10.14.2025 BOE Minutes STAMPED

COLCHESTER
PUBLIC SCHOOLS ©

we

 

 

COLCHESTER BOARD.OF EDUCATION
Reguiar Meeting

 

 

 

 

 

Tuesday, October 14, 2025
6:00 PM
William J. Johnston Middle School Black Box Theatre

    

GE :2hld SP LG o202

Sy
>
>
€

MINUTES

BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT : Chair Donna Antonacci, Vice-Chair Christopher Rivers, Secretary
Margo Gignac, ‘Alexander Oliphant, Michelle Millington, dnd Stefanie Tracey-Calash.

ADMINISTRATION PRESENT : Superintendent Daniel P. Sullivan, III, Assistant Superintendent
Jessica L. Kuckel, Assistant Director of Pupil Services Rebecca Tedesco, Bacon Academy (BA)
Principal Amy Begué, William J Johnston Middle School (WJJMS) Principal Meghan’Amado, Jack
Jackter Intérmédiate School (JJIS) Principal Stacy Ewings; Colchester Elementary School (CES)
Principal Judy O'Meara, CES Assistant Principal Kelly Bahre.

OTHERS PRESENT : Director of Finance and Operations Rachel Linkkila, Instructional Technology
Coordinator Barbara Johnson, Human Resources Coordinator Pauline Goetz, Director of Educational
Operatioris Andrew Barillari, Student Board Member Abigail Stillwell, Student Board Member Toheed
Usman.

1, ETIN ING
Ll. Call to “Oren
D.Antonacci called the meeting to order at 6:01 PM

1.2 Roll Call
D.Antonacci conducted a roll call of the Board.

13 Pledge of Allegiance

2. *ADDITIONS / CHANGES TO THE AGENDA
2.1. *New Agenda Item
Motion by: M.Gignac
Motion to add 25 Policy Reads to Agenda Item 9.4, subsection A
Second: STracey-Calash
Roll Call: All in favor
Vote: Motion carried

Motion by: M.Gignac
Motion to add Friends of Football Video to Agenda Item 7.4
Second: M.Millington

 


 

3.

Roll Call: All in favor
Vote: Motion carried

RECOGNITIONS / ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
3.1. CES Recognition - Innovative Teaching (Goal 2)

Principal O’Meara recognized Karen Groves, CES Library Media Specialist, for her
efforts with students and fellow educators in the Innovations Room.

3.2. Information Literacy Month (Goal 2)

Karen Groves and Susan Bennett stated that next week is US Media Literacy Week,
which highlights the importance of helping students think critically about the media they
encounter and how to use it responsibly.

REPORT FROM STUDENT BOARD MEMBERS
4.1... Student Board Member Report

A.Stillwell and T.Usman stated that.October has been a month full of student
achievement, school spirit, and community engagement.

Athletics: The girls’ volleyball team celebrated. Senior Night with .a victory. Both the
football and girls’ soccer teams remain undefeated. The Unified Sports team:represented the
school at the ECC Unified Soccer Tournament on October 9th at Waterford High School,
showcasing inclusion.and teamwork.

Student Events: On.October 2nd, juniors and seniors attended « a mock.crash .
demonstration and assembly highlighting the dangers of impaired driving. The homecoming
dance was held on October 3rd, followed by Spirit Week (October 6-10) featuring themed
dress-up days and concluding with a spirited: pep rally.

Academics: The first academic quarter concludes on October 3ist, marking a strong
dnd positive start.to the school:year.

: Recognitions: Ms. Levasseur was named Teacher of the Year, announced during the
pep rally. Student-athlete Boden Paul was nominated for ECC Athlete of the Week—community
members are encouraged to vote in his support.

PUBLIC COMMENT.
5.1. For Public Comments, please see Policy 1120 Public Comment and Correspondence at
Board Meetings

e Mike Egan, 343 Lebanon Ave - Stated that this is his last BOE meeting serving as the
BOF Liaison, and gave his thanks and appreciation to the BOE.

