EASTON, REDDING, REGION 9 JOINT BOARDS OF EDUCATION
Regular Meeting
January 23, 2018
Minutes
ATTENDANCE:
Redding Board of Education: Irwin, Hoffman, Parkin, Hoeing, Pilato, Reilly, Whaley
Easton Board of Education: Parker, Bindelglass, Hicks, Reed, Shortt
Region 9 Board of Education: D’Agostino, Coppinger, Hocker, Denny, Graziano, Hancock, Williams
Administration: McMorran, Reiss, Hammond, Visners, Pin, Kaplan
Members of the Public: Approximately 12
Dr. Irwin called the meeting to order at 7:31 p.m.
PUBLIC COMMENT: Carolyn Colangelo, Wildwood Rd., Easton – Mrs. Colangelo, a member of the Easton Board of Selectman, reported that the EBOS supports the proposed ERCCC survey.
BOARD MEMBER COMMENT:
None
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION: PRESENTATION BY THE EASTON REDDING COMMUNITY CARING (SIC) COALITION
Dr. Pin introduced Maryanne Pieratti (JBHS Staff) and Allison Fulton from Housatonic Valley Coalition Against Substance Abuse who gave a brief history of the ERCCC and its goals and explained the proposed student survey, produced by the Search Institute. They proposed administering the survey to 8th, 10th and 12th grade students during school time with the cost of the survey paid for by a grant.
Members of all three boards asked questions relating to the ownership and privacy of data collected, purpose of the data, and process by which the data would be collected and used, among other topics. The Superintendent referred to Boards to their respective student privacy policies requiring that such surveys be opt-in rather than opt-out.
Region 9 Motion: To authorize the survey as proposed. Hocker, Denny, Unanimous.
Easton Motion: To authorize the survey as proposed. Bindelglass, Shortt, Unanimous.
Redding Motion: To authorize the survey as proposed. Hoffman, Hoeing, Unanimous.
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION: REVIEW OF JOINT COMMITTEES
Discussion regarding status of current joint ER9 committees and current membership of each was reviewed. Membership in the existing committees will be finalized when Region 9’s members on each committee are confirmed at the next Region 9 Board meeting.
Discussion was held regarding potential consolidation of committees though consensus was not to pursue that path.
The Boards agreed to form an ad hoc committee for the purpose of considering options for the future of the central office when the lease with the Town of Easton expires in January 2019. The Board chairs agreed to appoint members (one each from Redding and Easton and two from Region 9) to join the committee along with the director of finance and operations. The committee’s mandate includes reporting back at the May tri-board meeting regarding feasible locations for central office.
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION: CENTRAL OFFICE BUDGET
Dr. McMorran gave a brief presentation regarding the central office budget and highlighted changes from his October preview, including the decision to withdraw the request for a Director of Digital Learning at this time.
Lengthy and wide-ranging discussion followed regarding the human resources function, appropriate compensation levels for support staff, and general structural issues in central office that lead to budgetary and non-budgetary pressures, among other topics.
Region 9 Motion: To accept the Central Office budget as proposed [$1,742,175 total, $580,725 per district]. Hancock, Hocker.
Brief additional discussion followed.
Motion passed 5-2 (Graziano and D’Agostino opposed)
Easton Motion: To accept the Central Office budget as proposed. Hicks, Shortt, Unanimous.
Motion passed 6-0.
Redding Motion: To accept the Central Office budget as proposed. Hoffman, Hoeing, Unanimous.
Additional discussion followed.
Motion passed 7-0.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
None
BOARD MEMBER COMMENT:
Mr. Parkin commented that the Boards need to commit to addressing the structure at central office and not let the situation linger for another year.
Mr. Coppinger commented that he thinks the Superintendent’s contract should have been considered at a tri-board meeting rather than at each individual board to avoid prejudicing the third board to consider it.
Ms. Shortt commented that regionalizing the districts should be considered.
Mr. Hancock referred the Boards to the statute regarding regionalization.
Mrs. Pilato commented that central office is in need of standardization of practice and that it cannot improve while only fighting fires.
Mrs. Graziano commented that we need not regionalize to recognize the benefits of partnerships across districts.
Mr. D’Agostino commented that regionalization was unrealistic and simply would never happen.
Dr. Irwin called for bold action and suggested considering the regionalization question.
Dr. McMorran commented that he wants and needs a clear vision for administering the schools across three districts and lamented that he gets conflicting direction from the three boards. He welcomes a systemic view.
ADJOURNMENT
Easton Motion: Motion to adjourn. Bindelglass, Reed, Unanimous.
Redding Motion: Motion to adjourn. Hoffman, Hoeing, Unanimous.
Region 9 Motion: Motion to adjourn. Williams, Denny, Unanimous.
The meeting adjourned at 9:41 p.m.
Recorded and Submitted by
Chris Parkin, Redding Board of Education Secretary