TRUMBULL PUBLIC SCHOOLS TRUMBULL, CONNECTICUT Regular Meeting March 28, 2017 Long Hill Administration Building Lorraine R. Smith Assembly Room

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1 TRUMBULL PUBLIC SCHOOLS TRUMBULL, CONNECTICUT Regular Meeting March 28, 2017 Long Hill Administration Building Lorraine R. Smith Assembly Room The Trumbull Board of Education convened in the Long Hill Administration Building for a Regular Meeting. Members present: L. Chory, Chairman S. Testani, Vice Chairman L. Timpanelli, Secretary J. Donofrio, Board Member P. Lavoie, Board Member M. Petitti, Board Member M. Ward, Board Member Agenda Item I Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. Agenda Item II Preliminary Business A. Salute to the Flag The Pledge of Allegiance was preceded with a moment of silence in memory of Mia McCaffrey, a student at Jane Ryan Elementary. Her father, Jim is a teacher here at Trumbull Public Schools. Our deepest sympathies to Jim and his entire family. B. Recognition Prudential Spirit Awards: Isha Dalal, Rachel Weintraub Trumbull High School senior, Isha Dalal and Hillcrest Middle School grade 8 student Rachel Weinstein were named Connecticut s top two youth volunteers of 2017 by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards. In addition to receiving $1,000 each and an all-expense paid trip in May to Washington, D.C. to join volunteers from other states, they also each received an engraved silver medallion presented this evening by Mr. Wayne Blanchette from Prudential. The Board congratulated and commended Isha and Rachel on their outstanding achievements. C. Recognition Connecticut School Counselors Association (CSCA) Award for College and Career Forum The Connecticut School Counselors Association has announced that our Superintendent s College and Career Readiness for Success Forum has been selected for the 2017 CSCA Parent Program Award. THS Counselors Mrs. Catherine Hilser, Ms. Lisa Bevacqua and Ms. Samantha Eisenberg have been cited for their significant contributions. The Forum Award was presented at the CSCA Annual Conference on March 16, The Board recognized and commended them for their remarkable achievements. D. Correspondence Mrs. Timpanelli reported on the following correspondence: TECEC would like to invite BOE members to attend A Big Night Out on Thursday, March 30, 2017 at the Chop House in Trumbull. Mrs. Malzewski is concerned about the amount of cuts to the BOE budget and asked the Board to carefully consider the impact before making a final decision.

2 E. Public Comments Lainie McHugh of 132 Fresh Meadow Drive spoke to the Board regarding the impact of a reduction to the budget and to consider a cost analysis for the potential move of the Board of Education building. F. Board Chairman Report Mrs. Chory reported that she and other Board members attended: BOE presentation to Board of Finance and their final vote on the budget THS girl s semi-final basketball game Finals at Mohegan Sun Women s History Month Essay Contest Senator Moore s Listening Session Suessical the Musical at THS The BOE will present our budget to the Finance Sub-Committee of the Town Council on March 29, 2017 at 7:00 p.m. at Trumbull Town Hall. G. Superintendent Report Dr. Cialfi reported on the following: State Senator Marilyn Moore attended the Trumbull Town Hall Session on March 21, 2017, at which Dr. Cialfi read a statement delineating Trumbull residents and educators perspectives on the Governor s proposal that emphasized our priority for excellence in education. There was a presentation on March 27, 2017 at THS for Grade 11 students and parents that discussed an overview of the Connecticut SAT school day. All Grade 11 students in Connecticut public schools are required to take the SAT on April, 5, On March13, 2017, THS DECA members earned the state organization s top honors at DECA s 65 th State Career Development Conference and 8 students qualified in their event category to compete at the International Career Conference in Anaheim, California on April 26-28, H. Teacher Board Representative Report Mrs. Kathy Rubano reported: Frenchtown kindergarten teacher, Julie Bershefsky won the Weller Award for creating a Chick Open House, on March 24 there was a multicultural dinner and after 55 years in education, Principal Jackie Norcel will retire in June. Daniels Farm students shared a day to Celebrate the Arts and grades 3-5 are working on the Classroom Without Walls program Hillcrest Middle School is introducing a Best Buddies program to students THS DECA members earned the state organization s top honors at the Career Development Conference; students competed in the Connecticut Science/Research Fair at Quinnipiac University; THS Mock Trial won the state championship and will now go on to Nationals in Hartford; and THS Model Congress was at Darien High School this weekend to participate in a debate where students were recognized for their hard work I. Student Board Representatives Report Dario Arganese and Annika Redgate reported on the following the success of the THS girls basketball team; Suessical, the Musical; the third state win of THS Mock Trial; CAPT science testing; prepping for spring sports and the SAT for juniors on Wednesday, April 5, Agenda Item III Reports/Action Items A. Approval/THS Academic Decathlon Trip to Madison, Wisconsin Advisors Sara Ellis and Dean Pelligra requested approval of this trip for the THS Academic Decathlon Team to compete in the National Academic Competition in Madison, Wisconsin from April 19 to 2

