Regular Meeting of the School Committee

180 Broadway, Chicopee, MA 01020

 

March 1, 2006

 

The following members were present:  Mayor Bissonnette, David Barsalou, Marjorie Wojcik, Michael Pise, Debra Styckiewicz, Susan Lopes, Donald Lamothe, Sharon Nawrocki, Mary Beth Costello and Chester Szetela.

 

Absent were Dana Cutter and Susan Lecca.

 

Also present were:  Richard W. Rege, Jr., James Devine, JoAnn Kupiec, Debra Schneeweis, Ronald Simard, Janet Reid, Sarah Hoar, Adrian Flink, Andrea Stolar, Laurie Conz, Neiva Frumpkin, Erin Peterson, Rosemarie Parker, Carrie Hurley, Pedro Ricardo, Jennifer Carmody, Melinda Fortuna, Sandy Mann, John Sypek, Atty. Claire Thompson, Atty. Michael Sweet, Sandra Stasiowski, Debbie McCarthy and Chuck Fasnacht.

 

Superintendent’s Briefing:

The Superintendent’s briefing convened at 6:30 PM.  The Superintendent reviewed the evening’s agenda.  The Committee discussed the Energy Management Consultant Services offered by Energy Education Inc. and the Admissions to Secondary School Sponsored/Supervised Events Policy.

 

Call To Order:

The meeting was called to order by Mayor Bissonnette, Chairperson, 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 Bissonnette      - present                      Mr. Cutter                   - absent          

Mr. Barsalou               - present                      Mrs. Wojcik                 - present

Mr. Pise                       - present                      Mrs. Styckiewicz         - present

Mrs. Lopes                  - present                      Mr. Lamothe               - present

Mrs. Nawrocki            - present                      Mrs. Costello               - present

Mr. Szetela                 - present                      Mrs. Lecca                  - absent

The roll call indicated 10 members present and 2 absent.

 

Public Announcements:        

Mr. Rege acknowledged the artwork provided by Litwin School and announced the up-coming Parent Academy, as well as, the up-coming Kindergarten registration period.

 

Open Public Input:                

John Sypek addressed the Committee regarding energy management consultant services.

  

State of the Schools Presentation:  Special Education

Debra Schneeweis, Director of Special Education, gave a brief PowerPoint presentation showing demographics, programs, services and budget drivers for fiscal year 2007.

 

State of the Schools Presentation:  Szetela Early Childhood School

Mrs. Reid, Principal, Szetela Early Childhood School, gave a brief PowerPoint presentation showing Szetela’s enrollment, evaluation procedures, typical day, accomplishments, and future plans.

 

Approval of Minutes:

 

06-3-1                                                  

VOTED:  On motion by Mr. Barsalou to approve the minutes of the Committee as a Whole Meeting of the  School Committee held on February 14, 2006.    

Hand vote – 10 present in favor – 2 absent and the motion PASSED.

 

06-3-2                                                  

VOTED:  On motion by Mr. Lamothe to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting of the School Committee held on February 15, 2006.    

Hand vote – 10 present in favor – 2 absent and the motion PASSED.

 

Reports:

 

06-3-3                                                  

VOTED:  On motion by Mrs. Styckiewicz to receive the Damage to Buildings Report.

Hand vote – 10 present in favor – 2 absent and the motion PASSED.

 

06-3-4                                                  

VOTED:  On motion by Mrs. Costello to receive the Continuing Education Fall Semester Final Report 2005/2006.

Hand vote – 10 present in favor – 2 absent and the motion PASSED.

 

06-3-5                                                  

VOTED:  On motion by Mrs. Nawrocki to receive the minutes of the Policy and Human Resources Subcommittee held on February 8, 2006.

Hand vote – 10 present in favor – 2 absent and the motion PASSED.

 

Communications and Other Matters:

 

06-3-6                                                  

VOTED:  On motion by Mr. Pise to remove the following procedures from Section E of the Policy Manual, updated and placed in Section E of the Procedures Manual as recommended by the Policy and Human Resources Subcommittee: Chemical Hygiene Plan, Procedures for Fire Alarms/Drills, Building Evacuation and Investigations, Evacuation Plan for the Chicopee Public Schools, Procedures for School Delays/Cancellations, Procedures for Transportation Requests, Building Security Policy, School Safety Committee Procedure, Crisis Intervention Guidelines, Library Media Technology Procedures, and Integrated Pest Management Procedures.

Hand vote – 10 present in favor – 2 absent and the motion PASSED.

 

06-3-7                                                  

VOTED:  On motion by Mrs. Lopes to approve the first reading of Section E of the Policy Manual, as recommended by the Policy and Human Resources Subcommittee.

Hand vote – 10 present in favor – 2 absent and the motion PASSED.

