B.O.E. Work Session MinutesWebutuck Board of
Education held the The following Board members were present: Dale Culver Bernadette Coniglio Joseph Herald Andrew Jablonsky Susan Lounsbury William McGhee John Perotti Also Present: Dr. Richard Johns Linda Peters Therese Trotter CALL TO ORDER President Culver called the work session meeting of PUBLIC COMMENT The following comments were made by audience members: - Staffing issue, one teacher is leaving.
We don’t know the reasons she isn’t being granted tenure but parents
that have students in her class are here in support of her. It was
suggested the parents submit in writing to the Board the parents’ reasons of support
for the teacher. TRANSPORTATION REPORT – ED TANNINI Mr. Tannini provided an overview of the District’s fleet and the specifics
of purchasing gas buses as opposed to diesel buses. He also showed a video tape of a typical bus
run with the old video bus camera and then the new video bus camera. Discussion ensued. SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT The Superintendent spoke
about parents’ concerns in the District regarding the sexual predators within
our community and the fact they have no restrictions on them as to where they
can or cannot be. The District sent out
a Key Communicator to parents on this topic.
There will be a meeting The Superintendent
stated he has had AES/WES and WHS support team meetings and has seen the first
data point assessment information on those buildings. The information is primitive due to the
process being in the early stages. There
is much work still to be done; however, he is proud of all of the staff
involved. DELEGATION There was no delegation. DISCUSSION 1. Personnel The Superintendent spoke about the need for substitutes in the
District. There is information in the
Board packet with regards to the demand for teacher substitutes thus far in the
year. The substitute rate of pay is on
average with the County however it is along way to travel, especially with gas
prices, when those substitutes can work a short distance from where they reside. The District does have a permanent substitute and the Superintendent
suggests adding a second itinerant substitute.
A Board member asked what impact this addition would have on next year’s
budget. Discussion ensued. 2. First Reading Policy #414 Temporary
and Substitute Support Employees This policy going forward would clarify that substitutes in the District
would have no tie-bar to any union.
After the recent CSEA contract settlement, substitute bus drivers
questioned whether they would receive retro-active pay. The Board granted them their request. At each reorganization meeting going forward,
the Board will set form terms and conditions of substitute rates each
year. Board members questioned if the
District does criminal checks on substitute employees before they begin
working. It is done but there is lag
time due to processing procedures.
Discussion ensued. 3. Tenure Patrick McKeever will be recommended for tenure at the next meeting. His estoppel date is 4. Approve Physical Therapy and
Speech Services Consultant as required These are service providers for students who are off-site. It will be on the next agenda for action. 5. Adopt 2008-2009 District Calendar There was a change to the number of regent’s days in January. 6. Substitutes: Itinerant Rate Long-Term Itinerant Substitute The Superintendent stated substitutes are hard to attract to our District. Most of the people come from the west side of the County. Due to the gas prices it is cheaper for those people to work closer to home. The Superintendent suggested increasing the substitute rate. The Board President asked for a recommendation, dollar figure and the impact on the budget before approving the rate increase. 7. Donations: One Refrigerator One Printer These will be added to the next agenda for acceptance. 8. May15, 2007 Board Members Vote, June 19, 2007-
2007-2008 Budget Vote, The Superintendent explained the Board needs to receive these results on the three elections. 9. Purchase 3rd and 4th Grade Level Social Studies Textbooks These will be the last textbooks to be approved for the coming year. Mr. White, the third grade teacher teaches Social Studies to the entire third grade class at different times and will use this textbook for all students. 10. FFA trip to State Convention in Canton, NY Depart 12:00 Return approx 10pm More information
will be forthcoming in the next Board packet.
A Board member asked how many students will be going. Four students are interested in going. BOARD MEMBER QUESTIONS A Board member discussed the budget stating the Appropriated Fund Balance
is 9.2% of the budget. The District is
using that percentage of reserves to give back to taxpayers to lower their tax
levy increase. He stated the options the
Board has with the budget; reduce the expense variance, reduce the current budgeted
expenses or accept the budget as it is at 5.5%.
Board members comments ranged from wanting the tax levy lower, look at
every department and where cuts could be made, look at facilities, fuel and
transportation runs. The Board President
stated the Board will continue to work on the budget and encouraged Board
members to bring any ideas forward to the Finance Committee. Discussion ensued. Another Board member stated if the Board is continuing to look at cuts
the Board should look at the cut list that came from the Superintendent. She is happy with the way the budget is at
this point, she is pleased that the variance was tightened up, the District has
a lower budget to budget than last year and that the Board increased the appropriated
fund balance percentage and the reserve percentage. Discussion ensued. PUBLIC COMMENT No comments were made. EXECUTIVE SESSION Mr. Herald made and Mr. McGhee seconded a motion to adjourn to executive
session at 9:15 pm for the purpose of discussing particular personnel evaluations.
The seven Board members present voted.
The motion carried unanimously. RECONVENE PUBLIC SESSION Mr. Jablonsky made
motion to adjourn the executive session and reconvene the public session at 10:30
pm. The seven Board members present
voted. The motion passed unanimously. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, Mr. Perotti made a
motion to adjourn the meeting of Respectfully Submitted, Therese M. Trotter District Clerk |
