RHS PARENT GROUP MEETING MINUTES
MONDAY, APRIL 2, 2007

WELCOME: Pegi Shea welcomed everyone tonight. She introduced Interim Superintendent, Rich Paskiewicz.

BUDGET PRESENTATION: Board of Education budget for 2007-2008 is $45,443,290 which is a 5.92% increase. Some of the breakdown:

Operational Income

• Salary changes $1,209,899 2.82%; Benefit change (went down by $239,968 -0.56%)

Restoration Request

• .50 Literacy "coach" Northeast School
• Teacher of remedial math VCMS
• Para to support inclusion Northeast School, Para for Lake Street School and Talcottville
• Restore Freshmen sports
• Custodian at VCMS, Center Road School, and Skinner Road School
• Painter - 3 days a week. District

New Staff/Programs

• Elementary School teacher location to be determined
• Guidance Counselor, Family Consumer Science teacher, additional support for RHS Marching Band - RHS
• School Psychologist - MSS
• Speech/Language pathologist - District
• Replace uniform for RHS Marching Band
• Para for SRS & MSS

Teacher Replacements

• Retirements from teachers

Capital Projects - 3 main projects:

• $100,000 Intercom system - RHS
• $50,000 Foundation repair - Talcottville School
• $285,000Water Damage - Central Administration Building

Kindergarten will be level this year. There will be an increase with in the next few years.

FOOD SERVICES PRESENTATION: Monica Pacheko, Director of Food Services spoke to us. She handed out a School wellness and the new CT State Law packet.

All schools had to have a district wide School Wellness Policy in place for the start of the 2006-07 year. It had to address nutrition, physical activity, and student education. The committee was comprised of parents, students, school food service, school nurse, physical education/health education coordinator or teacher, school board, school administrator, and the public. The CT lawmakers came up the CT Law 06-63, An Act Concerning Food and Beverages in Schools. There are two parts to the law:

1. Only milk, non-dairy milk, water, 100% fruit or vegetable juice, and water and juice mixed beverages can be sold to students. The board can approve exceptions for after school activities.
2. Requires that all a la carte offerings (those foods that are not sold as the main school lunch) must comply with the states healthy guidelines. Baked chips, low fat cookies, and 100% fruit juice slushies are now available. It is the goal of the Wellness Council to apply for the optional Healthy Food Certification for the upcoming school year.

AD HOC VOTING COMMITTEE: Connie English & Tom Didio are reps along with the Republicans and Democrats. Some ideas they were thinking of:

• Mock referendum - similar to a mock election
• Voter registration drive. Susan will come to RHS
• News release of what we lost
• Curbside voting
• Target ages 35-55 (Do not vote)

UPDATE: A PAC has been formed to help pass the budget. PASS stands for Parents Advocating for Schools and Services. If you're interested in joining/helping, please email Pegi. Saturday, April 28, there will be a "windshield stuffer" at all sports parks in town. If you wish to help, please meet Tom, Connie and Pegi on the "island" in front of the VCMS main entrance 

ANNOUNCEMENTS, UPDATES, QUESTIONS, AND ANSWERS: At the May meeting talk about Building renovations. Lock in Volleyball tournament was a big success. The kids seemed to have a good time. Concerned about the Mardi Gras dance. The dance ended 1/2 hour earlier because of inappropriate dancing. The administration will address the issue. Freshman Academy - for all 9^th graders. More info. to come.

Dates to remember:

Thursday, May 3^rd VCMS PTO meeting 7:00 Brian Levesque will be speaking
Monday, May 7^th Next Parent Group meeting
Monday, June 4^th PG meeting
Cindy Madden, Executive Board Member