Regular Meeting of the School Committee

180 Broadway, Chicopee, MA 01020

June 6, 2007

The following members were present: Dana Cutter, David Barsalou, Marjorie Wojcik, Michael Pise, Deborah Styckiewicz, Donald Lamothe, Sharon Nawrocki and Chester Szetela.

Absent were Mayor Michael Bissonnette, Susan Lopes, Mary Beth Costello and Susan Lecca.

Also present were: Richard W. Rege, Jr., Debra Schneeweis, Stephen Nembirkow, Ronald Simard, Kenneth Parsons, Sarah Hoar, Chuck Fasnacht (EEI), Rodney Laskowski, Claire Thompson, Esq., and Jeanette DeForge (The Republican).

Superintendent’s Briefing:

The Superintendent’s briefing convened at 6:30 PM. Mr. Rege, Superintendent of Schools, reviewed the evening’s agenda.

Call To Order:

The meeting was called to order by Mrs. Wojcik, Vice-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 - absent Mr. Cutter - present

Mr. Barsalou - present Mrs. Wojcik - present

Mr. Pise - present Mrs. Styckiewicz - absent

Mrs. Lopes - absent Mr. Lamothe - present

Mrs. Nawrocki - present Mrs. Costello - absent

Mr. Szetela - present Mrs. Lecca - absent

The roll call indicated 7 members present – 5 absent.

Public Announcements:

Mr. Rege announced school-related news, awards, and activities of interest to the viewing public.

Open Public Input:

Rodney Laskowski addressed the School Committee regarding the Procedure for Hiring Coaches.

Visitors: Kenneth Parsons, Energy Manager, Energy Education Inc.

Mr. Parsons gave a presentation on the district’s savings over the first nine months of the Energy Education Inc. program. Charles Fasnacht presented Superintendent Rege with the Award for Energy Stewardship.

*Mrs. Styckiewicz arrived at 7:10 PM.

Approval of Minutes:

07-6-1

Voted: On motion by Mr. Szetela to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting of the School Committee held on May 16, 2007.

Hand vote – 8 present in favor – 4 absent and the motion PASSED.

07-6-2

Voted: On motion by Mr. Cutter to approve the minutes of the Committee as a Whole Meeting of the School Committee held on May 22, 2007.

Hand vote – 8 present in favor – 4 absent and the motion PASSED.

07-6-3

Voted: On motion by Mr. Pise to approve the minutes of the Committee as a Whole Meeting of the School Committee held on May 30, 2007.

Hand vote – 8 present in favor – 4 absent and the motion PASSED.

Financial Matters:

07-6-4

A motion was made by Mrs. Nawrocki to approve the transfer of funds (10) totaling $275,535.00.

The roll call vote was as follows:

Mayor Bissonnette - absent Mr. Cutter - yes

Mr. Barsalou - yes Mrs. Wojcik - yes

Mr. Pise - yes Mrs. Styckiewicz - yes

Mrs. Lopes - absent Mr. Lamothe - yes

Mrs. Nawrocki - yes Mrs. Costello - absent

Mr. Szetela - yes Mrs. Lecca - absent

The roll call vote was 8 yes – 4 absent and the motion PASSED.

07-6-5

A motion was made by Mrs. Styckiewicz to approve the bills totaling $495,057.98 (Warrant S052507).

The roll call vote was as follows:

Mayor Bissonnette - absent Mr. Cutter - yes

Mr. Barsalou - yes Mrs. Wojcik - yes

Mr. Pise - yes Mrs. Styckiewicz - yes

Mrs. Lopes - absent Mr. Lamothe - abstain

Mrs. Nawrocki - yes Mrs. Costello - absent

Mr. Szetela - yes Mrs. Lecca - absent

The roll call vote was 7 yes – 1 abstain – 4 absent and the motion PASSED.

*Mr. Lamothe abstained due to a conflict of interest.

07-6-6

A motion was made by Mr. Barsalou to approve the bills totaling $202,817.64 (Warrant S060107).

The roll call vote was as follows:

Mayor Bissonnette - absent Mr. Cutter - yes

Mr. Barsalou - yes Mrs. Wojcik - yes

Mr. Pise - yes Mrs. Styckiewicz - yes

Mrs. Lopes - absent Mr. Lamothe - yes

Mrs. Nawrocki - yes Mrs. Costello - absent

Mr. Szetela - yes Mrs. Lecca - absent

The roll call vote was 8 yes – 4 absent and the motion PASSED.

