By: Andrew Pelletier

The Northwestern Regional Board of Ed met on Wednesday, September 14. In attendance was Althea “Candy” Perez – Middle school Principal, Ken Chichester – High School Principal, Judith Palmer – Superintendent, Roger Newbury – Director of Finance, Molly Sexton Read – Chair and representative for Barkhamsted, Janice Dorazio – Vice Chair and representative for Colebrook, Rob Jerram – Representing New Hartford, Mark Lanctot – Representing Barkhamsted, Noel Gauthier – Representing New Hartford, Terri Kenneson – Representing Colebrook, and Deb Bell representative for Norfolk. Also in attendance were Senior, Lindsay Humphrey and Junior, Erika Gentile, representing the Regional 7 High School student body.

Following are some of the agenda items discussed at the meeting. For the official minutes of this meeting, when they become available, please visit the Board of Education section of the Regional 7 website.

2. Public Portion: Regionalization Committee Report

For electronic copy of the ‘Report on the Addition of Grades K-6′ produced by the Region 7 Study Committee please see our September 20 post Report On Regionalization By Region 7 Study Committee: Downloadable Copies Of Report & Appendices.

The Regionalization Committee (aka Region 7 Study Committee) had been convened by Regional 7 in the spring of 2010 at the request of two of its member towns, Colebrook and New Hartford, to study the addition of elementary grades (grades K-6) to Regional 7. The Committee was made up of two representatives from each of the Regional 7 towns, one from the local Board of Ed and one from each town’s Board of Finance, as well as a member of the Regional 7 Board of Ed for each of the member towns. There was also a state Board of Education member, Ronald Harris.

The New Hartford representatives on the Committee were Jennifer Zenuh of the New Hartford Public Schools Board of Ed (who was elected Chairman), Laura Sundquist from the town’s Board of Finance and Rob Jerram of the Regional 7 Board of Ed; see Appendix 6.14 of the report for the complete list of committee members.

Jim Millar presents the findings with Jenn Zenuh standing at the back of the principals

Jim Millar of the Colebrook Board of Finance went through a Powerpoint presentation of the Committee’s findings for the Regional 7 Board members. Also present was Jenn Zenuh, the chairwoman of the Committee. The report detailed pros and cons regarding the inclusion of grades K-6 into regional 7 which would include the towns of New Hartford, Colebrook, Norfolk, and Barkhamsted. Based on their findngs,  two motions had been put in front of the Committee members: the first, to “recommend the addition of grades k-6 to Region 7″ was defeated 8:1; however, a second motion stating that “regionalizing grades K-6 with Region 7 is inadvisable”, was approved 5:0,  but there were 4 abstentions. The Committee concluded that the abstentions reflected a sentiment that circumstances may change to favor the expansion of Region 7 in the future (see page 2 of the report).

Jim Millar summarized the reasons the Committee didn’t recommend regionalizing as follows:

• The difference in the cost per student at the local schools meant that the larger towns of  New Hartford and Barkhamsted would have to subsidize the two smaller towns of Norfolk and Colebrook; the cost per student for New Hartford and Barkhamsted would increase while that of the smaller towns would decrease.uld decrease.
• The regionalization of the elementary schools would not provide any major cost savings, when compared to the cost per student at Regions 6, 10 and 12.
• Academic performance also wouldn’t benefit from regionalization since the Regional 7 towns’ test scores compare favorably with those of other regionalized K-12 school systems.
• Many of the potential advantages resulting from regionalization have already been realized by the establishment of the Regional Superintendents’ Coordinating Council, the K-12 Curriculum Council, and Shared Services. Jim Millar pointed out that New Hartford was the only town that did not participate in Shared Services, which provides Special Ed services to the Region 7 member districts as well as other districts.

For an in-depth analysis of the costs per students, test scores, special ed services, etc. please refer to the ’Report on the Addition of Grades K-6′ which we will make available as a downloadable file once we receive a copy.

The Regional 7 Board of Education members thanked the members of the Region 7 Committee for their professionalism and thorough study.

The Region 7 Committee will be making presentations of their report to each member town. The date of the New Hartford presentation, which will be to the combined Board of Ed and Board of Finance, has yet to be established.

