Club Meeting - April 18, 2017

 

Opening and Welcome:  President Jackie Guzie opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance and the recitation of the Rotary Four-Way Test. Scott Seabury gave the invocation and led the singing of “God Bless America”.

 

Members Present: Dale Baker, Joe Blake, Gayle Demko, Jed Dery, Natalie Donais, Frank DiGennaro, Jackie Guzie, Gail Handley, Greg Heineman, Richard Kisiel, Luis Lee, Jack Muska, Paul Pace, Ray Perleoni, Jay Presser, Don Rawling, Charles Roumas, Scott Seabury, Gordon Stagg, and Nancy Viggiano. (20/35….57.1%).

 

Guests: Karen Berasi, Suffield Superintendent of Schools.

 

-Jackie Guzie reaffirmed the weekly meeting location will continue at Suffield by the River through April 25, 2017. On April 25, the club will take up a collection for tipping the service staff at Suffield by the River for this past season. Beginning with the May 2, 2017 meeting, the locale will be the Suffield Country Club.  

 

- The members welcomed back a healthy Frank DiGennaro.

 

- Jackie reiterated the full schedule for the next month of meetings, including the Club Strategic Goals and Financial Planning session led by Dick Kisiel on May 16^th.

 

- Gayle Demko, as co-chair with Jed Dery of the 2017 Packard Golf Tourney passed around a sign-up list for those members interested in joining the Tourney Committee, or otherwise contribute to its formation of strategic plans.

 

-Jack Muska estimated gross fund-raising proceeds from The Zero Turn Mower Raffle were $4100!   The drawing will occur after our main speaker tonight. The Club is very grateful for the main prize donated by Jim Viggiano and Bacher Corp, for the hard work of all folks who sold tickets, and of course for start to finish efforts by Greg Heineman as leader of this event.

 

 Karen began her program by handing out the most recent statistics and proposed budget for our Town’s Education Budget for fiscal 2017-2018. She reviewed with members the Suffield Schools mission and its ongoing objectives. The Mission of the Suffield Schools is to prepare all students with knowledge skills and attributes required for success in a changing world. To do this, she will ensure they attract highly qualified teachers, develop competitive student programs and invest directly in the Suffield Community.

 

 Before taking many questions from the members, Karen wanted to review the schools’ financial status: next year’s CT State funding cuts for Suffield total $1.8 Million; its Bd of Ed approved budget has a 1.7% increase; the Bd of Finance has subsequently requested a $300k reduction. Since over 80% of the budget is labor related, the school system will be managing employee reduction strategically through attrition. This will also align with declining enrollment without jeopardizing student or teacher morale or the performance metrics set forth by our BOE and the District Improvement Plan.

  

Members had a variety of questions about the prioritization of funds and funding requests.

 

-The tennis courts are in true disrepair so they have a higher priority unfortunately than some of the investment in the arts programs.

-SFES programs must be applied for by teachers and require specific leadership or board approval per project.

-The schools just received $80k ($53k Zak Grant and Town approved Capital funds of $27k) to proceed with landscaping at the pavilion at McAllister School but were requesting more funds from civic organizations.

-Federal and/or CT State mandated spending per pupils with IEP’s or special needs is 4-5 times higher than the general student population and must be incorporated into the schools financial plans.

- Yes there have been five Superintendents in Suffield in the past ten years, and the members agreed with Karen that stability in leadership is critical.

 

Overall, our club was very appreciative of Karen’s time and effort in talking with us as a critical part of the fabric of the Suffield Community.

 

3^rd prize: $250 Gift Certificate for fuel oil or gas: Jim or Suzanne Irwin – Suffield, CT

 

2^nd prize: 55” Color TV:  Deb Krut – Suffield, CT

 

1st /Grand Prize- the Zero Turn Mower:  Rich Levesque- Bristol, CT 

 

Jackie Guzie will notify the winners immediately after the meeting.

 

 

Weekly Blue Ticket Winners: Charles Roumas had the winning blue ticket, with sides won by Dick Kisiel and Natalie Donais.

  Weekly red ticket drawing: Queen of Hearts: Luis Lee had the winning ticket, but did not select the Queen of Hearts. Next week’s pot is $170+.

 

Birthdays and Anniversaries: No birthdays, but we celebrated the wedding anniversary of Scott and Linda Seabury.

 

Adjournment: Jackie Guzie adjourned the meeting with Scott Seabury leading “My Country ‘Tis of Thee” as the closing song.

 

Minutes recorded by Charles Roumas, Secretary on April 18, 2017.

 

The next meeting is April 25, 2017 with Ernie Petkovich speaking about the Suffield Local Prevention Council.