BERLIN BOARD of EDUCATION
April 3, 2008
MINUTES
Special Meeting

Present:
Kathleen O’Donnell-Moss, Chair

Julie Erickson

Gary Lukens

William Lutz

Anthony Recck

John Richards

Absent
None

The meeting was called to order by Board member and Expulsion Hearing Chairman, Moss at 7:37 a.m. in the Board of Education (the “Board”) meeting room at 238 Kensington Road, Berlin, CT.

Moved by Mr. Recck, seconded by Mrs. Erickson to enter an executive session for the purposes of conducting an expulsion hearing at 7:38 a.m.

FAVOR: All
MOTION CARRIED: 4:0

Present: Board members Moss, Erickson, Lukens, Lutz, and Richards.
Also, Superintendent Cicchetti, Berlin High School Principal
Mr. G. Synnott, attorney for the Board Mr. Richard Mills, Student A, and Student A’s mother.

At 7:42 a.m., all but the Board members departed the meeting room.
At 7:49 a.m., all but the Board members returned to the meeting room.

Moved by Mrs. Erickson, seconded by Mr. Puzio to return to regular session at 7:50 a.m.

FAVOR: All
MOTION CARRIED: 3:0

Moved by Mrs. Erickson, seconded by Mr. Richards that based on the evidence in the record, and subject to the following conditions, Student A be expelled from school, effective April 3, 2008, and continuing through April 3, 2009, based on Student A’s conduct in using a dangerous instrument and/or deadly weapon (more specifically, an air soft gun) in the commission of a crime against another person on or about March 20, 2008:

a)During the period of expulsion, the Board will provide Student A with an alternative educational program deemed appropriate by the Administration.

b)During the period of expulsion, Student A will not be permitted to be on school grounds and will not be permitted to attend or participate in any school-sponsored activities, with the sole exception of his participation in the alternative education program provided by the Board.

c)Prior to the first day of the 2008-09 school year, the Superintendent will review Student A’s conduct, as well as his attendance and effort level in the alternative educational program. Based on that review, the Superintendent will determine, in his sole discretion, whether Student A should be readmitted to school, effective on the first day of the 2008-09 school year.

d)If the Superintendent determines that Student A should be readmitted to school early in accordance with the preceding section, and if Student A subsequently commits any offense that would warrant suspension and/or expulsion under the policies of the Berlin Board of Education, the Superintendent may reinstate Student A’s expulsion for the remainder of the expulsion period, through April 3, 2009, without the need for any further proceedings before the Berlin Board of Education.

FAVOR: All
MOTION CARRIED: 5:0

Moved by Mrs. Erickson, seconded by Mr. Recck to adjourn the meeting at 7:58 a.m.

FAVOR: All
MOTION CARRIED: 4:0

Submitted by,
John M. Richards
Expulsion Hearing Recording Secretary
Berlin Board of Education

JMR: jmr (Original 4/8/08)