Regional School District 17
Weekly Bulletin # 091018

Gary S. Mala
Superintendent of Schools

Week of January 18, 2010

The Board of Education and Central Administration of the district continue to seek your input regarding the 2010 -2011 Budget. Please consider attending the session noted below to share your thoughts.

Thursday, January 21, 2010, 6:30 p.m. @ Central Office (located in former HKMS)

This session is designed for residents to express their thoughts and opinions about the 2010-2011 budget.

The following goals were agreed upon by the Board of Education at its Retreat held recently.

BOARD OF EDUCATION

SUBCOMMITTEE GOALS

2009-2010

Facilities & Transportation

Develop a current School Use Fee Schedule

Develop a Long Range Facilities Plan 2010-2020

Building Subcommittee (middle school)

Close out school building project

Athletic Field Lighting

Install poles by June 2010

Support the efforts of the Touchdown Club to fundraise

Turn on the lights

Building Subcommittee (Solar/Alternative)

Redefine purpose of the group and goals for the group

Communications Subcommittee

Establish strong communications between the district and state legislators

a. Host Legislative Breakfast

b. Host Evening Legislative Forum

c. Establish personal contact with local state level legislative delegation

d. Establish personal contact with local federal level legislative delegation

Publish information regarding the current district Strategic Plan

Showcase district programs, services, and progress on Channel 18

Finance Subcommittee

Present a fair and reasonable budget that meets the needs of our children for the 2010-2011 school year

Review and revise the types of reports to be used by the subcommittee

Review internal controls report and ensure that recommendations are implemented

Create a Business Office Procedures Manual

Initiate legislative contact regarding increasing the percentage allowed in the capital fund as well as permitting regions to carry contingency funds

Audit Subcommittee

Create a simplified summary of the annual audit for the BOE and the community

Implement the recommendations made in the 2008-2009 Audit

Conduct periodic random sampling/testing of Internal Controls

Prepare to present to CABE/CAPSS on the Function of An Audit Subcommittee

Personnel Subcommittee

Discuss transportation department compensation

Study and possibly develop a new model of a Leadership Team Evaluation

Prepare for negotiations with HKAA (Haddam-Killingworth Administrators Association)

Research alternative options for contract negotiations

Policy Subcommittee

Complete 9000,0000, and 10000 Series of Policy Review

Promote further involvement by Board of Education members by encouraging

pre-reading of policies prior to meetings

Post policy changes on the district website

First semester at HKHS has concluded, Exams completed as of January 20, 2010.

District welcomed two guest educators from the Shandong Province of China. The guests will in the district observing and working with students and staff for the next 10 days.

In response to a request to enhance the District Calendar feature, the district would like to report that we have been exploring alternative electronic calendar programs that have the capacity to include all district events on it. The calendar presently used does not have adequate capacity to manage the amount of information being requested to be included.

A Legislative Breakfast sponsored by the school district was held this past Wednesday morning. 25 area school board members, school superintendents and representatives from both CAPSS and CABE greeted two area legislators (James Spallone being one of the two). Various individuals shared their thoughts regarding the following (this is not intended to be a complete list):

Relieving unfunded mandates

Various issues associated with providing special education

Requirement for local districts to pay tuition to Magnet Schools if parents send their children to such programs

Impact of binding arbitration and need to reform this mandate

Pursuing things on a regional basis with the idea of reducing costs

Maintaining current level of Education Cost Sharing (ECS) funding to towns

HADDAM LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL/SOFTBALL
REGISTRATION 2010 SEASON

Registration sessions to be held at Haddam Fire Station #1, Route 154:
Saturday, January 23: 9 a.m. to noon
Tuesday, January 26: 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Saturday, January 30: 9 a.m. to noon
Saturday, February 6: 9 a.m. to noon

Boys and girls ages 5 to 16 are eligible to play.
Boys (baseball) birth dates 5/1/1995 - 4/31/2003
Girls (softball) birth dates 1/1/1993 - 12/31/2002
T-ball players (boys & girls) birth dates 5/1/2003 - 4/31/2005

Birth certificate(s) must be presented by a parent or guardian at registration.

REGISTRATION FEES
$40.00 Instructional and T-Ball
$55.00 All other programs
$85.00 Maximum Fee per family
$10.00 Late Registration Penalty

Payment is expected at the time of registration.
Checks should be made payable to Haddam Little League.
Scholarships are available based on need, call Scott Kovach 203-623-7956

FUNDRAISING
Haddam Little League depends on concession stand receipts to help cover costs. Parents will be required to assist at the concession stands during the season. A parent coordinator from each team will assist with scheduling.

Volunteers Needed: Anyone interested in participating in the league as a coach or in some other volunteer capacity should complete a Volunteer Application Form available at the registration sessions.

Registration forms and more information about the Haddam Little League are available
online at www.haddamlittleleague.org

Bingo Night at HES Friday, January 22nd. Doors open at 6pm games begin at 6:30pm

Care-Free Celebrations from RSD 17 Food Services

Whether it's a birthday celebration or a special occasion, let Care Free Celebrations do the work for you. We offer a variety of items that can be picked up or delivered to a classroom. In order to accommodate all requests, a one-week notice is required. Look for flyers announcing this new, low cost option now available through the district's food services department.

For additional details, please contact Sharon Shettleworth, Director of Food Services at RSD No. 17 Food Service, 57 Little City Road, Higganum, Ct 06441 (860)345-4534 extension 4231 or at sshettleworth@rsd17.org

Please visit the District Calendar located on the district's homepage (www.rsd17.org) to see when the various activities and meetings are scheduled.

A reminder that the district utilizes the Honeywell Instant Alert system to communicate with parents during times of emergency or to deliver messages of high importance. Please be sure that you are registered with Honeywell (link available at www.rsd17.org) and have indicated how you wish to have messages received. If you have questions regarding this, please do not hesitate to contact the Principal of any one of our schools for assistance.

If you wish to have an announcement included in any Weekly Message, please forward the text to Pamela Hensel, Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent of Schools at henselp44@rsd17.org.

If you have any suggestions regarding the Weekly Message, please contact Gary S. Mala, Superintendent of Schools at gmala@rsd17.org.

Enjoy your week and thank you always for your continued support.

Gary
Gary S. Mala
Superintendent of Schools
Regional School District 17
(860) 345-4534
http://www.rsd17.org
"Transforming Teaching and Learning"