The Webutuck Board of Education held their February 7, 2011 meeting at 7:30 p.m. in the Webutuck High School Library.

 

 

The following Board members were present:

Dale Culver, President

Joanne Boyd

William McGhee

John Perotti

Casey Swift

 

Also Present:

Steven D. Schoonmaker, Superintendent

Mary Grden, School Business Administrator

Therese Trotter, District Clerk

 

Absent:

Joseph Herald

Joseph Matteo

 

CALL TO ORDER

President Culver called the business meeting of February 7, 2011 to order at 7:37 p.m.  

 

PUBLIC COMMENT

The following are comments made by audience members:

There were no public comments.

 

PRESENTATION: Technology- Instructional Council

Mrs. Fisher, a secondary English teacher spoke to the Board about new technologies.  She has recently heard Heidi Hayes Jacobs, known for her work in curriculum mapping, curriculum integration, and developing 21st century approaches to teaching and learning, speak. Ms. Jacobs will be here at the end of the month to present to the Webutuck staff.  Ms. Fisher presented many new technologies that are available to teachers and students.  She explained that it is taking existing focus on Web 2.0 with creative and collaborative technology offered on the web.  It is free, social and interactive and it is about making connections.  The enhanced instruction provides visual cues, improves students’ critical thinking skills, creates interactive learner centered lessons and makes learning fun.  Ms. Fisher named several sites such as glogster.com, Wordle, Prezi, Flip videos and back channeling utilization.  She discussed and demonstrated their capabilities.  Discussion ensued.

 

PRINCIPALS’ REPORTS

Elementary

Ms. McEnroe explained to the Board the current activity in elementary is Project Adventure.  Today they celebrated the Chinese New Year and touched on different aspects of the celebration. Every week there is an All-School Assembly to celebrate accomplishments, meet and greet new students or classes give presentations. Recently the topic was showcasing.  Students describe the talent they have and the students showcase their talent in front of the All-School Assembly. 

 

The Superintendent suggested to the audience they should view the map on the wall outside of the library.  Students in grades 4-6 have combined to read over 30,000 pages and are beginning to map out where they have visited.  They have tasted many different things from different countries and heard music from those countries as well.

 

The Superintendent and Mrs. McEnroe met with parents and teachers to discuss the 4-6 students moving to the secondary schedule, with the start time at 7:30 am to 2:11pm like the 7-12 students.  The concerns voiced were with breakfast time and all students eating at the same time, the bus ride with older students because they will see and hear things.  Ms. McEnroe believes that the concerns can be worked out and she will follow up with a Key Communicator on the subject.  Discussion ensued.

 

Jr./Sr. High School

Mr. Sauer reported that regents week went very well.  He stated that he is moving towards having instruction of students through Regents’ week next year.  Mr. Sauer also noted that the Guidance Department has begun scheduling with juniors and their parents.  He also noted the internet safety presentation that was held at the High School recently.  He felt it went well but was not well attended.  Lastly, Mr. Sauer reviewed the Winter Sports program.  Approximately one hundred students participated.  They represented the school very well.  The athletes go out and play hard, and have gotten beat regularly but they play with dignity and grace.

 

SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT

The Superintendent reported to the Board that they will be receiving a Special Education Plan in the next few weeks.  The Superintendent went over the results he recently received for the second quarter from K-6 program.   He announced that Heidi Hayes Jacobs will be in District on February 22 for a presentation to the faculty on Superintendent’s Conference Day.  The Superintendent was recently at a meeting at Silo Ridge about the proposed plan that is being considered for that area.  There is potential for dramatic impacts from assessments to student populations.  Senator Ball and Assemblyman Molinaro were in attendance as well.  The Superintendent was asked to service on the Educational Committee and Assemblyman Molinaro will serve on the Governor’s Committee for Mandate Relief.

 

The Superintendent had a meeting with IBM this morning where they discussed IBM performing 100,000 hours of community service as an outreach.  They discussed what they could do for schools, they spoke about career development for students and staff and a collective study group.

 

The Cafeteria Committee met and discussed the possible reduction of sugar and salt in the diet and overall efficiencies with the program.

 

The Finance Committee met with Nate Ancil of the NYS Power Authority.  They will conduct a feasibility study.  The District is looking at saving areas such as lights, computer, geothermal and a Central Hudson grant. 

 

DISCUSSION

1.  AED Plan

Needham and Associates put definition to our AED Plan such as who the District’s physician is, what type of AED’s the District has etc.  The Business Manger suggested to the Board adopt the Plan at the next Board meeting.  The District will continue to train individuals.  Discussion ensued. 