2. Opportunity for Public to Speak on Agenda Items

Maria Moore of New Hartford submitted a letter to the Regional 7 Board of Ed asking them to conduct a feasibility study to determine whether it would be in the best interest of the students at the Middle and High Schools to add a football field to the field space available to the Regional 7 Sports program. She told the Regional Board of Ed members that New Hartford had formed the Brodie South Study Committee that was looking into locating sites in town to accommodate a regulation-sized football field to be used initially by the Wolverines, a regional football program for 7 to 14 years with players form Norfolk, Winsted, Colebrook, Barkhamsted and New Hartford; the field would also be used to accommodate future youth sports programs, such as Lacrosse. The cost of developing such a field has been estimated to cost $200,000-$400,000 by the Youth Sports representative on the Brodie South committee. She told the Board members that the Chairman of that study committee had invited members of the community to explore other options and bring them back to the committee for consideration, and she had chosen to explore the option of having the field be part of Regional # 7.

The Chairwoman of the Board accepted her letter and said they would consider it and give her a response in writing as requested; dowload a copy of Maria Moore’s letter: Request For Feasibility Study For Football Field At Regiona # 7 (65).

5.  Old Business: GN Football

Later in their meeting, the Regional 7 Board gave an update on the Gilbert-Northwestern co-op Football program. There are now 31 players from Regional 7 out of the total 40. At 32 players or over, according to their association’s guidelines, the co-op must be dissolved and Regional will have to come up with some other arrangement for their football players. Regional 7 will be arranging a meeting with the football association to negotiate an extension while they come up with a solution. The Board agreed that there was no field space available at Regional; however, a Board member mentioned a farm near Regional that has been for sale for some time as a possible location for new playing fields.

The Board members agreed to continue exploring their options to accommodate Football at Regional.

4. Principals’ Reports

Candy Perez, Middle School Principal, said that everybody is settling in and adjustments to scheduling are being made. Seventh graders will also be taking a field trip to Boulder ridge for a day of trust, bonding and mentoring activities like zip-lining and rock wall climbing.

Ken Chichester, Principal of Regional 7 High School, announced that the year is off to a wonderful start and plans meetings with small groups of what he calls “school climate committees”. Students will be asked what they feel would enhance their learning experience and the quality of their learning environment. Issues vary from how kids treat one another and how some dress, to issues of bullying and intolerance. Mr. Chichester explained that one should be able to walk into the school and feel a positive school climate not only from the students but from the teachers and staff as well. He’s not only striving to have the best school climate in Connecticut, he wants to have the best school climate in the country!

On September 28th, the Highlander Fair will take place. Caps, gowns and yearbooks can be pre-ordered and there will be a number of vendors on hand. There will also be a Prescription drug disposal program available with a pharmacist and a police officer present. Bring in old, unwanted prescriptions and have them safely and securely disposed of.

5. Financial Reports

Roger Newbury, Director of Finance, reported that the school’s new oil tank has been fully approved, accepted and completed. New student parking has been created where they had available space for a few more vehicles. Permits have been obtained and within the next two months the school’s observatory will be put on its foundation and hopefully outfitted for star gazing before the first snows start to fly.

The Northwestern Regional # 7 Board of Ed with Superintendent Judy Palmer (in black suit), Business Manager Roger Newbury (next to Judy), and the two Student Council reps (on the far left)

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The agenda for the meeting reported on above was the following:

REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 7
BOARD OF EDUCATION
AGENDA

Wednesday, September 14, 2011
6:00 p.m.

Newbury Library-Media Center
Northwestern Regional High School\Middle School

1.0CALL TO ORDER

2.0 PUBLIC PORTION
2.1 Regionalization Committee Report
2.2 Opportunity for Public to Speak on Agenda Items

3.0 APPROVAL OF MINUTES
3.1 Minutes – August 24, 2011

4.0 REPORTS
4.1 Student Representatives Reports – L. Humphrey, E. Gentile
4.2 Principals’ Reports – C. Perez, K. Chichester
4.3 Superintendent’s Report – J. Palmer
4.4 Director of Finance and Operations’ Report – R. Newbury

5.0 OLD BUSINESS
5.0 Updates
5.1 GN Football

6.0 NEW BUSINESS
6.1 Policy Review (First Reading) – #5113.2 Truancy

7.0 CORRESPONDENCE

8.0 OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC TO SPEAK ON AGENDA ITEMS

9.0 EXECUTIVE SESSION
9.1 Negotiations

10.0 POSSIBLE ACTION ON EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEMS

11.0 ADJOURNMENT

Enclosures: Minutes – August 24, 2011; Policy Draft #5113.2 Truancy

[ The following are goals posted at the beginning of each agenda ]

Goals for Regional School District No. 7 Board of Education 2011-2012:
To stay abreast of 21st Century teaching and learning technologies that will equip students for future success.
To ensure existing programs, staffing needs and resources remain appropriate for Regional School District No. 7.
To continually assess Board of Education organization and operations.
To continue to expand and enhance communication to the public and community.
To continue to pursue advocacy for public education.