does support this policy for Grades 9-12.

Ms. Bobrick, speaking to a number of points, said that regarding the issue of legality, the only way the Board would be in trouble is if they told people they couldn't come to school. She felt that at the 1//09/01 Board meeting she was blindsided when members of the Board wanted to overthrow this policy. Ms. Bobrick said she is not persuaded by the arguments she has heard but does see merit in them and hopes there is some way for the Board to incorporate the suggestions expressed. She said that although she was moved by Mr. Fong saying that many times the coach is the most important adult in a student's life, the fact is that extracurricular activities take extra hours and that is why the Board is considering this group of students. Ms. Bobrick asked Board members not to make sudden motions and vote on them. She expressed her support for raising standards with courses, and asked the Chair to look for ways to address concerns that is agreeable to all.

Mr. Chappelle said that the Board must deal with the motion on the table unless the person who brought forth the motion wants to retract it. He said that the Board is meeting tonight because at the 1/09/01 meeting they made a decision without a lot of data about a policy that was the result of a lot of hard work. Mr. Chappelle said that this policy came with a recommendation from parents groups and said he had received 76 telephone calls from parents supporting this policy for Grades 9-12. He also said that it is very hard for him to dismiss statements from the Athletic Director, Principal, and teachers and is troubled by the willingness of some Board members to do that. Mr. Chappelle said that he is going to call the vote on the motion before the Board. He said that historically the Chair does not vote; however, he will vote for this policy.

Mr. Chappelle called the vote on the motion to amend Policy #6145.2, Athletic/Extracurricular Activities - First Reading, to include Grades 11 and 12, which is alternative #3.

At this time the motion continued and the Board VOTED with five in favor - Ms. Bobrick, Ms. Boske, Mr. Chappelle, Ms. Derosier, and Ms. Weiss, and four opposed - Mr. Duggan, Mr. Filer, Mr. McMillan, and Mr. Thazhampallath, to amend Policy #65145.2 to include Grades 11 and 12, which is alternative #3.

 J ADJOURNMENT

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

Time: 8:37 p.m.

Respectfully submitted, 

Barbara M. Weiss

Secretary

/kce

REMINDER The next Board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, February 13, 2001, at 7:00 P.M.