BOE Regular Meeting Minutes 5.23.23

COLCHESTER BOARD OF EDUCATION
                                 Colchester, CT



                              REGULAR BOARD MEETING

                                   Tuesday, May 23, 2023
                                          6:00 PM
                             The Commons (Black Box Theater)
                             William J. Johnston Middle School
                              360 Norwich Avenue, Colchester

                                          MINUTES

BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Alexander Oliphant, Vice Chair Mary Tomasi,
Secretary Margo Gignac, Rosemary Gignac, Michelle Millington

ADMINISTRATION PRESENT: Superintendent Daniel P. Sullivan, III

OTHERS PRESENT: Business Director Rachel Linkkila, Director of Digital Learning and
Innovation Darren Smith, Executive Assistant to the Superintendent/Board Clerk Heather Petit

   1. MEETING OPENING

       1.1    Call to Order
       Chair Oliphant called the meeting to order at 6:01 PM.

       1.2    Roll Call
       Chair Oliphant conducted a roll call of the Board.

       1.3    Pledge of Allegiance

   2. STUDENT BOARD MEMBERS REPORT

       2.1    Student Board Member Report
       Ryan Moores gave the student board member report. Mr. Moores said that the Bacon
       Academy Choir and class officers helped to run the service for Founder’s Day at Old
       Bacon Academy. Mr. Moores reminded everyone to come out to the Memorial Day
       Parade on Sunday, May 28, 2023. Mr. Moores stated that the Bacon Academy Marching
       Band as well as other student groups will take part in the parade. Mr. Moores also
   reported that the environmental science class and life skills class at Bacon Academy
   partnered to create a herb garden and composting system.

3. *ADDITIONS/CHANGES TO THE AGENDA

   3.1   New Agenda Items
   None.

4. PUBLIC COMMENT

   4.1   For Public Comments, Please See Bylaw on Meeting Conduct
   None.

5. REPORT FROM SUPERINTENDENT
   5.1     Discussion on Solar Opportunity
   Erik Nelson from Silver Brook Solar gave a presentation on a solar opportunity for the
   District. Superintendent Sullivan recommended that before moving forward with a
   contract, the Board get clarification from the town on where the refund dollars would go.

6. *CONSENT AGENDA
   6.1 *Board of Education Regular Meeting Minutes of May 9, 2023
   6.2 *Smith Scholarship Donation from $1,000 from Patricia Smith
   6.3 *Lions Club Donation of $500 to JJIS Robotics Team

   Motion by: M.Millington
   To approve the consent agenda as presented.
   Second: R.Gignac
   Roll call: All in favor
   Vote: Motion carried

7. *PRIORITY DISCUSSION/ACTION ITEMS
   7.1     *Maternity Leave Proposal
   Superintendent Sullivan and Colchester Public Schools teacher Kerry Zrenda discussed a
   collaborative maternity leave proposal. The proposal included up to 12 calendar weeks
   of maternity leave. Additionally, if a teacher has used all of their available sick and
   personal days, they may elect to receive the difference between their regular salary per
   diem and that of their substitute for a maximum of twenty (20) additional school days,
   subject to certain conditions.

   Motion by: M.Tomasi
   To approve the maternity leave proposal as a pilot for two years.
   Second: M.Millington
   Roll call: All in favor
   Vote: Motion carried
8. POLICIES – FIRST READ
   8.1  3542.4 Meal Charging
        Mary Tomasi spoke in regard to the first read of the Meal Charging policy which
        is a legal update requirement.

9. REPORTS FROM BOARD LIAISONS / COMMITTEES
   9.1 Reports from Board Liaisons
          ● Board of Selectmen: Donna Antonacci
              None.
          ● Board of Finance: Christopher Rivers
              None.
          ● P&R Commission: Margo Gignac
              None.
          ● PTO Collaborative: Margo Gignac
              None.
          ● C3 Collaborative: Rosemary Gignac
              None.
          ● Commission on Aging: Mary Tomasi
              None.
          ● Youth & Social Services: Michelle Millington
              Ms. Millington reported that the bathroom vape detector installation is still
              ongoing at Bacon Academy.

   9.2    Reports from Board Committees
             ● Budget Finance Committee
                 None.
             ● Policy Committee
                 Mary Tomasi stated that the Policy Committee met and reviewed the Meal
                 Charging Policy. Going forward the Committee will be reviewing all of
                 the Board Bylaws.
             ● Curriculum Committee
                 None.
             ● Facilities Committee
                 None.

10. BOARD ANNOUNCEMENTS AND INFORMATION ITEMS
    10.1 Next Meetings
            ● Budget Finance Committee: Wednesday, June 7, 2023
            ● Policy Committee Meeting: Thursday, June 8, 2023
            ● BOE Regular Meeting: Tuesday, June 13, 2023
    10.2 Personnel Report
    10.3 Enrollment Report
         The District currently has 2251 students enrolled.
   10.4   Notices of Retirement/Resignation
          Brianna Alessio
          Christopher Petersen
          Marissa Browning
          Elisa Fabiszak

11. PUBLIC COMMENT
    11.1 For Public Comments, Please See Bylaw on Meeting Conduct
         None.

12. *EXECUTIVE SESSION
    12.1 *Discussion and Possible Action on Employee Non-Renewal (discussion
         proposed for executive session)

   Motion by: M.Tomasi
   To go into executive session at 6:56 PM inviting Superintendent Daniel Sullivan and
   Heather Petit for the purpose of discussing an employee non-renewal.
   Second: R.Gignac
   Roll call: All in favor
   Vote: Motion carried

   Returned to public session at 7:03 PM.

   Motion by: M.Gignac
   To approve the non-renewal as presented due to budgetary reasons.
   Second: R.Gignac
   Roll call: All in favor
   Vote: Motion carried

13. ADJOURNMENT
    Motion by: A.Oliphant
    To adjourn the meeting at 7:03 PM.
    Second: M.Gignac
    Roll call: All in favor
    Vote: Motion carried