PBOEspmtg_APRIL29_2020

Board of Education
April 29, 2020 – Special Meeting
Webinar Video/Audio

MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Mary Tomasi, Vice Chair Chris McGlynn, Amy Domeika,
Suesen Hickey, Jessica Morozowich, Joanne Rose.

MEMBERS ABSENT: Mitchell Koziol.

ADMINISTRATION PRESENT: Superintendent Jeffrey Burt, Principal Colchester Elementary
School Principal Judy O’Meara, Jack Jackter Intermediate School Principal Elise Butson, Director
of Teaching and Learning Charles Hewes, Director of Pupil Services and Special Education
Kathleen Perry, Information Technology Director of Digital Learning and Innovation Darren
Smith, Director of Education Operations Mario Hurtado, Director of Human Resources Shannon
Ramsby, Chief Financial Officer Maggie Cosgrove.

1. MEETING OPENING
   1.1 Call to Order
       Chair Tomasi called this Special Meeting to order at 4:07 pm with a roll call to establish
       attendance – M. Tomasi, C. McGlynn, A. Domeika, S. Hickey, J. Morozowich, J. Rose for
       a quorum.

2. PUBLIC COMMENT
   2.1 Citizens are invited to address the Board by emailing boardquestions@colchesterct.org or
       in written form to Colchester Board of Education, 127 Norwich Avenue, Suite 202,
       Colchester, CT 06415. Public questions entered at least one hour prior to the start of the
       meeting will be addressed if in regard to an agenda item. Other questions will be
       answered in writing and added to the minutes of the meeting.
       No questions were received prior to the meeting.

       Comments received via email prior to meeting as follows:

         Laura Lindsey supports the proposed math coach remaining in the budget.

         Michael Voiland supports a reduction in the original budget.

         Monica Swyden supports removing new positions prior to existing positions.

         Marnie Rubin supports keeping the Alternative Education (AltEd) Program at Old
         Bacon Academy.

       The comments below were from citizens calling into the meeting:

         Monica Swyden was looking for clarification on the proposed new positions.

3. PRIORITY DISCUSSION/POSSIBLE ACTION ITEM
   3.1 Discussion of Proposed 2020-2021 Education Budget
       Superintendent Burt presented a budget that is a 0.74% increase, down from the
       0.08% increase budget presented on April 27, 2020 Board meeting. This budget reduction
Board of Education
April 29, 2020 – Special Meeting
       is for discussion purposes. At this time, the Board of Education has presented a budget
       with at 1.43% increase to the Board of Finance.

       The math coach will remain in the budget through a grant. The reduction in this budget
       proposal is due to a potential move of the Alternate Education classes from Old Bacon
       Academy to a portable classroom at Bacon Academy. It was pointed out that there is no
       administrator, no nurse, no electives, food delivery must be made and the building is not
       Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant and has been cited in the recertification
       process.

       Citizens offered the following comments:

         Rosemary Coyle stated as a former teacher she is concerned with the impact to the
         students, educational system and teachers. R. Coyle hopes to keep values that attract
         people to town and be responsible to bring best education to children of Colchester.

         Monica Swyden stated concern regarding the .4 personnel position being reduced.

         Cindy Praiser said she is concerned about the unforeseen impact with scheduling and
         also for the Assistant Principal at WJJMS.

         Stacy Henrikson has a daughter who is a senior at the Alternate Educational Program
         and supports keeping the school at Old Bacon Academy.

         Sam Norman stated his appreciation for the hard work done for this budget during this
         crisis. As a Bacon Academy teacher and volunteer at the Alternative Education program,
         he urged the Board to give “hard consideration” before moving the program.

         Superintendent Burt stated this is a lean budget and tough decisions have been made to
         lessen the impact on instruction and on students. In reference to the AltEd program, it is
         the people not the place, the same people will be there, and given the cost and
         limitations of the building it is under consideration and will go to the Board for review.

4. ADJOURNMENT
   Chair Tomasi adjourned this Special Meeting at 4:56 pm.

Respectfully submitted,


Mary Jane Slade
Recording Secretary




                                                 2