EASTON, REDDING, REGION 9 JOINT BOARDS OF EDUCATION SPECIAL MEETING
February 8, 2021 – 7:30 p.m.
Held Remotely Pursuant to Executive Order No. 7B
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/92077016514?pwd=aWFURF1IV3Rkb2GeEZpRTRGOHpwz09
On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSJhKa9oQfe3lydov_I-EvA
Minutes
ATTENDANCE
Board members:
Easton: Stinson, Chieda, Goldstein, Hicks, Parker, Wible
Redding: Parkin, Whaley, Pilato, Hoffman, Hocker, Oulton, Reilly
Region 9: Johnston, Graziano, Berry, D’Agostino, Denny, O’Brien, Pampel, Williams
Administration: Harrison, Pierson Ugol, Zachery, Del Conte
Others: 8 members of the staff and public, and the recording secretary.
CALL TO ORDER
C. Parkin called the Redding Board of Education Special Meeting to order at 7:31 p.m.
J. Stinson called the Easton Board of Education Special Meeting to order at 7:32 p.m.
T. Johnston called the Region 9 Board of Education Special Meeting to order at 7:32 p.m.
PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
BOARD MEMBER COMMENT
J. Chieda said that she is very disturbed by the use of remote days as an alternative to snow days. She said it seems we have forgotten that distance learning is a poor substitute for in school learning. She said remote learning is invasive to our faculty and that it is presumptuous to think that faculty have the time to prepare quality lessons in the time the notice was given.
J. Stinson said he appreciates J. Chieda’s advocacy for the teachers, and offered an alternate perspective because remote learning is very successful for his family.
C. Parkin said that he wanted to note that this day marks the first time in 332 calendar days that all five of our schools were open all-in with all of our attendees who wished to attend being present. He expressed his gratitude to the teachers, staff, custodians, secretaries, administrators and anyone who played a role in making today happen. He also said that the COVID rates in Redding are the lowest they’ve been in three months and cautioned everyone to continue their vigilance needed within our schools and outside community.
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION: 2021-2022 CENTRAL OFFICE BUDGET
C. Parkin framed the topic for the Special Meeting as approving or not approving the proposed 2021-2022 Central Office budget of $2,052,269.
Motions to approve the proposed 2021-2022 Central Office budget were made by all three Districts, but not discussed or voted on at this point in the meeting. M. D’Agostino requested that the meeting enter into an Executive Session.
Motion: move that the Easton Board of Education recess to Executive Session to discuss Central Office Administrator Compensation and invite Dr. Rydell Harrison, Superintendent of Schools, to attend. (Hicks, Wible). Approved. 5-1. (Parker dissented).
Motion: move that the Redding Board of Education recess to Executive Session to discuss Central Office Administrator Compensation and invite Dr. Rydell Harrison, Superintendent of Schools, to attend. (Whaley, Hoffman). Approved. Unanimous.
Motion: move that the Region 9 Board of Education recess to Executive Session to discuss Central Office Administrator Compensation and invite Dr. Rydell Harrison, Superintendent of Schools, to attend. (D’Agostino, O’Brien). Approved. Unanimous.
The Easton, Redding and Region 9 Boards of Education entered into an Executive Session at 7:47 p.m.
RETURN TO PUBLIC SESSION FOR POSSIBLE ACTION ON ITEMS DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION
The Easton, Redding and Region 9 Boards of Education entered back into Regular Session at 8:09 p.m.
M. D’Agostino asked Dr. Harrison to elaborate on the position of Director of Digital Learning & Technology. Dr. Harrison replied that the overall division of responsibilities of the position falls into the two categories of infrastructure and integration. He said that specific responsibilities fall into the three categories of: Leading, teaching and learning; Communication; and, Management.
Several Board members commented on the merits of the position of Director of Digital Learning & Technology, Central Office staffing levels and the difficulty of expansion in a small school district. C. Parkin reminded Board members that the topic of discussion was the proposed 2021-2022 Central Office budget, as all three Boards of Education had already approved the position of Director of Digital Learning & Technology.
Board members then asked questions about specific lines in the proposed 2021-2022 Central Office budget regarding software services, software subscriptions, software consultants and insurance on the software infrastructure. C. Zachery responded that some software subscriptions are renewals and some are new because they offer more transparency into District spending.
C. Parkin called the question of the earlier Motion to a vote.
Motion: move that the Easton Board of Education approve the 2021-2022 Central Office budget as presented. (Wible, Chieda). Approved. Unanimous.
Motion: move that the Redding Board of Education approve the 2021-2022 Central Office budget as presented. (Hocker, Reilly). Approved. 6-1. (Hoffman dissented).
Motion: move that the Region 9 Board of Education approve the 2021-2022 Central Office budget as presented. (O’Brien, Williams). Approved. 7-0-1. (D’Agostino abstained).
PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
BOARD MEMBER COMMENT
C. Hocker said that there is not a clause as to how to resolve disputes between the three Boards of Education. He said he would be willing to draft something.
C. Parkin said the Policy Committee has talked about this issue and plans to work on it.
M. D’Agostino said that the three Boards have worked together for 65 years. He said the Board needs to be given the type of information they need to make decisions and then inform the public. M. D’Agostino said that he would like more clarification going forward.
C. Graziano said that she completely agrees and that something should be memorialized so that parties know what to do when disagreeing.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion: move that the Easton Board of Education Special Meeting be adjourned. (Hicks, Parker). Approved. Unanimous.
The Easton Board of Education Special Meeting was adjourned at 8:44 p.m.
Motion: move that the Region 9 Board of Education Special Meeting be adjourned. (Denny, Graziano). Approved. Unanimous.
The Region 9 Board of Education Special Meeting was adjourned at 8:44 p.m.
Motion: move that the Redding Board of Education Special Meeting be adjourned. (Reilly, Whaley). Approved. Unanimous.
The Region 9 Board of Education Special Meeting was adjourned at 8:45 p.m.
Submitted by Colleen Pilato
Secretary, Redding Board of Education