EASTON, REDDING, REGION 9 JOINT BOARDS OF EDUCATION
Special Meeting
Joel Barlow Middle School – Library Learning Commons
February 18, 2020 – 7:00 p.m.
Minutes
ATTENDANCE
Easton Board Members: Parker, Chieda, Goldstein, Hicks, Stinson
Redding Board Members: Parkin, Whaley, Pilato, Hocker, Hoffman, Oulton, Reilly
Region 9 Board Members: Johnston, Graziano, Berry, D’Agostino, Denny, Pampel
Absent: Reed (E), Williams (R9), O’Brien (R9)
Administration: McMorran, Pierson Ugol, Reiss
Others: 5 members of the staff and public, the recording secretary and the videographer
T. Johnston called the Region 9 Board of Education meeting to order at 7:04 p.m.
C. Parkin called the Redding Board of Education meeting to order at 7:04 p.m.
J. Parker called the Easton Board of Education meeting to order at 7:04 p.m.
PUBLIC COMMENT: None
BOARD MEMBER COMMENT: None
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION: SEARCH PROCESS FOR THE ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT FOR PUPIL PERSONNEL AND BUDGET
Mr. Johnston gave opening remarks about structural changes and budget for the central office with the addition of a new Assistant Superintendent for Pupil Personnel position. Ms. Graziano inquired about past practice and procedures for hiring administration. Dr. McMorran informed the boards that there was no statute on senior administrator hiring and that the process was not outlined procedurally. He described the customary process of phone interview, in person interview with central office, focus group interview. He mentioned that ultimately the final decision rested with him.
Mr. D’Agostino pointed out that creating a new position was different from appointing a person to a current opening. Mr. Hocker commented that there has been no single process for senior administration hires. Ms. Cheida asked her board if they would be interested in opening the search. Dr. McMorran commented that the current Director would not apply if the posting was opened.
Mr. Parker commented on how the Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum & Instruction was hired. Mr. Parkin agreed on the creation of a hiring process and wanted to include an exception clause. Dr. McMorran discussed reverting to the current structure if no agreement was made. Ms. Graziano broached the subject of an interim hire.
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION: SEARCH PROCESS FOR THE ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT FOR PUPIL PERSONNEL AND BUDGET (continued)
MOTION: move that Easton Board of Education continue to support the Administration’s proposal to add a Superintendent for Pupil Services to Central Office Staff and further move to direct the Administration to notify stakeholder groups to begin drafting a formal job description document, hold focus group meetings to create community awareness and conduct an employment search in alignment with best practices and previous searches of the Board (Stinson, Chieda). All opposed.
MOTION: move that Redding Board of Education continue to support the Administration’s proposal to add a Superintendent for Pupil Services to Central Office Staff and further move to direct the Administration to notify stakeholder groups to begin drafting a formal job description document, hold focus group meetings to create community awareness and conduct an employment search in alignment with best practices and previous searches of the Board (Hoffman, Hocker). All opposed.
MOTION: move that Region 9 Board of Education continue to support the Administration’s proposal to add a Superintendent for Pupil Services to Central Office Staff and further move to direct the Administration to notify stakeholder groups to begin drafting a formal job description document, hold focus group meetings to create community awareness and conduct an employment search in alignment with best practices and previous searches of the Board (D’Agostino, Denny). Approved. Vote 4-2 (Johnston, Graziano).
Mr. D’Agostino suggested removing the assistant superintendent position as a line item in the central office budget.
MOTION: move that the Easton Board of Education eliminate the position of the Assistant Superintendent for Pupil Personnel Services and revert back to the previous arrangement, reducing the budget by $60,000 (Stinson, Chieda). Approved. Unanimous.
MOTION: move that the Redding Board of Education eliminate the position of the Assistant Superintendent for Pupil Personnel Services and revert back to the previous arrangement, reducing the budget by $60,000 (Hoffman, Whaley). Approved. Unanimous.
MOTION: move that the Region 9 Board of Education eliminate the position of the Assistant Superintendent for Pupil Personnel Services and revert back to the previous arrangement, reducing the budget by $60,000 (D’Agostino, Pampel). Approved. Unanimous.
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION: CENTRAL OFFICE BUDGET
MOTION: move that the Easton Board of Education agree to adjust the Region 9 central office budget from $2,093,915 to $1,913,915 (Hicks, Stinson). Approved. Unanimous.
MOTION: move that the Redding Board of Education agree to adjust the Region 9 central office budget from $2,093,915 to $1,913,915 (Hoffman, Reilly). Approved. Unanimous.
MOTION: move that the Region 9 Board of Education agree to adjust the Region 9 central office budget from $2,093,915 to $1,913,915 (Pampel, Denny). Approved. Unanimous.
PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
BOARD MEMBER COMMENT:
Dr. McMorran discussed his 13 years as an administrator for Region 9 and the improvements that have been made to unify the 3 boards as a unified district.
ADJOURNMENT
MOTION: move that the Easton Board of Education special meeting be adjourned (Parker, Stinson). Approved. Unanimous.
MOTION: move that the Redding Board of Education special meeting be adjourned (Reilly, Hoffman) Approved. Unanimous.
MOTION: move that the Region 9 Board of Education special meeting be adjourned (Graziano, Denny) Approved. Unanimous.
The Easton, Redding, Region 9 Joint Boards of Education special meeting was adjourned at 7:53 p.m.
Recorded by,
Juliette Berry
Submitted by,
Jennifer Chieda, Easton Board of Education Secretary
Colleen Pilato, Redding Board of Education Secretary
Juliette Berry, Region 9 Board of Education Secretary