The Kent Board of Education held its regular monthly meeting on Thursday, January 8, 2009.  Present were:  Chairman Karren Garrity, presiding, Kendra Galusha, Scott Harvey, Tracy Horosky, Carol Kallstrom,  Patti Leo, Superintendent of Schools Patricia Chamberlain, Principal Rima Zelvis, teachers Carolyn MacLeod and Lee Sohl, and two members of the press.

Karren Garrity called the meeting to order at 7 p.m.

1. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA:  Carol Kallstrom made a motion to:

            Approve the agenda with the addition of item 11. Executive Session –               anticipated.

The motion was seconded by Kendra Galusha and approved unanimously.

2.  APROVAL OF MINUTES:  Carol Kallstrom made a motion to:

            Approve the minutes of the December 4, 2008, as written.

The motion was seconded by Patti Leo and approved unanimously.

3.   COMMUNICATIONS: 
a) High School Student Report:  None

b) Comments: Karren Garrity reported that a final bill for the windows project was presented for payment by Wes Wyrick.

c) Written:  None

4.   PRINCIPAL’S REPORT: 

5.   COMMITTEE REPORTS: 
a) High School – Stephanie O’Rourke reported that there was another Long Range Committee meeting with Jonathan Costa.  A new Mission Statement is being worked on.  The first budget workshop was held today.

c)  Building Committee – Scott Harvey has agreed to chair this committee.

d)  Enrichment – The next meeting will be held on January 12th at 2 p.m.

e)  Transportation –  Contract negotiations should be complete at the next meeting to be held later this month.

f) Budget:  Rima Zelvis reported that at the December 12th meeting, she went line by line explaining any increase or decrease in line items in the 2009-2010 budget.  The next budget meeting will be January 16th at 2 p.m.  Karren Garrity reported that a presentation was made to the KCS faculty on HSA (Health Savings Account).  Emailing rather than mailing parents report cards and other correspondence is being considered in an effort to save money.

g) All Boards Chair –   The next meeting will be on January 20th at 5:30 at Sharon.

i) Technology – Tracy Horosky, Carolyn MacLeod, Charlie Taylor, and George Jacobsen met and worked on the three year (2009-2012) Technology Plan.  Another meeting is planned for later this month.

j)  Healthy Choices.

6.  SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS’ REPORT:  See attached.

    
7.  OLD BUSINESS:
a) School Visits - Patricia Chamberlain will ask Assistant Superintendent Diane Concalves for assistance in selecting schools for board members to visit.   The school visits will focus on target schools in the following areas:  Technology, Enrichment, Foreign Language, Mathematics and Engineering, Arts and Differential Teaching.
 
b) Going Green – Karren Garrity has been in touch with many community members, private schools, and organizations.  Out of these talks, a group called “A Brighter Idea” has been formed to work on energy conservation ideas.

c)  Superintendent review:  The Board will go into executive session at the end of the meeting for the Superintendent’s review.

8.  NEW BUSINESS - none

1.   COMMENTS:  Tracy Horosky would like a more formal collaboration with the private schools in Kent.

Carol Kallstrom made a motion to:

            Go into executive session at 8:07 p.m.

The motion was seconded by Patti Leo.

The Board came out of executive session at 8:35 p.m. and adjourned at 8:36 p.m.

Barbara Lynch
Secretary to the Board

BACK to Board of Education Page