Approved Minutes of the January 11, 2011 Meeting

TOWN COUNCIL

AD HOC STRATEGIC INNOVATION FOR FINANCING TEACHING

MEETING MINUTES

WINDHAM TOWN HALL AUDITORIUM

TUESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2011 7:00 PM

Agenda

In attendance: Kevin Donohue, Erika Haynes, Chuck Pennewill, Mark Doyle, Murphy Sewall, Dr. Richard Bloomer

Absent: Jeff Smith

1. Meeting was called to order at 7:08 pm.

2. Presentations and Special Reports -- Representative Susan Johnson began:

a. Johnston began emphasizing the budget challenges in Hartford but noted that policy at the state level impacts local education and public education is fundamental to society and to a democracy. She said that there is thought about a proposal to have towns separate the town versus school components of tax bills to help citizens understand the differences. She voiced support for the work of CCJEF.

b. Senator Steve Cassano was introduced as a member of the original Connecticut Colaition for Justice in Education Funding (CCJEF).

c. Dr. Dianne Kaplan deVries was introduced as the Project Director. She presented a slide show covering the main components of CCJEF. These included

i. Broad-based coalition, rooted in the Horton v. Meskill, Sheff v.O'Neill, and Johnson v. Rowland education lawsuits, as well as school finance reform efforts nationwide

ii. CCJEF covers 45% of all CT school children

iii. Low student performance is an economic and social threat to the future of every community in the state and school improvement requires a funding system that fairly and adequately supports high-quality schools

iv. The existing property tax basis of CT school funding limits educational opportunities for students in every district

v. The current funding system is unfair and unconstitutional

vi. Adequate funding per student for this year would be $17,030, which is $3K more than our current funding

vii. The CT Supreme Court has ruled in favor of CCJEF stating that “The fundamental right to education is not an empty linguistic shell.”

viii. The State of CT and CCJEF are in negotiations to try to come to an agreement without further litigation.

ix. If that does not work it could take 5 more years to meaningfully impact Windham Schools.

d. A motion was made to move Citizens and Delegations up to item 3 on the agenda. This passed unanimously

3. Citizens and Delegations

a. Dennis Cronin asked if regionalization could be part of the solution. Senator Cassano said that this is a focus in the legislature.

b. Dennis Obrien thanked the presenters and spoke about the benefit that magnet schools offer in Hartford. He suggested broadening school districts from the current approximately 166 so that they include higher and lower income children

c. Paula Haney, a member of the Board of Education spoke saying that resources are an issue and that the BOE is working with the State Education Commissioner to improve Board operations and to determine what resources are needed

d. Henry Crane said that property owners are unwilling to pay more for education until they get something in return in the form of better results.

4. Approval of Minutes – minutes were approved with Mark Doyle abstaining, all else in favor

5. Old Business -- None

6. New Business – Alex Johnston, Chief Executive Officer of CONNCAN will be speaking to SIFT on Thursday January 22 at a special meeting in the Court Room.

7. Adjournment – meeting was adjourned at 8:58