|
|
|
Where Children Learn to Soar and Dreams Take Flight |
|
|
WWaterbury-Duxbury School Board
“APPROVED” MINUTES FOR MARCH 29, 2006
Special Meeting held at Thatcher Brook
Primary School Conference Room
In Attendance:
Board: Dale Smeltzer, Susan Flynn, Sherry Ziemke, Dawn Poitras
Administrators: Bob McNamara, Don Schneider, Ken Page
1) Dale Smeltzer called the meeting to order at 7:30 a.m.
2) Sub-contractor Pre-qualification Packages: Don Schneider presented the list of firms submitting sub-contractor pre-qualification packages for Sitework, Mechanical, and Electrical work on the TPBS Renovations Project. Kristin Fortin (Construction Manager, DEW), John Alden (architect) and Don Schneider were all involved in reviewing the packages, and their recommendation is to accept all the firms who submitted packages.
a) Susan Flynn made a motion to approve the list of firms submitting pre-qualification packages for sub-contracting work as presented. Sherry Ziemke seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
3) Leave of Absence Request: Ken Page reviewed the 3 week leave of absence request from Ellen Haack for a Fulbright Teacher Program in Japan in November 2006, which he had informed board members about earlier via email. Ken mentioned that he would be asking that FACS and Tech Ed schedules be modified during that time so that all students receive at least some instruction from Ellen Haack if she is granted the leave. Dale Smeltzer passed on Michel Roche’s preference that the leave be un-paid. The issue of how to cover the extra cost of sub-pay was discussed briefly. Bob McNamara recommended that the Board consider granting the leave if it would be cost-neutral to the School District.
a) Susan Flynn moved to approve the leave of absence request from Ellen Haack for 3 weeks in November, 2006 to participate in a Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund Teacher Program, on the contingency that the cost of substitute pay is covered by funds outside of the School District and Supervisory Union. Sherry Ziemke seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
4) Changes to Renovation Schedule and Impact on Students/Schools: Don Schneider presented the pros and cons of the renovation schedule change being recommended by DEW and the Building Committee, that would result in construction occurring for one continuous year versus two spring to fall seasons.
a) Don now thinks he can manage the moves needed to free up one building at a time without using CBMS space, as had been first proposed. A number of changes would be required, including combining the preschools into one large space, having the librarian focus on teaching skills and the majority of the book collection being put into storage and not being available for student checkout that year. Don needs more time to play out these options in more detail to confirm that he can make it work within Thatcher Brook space.
b) Susan Flynn commented that another benefit to the new construction schedule is that we’re not cutting school days.
c) Ken Page said that he saw problems with moving next year’s 4th graders to CBMS, including how their “specials” would be scheduled, and mentioned that his experience with mobile classrooms led him to suggest they shouldn’t be ruled out as an option.
(Susan Flynn left at 7:45 a.m.)
d) Don described the phasing that would be required: North Building would be renovated first, then Center Building, then the South Building and new entrance. He would like to give as much notice as possible to community members about lack of availability of spaces, and thinks that community use will have to be cancelled completely for the construction year because so many spaces will be used to accommodate moving needs (like the stage, for example).
e) Don pointed out that with the construction schedule change, we have received much more interest from sub-contractors, which should give us a more competitive bidding process. With the previous schedule, not many firms were interested.
f) Don asked Board members to review the pros and cons, and provide feedback and questions before the next meeting (April 6), when he will provide further information about the plans he is developing.
5) Sherry Ziemke moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:55 a.m. Dawn Poitras seconded and the motion passed unanimously.
Minutes recorded by Dale Smeltzer