6.4.2024 regular meeting minutes

COLCHESTER BOARD OF EDUCATION
Regular Meeting (Hybrid)

 

 

 

Tuesday, June 4, 2024
6:00 PM
William J. Johnston Middle School

 

MINUTES

BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT : Chair Alexander Oliphant, Vice-Chair Christopher Rivers,

Secretary Margo Gignac, Donna Antonacci, Michelle Millington, Rosemary Gignac and Stefanie
Tracey-Calash.

ADMINISTRATION PRESENT : Superintendent Daniel P. Sullivan, Ill, Bacon Academy (BA)
Principal Amy Begué and Student Board Member Brooke Dean.

OTHERS PRESENT : Director of Finance and Operations Rachel Linkkila (arrived at 6:02 PM),
Instructional Technology Coordinator Barbara Johnson, Executive Assistant to the
Superintendent Alyssa Fratoni.

1. MEETING OPENING
1.1. Call to Order
Chair Oliphant called the meeting to order at 6:00 PM.

4.2 Roll Cail
Chair Oliphant conducted roll call of the Board.

4.3 Pledge of Allegiance

2. RECOGNITIONS / ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
2.1. Recognition of Bacon Academy Class of 2024 Valedictorian and Salutatorian.

BA Principal Amy Begué recognized and congratulated Valedictorian Carolyn
Baehr and Salutatorian Abigail Belding on their hard work.

2.2 Recogntion of Bacon Academy Robotic’s Team.

Tom Praisner recognized the BA Robotics Team 1699 and spoke about how
intense the experience was for each of the members. He spoke about the long hours and hard
work that went into building the robot. Mr. Praisner described the process of how a new game is
released in January and the teams have 6-8 weeks to design and build a robot that weighs up to

 


120 pounds that can accomplish the game guidelines while competing against other robots. He
stated that the dedication the members had was outstanding, they came in most weekends
during the 6-8 week build to complete the robot. Congratulations to BA Team 1699 on their
monumental first Robotics State Championship win in school history!

3. STUDENT BOARD MEMBERS REPORT
3.1. Student Board Member Brooke Dean spoke about Project Grad events in
regards to the upcoming BA Graduation.

4. ‘ADDITIONS / CHANGES TO THE AGENDA
4.1. Motion by: D. Antonacci
Motion to approve Policy 1411 Law Enforcement Officials for First Read.
Second: M. Gignac
Roll Call: All in favor
Vote: Motion carried

4.2 Chair Oliphant stated that there will be an action item added to the Budget Finance
Committee Update.

5. PUBLIC COMMENT
5.1. For Public Comments, please see Bylaw on Meeting Conduct
No Public Comment at this time.

6. REPORT FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT
6.1. Instructional Rounds
Superintendent Sullivan spoke about how Administration reinstituted Instructional

Rounds. He stated that the goal was an opportunity for collaboration with Administration to see
the work throughout the District and also to appreciate the work our teachers are doing. There
was a common trend found in “what is a Colchester kid” with the way that the students interact
with one another, other adults and their behaviors in school. Our students are respectful,
engaged and kind to one another, which is something that everyone should be proud of.
Administration looks forward to continuing Instructional Rounds.

6.2 HVAC Grant
Superintendent Sullivan stated that we are in receipt of the grant. The next steps
are awarding the work to a company. He cautioned that due to equipment failures and changes
in pricing since we first looked in December, we may have to make the difficult decision to not
have air conditioning the gym to ensure that we have adequate air conditioning in all of the
classroom areas. Vice-Chair Rivers reminded the Board and the Public that this is a slow
process but the return is worth it as the State is taking a significant portion of the costs.

7. *APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Motion by: D. Antonacci

Motion to approve Board of Education Special Meeting Minutes from May 17,
2024 with additions to section 2.3.