3 April 22, 2017 resulting in three missed school days. It was moved (Testani) and seconded (Timpanelli) to approve this trip as requested. Vote: Unanimous in favor. B. Approval/THS Choir Trip to San Francisco, California Choir Director Mrs. Anne Tornillo requested approval of this trip for the THS Concert Choir to perform in San Francisco, California from April 7, 2018 and return April 12, No school days will be missed. Costs of travel will be covered by students and supplemented by Friends of the Trumbull High School Choirs, Inc. (FOTHSCI). It was moved (Ward) and seconded (Lavoie) to approve this trip as requested. Vote: Unanimous in favor. C. Approval/THS Music Trip to Hartford, Connecticut Advisors Mrs. Anne Tornillo and Ms. Kirsten Karlan request approval of this trip to Hartford, Connecticut for students to participate in the Connecticut Music Association s All-State Music Festival from March 30 to April 1, The result of this experience will be presented to the public in a concert on Saturday, April 1. It was moved (Testani) and seconded (Timpanelli) to approve this trip as requested. Vote: Unanimous in favor. D. Approval/We The People Trip to Washington, D.C. Advisor Ms. Katie Boland requests approval of this trip for the We the People team to travel to Washington, D.C. to participate in the National Finals from Friday, April 21 to April 25, 2017 resulting in 3 missed school days. It was moved (Testani) and seconded (Timpanelli) to approve this trip as requested. Vote: Unanimous in favor. E. Approval/ Trumbull Early Childhood Education Center (TECEC) Tuition Increase Dr. Wheeler met with the BOE Finance Committee to propose an increase to the TECEC tuition for children without disabilities beginning in the school year. The BOE Finance Committee supported this proposed increase which results in approximately $15 per day and will still remain one of the lowest tuition rates in the area. It was moved (Testani) and seconded (Timpanelli) to approve this increase to the TECEC tuition beginning in the school year as presented. Vote Unanimous in favor. F. Approval/Minutes Regular Meeting, 2/28/2017 It was moved (Ward) and seconded (Donofrio) to approve the minutes of the February 28, 2017 Board of Education meetings as presented. Vote: 6 in favor, 1 abstain. Motion passes. G. Personnel Report Dr. Cialfi reported that there are two certified and one non-certified resignation/retirements: Christine Mordecai, grade 1 teacher at Frenchtown Elementary School since August, 2000, retiring effective June 30, Jacqueline Norcel, principal at Frenchtown Elementary School since July 2003 and principal at Tashua Elementary School from November 1984 to June 2003, retiring effective June 30, It was moved (Testani) and seconded (Donofrio) to accept the above two retirements/resignations as presented. Vote: Unanimous in favor. Barbara Peterson, secretary at Booth Hill Elementary since August, 2000, retiring effective June 30, It was moved (Testani) and seconded (Timpanelli) to accept the above retirement as presented. Vote: Unanimous in favor. 3

