The regular Board of Education meeting was called to order by Chairman Devlin at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom.  Chairman Devlin asked for Anne Kirkpatrick to make motions and Jan Martin to second the motions in order to facilitate the Zoom meeting.

The Board to review and approve the November 9, 2020 draft minutes from the Board of Education meeting.

• Somers BOE Meeting Draft - 11_9_2020 (1).pdf

The Board will review and give consent to the Warrant of November 23, 2020 in the amount of $246,054.58.

• BoE Warrant 11-23-20

Lunch Program Director will be retiring on November 30, 2020. Leslie has been with Somers Public Schools for the last 31 years.

The Board will recognize Kevin Egan of the maintenance staff. He has taken care of all the                        grounds and fields for Somers Public Schools for the last 28 years and will be retiring on                          January 1, 2021.

Mr. Gary Kane, Night Custodian at Mabelle B. Avery, will be retiring effective January 2, 2021.  Gary has been with Somers Public Schools for 16 years.

Mrs. Laura Pruden will be leaving us on November 30, 2020 after being at Somers High School for 14 years.

Ms. Rachael Geoffrion, Somers Elementary School Nurse, is resigning and leaving on December 4, 2020.

The Board will review new courses at Somers High School.  Members of the Curriculum Council, Mr. Cotzin and Mrs. Senecal will be there to answer questions.

• ADMIN Report-11-23-20 SHS Courses.pdf
• English Honors 12 SES Course propose 11-23-20
• Gr 12 H. English Comp
• Math Computer Tech Course 11-23-20.pdf
• SHS Career Course proposed 11-23-10

Dina Senecal, Director of Curriculum, updated the BOE on four new SHS course proposals:  AP Computer Science Principals for Juniors/Seniors, AP Language and Composition for Juniors/Seniors, Honors 12 English for Seniors, and Career Exploration Mini-Course for Juniors/Seniors.  The AP Science course will count as a STEM credit per Gary Cotzin, SHS Principal.  Discussion ensued among BOE members. 

The Board is to review and approve the 5-Year Capital Improvement Plan (2021-2026)

• CIP 2021-22.pdf

David Palmer complimented Superintendent Czapla and Bill Boutwell stating that the CIP report is easy to follow in regards to monitoring progress year after year.  He recommended all questions to be directed to Superintendent Czapla or Bill Boutwell.  Chairman Devlin stated that Jeremy Anderson wanted him to pass along to the Board that he is in full support of the report.  Superintendent Czapla stated that the annual CIP will be brought before the BOF in January or February.  He stated that a 5-year plan was put together last year.  This year, the same projects have tweaked pricing with the addition of two projects:  an MBA fire alarm system upgrade and a border fence along the northern perimeter of the MBA fields.   

The Board will review and approve the SAA Contract.

• SAA Contract Summary.pdf
• SAA Contract - not signed 11-23-20.pdf

David Palmer, Superintendent Czapla, and Gary Cotzin recognized that negotiations were conducted respectfully and cordially with an understanding for each side.

Mrs. Senecal will be in attendance for any questions.

• PD 2020 BOE Report.pdf

Dina Senecal, Director of Curriculum, updated the BOE on Professional Development.  She stated that this year is unlike years in the past where PD was preplanned and set.  This year is much more flexible.  There have been five additional early release days in order to provide the staff more PD so that they are not using their collaborative time in school for PD.  Teachers and paraeducators have signed up for a social-emotional webinar series provided by Yale.  This will be 10-hours of self-guided social-emotional learning.  

Mr. Boutwell will be in attendance to answer any questions of this report.

• District Grant Updates 11-23-20.pdf

Superintendent Czapla updated the BOE on an annual report detailing some of the entitlement grants.  The district was just notified of $48,000 that was granted to SPS which will be used to supply and supplement PPE and other mitigation strategies.  

The Superintendent will answer any questions from the Board of Education.

• _LRFP - Update (Nov 2020) (1).pdf

Superintendent Czapla provided the BOE with an annual report regarding the progress of Long-Range Facilities projects and will return to the BOE with an updated report on cost estimates for boiler and roof replacements.  

The Superintendent will update the Board on current issues.

Superintendent Czapla updated the BOE on managing Covid within the school district.  Discussion ensued among BOE members. 

Kate McLellan stated that the committee met a couple of weeks ago to discuss new courses.  These courses were relayed by Dina Senecal and Gary Cotzin at this evening's BOE meeting.  There is nothing new to report.

Anne Kirkpatrick stated that the committee is on hold.

David Palmer stated that there is no report.

David Palmer stated that there is nothing further to report.

Krista Cherry stated that she attended the last meeting where the Council voted on a revised childhood education budget.