Second: M. Gignac

Roll Call: All in favor

Vote: Motion carried

8. *PRIORITY DISCUSSION / ACTION ITEMS

 


8.1. Approval of Budget Finance Committee transfers that are more than $5,000.00
Motion by: M. Millington
Motion to approve moving funds from VOAG to Magnet to zero out.
Second: Vice-Chair Rivers
Roll Calf: All in favor
Vote: Motion carried

8.2 Approval of Valedictorian Prize Donation
Motion by: M. Gignac
Motion to accept Donation.
Second: Vice-Chair Rivers
Roil Call: All in favor
Vote: Motion carried

9. REPORTS FROM BOARD COMMITTEES
9.1. Budget Finance Committee

Vice-Chair Rivers is asking the Board to approve the Budget Finance Committee
to close out transfers over $5,000.00 before the end of the Fiscal Year (June 30, 2024) and then
report to the full Board at the August Board of Education meeting.

Motion by: M. Gignac

Motion to adjourn.

Second: M. Millington

Roll Call: All in favor

Vote: Motion carried

9.2 Curriculum Committee
Nothing to report at this time.

9.3 Facilities Committee
Nothing to report at this time.

9.4 Policy Committee

Meeting weekly at this time. Series 1000 Policies have been accomplished,
moving on to Series 2000 Policies.

10. BOARD ANNOUNCEMENTS AND INFORMATION ITEMS
10.1. Next Meeting
August 20, 2024.

10.2 Personnel Report
The Board viewed the associated document.

10.3 Notice of Retirement / Resignation
The Board viewed the associated documents.

10.4 Bacon Academy fundraising activity approval for Robotics Team from Dominion
Energy Annual Donation.
Motion by: Vice-Chair Rivers
Motion to accept Donation.
Second: M. Gignac
Roll Call: All in favor

 


Vote: Motion carried

10.5 Bacon Academy fundraising activity approval for Robotics Team from Colchester
Liions Club Donation.
Motion by: Vice-Chair Rivers
Motion to accept Donation.
Second: R. Gignac
Roll Call: All in favor
Vote: Motion carried

10.6 Bacon Academy Fundraising activity approval for Girls Soccer for State
Championship Rings Online Sale.
Motion by: Vice-Chair Rivers
Motion to accept fundraising.
Second: R. Gignac
Roll Call: All in favor
Vote: Motion carried

10.7 Approval of JUIS PTO Gift to JIS.
Motion by: Vice-Chair Rivers
Motion to accept gift
Second: M. Millington
Roll Call: All in favor
Vote: Motion carried

10.8 Approval of Policy Committee changes to policies - Second Read

D. Antonacci spoke about changing the language in Policy 1411 Law
Enforcement Officials. Vice-Chair Rivers is asking for more inclusive fanguage in the last
sentence of the policy (changing parent to legal guardian). He suggested having the Policy
Committee discuss it further and bring back to the full Board for a Second Read at the next
Board of Education meeting.

Motion by: Vice-Chair Rivers

Motion fo approve second reads as presented, excluding Policy 1411 Law

Enforcement Officials.

Second: R. Gignac

Roll Call: All in favor

Vote: Motion carried

10.9 Discussion and Possible Action on the Superintendent's Annual Evaluation
Motion by: R. Gignac
Motion to move into Executive Session and to invite Superintendent Sullivan after
the discussion of the Board for the Annual Evaluation and the Superintendent's
Contract.
Second: M. Millington
Roll Call: All in favor
Vote: Motion carried

The Board had a break for 5 minutes and went into Executive Session at 6:41 PM.

Superintendent Sullivan was invited into Executive Session at 7:33 PM.

 


The Board returned from Executive Session at 8:02 PM.

Motion by: M. Gignac

Motion to extend Superintendent Sullivan’s Contract through the 2026-2027
School Year and to authorize Chair Oliphant and Vice-Chair Rivers to negotiate
contract details and compensation.

Second: M. Millington

Roll Call: All in favor

Vote: Motion carried

11. PUBLIC COMMENT
11.1. For Public Comments, please see Bylaw on Meeting Conduct
No Public Comment at this time.

12. ADJOURNMENT
Adjournment
Motion by: M. Gignac
Motion to adjourn.
Second: Vice-Chair Rivers
Roll Call: All in favor
Vote: Motion carried

Chair Oliphant adjourned the meeting at 8:03 PM.
Respectfully submitted,

Alyssa Fratoni
Executive Assistant to the Superintendent