WATERBURY-DUXBURY SCHOOL DISTRICT

Where Children Learn to Soar and Dreams Take Flight
 

WATERBURY-DUXBURY SCHOOL DISTRICT

“APPROVED AS AMENDED” MINUTES for January 19, 2006

MEETING HELD AT THATCHER BROOK PRIMARY SCHOOL

 

 

BOARD:   Susan Flynn, Jeffrey Larkin, Dale Smeltzer, and Sherry Ziemke, and Michael Roche

ADMINISTRATION:       John Pike, Bob McNamara, Ken Page, Don Schneider, and

Barbara Tomasi-Gay

STAFF:                             Jessica Diem, Pam Hanson-Leisenring

PUBLIC:                           Georgeanne Baker                  

 

  1. Ms. Smeltzer called the meeting to order at 6:03 p.m. and confirmed the agenda items.

 

Michael Roche arrived 6:04 p.m.

 

  1. Mr. Page explained that the changes since the last budget proposal reflected health insurance, which came in 1% less than previously estimated, and Washington County Mental Health informed the district of an increase of $4,000 per Home-School Coordinator.

 

Sherry Ziemke arrived at 6:06 p.m.

 

Mr. Page reviewed the FY07 Budget Proposal dated January 19, 2006.  Ms. Smeltzer requested that Mr. Pike accurately reflect an increase in preschool teachers in the budget.  Mr. Pike reviewed the reasons for slight changes in the equalized pupil numbers. He reviewed the HUHS budget and the W-D assessment for that budget.  The HUHS Board adopted a special article for maintenance projects at $75,000 each year over the next five years.  Mr. Pike prepared a chart outlining WWSU Tax Rate Increases – FY07 (what portions were spending related, CLA related, and total increases) and WWSU Summary of FY07 Budgets.  Questions were asked about special education needs and increases to the WCMH contracts.

 

The Board agreed to follow up on the concept of enrichment programs at a later meeting.  The Board will also look at in-district professional development offerings for teachers as a possibility for optimizing benefits to staff for the in-house professional development type positions that are budgeted. 

 

  1. Mr. Schneider reviewed with the Board wording for the following articles, to be included in the Annual Meeting Warning: 

 

Article I - Shall W-D Union School District #45 enter into a 99-year lease with the Town of Waterbury for parcels of land located on Armory Avenue to be used as a parking area for Thatcher Brook Primary School for the amount of $1.00.

 

Article II - Shall the District establish a Capital Reserve Fund, the principal and income thereof to be used exclusively for the benefit of the buildings and grounds belonging to W-D School District, and appropriate thereto an amount of  $36,321. (A non-restrictive yet limit setting preamble will be drafted for adoption at next Thursday’s morning meeting.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

  1. The Annual Meeting is scheduled for March 5, 2006, at TBPS, beginning at 1:00 p.m. in the cafeteria.  Any comments or information for the Town Report should be circulated via email.

 

  1. TBPS renovation prequalification packages have been received and reviewed.  John Alden has confirmed that Naylor & Breen are missing four criteria and have not had experience with projects of this size.  The Board agreed this firm should be disqualified.  Ms. Smeltzer distributed an overview table entitled Summary of Prequalification Packages submitted for TBPS Renovations Project, dated January, 2006, and noted that E.F.Wall does have CM experience with non-school projects.  The Board discussed the remaining firms’ qualifications, and Don Schneider reported that reference checks had been done and the five remaining firms were acceptable in that regard.  (Pizzagalli, E.F. Wall, DEW, Engleberth, and Cummings)

 

  1. Mr. Schneider reported that he, Ms. Wood, and Ms. Smeltzer had attended the Planning Commission hearing for the permit review.  The permit review meeting will continue on January 25 at 9 p.m.  60% of the project has been suggested to be done this construction season.  The staff recommended using the extra instruction days (beyond the state minimum) in the calendar for packing up classrooms.  The Board will discuss this idea in February.

 

  1. Mr. Pike informed the Board that he had received a memo from Cathy Hilgendorf informing us that under the Governor’s budget proposal, State Aid would be delayed for the project. Mr. McNamara suggested speaking to W-D State Representatives about this issue.  Ms. Smeltzer will draft a letter to legislators for the Board to review at next Thursday’s special meeting.

 

  1. Ms. Tomasi-Gay prepared a chart following the progress of students identified by the DRA testing, from 2000-2007.  It showed some improvements are being made, but different assessments are administered in different grade levels so the results in different grades are not directly comparable.  Ms. Smeltzer asked Ms. Tomasi-Gay to prepare a comparison sheet based on her professional opinion, tracking whether the DRA-identified students have shown improvement, decline, or a status quo in their expected skills. 

 

  1. Mr. Roche asked whether the board was interested in asking the State for more transparency in regards to the Education Fund and how its funds are collected and used.  The board agreed that a letter should be drafted for further review at an upcoming meeting. 

 

  1. Jeffrey Larkin moved to approve the Board minutes of January 5, 2006. Susan Flynn seconded.  Passed unanimously.

 

  1. On the recommendation of Susan Flynn, Jeffrey Larkin moved to approve Board Orders dated January 5, 2006 in the amount of $439.45, January 5, 2006 in the amount of $892.00, January 17, 2006 in the amount of $3,648.02, and January 17, 2006 in the amount of $65,613.96.  Michael Roche seconded. Passed unanimously.

 

  1. Jeffrey Larkin moved to approve the Fy07 Budget in the amount of $7,624,587 for presentation to the public at the Annual Meeting.  Susan Flynn seconded.  Passed Unanimously.

 

  1. Michael Roche moved to set the FY07 tuition rates as follows:
    • $9,000 for grades 1st - 6th,
    • $9,800 for grades 7th and 8th

 

Jeffery Larkin seconded.  Passed unanimously.

 

  1. Susan Flynn moved to accept the Construction Management prequalification packages from Pizzagalli, E.F. Wall, DEW, Engleberth, and Cummings firms.  Jeffrey Larkin, Dale Smeltzer, Susan Flynn, Sherry Ziemke voted yes.  Michael Roche abstained.

 

  1. Susan Flynn moved to enter into executive session at 8:05 p.m. to discuss personnel issues.  Jeffrey Larkin seconded.  Passed unanimously.   It was agreed to leave executive session at 8:17 p.m. with no action taken.

 

  1. Sherry Ziemke made a motion to adjourn at 8:18 p.m.  Jeffrey Larkin seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

 

These minutes are in my opinion substantive until adopted by the Board.  Georgeanne Baker

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Page 3 of 3                                          Board Minutes                                     January 19, 2006