Agendas & Minutes

Winchester Board of Education

Summer Retreat

July 22, 2019 - MINUTES

Invitees: Alexandria Propfe, Cheryl Heffernan, Christine Royer, Doug Pfenninger, Kristin Peterson, Melony Brady-Shanley, Michelle Hintz, Nora Mocarski, Richard Dutton, Shana DeVaux

Attendees: Cheryl Heffernan, Doug Pfenninger, Richard Dutton, Nora Mocarski, Melony Brady-Shanley

Absent Excused: S. DeVaux, M. Hintz, A. Propfe, K. Peterson, and C. Royer

1. Agenda Review
   1. Packet handed out and agenda reviewed
   2. Absentees - packet will be mailed home.
2. Review of the 2019 SBAC Assessment Scores
   1. Schedule of assessment calendar reviewed
   2. Professional Development schedule reviewed.
      1. Also to be included, but not written includes “pull-outs,” “walkthroughs,” and ‘data training.”
      2. Looking to embed social studies into ELA using Connecticut State Frameworks.
   3. Student data shared
      1. Chronic absenteeism dropped significantly in 2018/19
      2. SBAC Math and ELA scores have improved in general. Plan in place for Grade 4 (Math & Reading and Grade 5 (Reading).
   4. Teachers to be instructional, curriculum and assessment “specialists” for grades 4 and 5 to match what already happens to grade 6. For example:
      1. 2 teachers to teach ELA & Writing only
      2. 2 teachers to teach Math & Science only
3. Visioning for Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 12
   1. Information shared as to what we had to cut unexpectedly to meet the bill submitted by Gilbert difference ($177,486) as Gilbert submitted a bill to Winchester that was different from what was expected:
      1. Expected: $6475,000
      2. Billed unexpectedly: $6,943,193
      3. SHORTFALL: $468,193
         1. $150,000 will come from Additional Town Support for Non-Educational Expenses
         2. $100,000 will come from the BOE Non-Lapsing Fund
         3. $40,707 will come from “Reimbursement for Services” (ex: PT & OT)
         4. So, for the $177,486:
            1. ITEMS we will cut: Instructional supplies
            2. AND we have petitioned the State Department of Education to pay our Kindergarten Assistants and Interventionists into Commissioners Networks. Otherwise, these will have to be cut as well.
4. Revised/Updated Board of Education Goals 
   1. Discuss social media possibilities at a future date with the full board
   2. To increase communication with the Town Board of Selectmen & Chamber of Commerce.
      1. FYI presentations instruction, finance, capital, and operational initiatives
      2. Student Council to present a fall and spring; To hear from bus monitors
   3. New board member orientation meeting to review committees and policies for Board members, and general introductions
   4. Retention of administration, faculty, and staff
   5. Increase one Preschool section for the 2020-2021 school year (3 and 4-year-olds): We are looking to expand it by one teacher given our waitlist/demand. Wish to open another classroom. Currently, we are at 18 kids per class. We have classroom space, but we would like to add one more staff member. Currently a waitlist at 7 or 8 people.
5. Review of DRAFT 5 Year Capital Improvement Plan
   1. A five-year plan was presented. Note that this is a draft plan.
   2. A special note was that Pearson will need a new roof in 2024+
6. Open Discussion
   1. None.

Minutes submitted by Nora M. Mocarski, Board Secretary