April 3, 2024
Present: Liz Barlow, Heather Lombardo, Monica Logan, Donna Nolan, Karen Richmond- Godard, Rosemarie Weber and Student Representatives Chase Alexander and Katie O’Neill
Awards and Recognition
The board recognized Ms. Carron Cooper, Second Grade Teacher at Kelly Lane Primary School, who recently received the Expect Excellence Award from the Connecticut Teacher in Residence Program. Logan stated she is a collaborator on her team, has a thirst for knowledge and high expectations for her own learning and performance and expects the same level of excellence from her students. Colleen Bava, Principal of Kelly Lane, said that Cooper has an uplifting spirit and is such a great addition to Kelly Lane.
Public Comment
Susan Regan, 62 Hungary Road, said she attended the public meeting on Monday and has some questions that she hopes can be answered via phone or email. Specifically, Regan would like to know if the proposed part-time HR Coordinator position is necessary. Regarding raises for Granby teachers, will they need to meet or exceed their objectives. The rationale for hiring of a math Interventionist at the middle school instead of math tutor – what is the position’s job description and how are the increased costs for salary, health insurance, etc. being covered? Lastly, is a Director of Pupil Services position necessary? She stated a Center of Excellence proposal that she submitted to John Ward several years ago should be considered. Regan stated again that she would appreciate a response via phone or email.
John Linebrenner, 290 Simsbury Road, a certified schoolteacher employed by another district, stated teachers are dedicated to the community and become ingrained with the students they teach and that to retain the best staff you must have appropriate benefits and salaries. Additionally, he stated that math interventionists are very different from math tutors, as a math interventionist tailors individualized education plans to raise their math scores. This new position will have a direct impact on students.
Schools in the Spotlight
Kelly Lane Teachers, Lindsay Sessions and Brianna Simonetti along with some Kelly Lane students presented a new initiative called Soft Starts where students immerse themselves in engaging math games, phonics and choice activities. Students begin their day with a chosen activity such as play dough, beads, and cutting for fine motor skills. Ms. Simonetti stated recent legislation was passed regarding play-based learning being a part of each regular school day for all students in kindergarten and all preschool programs. The skills derived from play are social emotional learning, oral language development, math and literacy skills, fine motor skills, and executive functioning. She stated executive functioning is a critical skill and a set of mental skills that includes working memory, flexible thinking and self-control. Executive functioning skills grow the most in the 6-8-year age bracket. Ms. Simonetti shared that the Granby Education Foundation awarded more than $3K for Kindergarten, First Grade and Second Grade for soft opening materials and activities.
FY25 BOE Budget Update
Logan provided an update on the FY25 budget and shared that the human resources coordinator position addressed during public comment was requested on the town side of the budget, not the BOE side.
April 17, 2024
Present Board Members: Liz Barlow, Heather Lombardo, Monica Logan, Donna Nolan, David Peling, Rosemarie Weber, and Student Representative Chase Alexander
Schools in the Spotlight
Ms. Megan Proto, Teacher at Wells Road Intermediate School, and some students presented the Classroom Charter they agreed to for this school year, a promise made to one another as the classroom community is built. Ms. Pauline Greer shared that Smarter Balanced testing began today. She and Colleen Bava, Kelly Lane Principal, met regarding these presentations and agreed to topics of Social/Emotional Learning (SEL) and students having choice and voice. This presentation is about the voices of students with regard to how they should feel when in their classroom.
Ms. Proto informed the board that the Classroom Charter takes the place of teacher-given rules, and her class spent the first couple of weeks of school talking about “what school should look like”. SEL gives students the life skills necessary to go out into the world and it takes explicit instruction to give them communication and problem-solving skills. Students shared various aspects of the Classroom Charter as follows: Owen shared the origin of the charter and how students wanted the classroom to feel; Kenny shared next steps of the charter with regard to communication skills to work toward solutions; Ellie and Rachel shared what to do when students need support and what strategies are used to calm yourself when nervous; and, Alex stated the charter is a living, breathing, working document and is a tool for the classroom. Ms. Proto spoke about family connections with regard to the charter and when discussed at conferences, parents were very interested in being involved with homework, SEL lessons and updates as well as weekly parent communication.
Superintendent’s Report
A new director of finance and operations has been hired. Nicole Stevenson was selected from an outstanding application pool.
Congratulations to Emily Buder who was the recipient of the Fund for Teachers Grant from the Dalio Education Foundation and will travel to Scotland this summer with all expenses paid. Ms. Buder will be invited to a board meeting this spring to be recognized and to share about her trip.
Congratulations to media center specialists Casey LaPlante, Leigh Ann Ryan, Laurie Smith and Joy Cloukey on receiving the 2024 Connecticut Library Association’s Faith Hektoen Award for outstanding library programs that have significantly enhanced children across Connecticut, namely, the Granby Children’s Book Festival conducted last fall which was supported through the GEF as well as the Granby Public Library.