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COLCHESTER BOARD OF EDUCATION
Colchester, CT
SPECIAL BOARD MEETING
January 7, 2020 ~ 5:00 P.M.
Board of Education Conference Room
Town Hall
MINUTES
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Mary Tomasi, Vice Chair Chris
McGlynn, Amy Domeika, Mitchell Koziol, Jessica Morozowich
ADMINISTRATION PRESENT: Superintendent Jeffrey Burt, Bacon
Academy Principal Matthew Peel, Bacon Academy Assistant Principal Amy
Begué, Director of Pupil Services and Special Education Kathleen Perry
OTHERS PRESENT: Board of Education Attorney Anne Littlefield,
Student A, Mother of Student A, Stepfather of Student A
1. CALL TO ORDER
The Expulsion Hearing was called to order at 5:11 PM.
2. EXECUTIVE SESSION – EXPULSION HEARING ON STUDENT A
Chair Tomasi brought the hearing into Executive Session at 5:15 PM for the purpose of
conducting an expulsion hearing. Superintendent Burt was invited to join the Executive
Session.
Public Session was entered at 6:37 PM.
3. *MOTION(S) REGARDING OUTCOME OF EXPULSION HEARING ON STUDENT A
Motion by: J. Morozowich
The Board of Education finds that the student who is the subject of this hearing did, on
December 5, 2019, possess a switchblade knife on school property in violation of a
publicized policy of the Board (5144). The possession of the switchblade knife endangered
persons.
In light of the conduct noted above, the Board expels the student who is the subject of this
hearing, effective immediately and continuing through December 4, 2020.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the administration shall readmit the student to school on a
probationary basis on the first day of the 2020-2021 school year, on or around August 28,
2020, as long as the Superintendent determines that the student has met the following
conditions for his probationary readmission:
• satisfactory attendance and effort in the alternative educational opportunity offered
to him;
• satisfactory behavior in the alternative educational opportunity as well as in the
community, as evidenced by his refraining from any behavior for which he could be
suspended under Board Policy 5144 and from criminal behavior either in the
educational opportunity or in the community; and
• continuation of counseling provided at no expense to the Board and with periodic
updates to the Superintendent of Schools.
If the Superintendent determines that the student has met the conditions set forth above, the
student shall be readmitted to school on a probationary basis on the first day of the 2020-
2021 school year.
If, however, the administration determines that the student has engaged in any behavior for
which he could be suspended under Board Policy 5144, the Superintendent may reimpose
the period of exclusion from school, and the student shall thereafter be excluded from
school through December 4, 2020.
During any period of exclusion from school imposed by this expulsion hearing decision,
the student is not permitted on school property or at any school-sponsored activity unless
permission is obtained in advance from the administration.
During any period of exclusion from school imposed by this expulsion hearing decision,
the administration shall provide the student with an alternative educational opportunity.
Second by: M. Tomasi
Vote: Unanimous
Amendment Motion:
Motion by: J. Morozowich
To amend the previous motion to read the following:
If, however, the administration determines that the student has engaged in any behavior for
which he could be suspended under Board Policy 5144, the Superintendent may reimpose
the period of exclusion from school, and the student shall thereafter be excluded from
school through December 4, 2020; without the need to reconvene a Board-level hearing.
Second by: M. Tomasi
Vote: Unanimous
4. ADJOURNMENT
M. Tomasi adjourned the meeting at 6:50 PM
*POSSIBLE ACTION ITEM