At BOE: security, kindergarten, trip

KENT — Many issues were discussed but no decisions were made at the  Board of Education meeting on Thursday, Dec. 2.

• First on the agenda was a discussion about how to implement a Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports program this fall. Faculty members are currently in training for the program, which is designed to produce effective disciplinary strategies.

• Some good news: The recent parent conferences had an attendance rate of more than 90 percent.

• The board accepted the resignation of special education teacher Pilar Danisi.

• The board discussed the selection of a new attorney for the regional school district, from the firm of Shipman and Goodwin. The attorney will be in charge of contract work and negotiations for the district.

• Patti Leo,  in her report on the Wellness Committee, noted that the Spring Walk has been planned for April 26, and that the committee is trying to plan a community bike ride in May.

• A survey taken about the possibility of a buzz-in security system for Kent Center School was discussed, with 23 out of 31 responses in favor of the system.

Many of the responses that were not in favor of the system, however, came from staff members who have worked in buildings that have already implemented a similar system.

• The kindergarten start date will change over a four-year period from Jan. 1 to Oct. 1, meaning that children will have to be 5 years old before Oct. 1 in order to start kindergarten. The board believes this may cause increased enrollment in the pre-kindergarten program.

• Tracy Horosky corrected two mistakes that were made in the minutes of the previous Board of Education meeting. The first mistake was that she had thought that Jonathan Moore’s appointment would be a four-year appointment, but it should be a two-year appointment. The second mistake was the motion to appoint Paul Cortese to the board, yet it had been a special meeting and not mentioned in the agenda. Anything not mentioned on the agenda may not occur at a special meeting, so Horosky reintroduced the motion at the Dec. 2 meeting.

• The last item discussed was the need to improve the perception of Housatonic Valley Regional High School in Kent, where many residents apparently have a negative opinion of the school. The board made sure to mention that teachers at Housy are doing an incredible job.