07-6-7

A motion was made by Mr. Lamothe to approve the bills totaling $245,739.64 (Warrant S060807).

The roll call vote was as follows:

Mayor Bissonnette - absent Mr. Cutter - yes

Mr. Barsalou - yes Mrs. Wojcik - yes

Mr. Pise - yes Mrs. Styckiewicz - yes

Mrs. Lopes - absent Mr. Lamothe - yes

Mrs. Nawrocki - yes Mrs. Costello - absent

Mr. Szetela - yes Mrs. Lecca - absent

The roll call vote was 8 yes – 4 absent and the motion PASSED.

07-6-8

A motion was made by Mr. Szetela to approve the revised contract between George Sakellis, Grants Administrator, and Richard W. Rege, Jr., Superintendent of Schools and to authorize the Chairperson to sign.

The roll call vote was as follows:

Mayor Bissonnette - absent Mr. Cutter - yes

Mr. Barsalou - yes Mrs. Wojcik - no

Mr. Pise - yes Mrs. Styckiewicz - yes

Mrs. Lopes - absent Mr. Lamothe - yes

Mrs. Nawrocki - yes Mrs. Costello - absent

Mr. Szetela - yes Mrs. Lecca - absent

The roll call vote was 7 yes – 1 no – 4 absent and the motion PASSED.

07-6-9

A motion was made by Mr. Cutter to approve the lease agreement between the Metropolitan Springfield YMCA and the Chicopee School Committee for the use of Belcher School and to authorize the Chairperson to sign.

The roll call vote was as follows:

Mayor Bissonnette - absent Mr. Cutter - yes

Mr. Barsalou - yes Mrs. Wojcik - yes

Mr. Pise - yes Mrs. Styckiewicz - yes

Mrs. Lopes - absent Mr. Lamothe - yes

Mrs. Nawrocki - yes Mrs. Costello - absent

Mr. Szetela - yes Mrs. Lecca - absent

The roll call vote was 8 yes – 4 absent and the motion PASSED.

07-6-10

A motion was made by Mr. Pise to approve the lease agreement between the Metropolitan Springfield YMCA and the Chicopee School Committee for the use of Stefanik School and to authorize the Chairperson to sign.

The roll call vote was as follows:

Mayor Bissonnette - absent Mr. Cutter - yes

Mr. Barsalou - yes Mrs. Wojcik - yes

Mr. Pise - yes Mrs. Styckiewicz - yes

Mrs. Lopes - absent Mr. Lamothe - yes

Mrs. Nawrocki - yes Mrs. Costello - absent

Mr. Szetela - yes Mrs. Lecca - absent

The roll call vote was 8 yes – 4 absent and the motion PASSED.

Reports:

07-6-11

Voted: On motion by Mrs. Nawrocki to receive minutes of the Curriculum Subcommittee held on May 1, 2007.

Hand vote – 8 present in favor – 4 absent and the motion PASSED.

07-6-12

Voted: On motion by Mrs. Styckiewicz to receive the minutes of the Finance and Budget Subcommittee held on May 8, 2007.

Hand vote – 8 present in favor – 4 absent and the motion PASSED.

Communications and Other Matters:

07-6-13

A motion was made by Mr. Barsalou to approve the home education plans, as listed.

The roll call vote was as follows:

Mayor Bissonnette - absent Mr. Cutter - yes

Mr. Barsalou - yes Mrs. Wojcik - yes

Mr. Pise - yes Mrs. Styckiewicz - yes

Mrs. Lopes - absent Mr. Lamothe - yes

Mrs. Nawrocki - yes Mrs. Costello - absent

Mr. Szetela - yes Mrs. Lecca - absent

The roll call vote was 8 yes – 4 absent and the motion PASSED.

07-6-14

Voted: On motion by Mr. Barsalou to delete agenda item #07-6-14 (move that the 2007-2008 Discipline Code be approved).

Hand vote – 8 present in favor – 4 absent and the motion PASSED.

07-6-15

Voted: On motion by Mr. Lamothe to approve the revised 2007-2008 School Calendar.

Hand vote – 8 present in favor – 4 absent and the motion PASSED.

07-6-16

Voted: On motion by Mr. Szetela to delete agenda item #07-6-16 (move that the 2007-2008 School Committee Meeting Schedule be approved).

Hand vote – 8 present in favor – 4 absent and the motion PASSED.

07-6-17

A motion was made by Mr. Cutter to approve 2007-2008 Program of Studies for Chicopee Comprehensive High School and Chicopee High School.

