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Board of Education Holds Retreat at Chair’s Home

by marcia chambers | Jan 12, 2010 3:56 pm

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Marcia Chambers Photo Eight of the nine members of the Branford Board of Education gathered at the home of Chairman Frank Carrano Saturday morning to hold their annual “retreat.” They discussed curriculum changes, conducted an interview and drew the broad outlines of their search for a new schools superintendent.

The underlying purpose of what was termed a “special” meeting, but one clearly labeled as a “retreat,” was to describe to the three new board members “what we do and how we do it,” Carrano told a lone parent observer who appeared shortly before the three-hour long meeting ended.

In an interview in his kitchen after the meeting, Carrano said an informal gathering was important because it enabled the board to get to know the newly elected members. (There was no citizens television coverage but minutes were taken.) The new members, Susan Wharf, Joanne Borrus and Mario Sabatini, seemed to appreciate the informal give-and-take event. 

The Eagle attended part of the meeting. Carrano told us he had held this “retreat,” for the last five or six years. He appeared to view the event as an established tradition.

No votes were taken during the meeting ,where the board took its first steps in the process to find a new school superintendent. Dr. Kathleen Halligan, who has served the school system for more than five years, is stepping down at the end of the academic year. She attended today’s meeting.  Dr. David Squires, the vice-chair of the board, was absent.

The board plans to hire an outside company or non-profit consulting group to oversee the search process, to conduct pre-interviews of candidates and to conduct background checks of applicants. There seemed to be a general consensus that community focus groups, along with business and government groups would be an important part of the process.

It also seemed likely that the full board would serve as the full search committee and would not include parents although several have been vocal in their belief that they should be part of the process from the outset. 

We asked Carrano about the unusual Saturday meeting held at his home. He said he understands that any board meeting involving more than five of the nine board members is, in fact, a public meeting.  To that end, notices of the retreat, along with an agenda, were posted on school and town websites within 24 hours prior to the meeting as required by law.

No public announcements were made at earlier board meetings to alert parents.  In addition, the agenda has an item labeled “Other,” which is not permitted at a special meeting. The items to be discussed at special meetings must be clearly specified. 

The board also sent out numerous e-mails to elected officials and others announcing the retreat. Whether parents and others felt free to attend a retreat at the chair’s home, especially on short notice, is another question.

Carrano said the board plans to interview representatives from several associations or companies to conduct the superintendent’s search, which the board hopes to complete by the end of April.

Dr. Jacqueline V. Jacoby, a former school superintendent in Glastonbury, is now a senior consultant with the Connection Association of Boards of Education (CABE). She represented the consulting company and spoke to the board Saturday for about 30 minutes.

She told the board that as a consultant to an association representing the interests of boards of education across the state, she has widespread networking tools that would enable her to find available candidates, including those who currently run other school districts.

“We do extensive networking. That’s important,” she said. In addition, her firm will conduct a national search, will keep the board posted on developments and will evaluate candidates. “What’s on paper is not necessarily what you get. We do the pre-interviews of candidates,” she said.

She said the issue of confidentiality is “extremely important,” especially for those superintendents currently employed. She suggested that the Board of Education be the on-site search committee, a designation that would enable it to go into executive or private session to interview candidates.

The organization Dr. Jacoby represents consists of members of boards of education across the state. The provide guidance to boards. According to the company’s website, John Prins, a member of Branford Board of Education, is a member of the association non-profit board, a fact known to other Branford board members. He serves as CABE’s vice-president for Professional Development.
   
She also told the board that if, after a year, the superintendent hired did not work out, the company would conduct another search for free.

Carrano said he wants focus groups from various parts of the community to be involved in the process. The other board members agreed. Getting the word out, Dr. Jacoby said, is relatively easy in this electronic age. She suggested websites for starters. She also suggested that material be placed at schools and Town Hall. She urged a broad community voice.
Michael Krause, a board member, said he wants parents, business groups, including non-profits like the Rotary and government officials, to have the opportunity to voice their view. “I don’t want them to say there was no opportunity.” Carrano agreed.
   
