Board Discusses Rolling Back Student Parking Fees at Tolland High to 2010-2011 Rates

Editor's Note: Tolland Patch initially reported that the board approved a reduction in the student parking rates, although the board decided to have the Finance and Facilities committee review the issue further. The confusion stemmed from multiple revisions to the resolution during the meeting. The story has been updated.

A discussion about doubled student parking fees (from $15 to $30 annually) at Tolland High School eclipsed a significant portion of the Board of Education meeting Wednesday night with the board considering rolling back fees to the 2010 rate, but ultimately sending the matter to the Finance and Facilities committee for further review.

The increase apparently slipped through the cracks at the August 24 meeting without discussion and was based upon a recommendation by Tolland High School Principal Dominique Fox, who was hoping to use the additional fees collected to fund a CAPT Scholar's Breakfast incentive program for sophomores taking the CAPT test. Under the program, if students met predetermined goals on their CAPT tests, they would be rewarded with waived parking fees in their junior year. 

"This is a tax. It doesn't sit right with me," said Chairman Robert Pagoni, adding that it went against the board's original agreement that parking fees would be charged only to cover the costs of issuing stickers, and for administrative and minor parking lot maintenance costs.  

Pagoni said he felt students already have to pay too many other fees as is, and because many seniors are involved in after school sports and activities, part-time jobs, and volunteer work, with no public transit system in town, having a car is often necessary.

"This is a case where juniors and seniors must pay for a sophomore function," said Pagoni.

Judy Grabowicz, Chair of the Board's Finance and Facilities Committee, said the recommendation first came to their committee and that the two members of the committee expressed their support of what the principal was trying to do, but recognized that this would need to be discussed more in depth at a full Board of Education meeting. Unfortunately, Grabowicz said she could not attend the August 24 meeting and was therefore unable to call the board's attention to the recommendation for discussion.

"I love [Dominique Fox's] initiative, and all the things she's been doing since we brought her on board," said Grabowicz, adding that she applauds her big support and focus on academics and not just athletics.

Vice Chair Gayle Block said the board also supports academics, but that they need to find a different way to finance the Scholars' Breakfast program.

Board member Diane Clokey said she feels supporting an improved performance on the CAPT is very important, but that the school system already has a sea of fees they have to charge for sports and clubs because those costs are not covered in the budget.

"I don't see it as a matter of $15. I see it as a matter of transparency and consistency," said Clokey. "[Funding the Scholar's Breakfast] is a very legitimite thing to approach the Booster Club for," she said.

Student representative Kate-Lynn Walsh said her fellow students were opposed to the increased fees, and some were simply not paying them, thereby incurring accountability charges on their record. Students are required to pay any unpaid fees at the end of the school year in order to get their grades released.

While some members recommended refunding those who paid the $15 increase, others called for leaving the fee as is for this year and reverting back to the $15 fee in the 2012-2013 school year. Still others suggested holding off on making any decision to give Fox the opportunity to come before the board to talk with them, and others recommended sending the matter back to Finance and Facilities for recommendations.

"We can do whatever you want," said Superintendent William Guzman, adding, however, that the matter was brought to Finance and Facilities and then to the full Board in an August meeting. "I want to make it clear there was a process here," he said.

Block said the board should respect that a decision was made by Fox based on the understanding that the board was in approval with her recommendation.

"Personally, I think this year's done," said Block.

However, Pagoni noted that the board never voted on the matter in the first place.

After some protracted haggling, the board agreed to remand the matter back to the Facilities and Finance for further review.

Also at Wednesday's meeting, Carolyn Tyl, science coordinator for the past six years for the school system, was selected by her peers as Teacher of the Year and was recognized for her contributions to students, teachers, and administrators in the district.

Tyl earned her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Connecticut, her Master's from Eastern Connecticut State University and her sixth-year degree in Education Leadership from Sacred Heart University. She was recognized for her development of student lessons, work with teachers to improve instruction, facilitation and support of curriculum meetings and initiatives and infusion of math, language arts, and social studies into the science program.

Following Tyl's recognition, Guidance Director Corinne Lorenzet highlighted the Class of 2011 graduate plans.

"This is a good news night," said Lorenzet referring to the 2011 report, adding that it was "a super report in many regards."

Lorenzet said of the 224 total graduates, 2/3 of the students were going on to a four-year college, and they were seeing some increase in post-high school vocational school and two-year college students.

She said the guidance office was seeing a rising trend toward students taking on part-time work and attending college part-time. She said there were increasing financial concerns on long term affordable options, with many students becoming more aware of the large loan impact on potential future careers.

Lorenzet said that on the Student Achievement Test (SATs), of which 86 percent of graduates participated, the Class of 2011 set the bar for the Class of 2012 with significant increases across the board in reading (up 13 points), math (up 8 points)  and writing skills (up 22 points). She said these increases are proving that the strategies and interventions the school has put in place to help students are starting to show.

Grabowicz said she was very pleased with the scores, adding that she wished the high school offered a required writing course as part of the curriculum.