Submitted by Jennifer Favalora.
Summary of January 2020 Board of Education Meetings
Capital Improvements: 
Recognition of HKHS Public Building Committee: A grateful Board recognized the work of the HKHS Energy Project Public Building Committee for their years of service overseeing the multi-faceted project. Thank you to Eric Couture, Joanne Nesti, Colleen Fitzpatrick, Karen Perry, Sue Williams, Bill Leahy, Robert Braren, Chip Frey, Rob Albert and Tom Hogarty.
Formation of a Standing Public Building Committee (PBC): A Standing Public Building Committee has been formed with community members Graig Judge, Sean Donlan, and Jim Duffield, and Board members Eileen Blewett and Peter Sonski. First projects outlined are the HKHS Field House Project and the Oil Tank Removal and Replacement at both Burr and KES.
HKHS Field House Project: The PBC evaluated two architect firms that responded to an RFP and recommended Hibbard and Rosa Architects, LLC of Middletown to provide design and construction administration for the potential Field House Project. The Board approved the recommendation and a timeline has been projected for the potential project. In February, the Board will consider project options and determine if to proceed and the scope of the project. If approved, work will begin in late April. More information will follow when it becomes available.
Joint Meeting: BOS/BOF/BOE
The Board hosted a pre-budget conversation to discuss the state of the schools and towns. It was shared that District enrollment continues to decline greater in Killingworth than Haddam. Thus Haddam’s portion of next year’s budget allocation will increase from 58.95% to 61.40% and Killingworth’s decreases from 41.05% to 38.60%. The Board shared general information regarding the State Partnership Plan’s impact to the District and employees, continued increases in Special Education costs, and the desire to continue to keep buildings maintained. Towns expressed a desire for the Board to constrain costs and the challenges with supporting an increasing District budget.
Other Business:
Introduction of New Administrators: The Board welcomed Ann Adrianni as the new Director of Fiscal Operations for RSD17, Jennifer Beermuender as the new Curriculum Coordinator for Literacy/Humanities, and Heather Rigatti as the new Curriculum Coordinator for Math, Science and Technology. The Curriculum Coordinator positions replace the Assistant Superintendent position (and their former positions will not be replaced), making the hires cost neutral to the District.
2019-20 Calendar Revision: An update was made to this year’s school calendar making June 10th the last day of school. In the event that there are further snow days, updates to the last day of school can be found on our website under “School Calendar.”
Search Institute Survey: HK Youth and Family Services requested, and was granted, Board approval to administer it’s bi-annual survey of 7th-12th graders to gather valuable data on our youth, which is shared with the schools and community. The survey will be conducted this Spring.
Curriculum Update: Two new courses to next year’s High School Curriculum were approved: Beginning Spanish Conversation – fulfills a new State World Language requirement, and
The Modern Novel – a reading-intensive course studying literature from the last ten years.
On our RSD17.org Website: Sub-Committee meeting dates for 2020 have been scheduled and are posted under “Board of Education”, the new three year HK Administrators’ Association contract signed this month will be posted under “Business Office” and BoE meeting videos are under “HKTV”.
