Copy of 8.19.2025 Stamped Minutes

PUBLIC SCHOOLS
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COLCHESTER BOARD OF EDUCATION
Regular Meeting

 

 

 

Tuesday, August 19, 2025
5:00 PM
William J. Johnston Middle School Blackbox Theatre

MINUTES

BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT : Chair Donna Antonacci, Vice-Chair Christopher. Rivers, Secretary
Margo Gignac, Alexander Oliphant, Michelle Millington, Rosemary Gignac and Stefanie
Tracey-Calash.

ADMINISTRATION PRESENT : Superintendent Daniel P. Sullivan, III, Assistant Superintendent
Jessica L. Kuckel, Bacon Academy (BA) Principal Amy Begué, BA Assistant Principal Jennifer Martin,
BA Assistant Principal Michael Mal, William J Johnston Middle School (WJJMS) Principal Meghan
Amado, WJJMS Assistant Principal Bonnie McAneny.

OTHERS PRESENT : Director of Finance and Operations Rachel Linkkila, Instructional Technology
Coordinator Barbara Johnson, Student Board Member Toheed Usman, Student Board Member
Abigail Stillwell.

1. MEETING OPENING
1.1. Call to Order
Chair Antonacci called the meeting to order at'5:00 PM

1.2 Roll Call
All present except for M. Millington.

1.3 Pledge of Allegiance

2. *ADDITIONS / CHANGES TO THE AGENDA
2.1. *New Agenda Item
None.

M.Millington arrived at 5:02 PM
3. STUDENT BOARD MEMBERS REPORT
3.1. Introduction of Student Board Member Class of 2027

Toheed Usman was introduced as the Class of 2027 Student Board Member Representative.

3.2. Report from Student Board Members
AStillwell stated that Bacon Academy has been actively preparing for the upcoming schoot

 

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year even though it has not officially started.-Fall sports have already begun training, with a meeting
held on July 31st, and the boys’ soccer team held a successful fundraiser car wash on August 2nd.

The First Day Committee has been meeting frequently to prepare for the start of school, while
the National Honor Society has been working on weeding projects and plans to assist Principal
Begué with laying weed paper and mulch later this week.

Peer Mentoring has been organizing Freshman Academy, scheduled for August 26th, which will
give incoming freshmen the chance to tour the school, meet administrators, and become familiar
with their schedules. The carolers have also started rehearsing for the year.

Over the summer, programs such ds Summer Reading, hosted by the library, allowed teachers
and students to read books and prepare for discussions to take place during the school year.

These activities reflect the ongoing efforts to ensure a strong start to the year.

4. PUBLIC COMMENT
4.1. For Public Comments, please see Policy 1120 Public Comment and Correspondence at
Board Meetings
None.

5. REPORT FROM SCHOOL LIAISONS
5.1. CES
Nothing to report.

5.2.  JJIS
Nothing to report.

53. WJIMS - a
After the meeting tonight, M.Millington and C.Rivers will be walking through the building with
our new middle school principal as part of preparations before the school year officially begins.

5.4. BA
Nothing to report.

6. *CONSENT AGENDA
6.1. *Approval of Special Meeting Minutes of June 24, 2025
Motion by: C.Rivers
Motion to approve the Consent Agenda
Second: A.Oliphant
Roll Call: All in favor
Vote: Motion carried

6.2. *Approval of WJ Field Trip to MA
See Agenda Item 6.1

7. REPORT FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT
7.1. Administrative Regulations in Policy Manual Update
The policy committee reviewed several policies throughout the school year, which were
subsequently approved by the Board. Over the summer, I worked with A.Fratoni to ensure that each
revised policy had the appropriate corresponding administrative regulations. While we will not be
walking through all of them tonight, the updated regulations are aligned with the active policies and
are available in the packet for both board and public review.

