A special meeting of the Great Meadows Regional Board of Education was held on Thursday, November 12, 2009, at Central Elementary School, Independence Township.  The meeting was called to order at 7:03 PM by Jennifer Cassini, President.  A statement was read that adequate notice of the meeting had been given in accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act.

 

Flag salute.

 

ROLL CALL:

 

Present: Jennifer Cassini, Peggy Faulborn, Joe Mahal, Joe Mailloux, Jason Schaffer, Kimberly Schaffer (arrived 7:40 PM), and William Vonder Haar.

 

Absent: Matthew Mowatt.

 

Dr. Tim Frederiks, Superintendent, and Julie Mumaw, Business Administrator, was also in attendance.

 

There were 65 members of the public in attendance.

 

Jen Cassini, BOE President gave a history of the overcrowding at Central School and the time line for considering the realignment of the elementary schools. 

 

Dr Frederiks gave a power point presentation regarding grade level realignment and several scenarios.

 

Public Comment:

 

Pandorf       What is the overcrowding in Central? Class size seems to be low.  The percentages are still in for Central in all scenarios. What are the benefits? of realignment?

 

Szabo         Have we gone to the census bureau to see what the projected population? will be?  Any build out reports. How do you plan to execute this?

 

Person 1      Why not take Central 5th grade to Great Meadows Middle School? If the Liberty People say its okay then why not do it?

 

Corcoran      Consider moving 5th grade up and doing a K-2 and a 3-4? Can you split out by grade in the scenarios?

Wilcox Jones  No one is talking about the budget and the effect on it.  Will we need more teachers or fewer teachers? Must talk about money issues.

 

Szabo         Consider moving district boundary lines. Where is the superintendent going to be next year when this all plays out?

 

Wilson         Could we have another meeting at Liberty?

 

Grove         Would the different scenarios bring Art back? By not making a decision could we lose more services?

 

Pandorf       What are the effects of the realignment? Will it free up classrooms?

 

Corcoran      Will the realignment provide the K-2 more support personnel? Will we serve the students better?  Would realignment make full day      kindergarten more affordable?

 

Lefevre       Do you have a date in mind to pick a scenario? Would you start the plan before the end of this school year?

 

Szabo         How does full day kindergarten figure into your numbers?  Where are the mandated preschoolers going to be housed?

 

Myler         Which scenario does the BOE prefer?  What are the costs behind the options?

 

Person 2      When will the Highland have their final proposals done?  Would it benefit us to wait one more year?

 

Pandorf       What is to be done about the time the students must wait for the bus in the school at dismissal time and in the morning?

 

O Donald      Could we buy the fire company and use it?

 

Ledgedale     If realigned, would Liberty and Independence share the same tax burden?  How will you notify the parents of the change?  Public notice?

Shavoe        How can we be sure that Liberty will get a fair shake?

 

Szabo         Take K from Central and move to Liberty.  Take 5th from Central and move up to Great Meadows Middle School.

 

Parent 2      Emotionally her children are not ready for the realignment.

 

Mitchell      Will there be another survey by the Board of Education?  Advertise the next meeting by sending home a letter, not just on the website.

 

Joe Mailloux gave closing remarks as the Chairman of the Realignment Ad Hoc Committee.

 

Motion by Joe Mahal, seconded by Jason Schaffer, to adjourn at 8:55 PM.

Motion carried in a unanimous voice vote.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

Julie Mumaw

Board Secretary