Present

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

Also Present

Superintendent of Schools Carol Parmelee-Blancato, Associate Superintendent Richard Cormier, Assistant Superintendent John Hennelly, Director of Food Services and Transportation William Pillarella, Assistant to the Superintendent/Board of Education Secretary Kathryn Eyles, Student Representative Roisin Wisneski, two representatives from the Middletown Federation of Teachers, two representatives from the Middletown Federation of Paraprofessionals, Hartford Courant Reporter Matthew Brown, Middletown Press Reporter Laura Kennedy, and three visitors.

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

MOTION Ms. Derosier made a motion, seconded by Mr. Duggan and the Board VOTED unanimously to approve the minutes of the November 14, 2000 regular meeting.

No one addressed the Board.

Ms. Parmelee-Blancato stated that WWII veteran Alfred Sutkowski, who was recently awarded a Middletown High School Diploma wanted to express his gratitude to the Board for his recent photograph.

Mr. Chappelle mentioned a communication received from Planning and Zoning (P & Z) Commission Chair William Holley III in response to the Board’s request to the Mayor for available land to use as a potential site for the new Middletown High School. The P & Z Commission is meeting on Tuesday, December 12^th, at 7:30 p.m., and Mr. Chappelle must attend. Therefore, the Board of Education meeting scheduled for December 12^th will start at 6:30 p.m.

Mr. Chappelle reminded Board members that the Board Retreat will be held at Wesleyan University on Saturday, December 9^th, from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Mr. Chappelle informed Board members that Reverend W. J. Young who was chosen as the Board Extern at the November 14^th Board meeting is unable to serve at this time. Therefore, student representative Roisin Wisneski selected the name of Gwendolyn Eaddy to serve as the next Board Extern.

Mr. Chappelle asked if there were any comments on the informational items included in the packet. There were none.

There were no items.

Ms. Boske reported that the Macdonough School Advisory Committee met and was off to a good start. Mr. McMillan suggested asking the Commissioner of Education for an exception to the laws of the state so we can accommodate the situation. Ms. Parmelee-Blancato said in a recent conversation with the Commissioner he indicated to her that he could not waiver Macdonough School or ignore the racial balance. Ms. Parmelee-Blancato said that looking at an Intra-Magnet School was suggested.

Mr. Chappelle asked that all Board members be given a copy of the priorities set for Middletown that were mentioned at the Legislative Breakfast. Mr. Duggan asked how similar our priorities were to other districts. Ms. Parmelee-Blancato said they are similar and supported by CAPSS.

Mr. Thazhampallath referred to a November 2000 Hartford Courant article that compared the numbers in our ERG and asked for a copy. Mr. Chappelle indicated that he had the article and would provide a copy.

Ms. Parmelee-Blancato gave Board members an overview of the Superintendent’s Recommended Budget using power point and a handout. Based on Board approved Guidelines and increased enrollment, she proposed a $50,937,230 Budget reflecting an increase of 12.5%. Ms. Parmelee-Blancato explained the recommended budget by category and noted that, because we are labor intensive, salaries and benefits represent over 76% of the budget. Ms. Parmelee-Blancato noted that Middletown is no longer a priority district but a transitional district, and the grant will be reduced again by an additional $140,000. Therefore, the funding of 2 Alternative Education teachers and a .5 Reading Recovery teacher are included in the budget. Other areas highlighted were Purchase Services which includes pupil transportation with an anticipated 3% contract increase and 15% increase in our liability cost, Tuition which includes the Thomas A. Edison Magnet Middle School in Meriden, New Personnel which includes 12 new teachers and 1 administrator to give greater attention to instructional improvement and staff evaluation, as well as implement an elementary Foreign Language Program, and funding for technology and diversity. Ms. Parmelee-Blancato was commended for her work on this Budget; however, Mr. Chappelle asked her to look at lowering the total budget by 2 or 3 percent.

Ms. Derosier asked how much time students would spend studying Foreign Language. Ms. Parmelee-Blancato said students in Grades 4 and 5 would meet for three twenty-minute periods each week. Mr. Thazhampallath asked if the cost of portable classrooms was included in the budget. Ms. Parmelee-Blancato said that after speaking with Middletown High School Principal Robert Fontaine the anticipated 55 students could be accommodated in the present high school facility. Mr. Thazhampallath asked if we are tied in with the City for liability coverage. Mr. Cormier said yes. Ms. Weiss asked if everyone pays a portion of the premium. Mr. Cormier said yes, but it is not equally divided. Mr. Thazhampallath asked what effect settlement of the Paraprofessional Contract would have on the budget. Ms. Parmelee-Blancato said we would have to wait and see what the settlement would be. Ms. Boske asked if funds had been built-in the budget for this. Ms. Parmelee-Blancato said yes. Mr. Filer asked about the possibility of a golden handshake. Mr. Cormier said that in the past three years we have turned over one hundred staff members. Ms. Parmelee-Blancato said there are no plans to offer a retirement incentive. Mr. McMillan asked if there had been any discussion with the Council. Mr. Chappelle said that he and the Superintendent had met with both Councilmen Gerald Daley and Stephen Gionfriddo. Mr. Thazhampallath asked about the thought process used when creating the list of positions needed and dropped. Ms. Parmelee-Blancato said the first priority goes to class size to address the teacher/student ratio.

Mr. Chappelle asked Board members to write down any questions they have and submit them to the Superintendent prior to the Budget Workshop on Tuesday, December 12^th.

There were no items.

There were no items.

Ms. Bobrick left the meeting at 8:22 p.m.

Mr. Chappelle reminded Board members to forward to the Superintendent their questions on specific budget items, and if they are making a recommendation to cut a specific item, they should include a rationale.

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

Time: 8:24 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Barbara M. Weiss
Secretary

REMINDER

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