REDDING BOARD OF EDUCATION REGULAR MEETING
September 1, 2020 – 7:30 p.m.
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September 1, 2020 – 7:30 p.m.
Minutes
ATTENDANCE
Board members: Parkin, Whaley, Pilato, Hoffman, Reilly, Oulton, Hocker
Administration: Harrison, Pierson Ugol, Reiss, Del Conte
Others: 29 members of the staff and public, and the recording secretary.
CALL TO ORDER
C. Parkin called the meeting to order at 7:32 p.m.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Motion: move that the Redding Board of Education approve the minutes of the May 7, 2020 Special Meeting. Approved by unanimous consent.
Motion: move that the Redding Board of Education approve the minutes of the May 26, 2020 Special Meeting. Approved by unanimous consent.
Motion: move that the Redding Board of Education approve the minutes of the June 11, 2020 Special Meeting. Approved by unanimous consent.
Motion: move that the Redding Board of Education approve the minutes of the August 11, 2020 Redding Special Meeting. Approved by unanimous consent.
Motion: move that the Redding Board of Education approve the minutes of the August 14, 2020 ER9 Special Meeting. Approved by unanimous consent.
Motion: move that the Redding Board of Education approve the minutes of the August 25, 2020 Special Meeting. Approved by unanimous consent.
Motion: move that the Redding Board of Education approve the minutes of the June 16, 2020 Regular Joint Redding/Easton Meeting with the following revisions: “T. Whaley” should read, “Tallulah Whaley,” and “L. Arici” should read “Leyla Arici.” (Reilly, Hocker). Approved. Unanimous.
Motion: move that the Redding Board of Education approve the minutes of the July 20, 2020 ER9 Special Meeting with the following revisions: “Garivito,” should read “Garavito,” “Brian and Kristin Rose,” should read, “Bryon and Christine Rose,” “Erickson,” should read “Ericson,” “Vannessa Visners,” should read, “Vanessa Visner;” and submit that Dr. Tom McMorran was invited to the Executive Session for the purpose of discussing the terms of his separation and retirement. (Reilly, Hocker). Approved. Unanimous.
Motion: move that the Redding Board of Education approve the minutes of the July 31, 2020 Special Meeting with the following revisions: on page two, the Motion should read “drafting and filing of letter;” and submit that Dr. Pierson Ugol was invited to the Executive Session for the purpose of discussing the appointment of the interim Superintendent. (Reilly, Hocker). Approved. Unanimous.
Motion: move that the ER9 Board of Education approve the minutes of the August 11, 2020 ER9 Special Meeting with the following revision: “joint employee,” should read, “joint employer.” (Reilly, Hocker). Approved. Unanimous.
Motion: move that the Redding Board of Education add the approval of the May 26, 2020 ER9 Joint Boards of Education meeting minutes to the agenda. (Reilly, Hocker). Approved Unanimous.
Motion: move that the Redding Board of Education approve the minutes of the May 26, 2020 ER9 Joint Boards of Education meeting as submitted. Approved by unanimous consent.
PUBLIC COMMENT
None
BOARD MEMBER COMMENT
C. Pilato informed the Board that there was an error in the posted Motions of the August 11, 2020 ER9 Special Meeting. She said that M. Hoffman’s vote on the type of model with which to reopen ER9 schools was recorded, and subsequently posted, incorrectly. C. Pilato said that M. Hoffman’s vote was recorded as an abstention, when in fact it was opposed.
H. Whaley thanked the administrators of RES and JRMS for the tours of the buildings.
C. Pilato thanked the administrators for the buildings tour and said that the buildings looked better than she had ever seen them. She also gave credit to the RES PTA for painting the cafeteria, saying that the cafeteria has been transformed.
C. Parkin said that, for now, they will maintain the Zoom posture for Board meetings but that they are looking to have an in-person meeting in October. He recognized that the Zoom posture has provided for increased community participation. C. Parkin then read the Redding School District mission statement aloud.
BUILDING ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS
Redding Elementary School Principal, N. Hammond, reported that enrollment at RES was at 474 students as of that afternoon. She said the enrollment number can change daily and that 15% of students will be completely learning from home. N. Hammond said that she and J. Amodio were so happy to have seen kindergarten students engaged in the playdates set up by the PTA, and that they are ready to get started and have the kids back.
John Read Middle School Interim Principal, Dr. Amori, reported that enrollment at JRMS was at 340 students as of that afternoon. She said that she and other members of the staff were enjoying welcoming new families and that a 5th grade orientation will take place this week. Dr. Amori said that there have been some great new people hired to the JRMS staff and that they are so looking forward to having everyone back in the building. Dr. Amori also expressed her appreciation to the Board.
