BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT: Brad Bremer

ADMINISTRATION PRESENT: James Chittum, Beth Driscoll

OTHERS PRESENT: Keirsten Williams

1. Meeting Call to Order :  The meeting was called to order at 7:03 p.m. by Susan Read  Stanton.

2. Pledge to the Flag:  The Board recited the pledge.

3. Consideration of the Minutes:  Sherri Gray moved to approve the Minutes of the Regular Board of Education Meeting of November 5, 2008 with one change to 8.b.:  "Enrollment is projected to decline in the next ten years."  Lisa Fragale seconded the motion.  Unanimously approved.

4. Public Comment:  None.

5. Correspondence:  Greg Nichols and John Rigby submitted letters of resignation from the  Board of Education.  Sherri Gray moved and Jeanne Jones seconded the motion to amend  the agenda to include discussion of the resignations.  Unanimously approved.

Greg Nichols moved to accept John Rigby's resignation as of January 7, 2009.  Sherri Gray seconded the motion.  Unanimously approved.

  John Rigby moved and Lisa Fragale seconded the motion to accept Greg Nichols  resignation as of Jan 7, 2009.  Unanimously approved.

6.   Budget:

     a. Capital Spending – There were no adjustments in the report.

7. Unfinished Business: 

     a. 2007-2008 Strategic School Profile – The State compiles the profile using various  data points. The following data points were discussed by the Board and the  Superintendent.  94% of student population is significant due to the lack of  options close by.  The 5-year enrollment change is -10.9%.  CCS has 10.7% of  students eligible for free or reduced lunches.  Total hours of instruction are above  average at 1,002 hours.  Sixth Grade CMT reading and writing scores are at  100%.  Math is 95%.  Land, building and debt service is below elementary  districts, DRG and State.

     b. 9000 Bylaws of the Board Policies for Approval – The Bylaws of the Board of    Education are on the agenda for final approval.  John Rigby moved that all    existing Board of Education policies addressing Board of Education Bylaws and    coded with the letters BL followed by a 3-digit number be replaced by Policies    9000, 9010, 9012, 9020, 9110, 9120, 9130, 9140, 9200, 9221, 9230, 9240, 9250,    9270, 9271, 9312, 9313, 9321, 9322, 9325.1, 9325.4, 9326, 9327, 9330, and 9350.

Greg Nichols seconded the motion.  Unanimously approved.

     c. Teacher Contract Negotiation – It was unanimously agreed to discuss this item in    public.  The Voluntary Early Retirement Plan has been revised to occur earlier    and longer.  Teachers have additional time to consider the plan.  The timeframe    also allows budgetary consideration.  Sherri Gray moved to approve the     Voluntary Early Retirement Plan as submitted by Superintendent Chittum.  Greg    Nichols seconded the motion.  Unanimously approved.

8. New Business:  None

9. Superintendent's Report – Enrollment has stayed the same; however, there may be an increase in January.

10. Committee Reports :

     a. Building & Grounds – The CL&P study and effort to find ways to control   heating/utility costs is underway.  TRANE was recommended for consultation.   Their representative offered to provide benchmarking on expenditures.  The  Building & Grounds Committee would then review and consider recommending   a complete audit.  The cost to upgrade and improve would need to be provided via  performance contracting.  If no action is taken, the exit fee is about $2,000

     b. CABE – No report.

     c. Curriculum – The Committee will meet on December 10^th at 1:00 p.m

     d. Education Connection – No report.
    
     e. Facilities Study – There was a meeting last Tuesday to review options and costs.   There are six configurations/options.  The Committee will meet on Saturday  morning and again next week to work through the options.  A timeline was  suggested and discussed with a referendum in late March or early April.  A  possible date for a special meeting is December 17 ^th.

     f. Personnel & Policy – No report.

     g. Shared Services – No report.

     h. Strategic Plan – CABE or Education Connection are options for the plan

     i. Transportation – No report.

11. Adjournment – The motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Greg Nichols and seconded by Jeanne Jones.  Unanimously approved.  The meeting adjourned at 8:35 p.m.

       Respectfully submitted,