Dr. Jacoby told the board that ideally the process could be completed within three months, a notion the board found encouraging.

If for some reason the search process has to be extended, Dr. Halligan said, she will stay on for additional month. “I care about the district,” she said. 

The cost of the search? That could be found, Dr. Jacoby said, in the sealed envelope and folder she gave each board member. It came in at under $15,000.

Dr. Jacoby left after speaking for roughly 30 minutes. Carrano escorted her to her car, treading carefully around icy spots on his driveway. Entry to the meeting was navigated down the driveway to the rear of his house.

The board seemed enthusiastic about Dr. Jacoby’s presentation, saying the consulting part of CABE will be able to find strong candidates who might not have considered applying.

The consensus was that the pool of potential candidates will be smaller than in past searches.

Joanne Borrus, a new member, suggested that the search committee be chaired by someone other than Carrano, since he had so many tasks as chair of the Bord of Education.

“We’ll see,” he said.
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posted by: PETER on January 12, 2010  4:51pm

$15,000 TO CONDUCT THIS SEARCH. IT SEEMS LIKE REAL MONEY TO ME. IF YOU SAW 15Gs LAYING IN THE GUTTER WOULD the BOE BEND AND PICK IT UP? So lets not just spend it on something we could do ourselves. Post the job.

HERE’S A NOVEL IDEA THAT OTHER MORE THRIFTY CT SCHOOLS ARE TRYING THIS YEAR…..NOT HIRE A CONSULTANT.

BOARD MEMBERS MAYBE IN CONFLICT WITH THESE GROUPS ANYWAY. CERTAINLY THE FORMER NH TEACHERS UNION PRESIDENT SHOULD NOT BE INVOLVED LET ALONE HEAD-UP THis PROCESS.

posted by: Peter Black on January 12, 2010  4:57pm

Of course it is more comfortable to discuss hot topics like curriculum and a superintendent out of public view.  The labeling of this meeting as a “retreat”, its location, the short notice of the time and agenda, the lack of video, all indicate that this meeting was a calculated attempt to comply with the letter of the law while subverting the purpose of the Freedom of Information Act: that the public be able to observe public agencies as they conduct the public’s business. It does not look like the BOE was ready to accommodate the 10 to 20 parents who could be expected to attend a discussion of these topics. If Krause wants the public to have their voice heard, he should oppose meeting like this one.

posted by: Frank Carrano on January 12, 2010  5:26pm

A clarification, minuter were taken and will be made available to the public at our regular meeting this month

posted by: Frank Carrano on January 12, 2010  6:25pm

An additional clarification: when Ms Chambers appeared at my house shortly after nine, she was welcomed and we assumed she would remain for the rest of the morning. She chose to leave, explaining that she didn’t want to interfere with our informal conversations, assuming that we might be less interactive with her present.She returned at 11:30 to be present for our interview with the consultant.
The Branford BOE has had an annual retreat for the past 6 years. When I became chair, I offered my home as a more comfortable place to meet. At no time in the past has Ms Chambers or anyone else, for that matter, questioned our motives for having our retreat. If the community views our efforts to improve and enhance our ability to serve the public as a negative thing, so be it. I can assure all that we will never meet again except for public sessions with the cameras rolling.
When the minutes are reviewed, everyone will have an opportunity to know what “hot topics"we discussed.
To Representative Black, does the Republican party subvert the interests of the people they serve when they meet in caucus out of the public eye before each RTM meeting? Do thy subvert their responsibility to be forthright at the public meetings when they review each and every vote prior to the meeting and sometimes even script the discussion?
Public boards should conduct business in public, and the BOE does. Every meeting both regular, and special are televised for the public to see.We post all meeting announcements both on the BOE and the town web site. We also post all minutes of all our meetings for the public to read. We are a group of volunteers who devote many hours to the business of the school district for no personal gain. We feel privileged to serve. Please do not denigrate the sincere efforts that we make in order to fulfill our responsibilities. We may not be perfect and members of the public may disagree with decisions that we make, but I can assure that our motives are sincere and trustworthy.
As an aside, I didn’t think that my escorting Dr. Jacoby to her car was worthy of public comment.

