B.O.E. Work Session MinutesWebutuck Board of
Education held the The following
Board members were present: Bernadette
Coniglio, President Joanne Boyd Dale Culver Joseph Matteo John Perotti Also Present: Dr. Richard N.
Johns, Superintendent Kevin Geoghan,
School Business Administrator Tracy Trotter, Superintendent’s Secretary Absent: Joseph Herald Susan Lounsbury CALL TO ORDER Ms. Coniglio called
the Business meeting of PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS No comment. Amenia Recreation Summary – Peter
Clair Peter Clair, Recreation Committee Chairperson for the Town of Amenia came
to publicly thank the Webutuck School District for the use of their facilities
through this past year. He also thanked
Mark Lounsbury and his custodial staff for their support of all of the
programs. Amenia Town Recreation
Committee had the following activities at Webutuck: tennis, scrapbooking and
card making classes, cooking class, kick boxing, aerobics, volleyball,
basketball, walkers club and tae kwon do. Members of 2008 Class – Sr. Trip The 2008 Class President Chris Altmann spoke about seeking permission for
the 2008 Senior Class to take an overnight trip the later part of May next
year. They are looking at Cape Cod,
Boston or Virginia to find the best prices or deals. They plan to fundraise to help students with
the trip so as many students that want to may go. Approximately 50-60 students are interested
in going. Discussion ensued. Mrs. Panzer, a parent of the School District spoke about the recent 5th
grade trip to Montreal and how wonderful it was for both her child and
herself. Mrs. Baker did an outstanding
job getting the trip together. Mrs. Panzer is concerned with the possibility of
there being no more overnight field trips.
The Board stated no action has been taken on overnight field trips. Discussion ensued. SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT The Superintendent reported the Webutuck School District was commended
for being a high performing/gap closing school.
It is a great compliment to the Board, staff and students. COMMITTEE REPORTS Finance/Audit Committee: the focus
was Internal Audit report and choosing an area of High Risk. It was decided that the area would be
Financial Accounting and Reporting (Documentation of Procedures). Discussion ensued. DISCUSSION 1. Personnel Board members said thank you and good luck to the teachers who are
retiring. 2. Board Policies First Reading The Board will review the following policies as a first reading: Policy #502 Student Conduct and Discipline A Board member stated it looked like some of the policy was missing from
one copy to the current copy. The
original document will be reviewed and the necessary changes made. Appropriate cell phone language in the policy
was discussed at length. Discussion
ensued. Second Reading No Discussion. The Board will review the following policies as a second reading: Policy #008 Meetings Policy #008a Consent Agenda Policy #009 Annual Meeting, Election and Budget Vote Policy #010 Legal Duties of Officers Policy #011 Delegations Policy #012 Minutes Policy #013 Internal Board Policy on Self Evaluation Policy #100 Purpose, Beliefs and Responsibilities Policy #101a Alcohol, Drugs, Tobacco and Other Substances Policy #101c Dangerous Weapons in School Policy #102 Nondiscrimination 3. Approval of Policies A Board member questioned the exclusion of any mention about mandated
Fiscal Oversight Course and whether it should be added to Policy #005. It was decided the wording should be “Newly
elected Board members will attend any training as required by law”. Discussion ensued. The Board will review the following policies as a third reading: Policy #005 Membership Policy #006 Meeting Times Policy #007 Reorganization Meeting Policy #412 Family Medical Leave Act 4. Creation of EBMS Cooking
Club, EBMS Digital Photography Club, EBMS Stamping
Club, Safesitter Club It was noted that these clubs are great.
The more clubs offered the more children will be involved. 5. Approval of Negotiator
for WTA negotiations A Board member stated in his experience impasse is not good. Collaboration is better but if neither side
is willing – it is not possible. 6. Creation of Athletic Club Gate receipts would be collected at Varsity events. A Board member asked how they would collect
gate receipts at a soccer game here at Webutuck. Who will decide how much is charged? There is a standard fee. Will the Board get a report on this
club? It will come to the Board same way
the Board get reports on other clubs. Discussion
ensued. 7. Approval of EBMS Social
Studies Textbooks No comment. 8. June 25 Board Meeting Several things need to be discussed whether the Budget passes or fails. 9. Retreat Date New Board members are invited to attend.
Mr. Jablonsky would like to see an agenda before deciding on
attending. 10. Senator Leibell Money The Board has to make a decision on how to book that money for next
year. The Superintendent is recommending
$10,000 go to support the Millerton Playground, a decision on the remainder of
the money needs to be made. Discussion
ensued. 11. MES Building The five year Building Condition Survey identified three unsatisfactory
items at Millerton Elementary: the windows, the roof, and the driveway. The Superintendent stated the District could
use EXCEL funds for any of these items. If
the District uses some of the EXCEL funds for these items how far can the
District go with updating the security system in all the buildings? The Superintendent stated what he is hearing
from the Board is EXCEL funds should be used for a new well, a new roof and begin
to update the security system. Discussion
ensued. 12. Medicare Part B Payments
to WTA Members Board members spoke that the payment language should be put into a policy
and not added to the contract. 13. Used Oil Ms. Lounsbury emailed the Superintendent and wanted to wait and discuss
this issue when she was present. No
action will be taken at this Board meeting therefore discussion took place. A Board member asked if the oil could be used
anywhere in the District. It is being stored on District property and the
District has to pay to have it removed. The District will look into what it
would cost to buy a furnace to use the oil.
Discussion ensued. 14. Donation of Computers No comment. 15. Reserve Fund Year-End
Adjustments: Tax Cert. & Unemployment Insurance
Reserves No comment. The Board President asked about the Internal Audit. Internal Auditors
have five areas of high risk. The State is mandating at least one area be
looked at. The Finance Committee Chair
suggested Financial Accounting and Reporting (Documentation of Procedures). He felt it would look at the whole process of
documenting procedures. 16. Psychological Principals I
& II No comment. PUBLIC COMMENT The following comments/questions were brought up by audience members
BOARD MEMBER QUESTIONS A bus driver stated the road to Millerton Elementary School can be fixed
by in-house staff with bags of coal patch and save taxpayers dollars. EXECUTIVE SESSION Mrs. Boyd made and Mr. Matteo seconded a motion to adjourn to executive
session at 9:10 pm for the purpose of discussing Superintendent Evaluation,
contracts and negotiations. The five Board members present voted. The motion carried unanimously. ADJOURNMENT OF EXECUTIVE
SESSION Mr. Perotti made and Mr. Matteo seconded a
motion to adjourn the executive session and reconvene the public session at 11:17
pm. The five Board members present
voted. The motion passed unanimously. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, Mrs. Boyd made and
Mr. Perotti seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting of Respectfully submitted, Tracy Trotter District Clerk |
