The Webutuck Board of Education held their May 10, 2010 meeting at 7:30 p.m. in the Webutuck High School Library.

 

The following Board members were present:

Joseph Herald

Andrew Jablonsky

Joseph Matteo

William McGhee

John Perotti

 

Also Present:

Lee Bordick, Superintendent

Mary Grden, School Business Manager

Therese Trotter District Clerk

 

Absent:

Dale Culver

 

CALL TO ORDER

Vice-President Herald called the business meeting of May 10, 2010 to order at 7:36 p.m.  

 

2010-2011 PUBLIC BUDGET HEARING

An audience member questioned why they were only getting to see the budget now.  A Board member stated the budget has been available to the public in all of the school offices and the town libraries.  The Superintendent stated that if there were questions about the budget they can be directed to the District Office and the Superintendent will try to answer them.  This is the first year in the Superintendent’s history that budget is less than the previous year.  The Vice-President spoke about the coming years and that school budgets will be equally difficult.  Discussion ensued.

 

Mr. Perotti made and Mr. Jablonsky seconded a motion to close the Public Budget Hearing.

Ayes    5          Nays    0          The motion carried.

 

PUBLIC COMMENT

The following topics were commented on by audience members:

-Number of Board members present when Assistant Superintendent was approved

-Board members present for important decisions

-Removed Board member due to absenteeism, others that have been absent

-Cost of the mercury spill

 

DISCUSSION

1.  BOCES/Needham Risk Management

There are deficiencies in our Health and Safety programs that Needham Risk Management has pointed out to us.  The District is moving forward to be in compliance with these.  Discussion ensued.

 

CONSENSUS AGENDA VOTE

Mr. Jablonsky made and Mr. Perotti seconded the following motion to approve the consent agenda (as amended).  The amendment called for Mr. Herald pulling # 1 under Clerk’s Report for revisions.

A consent agenda is a single vote, which approves all asterisked items.  Board policy (#008a) prohibits discussion of consent agenda items. Asterisked items can be pulled from the consent agenda for discussion by any one Board member. 

Ayes    5          Nays    0          The motion carried.

 

CLERK’S REPORT

*1.   Approval of Minutes for April 28, 2010 and May 3, 2010 Board meetings.

Mr. Jablonsky made and Mr. Perotti seconded a motion to accept the Board minutes stated above as submitted.

Ayes    5          Nays    0          The motion carried.

 

2.  Delegations - None

3.  Non-Staff Communications - None

 

PERSONNEL

*1.  Approval of Tenure Recommendations for Teaching Assistants

Mr. Jablonsky made and Mr. Perotti seconded the following motion:

Upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education does hereby appoint the following teaching assistants to tenure, effective September 1, 2010.

                       

 

NAME

CERTIFICATION

EFFECTIVE DATE

Tracey Ferreri

Level II

September 1, 2010

Kimberly Coon

Level II

September 1, 2010

Ayes    5          Nays    0          The motion carried.

 

*2.  Instructional Resignation

Mr. Jablonsky made and Mr. Perotti seconded the following motion:

Upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby accepts the following Instructional Resignation of the following individual:

 

            Alison Coppola                                               Special Education Teacher

            Effective:  August 31, 2010

Ayes    5          Nays    0          The motion carried.

 

*3.  Support Staff Resignation

Mr. Jablonsky made and Mr. Perotti seconded the following motion:

Upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby accepts the following Support Staff Resignation of the following individual:

 

            Jennifer Brandt                                               Teaching Assistant

            Effective:  May 3, 2010

Ayes    5          Nays    0          The motion carried.

           

CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION

*1.  Committee on Special Education Monthly Reports

Mr. Jablonsky made and Mr. Perotti seconded the following motion:

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Webutuck Board of Education hereby accepts the Committee on Special Education report for April 2010, prepared by the Webutuck Central School District Committee on Pre-School Education and by the Webutuck Central School District Committee on Special Education, as recommended by the Superintendent of Schools.

Ayes    5          Nays    0          The motion carried.

 

BUSINESS AND OPERATIONS

1.  Approval of BAN Borrowing for the EXCEL Project

Mr. Matteo made and Mr. McGhee seconded the following motion:

Ms. Grden stated this money is assisting us in several projects such as the oil/water separator and security system.  She stated that the District is able to borrow money at a very good rate due to the double AA Mooney rating, which is a very good rating.

Upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby awards the acceptable lowest bid for BAN borrowing of $305,000 to fund the EXCEL project to Green County Commercial Bank  at an interest rate of 1.50% with the closing date of May 13, 2010.

Ayes    5          Nays    0          The motion carried.

 

2. Approval of Surplus Football Equipment and Jerseys Bids

Mr. McGhee made and Mr. Jablonsky seconded the following motion:

A Board member suggested looking into removing the goal posts and trying to sell them.  They might have some value to them.  Discussion ensued.

Upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby awards the acceptable highest bid for Surplus Football Equipment & Jerseys as follows:

 

Dover Union Free School       Lot #1                                     $2,000.00

Robert Wood                          Jersey #10, #3 & #77              $      10.00 Each

Ayes    5          Nays    0          The motion carried.

 

SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT

1.  Amenia Parking Lot/Farmers Market

The Superintendent stated that the District is making sure the process and procedures are in place.  Each individual vendor booth will have to have insurance.  Discussion ensued

 

2.  Audit/Finance Committee Meeting Tuesday, May 18 @ 5:30 pm

The Superintendent stated that the agenda will be fairly lengthy for the Audit/Finance Mtg.  The external auditor will be coming to the meeting to give the Board a report.

 

3.  Second Rachael’s Challenge Follow-Up Meeting May 26 @ 6:30 HS Auditorium

The Superintendent spoke about the second Rachael’s Challenge follow-up meeting.  Students who are in Rachel’s Group will be at the meeting to contribute what is happening at their level.  The information for the meeting will be going out through the Key Communicator. Discussion ensued.

 

Future Items

1.  Guidance Plan

We will have the plan to the Board in June.  School Districts are supposed to approve guidance plans annually.

 

2.  Probationary Staff

We will be reviewing year one and two probationary staff at a meeting in early June.

 

3.  Community Garden Update

The Superintendent reported the community garden is moving ahead.  The Ag teacher is involved in the project and she will be here over the summer.  It was suggested that they could sell the vegetables at the Farmers Market perhaps through the Ag program.  It was noted that the items in the garden were to go to the cafeteria to be used.  The Agricultural program is looking at the 4-H clubs to reach out to those students to make them aware of the agricultural opportunities at the school.

 

4.  The Superintendent stated the District is looking into potential energy saving projects such as the windmill project.  Discussion ensued.

 

BOARD OF EDUCATION

1.  None

 

PUBLIC COMMENT

The following topics were commented on by audience members:

-how is the district charged for AlertNow

-Public will want to be involved in the BOCES/Needham

-Fire trucks are practicing quick call tonight

 

EXECUTIVE SESSION

Mr.  Matteo made and Mr. Jablonsky seconded a motion to adjourn to executive session at 8:17 pm for the purpose of discussing the employment history of a particular person or persons.

Ayes    5          Nays    0          The motion carried.

 

RECONVENE PUBLIC SESSION

Mr. Perotti made and Mr. seconded a motion to adjourn the executive session and to reconvene the public session at 9:05 pm. 

Ayes    5          Nays    0          The motion carried.

 

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business, Mr. Perotti made a motion to adjourn the meeting of May 10, 2010 at 9:05 pm.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

Therese M. Trotter

District Clerk