posted by: Moshe Gai on January 12, 2010  6:28pm

According to chair Carrano the Board Meeting was a public meeting. It is unacceptable (in a civilized society) to hold such an important public meeting in a private place, no matter if you call it “a retreat” or any other highfalutin label, especially when such important issues were discussed. From the outset it seems that the privacy of the home of the chair served as a good place in which to indoctrinate the new members of the Board of Education.

The business of the public should be conducted in public. Public meetings should be held in public places with full access to the public and in full view of the public via local TV and reporters.

I wonder if members of the board of education even realized how unconventional (...) was the meeting venue. Not realizing how absurd was the venue (and agreeing to join the meeting) is perhaps even worst than the very meeting itself.

posted by: Rita on January 12, 2010  6:52pm

what exactly is the boards job if it is not to conduct the search and complete the process of finding a new superintendent?  Shouldn’t they be concerned with the issues of our elementary schools?  We want families to move to Branford and contribute to the town. Families will want to come here when they see top notch education scores.
I agree that Carrano should not chair the committee- allow new members to get in there and work for the better of our district.
Again- the actions of the board produce more questions than answers.

posted by: Fassett on January 12, 2010  9:10pm

Kudos to Ms. Chambers and Mr. Black for pointing out the *inconsistencies* with this *odd* BOE meeting.

How heart-warming that the new members of the BOE ‘seemed to appreciate the informal give-and-take event.’  It is not, however, comforting to know that these members are so colossally ignorant of their responsibilities to the public.  More broadly, one must question whether the rest of the board was snookered by or complicit in Mr. Carrano’s flirtations with the edge of propriety in holding this *lightly* attended *Special Public Retreat*.  Surely this event must prompt right-thinking people to consider if Mr. Carrano should continue at the helm of the Branford BOE. 

Yet what are we to think of board members who gush about the sanctity of communications but could not even mention this *special retreat* during their meetings of January 6th when we now know that the *retreat* was a fait accompli by 4:00 of that same afternoon? The confidence meter is low.

Even Mr. Krause’s remark about public participation in the superintendent’s search - “I don’t want them to say there was no opportunity.” – reeks of annoyance.

On a last note, this event undermines - no obliterates - the idea that the BOE embraces parental and public participation in the business of education in Branford.

posted by: Fassett on January 13, 2010  1:18am

How clever of Mr. Carrano to weave into his *clarification* a partisan political swipe and a heapin’- helpin’ side dish of confusion regarding the differences between a meeting and a caucus.

According to CT General Statutes Section Sec. 1-200 (2) [in part]:

“Meeting” means any hearing or other proceeding of a public agency, any convening or assembly of a quorum of a multimember public agency, and any communication by or to a quorum of a multimember public agency, whether in person or by means of electronic equipment, to discuss or act upon a matter over which the public agency has supervision, control, jurisdiction or advisory power.

CHECK – Branford BOE’s *Special Retreat Meeting*

CHECK – The Branford BOE met for the purpose of ‘Discussion/Action’ upon a matter(s) over which the public agency has supervision, control…

Meeting” does not include: … a *caucus* of members of a single political party notwithstanding that such members also constitute a quorum of a public agency;…

CHECK – Caucuses of Republicans, Democrats, Libertarians or even Pink Elephants if they are properly registered with the state do NOT constitute a meeting.

CHECK – Branford Republican and Democrat RTM members hold their respective caucuses to discuss positions on items coming before the RTM body.

CHECK – The Republican and Democrat responses to an item(s) discussed in caucus are subject to the scrutiny of the public through the debate and votes of the full RTM body.

There is nothing to prevent the political caucuses represented on the Branford BOE from meeting to discuss items coming before the full board.

