Board of Education July Meeting

Pictured: Student representative Stephanie Dube (at right) sits next to BOE member Jill Mahoney at her first official meeting on Thursday Photo by Nancy Sasso Janis

The July Board of Education meeting was a short one because a leadership team wanted to head to the budget meeting being held at the same time at the Town Hall. Town officials were combing the proposed budget that was overwhelmingly rejected by voters at the referendum held on Tuesday. BOE Chair David Heller noted that the meeting would be one of the final ones held at the Tuttle Building.

The board welcomed their new student representative to her first official meeting. Naugatuck High School junior Stephanie Dube will sit on the board and give monthly reports on behalf of her classmates, but at this meeting she was simply asked to lead the Pledge of Allegiance. Earlier in the day, Ms. Dube had been in the emergency room, but thankfully had felt well enough to attend the meeting. Ms. Dube will join senior Heyi Cheng at the end of the table.

Matters emanating from executive session involved the contract approval for Human Resource Director James Lawlor and performance-based salary adjustment for Assistant Superintendent Christopher Montini. The HR director’s contract, which was negotiated by the board’s counsel and Mr. Lawlor and runs July 1 of this year through 2018, comes with a raise of 7.5% in the first year. Mr. Lawlor manages human resources for both the borough personnel and the board of education and both sides contribute to his salary.

Mr. Heller read from a document comparing the salaries of HR Directors in Naugatuck’s educational reference group, many of whom employ two people for the position. For example, Torrington pays the HR director for the municipal side approximately $83,000 and $95,000 to the Board of Education HR director, for a total of $178,000. Mr. Lawlor would earn $108,000 in the first year of the contract. The vote was 5 - 2 in favor of approving the contract, with members Diana Malone and Scott Slauson voting against it.

Mr. Montini was awarded a 2% wage increase based on his performance. Mr. Heller reminded the board that the Assistant Superintendent is not shared with the borough and Superintendent Sharon Locke credited him with helping her tremendously while making the transition during her first year in the position.

In the consent agenda, Mr. Heller noted that three employees with many years of experience are retiring. Karen Alaburda, Secretary to the Principal at Naugatuck High School, and Jacqueline Evans, Naugatuck High School cafeteria manager will retire. Lorraine Marzinotto, who was a Grade 5 Yellow Team Mathematics and Content Area Studies teacher at Cross Street, retires after 29 years of experience.

Bernice Rizk gave a brief financial report that included a vote on the awarding of the contract for bus transportation for special education students and Naugatuck students that attend magnet schools such as WAMS. The contract went to All Star Transportation.

The board authorized the superintendent to hire during the summer months to ensure a smooth opening of the borough’s schools. Mrs. Locke also announced that the high school has been awarded a school climate transformation grant that will include technical support and professional development.

Jeremiah Scully was named as the chair of the Transportation committee, replacing the late James Jordan. Ethel Grant will serve on the committee along with Jill Mahoney.

As a result of the referendum, the administrative team went over the budget that they had submitted in order to identify areas that could be reduced. They made recommendations that total $318,220. with savings realized from a new sanitation contract, unemployment insurance, health insurance for retired employees, and healthy foods awards.

During discussion of current enrollment, Mr. Montini stated that a kindergarten will need to be added at Western School where there are 61 students registered. The fourth grades as Western are currently at 29 and 30 students, so they will be monitoring any new registrations. The retirement of one teacher should balance out the salary of the newly hired teacher for the kindergarten position.

During the month of July, parents may register students new to the district at the three school being used for summer school, Andrew Avenue, Hop Brook and City Hill during the hours of 8:30am to 11:30am. In August, parents may register their children at the Tuttle building Tuesdays and Thursdays until the week of August 21 when they should head to the school the child will attend.

The superintendent also told the board that Sept. 1 is the date for convocation that will be held inside this year. Cathy Lungarini will be bringing drummers that have been involved in a program funded by a NEF grant for a performance. School begins on Sept. 2.