Back to School with RSD 17

The Haddam Killingworth Board of Education convened at the end of summer to discuss the most anticipated event of the year: the start of the new school year.

For students, September 1^st is the opening day of school in the Haddam-Killingworth Regional School District 17 (RSD 17). 

First, in the August 23rd meeting, as regards old business, the Parmalee Farms Licensing Agreement needed a slight amendment. The agreement, to restore and maintain a historic road and hold educational programs occasionally on the farm, was amended in section 3 so that if H-K district changes their policies relating to school facility use, they’ll give 90 days notice. The motion was approved.

Next, the projected enrollment figures for the new school year were shared; no staffing changes were recommended as numbers for this year’s total projected enrollment are down to 2,413 from last year’s 2,492. Average class sizes will not be increasing.

New business included an exciting new initiative sponsored by the Middlesex United Way. Also thanks to the efforts of Cheryl Chandler, Executive Director of the Youth & Family Services of Haddam-Killingworth, the Born Learning Trail “creates valuable community resources for early childhood learning, and offers opportunities for visibility and volunteer engagement.”

Coordinating with United Way Day of Caring, September 7, 2011, labor provided by volunteers will see to the installation work of ten 12” by 24” signs, stencils of shapes and letters and a 12’ hopscotch court. The installations relate to activities that are playful and engaging while based on early learning outcomes.

The end result for the H-K school district is to create an “early learning courtyard” outside the central office and daycare center. BOE’s Amy Jacques-Purdy asserted, “It’s a wonderful opportunity for us.” The motion to approve was passed.

As to the agenda item of the new staff orientation and professional development in the days just prior to the opening of school, Superintendent Howard Thiery enthused, “This exciting new professional development is a united approach on all three levels. There’s a backward/forward data walk regarding last year’s kids – and after lunch, we’re looking a this year’s kids. . . . our strategic development is geared at producing some real tangible products.”

Other new business involved a Community Conservations on Education Grant; this round of granting is focused on communication in the community. There’s still work going on under the old grant programming and as soon as complete information is available, Superintendent Thiery will share.

The last item on the board’s agenda for August 23, 2011: a Complete Streets/Safe Route to School grant that the town of Haddam asked RSD 17 to partner with them on. A Haddam group keen on submitting this initial grant application approached Superintendent Thiery “at the eleventh hour.”

Complete Streets is all about reconfiguring traffic near school areas to be safe(r). This means adding sidewalks, bike lanes, islands and other “traffic calmers” including more and better crosswalks, narrowing three lanes into one. It’s all done on federal grant monies.

“I have a lot of background on this initiative. We’re a partner on this grant – and partnering is one of the key factors in getting grants approved,” said Thiery.

BOE member Chet Harris commented that in his opinion, Haddam-Killingworth is too rural a community to be considered, but Thiery assured him that H-K is definitely a qualified candidate. If the initial grant is a go, the town of Haddam will take more care with the second round, Thiery mentioned.

The next H-K BOE meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, September 6^th, at 7:30 p.m. in the HKMS Media Center.