10.8.2024 BOE Minutes

COLCHESTER BOARD OF EDUCATION
Board of Education Regular Meeting

 

 

Tuesday, October 8, 2024
6:00 PM
William J. Johnston Middle School

 

MINUTES

BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT : Secretary Margo Gignac, Donna Antonacci, Rosemary Gignac
and Stefanie Tracey-Calash.

ADMINISTRATION PRESENT : Superintendent Daniel P. Sullivan, Ill, Assistant Superintendent
Jessica L. Kuckel, Director of Pupil Services Eve Hurley, Assistant Director of Pupil Services

Rebecca Tedesco, Bacon Academy (BA) Principal Amy Begué, William J Johnston Middle
School (WJJMS) Principal Christopher Bennett,

OTHERS PRESENT : Director of Finance and Operations Rachel Linkkila, Instructional
Technology Coordinator Barbara Johnson, Executive Assistant to the Superintendent Alyssa
Fratoni, Student Board Member Brooke Dean, WJJMS Teacher Laura Krenicki, Special
Education Team Development Members Amy Raines and Jennifer Martin, Youth and Services
Prevention Coordinator Marquis Lawson and BA Teacher Mary-Ellen Courtemanche.

1. MEETING OPENING
1.1. Call to Order
M. Gignac called the meeting to order at 6:01 PM.

1.2 Roll Call
A.Oliphant, C.Rivers and M.Millington were not present.

1.3 Pledge of Allegiance

2. RECOGNITIONS / ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
2.1. William J. Johnston Middle School
WJJMS Principal Bennent and WJJMS Teacher Laura Krenicki spoke of the Red,
White and Blue status that WJJMS has earned for being active and engaged members of their
communities in regards to civic education. WJJMS is also the runner up for Outstanding School
in the State, and they are receiving the award on October 21, 2024.

3. STUDENT BOARD MEMBERS REPORT
3.1. Student Board Members Report
Student Board Member Brooke Dean spoke of the district wide events happening

 

 


this month, including a Sock Donation to provide for the homeless and Manicure’s for a Cure to
support Breast Cancer. :

4. ADDITION HANGES TO THE AGENDA
4.1. . *New Agenda Items
Motion by: D. Antonacci
Motion to add approval of BA field trip to NY to agenda item 6.6, add discussion
about AFSCME with proposed executive session after agenda item 14.1, and add BA Liaison
update to agenda item 12.4.
Second: R.Gignac
Roll call: all in favor
Vote: motion carried

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

6. *CONSENT AGENDA

6.1. *Approval of Minutes from Tuesday, September 17, 2024 Special Meeting
Motion by: D. Antonacci

Motion to approve agenda items 6.1, 6.3, 6.4 and 6.5
Second: S. Tracey-Calash

Roll call: all in favor

Vote: motion carried

6.2. | *Approval to administer the “Youth Voices Count” Survey for grades 7-12
Youth and Services Prevention Coordinator Marquis Lawson presented the
overview of the survey and the implementation at the middle and high school.
Motion by: S. Tracey-Calash
Motion to approve administering the Youth Voices Count survey to grades 7-12.
Second: R. Gignac
Roll call: all in favor
Vote: motion carried

6.3. *Approval of BA Mathematics Department Disposal Request
See Agenda Item 6.1

6.4. | *Approval of BA Library Media Center Disposal Request
See Agenda Item 6.1

6.5. | *Approval of BA Fundraising Activity to support Girls/Boys Golf and Boys
Basketball
See Agenda Item 6.1

6.6. | *Approval of BA Field Trip to NY
BA Teacher Mary-Ellen Courtemanche explained why the timeline was so rushed
and talked about the purpose of the trip and what the students would get out of it.
Motion by: R. Gignac

 


Motion to approve BA Field Trip to NY.
Second: D.Antonacci

Roll Call: All in favor

Vote: Motion carried

7. REPORT FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT
7.1. Update from the Superintendent
Superintendent Sullivan stated that he has been invited by the First Selectman to
a meeting with the Board of Selectman and the Recreations Committee to look at the athletic
complex at BA.

8. *PRIORITY DISCUSSION / ACTION ITEMS
8.1. School Safety
Superintendent Sullivan stated that 2 letters have gone home to families so far
regarding school safety due to unfortunate things happening across the country and close to
home. The Board asked if there was thought of having armed school resource officers in the
future. Student Board Member Brooke Dean spoke about how she went to all of the schools
recently and felt confident in our schools safety ability but feels the students would feel safer.