4 Dr. Cialfi presented one request for Leave of Absence. This request complies with the Trumbull Board of Education Policy 4150, Leave of Absence Policy: Ashley Thoesen, special education teacher at Hillcrest Middle School since April, 2008 (currently on personal leave of absence since December 2016), is requesting a personal leave of absence without pay for the school year. It was moved (Testani) and seconded (Timpanelli) to approve the above request for leave of absence as presented. Vote: Unanimous in favor. H Budget 1. Approval/Recommendation to Address the First Selectman s Budget Proposal Dr. Cialfi and Mr. O Keefe reviewed and presented for the Board s approval recommended actions necessary to achieve the First Selectman s Budget Proposal of $101,742,587 which is a year-to-year increase of $2,809,409 or +2.84%. It was moved (Lavoie) and seconded (Donofrio) to approve the above request for recommended actions as presented. Vote: unanimous in favor. 2. Discussion of Potential Items Needed to Address the Board of Finance Budget Submission to the Town Council Dr. Cialfi and Mr. O Keefe presented potential actions that may become necessary to achieve the Board of Finance Budget Proposal of $98,181,596 which is a year-to-year decrease of $751,582 or -0.76%. Dr. Cialfi presented data for essential resources for pre K-12 to position students for continued growth and achievement. I. Policies, Second Readings Dr. Budd presented the following Policies for Second Reading: 1. Statement of Educational Goals, Policy Code 0200 by federal law to indicate the District s compliance with the Health Insurance and Portability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). 2. Non-Discrimination, Policy Code 0521 by federal and state statute. 3. Health/Medical Records, Policy Code by federal law to indicate the District s compliance with the Health Insurance and Portability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). 4. Migrant Students, Policy Code

5 by federal law to indicate the District s compliance with aspects of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 in relation to migrant students.. 5. Parent and Family Engagement Policy for Title I Students, Policy Code by federal law to indicate the District s compliance with the Improving America s Schools Act of Media Access to Students, Policy Code This CABE-recommended policy is proposed for the District to ensure clear protocol for access by media representatives to students in various contexts. The proposed policy language implements the suggestions of the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education (CABE) in relation to all components. It was moved (Testani) and seconded (Timpanelli) to accept these six policies as presented. Vote: Unanimous in favor. J. Curriculum Committee Report Mrs. Petitti reported that the Curriculum Committee met on March 16, 2017 and reviewed new course proposals, curriculum guides and textbooks. Approval/New Course Text Proposals Dr. Budd 1. Disgraced (Supplemental: Modern Drama) 2. I Am an Emotional Creature (Supplemental: Modern Drama) 3. Water by the Spoonful (Supplemental: Modern Drama) 4. The Normal Heart (Supplemental: Modern Drama) 5. Hello Herman (Supplemental: Modern Drama) It was moved (Petitti) seconded (Donofrio) to approve these five new course text proposals as presented. It was then moved (Petitti) seconded (Donofrio) to amend the above motion and approve these five new course text proposals for the remainder of the school year and revisit the approval at a later date. Vote: 5 in favor (Chory, Testani, Petitti, Timpanelli, Donofrio), 2 opposed (Lavoie, Ward). Motion passes. 6. The Boys in the Boat (Young Readers Adaptation): The True Story of an American Team s Epic Journey to Win Gold at the 1936 Olympics (Core: Grade 8 Language Arts) It was moved (Timpanelli) seconded (Ward) to approve this new course text proposal as presented. Vote: Unanimous in favor. Approval/Curriculum Guide 7. Communications is a half-year course designed to provide students with the speech communications skills essential in talking with one person, in a group, or in front of an audience. In this hands-on course, students practice newly-learned communications skills in the safety of the classroom environment. It was moved (Timpanelli) seconded (Donofrio) to approve the curriculum guide for Communications as presented. Vote: Unanimous in favor. 5

6 K. Approval/Ratification of Complaint Regarding Bridgeport Magnet Tuition Mr. O Keefe requested authorization for the Superintendent and/or Business Administrator to act on the Board s behalf in connection with legal action and ratification of all actions taken to date by the administration in connection with the Trumbull Board of Education to be a plaintiff in a legal action to stop the Bridgeport Board of Education from charging tuition for students from Trumbull who attend the Fairchild Wheeler and Discovery Magnet programs, for the Superintendent and/or Business Administrator to act on the Board s behalf in connection with said legal action, and ratification of all actions taken to date by the administration in connection with said action. The other plaintiffs are the Stratford, Shelton and Monroe Boards of Education. The action seeks temporary and permanent injunctive relief, a declaratory judgment, and damages. It was moved (Ward) seconded (Lavoie) to approve the authorization for the Superintendent and/or Business Administrator to act on the Board s behalf with this legal action as presented. Vote: Unanimous in favor. Adjournment Board Members gave unanimous consent to adjourn the Public Session at 9:05 p.m. 6