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION: REOPENING UPDATE
Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, Dr. Pierson Ugol, reported that she had no major changes to the Reopening Plan. She said that she is so happy to have the students back next week and to have had the staff back this week. Dr. Pierson Ugol said that she still is receiving very specific questions from parents about their students’ distance learning plan, and that the District website has been fully updated. C. Parkin asked if the plan still was to operate on a four week Hybrid Model and then move to the All In Model. Dr. Pierson Ugol responded that this was correct. M. Hoffman asked if the decision on which model to use could be made on a school by school basis. Dr. Pierson Ugol said that they can make school by school decisions with the consultation of the Department of Public Health.
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION: SUPERINTENDENT’S ENTRY PLAN
Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Harrison, first said that he was excited to be speaking as Superintendent and thanked Dr. Pierson Ugol, S. Reiss and V. Cram for all of their hard work. Dr. Harrison said that it is typical for a new Superintendent to have a 90-day plan and that he will be meeting with Board members, administration and staff to explore the topics of: who are we as a community; who are we as a school district; what are our aspirations; and, how can I lead us over time to achieve those aspirations. He said the purpose of his report will be to: increase organizational effectiveness; ensure effective and transparent operations; establish effective support for students; and, overall building stakeholder trust. Dr. Harrison said that he looks forward to continuing to connect with staff, students and families.
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION: BOARD APPROVAL OF NEW JRMS LOGO
Dr. Amori explained that she convened a committee made up of students, faculty, the school webmaster and the school art teacher to work on a new JRMS logo. She said that JRMS parent and graphic designer, Lori Endy-Skidell, had designed the new JRMS logo and had also advised them on how to use the logo.
Motion: move that the Redding Board of Education approve the new John Read Middle School logo. (Hoffman, Whaley). Approved. Unanimous.
DISTRICT ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS
Director of Special Services, J. Del Conte, reported that the special services teachers have been back at work and that she and J. Hankla have had really great conversations with the families of their students. She also said that even though the numbers in special services have dropped, that that is only half the story as new families continue to move into the District and that the intensity of needs has increased. C. Parkin asked if there is a concern that there will be an uptick in the number of PPTs requested by parents. J. Del Conte replied that this is a concern, but that she and her staff are on top of it, and also that all PPT meetings are being conducted virtually.
Director of Finance & Operations, S. Reiss, reported that the Redding Board of Finance and the Redding Board of Selectmen had approved the capital project of a phone system replacement at RES and JRMS. S. Reiss said that the District will receive three different grants, all COVID-19 related: Federal CARES Act ESSER in the amount of $27,805; Curriculum Fund, distributed through the State, in the amount of $81,149; and the Everybody Learns Initiative in the form of 32 Chromebooks. He said that he is in the process of closing out the books for 2019-2020 and that this will be completed next week. S. Reiss also said the Health Insurance Reserve for July incurred costs of $255,740, which is well above the average, but that they had been advised that this might be the case as medical facilities begin to open up again.
C. Parkin asked for updated Chromebook quantities. P. Amori explained that once the next shipment of Chromebooks arrives, JRMS will be one-to-one. J. Amodio explained that RES continues to increase the number of Chromebooks, but is still not at one-to-one, although they are able to loan to families that have indicated a need.
Dr. Pierson-Ugol shared that the Joint Curriculum committee will work with the Task Force on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion to set goals to support each other’s vision.
BOARD COMMITTEE REPORTS
Task Force on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: H. Whaley reported that this Task Force would be meeting the next day and would be deciding on criteria for identifying community members to join the Task Force.
Policy Committee: C. Parkin reported that the Policy Committee continues to have weekly Friday meetings.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Sissi Fitzgerald, undisclosed address, said that she had not received any communication about the time of the special services meeting and later found out that the meeting had already occurred; she asked if there was a recording of the meeting posted somewhere so that she could view it.
BOARD MEMBER COMMENT
J. Reilly thanked the administration and teachers for working overtime to get the schools ready; he also thanked S. Reiss for identifying the grants and welcomed Dr. Harrison.
M. Hoffman asked if the Board members could be provided with the PTA directory of students.
H. Whaley said that she noticed the new garden at RES and thanked M. Hoffman for his work installing the garden; she also welcomed Dr. Harrison.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion: move that the Redding Board of Education meeting be adjourned. (Hocker, Reilly). Approved. Unanimous.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:08 p.m.
Submitted by Colleen Pilato
Secretary, Redding Board of Education
Recorded by Sarah Ota