8.2. Special Education / Team Development Leaders
Team Development Leaders Amy Raines and Jennifer Martin presented about
what their roles and responsibilities are. They shared that they work with staff, administrators
and families to focus on meaningful access for families and students.

8.3. Assessment Data Presentation
Assistant Superintendent Kuckel presented the 2023-2024 Assessment
Highlights and the key trends and student achievements:
BA is the #1 Public School for College and Career Readiness
WJJMS - 62% meeting benchmarks in Literacy and Math and 70% in Science
JJIS - 60% meeting benchmarks in Literacy and Math and 70% in Science
CES - 77% meeting benchmarks in Literacy, not tested in Math and Science.
Colchester’s ranking is higher than the overall average of CT and ranking in the
area of other high performing districts.
Colchester continues to exceed pre-pandemic levels
BA Class of 2024 - 79.8% went to 2 or 4 year colleges, 3.3% went to the trades,
5.6% went to the military and 11.3% went straight into the workforce.

9. POLICIES - FIRST READ
9.1. 3000 Concept and Roles in Business and Non-Instructional Operations; 3240

Tuition Fees
Motion by: M. Gignac
Motion to table Policy 3000 Concept and Roles in Business and Non-Instructional
Operations
Second: D. Antonacci
Roll Call: All in favor
Vote: Motion carried

Policy 3240 Tuition Fees will go to Second Read at the next Board of Education
Meeting.

10. POLICIES - SECOND READ

 


10.1. 2400 Evaluation of Superintendent, 2500 Administrative Reports; 3100
Budget/Budgeting System, 4115.3 Athletic Coaches
Motion by: M.Gignac
Motion to approve all second read policies.
Second: D. Antonacci
Rolf Call: All in favor
Vote: Motion carried

11. POLICY FIRST & SECOND READ
11.1. 5131.911 Bullying Prevention and Intervention
Motion by: D.Antonacci
Motion to table Policy 5131.911 Bullying Prevention and Intervention
Second: M. Gignac
Roll Call: All in favor
Vote: Motion carried

12. REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES
12.1. Ad Hoc Budget Committee
M. Gignac said that the Committee meetings are going well and there is a
Meeting on Friday, October 11, 2024.

12.2. Budget Finance Committee
R. Linkkila went over Budget Transfers over $5,000.00 and asked that the Board
approve them.
Motion by: M.Gignac
Motion to approve Budget Transfers over $5,000.00 as presented.
Second: S. Tracey-Calash
Roll Call: All in favor
Vote: Motion carried

12.3. Curriculum Committee

D. Antonacci spoke about how the Curriculum Committee is reviewing new
offerings at BA.

12.4. Update from BA School Liaison
D. Antonacci spoke about BA First Day, Open House, College Fair, Etc and
shared a photo slideshow.

13. BOARD ANNOUNCEMENTS AND INFORMATION ITEMS
13.1. Next Meetings
Tuesday, November 12, 2024 at 6:00 PM

13.2. October 1, 2024 Enrollment
Superintendent Sullivan spoke on the enrollment trends being seen and the
increase in students in grades 2, 3 and 4 and how we will have to prepare WJJMS and BA for
this rise in numbers over the next few years.

14. PUBLIC COMMENT
14.1. For Public Comment, please see Bylaw on Meeting Conduct
Letters were requested to be added in that were received in regards to the Policy
Committee. A FOIA Complaint was made in regards to a meeting on February 26, 2024. The

 


Committee Members arrived and noted that the meeting was not publicly warned and was
rescheduled. The Policy Committee is not a quorum of the Board and has no authority to make
changes without it going to the Full Board for approval.

Motion by: M.Gignac

Motion to go into Executive Session for AFSCME discussion and inviting
Superintendent Sullivan.

Second: D. Antonacci

Roll Call: All in favor

Vote: Motion carried

The Board and Superintendent Sullivan went into Executive Session at 7:35 PM
The Board and Superintendent Sullivan came out of Executive Session at 7:39 PM

Motion by: S. Tracey-Calash

Motion to approve Superintendent Sullivan to make the necessary modifications
to a couple of Central Office positions and negotiate an outcome for those positions to
be members of the same union as the Office Professional's.

Second: R. Gignac

Roll Call: All in favor

Vote: Motion carried

15. ADJOURNMENT
Adjournment
Motion by: M.Gignac
Motion to adjourn.
Second: D.Antonacci
Roll Call: All in favor
Vote: Motion carried

M. Gignac adjourned the meeting at 7:41 PM.
Respectfully submitted,

Alyssa Fratoni
Executive Assistant to the Superintendent