180 Broadway, Chicopee, MA 01020
September 21, 2005
The following members were present: Mayor Goyette, Dana Cutter, Shane Brooks, Marjorie Wojcik, Michael Pise, Rev. Jonathan Tetherly, Susan Lopes, Donald Lamothe, Ronald Chapdelaine, Mary Beth Costello, Susan Lecca and Chester Szetela.
Also present were: Richard Rege Jr., Charles Tetrault, Shirley Alvira, James Devine, JoAnn Kupiec, Debra Schneeweis, Atty. Claire Thompson, Deborah McCarthy, Sarah Hoar, Public Attendance: Dariusz Karpinski, Sharon Nawrocki, Denise Sullivan, Nicole Marceau, Lisa Bienvenue, Sandra Peret, Press: Jeanette DeForge (The Republican).
Call To Order:
The meeting was called to order by Chairperson, Mayor Goyette, at 7:00 PM and opened with the Pledge of Allegiance.
Moment of Silence:
A moment of silence was observed for those who serve in the military and for others who help to protect us.
Roll Call Board Attendance:
Mayor Goyette - present Mr. Cutter - present
Mr. Brooks - present Mrs. Wojcik - present
Mr. Pise - present Rev. Tetherly - present
Mrs. Lopes - present Mr. Lamothe - present
Mr. Chapdelaine - present Mrs. Costello - present
Mr. Szetela - present Mrs. Lecca - present
The roll call indicated 12 members present.
Roll Call Vote Order:
Name drawn to begin roll call voting for this meeting: Michael Pise, Ward 4.
Public Announcements:
Mr. Rege thanked Mr. Dean’s fifth grade class at Selser School for their congratulations cards, announced that Comprehensive High School raised $3,887.00 for the American Red Cross for the victims of Hurricane Katrina, thanked Girl Scout Troops 376 and 320 for their work on the map at Bowie School, and told the School Committee about the Chicopee High School/Comprehensive High School Football game.
Public Input:
Denise Sullivan (SPED Bussing), Dariusz Karpinski (School Policy), Nicole Marceau (SPED PAC Concerns), Lisa Bienvenue (SPED Bussing), Sandra Peret (Feasibility Study).
Visitors: None
Approval of Minutes:
05-9-16
VOTED: On motion by Mrs. Lecca to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting of the School Committee held on September 7, 2005. Attachment #1
Hand vote – 12 present in favor and the motion PASSED.
Financial Matters:
05-9-17
A motion was made by Mr. Brooks to approve the Transfer of Funds (4) totaling $64,794. 84.
The roll call vote was as follows: Attachment #2
Mayor Goyette - yes Mr. Cutter - yes
Mr. Brooks - yes Mrs. Wojcik - yes
Mr. Pise - yes Rev. Tetherly - yes
Mrs. Lopes - yes Mr. Lamothe - yes
Mr. Chapdelaine - yes Mrs. Costello - yes
Mr. Szetela - yes Mrs. Lecca - yes
The roll call vote was 12 yes and the motion PASSED.
05-9-18
A motion was made by Mr. Lamothe to approve the lease agreement between the Chicopee School Committee and the Valley Opportunity Council, effective September 1, 2005 – June 30, 2006, and to authorize the Chairperson to sign. Attachment #3
The roll call vote was as follows:
Mayor Goyette - yes Mr. Cutter - no
Mr. Brooks - yes Mrs. Wojcik - yes
Mr. Pise - yes Rev. Tetherly - yes
Mrs. Lopes - yes Mr. Lamothe - abstain
Mr. Chapdelaine - yes Mrs. Costello - yes
Mr. Szetela - yes Mrs. Lecca - abstain
The roll call vote was 9 yes – 1 no – 2 abstained and the motion PASSED.
*Mrs. Lecca and Mr. Lamothe abstained from voting due to a conflict of interest.
Reports:
05-9-19
VOTED: On motion by Rev. Tetherly to receive the Superintendent’s Report of Personnel Action be received. Attachment #4
Hand vote – 12 present in favor and the motion PASSED.
05-9-20
VOTED: On motion by Mrs. Costello to receive the 2004-2005 Damage to Buildings Report be received.
Hand vote – 12 present in favor and the motion PASSED.
Communication and Other Matters:
05-9-21
VOTED: On motion by Mr. Chapdelaine to schedule a Committee as a Whole Meeting of the School Committee for the purpose of reviewing the Feasibility Study focusing on the long-term use of Chicopee Academy.
Hand vote – 12 present in favor and the motion PASSED.
05-9-22
VOTED: On motion by Mr. Pise to approve the home education plans as listed.
Hand vote – 12 present in favor and the motion PASSED.
05-9-23
VOTED: On motion by Mrs. Lopes to authorize the School Department to accept a donation of $500 and two computers (value: $1,098.51) from Wal-Mart and to send a letter of thanks.
Hand vote – 12 present in favor and the motion PASSED.
05-9-24
VOTED: On motion by Mr. Cutter to authorize Chicopee Comprehensive High School to accept a donation of $200.92 from Target and to send a letter of thanks.
Hand vote – 12 present in favor and the motion PASSED.
Old Business:
Booster Club Finances
VOTED: On motion by Mrs. Costello to refer Booster Club finances to the Policy and Human Resources Subcommittee.
Hand vote – 12 present in favor and the motion PASSED.
School Choice Report
VOTED: On motion by Rev. Tetherly to receive the School Choice report.
Hand vote – 12 present in favor and the motion PASSED.
