Region One Board of Education Budget Workshop February 6 Reply

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Region 1 teachers outline technology needs

BY RUTH EPSTEIN

REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN

FALLS VILLAGE — Tech­nology needs are a priority for several of the department chairmen at Housatonic Val­ley Regional High School. They were invited to a Region 1 Board of Education budget workshop Thursday to detail their requests.

Art teacher Warren Prindle talked about the two Mac labs, the old and the new, describing several com­puters in the old one as “dys­functional.” The old ma­chines cannot be used for cer­tain courses, such as comput­er animation and photogra­phy. “At any time there is a demand on the new lab and we use the old one as back­up,” he said.

Scott Fellows, chairman of the math department, noting the huge push for technology in the Common Core stan­dards, said it is difficult to schedule students into  the computer lab. If there were computers in the math class­rooms, they would be avail­able to the students “at the ready” and provide for spon­taneous teaching opportuni­ties. He is asking for 25 com­puters to go in five class­rooms.

Damon Osora of the Eng­lish department talked about the advantages of Chrome­book for the Smarter Balance Assessment Consortium and the language arts component of Common Core. But, he said, they need to be seen as an everyday learning tool, not just for assessments. He said the social studies department is also requesting Chrome­book.

Paul Padua, head of the tech ed and business ed de­partments, said the black and white photography class was probably the best subscribed class at the school. But the previous administration de­cided the course didn’t need to be taught at Housatonic, so it was taken out. When asked if he’d like to see it restored, Padua said he would love to. The dark room, materials and equipment are still there.

Asked why it was taught in industrial arts and not art, Padua said historically it’s been in his department, but it can be part of either one. Prindle said when art school representatives visited Housatonic on two occasions, they said having both tradi­tional film and computer labs is great.

Padua said black and white photography is not listed in next year’s course of study. “We need to get the message out if we’re going to reinstate it.”

Music teacher Tom Krupa spoke about instrument re­placement. He told how when he came to the school he found the vibraphone in pieces on the floor. It was gerry rigged back together, but now the motor is dead. “The motor is now louder than the instrument,” he told board members.

He also hopes to buy a new french horn, as there is in­creased interest and next year there will be five play­ers.

Vance Cannon, the library media specialist, talked about e-books, noting that they are not borrowed as much as reg­ular books. Asked about the weeding practices, he said the rate of circulation is a de­terminate. “But there are just some books you must have. Just because it hasn’t moved doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have it. Moby Dick doesn’t go.” He said the weeding process is a long one, since each book must be evaluated. Those that are removed and are still in fairly good condi­tion go the transfers station in Falls Village. If they are in very poor condition, they are discarded.

The board will discuss the requests at a workshop on Feb. 19 at 5 p.m.

A.B.C Committee Region One January 15 Reply

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A.B.C Committee Region One January 15

 

Region 1 board considers public comment

BY RUTH EPSTEIN
REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN

FALLS VILLAGE — The Region 1 All Board Chairmen Committee discussed public comment, and how to handle it, at its meeting last week. North Canaan representative Dolores Perotti brought up the subject, noting her board came up with a policy after incidents at meetings where there was a lot of talking back and forth between board members and the audience. She said some meetings got out of control.
Falls Village representative Dominick Caiati said the board should be inviting to the public. He said the board has to use its time efficiently and if concerns are raised they can’t really do anything about it during meetings. Cornwall’s Rebecca Hurlburt said there has to be a distinction between questions and comments.
“You don’t have to answer questions. There’s not supposed to be an exchange.”
Claude Rolo of Salisbury said those with concerns can always put those concerns in writing and the committee can take its direction from what it hears.
Superintendent Patricia Chamberlain said hearings — rather than regular board meetings — are held to allow for discussion.
Andrea L. Downs of Falls Village, chairman of the Region 1 board, said she thinks questions can be answered. “To me if taxpayers have questions they deserve answers.”
She said at those board meetings she has told audience members she would try to answer their questions at the next meeting so they don’t think they are being ignored. “We’ll see how it works.” She said as long as control is maintained and people are respectful she doesn’t see that practice as a bad thing. Sharon’s Electra Tortorella asked members to send examples of practices used to her.

From this mornings Republican-American….. Reply

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BY LYNN MELLIS WORTHINGTON

REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN

KENT — The Kent Board of Education is girding for a tough budget year, knowing it faces a large increase next year for insurance costs and an increase in teacher salaries from a recently ne­gotiated contract.

The health care insurance is obtained through a region­al collaborative that involves all seven schools in Region 1 and the six towns. Region 1 Business Manager Samuel Herrick has indicated the schools may have to plan for at least a 20 percent in­crease, but the final numbers haven’t been calculated yet.

The education board’s budget subcommittee met Tuesday to begin developing the 2014-15 budget for Kent Center School.

Board members zeroed in on several areas and asked for additional information about cafeteria operations and costs, common core cur­riculum impacts, parapro­fessional salaries and bene­fits compared to the region’s other schools, and reducing supply costs by reducing pa­per usage.

“Unless it is an absolute necessity, I would not expect there to be an increase in anything,” said board Chair­man Paul Cortese.

No budget numbers had been filled into the draft document the committee worked with. A second workshop will be held Jan. 28 at 5:30 to firm up the numbers before a Feb. 6 meeting of the entire board.