 

06-3-8                                                  

VOTED:  On motion by Mr. Szetela to have the Superintendent of Schools place School Committee minutes on their website for the duration of one fiscal year (July 1 – June 30).

Hand vote – 10 present in favor – 2 absent and the motion PASSED.

 

06-3-9                                                  

VOTED:  On motion by Mr. Barsalou to approve the first reading of the CORI Policy (File: GBL-A), as recommended by the Policy and Human Resources Subcommittee.

Hand vote – 10 present in favor – 2 absent and the motion PASSED.

 

06-3-10                                              

VOTED:  On motion by Mr. Lamothe to approve the first reading of the Renaming Facilities Policy (File: FFA), as recommended by the Policy and Human Resources Subcommittee.

Hand vote – 10 present in favor – 2 absent and the motion PASSED.

 

06-3-11                                              

VOTED:  On motion by Mrs. Styckiewicz to approve the 2005-2006 School Committee Summer Meeting Schedule.

Hand vote – 10 present in favor – 2 absent and the motion PASSED.

 

06-3-12                                              

VOTED:  On motion by Mrs. Costello to approve the 2006-2007 School Committee Meeting Schedule.

Hand vote – 10 present in favor – 2 absent and the motion PASSED.

 

06-3-13                                              

VOTED:  On motion by Mrs. Nawrocki to approve the School Improvement Plan for Szetela Early Childhood School contingent upon funding.

Hand vote – 10 present in favor – 2 absent and the motion PASSED.

 

06-3-14                                              

VOTED:  On motion by Mr. Pise to approve the second reading of the Admissions to Secondary School Sponsored/Supervised Events Policy.  

Hand vote – 10 present in favor – 2 absent and the motion PASSED.

 

06-3-15                                              

VOTED:  On motion by Mrs. Lopes to remove Energy Management Consultant Services from the table.

Hand vote – 10 present in favor – 2 absent and the motion PASSED.

 

Old Business:

 

Energy Education Inc.

A motion was made by Mr. Pise to approve the Energy Education Inc. contract for three years.

The roll call vote was as follows:      

                Mayor Bissonnette             - yes                        Mr. Cutter                             - absent

                Mr. Barsalou                       - no                         Mrs. Wojcik                         - yes

                Mr. Pise                                 - yes                        Mrs. Styckiewicz                 - yes

                Mrs. Lopes                            - yes                        Mr. Lamothe                        - no

                Mrs. Nawrocki                     - yes                        Mrs. Costello                       - yes       

                Mr. Szetela                           - yes                        Mrs. Lecca                            - absent

The roll call vote was 8 yes – 2 no – 2 absent and the motion PASSED.

 

Mr. and Mrs. Czelusniak Day

VOTED:  On motion by Mrs. Costello to have Mayor Bissonnette proclaim June 2, 2006 Mr. and Mrs. Czelusniak Day in Chicopee, thanking them for their combined 78 years of service.

Hand vote – 10 present in favor – 2 absent and the motion PASSED.

 

Special Education Funding

VOTED:  On motion by Mrs. Costello to send letters to Sen. Edward Kennedy and Sen. John Kerry requesting that they do not cut 94-142 funding for Special Education.

Hand vote – 10 present in favor – 2 absent and the motion PASSED.

 

Integrating Arts into the Curriculum

VOTED:  On motion by Mr. Barsalou to refer the Integrating Arts into the Curriculum informational materials to the Curriculum Subcommittee.

Hand vote – 10 present in favor – 2 absent and the motion PASSED.

 

Energy Education Inc.

A motion was made by Mrs. Nawrocki to authorize the Mayor to sign a three-year contract with Energy Education Inc.

The roll call vote was as follows:

                Mayor Bissonnette             - abstain                 Mr. Cutter                             - absent

                Mr. Barsalou                       - no                         Mrs. Wojcik                         - yes

                Mr. Pise                                 - yes                        Mrs. Styckiewicz                 - yes

                Mrs. Lopes                            - yes                        Mr. Lamothe                        - no

                Mrs. Nawrocki                     - yes                        Mrs. Costello                       - yes       

                Mr. Szetela                           - yes                        Mrs. Lecca                            - absent

The roll call vote was 7 yes – 2 no – 1 abstaining – 2 absent and the motion PASSED.

*Mayor Bissonnette abstained due to a conflict of interest.

 

Smaller Learning Communities

VOTED:  On motion by Mr. Pise to refer the Smaller Learning Communities Initiative: Response to Inquiries to the Curriculum Subcommittee.

Hand vote – 10 present in favor – 2 absent and the motion PASSED.

 

 

New Business:           None

 

 

Adjournment:

VOTED:  On motion by Mr. Lamothe to adjourn at 8:39 PM

Hand vote – 10  present in favor –2 absent and the motion PASSED.