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COLCHESTER BOARD OF EDUCATION
Colchester, CT
REGULAR BOARD MEETING
Tuesday, December 13, 2022
6:00 PM
ZOOM
MINUTES
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Alexander Oliphant, Vice-Chair Mary Tomasi, Secretary
Margo Gignac, Donna Antonacci, Rosemary Gignac, Michelle Millington, Christopher Rivers
ADMINISTRATION PRESENT: Superintendent Dr. Thomas Y. McDowell, Assistant
Superintendent Dr. Charles E. Hewes, Bacon Academy Principal Amy Begué
OTHERS PRESENT: Executive Assistant to the Superintendent/Board Clerk Heather Petit, Student
Board Member Ryan Moores
1. MEETING OPENING
1.1 Call to Order
Chair Oliphant called the meeting to order at 6:03 PM
1.2 Roll Call
Chair Oliphant conducted a roll call of the Board.
1.3 Pledge of Allegiance
Chair Oliphant led the Board and attendees in the Pledge of Allegiance.
2. ADDITIONS/CHANGES TO THE AGENDA
2.1 New Agenda Items
3. RECOGNITIONS/ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
3.1. Welcome Student Board Members Brooke Dean and Ryan Moores
Chair Oliphant welcomed Brooke Dean and Ryan Moores to the Board of Education as
student board members.
4. PUBLIC COMMENT
4.1 For Public Comments, Please See Bylaw on Meeting Conduct
None.
5. REPORT FROM SUPERINTENDENT
5.1 District Update from the Superintendent
Dr. McDowell read a letter from the Colchester Youth Action Council regarding vaping
detectors in Bacon Academy bathrooms. They will be reaching out to meet with Bacon
Academy Principal Amy Begué.
5.2 Bacon Academy Presentations
National Honor Society
Grace Gorreck, President of the National Honor Society (NHS), and NHS Vice-President
Ryan Moores, gave a presentation on NHS projects and happenings. NHS has a total of 23
members and completed 717 service hours last year. These included a holiday gift drive,
community cleanup, Harrington Court snowmen, American Red Cross Blood Drive, and
Bacon Academy courtyard, median and sign beautification.
Ms. Begué thanked Mr. Moores and Ms. Gorreck as well as NHS’ past advisor Michael
Mal and current advisor, Chelsea Salafia
Bacon Academy Carolers
The Bacon Academy Carolers sang holiday music for the Board of Education.
6. *CONSENT AGENDA
6.1 *Board of Education Regular Meeting Minutes of November 22, 2022
6.2 *BA Choir Department Fundraising Request - Choir Concert Bake Sale
6.3 *BA Baseball Team Fundraising Request - 50/50 Raffle
6.4 *BA DECA/Business Department Fundraising Request - Non-Perishable Food and
Canned Good Collection for Colchester Food Bank
6.5 *BA SOAR Fundraising Request - Stickers
6.6 *BA Freshman Class Fundraising Request - Sweet Holiday Grams
6.7 *BA Field Trip to Providence, RI for Developmental Track Meet
6.8 *Donation from Colchester Youth Basketball - CES Backboard Repairs
Motion by: M.Tomasi
To approve the consent agenda as presented.
Second: R.Gignac
Vote: Unanimous
Roll Call: M.Gignac, D.Antonacci, C.Rivers, R.Gignac, M.Tomasi, M.Millington,
A.Oliphant
7. *POLICY DISCUSSION / ACTION ITEMS
7.1 *Bylaw 9323 Agenda Construction/Meeting Materials
7.2 *1205 Agenda Format/Preparation and Dissemination
7.3 *Series 3000 Donation or Gifts to Schools or District Policy
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Motion by: M.Tomasi
To approve the updated Bylaw 9323 Agenda Construction/Meeting Materials as presented.
Second: C.Rivers
Vote: Unanimous
Roll Call: C.Rivers, M.Millington, M.Gignac, M.Tomasi, D.Antonacci, R.Gignac,
A.Oliphant
Motion by: D.Antonacci
To remove Policy 1205 Agenda Format/Preparation and Dissemination
Second: C.Rivers
Vote: Unanimous
Roll Call: C.Rivers, M.Millington, M.Gignac, M.Tomasi, D.Antonacci, R.Gignac,
A.Oliphant
Motion by: M.Millington
To approve policy 3280 Gifts, Grants and Bequests to the District (formerly Series 3000
Donation or Gifts to Schools or District Policy) as presented.
Second: R.Gignac
Vote: Unanimous
Roll Call: M.Gignac, D.Antonacci, C.Rivers, R.Gignac, M.Millington, M.Tomasi,
A.Oliphant
8. *PRIORITY DISCUSSION/ACTION ITEMS
8.1 *Board of Education Meeting Dates for 2023
Motion by: M.Gignac
To approve the Board of Education Meeting Schedule Dates for 2023
Second: R.Gignac
Vote: Unanimous
Roll Call: C.Rivers, M.Gignac, D.Antonacci, M.Millington, M.Tomasi, R.Gignac,
A.Oliphant
9. REPORTS FROM BOARD LIAISONS
9.1 Reports from Board Liaisons
Town Board and Commissions
Board of Selectmen: None.
Board of Finance: Meeting is December 14, 2022 with possible additional budget dates.
P&R Parent Commission: None.
C3 Collaborative: December 8, 2022 meeting moved to January 26, 2023.
Youth & Social Services: Letter from Youth Action Coalition regarding vape detectors in
Bacon Academy bathrooms. Colchester Youth & Social Services noted that needs of
students and community are higher than in the past and as they are short staffed they need
to utilize crisis management services through 211.
Commission on Aging: Mary Tomasi reported that at the December 12, 2022 meeting they
discussed the senior center project and an injunction. There will be a hearing held on
December 20, 2022 at 2:00 PM.
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Board of Education Liaisons
Personnel: None.
Policy: See above section 7.1, 7.2 and 7.3
Curriculum: Margo Gignac met with Dr. Hewes on curriculum and the presentation he
gave to the Board at the November meeting.
Student Wellness: None.
Budget: Christopher Rivers will attend the Board of Finance Meeting on December 14,
2022 and will meet with Chair Oliphant, Superintendent Dr. McDowell, and Business
Director Rachel Linkkila on Friday, December 15, 2022.
Motion by: M.Gignac
To rescind the motion to approve the Board of Education Meeting Schedule Dates for 2023
and table the schedule of meeting dates until the January 10, 2023 meeting which will be
the next meeting.
Second: M. Tomasi
Vote: Unanimous
Roll Call: M.Gignac, D.Antonacci, C.Rivers, R.Gignac, M.Millington, M.Tomasi,
A.Oliphant
10. BOARD ANNOUNCEMENTS AND INFORMATION ITEMS
10.1 Next Meetings
Tuesday, January 10, 2023 at 6:00 PM.
10.2 Enrollment Report
Current enrollment is 2265 students.
10.3 Notices of Retirement/Resignation
Pamela Cannata
Marlene Blumberger
John Shea
Olivia Sirois
11. PUBLIC COMMENT
11.1 For Public Comments, Please See Bylaw on Meeting Conduct
None.
The Board thanked Dr. McDowell for his service to the Board, students, and Colchester
community and welcomed Daniel P. Sullivan, III to Colchester.
12. ADJOURNMENT
Chair Oliphant adjourned the meeting at 6:54 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Heather R. Petit
Executive Assistant to the Superintendent/Board Clerk
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