BOE Regular Meeting Minutes - 9.13.22

Board of Education
September 13, 2022 – Regular Meeting
Via Zoom

MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Alexander Oliphant, Vice Chair Mary Tomasi, Donna Antonacci,
Margo Gignac, Christopher Rivers, Rosemary Gignac, Michelle Millington.

ADMINISTRATION PRESENT: Interim Superintendent Dr. Thomas McDowell, Director of
Technology Darren Smith, Interim Director of Pupil Services Glenn McGrath, Director of Pupil
Services and Special Education Director Amy Emory, Assistant Director of Pupil Services and
Special Education Elisa Fabiszak, Executive Assistant to the Superintendent Heather Petit.


1. MEETING OPENING
   1.1 Call to Order
       Chair Alex Oliphant called this Regular Meeting to order at 6:02 pm.

   1.2 Roll Call
       A roll call was done to establish a quorum. All present.

   1.3 Pledge of Allegiance
       Chair Oliphant led the Board members in the Pledge of Allegiance.

2. ADDITIONS/CHANGES TO THE AGENDA
   M. Tomasi requested adding Communications and the Board of Education FaceBook page
   as Item 5.9.
   Motion by: M. Tomasi
   to add Item 5.9 Communications and Board of Education FaceBook page to the agenda.
   Second by: M. Millington.
   Vote:        Unanimous to approve.

3. PUBLIC COMMENT
   Susie Milner shared concerns regarding the Title IX9 investigation regarding the football
   team.

4. REPORT FROM SUPERINTENDENT
   4.1 Discussion and Possible Action on the Pupil Services and Special Education Supervisor
       Position.
       Motion by: D. Antonacci
       to approve the Administration’s recommendation for a Pupil Services and Special Education
       Supervisor position.
       Second by: R. Gignac.
       Vote:        Unanimous to approve.

5. PRIORITY DISCUSSION/ACTION ITEMS
   5.1 Board of Education Liaison Appointments
       Liaisons were appointments:
       Policy – D. Antonacci
       Personnel – M. Tomasi
       Budget – C. Rivers
       Student Wellness – M. Millington
       Curriculum – M. Gignac
Board of Education
September 13, 2022 – Regular Meeting

  5.2 Discussion Regarding Board Meeting Location (In Person/Zoom)
      Discussion followed with pros and cons for each and it was decided to wait until the
      hybrid system is completed at town hall and to be further discussed in October.
      Dr. McDowell stated he will find out when the hybrid system is due to be installed.

  5.3 AGIREPAIR MacBook Buyback Proposal
      Darren Smith reviewed the last buyback proposal for MacBook equipment.
      Motion by: M. Tomasi
      to approve the proposal for AGIREPAIR to buyback the MacBooks.
      Second by: C. Rivers.
      Vote:        Unanimous to approve.

  5.4 JJIS Request for Donation from the Barnes Foundation
      Motion by: M. Tomasi
      to approve the donation of $8,000 from the Barnes Foundation.
      Second by: C. Rivers.
      Vote:        Unanimous to approve.

  5.5 BA Fundraiser Request for Colchester Youth Soccer Camp
  5.6 BA Fundraiser Request for BA Cheerleading
  5.7 BA Fundraiser Request for the Fencing Team
      Motion by: M. Gignac
      to approve Items 5.5, 5.6, 5.7 fundraiser requests for soccer, cheerleading and fencing.
      Second by: R. Gignac.
      Vote:       Unanimous to approve.

 5.8 JJIS Material Removal Request: Worn and Damaged Library Books
     Motion by: M. Gignac
     to approve the removal request for the worn and damaged library books.
     Second by: R. Gignac.
     Vote:        Unanimous to approve.

 5.9 Communications
     M. Tomasi asked about the status of the FaceBook page and about the response to email
     correspondence. The Superintendent, Board Chair and Board Secretary are working
     together to respond to correspondence. Members requested to be copied on responses so
     they know it has been addressed.

      M. Gignac, A. Oliphant and Dr. McDowell meet to decide what to post to Facebook.
      Concern was expressed about pictures on Facebook of students. Parents are asked to sign
      releases for photos to be used. Facebook will be used to introduce staff and to celebrate
      school activities.

6. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
   A change was asked to be made to the minutes: at the August meeting, Chair Oliphant lost
   power and the meeting was adjourned by Vice Chair Mary Tomasi.
   Motion by: M. Gignac

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Board of Education
September 13, 2022 – Regular Meeting
   to accept the minutes of August 23, 2022, with the correction to read, meeting adjourned by
   Vice Chair Mary Tomasi.
   Second by: M. Millington.
   Vote:        Unanimous to approve with correction.

7. REPORTS FROM BOARD LIAISONS
   Board of Selectmen: Donna Antonacci – No report
   Board of Finance: Margo Gignac – No report
   P&R Parent Commission: Christopher Rivers – No report
   PTO Collaborative: Margo Gignac – M. Gignac and Heather Petit are working to set up a
   Meeting that will most likely occur within the next month.
   C3 Collaborative: Vacant
   Commission on Aging: Mary Tomasi – Senior Center is out to bid and if the bid is accepted, a
   groundbreaking ceremony will be planned.
   Youth & Social Services: Rosemary Gignac – No report

  Changes were made to the liaisons as follows:
  Board of Selectmen: Donna Antonacci
  Board of Finance: Chris Rivers
  P&R Parent Commission: Margo Gignac
  PTO Collaborative: Margo Gignac
  C3 Collaborative: Rosemary Gignac
  Commission on Aging: Mary Tomasi
  Youth & Social Services: Michelle Mllington

8. BOARD ANNOUNCEMENTS AND INFORMATION
   8.1 Next Meetings
       The next Board of Education Regular Meeting is Tuesday, September 27, 2022 at 6:00 pm.
   8.2 Monthly Enrollment report – 2,232 Students enrolled as of September .
   8.3 Notices of Retirement/Resignations:

       Paula Beaudoin
       Mallory Boulay
       Kimberly Doyle
       Catherine Fahrenholz
       Corinna Faulkner
       Krystin Lattarula
       Sandra Onderdonk
       Lauren Parsons
       Emily Sheehan
       Susan Urbowicz

10. PUBLIC COMMENT
    Public Comments were received prior to the Executive Session so the community members
    would not have to wait until after the session.

    Ryan Hurlock asked if the Board had a plan at this time for his daughter.
    No other comments were received.

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Board of Education
September 13, 2022 – Regular Meeting
9. LEAVE OF ABSENCE REQUEST
   9.1 Discussion and Possible Action Regarding an Employee Leave of Absence Request
       Motion by: M. Gignac
       to go into Executive Session to discuss a request for a leave of absence and to invite
       Dr. McDowell and Judy O’Meara into the session.
       Second by: R. Gignac.
       Vote:        Unanimous to approve. Time: 7:19 pm.

       Chair Oliphant brought the Board out of Executive Session at 7:37 pm.

       Motion by: M. Gignac
       to deny the employee’s request for further unpaid leave for the 2022-2023 school year.
       Second by: D. Antonacci.
       Vote:        Unanimous to approve.

11. ADJOURNMENT
    Chair Oliphant adjourned this Regular Meeting at 7:39 pm.

Respectfully submitted,


Mary Jane Slade
Recording Secretary




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