The roll call vote was as follows:

Mayor Bissonnette - absent Mr. Cutter - yes

Mr. Barsalou - yes Mrs. Wojcik - yes

Mr. Pise - yes Mrs. Styckiewicz - yes

Mrs. Lopes - absent Mr. Lamothe - yes

Mrs. Nawrocki - yes Mrs. Costello - absent

Mr. Szetela - yes Mrs. Lecca - absent

The roll call vote was 8 yes – 4 absent and the motion PASSED.

07-6-18

Voted: On motion by Mr. Pise to approve the revised 2006-2007 Summer Meeting Schedule.

Hand vote – 8 present in favor – 4 absent and the motion PASSED.

07-6-19

A motion was made by Mrs. Nawrocki to waive the School Committee Meetings Policy (File: B13) so that the Salary Task Force Meeting scheduled for June 14, 2007 may begin at 6:30 PM.

The roll call vote was as follows:

Mayor Bissonnette - absent Mr. Cutter - yes

Mr. Barsalou - yes Mrs. Wojcik - yes

Mr. Pise - yes Mrs. Styckiewicz - yes

Mrs. Lopes - absent Mr. Lamothe - yes

Mrs. Nawrocki - yes Mrs. Costello - absent

Mr. Szetela - yes Mrs. Lecca - absent

The roll call vote was 8 yes – 4 absent and the motion PASSED.

07-6-20

Voted: On motion by Mrs. Styckiewicz to refer the DRAFT Fiscal Accounting and Reporting policy to the Policy and Human Resources Subcommittee.

Hand vote – 8 present in favor – 4 absent and the motion PASSED.

Old Business:

Procedure for Hiring Coaches

Voted: On motion by Mrs. Nawrocki to refer the Procedure for Hiring Coaches to the Policy and Human Resources Subcommittee.

Hand vote – 8 present in favor – 4 absent and the motion PASSED.

Subcommittee Pending List

Voted: On motion by Mrs. Nawrocki that the Subcommittee Pending List be reviewed by each Chairperson at the next regular meeting and items be deleted if need be.

Hand vote – 8 present in favor – 4 absent and the motion PASSED.

New Business:

Foreign Language Class: Chinese

Voted: On motion by Mr. Cutter to have the Superintendent of Schools explore adding Chinese to the curriculum and to report back to the School Committee.

Hand vote – 8 present in favor – 4 absent and the motion PASSED.

Summer Projects

Voted: On motion by Mrs. Nawrocki to receive for the next regular meeting a prioritized punch list from the maintenance department for summer projects planned in our schools.

Hand vote – 8 present in favor – 4 absent and the motion PASSED.

Referral to Subcommittee

Voted: On motion by Mr. Lamothe to refer the Tardy Policy, Disciplining Students with Special Needs Policy and the School Committee Meetings Policy to the Policy and Human Resources Subcommittee.

Hand vote – 8 present in favor – 4 absent and the motion PASSED.

Naming of Facilities

A motion was made by Mr. Lamothe to remove the Naming of Facilities at Chicopee High School, specifically the Louis M. Skaza Gymnasium, from the Facilities Subcommittee.

The roll call vote was as follows:

Mayor Bissonnette - absent Mr. Cutter - yes

Mr. Barsalou - yes Mrs. Wojcik - yes

Mr. Pise - yes Mrs. Styckiewicz - yes

Mrs. Lopes - absent Mr. Lamothe - yes

Mrs. Nawrocki - yes Mrs. Costello - absent

Mr. Szetela - yes Mrs. Lecca - absent

The roll call vote was 8 yes – 4 absent and the motion PASSED.

Voted: On motion by Mr. Lamothe to place a memorial plaque in remembrance of Louis M. Skaza, and other Chicopee High School graduates who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving their country, in the main side entrance foyer at Chicopee High School.

Hand vote – 8 present in favor – 4 absent and the motion PASSED.

Executive Session

A motion was made by Mr. Lamothe to adjourn into Executive Session at 8:03 PM for the purpose of collective bargaining and we will not return to the regular order of business.

The roll call vote was as follows:

Mayor Bissonnette - absent Mr. Cutter - yes

Mr. Barsalou - yes Mrs. Wojcik - yes

Mr. Pise - yes Mrs. Styckiewicz - yes

Mrs. Lopes - absent Mr. Lamothe - yes

Mrs. Nawrocki - yes Mrs. Costello - absent

Mr. Szetela - yes Mrs. Lecca - absent

The roll call vote was 8 yes – 4 absent and the motion PASSED.