Then, if through public debate at the full board meeting all members agree – superb!  If not, the public has been served by hearing the views of the board members with the added benefit of providing for minority view point representation.

So, the answer to your questions about caucuses subverting the interests of the public – no.

Therein lies the rub, Mr. Carrano, as you seem to be suggesting the BOE act in the capacity as both a caucus and a public agency which *clearly* subverts the interests of the public.

posted by: Gilbert Kelman on January 13, 2010  11:02am

New member Joanne Borrus was brave to have made such a sensitive recommenadation,lets see if it flys.

posted by: Becca Bennedict on January 13, 2010  11:15am

I was just about ready to say that people should stop splitting hairs over this issue and get on with fixing the problems we have in this district until I read Frank Carano’s remark about how the community views their actions.

I hope I am misinterpreting his intent, but it really sounds like the public be damned. It would be wrong for his nose to be out of joint because some of us want to be a part of our kids’ education.

It is just too much to ask to fix what ails the Branford schools?

posted by: marcia chambers on January 13, 2010  11:22am

I write to give a further clarification of Mr. Carrano’s comment about why I left the meeting.
Before the meeting began, several board members were in the kitchen. Mr.Carrano asked me to join them for a cup of coffee. I asked if this meeting was a public meeting because I was the only member of the public present. Mr.Carrano assured me it was.
However, John Prins, another board member, specifically said he wanted to talk to me about my agreeing to go off-the-record at various points in the meeting. For readers who do not know this lingo, what he meant was that I would agree not to report about these off-the-record subjects.
Reporters must know and accept the ground- rules for coverage of an event before the event occurs.Mr.Prins was now presenting me with a new set of terms.
While I did tell Mr.Carrano that I understood the needs of public boards to hold informal conversations from time to time, that was not the reason why I left.
I left because there was conflict in my mind over the terms of coverage. I did not want to be placed in an awkward situation where I would have to enforce public discussion when Mr.Prins and possibly other board members or the superintendent wanted specific discussions off-the-record. What Mr.Prins was telling me was that he wanted some discussions to be private. For him this may have been a natural request because the event was billed as a retreat. But it presented me with a difficult choice.   
Since my main concern was the superintendent’s search, I asked if I could be present for that interview and discussion. I was told it would take place at 11:30 a.m. I said I would leave and return then.
Marcia Chambers

posted by: Moshe Gai on January 13, 2010  2:46pm

I do not know whether there is a process under which citizens can repeal a chair of the Board of Education, but now that I have read the comments from Mr. Frank Carrano I conclude that he is not suitable for the office of the chair of the Board of Education. I am reminded that in some district(s) he lost the last election with a major margin of disapproval. I assume this was most likely due to his neglect of several conflict of interest while negotiating the new contract with the teacher’s union.

Mr. Carrano should also not be allowed to chair the search committee for the new school superintendent (I wonder whether his reply as stated above “we’ll see” means that he will find a way to manipulate the system and still be the chair of the search committee?).

Mr. Carrano seems to lack basic understanding of how a civilized society works and how one serves the public. I also find Mr. Prins request to go off the record offensive.

Five years ago some of us commenced an effort to clean this town of “dirty politics”. We got read of the Marcus-Morris junta, but it seems our work is still not done. There is still something very fishy in the town of Branford.

Thus Spake Moshe Gai

posted by: Fassett on January 13, 2010  4:29pm

My initial impressions of the colossal ignorance of the new board members is somewhat mitigated by the gargantuan and deliberate disregard for the responsibilities of the positions to which Mr. Prins and Mr. Carrano have been elected.  The new members may have gulped the Kool-aid but it was served up on a silver platter by the two most senior members of the Branford BOE.

It’s apparent that Mr. Prins has reached the pinnacle of absolute power corrupts absolutely even if that absolute power is in his own mind.  It is not Mr. Prins’ right to determine what is on and off the record other than that which is prescribed by law and that law lurches toward the sunlight. 

