EASTON, REDDING & REGION 9 BOARDS OF EDUCATION REGULAR MEETING
Joel Barlow High School – Library Learning Commons
January 6, 2021 – 7:30 p.m.
Minutes
ATTENDANCE
Board members: Easton: Stinson, Chieda, deJesus, Wible, Parker and Hicks via Zoom
Redding: Parkin, Hoffman, Oulton, Sadana, Gibbons via Zoom
Region 9: D’Agostino, Johnston, O’Brien, Graziano, Lehberger, Pampel, Thompson
Administration: McKinnon
Others: the recording secretary and the videographer
CALL TO ORDER
J. Stinson called the Easton Board of Education regular Meeting to order at 7:38 p.m.
C. Parkin called the Redding Board of Education regular Meeting to order at 7:39 p.m.
M. D’Agostino called the Region 9 Board of Education regular Meeting to order at 7:39 p.m.
PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
BOARD MEMBER COMMENT
J. Chieda said welcome to new BOE members.
J. Stinson said welcome to new BOE members and that he’s excited to work with everyone.
C. Parkin said that he echoes J. Chieda and J. Stinson’s comments.
M. D’Agostino said welcome to K. Thompson and the other new BOE members.
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION: BOARD MEMBER ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES, REBECCA SANTIAGO, ESQ. (SHIPMAN AND GOODWIN)
Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Jason McKinnon, introduced Rebecca Santiago, Esq., from the law firm of Shipman and Goodwin. R. Santiago briefed the BOE on her experience saying that she works with numerous school districts across the State of Connecticut in school law, and in all aspects of school law. R. Santiago gave a lengthy PowerPoint presentation on the roles and responsibilities of BOE members, including the areas of: responsibilities of the Board of Education, rights of Board members, indemnification, role of the Chair, duties of Board members, impartiality, important considerations, duties of Board members, definition of meetings, what meetings do and do not include, types of meetings (regular, special and emergency), executive session, committees, FOIA, electronic messages and communications, public comment, behavior and focus during Board meetings, and post meeting action. Board members had questions throughout the presentation about: functions that BOE and BOE members serve, communications with the public, Board meetings, what constitutes a meeting, representation at parent meetings, personnel issues at meetings, the ER9 joint board meeting structure, confidential records, and when communications become public record.
BOARD COMMITTEE REPORTS
J. Parker said that an RFP for food services needs to go out within the next 30 days, and that the Food Service Committee should meet. He stated that there needs to be one representative from each Board on the committee.
J. Stinson said that the Negotiating Committee will meet again in February and will be able to make a contribution to the formation of the Central Office budget.
J. Stinson said that the Policy Committee continues to meet and that they have started a conversation with Dr. McKinnon about switching from CABE to Shipman and Goodwin.
C. Parkin asked about committee assignments from the Boards. A brief discussion took place whereupon it was decided to discuss consolidation of committees at the February or May ER9 Joint Board meeting. C. Graziano asked about the best practices for working together documents from a previous ER9 Joint Board meeting. J. Stinson said he would re-circulate to everyone. Dr. McKinnon suggested that the BOEs use the document as a self-evaluation tool. BOE members were amenable to this idea.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion: move that the Easton Board of Education meeting be adjourned. (de Jesus, Chieda). Approved. Unanimous.
Motion: move that the Redding Board of Education meeting be adjourned. (Sadana, Hoffman). Approved. 5-0.
Motion: move that the Region 9 Board of Education meeting be adjourned. (Karen, Lehberger). Approved. 7-0.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:28 p.m.
Submitted by Jeff Parker
Secretary, Easton Board of Education
Recorded by
Sarah Ota