 

CONSENSUS AGENDA VOTE

Mrs. Swift made and Mrs. Boyd seconded the following motion to approve the consent agenda (as amended).  The amendment called for Mr. Culver pulling #4 Under Personnel for further discussion.  The Superintendent noted on the January 10 minutes the consent agenda was voted with a 4 – 1 vote, that vote needs to be noted through all the consent items on the agenda.  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 January 10 and January 24, 2011 for Board meetings.

Mrs. Swift made and Mrs. Boyd seconded the Minutes stated above as submitted.

Ayes    5          Nays    0          The motion carried.

 

2.  Delegations -None

3.  Non-Staff Communications -None

 

PERSONNEL

*1.  Support Staff Appointment

Mrs. Swift made and Mrs. Boyd seconded the following motion:

Upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Education hereby approves the following Support Staff appointment:

            Robert McGhee                                              Bus Driver

            Effective:  February 8, 2011                           Step 1 - $16.87           

Ayes    5          Nays    0          The motion carried.

                                                                                                           

*2.  Leave of Absences

Mrs. Swift made and Mrs. Boyd seconded the following motion:

Upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby approves the following paid/unpaid Leave of Absences as authorized by the Family Medical Leave Act: 

Mary Molloy                                                   Art Teacher

            Effective: March 14, 2011 – June 6, 2011(approximate)

 

Margaret Brizzie                                             Elementary Teacher

            Effective: March 7, 2011 – April 18, 2011(approximate)

Ayes    5          Nays    0          The motion carried.

 

*3.  Instructional Resignation

Mrs. Swift made and Mrs. Boyd seconded the following motion:

Upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby accepts the Instructional resignation for the purpose of retirement, of the following individual:

            Barbara Carr                                                    Secondary Librarian

            Effective:  June 30, 2011

Ayes    5          Nays    0          The motion carried.

           

4. Extra-Curricular Appointments for the 2010-2011 School Year

This item was removed from the consent agenda for further discussion in Executive Session.

Upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby approves the following extra-curricular appointments for the 2010-2011 school year:

            Shawn Hosier                                                  Boys Varsity Track

            Kathleen Howard                                           Girls Varsity Track

            Patrick Ivain                                                    Modified Track

            Evelyn Peters                                                  Girls Varsity Softball

            Salvatore Rosa                                                Boys Varsity Baseball

           

 5.  A Board member asked if the DEC give the District permission to fill in the holes down in the bus garage.  The Business Manager said yes and it will cost us nothing.

 

CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION

*1. Committee on Special Education Monthly Reports

Mrs. Swift made and Mrs. Boyd seconded the following motion:

Upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Webutuck Board of Education hereby accepts the Committee on Special Education report for January 2011, prepared by the Webutuck Central School District Committee on Pre-School Education and by the Webutuck Central School District Committee Special Education.

Ayes    5          Nays    0          The motion carried.

 

BUSINESS AND OPERATIONS

1.  Approval of Elevator Maintenance Contract

Mrs. Swift made and Mr. McGhee seconded the following motion:

A Board member questioned if this is to keep it active?  Yes, required to have it if you have an elevator.

Upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Webutuck Board of Education hereby approves the Bronze Maintenance Agreement of ThyssenKrupp Elevator through June 30, 2011for the elevator located in the Millerton Elementary building.

Ayes    5          Nays    0          The motion carried.

 

2.  Amendment of 2010-2011 District Calendar

Mrs. Boyd made and Mrs. Swift seconded the following motion:

Upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, BE IT RESOLVED the Webutuck Board of Education amends the 2010-2011 District Calendar for the month of April only.  The Superintendent’s Conference Day shall be moved from Thursday, April 14 to Friday, April 15, 2011 and April 14 will be a full day of school.

Ayes    5          Nays    0          The motion carried.

 

BOARD OF EDUCATION

1.  Sports issue will be discussed in Executive Session.

 

PUBLIC COMMENT

The following topics were commented on by audience members:

-baseball coach

 

EXECUTIVE SESSION

Mr. McGhee made and Mr. Perott seconded a motion to adjourn to executive session at 9:00 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

Mrs. Swift made and Mrs. Boyd seconded a motion to adjourn the executive session and to reconvene the public session at 10:08 pm. 

Ayes    5          Nays    0          The motion carried.

 

Upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, BE IT RESOLVED the Webutuck Board of Education accepts the resignation of Julie Taft effective June 30, 2011.

Ayes    5          Nays    0          The motion carried.

 

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business, Mrs. Boyd  made and Mr. McGhee seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting of February 7, 2011 at 10:09 pm.

Ayes    5          Nays    0          The motion carried.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Therese M. Trotter

District Clerk