BOEregmtg8172020

Board of Education
August 17, 2020 – Regular Meeting
Colchester Elementary School – Cafeteria
315 Halls Hill Road

MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Mary Tomasi, Vice Chair Chris McGlynn, Suesen Hickey, Amy
Domeika, Joanne Rose, Student Member Shannon Hickey.

MEMBERS ABSENT: Mitch Koziol, Jessica Morozowich.

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, Director of Education Operations Mario Hurtado, Director of Human Resources Shannon
Ramsby, Darren Smith Director of Digital Learning and Innovation, Chief Financial Officer Maggie
Cosgrove.


   1. MEETING OPENING
      1.1 Call to Order and Pledge of Allegiance
          Chair Mary Tomasi called this meeting to order at 6:04 pm and led the Board members in
          the pledge of allegiance.

   2. ADDITIONS/CHANGES TO THE AGENDA
      None requested.

   3. CELETRATIONS
      3.1. Acknowledging Karen Hobbes
           Community member Karen Hobbes has provided over 600 masks for students; Food
           Services and Youth have been distributing these masks at meals pick-up.

       3.2. Acknowledging Karla Staubach
            Karla Staubach, Paraprofessional at WJJMS, has organized a donation from Staples of
            160 face shields for Colchester Public Shields for Colchester Public Schools.

   4. PUBLIC COMMENT
      Mike Caplet spoke to the Board members advocating for more information and support for the
      “At-Home” option.

   5. REPORT FROM SUPERINTENDENT
      5.1 Communications
          An email has been received from L. Johnson thanking the Board for creating the
          Diversity Committee.
          An email was received from D. Ferrigno stating he supports the August 31 start date for
          school.

       5.2. Reopening Planning Update
            Superintendent Burt reviewed the current plan for reopening with a new start date of
            September 8, 2020. This will be a hybrid model with one group of students attending
            school on Monday and Tuesday, an at home or half day for all on Wednesday and the
   Board of Education
   August 17, 2020 – Regular Meeting
           second group attending on Thursday and Friday. This will allow deep cleaning on
           Wednesday, ease child care concerns and allow for collaborative groups. Teachers will be
           on call. At-home students will be assigned a classroom.

           C. Hewes will be creating videos to help parents with lessons, detailed documents are
           being developed to make sure students are successful. Time is needed for planning and
           the Administration is waiting to see how many of the staff members will be returning.
           The survey results are also being finalized.

      5.3. 2020-2021 Budget Update
           The Superintendent is looking at additional requests for Personal Protective Equipment
           (PPE) due to the virus and possible additional training for the hybrid model. Transportation
           will be looked at and substitutes will not be needed on Wednesdays but may be used in
           other ways.

      5.4. 2019-2020 District Closure Budget Update
           There is $160,000 remaining, part of this will be used to make the cafeteria fund whole.
           K-8 grades will be served lunch in classrooms. Approximately 110-130 meals were
           provided daily through the summer months.

           Pre-School tuition was previously set at $250 per month and Superintendent Burt is
           recommending reducing it to $125 per month. There will be no at-home schooling
           for the pre-school children. It is not known at this time how many children may opt
           out of the class. Places will not be held but students may be drawn from the waiting list.
           Motion by: J. Rose
           to reduce the pre-school tuition to $125 per month or $1250 for the ten month school year.
           Second by: S. Hickey.
           Vote:         Unanimous to approve.

   6. POLICIES/REGULATIONS FOR FIRST READING
      None at this time.

A. Domeika left the meeting at this point in the agenda.

   7. PRIORITY DISCUSSION/ACTION ITEMS
      7.1. Temporary Suspension of Bylaw 9311: Policies
           Action temporarily suspends Bylaw 9311 on Policies to allow COVID-19 related
           policies to be approved on the first reading of the BOE. Bylaw 9311 will be reinstated
           after the October 2020 BOE meeting.
           Motion by: S. Hickey
           to temporarily suspend, until October 14, 2020, Bylaw 9311 on Policies to allow for
           adoption of temporary Covid-19-related policies and regulations on a first reading
           of the BOE.
           Second by: J. Rose.
           Vote:         Unanimous to approve by those present.




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August 17, 2020 – Regular Meeting
  7.2. Adjustment of 2020-201 School Year Calendar
       Moving the start of school date will allow for additional planning for a safe school opening.
       Motion by: C. McGlynn
       to adjust the 2020-21 School Year Calendar for a first day of school on September 8, 2020.
       Second by: J. Rose.
       Vote:         Unanimous to approve.

  7.3 Staff Mutual Aid
      Allowing Staff members’ students to attend Colchester Public Schools will ease the burden of
      childcare for Staff.
      This item will be sent to the Policy Committee for further review.

  7.4 School Readiness Grant Application
      This grant in the amount of $159,375 for the 2020-21 school year is used to support the
      School Readiness program (tuition and Administration costs). The additional $3,881 for
      the Quality Enhancement component will be forthcoming. This grant is funded by the
      State Office of Early Childhood.
      Motion by: J. Rose
      to approve the 2020-21 Competitive School Readiness Grant Application and for the First
      Selectman/Superintendent to sign the application.
      Second by: S. Hickey.
      Vote:        Unanimous to approve.

