Prior to the regular North Haven Board of Education meeting for October, an open American Disabilities Act hearing was held on behalf of a 20-year-old student with Down syndrome who attends classes at the high school. The complaint was filed by the father of the student stating that he was seeking a “reasonable accommodation” for his son. He had requested that the district provide transportation to an after school program at the Green Acres Elementary School. The point of contention between the school system and the parent related to a denial of bus service running from the high school to the elementary school which would require the youth to ride the bus with younger students. The policy prohibiting such an arrangement has long been upheld and maintained by the school district.

The program, provided primarily for elementary youngsters after school, is offered by the YMCA and is not part of the older boy’s Individualized Education Plan. Nor is the provision of the special transportation, thus the responsibility for providing the busing was questioned by the administration. Consequently, Director of Business and Operations, Edward Gomeau, and Assistant Superintendent of Schools, Patricia Brozek, had denied the request based on existing district policy.

However, after discussion by the board, Superintendent Sara-Jane Querfeld suggested an arrangement for special transportation that would fall within regulations, thus resolving the issue to the parent’s satisfaction and eliminating the complaint.

Anthony Giamattei, a guidance counselor at the local middle school, was recognized by a representative of the Connecticut School Counselor Association last Thursday at the Board of Education meeting for promoting excellence within the student body.

In presenting the award, Pamela Anderson explained that her organization is an advocate for counselors and attempts to showcase exemplary comprehensive school counseling programs which focus on the development of pupil skills. The framed certificate noted that the North Haven Middle School guidance program developed by Giamattei, which is entitled “Career University,” facilitates student curiosity and assists them in the selection of coursework for their high school years and beyond. The feedback that the guidance department has received from graduates has been overwhelmingly positive.

Under her monthly Superintendent’s Report, the impact of the new state budget on public school education was presented by Querfeld. She distributed copies of S.B. No. 2053 which details the legislative act. The first section extends the implementation date of the 2007 school suspension law yet another year to July 1, 2010. That law requires that the vast majority of student suspensions be held within the confines of the school.

The next section limits the use of substitute teachers without a bachelor’s degree to a maximum of 10 days. In the past, the Commissioner of Education could allow their use for up to a full year.

Querfeld stated that most of the new regulations relate to magnet schools, but she did point out that the burden of financing the very involved evaluative requirements for new teachers has now been placed upon the town, not the state. The mentoring and coaching aspects of the evaluation of new teachers can be costly. However, the superintendent was pleased with the “reconstituting of the Early Childhood Cabinet” which should bolster readiness, preschool, and kindergarten programs.

During public comments, Wes O’Brien, a Republican candidate for the board in November, criticized a statement of an opposing candidate supporting the McCarty administration claiming “a close and collaborative relation” with Superintendent Querfeld when the Board of Finance cut her budget $450,000. “My point is that Sara was not consulted,” O’Brien said.

He then asked rhetorically if there were a pattern, since the health insurance carrier was changed last year in a similar manner, creating expensive union action through suits against the town.

Gary Amato, a regular attendee, addressed the board on his ongoing battle for a safe intersection at the entrance to the North Haven Middle School. He expressed his dissatisfaction with the signage that has been put up by the town, and said that he continues to pursue blinking lights at the site. Also in regard to safety, Amato commented on his concerns about fire or other emergencies at the meetings of the Board of Education. He suggested that their meetings, which have seen a large number of attendees, be held in the town’s library because of the congestion in the Board of Education’s conference room.

He then went on to criticize the fact that the controversy over the use of the schools for political purposes was brought to a special board meeting recently, rather than allowing it to be settled by the school administration. He felt that it hurt the image of the community to have the issue blown up in the local newspapers when it could have been handled behind the scenes. Finally, Amato inquired on behalf of some senior citizens about the fact that four boilers at the new high school need major repair. Chairman John Lambert advised that it would not be wise to publicly discuss a pending litigation issue.

Three other citizens addressed the board with concerns ranging from the demolition of the former high school to policies on wellness in the schools. The first was said to be the result of extremely poor building conditions, while the other is under review by the board’s Curriculum Committee. One parent claimed that the state has lowered its standard on the student fitness examination since children are not able to meet the former requirements. The superintendent encouraged parents interested in serving on the district’s wellness committee to contact her at her office, although she indicated that it may be more effective to work with the building’s own committee or even with the classroom teachers since they are allowed to set standards regarding the type of snacks and the consumption of healthy food.