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COLCHESTER BOARD OF EDUCATION
Colchester, CT
REGULAR BOARD MEETING - BOE BUDGET WORKSHOP
HYBRID
Tuesday, February 23, 2023
6:00 PM
The Commons (Black Box Theater)
William J. Johnston Middle School
360 Norwich Avenue
MINUTES
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Alexander Oliphant, Vice-Chair Mary Tomasi (via Zoom),
Secretary Margo Gignac, Donna Antonacci, Rosemary Gignac, Michelle Millington, Christopher
Rivers
ADMINISTRATION PRESENT: Superintendent Daniel P. Sullivan, III, Assistant Superintendent
Dr. Charles E. Hewes, Principal of Jack Jackter Intermediate School Elise Butson, Principal of
Bacon Academy Amy Begué, Principal of Colchester Elementary School Judy O’Meara, Principal
of William J. Johnston Middle School Christopher Bennett, Bacon Academy Assistant Principal
Melissa Cyr, Director of Pupil Services and Special Education Amy Emory, Assistant Director of
Pupil Services and Special Education Elisa Fabiszak
OTHERS PRESENT: Business Director Rachel Linkkila, District School Resource Officer
Corporal Craig Scheel
1. MEETING OPENING
1.1 Call to Order
Chair Alexander Oliphant called the meeting to order at 6:04 PM
1.2 Roll Call
Chair Oliphant conducted a roll call. Donna Antonacci and Christopher Rivers joined the
meeting after the roll call was conducted.
1.3 Pledge of Allegiance
2. BUDGET DISCUSSION
2.1 Initial Questions and Discussion on the 2023-2024 School Year Budget
None.
3. PUBLIC COMMENT
3.1 For Public Comments, Please See Bylaw on Meeting Conduct
Michael Dubreuil, 180 Woodbine Road. Mr. Dubreuil spoke of decreasing the
Superintendent’s recommendation budget. Mr. Dubreuil stated he would like to see a ten
percent decrease. He also spoke to a possible error on the CES Roles and Responsibilities
report.
Ashley LaParre, 74 McDonald Road. Ms. LaPare thanked the Board for their hard work.
Ms. Lapare spoke to supporting teachers and not making a reduction in staff.
Barbara Johnson, School Librarian at Jack Jackter Intermediate School. Ms. Johnson spoke
to the great things that school libraries are doing in the district. Ms. Johnson said that
students will be impacted by any cuts to paraprofessional positions in the Library Media
Centers.
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Samantha Van Zilen. Ms. Van Zilen spoke to concerns about cutting the Board of
Education budget. Ms. Van Zilen said that past reductions from the recommended budget
and any further reductions this year would put the district in a dangerous place.
Margo Gignac read public comments submitted via email to the Board from Lynette
Dimock, Kristin Putorti, Laurie Buyniski, and Erin Kaiser who all spoke in support of the
recommended education budget but against staff reductions.
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Taras Rudko, 71 Jurach Road. Mr. Rudko spoke to decrease enrollment but there have
been increases to the Board of Education budget. Mr. Rudko also spoke in favor of remote
learning for Colchester students.
Jeremy Ames, 41 Skinner Road. Mr. Ames spoke to remote learning and stated that remote
learning would still require teachers at home to teach the students. Mr. Ames said it is
important to the kids and staff that the education budget is supported.
4. *PRIORITY DISCUSSION/ACTION ITEMS
4.1 *Discussion and Possible Action on the 2023-2024 School Year Budget
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Discussion was had on the Superintendent’s recommended budget for the 2023-2024
school year.
Superintendent Sullivan spoke to remote learning for high school students.He stated that
although this is an option, the district is still required to have the same options in person
and adding remote learning would actually increase the budget.
Superintendent Sullivan spoke to groundskeeping, snow removal and shared services with
the town. Superintendent Sullivan said that he and the First Selectman met and they will
maintain the status quo for the upcoming school year but ongoing conversations will occur
in regard to services the Board of Education provides to the town and vice versa
Further discussion was had on the shared health insurance reserve fund, staffing, and
sunsetting grant funding. The Board discussed returning the Business Teacher and Spanish
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Teacher at Bacon Academy, the Physical Education Teacher at William J. Johnston Middle
School, the three library paraprofessionals and two custodian positions back into the
budget.
Motion by: C.Rivers
To accept the 2023-2024 School Year budget in the amount of $46,157,862 that represents
a 9.83 percent increase from last year which means adding back the Business Teacher,
Spanish Teacher at Bacon Academy, PE Teacher at the middle school, three library
paraprofessionals and two custodians.
Seconded by: M. Gignac
Roll call: All in favor. None opposed. None abstaining.
Motion carried.
5. ADJOURNMENT
Chair Oliphant adjourned the meeting at
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Motion by: C.Rivers
To adjourn the meeting at 7:36 PM
Seconded by: M. Gignac
Roll call: All in favor.
Motion carried.
Respectfully submitted,
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Heather R. Petit
Executive Assistant to the Superintendent/Board Clerk
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