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Old Saybrook board elects Kelly chair, names Alen K vice chair; student report raises concerns about new hall-pass system and textbooks
Summary
At its meeting the Old Saybrook Board of Education elected Kelly as chair and Alen K as vice chair, approved a revised academic calendar to move the last day of school to June 16, and heard a student report expressing frustration with the new Securely Pass electronic hall-pass pilot and lack of affordable AP Psychology textbooks.
Kelly was elected chair of the Old Saybrook Board of Education and Alen K was elected vice chair after board members nominated candidates and voted by paper ballot.
The student board representative, Sam, told the board he was "really excited to be here" and said students raised concerns about the district's newly piloted electronic hall-pass, Securely Pass. During a question-and-answer exchange staff said the system has been in use for about five days and is being run as a trial; "we have until January to decide whether we're going to keep it or not," a staff member said. Students also told the board that some AP Psychology students lack access to an affordable physical textbook, which costs roughly $200 and has been purchased by some students out of pocket.
The board approved a revision to the academic calendar after staff identified a miscalculation in the prior calendar. The change moves the final day of school from June 17 to June 16; board members discussed operational implications including that the new final day would be a half day and possible bargaining or scheduling consequences. The motion to approve the revised calendar carried on a board vote (the public transcript records at least one "no" vote but does not provide a full roll-call tally).
Other business included approval of the regular meeting minutes from June 11 (moved by Karen, seconded by Jim), a superintendent report on a strong opening week and an updated Ram logo and forthcoming online merchandise store, and a reminder of upcoming meetings including Sept. 24 for the board and a town budget-surplus meeting Sept. 16 at Duffy Pavilion. The board also moved into executive session later in the meeting to discuss collective bargaining and subsequently approved a tentative paraprofessionals contract.