7.2. Change in BOE Agenda Related to Goals


From conversations last year, the Board emphasized the importance of ensuring that all
efforts are aligned with the goals it has adopted. As a result, the Board’s goals, the administration’s
goals, and the school goals have been carefully streamlined to ensure everyone is working in the
same direction. At this point, we are still referring to the 2024-2025 goals, as new goals have not yet
been formally adopted. This is something we will continue to. focus on this year-and moving forward,
to ensure there is a clear emphasis on the work the Board is doing and the.purpose behind that work.

73. Website Update (Goal 3)

At the end of last year, a few updates were shared on the district website, and since then the
schools have also updated their individual sites. One of the highlights of the district site is the
integration of the district calendar, which now links directly from Google Calendar, pulling
information from PowerSchool and ParentSquare to keep the.community informed.

Announcements with attachments and pictures also feed directly to the public-facing site.
Each school’s website now has the ability to display quick updates, such as weather-related closures,
along with pictures, links, and other information. Recently, bus routes were published this way, with
updates that can be closed while still remaining accessible.

Office professionals, staff, and administrators are able to post to ParentSquare and their
Google Calendars, and this information automatically flows to the school and district websites. This
makes important updates and events accessible to community members who are not part of
ParentSquare, ensuring broader communication. From April 2024 to the present, the website is fully
accessible, we are working on archiving March 2024 and.earlier to be able to. be used with a: screen
reader and be fully accessible.

The district has been working hard to make the forward-facing website a true representation
of Colchester Public Schools and a reliable resource for the community.

74... Proposed 2025-2026 Goals for Review

In late July, the administrative team met to review last year’s work, set priorities for the year
ahead, and draft goals for the Board of Education to consider. The. focus remains on aligning Board,
administration, and school goals to ensure efficiency and effectiveness. Two draft goals were
proposed: fostering community pride so all stakeholders feel valued and connected, and increasing
achievement for each student, each with aligned action steps. These are presented in draft form for
the Board to review and revisit at the September meeting.

8. REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES
8.1. Budget Finance Committee
The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, August 21, 2025 at 5:30 PM so there will be
an update at the September meeting.

8.2. Curriculum Committee
No. update.

8.3. Facilities Committee
No update.
M.Millington will be stepping down from the Facilities Committee due to work scheduling
conflicts. This Committee will be moving forward as a two-person Committee until Elections have
been finalized in November.

8.4. Policy Committee
No update.

9. *PRIORITY DISCUSSION / ACTION ITEMS

 


 

9.1. *Introduction of BA Assistant Principal
Principal Begué introduced Assistant Principal Jennifer Martin.

9.2. *Discussion and Possible Action on an allocation from the Colchester Opioid Settlement
Fund for a school therapy dog program (BOE Goals 2 & 4)

After the agenda was published, Superintendent Sullivan received a call from John Zavalik,
the school resource officer, who informed him that the police department has decided not to support
his taking on a therapy dog. As a result, there is no action required since the initiative will not be
moving forward. :

93. - *Discussion and Possible Action on District Accreditation (BOE Goals 1 & 2)
Superintendent Sullivan went over the pricing, what the accreditation would provide for the
district, and the rough timeline of the work.-Nothing is'set in stone until the application is submitted.
Motion by: M.Millington
Motion to. approve the District Accreditation process for the Colchester public school
system
Second: A.Oliphant
Roll Call: All in favor
Vote: Motion carried

10. BOARD ANNOUNCEMENTS / INFORMATION ITEMS
10.1. Personnel Report
R.Linkkila went over retirements, resignations and new hires from June 1-August 14.

10.2. Items of Correspondence
2 items of correspondence. The first from J.LaChapelle and the second from M.Dubreuil.
10.3. Next Meeting
The next Regular Board of Education meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, September 9,
2025.

11. ADJOURNMENT
Motion by: C.Rivers
Motion to adjourn.
Second: A.Oliphant
Roll Call: All in favor
Vote: Motion carried

Chair Antonacci adjourned the meeting at 5:40 PM

Respectfully submitted,

Alyssa Fratoni
Executive Assistant to the Superintendent