  7.5 Diversity Committee
      The Board members need to make the determination of whether the new Diversity
      Committee is a Standing Committee or an Ad-Hoc Committee.
      This item will be on a future agenda to allow time for review.

8. GRANTS/OTHER FINANCIALS
   8.1 Budget transfer Over $5,000: Food Service Program
       Cafeteria revenues were significantly reduced due to school closure.
       Motion by: C. McGlynn
       to approve the budget transfer in the amount of $13,761 for the Food Service Program.
       Second by: S. Hickey.
       Vote:        Unanimous to approve.

  8.2. Security Funding
       Additional security funding will allow priority security improvements to take place
       particularly at Bacon Academy. The BA fire Alarm System Upgrades are $8,377.00.
       BA Access Controls - $15,654 and CES Access Controls is $7,300 and $50,000 for
       a comprehensive camera project at BA for a total of $81,331 from the unexpended
       BOE reserve account.
       Motion by: S. Hickey
       to approve moving a request of $81,331 to the Board of Finance for Security Funding
       Second by: C. McGlynn.
       Vote:         Unanimous to approve.



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August 17, 2020 – Regular Meeting

9. CURRICULUM/INSTRUCTION/ASSESSMENT
   None at this time.

10. CONTINUE DISCUSSION/ACTION ITEMS
    10.1 WJJMS Building Project Update
         Superintendent Burt and M. Hurtado brought the Board members up to date.
         Remediation work in being done to the concrete issue, the fields are looking good, and
         the sewer issue has been resolved.

11. TEMPORARY COVID-19 RELATED POLICIES/REGULATIONS FOR ACTION
    11.1 1000.1T Green Cleaning Programs
         This policy is a temporary COVID-19 related update of our existing policy.

    11.2 1000.2T Use of School Facilities
         This policy is a temporary COVID-19 related update of the existing policy.

    11.3 1000.3T Volunteers, Student Interns, and Other No-employees
         This is a temporary COVID-19 related update of the existing policy.

    11.4 4000.1T. Employment Checks
         This policy is a temporary COVID-19 related update of the existing policy.

    11.5 5000.1T Health Assessments
         This policy is a temporary COVID-19 related update of the existing policy.

    11.6 5000.2T Student Discipline
         This policy is a temporary COVID-19 related update of the existing policy

    11.7 5000.3T Transportation
         This policy is a temporary COVID-19 related update of the existing policy.
         Motion by: S. Hickey
         to approve temporary COVID-19 related policies in Item 11.1 through 11.7 as a block.
         Second by: J. Rose.
         Vote:        Unanimous to approve the COVID-19 related update of above policies.

12. CONSENT AGENDA
    12.1 July 23, 2020 Special Meeting Minutes
    12.2 July 14, 2020 Meeting Minutes
         Motion by: J. Rose
         to approve the Consent Agenda items as presented.
         Second by: C. McGlynn.
         Vote:        Unanimous to approve.

13. REPORTS FROM BOARD COMMITTEES
    13.1. Policy
    13.2. Budget
    13.3 Personnel

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August 17, 2020 – Regular Meeting
    13.4. Ad-Hoc Curriculum
    13.5. Ad-Hoc Consolidation
          No reports at this time.

14. REPORTS FROM BOARD LIAISONS
    Chair Tomasi reported that the Commission on Aging meeting noted that the Senior Center
    Building Committee has approved a 14,000 square foot building design and that the Norton
        Park Committee is moving along with their park design and fundraising.
    No other reports.

15. BOARD ANNOUNCEMENTS AND INFORMATION ITEMS
    15.1. Next Meetings

          MEETING                          DATE                     TIME           LOCATION
          Ad Hoc Curriculum Comm. A        August 18, 2020          4:30pm         Virtual
          Ad Hoc Curriculum Comm. B        August 19, 2020          5pm            Virtual
          Budget Committee                 September 3, 2020        9am            BOE
          Board of Education               September 8, 2020        6pm            CES
          Personnel Committee              September 14, 2020       5:30pm         BOE
          Policy Committee                 September 21, 2020       6pm            BOE

    15.2. Enrollment Report (None at this time
    15.3. Regulations (None at this time)
    15.4. Approved Committee Meeting Minutes
    15.5. Monthly Budget Reports
    15.6. Cafeteria Fund
    15.7 Budget Transfer Under $5,000 (None at this time)
          Information items only, no action taken.

16. INFORMATION ITEMS: NON-SUBSTANTIVE POLICY CHANGES
    None at this time.

17. PUBLIC COMMENT
    No comments received.

18. ADJOURNMENT
    Chair Tomasi adjourned this Regular Meeting at 8: 20 pm.

Respectfully submitted,


Mary Jane Slade
Recording Secretary




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