Superintendent Sara-Jane Querfeld made a PowerPoint presentation in regard to the school district’s annual report card from the state, titled “Strategic School Profiles.” Each year, numerous academic details are reported to the state regarding every school in Connecticut. The community’s data is available on the school district’s Web site, and comparisons with the other 168 towns across the state may also be drawn from the information provided by the state online.

The latest facts, based on the 2007-08 school year, indicate that the per pupil expenditure in North Haven was $10,861, while similar towns spent $12,869 per child. Two of the points shared in the presentation were that over 87 percent of the money spent on education in North Haven comes from local taxation, and over 16 percent of the 3,807 children enrolled were designated as minorities.

Reimbursement for boiler repair

In a report from the Board of Education’s Finance and Operation Committee, chairman Stephen DiCapua gave an update on the somewhat controversial issue regarding the recent repair of the boilers at the new high school. A letter to the town’s assistant finance director had been drafted, was read publicly by the board chair, and was later approved by the full board. It indicated that the boilers had been repaired and that the board was seeking reimbursement for a total of $90,000.

Furthermore, litigation against the warrantee has been filed by the Building Committee which is an arm of the selectmen’s office. A five year warrantee was purchased at the time, however, there is a real concern that the boilers may have to be replaced at an estimated cost of $350,000. The letter also notes that this unbudgeted expense would be a responsibility of the town, and not that of the Board of Education.

Board room declared safe

Under Public Comments, Fire Chief Vincent Landisio addressed concerns made by Gary Amato at the last school board meeting regarding fire safety of the building, and in particular, within the room in which the board holds its meetings. He said that the comments were “not educated concerns, but opinion,” and went on to say that their meeting place was “perfectly safe.” Amato rose in his own defense to say that he had suggested that the town library might provide a safer setting for their meetings because of the overcrowded conditions in the board room last month, and not to scare anyone. He later announced that perhaps his comments had actually done some good, pointing out that the administration had rearranged the large conference tables which now provided more room to exit.

More safety concerns

Amato’s intended topic, one that he has brought up to the board repeatedly for several months, was in regard to improving the safety signage at the Bailey Road entrance to the middle school. He had obtained a price for the two roadside signs with flashing lights from Police Chief James DiCarlo. The signs would cost $4,000 each, or just over $2 per child in the school district. Amato suggested that the superintendent take immediate action on the issue and that the cost be shared by the Board of Education and the police department. In closing, he said that he was “not going to give up” on his passionate pursuit of safety improvements for the school area just off the busy Route 40 connector.

A theft of services

The final issue brought before the board by members of the public was that of the theft of services by non-residents. Al Warren inquired whether the board would pursue action against the illegal attendance of several children, an issue for which he had praised Assistant Superintendent Patricia Brozek for dealing with quite well since the spring. He said that he saw it as a means to plug the gap now expected in the special education budget.

Upon further discussion, Gerry Feinberg and John Lambert agreed with each other that any such litigation would likely require an expensive investigation; that Brozek had already saved the “marginal cost” of educating these students this year; and they agreed that the best approach was to stop it from happening in the first place. Brozek stated that these children come from the surrounding towns and that 90 percent of them are typically enrolled improperly through the well-intentioned encouragement of grandparents living in town. After mentioning that she has nine more cases that she is presently investigating, she added, “We are really tightening up, and working on it every day.”

Comments :