Policy and Procedures Regarding the Approval of Contracts
VOTED: On motion by Mrs. Lecca to refer the Policy and Procedures regarding the approval of contracts to the Policy and Human Resources Subcommittee.
Hand vote – 12 present in favor and the motion PASSED.
New Business:
Chain of Command/Public Complaints
VOTED: On motion by Mr. Lamothe to refer the Policy on Public Concerns and Complaints about Personnel, Curriculum, and Instructional Materials (file KLB/KLD) and the possibility of adding this policy to student handbooks to the Policy and Human Resources Subcommittee.
Hand vote – 12 present in favor and the motion PASSED.
New Business (cont.):
Superintendent’s Evaluation Instrument
VOTED: On motion by Mrs. Wojcik to refer the Superintendent’s Evaluation instrument to the Policy and Human Resources Subcommittee.
Hand vote – 12 present in favor and the motion PASSED.
Executive Session
A motion was made by Mrs. Wojcik to adjourn into Executive Session at 8:32 PM for the purpose of approving Executive Session minutes, discussing arbitration and individual contracts and we will return to the regular order of business, non-televised.
The roll call vote was as follows:
Mayor Goyette - yes Mr. Cutter - yes
Mr. Brooks - yes Mrs. Wojcik - yes
Mr. Pise - yes Rev. Tetherly - yes
Mrs. Lopes - yes Mr. Lamothe - yes
Mr. Chapdelaine - yes Mrs. Costello - yes
Mr. Szetela - yes Mrs. Lecca - yes
The roll call vote was 12 yes and the motion PASSED.
Return to Regular Order of Business:
The following members were present: Mayor Goyette, Dana Cutter, Shane Brooks, Marjorie Wojcik, Michael Pise, Rev. Jonathan Tetherly, Susan Lopes, Donald Lamothe, Ronald Chapdelaine, Mary Beth Costello, Chester Szetela and Susan Lecca.
Also present were Mr. Rege, Sarah Hoar, Public Attendance: Sharon Nawrocki, Denise Sullivan, Nicole Marceau, Press: Jeanette DeForge (The Republican).
Re-Call to Order:
The meeting was re-called to order by Chairperson, Mayor Goyette, at 9:55 PM.
Unit B Arbitration
A motion was made by Mrs. Lecca to pursue vacating Arbitrator Grossman’s award (July 23, 2005) in the Chicopee Education Association and Chicopee School Committee AAA Case No.: 11-390-02904-04, to approve the agreement between the Chicopee School Committee and Sullivan, Hayes & Quinn to provide additional services relative to this case and to authorize the Chairperson to sign the agreement.
The roll call vote was as follows:
Mayor Goyette - yes Mr. Cutter - yes
Mr. Brooks - yes Mrs. Wojcik - yes
Mr. Pise - yes Rev. Tetherly - yes
Mrs. Lopes - yes Mr. Lamothe - yes
Mr. Chapdelaine - yes Mrs. Costello - yes
Mr. Szetela - yes Mrs. Lecca - no
The roll call vote was 11 yes – 1 no – and the motion PASSED.
Individual Contracts/Salary Amendment – James Devine, Assistant Superintendent for Accountability and Instruction
A motion was made by Mr. Brooks to approve the contract amendment between the Chicopee School Committee and James Devine, Assistant Superintendent for Accountability and Instruction, and to authorize the Chairperson to sign.
The roll call vote was as follows:
Mayor Goyette - no Mr. Cutter - no
Mr. Brooks - yes Mrs. Wojcik - yes
Mr. Pise - yes Rev. Tetherly - yes
Mrs. Lopes - yes Mr. Lamothe - yes
Mr. Chapdelaine - yes Mrs. Costello - yes
Mr. Szetela - yes Mrs. Lecca - yes
The roll call vote was 10 yes – 2 no and the motion PASSED.
Individual Contract/Contract Amendment – JoAnn Kupiec, Assistant Business Manager
A motion was made by Mrs. Costello to approve the contract amendment between Richard W. Rege, Jr. and JoAnn Kupiec, Assistant Business Manager, and to authorize the Chairperson to sign.
The roll call vote was as follows:
Mayor Goyette - yes Mr. Cutter - yes
Mr. Brooks - yes Mrs. Wojcik - yes
Mr. Pise - yes Rev. Tetherly - yes
Mrs. Lopes - yes Mr. Lamothe - yes
Mr. Chapdelaine - yes Mrs. Costello - yes
Mr. Szetela - yes Mrs. Lecca - yes
The roll call vote was 12 yes and the motion PASSED.
Bi-Weekly Stipend – Acting Assistant Business Manger
A motion was made by Rev. Tetherly to pay Kathleen Bernier, Acting Assistant Business Manager, a bi-weekly stipend of five hundred eighteen dollars and four cents ($518.04) continuing on until four weeks after the official start date of the Business Manager.
The roll call vote was as follows:
Mayor Goyette - yes Mr. Cutter - yes
Mr. Brooks - yes Mrs. Wojcik - yes
Mr. Pise - yes Rev. Tetherly - yes
Mrs. Lopes - yes Mr. Lamothe - yes
Mr. Chapdelaine - yes Mrs. Costello - yes
Mr. Szetela - yes Mrs. Lecca - yes
The roll call vote was 12 yes and the motion PASSED.
Adjournment:
VOTED: On motion by Mrs. Lecca to adjourn at 10:00 PM
Hand vote – 12 present in favor and the motion PASSED.
Respectfully Submitted,
Richard W. Rege Jr.
School Committee Secretary
RWR/sh