Then Messrs. Prins and Carrano use the shield of noble public service to whine about how they are *put upon* by the needs and wants of the public.  Indeed, public service *is* noble, it’s just not above the law and propriety.  Furthermore, each member of the BOE ASKED for their position, campaigned for their position, wanted their position.  Heat and kitchen come to mind.

Perhaps the time has come for Messrs. Carrano and Prins to step down for the good the BOE.  And if they don’t have the decency then perhaps the rest of the BOE will have the courage to make it happen.

posted by: Jeff Clark on January 14, 2010  1:14am

As far as the consultant search cost, I would assume that the contract for that service will be put out to competitive bid in accordance with the Town Charter Chapter 38-3 C (7), as a result of John Prins affiliation with CABE, if for no other reason?

posted by: Kyle Nelson on January 14, 2010  9:51pm

I have to agree with those critical this meeting.  I find it concerning that the BOE felt it acceptable to have this meeting, label it a “retreat”, have it in a private residence, and on a Saturday morning.

Was the residence handicap accessible, as is all other town locations used for “Public Meetings”?  How many other organizations in town hold their public meetings in a private residence? On a Saturday?  Is this standard practice?  I don’t think so.

This BOE and its leadership state they want to open the doors of communication, get the parents/public involved in their activities.  Well the doors to Mr. Carrano’s house in my opinion are not what I consider to be “open”. 

As a private citizen, I think I would have been very uncomfortable in the environment this meeting created maybe that is why only one non-BOE member/staff attended this meeting.  That to me is not making parents/public feel welcome to get involved.  I know I could not attend as I was coaching recreation league basketball that morning with dozens of other parents in attendance.  It would seem that given all recreation leagues for our kids have games on Saturdays; public meetings schedule on those days would surely limit parent attendance.
Also, the schools systems have several options in addition to the website to get information home to parents; student backpacks, via voicemail system notifications, etc… They should make use of all possible communication channels.

If the BOE wants to ensure all are aware of their activities, just posting notices to the website and filing the notice with Town Clerk’s office to meet the required deadlines seems to show little to no effort to achieving that goal.

I also agree that all contracts should be put to bid as suggested by Mr. Clark.

I also find the request for “Off-the-record” comments inappropriate given that this was supposed to be a “public meeting”.

posted by: Kyle Nelson on January 15, 2010  12:59pm

In response to Mr. Carrano’s comment about the Republican Caucus, I refer him back to the point made by Fasett in an earlier posting

“Caucuses of Republicans, Democrats, Libertarians or even Pink Elephants if they are properly registered with the state do NOT constitute a meeting.”

Mr. Carrano, this meeting was not a Caucus of the BOE Democrats, BOE Republican or any other group, it was a full BOE meeting and as such subject to Freedom of Information Rules.  Ask your fellow Democrats on the RTM, they caucus before every RTM meeting as well, just like the Republicans.  Neither of which are “town meetings” subject to Freedom of Information.

posted by: Mongoose on January 15, 2010  2:55pm

At a time when they are under fire for their lack of transparency and tendency to act in disregard of citizen concerns, the BOE holding a “public” meeting at the chairman’s home hardly plays well in the court of public opinion.

posted by: Mongoose on January 15, 2010  6:21pm

I’d like to suggest that the next time Mr. Carrano hosts one of these “public meetings” at his house, 300 members of the public attend.

posted by: Susan Barnes on January 15, 2010  7:36pm

Should they not be reported for FOI violations?  What is Prins afraid to let the public know? The absurdity of Carrano’s attack on Mr. Black’s comments is beyond belief. Peter is right on - as is Jeff Clark. I hope the Board of Ethics is watching closely.  Their arrogance is appalling. If the BOE cannot rid themselves of these two, let us not forget to hammer home this type of behavior next election.  They have been around too long. Once again, TERM LIMITATIONS are needed for every elected and appointed position.

posted by: Jacqueline Polverari on February 1, 2010  9:26pm

Im curious as to what the “other” on the agenda actually was.  I am eager to see if this was included in the minutes that were taken at this wonderful “retreat” of the BOE.

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