*CONSENT AGENDA

6.1. *Approval of Regular Meeting Minutes of September 9, 2025
Motion by: M.Gignac
Motion to approve all items in Agenda Item 6 Consent Agenda
Second: C.Rivers
Rolf Call: All in favor
Vote: Motion carried

6.2. *Approval of JJIS Disposal Request
See 6.1
63. *Approval of BA 2026 Graduation Commencement Ceremony Date
64. *Approval of BA Field Trip to NY in December
See 6.1
65. *Approval of BA Field Trip to NY in April


See 6.1

7. P: FROM L LIAL is
71... CES :

Open House was last week and PTO did a fantastic job with the Book Fair.

7.2. JJIS
Nothing to report.

73. WIJMS
Looking to start reach out to the community for Veterans Day activities

74. BA

The parent meeting was successful, this is a monthly meeting. The Friends of Football
video was shown, where Football players gift mugs to a teacher that had a positive impact on
their life.

8. REP M SUPE NDEN
8.1. .-Outgoing Board Members (Goal 2)

Superintendent Sullivan recognized and thanked the outgoing BOE Members R.Gignac
and A.Oliphant.

8.2... October:1, 2025 Enroliment Report Presentation

Superintendent Sullivan presented the October 1, 2025 Enrollment Report, comparing
2024-2025 and 2025-2026 figures. He noted that current enrollment is at 2080:and is:close to
projections. It was clarified that enrollment projections are provided: by NESDEC.

8.3. Health Reserve /Employee Insurance

Superintendent Sullivan gave a presentation on the Health Reserve, what Stop Loss
Insurance is, and where we stand today.

9. REPORT FROM COMMITTEES

9.1. Budget Finance Committee
C.Rivers showed where monthly financials are kept on the website. He went over the
September 2025 Monthly Budget Report and budget transfers.
Motion by: S.Tracey-Calash
Motion to approve Budget Transfers Over $5,000
Second: M.Gignac
Roll Call: All in favor
Vote: Motion carried

9.2. Curriculum Committee
Met earlier today and reviewed new course proposals.

9.3. Facilities Committee

A.Barillari gave a BA HVAC upgrade and updated pricing for the BA Roof project. It
was also asked that the Capital Plan be updated.

9.4. Policy Committee
9.4a Policy Edits - The Policy Committee has been hard at work getting through the
5000 Series. There are 25 first reads tonight, and second reads will happen at the November meeting.

3

 


 

10. *PRIORITY DISCUSSION / ACTION ITEMS

10.1. Academic Assessment Data (Goal 1)
Assistant Superintendent Kuckel presented the state assessment results that we receive each fall.
This presentation went over the lightlights of those results and help inform us of our next steps and

carve out important work that we have this school year.

10.2. | *Approval of BA Field Trip to Japan in 2027
There was lengthy discussion about the proposed Field Trip to Japan in 2027.

Motion by: M.Gignac
Motion to approve the trip to Japan as.presented with the addition of an administrative

chaperone and limited to the classes of 2027,.2028 and 2029 as recommended.

Second: S.Tracey-Calash
Roll: Call: Allin favor -
Vote: Motion carried

11. BOARD ANNOUNCEMENTS / INFORMATION ITEMS
11.1. Items of Correspondence ‘
Letter from Principal Judy O’Meara recognizing two staff members for their

professionalism and prioritizing student safety.

112. Next Meeting
The next scheduled Regular Board Meeting will be on November 18, 2025 at 6:00 PM

12. ADJOURNMENT
Motion: by: M.Gignac

Motion to adjourn.
Second: C.Rivers
Roll Call::All.in favor
Vote: Motion carried

D.Antonacci adjourned the meeting at 8:37 PM

Respectfully submitted,

Odie

Alyssa Butova
Executive Assistant to the Superintendent